Abstract:
A method of controlling an unsynchronized cellular wireless telecommunication system includes, for at least one user equipment served by a first cell, receiving signal strength measurements and, based on the signal strength measurements, determining whether the user equipment should be scheduled for a low interference time period during which neighboring cells are configured to minimize interference in the first cell. The method additionally includes receiving neighboring cell time difference measurements from at least one mobile device within the first cell and, based on said measurements, determining a timing of transmissions from at least one neighboring cell relative to a timing of transmissions from the first cell. Additionally, the method includes defining the low interference time period based on the determined timing of transmissions from the at least one neighboring cell.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to wireless telecommunication systems, and in particular to resource allocation in wireless telecommunication systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many wireless telecommunication systems are cellular. That is, the coverage area is divided into cells, and each mobile device, or other user equipment, communicates with a base station in the cell in which it is located. In order to achieve such communication, a communication resource must be allocated to the mobile device. The available communication resources include the available communication bandwidth and the available time. Thus, in a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) system, the available communications channel is allocated to different users at different times, while, in a FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access) system, different communications frequencies are allocated to different users. 
     Many cellular wireless telecommunication systems use a combination of TDMA and FDMA, in that the communication resource allocated to a user comprises a particular bandwidth allocation during a specified time period. 
     One issue in cellular wireless telecommunication systems concerns interference. That is, where for example a mobile device is located between a base station to which it is transmitting and another base station that is also receiving signals transmitted on the same frequency, there is a danger that the signals transmitted from that mobile device will erroneously be received, and/or will cause interference at the other base station. 
     One way to solve this issue is to allocate the available transmission frequencies to different cells, in such a way as to reduce the probability of such interference. For example, if a transmission frequency is allocated for use by mobile devices within a particular cell of the system, then it may advantageously not be allocated for use by mobile devices within any other cell that neighbours that particular cell. This step reduces the probability that the signals transmitted from that mobile device will erroneously be received, or will cause interference at any other base station that is receiving signals on that transmission frequency. 
     SUMMARY 
     In aspects of the present invention, transmission times in different cells are controlled in such a way as to reduce the probability of interference with transmissions in neighbouring cells. 
     More specifically, in one embodiment, the invention provides a method of controlling a cellular wireless telecommunication system, in which data is transmitted in frames, and wherein, for a first cell of said system, there is semi-statically defined at the same time position in a plurality of consecutive time intervals a low interference time period for transmissions in the first cell, each of said time intervals comprising an equal number of frames, and the low interference time period being a time period during which neighbouring cells are configured to minimize interference in the first cell;
         the method comprising, for at least one user equipment served by the first cell:   receiving signal strength measurements; and   based on the signal strength measurements, determining whether the user equipment should be scheduled for the low interference time period       

     This has the advantage that the probability of interference may be reduced, and hence that the overall capacity of the cell can be used with high efficiency. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a wireless communication network according to an aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a division of a network coverage area into cells in the network of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart, illustrating a method according to an aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart, illustrating a second method according to an aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a timing diagram, illustrating operation of a first network in accordance with the method of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a timing diagram, illustrating operation of a second network in accordance with the method of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a wireless communication network, in which there are a number of base stations  10 ,  12 ,  14 , located within a coverage area of the network such that they can provide mobile communication services to user equipments active within the coverage area.  FIG. 2  shows four such user equipments, in the form of mobile phones  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 , but it will be appreciated that any suitable type of user equipment can be used in the network. 
     As is conventional, the base stations  10 ,  12 ,  14  have connections to a core network (not shown) of the wireless communication network, and each have radio transceiver circuitry for communicating with the user equipments. The coverage area of the network is divided into cells, as described in more detail below, with each base station providing service to the user equipments located within the corresponding cell. 
     The user equipments are similarly conventional, and also have radio transceiver circuitry, for communicating with the base stations. 
     The invention is described herein with reference to a wireless communication network operating on the OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) principle, in which the whole of the available frequency bandwidth is used in each of the cells. This available bandwidth is divided into sub-channels, and one or more of these sub-channels can be allocated for communications with any particular user equipment. 
