Measuring neighboring cell loading in wireless communications

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate detecting cell interference and/or loading by analyzing control data transmitted between devices communicating in the cell. Control data resources can be transmitted related to communication received over data channels, and the control data resources can comprise quality indicators related to the data as well as resource identifiers that specify a resource over the data channel related to the data. Multiple control data resources can be transmitted per communication specifying a beginning and ending resource identifier of related data channel resources. If this control data is decodable at a wireless device, the associated resources corresponding to the resource identifiers can be marked as interfered and/or avoided in subsequent communication or resource allocation requests by the wireless device.

BACKGROUND

The following description relates generally to wireless communications, and more particularly to determining neighboring cell loading.

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as, for example, voice, data, and so on. Typical wireless communication systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power, . . . ). Examples of such multiple-access systems may include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, and the like. Additionally, the systems can conform to specifications such as third generation partnership project (3GPP), 3GPP long term evolution (LTE), ultra mobile broadband (UMB), and/or multi-carrier wireless specifications such as evolution data optimized (EV-DO), one or more revisions thereof, etc.

Generally, wireless multiple-access communication systems may simultaneously support communication for multiple mobile devices. Each mobile device may communicate with one or more base stations via transmissions on forward and reverse links. The forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from base stations to mobile devices, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from mobile devices to base stations. Further, communications between mobile devices and base stations may be established via single-input single-output (SISO) systems, multiple-input single-output (MISO) systems, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, and so forth. In addition, mobile devices can communicate with other mobile devices (and/or base stations with other base stations) in peer-to-peer wireless network configurations.

MIMO systems commonly employ multiple (NT) transmit antennas and multiple (NR) receive antennas for data transmission. The antennas can relate to both base stations and mobile devices, in one example, allowing bi-directional communication between the devices on the wireless network. Moreover, there can be multiple base stations in proximity such that communicating with one base station can cause interference at another base station over a portion of bandwidth. Also, mobile devices in proximity can interfere with one another when communicating with separate base stations using given portions of bandwidth.

In addition, the base stations and mobile devices can communicate control information, which can relate to whether communications are successfully received, in one example. Thus, the base stations and mobile devices can reserve portions of bandwidth for communicating packet receive acknowledgements (ACK) or non-acknowledgements (NAK); in one example, this can be communicated over a physical hybrid automatic repeat/request (HARQ) indicator channel (PHICH).

SUMMARY

In accordance with one or more embodiments and corresponding disclosure thereof, various aspects are described in connection with facilitating measuring loading related to one or more cells over a portion of bandwidth. For example, access points can transmit control data related to communicating with one or more access terminals, and a measuring access terminal can attempt to decode the control data to determine portions of bandwidth over which the access points or one or more access terminals exhibit high interference with respect to the measuring access terminal. It is to be appreciated that if the measuring access terminal can decode the control data, then the portion of bandwidth to which the control data relates can exhibit high interference with respect to the measuring access terminal. In another example, a level of interference can be measured with respect to the decoding that, if over a threshold, can indicate high interference over the related resources. In one example, multiple control data codes can be transmitted related to a single communication to identify boundaries of the communication; the measuring access terminal can mark bandwidth between the boundaries as exhibiting high interference where the control data is decodable or beyond a threshold measured with respect to the decoding.

According to related aspects, a method for detecting neighboring cell interference in wireless communications is provided. The method can include receiving control data related to a communication between wireless devices over one or more resources. The method further includes decoding the control data to determine an identifier related to the one or more resources and storing an indication that the one or more resources are interfered for subsequent utilization in communicating with an access point.

Another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus. The wireless communications apparatus can include at least one processor configured to decode control data related to a received communication between a plurality of neighboring wireless devices. The processor is further configured to determine one or more resources indicated in the decoded control data and transmit over one or more disparate resources based on the one or more indicated resources. The wireless communications apparatus also comprises a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

Yet another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus that facilitates mitigating interference in a wireless network. The wireless communications apparatus can comprise means for decoding control data from a communication between a plurality of disparate wireless devices. The wireless communications apparatus can additionally include means for receiving a resource identifier indicated in the control data and means for storing an indication that one or more resources related to the resource identifier exhibit interference.

Still another aspect relates to a computer program product, which can have a computer-readable medium including code for causing at least one computer to receive control data related to a communication between wireless devices over one or more resources. The computer-readable medium can also comprise code for causing the at least one computer to decode the control data to determine an identifier related to the one or more resources. Moreover, the computer-readable medium can comprise code for causing the at least one computer to store an indication that the one or more resources are interfered in an interference bitmap.

Moreover, an additional aspect relates to an apparatus. The apparatus can include a control data decoder that retrieves a resource identifier from received control data related to a plurality of disparate apparatuses. The apparatus can further include an interference detector that stores an indication that one or more resources relating to the resource identifier are interfered.

