Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The concepts described herein may relate to methods and arrangements in a network. In particular, the concepts described herein may relate to methods and arrangements for providing load measurements and resource management in a network. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Under the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) release 99 framework, a radio network controller (RNC) may control resources and user mobility. Resource control may include admission control, congestion control, and channel type switching. Uplink data may be allocated to an Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH), which may include an Enhanced Dedicated Physical Control Channel (E-DPCCH) for data control and an Enhanced Dedicated Physical Data Channel (E-DPDCH) for data. The E-DPCCH and the E-DPDCH may be discontinuous and may be transmitted only when there is uplink data to be sent. Additionally, uplink data may be transmitted on a continuous Dedicated Physical Data Channel (DPDCH). A radio base station (RBS) may include an uplink scheduler that determines which transport formats each subscriber may use over the E-DPDCH. 
         [0003]    As previously mentioned, the RNC may be responsible for admission control and congestion control. For example, the RNC may monitor and control the load in the RBS. The RNC may perform these operations based on Iub interface measurements from the RBS. The Iub measurements related to the uplink may include received total wideband power (RTWP) (i.e., the total received power at the uplink receiver), reference received total wideband power (RRTWP) (i.e., the thermal noise contribution to the RTWP), and received scheduled E-DCH power share (RSEPS) (i.e., the received power from resources controlled by an enhanced uplink (EUL) scheduler (e.g. the E-DPCCH and the E-DPDCH) relative to the RTWP). In one implementation, the Iub measurements may be transmitted to the RNC by the RBS in a Node B Application Part (NBAP) report. In some instances, the NBAP report may include both the RSEPS and the RTWP for the same time interval to enable direct comparisons. 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary uplink stack  100  that includes exemplary uplink interference contributions. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , total uplink interference (I-total)  140  may include background noise interference  105 , other-cell interference  110 , DPDCH interference  115 , DPCCH interference  120 , non-scheduled interference  125  and scheduled interference  130 . Non-scheduled interference  125  may include interference from the E-DPCCH, the E-DPDCH, and a High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel (HS-DPCCH). The HS-DPCCH may be employed for uplink acknowledgements relating to downlink data transmitted over a High Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH). Scheduled interference  130  may include interference from the E-DPCCH and the E-DPDCH. The interference contribution of scheduled interference is further illustrated by uplink scheduled interference (I_sch)  135 . 
         [0005]    Based on measurements over the tub interface, the following may be estimated according to the following expressions:
       Uplink noise rise as          =RTWP/RRTWP;   Uplink relative load as L nr =1−(1/         )=1−(RRTWP/RTWP); and   Non-scheduled load as L non-sched =L nr −RSEPS.       
 
         [0009]    In such an instance, the non-scheduled load estimate may include the load due to inter-cell interference from other cells. Additionally. E-DCH may yield a non-scheduled load because the DPCCH of the E-DCH may be considered non-scheduled. 
         [0010]    When balancing scheduled and non-scheduled loads, the non-scheduled load may be used as input to the admission control of the RNC to ensure that there is sufficient headroom for scheduled data. This reallocatable resource intended for scheduled E-DCH is referred to as the scheduling headroom. This may be expressed as: 
         [0000]        L   sched,headroom   =L   nr,max   −L   non-sched , 
         [0000]    where L nr,max  is the maximum uplink relative load of the cell based on, for example, a coverage or power control stability metric. 
         [0011]    For a target scheduling headroom, a target non-scheduled load, L non-sched,target  of the cell may be derived, to which an estimated current, non-scheduled load may be compared. In such a comparison, an admitted load, L adm , from recently admitted connections that are still inactive may be included. Consequently, a user may be admitted if the following expression is met: 
         [0000]        L   non-sched   +L   adm   +L   new potential connection   ≦L   non-sched,target . 
         [0012]    Margins considered by, for example, a load estimation algorithm (LEA) and/or a scheduler may affect the available scheduling headroom. For example, the RNC may employ a LEA for purposes of admission and/or congestion control. Additionally, or alternatively, the RBS may employ a LEA for scheduling, and/or assign grants to subscribers based on the scheduler. The LEA may calculate the load contribution from non-scheduled connections in their own cell, L non-sched,own , and may maintain an estimate of other-cell load contribution, L other  (i.e., the other-cell received power share). For example, the other-cell load contribution may equate to a ratio between received powers from other cells and the RTWP. In this regard, the scheduler may consider the scheduling headroom according to the following expression: 
         [0000]        L   sched,headroom   =L   nr,max   −L   non-sched,own   −L   other . 
         [0013]    Further, in order to maintain a margin for inter-cell interference, and to be robust to estimation errors of the other-cell load contribution, the other-cell load contribution may be limited from below by a minimum other-cell load contribution L other min . In one implementation, L other min  may be a static value. Thus, the scheduler may consider the scheduling headroom according to the following expression: 
         [0000]        L   sched,headroom   =L   nr,max   −L   non-sched,own −max( L   other   ,L   other min ). 
