Methods and apparatus for characterizing noise in a wireless communications system
US8169977B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 14, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 1, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W52/325
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Improved pilot signal sequences which facilitate multiple channel quality measurements, e.g., through the use of different signal pilot transmission power levels, are described. In various implementations the transmitted pilot sequences facilitate determining the contribution of interference from other sectors of a cell using the same tones, e.g., in a synchronized manner, as the sector in which the pilot signal measurements are being made. To measure noise contributions from neighboring sectors a sector NULL pilot, e.g., a pilot with zero power, is transmitted in an adjacent sector at the same time a pilot signal with a pre-selected, and therefore known, non-zero power is transmitted in the sector where the received pilot signal measurement is made. To facilitate background noise measurements, a cell NULL is supported in some embodiments. In the case of a cell NULL, all sectors of a cell transmit a Null pilot, on a tone that is used to measure background noise. Since no power is transmitted in the cell on the tone during the measurement, any measured signal on the tone is attributable to noise, e.g., background noise which may include inter-cell interference.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.