According to a further aspect, a method that facilitates indicating control data related to communication in a wireless network is provided. The method includes receiving a communication over one or more resources allocated to a wireless device and generating a first control data resource related to the communication including an identifier related to a beginning resource of the communication. The method also includes generating a second control data resource related to the communication including an identifier related to an ending resource of the communication.

Another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus. The wireless communications apparatus can include at least one processor configured to receive a communication over a plurality of resources allocated to a wireless device and generate a first control data resource related to the communication that indicates a beginning resource block of the communication and a second control data resource related to the communication that indicates an ending resource block of the communication. The processor is further configured to transmit the first and second control data resources over a wireless network. The wireless communications apparatus also comprises a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

Yet another aspect relates to a wireless communications apparatus for indicating communication resource information in control data. The wireless communications apparatus can comprise means for receiving data transmitted over a plurality of communication resources allocated to a wireless device by the wireless communications apparatus and means for initializing a first control data resource comprising an index related to a beginning resource block of the received data. The wireless communications apparatus can additionally include means for initializing a second control data resource comprising an index related to an ending resource block of the received data.

Still another aspect relates to a computer program product, which can have a computer-readable medium including code for causing at least one computer to receive a communication over one or more resources allocated to a wireless device. The computer-readable medium can also comprise code for causing the at least one computer to generate a first control data resource related to the communication including an identifier related to a beginning resource of the communication. Moreover, the computer-readable medium can comprise code for causing the at least one computer to generate a second control data resource related to the communication including an identifier related to an ending resource of the communication.

Moreover, an additional aspect relates to an apparatus. The apparatus can include a control data generator that initializes a first control data resource based at least in part on quality of a received communication from a wireless device and initializes a second control data resource based on the received communication that indicates an ending resource block identifier of the received communication. The apparatus can further include a transmitter that transmits the first and second control data resources over a wireless network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in-order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more embodiments. It may be evident, however, that such embodiment(s) can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in-order to facilitate describing one or more embodiments.

Furthermore, various embodiments are described herein in connection with a mobile device. A mobile device can also be called a system, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile, remote station, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, user device, or user equipment (UE). A mobile device can be a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device having wireless connection capability, computing device, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem. Moreover, various embodiments are described herein in connection with a base station. A base station can be utilized for communicating with mobile device(s) and can also be referred to as an access point, Node B, evolved Node B (eNode B or eNB), base transceiver station (BTS) or some other terminology.

The techniques described herein may be used for various wireless communication systems such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), single carrier frequency domain multiplexing (SC-FDMA) and other systems. The terms “system” and “network” are often used interchangeably. A CDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), CDMA2000, etc. UTRA includes Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) and other variants of CDMA. CDMA2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856 standards. A TDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is an upcoming release that uses E-UTRA, which employs OFDMA on the downlink and SC-FDMA on the uplink. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE and GSM are described in documents from an organization named “3rd Generation Partnership Project” (3GPP). CDMA2000 and UMB are described in documents from an organization named “3rd Generation Partnership Project 2” (3GPP2). The techniques described herein can also be utilized in evolution data optimized (EV-DO) standards, such as 1xEV-DO revision B or other revisions, and/or the like. Further, such wireless communication systems may additionally include peer-to-peer (e.g., mobile-to-mobile) ad hoc network systems often using unpaired unlicensed spectrums, 802.xx wireless LAN, BLUETOOTH and any other short- or long-range, wireless communication techniques.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a wireless communication system100is illustrated in accordance with various embodiments presented herein. System100comprises a base station102that can include multiple antenna groups. For example, one antenna group can include antennas104and106, another group can comprise antennas108and110, and an additional group can include antennas112and114. Two antennas are illustrated for each antenna group; however, more or fewer antennas can be utilized for each group. Base station102can additionally include a transmitter chain and a receiver chain, each of which can in turn comprise a plurality of components associated with signal transmission and reception (e.g., processors, modulators, multiplexers, demodulators, demultiplexers, antennas, etc.), as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art.

Base station102can communicate with one or more mobile devices such as mobile device116and mobile device122; however, it is to be appreciated that base station102can communicate with substantially any number of mobile devices similar to mobile devices116and122. Mobile devices116and122can be, for example, cellular phones, smart phones, laptops, handheld communication devices, handheld computing devices, satellite radios, global positioning systems, PDAs, and/or any other suitable device for communicating over wireless communication system100. As depicted, mobile device116is in communication with antennas112and114, where antennas112and114transmit information to mobile device116over a forward link118and receive information from mobile device116over a reverse link120. Moreover, mobile device122is in communication with antennas104and106, where antennas104and106transmit information to mobile device122over a forward link124and receive information from mobile device122over a reverse link126. In a frequency division duplex (FDD) system, forward link118can utilize a different frequency band than that used by reverse link120, and forward link124can employ a different frequency band than that employed by reverse link126, for example. Further, in a time division duplex (TDD) system, forward link118and reverse link120can utilize a common frequency band and forward link124and reverse link126can utilize a common frequency band.