         [0014]    Such a margin, which is not always active, may not be accounted for in the Iub measurements. Additionally, there may be other margins utilized by the LEA and/or the scheduler that may not be accounted for in the Iub measurements, but reduce the scheduling headroom considered by the RBS. Consequently, such margins may not be known by the RNC and correspondingly may not be taken into account. 
         [0015]    Additionally, multi-user detector schemes and/or interference cancellation schemes may be adopted by the RBS to cancel intra-cell interference. One approach to such schemes includes regenerating the interfering signal from detected connections and subtracting the regenerated interfering signal from the received signal. Thus, the effective interference power from an E-DCH may be less than the actual received power. Therefore, the RSEPS may not reflect the actual balance between the E-DCH and a DCH. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0016]    It is an object to obviate at least some of the above disadvantages and to improve the operation of a network. 
         [0017]    According to one aspect, a method may include determining whether a discrepancy exists between scheduling headroom computable by a first device and scheduling headroom computable by a second device, determining one or more load measurements that the second device bases its computation of the scheduling headroom if it is determined that the discrepancy exists, modifying the one or more load measurements, and calculating the scheduling headroom based on the modified one or more load measurements. 
         [0018]    Additionally, the modifying may include modifying, by the first device, the one or more load measurements, and the method may further include transmitting, by the first device, the modified one or more load measurements to the second device. 
         [0019]    Additionally, the method may further include transmitting, by the first device, the one or more load measurements together with additional information about the scheduling headroom discrepancy to the second device, and where the modifying may include modifying, by the second device, the one or more load measurements based on the additional information about the scheduling headroom discrepancy. 
         [0020]    Additionally, the method may include determining effective interference cancellation associated with enhanced dedicated channels, where the effective interference cancellation associated with the enhanced dedicated channels corresponds to the additional information. 
         [0021]    Additionally, the determining the effective interference cancellation associated with the enhanced dedicated channels may include determining an interference from the scheduled enhanced dedicated channels before an interference cancellation process is employed, determining an interference from the scheduled enhanced dedicated channels after an interference cancellation process is employed, and determining the effective interference cancellation associated with the enhanced dedicated channels based on a difference between the interference determined before the interference cancellation process and the interference determined after the interference cancellation process. 
         [0022]    Additionally, the determining may include calculating an other-cell load. 
         [0023]    Additionally, the calculating may include determining whether a difference value between the other-cell load and a minimum other-cell load yields a non-zero value. 
         [0024]    Additionally, the modifying may include modifying the one or more load measurements relating to an Iub interface if the difference value yields the non-zero value. 
         [0025]    Additionally, the method may include performing, by the first device, interference cancellation, and determining an effective interference corresponding to an interference power that remains. 
         [0026]    Additionally, the modifying may include modifying the one or more load measurements corresponding to a received scheduled enhanced dedicated channel power share (RSEPS) based on the effective interference associated with a received scheduled power and a received non-scheduled power. 
         [0027]    Additionally, the method may include transmitting, by the first device, a modified received total wideband power (RTWP) measurement and a modified RSEPS measurement to the second device. 
         [0028]    Additionally, the method may further include calculating, by the second device, at least one of admission control or congestion control parameters based on at least one of the modified RTWP measurement or the modified RSEPS measurement 
         [0029]    According to another aspect, a device may include a memory to store instructions, and a processor to execute the instructions. The processor may execute instructions to determine whether a discrepancy relating to scheduling headroom exists between the device and another device, modify a power measurement associated with an interface shared between the device and the other device if it is determined that the discrepancy exists, and provide the other device with a modified power measurement. 
         [0030]    Additionally, when determining whether the discrepancy relating to scheduling headroom exists, the processor may be configured to calculate an other-cell load based on inter-cell interference. 
         [0031]    Additionally, when calculating the other-cell load, the processor may be configured to determine whether a minimum other-cell load exceeds the other-cell load. 
         [0032]    Additionally, when modifying the power measurement, the processor may be configured to compute at least one of a modified RTWP measurement, a modified reference received total wideband power (RRTWP) measurement, or a modified RSEPS measurement if it is determined that the discrepancy exists. 
         [0033]    Additionally, the interface may include an Iub interface. 
         [0034]    Additionally, when computing the processor may be configured to compute the at least one of the modified RTWP measurement or the modified RSEPS measurement based on a difference value, the difference value being equal to a difference between a minimum other-cell load and an other-cell load. 
         [0035]    Additionally, the processor may further execute instructions to determine an effective interference after interference cancellation is performed. 
         [0036]    Additionally, when modifying the power measurement, the processor may be configured to compute at least one of a modified RTWP measurement or a modified RSEPS measurement based on the effective interference. 
         [0037]    Additionally, when providing the other device with the modified power measurement, the processor may be configured to provide the modified RTWP measurement and the modified RSEPS measurement to the other device, and provide an unmodified RTWP measurement to the other device. 
