Fractional frequency reuse schemes assigned to clusters of radio nodes in an LTE radio access network
First Claim
1. A method of allocating frequencies in a radio access network (RAN) that includes a plurality of radio nodes each associated with a cell and a services node operatively coupled to the radio nodes, the method comprising:
- dividing the radio nodes (RNs) in the RAN into a plurality of clusters of RNs;
generating a fractional frequency reuse (FFR) pattern for each cluster;
allocating transmission resources to the radio nodes in each cluster in accordance with the respective FFR pattern that is generated for each cluster, wherein dividing the RNs into the plurality of clusters is performed by the services node, the services node providing connectivity to a core network, wherein the cell associated with each RN includes a cell interior and a cell edge and generating the FFR pattern for each cluster includes allocating a common center band of frequencies to the RNs for use by UEs in the cell interior of each cell in each cluster and cell edge frequencies are allocated to the RNs for use by UEs transmitting or receiving high priority messages.
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for allocating frequencies in a radio access network (RAN) that includes a plurality of radio nodes each associated with a cell and a services node operatively coupled to the radio nodes. In accordance with the method, the radio nodes (RNs) in the RAN are divided into a plurality of clusters of RNs. A fractional frequency reuse (FFR) pattern is generated for each cluster. Transmission resources are allocated to the radio nodes in each cluster in accordance with the respective FFR pattern that is generated for each cluster.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. A method of allocating frequencies in a radio access network (RAN) that includes a plurality of radio nodes each associated with a cell and a services node operatively coupled to the radio nodes, the method comprising:
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dividing the radio nodes (RNs) in the RAN into a plurality of clusters of RNs; generating a fractional frequency reuse (FFR) pattern for each cluster; allocating transmission resources to the radio nodes in each cluster in accordance with the respective FFR pattern that is generated for each cluster, wherein dividing the RNs into the plurality of clusters is performed by the services node, the services node providing connectivity to a core network, wherein the cell associated with each RN includes a cell interior and a cell edge and generating the FFR pattern for each cluster includes allocating a common center band of frequencies to the RNs for use by UEs in the cell interior of each cell in each cluster and cell edge frequencies are allocated to the RNs for use by UEs transmitting or receiving high priority messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of allocating frequencies in a radio access network (RAN) that includes a plurality of radio nodes each associated with a cell and a services node operatively coupled to the radio nodes, the method comprising:
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dividing the radio nodes (RNs) in the RAN into a plurality of clusters of RNs; generating a fractional frequency reuse (FFR) pattern for each cluster; allocating transmission resources to the radio nodes in each cluster in accordance with the respective FFR pattern that is generated for each cluster; updating the FFR pattern for at least one of the clusters at a rate that depends at least in part a signaling load on links between the services node and the RNs in the at least one of the clusters. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method of allocating frequencies in a radio access network (RAN) that includes a plurality of radio nodes each associated with a cell and a services node operatively coupled to the radio nodes, the method comprising:
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dividing the radio nodes (RNs) in the RAN into a plurality of clusters of RNs; generating a fractional frequency reuse (FFR) pattern for each cluster; allocating transmission resources to the radio nodes in each cluster in accordance with the respective FFR pattern that is generated for each cluster; updating the FFR pattern for at least one of the clusters at a rate that depends at least in part on a rate at which channel conditions change. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method of allocating frequencies in a radio access network (RAN) that includes a plurality of radio nodes each associated with a cell and a services node operatively coupled to the radio nodes, the method comprising:
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dividing the radio nodes (RNs) in the RAN into a plurality of clusters of RNs; generating a fractional frequency reuse (FFR) pattern for each cluster; allocating transmission resources to the radio nodes in each cluster in accordance with the respective FFR pattern that is generated for each cluster, wherein the transmission resources are frequencies used for uplink and downlink transmission, the cell associated with each RN including a cell interior and a cell edge and further wherein, for at least one of the clusters, a size of the cell interior or cell edge associated with a given one of the RNs for purposes uplink transmission is different from the size of the cell interior or cell edge associated with the given RN for purposes of downlink transmission. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A method of allocating frequencies in a radio access network (RAN) that includes a plurality of radio nodes each associated with a cell and a services node operatively coupled to the radio nodes, the method comprising:
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dividing the radio nodes (RNs) in the RAN into a plurality of clusters of RNs; generating a fractional frequency reuse (FFR) pattern for each cluster; allocating transmission resources to the radio nodes in each cluster in accordance with the respective FFR pattern that is generated for each cluster, wherein dividing the RNs into the plurality of clusters is performed by the services node; updating the FFR pattern for at least one of the clusters at a rate that depends at least in part a signaling load on links between the services node and the RNs in the at least one of the clusters. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74)
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Specification