Each group of antennas and/or the area in which they are designated to communicate can be referred to as a sector of base station102. For example, antenna groups can be designed to communicate to mobile devices in a sector of the areas covered by base station102. In communication over forward links118and124, the transmitting antennas of base station102can utilize beamforming to improve signal-to-noise ratio of forward links118and124for mobile devices116and122. Also, while base station102utilizes beamforming to transmit to mobile devices116and122scattered randomly through an associated coverage, mobile devices in neighboring cells can be subject to less interference as compared to a base station transmitting through a single antenna to all its mobile devices. Moreover, mobile devices116and122can communicate directly with one another using a peer-to-peer or ad hoc technology (not shown).

According to an example, system100can be a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system. Further, system100can utilize substantially any type of duplexing technique to divide communication channels (e.g., forward link, reverse link, . . . ) such as FDD, FDM, TDD, TDM, CDM, and the like. In addition, communication channels can be orthogonalized to allow simultaneous communication with multiple devices over the channels; in one example, OFDM can be utilized in this regard. In addition, the base station102and mobile devices116and122can transmit control data to one another related to quality of communication over one or more communication channels (or other portions of bandwidth, for example). For example, the control data can relate to whether data over a communication channel is successfully received. In this regard, the control data can be an acknowledgement (ACK) or non-acknowledgement (NAK) regarding successful receipt of certain data, for instance. One specific example of a control channel is a physical hybrid automatic repeat/request (HARQ) indicator channel (PHICH) over which ACKs and NAKs can be transmitted to indicate whether data received over one or more shared data channels is successfully received.

The control data can additionally indicate a resource block (e.g., a portion of frequency over time) within a communication channel to which it relates. In one example, the resource blocks of the communication channel can be indexed consecutively or otherwise. In addition, the channel can be divided into time periods, or frames, over which the base station102and mobile devices116and122can communicate. For example, the base station102can allocate one or more resources blocks in a given frame to each mobile device116and122, which can be utilized to communicate with the base station102in each frame. In another example, clustering can be used for assigning resource blocks of a communication channel to one or more devices such that a communication channel is defined by clusters of frequency over time (such as clusters of tones in a set of OFDM symbols) which can be non-contiguous. In this example, the control data can indicate over which resource blocks of which clusters the related data was transmitted.

In one example, the mobile device116can receive control data transmitted by the base station102intended for disparate mobile devices, such as mobile device122, to determine loading on the base station102and/or related cells. If the mobile device116can decode the control data, it can determine a related resource block over which data is transmitted from the mobile device122to the base station102. In addition, if the mobile device116can decode the control data, this can indicate high interference over the resource block. In one example, the mobile device116can estimate the interference level based at least in part on accuracy of the decoding. Moreover, the base station102can transmit an additional control data resource specifying a last resource block in a related communication by the mobile device122. The mobile device116can receive and attempt to decode this control data as well. If decoding is successful for this resource as well, the mobile device116can determine a span of resource blocks related to communication between the mobile device122and base station102that exhibits high interference to the mobile device116.

Using this information, in an example, the mobile device116can avoid transmitting to the base station102and/or other base stations or devices during the determined resource blocks. According to another example, the mobile device116can control transmit power based at least in part on the determined resource blocks; for example, the mobile device116can transmit with lower power over the resource blocks successfully decoded from control data so as not to interfere with mobile device122communication. In yet another example, the mobile device116can also inform the a disparate base station (not shown) of the resource blocks in requesting resource allocation, and the disparate base station can allocate communication resources to the mobile device116to minimize interference with the base station102and mobile device122communication.

Turning toFIG. 2, illustrated is a communications apparatus200for employment within a wireless communications environment. The communications apparatus200can be a base station or a portion thereof, a mobile device or a portion thereof, or substantially any communications apparatus that receives data transmitted in a wireless communications environment. The communications apparatus200can include a control data decoder202that receives and interprets control data transmitted by one or more disparate devices (not shown), an interference detector204that can determine interference related to one or more disparate devices based on received control data, a power controller206that can adjust transmission power of the communications apparatus200based at least in part on determined interference, and a channel resource requester208that can transmit a request for communication channel resources to one or more access points in a wireless network.

According to an example, the control data decoder202can detect control data transmitted by an access point, which can be another communications apparatus, mobile device, base station, femtocell, and/or the like, to one or more disparate communications apparatuses (not shown). As described, the control data can relate to quality of data received by the access point over one or more communication channel resources and can be an ACK, NAK, and/or the like. The control data decoder202can attempt to decode the control data. If the control data decoder202can successfully decode the control data, then the communication channel resources related to the control data exhibit some level of interference with respect to the communications apparatus200since the signal was strong enough to decode. In addition, by decoding the control data, the control data decoder202can determine information regarding the communication channel resources utilized; in this regard, the control data can specify the communication resource(s) to which it relates. In one example, as described, this can be specified as a resource block index where a resource block can relate to a portion of frequency over time within a frame, which is a larger portion of frequency over time related to a communication channel. As described, disparate communications apparatuses can be assigned the same or similar resource block indices in each frame for a given channel.

