Semi-persistent scheduling grants in heterogeneous networks

• US 9,288,004 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Barbieri, Alan, Xu, Hao, Vajapeyam, Madhavan Srinivasan, Damnjanovic, Aleksandar
• Primary Examiner(s): Mew, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/974,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20130343355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1694 Allocation of channels in TDM/TDMA networks, e.g. distributed multiplexers Passive Optical Networks H04Q11/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Time division multiplexing (TDM) partitioning is one of the inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) mechanisms considered for a heterogeneous network (HetNet) ICIC in a co-channel deployment. For example, in subframes that are pre-allocated to an evolved Node B (eNB), neighbor eNBs may not transmit, hence interference experienced by served user equipments (UEs) may be reduced. Semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grants may have various available periodicities, which may not be compatible with TDM partitioning. Therefore, a UE may miss an SPS opportunity that was scheduled for a subframe that was not usable by the UE. Hence, using SPS grants with small periodicities in a heterogeneous network with TDM partitioning may require changes which may include adjusting the periodicities of the SPS grants, rescheduling of uplink SPS messages based on resource partitioning information (RPI), and/or determining RPI based on current SPS grants.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

determining partitioning information having a first periodicity, wherein the partitioning information includes at least information that identifies subframes that are usable by a mobile station (MS) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving base station (BS) and one or more non-serving BSs;

scheduling the MS based, at least in part, on the partitioning information determined; and

exchanging transmissions with the MS according to the scheduling.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling comprises sending a grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the grant message has a second periodicity determined based, at least in part, on the partitioning information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the partitioning information further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the MS.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the scheduling comprises sending a grant message, wherein the grant message comprises an offset from a subframe corresponding to a grant opportunity, wherein the offset indicates a subframe for use if the subframe corresponding to the grant opportunity is unknown or not usable by the MS.

6. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for determining partitioning information having a first periodicity, wherein the partitioning information includes at least information that identifies subframes that are usable by a mobile station (MS) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving base station (BS) and one or more non-serving BSs;

means for scheduling the MS based, at least in part, on the partitioning information determined; and

means for exchanging transmissions with the MS according to the scheduling.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means for scheduling comprises means for sending a grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the grant message has a second periodicity determined based, at least in part, on the partitioning information.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the partitioning information further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the MS.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for scheduling comprises means for sending a grant message, wherein the grant message comprises an offset from a subframe corresponding to a grant opportunity, wherein the offset indicates a subframe for use if the subframe corresponding to the grant opportunity is unknown or not usable by the MS.

11. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, and configured to;

determine partitioning information having a first periodicity, wherein the partitioning information includes at least information that identifies subframes that are usable by a mobile station (MS) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving base station (BS) and one or more non-serving BSs;

schedule the MS based, at least in part, on the partitioning information determined; and

exchange transmissions with the MS according to the schedule.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor configured to schedule comprises the at least one processor configured to send a grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the grant message has a second periodicity determined based, at least in part, on the partitioning information.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the partitioning information further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the MS.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor configured to schedule comprises the at least one processor configured to send a grant message, wherein the grant message comprises an offset from a subframe corresponding to a grant opportunity, wherein the offset indicates a subframe for use if the subframe corresponding to the grant opportunity is unknown or not usable by the MS.

16. A computer-program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprising code to be executed by a processor for:

determining partitioning information having a first periodicity, wherein the partitioning information includes at least information that identifies subframes that are usable by a mobile station (MS) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving base station (BS) and one or more non-serving BSs;

scheduling the MS based, at least in part, on the partitioning information determined; and

exchanging transmissions with the MS according to the scheduling.

17. The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein the scheduling comprises sending a grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions.

18. The computer-program product of claim 17, wherein the grant message has a second periodicity determined based, at least in part, on the partitioning information.

19. The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein the partitioning information further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the MS.

20. The computer-program product of claim 19, wherein the scheduling comprises sending a grant message, wherein the grant message comprises an offset from a subframe corresponding to a grant opportunity, wherein the offset indicates a subframe for use if the subframe corresponding to the grant opportunity is unknown or not usable by the MS.

21. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

receiving a schedule for scheduled transmissions, wherein the schedule is determined based, at least in part, on partitioning information having a first periodicity, wherein the partitioning information includes at least information that identifies subframes that are usable by a mobile station (MS) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving base station (BS) and one or more non-serving BSs; and

exchanging the scheduled transmissions with the serving BS according to the schedule.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving the schedule comprises receiving a grant message identifying one or more subframes for the scheduled transmissions, wherein the grant message has a second periodicity determined based, at least in part, on the partitioning information.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the partitioning information further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the MS.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the receiving the schedule comprises receiving a grant message, wherein the grant message comprises an offset from a subframe corresponding to a grant opportunity, wherein the offset indicates a subframe for use if the subframe corresponding to the grant opportunity is unknown or not usable by the MS.

25. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving a schedule for scheduled transmissions, wherein the schedule is determined based, at least in part, on partitioning information having a first periodicity, wherein the partitioning information includes at least information that identifies subframes that are usable by a mobile station (MS) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving base station (BS) and one or more non-serving BSs; and

means for exchanging the scheduled transmissions with the serving BS according to the schedule.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for receiving the schedule comprises means for receiving a grant message identifying one or more subframes for the scheduled transmissions, wherein the grant message has a second periodicity determined based, at least in part, on the partitioning information.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the partitioning information further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the MS.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for receiving the schedule comprises means for receiving a grant message, wherein the grant message comprises an offset from a subframe corresponding to a grant opportunity, wherein the offset indicates a subframe for use if the subframe corresponding to the grant opportunity is unknown or not usable by the MS.

29. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, and configured to;

receive a schedule for scheduled transmissions, wherein the schedule is determined based, at least in part, on partitioning information having a first periodicity, wherein the partitioning information includes at least information that identifies subframes that are usable by a mobile station (MS) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving base station (BS) and one or more non-serving BSs; and

exchange the scheduled transmissions with the serving BS according to the schedule.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor configured to receive the schedule comprises the at least one processor configured to receive a grant message identifying one or more subframes for the scheduled transmissions, wherein the grant message has a second periodicity determined based, at least in part, on the partitioning information.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the partitioning information further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the MS.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one processor configured to receive the schedule for scheduled transmissions comprises the at least one processor configured to receive a grant message, wherein the grant message comprises an offset from a subframe corresponding to a grant opportunity, wherein the offset indicates a subframe for use if the subframe corresponding to the grant opportunity is unknown or not usable by the MS.

33. A computer-program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprising code to be executed by a processor for:

receiving a schedule for scheduled transmissions, wherein the schedule is determined based, at least in part, on partitioning information having a first periodicity, wherein the partitioning information includes at least information that identifies subframes that are usable by a mobile station (MS) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving base station (BS) and one or more non-serving BSs; and

exchanging the scheduled transmissions with the serving BS according to the schedule.

34. The computer-program product of claim 33, wherein the receiving the schedule comprises receiving a grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions, wherein the grant message has a second periodicity determined based, at least in part, on the partitioning information.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the partitioning information further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the MS.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the receiving the schedule comprises co receiving a grant message, wherein the grant message comprises an offset from a subframe corresponding to a grant opportunity, wherein the offset indicates a subframe for use if the subframe corresponding to the grant opportunity is unknown or not usable by the MS.

37. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

scheduling a mobile station (MS) for transmissions on one or more subframes; and

determining partitioning information that includes at least information that identifies the one or more subframes that are usable by the MS and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving base station (BS) and one or more non-serving BSs, wherein the partitioning information is determined based, at least in part, on the scheduling.

38. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for scheduling a mobile station (MS) for transmissions on one or more subframes; and

means for determining partitioning information that includes at least information that identifies the one or more subframes that are usable by the MS and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving base station (BS) and one or more non-serving BSs, wherein the partitioning information is determined based, at least in part, on the scheduling.

39. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, and configured to;

schedule a mobile station (MS) for transmissions on one or more subframes; and

determine partitioning information that includes at least information that identifies the one or more subframes that are usable by the MS and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving base station (BS) and one or more non-serving BSs, wherein the partitioning information is determined based, at least in part, on the schedule.

40. A computer-program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprising code to be executed by a processor for:

scheduling a mobile station (MS) for transmissions on one or more subframes; and

determining partitioning information that includes at least information that identifies the one or more subframes that are usable by the MS and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving base station (BS) and one or more non-serving BSs, wherein the partitioning information is determined based, at least in part, on the scheduling.