     Although  FIG. 1  shows only a small number of base stations and user equipments, it will be appreciated that a practical network is likely to include large numbers of base stations and user equipments. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates schematically the division of the coverage area into cells. More specifically,  FIG. 2  shows a part of the network coverage area being divided into three cells  100 ,  120 ,  140 , served respectively by the base stations  10 ,  12 ,  14 . The base stations are not shown in  FIG. 2  although it will be recognized that one common arrangement involves the definition of each cell in the area surrounding the respective base station. It will also be recognized that the division shown in  FIG. 2  is purely illustrative, and that the shape of cells is not regular as shown in  FIG. 2 , but rather is defined by the radio frequency properties of the environment, and the signal strengths employed by the base stations, as well as by the positions of other surrounding base stations. 
     Each user equipment can be instructed by its serving base station to make measurements relating to the signals transmitted by that serving base station and by other base stations. One of the purposes of such measurements is to allow the network to determine the nearby cells that should be considered to be neighbouring cells, it being recognized that the arrangement of base stations and cells will likely be less regular in practice than that shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     As is conventional, the cells  100 ,  120 ,  140  define the areas served respectively by the base stations  10 ,  12 ,  14 . That is, a mobile device within the cell  100  will have a connection to the base station  10 , etc. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the cells are subdivided, and the service provided to a user equipment depends on the part of the cell in which it is located. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart, illustrating a method for determining a part of the serving cell in which a user equipment is located. 
     In step  160 , the user equipment measures the strength of signals received from its serving cell. Techniques for measuring signal strength are well known to the person skilled in the art, and will not be described further. The invention will be described by way of an illustrative example, with reference to a user equipment that is located within the cell  100 , and so in step  160  the user equipment measures the strength of signals received from the cell  100 . 
     In step  162 , the user equipment measures the strength of signals received from the neighbouring cells. Again, techniques for determining the neighbour cell list, and for making the signal strength measurements, are well known to the person skilled in the art, and will not be described further. In the case of the user equipment that is located within the cell  100 , in step  160  the user equipment measures the strength of signals received from the cells  120  and  140 , as well as other neighbouring cells not shown in detail in  FIG. 2 . 
     In step  164 , a comparison is made, for example within the base station  10  or elsewhere in the network, between the signal strength measurements made in steps  160  and  162 . Based on these comparison results, the cell  100  is logically subdivided into regions, and the location of the user equipment within one of those regions is determined. 
       FIG. 2  shows a part of the logical subdivision of the cell  100 , based on the comparison of the signal strength measurements. 
     Where the signal strength measured in step  160 , i.e. the signal strength from the serving cell  100 , is greater than any of the signal strengths measured in step  162 , i.e. the signal strengths from the neighbouring cells, by a margin that exceeds some threshold value, such as 3 dB, then the user equipment is determined to be in an interior region  101  of the cell  100 , and the user equipment (UE) is referred to as an interior UE. 
     By contrast, where the signal strength from the serving cell  100  does not exceed all of the signal strengths from the neighbouring cells by a margin that exceeds the threshold value, such as 3 dB, then the user equipment is determined to be in an exterior region of the cell  100 , and the user equipment is referred to as an exterior UE. 
     More specifically, where the signal strength from the serving cell  100  does not exceed the signal strength from the neighbouring cell  120  by a margin that exceeds the threshold value, but where the signal strength from the serving cell  100  does exceed the signal strength from all of the other neighbouring cells by a margin that exceeds the threshold value, then the exterior UE is determined to be in the exterior region  102  that borders the neighbouring cell  120 . 
     Similarly, where the signal strength from the serving cell  100  does not exceed the signal strength from the neighbouring cell  140  by a margin that exceeds the threshold value, but where the signal strength from the serving cell  100  does exceed the signal strength from all of the other neighbouring cells by a margin that exceeds the threshold value, then the exterior UE is determined to be in the exterior region  104  that borders the neighbouring cell  140 . 
     Where the signal strength from the serving cell  100  does not exceed the signal strength from the neighbouring cell  120  by a margin that exceeds the threshold value, and also does not exceed the signal strength from the neighbouring cell  140  by a margin that exceeds the threshold value, but where the signal strength from the serving cell  100  does exceed the signal strength from all of the other neighbouring cells by a margin that exceeds the threshold value, then the exterior UE is determined to be in the exterior region  103  that borders both of the neighbouring cells  120 ,  140 . 