Using such information, the interference detector204can determine one or more resources that exhibit high interference from other devices with respect to the communications apparatus200. For example, where the control data indicates a communication channel resource to which it relates, the interference detector204can determine that the resource and/or contiguous resources on the communication channel are subject to high interference, and the communications apparatus200should avoid transmitting or receiving data over the resources. In one example, the control data indicators can also specify a category to which they relate. The categories, for example, can correspond to whether the control data indicator is for a start or end point of the related communication channel resources.

Thus, for example, the control data decoder202can receive and attempt to decode consecutive control data indicators (e.g., ACK, NAK, and/or the like) over a channel where each indicator as decoded specifies a resource to which it relates and a category. In this regard, a first control data indicator received by the control data decoder202can specify the related resource block index and that it is the starting block for communication over the channel. Furthermore, a second consecutive control data indicator received by the control data decoder202can specify the last resource block index for the related communication and that it is indeed the last block. In this regard, the interference detector204can evaluate the contiguous control data indicators, determine that they represent the first and last block of a communication over the channel, and discern the resource blocks to which they relate. From this information, the interference detector204can assume resource blocks between the first and last resource block are highly interfered with respect to the communications apparatus200since the control data decoder202was able to decode the indicators. It is to be appreciated that such categorized control data indicators can be transmitted where the interfering communication exceeds a threshold number of contiguous resource blocks, in one example.

As described, the interference detector204can also determine a relative level of interference over the communication resources based on signal quality, ease of decoding related control data by the control data decoder202, and/or the like. The interference detector204can mark the resources as interfered or not based on the level, in one example. In another example, using this information, the power controller206can increase and/or decrease transmit power over the resources. For example, for resources where related data is successfully decoded by the control data decoder202, the power controller206can decrease transmit power over the resources so as not to interfere with the disparate communication apparatus over the resources. The decrease in power, for example, can be related to a level of decoding success, interference, etc. when decoding the related control data. In addition, the channel resource requestor208can request communication channel resources from an access point based on the determined interference. In one example, the channel resource requester208can explicitly request resources that are not interfered as detected by the interference detector204. In another example, the channel resource requestor208can transmit the interference information to the access point allowing the access point to schedule resources in view of the interfered resources.

Now referring toFIG. 3, illustrated is a wireless communications system300that facilitates utilizing control data to measure interference from neighboring cells. Wireless device302,304,306, and/or308can be a mobile device (including not only independently powered devices, but also modems, for example), a base station, and/or portion thereof. In one example, the wireless devices302,304,306, and/or308can communicate using peer-to-peer or ad hoc technology where the devices are of similar type. Moreover, system300can be a MIMO system and/or can conform to one or more wireless network system specifications (e.g., EV-DO, 3GPP, 3GPP2, 3GPP LTE, WiMAX, etc.). Also, the components and functionalities shown and described below in the wireless devices304,306and/or308can be present in each wireless device302,304,306, and/or308as well, in one example; the configuration depicted excludes these components for ease of explanation. In an example, the wireless device302can be communicating with the wireless device306in a different cell (which can be provided by the wireless device306) than wireless device304communicating with wireless device308.

Wireless device304includes a control data decoder310that determines control information transmitted by one or more devices, an interference detector312that evaluates the control information to determine one or more interfered communication channel resources and/or a level of interference related thereto, and a channel resource requestor314that transmits a request for resources according to the determined interference over the communication channel resources. The wireless device306can include a control data generator316that provides control data related to communications received over the resources and a transmitter318that transmits the control data to one or more devices. The wireless device308comprises a resource scheduler320that allocates channel resources to one or more devices for communicating thereover and a receiver322that receives channel communications over the resources.

According to an example, the wireless device302can communicate with the wireless device306over one or more provided communication channel resources. Control data generator316can, for example, determine a quality of communication received over the communication channel resources and provide control data to be conveyed to the wireless device302. For example, the control data can be an ACK or NAK relating to successful receipt of the data over the communication channel resources. In this regard, the control data can also include an indication of the communication channel resource(s) to which it relates. For example, this can be a resource block identifier, as described, corresponding to the first resource block in the communication channel resource blocks utilized by the wireless device302. Transmitter318can transmit the control data over the wireless network for receipt by the wireless device302. In this regard, the wireless device302can determine whether the wireless device306successfully received data over a given resource block or set of blocks.

Wireless device304can additionally intercept the control data communication from transmitter318. The control data decoder310can attempt to decode the control data communication. If successful, as described, this can indicate some level of interference over the communication channel resources related to the control data. In addition, where successfully decoded, the control data decoder310can determine information regarding the associated communication channel resources, such as a related resource block identifier. Using this information, the interference detector312can discern the related resource block identifier and consider the resource block identifier, and/or surrounding identifiers, interfered. In one example, interference detector312can store this information in an interference bitmap representing a number of resource block identifiers, which can each be marked interfered or non-interfered. In another example, the interference detector312can determine a level of interference based, for example, on ease of decoding the control data at the control data decoder310, strength of the control data information signal, and/or the like. This information can be additionally or alternatively be indicated in the interference bitmap.

