Method and system for the management of cell interference in a wireless communication network

• US 9,204,401 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel IP Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Chou, Joey, He, Hong, Pinheiro, Ana Lucia
• Primary Examiner(s): SHIVERS, ASHLEY L
• Application Number:
  US14/125,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20150036597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/12 Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0247 based on conditions of the access network or the infrastructure network central resource management H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0252 per individual bearer or channel dynamic wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/243 taking into account interferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/244 Interferences in heterogeneous networks, e.g. among macro and femto or pico cells or other sector / system interference [OSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for managing inter-cell interference for a plurality of neighboring wireless communication cells in a wireless network is disclosed. Power data indicative of a received power level for a signal from the base station for any user equipment in an outer region of a cell is determined by a base station for each of a plurality of neighboring cells. Number data indicating at least one of a number and a relative number of user equipments within the outer region of a cell is also determined by each base station from the timing of a signal between the base station and the user equipment. The power data and the number data is transmitted to a central manager, where the power data and the number data for the cells is processed to compute a power level in each of a plurality of sub-bands for transmission by each base station. The computed power level in each sub-band is transmitted back to each base station for the control of the power level transmitted by the base station in each sub-band.

Claims

1. A method of managing inter-cell interference for a plurality of neighboring wireless communication cells in a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving, from each of a plurality of base stations, power data indicative of a received power level for a signal from the base station for any user equipment in an outer region of a cell, and number data indicating at least one of a number and a relative number of user equipments within the outer region of a cell, the number data being obtained at each base station from the timing of a signal between the base station and the user equipment, the outer region of each cell abutting the outer region of neighboring cells;

processing the received data for the cells to compute a power level in each of a plurality of sub-bands for transmission by each base station; and

transmitting the computed power level in each sub-band to each base station for the control of the power level transmitted by the base station in each sub-band to the inner and outer regions of a corresponding cell.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein received data for the cells is further processed to allocate the sub-bands to be used, and the allocation of the sub-bands is transmitted with the computed power level to each base station.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the number data received from each base station comprises an indication of the number of user equipments in the outer region relative to the number of all user equipments in a cell.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the power data from each base station is indicative of an average received power level for a signal from the base station for all user equipments in the outer region of a cell.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein each base station communicates with user equipments in a plurality of cells lying in a plurality of different sectors around the base station, each sector having a respective outer region, and the power data and the number data is determined by a base station for each cell.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving further power data indicative of a received power level for a signal from the base station for at least one user equipment in the outer region of a cell after the control of the power level transmitted by the base station in each sub-band, determining if the inter-cell interference has improved, and if not, modifying the computing of the power level for use in future computations.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless network comprises a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, the base station comprises an eNodeB, the timing signal is a timing advance signal used to maintain uplink time alignment, and the received power level comprises a Reference Signal Receive Power (RSRP) for each user equipment (UE).

8. A computer apparatus for managing inter-cell interference for a plurality of neighboring wireless communication cells in a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

an interface for receiving, from each of a plurality of base stations, power data indicative of a received power level for a signal from the base station for any user equipment in an outer region of a cell, and number data indicating at least one of a number and a relative number of user equipments within the outer region of a cell, the number data being obtained at each base station from the timing of a signal between the base station and the user equipment, the outer region of each cell abutting the outer region of neighboring cells; and

a processor for processing the received data for the cells to compute a power level in each of a plurality of sub-bands for transmission by each base station;

wherein the interface is adapted to be controlled by the processor to transmit the computed power level in each sub-band to each base station for the control of the power level transmitted by the base station in each sub-band to the inner and outer regions of a corresponding cell.

9. A computer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the number data received from each base station comprises an indication of the number of user equipments in the outer region relative to the number of all user equipments in a cell.

10. A computer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the power data from each base station is indicative of an average received power level for a signal from the base station for all user equipments in the outer region of a cell.

11. A computer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each base station communicates with user equipments in plurality of cells lying in a plurality of different sectors around the base station, each sector having a respective outer region, and the power data and the number data is determined by a base station for each cell.

12. A computer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the network interface is further adapted to receive further power data indicative of a received power level for a signal from the base station for at least one user equipment in the outer region of a cell after the control of the power level transmitted by the base station in each sub-band, the processor is adapted to determine if the inter-cell interference has improved, and if not, to modify the computing of the power level for use in future computations.

