Method and apparatus for interference reporting in a N-MIMO communication system

摘要

Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate interference measurement and reporting in a network multiple-in-multiple-out (N-MIMO) communication system. As described herein, a network device can measure and report interference corresponding to network nodes outside a designated set of nodes that can cooperatively serve the device. Respective interference reports can additionally identify dominant interfering nodes, correlation between transmit antennas of respective nodes, or the like. Subsequently, respective interference reports can be combined with per-node channel information to manage coordination and scheduling across respective network nodes. As further described herein, interference from a network node can be measured by observing reference and/or synchronization signals from the network node. To aid such observation, respective non-interfering network nodes can define null pilot intervals in which transmission is silenced or otherwise reduced. As additionally described herein, loading information broadcasted by respective interfering network nodes can be identified and utilized in connection with interference calculation.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
determining an interference reporting schedule for a user equipment in relation to a serving set of network cells; scheduling null pilot intervals for the serving set of network cells based on the interference reporting schedule, wherein the scheduled null pilot intervals comprise at least one null pilot interval associated with limited transmission by a plurality of network cells of the serving set of network cells; conducting the limited transmission during the at least one null pilot interval, the limited transmission comprising one of silencing transmission during the at least one null pilot interval or reducing transmit power by a power backoff value during the at least one null pilot interval; receiving a combined interference report from the user equipment comprising an indication of channel conditions measured by the user equipment during the at least one null pilot interval, wherein the measured channel conditions comprise interference associated with one or more network cells not within the plurality of network cells; and scheduling a communication by one or more network cells of the serving set of network cells to the user equipment based at least in part on the received combined interference report.