The channel resource requestor314can utilize this information in requesting resources from the wireless device308for subsequent communication thereover. For example, the channel resource requestor314can indicate desired resources in view of the detected interfered resources, indicate a minimum number of undesirable resources, transmit the interference bitmap to the wireless device308, and/or the like. Transmitting the interference bitmap to the wireless device308can include, for example, indicating one or more beginning resource indices and related spans of interfered resources, reporting one or more resources having interference over a threshold level, encoding the bitmap, differentially encoding the bitmap, and/or the like. Resource scheduler320can utilize the information in allocating resources to the wireless device304. Once allocated, the wireless device304can similarly transmit information over the communication channel resources, and the receiver322can receive the communications. It is to be appreciated that the wireless device308can also comprise a control data generator and transmitter (not shown) to similarly indicate control data related to receiving communication over the communication channel resources so that other wireless devices can similarly utilize the control data to detect cell interference.

In addition, for example, the control data generator316can provide multiple control data information related to a single channel resource communication. For instance, where the communication from the wireless device302spans a threshold number of resource blocks, the control data generator316can provide not only control data indicating the beginning resource block, but also separate control data indicating the end of the resource block. The control data generator316can include a category in the control data to indicate whether it represents the beginning or end of the communication; in one example, the category need only be utilized for control data representing the end of the communication to save bandwidth and/or processing. The control data decoder310can receive and attempt to decode the multiple control data.

In one example, as described, the control data decoder310can successfully decode control data, determine the related resource block, and/or a representative category. Where the category indicates the resource block identified corresponds to the end of the communication channel resources utilized, the interference detector312can combine the related resource block identifier to a previous resource block identifier to determine a span of communication channel resources exhibiting a level of interference. It is to be appreciated that the previous resource block identifier can be the last one received and decoded by the control data decoder310in a single carrier waveform configuration. The interference detector312can mark the span as interfered in the interference bitmap or otherwise use the information in subsequent communicating. In addition, for example, the interference detector312can indicate a related level of interference for the span, as described previously.

According to an example, the control data can relate to one or more PHICH resources transmitted by the transmitter318. It is to be appreciated, though not shown, that more wireless devices in more cells can exist, and the control data decoder310can attempt to decode substantially all PHICH resources received. As described, where a PHICH resource is associated with a category indicating last resource block, the interference detector312can determine a span of interfered resources from the previously received PHICH resource. Where only one PHICH resource is received for a given communication, the interference detector312can mark only the related communication channel resource as interfered and/or a number of surrounding resources, for example.

In another example, the wireless devices302,304,306, and308can communicate using clustering. In this example, channel resources can be divided into clusters of frequency and/or time in a frame instead of contiguous blocks in a frame, as described above. Thus, communication channel resources allocated to one or more wireless devices, such as wireless device302, can span multiple clusters. In this regard, the control data generator316can provide control data related to communication received over the resources for each cluster and can define categories related to beginning and/or ending points in each cluster. Thus, the control data decoder310can similarly receive such control data and attempt decoding. Where decoding is successful, the interference detector312can determine categories related to the control data such that it can mark spans of resources within the given clusters as interfered or non-interfered, as described.

Turning now toFIG. 4, illustrated are sample transmission blocks400related to communication channel resources402and corresponding control data resources404. As depicted, communication channel resources402can relate to a plurality of resource blocks (e.g., n resource blocks) in a given frame allocated to one or more devices for communicating data. In one example, the channel resources can relate to a shared uplink channel. For example, resource blocks1and2can be grouped into resource group406allocated to a device. Similarly, resource blocks3-5are grouped into resource group408, and resource block7into resource group410. The resource groups406,408, and/or410can be allocated to one or more devices for communicating data in a wireless network. Furthermore, the communication channel resources402can be allocated by an access point or other device in the wireless network.

The allocating device can receive data over the communication channel resources402and provide control data resources404to indicate information regarding receipt of the data over the communication channel resources402. As described, the control data can relate to an ACK acknowledging successful receipt of the data, NAK indicating failed receipt of the data, and/or the like. The control data resources404depicted, which can be transmitted over a wireless network in response to receiving related data over the communication channel resources402, are NAK1412, which indicates failed receipt of data over a group or single resource beginning at resource block1, ACK3414, which indicates successful receipt of data over a group or single resource beginning at block3, ACK5CAT2416, which indicates successful receipt of data over a group of resources ending at block5(e.g., group408), ACK7418, which indicates successful receipt of data over a group or single resource beginning at block7, and so on.

