Automatic uplink-downlink ratio reconfiguration setting in wireless communication system

• US 8,942,122 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: He, Hong, Fwu, Jong-Kae, Huang, Rui
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang, Charles C
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIN, WILL W
• Application Number:
  US13/526,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20130188500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 370/311, 370/335, 370/331, 370/332, 370/252, 370/280
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/382 for resource allocation, admission control or handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0096 Indication of changes in allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/08 Closed loop power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/241 taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR, Eb/lo
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

At least one neighbor cell is identified by a base station by detecting a synchronization signal of the at least one neighbor cell. A received signal power, such as a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), or a combination thereof, is also measured from the at least one neighbor cell. Identifying information and the received signal power of the at least one neighbor cell is then communicated to a network entity of the wireless network. Information is received from the network entity indicating whether the base station can enable a reconfiguration of the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell of the base station. Based on the information received from the network entity, the base station enables a reconfiguration of the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell.

Claims

1. A transceiver device, comprising:

a receiver capable of identifying at least one neighbor cell of a wireless network in which the transceiver device is located, the receiver capable of identifying the at least one neighbor cell by detecting a synchronization signal of the at least one neighbor cell and capable of measuring a received signal power from the at least one neighbor cell; and

transmitter capable of communicating to a network entity of the wireless network identifying information and the received signal power of the at least one neighbor cell, wherein the network entity determines if the transceiver device is isolated from the at least one neighbor cell based at least on the measured received signal power from the at least one neighbor cell,

the receiver being further capable of receiving from the network entity information indicating whether dynamic uplink-downlink reconfiguration can be enabled of the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell in which the transceiver is located, wherein dynamic uplink-downlink reconfiguration is enabled if the transceiver device is isolated from the at least one neighbor cell and dynamic uplink-downlink reconfiguration is disabled if the transceiver device is not isolated from the at least one neighbor cell, the information received from the network entity indicating the reconfiguration can be enabled of the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell, and

the transceiver device further comprising a processor capable of reconfiguring the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell.

2. The transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is further capable of identifying the at least one neighbor cell by detecting a synchronization signal of the at least one neighbor cell by detecting time and frequency synchronization signals of the at least one neighbor cell.

3. The transceiver according to claim 2, wherein the receiver is further capable of measuring the received signal power from the at least one neighbor cell by measuring a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), or a combination thereof, of the at least one neighbor cell.

4. The transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is further capable of measuring the received signal power from the at least one neighbor cell by measuring a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), or a combination thereof, of the at least one neighbor cell.

5. The transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver comprises an enhanced node B (eNB).

6. The transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the cell in which the transceiver is located comprises a macrocell, a picocell or a femtocell.

7. The transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the wireless network comprises one of an IEEE-802.11-based protocol wireless network, a 3GPP-based protocol wireless network, a WiMax-based protocol wireless network, an UMTS-based protocol wireless network, a CDMA2000-based protocol wireless network, a GSM-based protocol wireless network, a cellular-digital-packet-data-based (CDPD-based) protocol wireless network, or a Mobitex-based protocol wireless network.

8. The transceiver according to claim 1, further comprising a touchscreen display capable of displaying information related to the received signal power from the at least one neighbor cell, and capable of being controlled by a stylus, at least one finger, or a combination thereof.

9. A method, comprising:

identifying at a base station of a cell of a wireless network at least one neighbor cell by detecting a synchronization signal of the at least one neighbor cell;

measuring at the base station a received signal power from the at least one neighbor cell;

communicating to a network entity of the wireless network identifying information and the received signal power of the at least one neighbor cell, wherein the network work entity determines if the base station is isolation from the at least one neighbor cell based at least in part on the measured received signal power from the at least one neighbor cell;

receiving from the network entity information indicating whether the base station can enable dynamic uplink-downlink reconfiguration of the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell of the base station, wherein dynamic uplink-downlink reconfiguration is enabled of the base station is isolated from the at least one neighbor cell and dynamic uplink-downlink reconfiguration is disabled if the base station is not isolated from the at least one neighbor cell; and