13. A computer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the wireless network comprises a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, the base station comprises an eNodeB, the timing signal is a timing advance signal used to maintain uplink time alignment, and the received power level comprises a Reference Signal Receive Power (RSRP) for each user equipment (UE).

14. An eNodeB base station for managing inter-cell interference from a plurality of neighboring wireless communication cells in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, the eNodeB comprising

a processor for determining power data indicative of a received power level for a signal from the eNodeB for any user equipment in an outer region of a cell, the received power level comprising a Reference Signal Receive Power (RSRP) for each user equipment, the outer region of each cell abutting the outer region of neighboring cells, and for determining number data indicating at least one of a number and a relative number of user equipments within the outer region of a cell, the number data being determined from the timing of a signal between the eNodeB and the user equipment, the timing signal being a timing advance signal used to maintain uplink time alignment;

and

an interface to transmit the power data and the number data to a computer system to compute a power level in each of a plurality of sub-bands for transmission by the eNodeBs, the computing comprising computing the power level for a plurality of eNodeBs using the received power data and number data for the eNodeBs, and to receive the computed power level for each sub-band;

wherein the processor is adapted to control the power level transmitted by the eNodeB in each sub-band to the inner and outer regions of a corresponding cell.

15. An eNodeB base station according to claim 14, wherein the computer system further processes the power data and the number data to allocate the sub-bands to be used by the eNodeB, the allocation of the sub-bands is received with the computed power level, and the sub-bands used for transmission are allocated accordingly.

16. An eNodeB base station according to claim 14, wherein the number data is determined to comprise an indication of the number of user equipments in the outer region relative to the number of all user equipments in a cell.

17. An eNodeB base station according to claim 14, wherein the power data is determined to be indicative of an average received power level for a signal from the eNodeB for all user equipments in the outer region of a cell.

18. An eNodeB base station according to claim 14, wherein each eNodeB communicates with user equipments in plurality of cells lying in a plurality of different sectors around the eNodeB, each sector having a respective outer region, and the power data and the number data is determined by an eNodeB for each cell.

19. An eNodeB base station according to claim 14, wherein the interface is adapted to transmit further power data to the computer system, the further power data being indicative of a received power level for a signal from the eNodeB for at least one user equipment in the outer region of a cell after the control of the power level transmitted by the eNodeB in each sub-band, for the determination of whether the inter-cell interference has improved by the computer system, to modify the computing of the power level for use in future computations if not.

20. A system in a base station in a wireless network, the system comprising:

an antenna arrangement for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from user equipments in a communications cell;

a processor for determining power data indicative of a received power level for a signal from the antenna arrangement received by any user equipment in an outer region of a cell, and number data indicating at least one of a number and a relative number of user equipments within the outer region of a cell, the number data being determined from the timing of a signal between the antenna arrangement and the user equipment, the outer region of each cell being adjacent to the outer region of neighboring cells; and

an interface to transmit the power data and the number data to a computer system to compute a power level in each of a plurality of sub-bands for transmission by the antenna arrangement, the computing system computing the power level for a plurality of base stations using the received power data and number data for the base stations, and to receive the computed power level in each sub-band;

wherein the processor is adapted to control the power level transmitted by the antenna arrangement in each sub-band to the inner and outer regions of a cell.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the computer system further processes the power data and the number data to allocate the sub-bands to be used by the base station, and the interface is adapted to receive the allocation of the sub-bands with the computed power level, and the processor is adapted to use the allocated sub-bands for transmission accordingly.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein the processor is adapted to determine the number data to comprise an indication of the number of user equipments in the outer region relative to the number of all user equipments in a cell.

23. A system according to claim 20, wherein the processor is adapted to determine the power data to be indicative of an average received power level for a signal from the antenna arrangement for all user equipments in the outer region of a cell.

24. A system according to claim 20, wherein each base station communicates with user equipments in plurality of cells lying in a plurality of different sectors around the base station, each sector having a respective outer region, and the processor is adapted to determine the power data and the number data for each cell.

