Methods and apparatus for broadcasting loading information corresponding to neighboring base stations

摘要

Methods and apparatus are described where loading information regarding loading conditions at a neighboring base station is received at a first base station and then communicated, e.g., broadcast, by the first base station to mobiles within the cell in which the first base station is located. Since the neighbor base station's loading information is being communicated to a mobile currently connected to the first base station via a reliable communications channel of the first base station, the mobile can be expected to be able to reliably recover loading factor information corresponding to not only the first base station but to the neighboring base station. By utilizing such loading factor information, the mobile can generate an improved uplink interference report. The first base station receives such interference reports from wireless terminals in its cell, facilitating efficient resource allocation and interference control.

主权项

1. A method of operating a first base station in a multiple access wireless communications system including a plurality of base stations, each of said plurality of base stations including at least one base station attachment point, the method comprising:
determining a first uplink loading factor indicative of uplink loading for a first base station attachment point, said first base station attachment point corresponding to the first base station; receiving second base station loading factor information from a mobile communications device which received said second base station loading factor information over a wireless communications link with said second base station, said second base station loading factor information being indicative of loading by multiple concurrent users of a second base station attachment point corresponding to a second base station; broadcasting at least some of said received second base station loading factor information; wherein broadcasting said at least some second base station loading factor information includes transmitting, using a downlink broadcast communications channel said first uplink loading factor, wherein said at least some second base station loading factor information includes a second uplink loading factor corresponding to said second base station attachment point, second base station loading factor information being indicative of loading of said second base station attachment point by multiple concurrent users; receiving from a first wireless terminal a first uplink interference report; receiving from a second wireless terminal a second uplink interference report; and determining uplink resource allocation as a function of said received first and second uplink interference reports.