Thus, for example, a device evaluating cells for loading can receive the control data resources404and can determine related interference where the device is able to decode one or more of the control data resources404. For instance, if the device can successfully decode the NAK1412, it can determine that resource block1is interfered (e.g., regardless of the actual control data value). Upon receiving ACK3414, if the device cannot decode the control data resource, it can determine that there are no other control data resources corresponding to the communication over resource block1. Thus, only resource block1, and/or a number of surrounding resource blocks, can be marked as interfered. For example, the device can assume where only one control data resource is received for a resource block that a number n of subsequent resources blocks are interfered; this can be, for example, a known minimum number of allocable blocks per device. If the device can decode the ACK3control data resource414, it can determine that the control data resource relates to a new communication beginning at resource block3, since no category is specified. It is to be appreciated that a category can be specified indicating a related resource block as the beginning of the communication, in one example.

If the device can decode ACK3414, it can likely also decode the ACK5CAT2control data resource416since it relates to the same communication group408. Since this is a category2resource, which indicates it relates to an ending resource block of a communication, the device can match this to the ACK3414control data resource, the last control data resource successfully decoded, and determine that resource blocks between and including blocks3through5(e.g., channel resource group408) as interfered. It is to be appreciated, as mentioned, that more categories can be utilized, such as in the case of multiple clusters where a category can be used to indicate beginning and ending of a communication in each cluster. In this regard, a device can determine interfered resources that span clusters. As described, the interference information can be stored in an interference bitmap as Boolean indicators, a level of interference determined from decoding the control data, and/or the like.

Turning toFIG. 5, a methodology500that facilitates determining cell interference and/or loading based on received control data is illustrated. At502, control data related to a plurality of communicating devices can be received. For example, the control data can relate to quality of communications over a set of resources allocated to a transmitting device by a receiving device. The control data can additionally specify a resource identifier to which it relates as well as a category indicating whether the resource identifier relates to a beginning or ending resource of the communication (e.g., and/or beginning/ending of a cluster for resources of the communication), as described. At504, the control data can be decoded to determine one or more related resource identifiers. Thus, as described, resources to which the control data relates can be determined.

Where the control data can be decoded, as described, this can indicate interference for the related resource identified by the resource identifier, and at506, an indication that resources corresponding to the one or more resource identifiers are interfered can be stored. Thus, the interference information can be subsequently utilized in transmitting data over the wireless network, requesting resources from an access point, and/or the like. In another example, a level of interference can be determined when decoding the control data, and the interference determination at504can be based on whether the level exceeds a threshold level. Moreover, the control data can comprise multiple control data resources relating to the same communication, as described, where each resource can indicate a category related to whether the control data resource relates to a beginning or ending of the communication within a set of contiguous resources or over clusters of resources, for example.

Turning toFIG. 6, illustrated is a methodology600that facilitates providing multiple control data resources indicating resource locations related to a communication. At602, a communication can be received from a device over one or more allocated communication resources. The communication can be received, for example, over allocated communication channel resources. At604, a first control data resource related to a first resource location of the communication can be generated. The control data resource can indicate not only a quality of the communication received, but also the beginning resource location over which the communication is received. At606, a second control data resource related to a last resource location of the communication can be generated. The second control data resource can indicate the quality of the communication as well and the ending resource location related to the allocated resources. At608, the first and second control data resources can be transmitted over a wireless network. Thus, for example, upon receiving the first and second control data resources, a span of related resources can be determined for marking the resources as interfered, as described supra.

FIG. 7is an illustration of a mobile device700that facilitates receiving control data and determining cell interference based on the control data. Mobile device700comprises a receiver702that receives one or more signals over one or more carriers from, for instance, a receive antenna (not shown), performs typical actions on (e.g., filters, amplifies, downconverts, etc.) the received signals, and digitizes the conditioned signals to obtain samples. Receiver702can comprise a demodulator704that can demodulate received symbols and provide them to a processor706for channel estimation. Processor706can be a processor dedicated to analyzing information received by receiver702and/or generating information for transmission by a transmitter716, a processor that controls one or more components of mobile device700, and/or a processor that both analyzes information received by receiver702, generates information for transmission by transmitter716, and controls one or more components of mobile device700.

Mobile device700can additionally comprise memory708that is operatively coupled to processor706and that can store data to be transmitted, received data, information related to available channels, data associated with analyzed signal and/or interference strength, information related to an assigned channel, power, rate, or the like, and any other suitable information for estimating a channel and communicating via the channel. Memory708can additionally store protocols and/or algorithms associated with estimating and/or utilizing a channel (e.g., performance based, capacity based, etc.).

The receiver702and/or processor706can further be operatively coupled to a control data decoder710that receives control data transmitted by a wireless device in a wireless network in response data received from another wireless device over a set of communication resources (such as a channel). As described, the control data can relate to the quality of communication over the resources and can indicate an identifier of the first and/or last of the resources. Thus, the control data decoder710can attempt to decode received control data, and if decodable, can determine related resource identifiers. In addition, multiple control data resources can be received relating to the same communication, where the resources can indicate a category corresponding to whether the resource relates to the first or last resource identifier of the communication (and/or first or last in one or more clusters spanned by the communication).