25. A system according to claim 20, wherein the interface is adapted to transmit further power data to the computer system, the further power data being indicative of a received power level for a signal from the antenna arrangement for at least one user equipment in the outer region of the cell after the control of the power level transmitted by the base station in each sub-band, for the determination of whether the inter-cell interference has improved by the computer system, to modify the computing of the power level for use in future computations if not.

26. A system according to claim 20, wherein the wireless network comprises a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, the base station comprises an eNodeB, the timing signal is a timing advance signal used to maintain uplink time alignment, and the transmit power level comprises a Reference Signal Receive Power (RSRP) for each user equipment (UE).

27. A method of operating a base station to manage inter-cell interference from a plurality of neighboring wireless communication cells in a wireless network, the method comprising:

determining power data indicative of a received power level for a signal from a base station for any user equipment in an outer region of a cell, the outer region of each cell abutting the outer region of neighboring cells, and for determining number data indicating at least one of a number and a relative number of user equipments within the outer region of a cell, the number data being determined from the timing of a signal between the base station and the user equipment;

transmitting the power data and the number data to a computer system to compute a power level in each of a plurality of sub-bands for transmission by the base station, the computing comprising computing the power level for a plurality of base stations using the received power data and number data for the base stations;

receiving the computed power level for each sub-band; and

controlling the power level transmitted by the base station in each sub-band to the inner and outer regions of a corresponding cell.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the computer system further processes the power data and the number data to allocate the sub-bands to be used by the base station, the method including receiving the allocation of the sub-bands with the computed power level, and using the allocated sub-bands for transmission accordingly.

29. A method according to claim 27, wherein the number data is determined to comprise an indication of the number of user equipments in the outer region relative to the number of all user equipments in a cell.

30. A method according to claim 27, wherein the power data is determined to be indicative of an average received power level for a signal from the base station for all user equipments in the outer region of a cell.

31. A method according to claim 27, wherein each base station communicates with user equipments in plurality of cells lying in a plurality of different sectors around the base station, each sector having a respective outer region, and the power data and the number data are determined by a base station for each cell.

32. A method according to claim 27, including transmitting further power data to the computer system, the further power data being indicative of a received power level for a signal from the base station for at least one user equipment in the outer region of a cell after the control of the power level transmitted by the base station in each sub-band, for the determination of whether the inter-cell interference has improved by the computer system, and modifying the computing of the power level for use in future computations if not.

33. A method according to claim 27, wherein the wireless network comprises a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, the base station comprises an eNodeB, the timing signal is a timing advance signal used to maintain uplink time alignment, and the received power level comprises a Reference Signal Receive Power (RSRP) for each user equipment (UE).

34. A non-transient storage medium storing code for controlling a computer system to manage inter-cell interference for a plurality of neighboring wireless communication cells in a wireless network, the code comprising:

code for controlling the computer system to receive, from each of a plurality of base stations, power data indicative of a received power level for a signal from the base station for an user equipment in an outer region of a cell, and number data indicating at least one of a number and a relative number of user equipments within the outer region of a cell, the number data being obtained at each base station from the timing of a signal between the base station and the user equipment, the outer region of each cell abutting the outer region of neighboring cells;

code for controlling the computer system to process the received data for the cells to compute a power level in each of a plurality of sub-bands for transmission by each base station; and

code for controlling the computer system to transmit the computed power level in each sub-band to each base station for the control of the power level transmitted by the base station in each sub-band to the inner and outer regions of a corresponding cell.

35. A non-transient storage medium storing code for controlling a base station to manage inter-cell interference from a plurality of neighboring wireless communication cells in a wireless network, the code comprising:

code for controlling the base station to determine power data indicative of a received power level for a signal from a base station for any user equipment in an outer region of a cell, the outer region of each cell abutting the outer region of neighboring cells, and for determining number data indicating at least one of a number and a relative number of user equipments within the outer region of a cell, the number data being determined from the timing of a signal between the base station and the user equipment;

code for controlling the base station to transmit the power data and the number data to a computer system to compute a power level in each of a plurality of sub-bands for transmission by the base station, the computing comprising computing the power level for a plurality of base stations using the received power data and number data for the base stations;

code for controlling the base station to receive the computed power level for each sub-band; and

controlling the power level transmitted by the base station in each sub-band to the inner and outer regions of a corresponding cell.