Muting data transmissions

• US 9,226,291 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Michel, Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US13/876,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20130223416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/38 TPC being performed in particular situations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method includes determining at least one first station and at least one second station have a relative timing difference. The method then determines a muting schedule for the at least one first station for a plurality of sub-frames, wherein the muting schedule includes at least two adjacent muted sub-frames. The method further includes initiating sending an indication of the muting schedule to the at least one first station and the at least one second station wherein information on one or more channels is transmitted from the at least one second station during the at least two adjacent muted sub-frames.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining at least one first access node and at least one second access node have a relative timing difference;

determining a muting schedule for the at least one first access node for a plurality of sub-frames, wherein the muting schedule comprises at least two adjacent muted sub-frames; and

initiating sending an indication of the muting schedule to the at least one first access node and the at least one second access node wherein information on one or more channels is transmitted from the at least one second access node during the at least two adjacent muted sub-frames.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the muting schedule comprises an arrangement of muting sub-frames over a plurality of frames.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the arrangement of muting sub-frames is different between each frame of the plurality of frames.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the first access node is muted for at least one sub-frame of sub-frames in the same relative position in each frame the muting schedule.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the muting schedule comprises an arrangement of muting sub-frames repeated every 3 or 4 frames.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the muting schedule comprises at least two unmuted sub-frames for the at least one first access node to transmit information on the one or more control channels.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the information is sent on one or more control channels and the information comprises one or more of the following:

information associated with a primary broadcast channel, information associated with a synchronisation channel, system information and paging information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the method comprises modifying the muting schedule by switching one or more of the sub-frames between a muted stated and an unmuted state.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the switching is performed after the indication of the muting schedule is sent to the at least one first access node and the at least one second access node.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the modifying the muting schedule is carried out after determining the timing difference between the at least one first access node and the at least one second access node.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the muting schedule comprises not muting sub-frames during which the at least one first access node performs an uplink HARQ procedure.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein determining when the first and second access nodes are unsynchronized and determining the muting schedule is based on information received from the at least one first access node.

13. A controlling apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to determine at least one first access node and at least one second access node have a relative timing difference;

determine a muting schedule for the at least one first access node for a plurality of sub-frames, wherein the muting schedule comprises at least two adjacent muted sub-frames; and

initiate sending an indication of the muting schedule to the at least one first access node and the at least one second access node wherein information on one or more channels is transmitted from the at least one second access node during the at least two adjacent muted sub-frames.

14. The controlling apparatus of claim 13 wherein the muting schedule comprises an arrangement of muting sub-frames over a plurality of frames.

15. The controlling apparatus of claim 14 wherein the arrangement of muting sub-frames is different between each frame of the plurality of frames.

16. The controlling apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first access node is muted for at least one sub-frame of sub-frames in the same relative position in each frame the muting schedule.

17. The controlling apparatus of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to modify the muting schedule by switching one or more of the sub-frames between a muted stated and an unmated state.

18. The controlling apparatus of claim 17 wherein the switching is performed after the indication of the muting schedule is sent to the at least one first access node and the at least one second access node.

19. controlling apparatus of claim 17 wherein the modifying the muting schedule is carried out after determining the timing difference between the at least one first access node and the at least one second access node.

20. A computer-readable memory storing computer-executable program code instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to perform actions comprising:

determine at least one first access node and at least one second station have a relative timing difference;

determine a muting schedule for the at least one first access node for a plurality of sub-frames, wherein the muting schedule comprises at least two adjacent muted sub-frames; and

initiate sending an indication of the muting schedule to the at least one first station and the at least one second station wherein information on one or more channels is transmitted from the at least one second access node during the at least two adjacent muted sub-frames.