Cooperation and operation of macro node and remote radio head deployments in heterogeneous networks

摘要

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided for separating control transmissions and data transmissions within the coverage area of a plurality of transmission/reception points or points that are geographically displaced, the plurality of points comprising a macro node and a plurality of remote radio heads (RRHs) coupled to the macro node. Separating control transmissions and data transmissions in the macro node/RRH configuration may allow UEs to be associated with one set of transmission points for data transmissions and the same set or a different set of transmission points for common control signaling. Separating control transmissions and data transmissions may also allow for faster reconfiguration of antenna ports used for UE data transmission compared with reconfiguration via a handover process.

主权项

1. A method of a macro node and at least one remote radio head (RRH) coupled to the macro node, the macro node and the at least one RRH comprising a plurality of points that are geographically displaced within a cell of the macro node, the method comprising:
configuring, using one or more processors, channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) for a user equipment (UE) to perform interference estimation; transmitting, using the one or more processors, control information and common reference signals (CRS) associated with a first cell identifier to the UE from a first subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node; and sending, using the one or more processors, the CSI-RS and a data transmission associated with a second cell identifier to the UE from a second subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node, the second subset of points being configured to use ports within a group of ports when sending the CSI-RS to the UE, wherein each of the second subset of points sends the CSI-RS to the UE on different ports within the group of ports,
wherein the first cell identifier is different than the second cell identifier.