EFFICIENT SPECTRUM UTILIZATION WITH ALMOST BLANK SUBFRAMES

摘要

Systems and methods for providing efficient utilization of spectrum in a cellular communication network that applies Almost Blank Subframes (ABSs) are disclosed. In general, the network includes an access node that applies ABSs in the downlink. In one embodiment, the access node identifies UEs for which transmissions are to be scheduled for the uplink using a scheduling scheme that does not require control information for every subframe. The access node then time-aligns scheduling instants of the UEs and subframes in the uplink that correspond to at least some of the ABSs in the downlink. In another embodiment, the access node identifies UEs for which transmissions are to be scheduled for the downlink using a scheduling scheme that does not require control information for every subframe. The access node then time-aligns scheduling instants of the UEs for the downlink and at least a subset of the ABSs in the downlink.