Methods and arrangements in a wireless communication system

• US 9,094,845 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Kazmi, Muhammad Ali, Elfstrm, Torbjrn
• Primary Examiner(s): ANWAR, MOHAMMAD S
• Application Number:
  US13/702,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20140078973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/331, 370/332
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a method executed in a network node comprised in a wireless communications network. According to the method, the network node obtains (120) information related to the form factor of a wireless device comprised in the wireless communications network. Based on the obtained information, the network node determines (1110) radio resources and/or appropriate physical layer parameters and/or configuration parameters for the wireless device. The determined radio resources and/or parameters are then used (1120) for a network operation.

Claims

1. A method executed in a network node in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:

resolving a physical form factor of a wireless device in the wireless communications network from obtained information;

determining for the wireless device and based on the physical form factor, at least one of;

radio resources;

appropriate physical layer parameters;

configuration parameters;

using the determined resources and/or parameters for a network operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises determining one or more of the following for the wireless device based on the physical form factor:

transport format;

measurement bandwidth;

measurement frequency;

operating bandwidth;

operating frequency;

power control target;

radio link quality target.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining further comprises:

assigning the wireless device to a higher frequency band or higher-frequency carrier based on the wireless device having a larger physical form factor;

assigning the wireless device to a lower frequency band or lower-frequency carrier based on the wireless device having a smaller physical form factor.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining further comprises allocating resources with a more robust transport format than indicated by conducted measurement results based on the wireless device having a smaller physical form factor or reduced radiated power.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining further comprises configuring the wireless device to perform measurements over a wider bandwidth and/or in a lower frequency band based on the wireless device having a small physical form factor.

6. The method of claim 5:

wherein the network node is a positioning node;

wherein the measurements are critical positioning measurements.

7. The method of claim 1:

wherein the network node is a target base station;

wherein the using comprises using the determined resources and/or parameters for radio resource preparation at handover to the target base station.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining updated physical form factor information for the wireless device;

using the updated information for a network operation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein resolving the physical form factor from obtained information comprises:

obtaining measurement results for the wireless device, radio resource usage for the wireless device, or an achieved bit rate for the wireless device under certain conditions;

determining a physical form factor metric for the device based on comparing the measurement results, radio resource usage, or achieved bit rate with a reference value applicable under the same or similar conditions.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the conditions comprise one or more of:

radio environment;

speed of the wireless device;

carrier frequency;

antenna configuration;

location of the wireless device;

cell load;

interference;

traffic characteristics;

amount of resources assigned.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein resolving the physical form factor from obtained information comprises receiving the information from the wireless device, or from another network node.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the information from which the network node resolves the physical form factor reflects one or more of:

morphological characteristics;

antenna correlation characteristics;

antenna separation characteristics;

orientation of the wireless device;

material conductivity;

an indication of interaction of the wireless device with an auxiliary device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the information from which the network node resolves the physical form factor comprises an indication of which metric or metrics the physical form factor information relates to.

14. A network node, comprising:

radio circuitry;

processing circuitry operatively connected to the radio circuitry;

memory operatively connected to the processing circuitry;

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to;

resolve a physical form factor of a wireless device from obtained information;

determine, based on the physical form factor, at least one of;

expected resources required for serving the wireless device;

appropriate physical layer parameters for the wireless device;

configuration parameters for the wireless device;

use the determined parameters and/or expected resources for a network operation.

15. The network node of claim 14, wherein the network node is a base station, a radio network controller, a mobility management entity, or a positioning node.