Patent ID: 9538415
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: H04L,H04W

Claim:
1. A computer implemented method comprising: varying association of users to any one of multiple transmission points in a heterogeneous wireless network for managing interference of transmissions in the network, a muting fraction being one transmission point TP being inactivated or muted for a fraction of a frame duration while other transmission points TPs being active throughout the frame duration; determining, at a coarse time-scale, at the start of each frame a choice of which muting fraction to select for a macro TP and which users to associate with each TP so that all users are associated to one TP, by solving an optimization problem; averaging inputs to the optimization problem varying metrics that are relevant for a period longer than a backhaul latency, the varying metrics including metrics as single user rates under muting conditions and non-muting conditions with a set of muting fractions; applying a coarse scale approach to solving the optimization problem, the coarse scale approach being based on frame level TP coordination of user association and macro partial muting; and applying a fine scale approach to solving the optimization problem, the fine scale approach being based on sub-frame level per-TP user scheduling without coordination.