Fractional frequency re-use and beamforming in relay nodes of a heterogeneous network

摘要

Methods of operating a base station serving a cell in a heterogeneous network and at least one relay node serving a subcell of the cell, in which a user equipment unit connects to the network via the base station or the relay node, are provided. The methods include receiving uplink access (Uu) signals at the relay node from the user equipment unit in a first frequency range, and transmitting uplink backhaul (Un) signals from the relay node to the base station in a second frequency range that is different from the first frequency range.

主权项

1. A method of operating a base station serving User Equipments (UFs) in a first cell in a heterogeneous network including at least one relay node positioned within a coverage area of the first cell and serving UEs in a subcell of the first cell, wherein a UE in the first cell connects to the network via the base station or the relay node, the method comprising at the base station:
instructing the relay node to receive uplink access (Uu) signals at the relay node from the user equipment unit in a first frequency range; receiving uplink backhaul (Un) signals from the relay node in a second frequency range that is different from the first frequency range, wherein the first frequency range and the second frequency range are not contiguous in frequency space; receiving a signal strength indicator from one or more UES located in the first cell; identifying a weak coverage area in the first cell according to the signal strength indicator; and directing a beam forming antenna of the base station towards the weak coverage area.