Dynamic almost blank subframe allocation

• US 9,277,562 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2015
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ofinno Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmael Hejazi
• Primary Examiner(s): Zaidi, Iqbal
• Application Number:
  US14/605,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20150139018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 370328-339, 370433-473, 370130-140
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2656 for structure of frame, burst
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/33 by plural channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/00 Orthogonal multiplex systems, e.g. using WALSH codesH04J13/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/005 of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0073 Allocation arrangements that take into account other cell interferences for intercell interference mitigation or co-ordination in orthogonal multiplex systems H04J11/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• 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 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

After an increase in the number of wireless devices or traffic load by an amount greater than a value, a base station transmits a message. The message comprises an updated subframe allocation bitmap indicating a second plurality of subframes including an updated plurality of almost blank subframes. The updated plurality of almost blank subframes includes a smaller number of almost blank subframes than an initial plurality of almost blank subframes.

Claims

1. A base station comprising:

a) one or more communication interfaces;

b) one or more processors; and

c) memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause said base station to;

i) transmit a first message comprising;

(1) an initial subframe allocation repetition period;

(2) an initial subframe allocation offset; and

(3) an initial subframe allocation bitmap indicating an initial plurality of subframes, said initial plurality of subframes comprising an initial plurality of Almost Blank Subframes; and

ii) transmit, after an increase in traffic load of said base station by an amount greater than a load value, a second message comprising;

(1) said initial subframe allocation repetition period;

(2) said initial subframe allocation offset; and

(3) an updated subframe allocation bitmap different from said initial subframe allocation bitmap, said updated subframe allocation bitmap indicating a second plurality of subframes, said second plurality of subframes comprising an updated plurality of Almost Blank Subframes, said updated plurality of Almost Blank Subframes comprising a smaller number of Almost Blank Subframes than said initial plurality of Almost Blank Subframes.

2. The base station of claim 1, wherein during a majority of symbols of an Almost Blank Subframe of said base station:

signals are transmitted at an Almost Blank Subframe power level that is substantially lower than a transmit power during a non-Almost Blank Subframe.

3. The base station of claim 1, wherein said instructions, when executed, further cause said base station to transmit a third message to a second base station after an increase in the traffic load carried by said base station by an amount greater than said load value, said third message comprising a first pattern bitmap indicating said updated plurality of Almost Blank Subframes.

4. The base station of claim 1, wherein said second message further comprises a second pattern bitmap indicating a subset of said updated first Almost Blank Subframes, said second pattern bitmap employed to configure measurement parameters for a wireless device.

5. The base station of claim 1, wherein traffic load carried by said base station increases when the number of wireless devices connected to said base station increases.

6. The base station of claim 1, wherein traffic load carried by said base station increases when downlink or uplink radio resource utilization increases.

7. The base station of claim 1, wherein said instructions, when executed, further cause said base station to transmit in said Almost Blank Subframe, a common reference signal only in a control region.

8. The base station of claim 1, wherein said first message and said second message are broadcast employing a physical downlink shared channel.

9. The base station of claim 1, wherein said second message further comprises:

a) a first measurement subframe allocation bitmap identifying a first plurality of measurement subframes, said first plurality of measurement subframes excluding said updated plurality of Almost Blank Subframes;

b) a second measurement subframe allocation bitmap identifying a second plurality of measurement subframes, said second plurality of measurement subframes excluding subframes in said first plurality of measurement subframes.

10. A method comprising:

a) transmitting, by a base station, a first message comprising;

(i) an initial subframe allocation repetition period;

(ii) an initial subframe allocation offset; and

(iii) an initial subframe allocation bitmap indicating an initial plurality of subframes, said initial plurality of subframes comprising an initial plurality of Almost Blank Subframes; and

b) transmitting, by said base station and after an increase in traffic load of said base station by an amount greater than a load value, a second message comprising;

(i) said initial subframe allocation repetition period;

(ii) said initial subframe allocation offset; and

(iii) an updated subframe allocation bitmap different from said initial subframe allocation bitmap, said updated subframe allocation bitmap indicating a second plurality of subframes, said second plurality of subframes comprising an updated plurality of Almost Blank Subframes, said updated plurality of Almost Blank Subframes comprising a smaller number of Almost Blank Subframes than said initial plurality of Almost Blank Subframes.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein during a majority of symbols of an Almost Blank Subframe of said base station:

signals are transmitted at an Almost Blank Subframe power level that is substantially lower than a transmit power during a non-Almost Blank Subframe.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said second message further comprises a second pattern bitmap indicating a subset of said updated first Almost Blank Subframes, said second pattern bitmap employed to configure measurement parameters for a wireless device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein traffic load carried by said base station increases when the number of wireless devices connected to said base station increases.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein traffic load carried by said base station increases when downlink or uplink radio resource utilization increases.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting, by said base station, in said Almost Blank Subframe, a common reference signal only in a control region.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said first message and said second message are broadcast employing a physical downlink shared channel.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting, by said base station, a third message to a second base station after an increase in the traffic load carried by said base station by an amount greater than said load value, said third message comprising a first pattern bitmap indicating said updated plurality of Almost Blank Subframes.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising

a) transmitting, by said second base station, a fourth message comprising an initial second subframe allocation bitmap indicating an initial second plurality of subframes, said initial second plurality of subframes comprising an initial second plurality of Almost Blank Subframes, coverage area of said first base station overlapping coverage area of said second base station;

and

b) transmitting, by said second base station and after said increase in the traffic load carried by said base station, a fifth message comprising an updated second subframe allocation bitmap indicating an updated second plurality of subframes, said updated second plurality of subframes comprising an updated second plurality of Almost Blank Subframes, said updated second plurality of Almost Blank Subframes comprising a greater number of Almost Blank Subframes than said initial second plurality of Almost Blank Subframes.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said first message, said second message, said fourth message and said fifth message are broadcast.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein said second message further comprises:

a) a first measurement subframe allocation bitmap identifying a first plurality of measurement subframes, said first plurality of measurement subframes excluding said updated plurality of Almost Blank Subframes;

b) a second measurement subframe allocation bitmap identifying a second plurality of measurement subframes, said second plurality of measurement subframes excluding subframes in said first plurality of measurement subframes.