     Similar exterior regions  106 ,  107  are defined, with the exterior region  106  bordering the neighbouring cell  120  and one other neighbouring cell not shown in detail in  FIG. 2 , and the exterior region  107  bordering the neighbouring cell  140  and a different neighbouring cell not shown in detail in  FIG. 2 . Other exterior regions are also defined, bordering other neighbouring cells, but are not shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Thus, any user equipment in the interior region  101  can be regarded as an interior device, while other user equipments can be regarded as exterior devices. Then, exterior devices in the regions  106 ,  102  and  103  that border the first neighbouring cell  120  can be regarded as having a higher risk of interference with that first neighbouring cell, while exterior devices in the regions  103 ,  104  and  107  that border the second neighbouring cell  140  can be regarded as having a higher risk of interference with that second neighbouring cell, it being noted of course that exterior devices in the region  103  that borders the first and second neighbouring cells  120 ,  140  can be regarded as having a higher risk of interference both with the first and with the second neighbouring cell. 
       FIG. 4  is a further flow chart, illustrating a further method in accordance with the present invention, whereby a degree of coordination is achieved between the cells. 
     In step  180 , the timing of the transmissions from one or more neighbouring cells is determined, relative to the timing of the transmissions from the cell under consideration. This determination may be made in the base station serving that cell, or may be made elsewhere in the network and communicated explicitly or implicitly to the cell, as required. 
     The methods described herein can be applied either to synchronized networks or to unsynchronized networks. In the case of synchronized networks, each of the base stations starts the transmission of a new frame of data simultaneously. Therefore, in this case, it can readily be determined that there is no time difference between the transmissions from each base station. 
     In the case of an unsynchronized network, the frames transmitted by the different base stations begin at times that are effectively random. Therefore, in this case, each base station instructs the devices within its cell to make measurements relating to the timing of the transmissions from the neighbouring cells, relative to the timing of its own transmissions. For example, the relative timings can be determined with reference to the system frame numbers of the respective transmissions. 
     These measurements can be made at regular periodic intervals, or when initiated by the network or the base station in response to a specified condition occurring. 
     In step  182 , there is defined for the cell a first time period, which is advantageously a time period during which there is a lower probability of interference from neighbouring cells. This will be discussed in more detail below. 
     In step  184 , there is defined for that cell one or more second time periods, which correspond to the first time periods defined in neighbouring cells, and during which there may be a higher probability of interference from neighbouring cells. Again, this will be discussed in more detail below. 
     The operation of the method is illustrated, firstly with reference to its application in a synchronized network, in  FIG. 5 . As is well known, communications networks that use time division duplexing (TDD) are usually synchronized, to allow for the possibility that a device will handover from one cell to another and retain the same timings. Similarly, systems that use frequency division duplexing (FDD) need to be synchronized if they are to allow the transmission of multicast messages. Thus, the system illustrated in  FIG. 5  may arise in such networks but will not arise exclusively in such networks. 
     In  FIG. 5 , there are shown the timings of transmissions from the three cells  100 ,  120 ,  140  described above. As mentioned previously, the transmissions from the three cells are divided into frames, as specified by the relevant OFDMA communication system. The available communication resources are then the available sub-channels into which the bandwidth is divided, and the available fractions of each frame. In one embodiment of the invention, each active user equipment may be allocated all of the available sub-channels for some fraction of each frame. In other embodiments, an active user equipment may be allocated only a fraction of the available sub-channels for some fraction of each frame. 
     Aspects of the present invention relate primarily to the way in which the fraction of the frame is allocated to a particular user equipment. 
     In this embodiment of the invention, each frame is divided into three sections, each of equal length. Thus, a first frame transmitted from the cell  100  is divided into sections t A0 -t A1 , t A1 -t A2 , t A2 -t A3 , while a second frame is divided into sections t A3 -t A4 , etc. Similarly, a first frame transmitted from the cell  120  is divided into sections t B0 -t B1 , t B1 -t B2 , t B2 -t B3 , while a second frame is divided into sections t B3 -t B4 , etc, and a first frame transmitted from the cell  140  is divided into sections t C0 -t C1 , t C1 -t C2 , t C2 -t C3 , while a second frame is divided into sections t C3 -t C4 , etc. 
