Enabling coordinated multi-point reception

摘要

This invention measures the propagation delay τ1 between the user equipment and a first cooperating unit and the propagation delay τ2 between the user equipment and a second cooperating unit. These propagation delays are used to compute a timing advance amount to the user equipment to enable coordinated multi-point reception. In a first embodiment one cooperating unit receives a function of the propagation delay, computes the timing advance amount and transmits a timing advance command to the user equipment. In a second embodiment a central unit performs these operations.

主权项

1. A method of operating at least two cooperating units for coordinated multi-point reception comprising the steps of:
measuring at a first cooperating base unit the propagation delay τ1 between a user equipment and the first cooperating unit; measuring at a second cooperating base unit the propagation delay τ2 between the user equipment and a second cooperating unit; computing at the first cooperating unit a function f(τ1) of the propagation delay τ1; computing at the second cooperating unit a function f(τ2) of the propagation delay τ2; transmitting the computed function f(τ1) from the first cooperating unit to a central unit; transmitting the computed function f(τ2) from the second cooperating unit to the central unit; computing at a central unit a timing advance amount for the user equipment for coordinated multi-point reception from said functions f(τ1) and f(τ2); and transmitting a timing advance command having the computed timing advance amount from the central unit to the user equipment.