Method for administering radio resources by monitoring the interference situation

• US 20030134639A1
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Karger, Stephan
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference

Abstract

In a method for administering radio resources in a mobile radio cell, which includes a plurality of mobile terminals which are distinguishable by their radio signals, and a base station, the administration of radio resources of a mobile radio cell is improved to such an extent that the available radio resources are utilized more economically. A mobile terminal is requested by the base station to send out a signal, currently present at a receiver of the mobile terminal, which is representative of an interference situation at the location of the mobile terminal. This is sent together with information for estimating the channel between the mobile terminal and the base station so that the base station receives raw data at the location of the mobile terminal, and evaluates the signal received from the mobile terminal and the information for estimating the channel between the mobile terminal and the base station for determining the radio sources forming the basis of the signal and the intensities of at least some of the radio sources. Further, the base station in the mobile radio cell adapts the distribution of the radio resources for improving the interference situation at the location of the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A method for administering radio resources in a mobile radio cell which includes a plurality of mobile terminals which can be distinguished by their radio signals, and a base station, the method comprising:

requesting a mobile terminal to send out a signal currently present at a receiver of a mobile terminal, the signal being representative of an interference situation at the location of the mobile terminal, together with information for estimating the channel between the mobile terminal and the base station so that the base station receives raw data at the location of the mobile terminal;

evaluating the signal received from the mobile terminal and the information for estimating the channel between the mobile terminal and the base station for determining the radio sources forming the basis of the signal and the intensities of at least some of the radio sources; and

adapting, in the base station in the mobile radio cell, the distribution of the radio resources for improving the interference situation at the location of the mobile terminal.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the case where the mobile terminal wishes to establish a communication link with a second mobile terminal, the base station initializes a direct link between the mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal if, as a result, the interference situation is improved at the location of the mobile terminal.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a direct link between the mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal is established if the strongest radio source identified in the sequence of samples is the second mobile terminal, taking into account the interference situation in the radio cell overall.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein all mobile terminals in the mobile radio cell repetitively send out received raw data signals to the base station and wherein, on the basis of these signals, the base station checks the distribution of the radio resources in the mobile radio cell.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein all mobile terminals in the mobile radio cell repetitively send out received raw data signals to the base station and wherein, on the basis of these signals, the base station checks the distribution of the radio resources in the mobile radio cell.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein all mobile terminals in the mobile radio cell repetitively send out received raw data signals to the base station and wherein, on the basis of these signals, the base station checks the distribution of the radio resources in the mobile radio cell.

7. A method for administering radio resources in a mobile radio cell which includes a plurality of mobile terminals which can be distinguished by their radio signals, and a base station, the method comprising:

receiving a request from the base station to send out a signal currently present at a receiver of a mobile terminal, the signal being representative of an interference situation at the location of the mobile terminal, together with information for estimating the channel between the mobile terminal and the base station so that the base station receives raw data at the location of the mobile terminal, wherein the signal received from the mobile terminal and the information for estimating the channel between the mobile terminal and the base station for determining the radio sources form the basis of the signal and the intensities of at least some of the radio sources and wherein, in the base station in the mobile radio cell, the distribution of the radio resources are adapted to improve the interference situation at the location of the mobile terminal.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in the case where the mobile terminal wishes to establish a communication link with a second mobile terminal, a direct link between the mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal is initialized by the base station if, as a result, the interference situation is improved at the location of the mobile terminal.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein a direct link between the mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal is established if the strongest radio source identified in the sequence of samples is the second mobile terminal, taking into account the interference situation in the radio cell overall.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein all mobile terminals in the mobile radio cell repetitively send out received raw data signals to the base station and wherein, on the basis of these signals, the distribution of the radio resources in the mobile radio cell is checked by the base station.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein all mobile terminals in the mobile radio cell repetitively send out received raw data signals to the base station and wherein, on the basis of these signals, the distribution of the radio resources in the mobile radio cell is checked by the base station.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein all mobile terminals in the mobile radio cell repetitively send out received raw data signals to the base station and wherein, on the basis of these signals, the distribution of the radio resources in the mobile radio cell is checked by the base station.

13. A system for administering radio resources in a mobile radio cell which includes a plurality of mobile terminals which can be distinguished by their radio signals, and a base station, the system comprising:

means for requesting a mobile terminal to send out a signal currently present at a receiver of the mobile terminal, the signal being representative of an interference situation at the location of the mobile terminal, together with information for estimating the channel between the mobile terminal and the base station so that the base station receives raw data at the location of the mobile terminal;

means for evaluating the signal received from the mobile terminal and the information for estimating the channel between the mobile terminal and the base station for determining the radio sources forming the basis of the signal and the intensities of at least some of the radio sources; and

means for adapting, in the base station in the mobile radio cell, the distribution of the radio resources for improving the interference situation at the location of the mobile terminal.