     Within each of the cells  100 ,  120 ,  140 , a time period is defined, during which there is a lower probability of interference from neighbouring cells. In one embodiment of the invention, these time periods may be determined by network planning and the relevant base station may be informed which time period to adopt. In another embodiment, the time period may be determined by the base station on the basis of measurements made by user equipments within the cell. The time differences between the serving cell and the neighbouring cells may be determined by knowledge of the network planning in the case of synchronized cells, or may be determined by the base station on the basis of measurements made by user equipments within the cell or by the base station itself. 
     In either case, the time period is defined at least semi-statically, i.e. on a static or semi-static basis. That is, after the time period has been defined for a cell, it occurs at the same time position for a significant period of time, and in particular for the duration of a large number of frames, for example until measurements suggest that the radio environment has changed, or the timing relations between cells have changed. Again, the radio environment or the timing relations can be monitored using UE measurements or measurements made by the base station itself. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , and referring to  FIG. 2 , the cell  100  may adopt the time period t A  from t A0 -t A1  as its less interfered time period, the cell  120  may adopt the time period t B  from t B1 -t B2  as its less interfered time period, and the cell  140  may adopt the time period t C  from t C2 -t C3  as its less interfered time period. In this embodiment, there are only three time periods that are available for selection by each of the cells in the system. Preferably, these time periods are selected by the different cells such that no time period is adopted as the less interfered time period by any two adjacent cells. Even if this is not possible then, in any event, steps are preferably taken to ensure the maximum average reuse distance between cells that share a time period as the less interfered time period. 
     Although the invention is described here with reference to a situation where there is a less interfered time period during each frame, it is also possible to define a time interval that is equal to a plurality of frames, with the less interfered time period then occurring at the same time position in each time interval. 
     Further, although the invention is illustrated with reference to an example in which each frame is divided into three sections, and the less interfered time period is equal to one third of one frame, it is also possible to divide each frame or other time interval into a different number of sections, such that the less interfered time period is equal to some different fraction of one frame or time interval. 
     When a first, less interfered, time period has been defined in each cell, one or more second time periods are also defined, in which there is a specific risk of interference from one or more respective other cell. 
     Thus, in this case, exterior user equipments in each cell, which would tend to have a greater risk of interference with other cells because they are closer to the cell boundaries, are preferably allocated resources during the less interfered time periods. Specifically, in this example, exterior user equipments in the cell  100  are preferably allocated resources during the time period t A , exterior user equipments in the cell  120  are preferably allocated resources during the time period t B , and exterior user equipments in the cell  140  are preferably allocated resources during the time period t C . 
     However, if no such resources are available, an exterior user equipment may instead be allocated resources outside the less interfered time period of that cell, provided that it avoids the use of a second time period during which there is a particular risk of interference with a specific neighbouring cell. 
     Thus, considering cell  100 , the time period t B  may be regarded as such a second time period concerning interference from the cell  120 , since exterior user equipments in that cell will preferentially be transmitting during that time period, while the time period t C  may be regarded as such a second time period concerning interference from the cell  140 , since exterior user equipments in that cell will preferentially be transmitting during that time period. 
     Therefore, for an exterior user equipment in the cell  100  that is in the region  102  bordering the cell  120 , if that user equipment cannot be allocated resources in the less interfered time period t A , it can instead be allocated resources during the time period t C , in preference to the time period t B . Similarly, for an exterior user equipment in the cell  100  that is in the region  104  bordering the cell  140 , if that user equipment cannot be allocated resources in the less interfered time period t A , it can instead be allocated resources during the time period t B , in preference to the time period t C . 
     As described above, it is exterior user equipments in a cell that are preferentially allocated resources in the less interfered time period defined for that cell. However, alternatively or additionally, other user equipments that require low interference conditions may be preferentially allocated resources in the less interfered time period. 
     The operation of the method is further illustrated with reference to its application in an unsynchronized network, in  FIG. 6 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , there are again shown the timings of transmissions from the three cells  100 ,  120 ,  140  described above. As mentioned previously, the transmissions from the three cells are divided into frames, as specified by the relevant OFDMA communication system. The available communication resources are then the available sub-channels into which the bandwidth is divided, and the available fractions of each frame. In one embodiment of the invention, each active user equipment may be allocated all of the available sub-channels for some fraction of each frame. In other embodiments, an active user equipment may be allocated only a fraction of the available sub-channels for some fraction of each frame. 
