Pilot signal assignment

• US 9,253,769 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2011
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Tidestav, Claes
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kirillova, Ellen A
• Application Number:
  US14/002,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20130336157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A base station and a method therein are provided for supporting pilot channel selection for a mobile station. A base station has disposal of at least two pilot channels in its cell, and determines pilot channel(s) out of the pilot channels suitable to use for the mobile station. If the determined pilot channel(s) is not currently being used by the mobile station, then the base station starts to transmit the determined pilot channel(s) signals to the mobile station and receives a confirmation from the mobile station confirming their use. If the mobile station was using another pilot channel of the pilot channels than the determined pilot channel(s) and if no other mobile station is using the other pilot channel, then the base station terminates transmission of the other pilot channel.

Claims

1. A method in a base station for supporting pilot channel selection for a mobile station in a wireless communication network comprising cells with base stations, wherein said base station has disposal of at least two pilot channels in its cell and each cell is divided into a plurality of cell portions, wherein said at least two pilot channels are common pilot channels, wherein each cell portion is associated with at least one respective Secondary Common Pilot Channel, S-CPICH, such that said at least two common pilot channels comprises said S-CPICHs, said method comprising:

said base station determining at least one S-CPICH, associated with a respective cell portion, suitable to use for said mobile station being located within a coverage area of said base station,

said base station starting to transmit said S-CPICH(s) and data over said cell portion associated with said S-CPICHs,

said base station signalling to said mobile station said determined S-CPICH(s) for use,

said base station receiving a confirmation from said mobile station indicating that said mobile station is using said determined S-CPICH(s),

when said mobile station was using a Primary Common Pilot Channel, P-CPICH, then said base station terminating transmission of data over the cell associated with said P-CPICH, and

when said mobile station was already using at least one old S-CPICH, then said base station terminating transmission of data over the cell portion associated with said old S-CPICH(s).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said base station performs uplink measurements and uses these measurements to determine which S-CPICH cell portion is suitable to use for said mobile station when located within said coverage area of said base station.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said measurements refer to one or both of signal strength and signal-to-interference ratio.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said base station uses downlink measurements, performed and reported by said mobile station to determine which S-CPICH is suitable to use for said mobile station when located within said coverage area of said base station.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said signalling between said base station and said mobile station is performed using layer one signalling using a dedicated order on a High-Speed Shared Control Channel, HS-SCCH.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said confirmation is received on a High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel, HSDPCCH.

7. A base station, configured to support pilot channel selection for a mobile station in a wireless communication network comprising cells with base stations wherein said base station has disposal of at least two pilot channels in its cell and each cell is divided into a plurality of cell portions, wherein said at least two pilot channels are common pilot channels, wherein each cell portion is associated with at least one respective Secondary Common Pilot Channel, S-CPICH, such that said at least two common pilot channels comprises said S-CPICHs, said base station comprising:

an antenna configured to communicate with said mobile station,

a memory coupled to a processor, and

the processor, configured to;

determine at least one S-CPICH associated with a respective cell portion suitable to use for said mobile station when located within a coverage area of said base station, and

said antenna being further configured to;

start transmitting said S-CPICH(s) and data over said cell portion associated with said S-CPICH(s),

signal to said mobile station said determined S-CPICH(s) for use,

receive a confirmation from said mobile station indicating that said mobile station is using said determined S-CPICH(s),

when said mobile station is using a Primary Common Pilot Channel, P-CPICH, then said processor is configured to terminate transmission of data over said P-CPICH, and

when said mobile station is already using at least one old S-CPICH, then said processor is configured to terminate transmission of data over the cell portion associated with said old S-CPICH(s).

8. A base station according to claim 7, wherein said processor configured to perform uplink measurements and use these measurements to determine which S-CPICH is suitable to use for said mobile station when located within said coverage area of said base station.

9. A base station according to claim 8, wherein said measurements refer to one or both of signal strength and signal-to-interference ratio.

10. A base station according to claim 7, wherein said processor is configured to use downlink measurements, performed and reported by said mobile station to determine which S-CPICH is suitable to use for said mobile station when located within said coverage area of said base station.

11. A base station according to claim 7, wherein said signalling between said base station and said mobile station is performed using layer 1 signalling using a dedicated order on a High-Speed Shared Control Channel, HS-SCCH.

12. A base station according to claim 7, wherein said processor is configured to receive said confirmation on a High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel, HS-DPCCH.

13. A method in a mobile station in a wireless communication network comprising cells with base stations wherein a base station has disposal of at least two pilot channels in its cell and each cell is divided into a plurality of cell portions, wherein said at least two pilot channels are common pilot channels, wherein each cell portion is associated with at least one respective Secondary Common Pilot Channel, S-CPICH, such that said at least two common pilot channels comprises said S-CPICHs, said method comprising:

receiving signaling from said base station comprising an indication of S-CPICH(s) to use based on a determination by said base station of at least one S-CPICH, associated with a respective cell portion, suitable to use for said mobile station being located within a coverage area of said base station,

starting to use said indicated S-CPICH,

sending a confirmation to said base station indicating use of said determined S-CPICH(s),

when said mobile station was using a Primary Common Pilot Channel, P-CPICH, then said mobile station receiving a message for terminating transmission of data over the cell associated with said P-CPICH, and

when said mobile station was already using at least one old S-CPICH, then said mobile station receiving a message for terminating transmission of data over the cell portion associated with said old S-CPICH(s).

14. A method in a mobile station according to claim 13, wherein said indicated pilot channel is a Secondary Common Pilot Channel, S-CPICH.

15. A method in a mobile station according to claim 13, wherein said signalling received from said base station is performed using layer one signalling using a dedicated order on a High-Speed Shared Control Channel, HSSCCH.

16. A method in a mobile station according to claim 13, wherein said confirmation is sent to said base station on a High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel, HS-DPCCH.

17. A wireless communication network comprising:

cells with base stations, wherein a base station has disposal of at least two pilot channels in its cell and each cell is divided into a plurality of cell portions, wherein said at least two pilot channels are common pilot channels, wherein each cell portion is associated with at least one respective Secondary Common Pilot Channel, S-CPICH, such that said at least two common pilot channels comprises said S-CPICHs and

a mobile station configured to;

receive signaling from said base station comprising an indication of S-CPICH(s) to use based on a determination by said base station of at least one S-CPICH, associated with a respective cell portion, suitable to use for said mobile station being located within a coverage area of said base station,

starting to use said indicated S-CPICH,

sending a confirmation to said base station indicating use of said determined S-CPICH(s),

when said mobile station was using a Primary Common Pilot Channel, P-CPICH, then said mobile station receiving a message for terminating transmission of data over the cell associated with said P-CPICH, and

when said mobile station was already using at least one old S-CPICH, then said mobile station receiving a message for terminating transmission of data over the cell portion associated with said old S-CPICH(s).

18. A wireless communication network according to claim 17, wherein said indicated pilot channel is a Secondary Common Pilot Channel, S-CPICH.

19. A wireless communication network according to claim 17, wherein said mobile station is adapted to receive signalling from said base station using layer one signalling using a dedicated order on a High-Speed Shared Control Channel, HS-SCCH.

20. A wireless communication network according to claim 17, wherein said mobile station is adapted to send said confirmation to said base station on a High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel, HS-DPCCH.