The processor706and/or control data detector710are further operatively coupled to an interference detector712that can store indications of interfered resources using related identifiers. Where control data is successfully decoded by the control data decoder710, the interference detector712can indicate the related resource as interfered. As described, where the control data decoder710decodes multiple control data resources related to a single communication, the interference detector712can indicate a related span of resources as interfered. In addition, the interference detector712can indicate a level of interference where such is specified by the control data decoder710and/or the level of interference can indicate whether the resource is interfered at all (e.g., if the level meets a threshold). Also, the interference detector712can indicate interference of resources in an interference bitmap and/or the like, as described, which can be utilized by the processor706to avoid transmitting over interfered resources and/or in requesting resource allocation from an access point. The mobile device700also comprises a modulator714and transmitter716that modulate and transmit the signals to, for instance, a base station, another mobile device, etc. Although depicted as being separate from the processor706, it is to be appreciated that the demodulator704, control data decoder710, interference detector712, and/or modulator714can be part of the processor706or multiple processors (not shown).

FIG. 8is an illustration of a system800that facilitates generating multiple control data resources related to a received communication. The system800comprises a base station802(e.g., access point, . . . ) with a receiver810that receives signal(s) from one or more mobile devices804through a plurality of receive antennas806, and a transmitter822that transmits to the one or more mobile devices804through a transmit antenna808. Receiver810can receive information from receive antennas806and can decode received signals. Furthermore, demodulator812can demodulate received signals. Demodulated symbols are analyzed by a processor814that can be similar to the processor described above with regard toFIG. 7, and which is coupled to a memory816that stores information related to estimating a signal (e.g., pilot) strength and/or interference strength, data to be transmitted to or received from mobile device(s)804(or a disparate base station (not shown)), and/or any other suitable information related to performing the various actions and functions set forth herein. Processor814is further coupled to a control data generator818that initializes control data related to a communication received over resources allocated to one or more mobile device(s)804.

According to an example, the control data generator818can create control data resources (e.g., for transmission over a PHICH) related to received communication, and the control data resources can additionally indicate a resource identifier related to the communication. In one example, the control data resource can indicate a beginning resource identifier related to the communication. Additionally, the control data generator818can create a control data resource related to the ending resource identifier in the communication. In this case, the control data generator818can also indicate a category specifying that the control data resource relates to the ending identifier. In addition, as described, additional categories can be utilized where the control data generator818initializes control data related to the beginning and/or ending resource of a related cluster. The transmitter822can transmit the control data resources over the transmitting antennas808, for example. Furthermore, although depicted as being separate from the processor814, it is to be appreciated that the demodulator812, control data generator818, and/or modulator820can be part of the processor814or multiple processors (not shown).

FIG. 9shows an example wireless communication system900. The wireless communication system900depicts one base station910and one mobile device950for sake of brevity. However, it is to be appreciated that system900can include more than one base station and/or more than one mobile device, wherein additional base stations and/or mobile devices can be substantially similar or different from example base station910and mobile device950described below. In addition, it is to be appreciated that base station910and/or mobile device950can employ the systems (FIGS. 1-3and7-8), transmission blocks (FIG. 4), and/or methods (FIGS. 5-6) described herein to facilitate wireless communication there between.

At base station910, traffic data for a number of data streams is provided from a data source912to a transmit (TX) data processor914. According to an example, each data stream can be transmitted over a respective antenna. TX data processor914formats, codes, and interleaves the traffic data stream based on a particular coding scheme selected for that data stream to provide coded data.

The coded data for each data stream can be multiplexed with pilot data using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) techniques. Additionally or alternatively, the pilot symbols can be frequency division multiplexed (FDM), time division multiplexed (TDM), or code division multiplexed (CDM). The pilot data is typically a known data pattern that is processed in a known manner and can be used at mobile device950to estimate channel response. The multiplexed pilot and coded data for each data stream can be modulated (e.g., symbol mapped) based on a particular modulation scheme (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, M-PSK, M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM), etc.) selected for that data stream to provide modulation symbols. The data rate, coding, and modulation for each data stream can be determined by instructions performed or provided by processor930.

The modulation symbols for the data streams can be provided to a TX MIMO processor920, which can further process the modulation symbols (e.g., for OFDM). TX MIMO processor920then provides NTmodulation symbol streams to NTtransmitters (TMTR)922athrough922t. In various embodiments, TX MIMO processor920applies beamforming weights to the symbols of the data streams and to the antenna from which the symbol is being transmitted.

Each transmitter922receives and processes a respective symbol stream to provide one or more analog signals, and further conditions (e.g., amplifies, filters, and upconverts) the analog signals to provide a modulated signal suitable for transmission over the MIMO channel. Further, NTmodulated signals from transmitters922athrough922tare transmitted from NTantennas924athrough924t, respectively.

