In a radio network environment, reducing interference among overlapping cells
US8160591B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 2009 |
| Grant date | Apr 17, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 14, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W84/045
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed is a method for a femtocell to reduce interference with an overlapping macrocell. The femtocell determines soft-frequency-reuse (“SFR”) information of the macrocell. From that information, the femtocell determines which frequency sub-channels are assigned by the macrocell for its cell-center users and which frequency sub-channels are assigned for cell-edge users. (Cell-edge users are given a higher transmission power profile in order to overcome potential interference with neighboring macrocells.) Then, the femtocell selects from the cell-center user frequency sub-channels for transmission to the femtocell's users. By transmitting on the cell-center user frequency sub-channels, the femtocell reduces interference with the overlapping macrocell. The femtocell continues to update its knowledge of the macrocell's SFR information and re-assigns frequency sub-channels as the SFR changes. If the macrocell detects that one of its cell-center users is “close enough” to the femtocell, then the macrocell re-assigns the cell-center user as a cell-edge user to overcome interference.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.