     Again, in this embodiment of the invention, each frame is divided into three sections, each of equal length, although the frames may be divided in any convenient way. Thus, a first frame transmitted from the cell  100  is divided into sections t A5 -t A6 , t A6 -t A7 , t A7 -t A8 , while a second frame is divided into sections t A8 -t A9 , etc. Similarly, a first frame transmitted from the cell  120  is divided into sections t B5 -t B6 , t B6 -t B7 , t B7 -t B8 , while a second frame is divided into sections t B8 -t B9 , etc, and a first frame transmitted from the cell  140  is divided into sections t C5 -t C6 , t C6 -t C7 , t C7 -t C8 , while a second frame is divided into sections t C8 -t C9 , etc. 
     Within each of the cells  100 ,  120 ,  140 , a time period is defined, during which there is a lower probability of interference from neighbouring cells. In some situations, these time periods may be determined by the cell itself to be the first section of each frame. In other situations, the time period in one cell may be adjusted, based on reported timing measurements relating to other cells, such that the time periods become the same in all cells. This will tend to reduce the number of timing reports that are needed in the network. 
     In an unsynchronized system, the relative timings of the frames in the different cells are arbitrary, as shown in  FIG. 6  and, furthermore, these relative timings may change. In any event, the time period is defined on a static or semi-static basis. That is, after the time period has been defined, it occurs at the same time position for a significant period of time, and in particular for the duration of a large number of frames, for example until measurements suggest that the radio environment has changed. However, the cell may set its own first time period based on the present conditions, and in particular based on the measurements of the timings in other cells. The cell can monitor the timing relations with the neighbouring cells on the basis of measurements made by the user equipments in the cell, or measurements made by the base station itself. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the cell  100  may adopt the time period t A  from t A5 -t A6  as its less interfered time period, the cell  120  may adopt the time period t B  from t B5 -t B6  as its less interfered time period, and the cell  140  may adopt the time period t C  from t C5 -t C6  as its less interfered time period. 
     As before, although the invention is described here with reference to a situation where there is a less interfered time period during each frame, it is also possible to define a time interval that is equal to a plurality of frames, with the less interfered time period then occurring at the same time position in each time interval. 
     Further, although the invention is illustrated with reference to an example in which each frame is divided into three sections, and the less interfered time period is equal to one third of one frame, it is also possible to divide each frame or other time interval into a different number of sections, such that the less interfered time period is equal to some different fraction of one frame or time interval. 
     When a first, less interfered, time period has been defined in each cell, one or more second time periods are also defined, in which there is a specific risk of interference from one or more respective other cell. 
     Thus, in this case, exterior user equipments in each cell, which would tend to have a greater risk of interference with other cells because they are closer to the cell boundaries, are preferably allocated resources during the less interfered time periods. Incidentally, although specific reference is made to the allocation of resources for exterior user equipments, which are likely to cause interference with user equipments in neighbouring cells as well as being more vulnerable to interference from user equipments in neighbouring cells, the methods described are applicable to any user equipments that require lower interference, such as interior user equipments having coverage problems or user equipments requiring particularly high data rates. 
     Specifically, in this example, exterior user equipments in the cell  100  are preferably allocated resources during the time period t A , exterior user equipments in the cell  120  are preferably allocated resources during the time period t B , and exterior user equipments in the cell  140  are preferably allocated resources during the time period t c . 
     However, this is also subject to the condition that an exterior user equipment in a region bordering one or more particular neighbouring cell should preferably not be allocated resources during respective second time periods corresponding to the less interfered time periods of that one or more neighbouring cell. 
     Thus, considering cell  100 , the time period t B  may be regarded as such a second time period concerning interference from the cell  120 , since exterior user equipments in that cell will preferentially be transmitting during that time period, while the time period t C  may be regarded as such a second time period concerning interference from the cell  140 , since exterior user equipments in that cell will preferentially be transmitting during that time period. 
     Therefore, for an exterior user equipment in the cell  100  that is in the region  102  bordering the cell  120 , that user equipment can be allocated resources at any time during the less interfered time period t A , because there is no overlap with the time period t B . However, for an exterior user equipment in the cell  100  that is in the region  104  bordering the cell  140 , that user equipment should preferentially be allocated resources in that part of the less interfered time period t A  that does not overlap with the time period t C . 
     There is thus disclosed a system for minimizing interference, based on the allocation of resources to user equipments, at times when there is a reduced possibility of such interference, as a result of some predetermined definition of a less interfered time period.