At mobile device950, the transmitted modulated signals are received by NRantennas952athrough952rand the received signal from each antenna952is provided to a respective receiver (RCVR)954athrough954r. Each receiver954conditions (e.g., filters, amplifies, and downconverts) a respective signal, digitizes the conditioned signal to provide samples, and further processes the samples to provide a corresponding “received” symbol stream.

An RX data processor960can receive and process the NRreceived symbol streams from NRreceivers954based on a particular receiver processing technique to provide NT“detected” symbol streams. RX data processor960can demodulate, deinterleave, and decode each detected symbol stream to recover the traffic data for the data stream. The processing by RX data processor960is complementary to that performed by TX MIMO processor920and TX data processor914at base station910.

A processor970can periodically determine which precoding matrix to utilize as discussed above. Further, processor970can formulate a reverse link message comprising a matrix index portion and a rank value portion.

The reverse link message can comprise various types of information regarding the communication link and/or the received data stream. The reverse link message can be processed by a TX data processor938, which also receives traffic data for a number of data streams from a data source936, modulated by a modulator980, conditioned by transmitters954athrough954r, and transmitted back to base station910.

At base station910, the modulated signals from mobile device950are received by antennas924, conditioned by receivers922, demodulated by a demodulator940, and processed by a RX data processor942to extract the reverse link message transmitted by mobile device950. Further, processor930can process the extracted message to determine which precoding matrix to use for determining the beamforming weights.

Processors930and970can direct (e.g., control, coordinate, manage, etc.) operation at base station910and mobile device950, respectively. Respective processors930and970can be associated with memory932and972that store program codes and data. Processors930and970can also perform computations to derive frequency and impulse response estimates for the uplink and downlink, respectively.

It is to be understood that the embodiments described herein can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or any combination thereof. For a hardware implementation, the processing units can be implemented within one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof.

With reference toFIG. 10, illustrated is a system1000that decodes control data to determine cell loading and/or interference. For example, system1000can reside at least partially within a base station, mobile device, etc. It is to be appreciated that system1000is represented as including functional blocks, which can be functional blocks that represent functions implemented by a processor, software, or combination thereof (e.g., firmware). System1000includes a logical grouping1002of electrical components that can act in conjunction. For instance, logical grouping1002can include an electrical component for decoding control data from a communication between a plurality of disparate wireless devices1004. For example, the control data can relate to quality of communication transmitted from one device to another and can include a resource identifier related to a beginning and/or ending resource in the communication. Further, logical grouping1002can comprise an electrical component for receiving a resource identifier indicated in the control data1006.

Furthermore, logical grouping1002can include an electrical component for storing an indication that one or more resources related to the resource identifier exhibit interference1008. Thus, for example, based on receiving the identifier and being able to decode the data (e.g., and/or the determining a level of interference from the decoding as exceeding a threshold level), the related resource can be marked as interfered. Further, as mentioned, multiple resource identifiers can be received in multiple control data resources indicating a span of identifiers that can be marked as interfered. In addition, logical grouping1002can comprise an electrical component for transmitting a request to one or more access points for channel resources specifying one or more resources indicated as interfered by stored indication1010. The one or more resources indicated as interfered can be specified in a request that such resources not be allocated to the system1000. Also, logical grouping1002can comprise an electrical component for adjusting transmit power over one or more resources related to the resource identifier based at least in part on a level of interference determined in decoding the control data1012. Additionally, system1000can include a memory1014that retains instructions for executing functions associated with electrical components1004,1006,1008,1010, and1012. While shown as being external to memory1014, it is to be understood that one or more of electrical components1004,1006,1008,1010, and1012can exist within memory1014.

Turning toFIG. 11, illustrated is a system1100that generates multiple control data resources related to a single communication received over allocated resources to facilitate determining cell interference. System1100can reside within a base station, mobile device, etc., for instance. As depicted, system1100includes functional blocks that can represent functions implemented by a processor, software, or combination thereof (e.g., firmware). System1100includes a logical grouping1102of electrical components that generate control data for received communications. Logical grouping1102can include an electrical component for receiving data transmitted over a plurality of communication resources allocated to a wireless device1104. For example, the resources can be allocated to the wireless device by the system1100to facilitate communication therewith.

Moreover, logical grouping1102can include an electrical component for initializing a first control data resource comprising an index related to a beginning resource block of the received data1106. Further, logical grouping1102can also include an electrical component for initializing a second control data resource comprising an index related to an ending resource block of the received data1108. In this regard, the first and second control data resources can be transmitted not only to the device related to the communication but can also be received at one or more devices, as described, allowing identification of resource related to decodable control data. Additionally, system1100can include a memory1110that retains instructions for executing functions associated with electrical components1104,1106, and1108. While shown as being external to memory1110, it is to be understood that electrical components1104,1106, and1108can exist within memory1110.

What has been described above includes examples of one or more embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the aforementioned embodiments, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of various embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the described embodiments are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, although elements of the described aspects and/or embodiments may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. Additionally, all or a portion of any aspect and/or embodiment may be utilized with all or a portion of any other aspect and/or embodiment, unless stated otherwise.