reconfiguring the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell of the base station if the information received from the network entity indicates that the base station can enable reconfiguration of the allocation of the uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell of the base station.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein identifying the at least one neighbor cell by detecting a synchronization signal of the at least one neighbor cell comprising detecting time and frequency synchronization signals of the at least one neighbor cell.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein measuring the received signal power from the at least one neighbor cell comprises measuring a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), or a combination thereof, of the at least one neighbor cell.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein measuring the received signal power from the at least one neighbor cell comprises measuring a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), or a combination thereof, of the at least one neighbor cell.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the base station comprises an enhanced node B (eNB).

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the cell of the base station comprises a macrocell, a picocell or a femtocell.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the wireless network comprises one of an IEEE-802.11-based protocol wireless network, a 3GPP-based protocol wireless network, a WiMax-based protocol wireless network, an UMTS-based protocol wireless network, a CDMA2000-based protocol wireless network, a GSM-based protocol wireless network, a cellular-digital-packet-data-based (CDPD-based) protocol wireless network, or a Mobitex-based protocol wireless network.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the base station comprises a touchscreen display capable of displaying information related to the received signal power from the at least one neighbor cell, and capable of being controlled by a stylus, at least one finger, or a combination thereof.

17. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving at the network entity the identifying information and the received signal power of the at least one neighbor cell of the base station; and

determining whether the base station can enable a reconfiguration of the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell of the base station; and

communicating to the base station the information indicating whether the base station can enable a reconfiguration of the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell of the base station.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein determining whether the base station can enable a reconfiguration of the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell of the base station comprises determining that the base station can enable a reconfiguration of the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell of the base station if the received signal power of the at least one neighbor cell is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold and if the received signal power of the base station at the neighbor cell is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising communicating to the at least one neighbor cell information indicating that the at least one neighbor cell can enable a reconfiguration of the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the at least one neighbor cell if it is determined that the base station can enable a reconfiguration of the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell of the base station.

20. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, if executed, result in at least the following;

detecting at a base station of a cell of a wireless network a synchronization signal of at least one neighbor cell;

identifying at the base station the at least one neighbor cell based on the detected synchronization signal of the at least one neighbor cell;

measuring at the base station a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), or a combination thereof, of the at least one neighbor cell;

communicating to a network entity of the wireless network identifying information and the RSRP or RSRQ, or a combination thereof, of the at least one neighbor cell, wherein the network entity determines if the base station is isolated from the at least one neighbor cell based at least in part on the RSRP or RSRQ or a combination thereof;

receiving from the network entity information indicating whether the base station can enable dynamic uplink-downlink reconfiguration of the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell of the base station, wherein dynamic uplink-downlink reconfiguration is enabled if the base station is isolated from the at least one neighbor cell and dynamic uplink-downlink reconfiguration is disabled if the base station is not isolated from the at least one neighbor cell; and

reconfiguring the allocation of uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell of the base station if the information received from the network entity indicates that the base station can enable reconfiguration of the allocation of the uplink and downlink subframes used in the cell of the base station.

21. The article according to claim 20, wherein identifying the at least one neighbor cell is further based on detecting time and frequency synchronization signals of the at least one neighbor cell.

22. The article according to claim 20, wherein the base station comprises an enhanced node B (eNB).

23. The article according to claim 20, wherein the cell of the base station comprises a macrocell, a picocell or a femtocell.

24. The article according to claim 20, wherein the wireless network comprises one of an IEEE-802.11-based protocol wireless network, a 3GPP-based protocol wireless network, a WiMax-based protocol wireless network, an UMTS-based protocol wireless network, a CDMA2000-based protocol wireless network, a GSM-based protocol wireless network, a cellular-digital-packet-data-based (CDPD-based) protocol wireless network, or a Mobitex-based protocol wireless network.

25. The article according to claim 20, wherein the base station comprises a touchscreen display capable of displaying information related to the received signal power from the at least one neighbor cell, and capable of being controlled by a stylus, at least one finger, or a combination thereof.