Method and apparatus for inter-cell interference coordination in a wireless communication network

摘要

One aspect of the teachings herein involves the advantageous use of learned statistical information to improve inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC). The network uses historical signal quality measurements collected over time for wireless communication devices operating within its coverage areas to identify those geographical areas where devices generally experience significant levels of patterned interference. In an example case, the network develops a “map” of the geographical areas that are affected by the transmission patterns of neighboring nodes, and it applies the map to ICIC operations, wherein the serving nodes associated with the affected areas incorporate knowledge of the interfering transmission patterns into the ongoing scheduling of users operating in the affected areas.

主权项

1. A method of inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) control in a wireless communication network that is configured to provide communication service to wireless communication devices, said method comprising:
identifying, within a coverage area of the network, an interference zone in which wireless communication devices are subject to patterned interference arising from interfering transmissions from nodes that mute their transmissions according to a particular schedule, said identifying based on signal measurement reports and corresponding positioning data obtained for the wireless communication devices during operation within the coverage area; recording location data defining the interference zone in an interference map; and providing the interference map for use in adapting ICIC operations with respect to a wireless communication device operating in the coverage area, based on a location of the wireless communication device relative to the interference zone.