         [0038]    Additionally, when determining the effective interference, the processor may be configured to determine connections subject to interference cancellation and connections not subject to interference cancellation. 
         [0039]    Additionally, the device may include a radio base station and the other device may include a radio network controller. 
         [0040]    According to still another aspect, a computer-readable medium may include instructions executable by a radio base station, the computer-readable medium may include one or more instructions for determining whether a discrepancy relating to a non-scheduling load exists between the radio base station and a radio network controller, one or more instructions for modifying one or more interface measurements if the non-scheduling load discrepancy exists, and one or more instructions for sending a modified one or more interface measurements to the radio base station controller. 
         [0041]    Additionally, the one or more instructions for determining may include one or more instructions for calculating whether a minimum other-cell load value exceeds an other-cell load value. 
         [0042]    Additionally, the one or more instructions for calculating may include one or more instructions for generating a difference value, the difference value being a quantity by which the minimum other-cell load value exceeds the other-cell load value. 
         [0043]    Additionally, the one or more interface measurements may include a RSEPS measurement, and the one or more instructions for modifying may include one or more instructions for subtracting the difference value from the RSEPS measurement. 
         [0044]    Additionally, the one or more instructions for modifying may include one or more instructions for modifying the one or more interface measurements based on the difference value. 
         [0045]    Additionally, the one or more interface measurements include at least one of a RTWP measurement, a RRTWP measurement, or a RSEPS measurement. 
         [0046]    Additionally, the one or more interface measurements may relate to an Iub interface. 
         [0047]    Additionally, the computer-readable medium may further include one or more instructions for determining an interference power after an interference cancellation scheme is performed. 
         [0048]    Additionally, the computer-readable medium may further include one or more instructions for calculating one or more modified interface measurements based on the interference power. 
         [0049]    Additionally, the modified one or more interface measurements based on the interference power may include a modified RTWP measurement. 
         [0050]    Additionally, the modified one or more interface measurements based on the interference power may include a modified RSEPS measurement. 
         [0051]    According to still another aspect, a device may include a memory to store instructions, and a processor to execute the instructions. The processor may execute instructions to receive one or more load measurements and effective cancellation interference information associated with a scheduling headroom discrepancy determination, modify the one or more load measurements based on the effective cancellation interference information, and calculate a scheduling headroom based on the modified one or more load measurements. 
         [0052]    Additionally, the effective interference information may correspond to effective cancellation interference information associated with scheduled enhanced dedicated channels. 
         [0053]    Additionally, when calculating the scheduled headroom, the processor may be further configured to calculate a received scheduled enhanced dedicated channel power (RSEP) based on the one or more load measurements, where the one or more load measurements include a received total wideband power (RTWP) measurement and a received scheduled enhanced dedicated channel power share (RSEPS) measurement, calculate a total cancelled interference, modify the RSEP and the RTWP based on the calculation of the total cancelled interference, and modify the RSEPS based on the modified RSEP and the modified RTWP. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0054]      FIG. 1 , is a diagram illustrating exemplary uplink interference contributions: 
           [0055]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless network environment: 
           [0056]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating exemplary components that may correspond to one or more of the devices of the exemplary wireless network environment depicted in  FIG. 2 : 
           [0057]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary component associated with the RBS depicted in  FIG. 2 : 
           [0058]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating relations between defined load quantities: and 
           [0059]      FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8  are flow diagrams related to processes associated with the concepts described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0060]    The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following description does not limit the invention. The term “component,” as used herein, is intended to be broadly interpreted to include software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. 
         [0061]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary wireless network  200 . As illustrated, wireless network  200  may include a core network (CN)  202 , a radio access network (RAN)  204 , radio network subsystems  206 - 1  and  206 - 2  (collectively referred to as RNS  206 ), radio network controllers (RNCs)  208 - 1  and  208 - 2  (collectively referred to as RNC  208 ), radio base stations (RBSs)  210 - 1 ,  210 - 2 ,  210 - 3 , and  210 - 4  (collectively referred to as RBS  210 ), user equipment (UE)  212 - 1 ,  212 - 2 ,  212 - 3 , and  212 - 4  (collectively referred to as UE  212 ), Iu interfaces  214 - 1  and  214 - 2  (collectively referred to as Iu interface  214 ), Iub interfaces  218 - 1 ,  218 - 2 ,  218 - 3 , and  218 - 4  (collectively referred to as Iub interface  218 ), and Uu interfaces  220 - 1 ,  220 - 2 ,  220 - 3 , and  220 - 4  (collectively referred to as Uu interface  220 ). In one implementation, wireless network  200  may correspond to a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA)-based network. In other implementations, wireless network  200  may correspond to a network other than a WCDMA-based network. 
         [0062]    CN  202  may be, for example, a network that includes circuit switched and packet switched domains that provide various services to UE  212  subscribers. For example, although not illustrated, the circuit switched domain may include mobile switching centers (MSCs), visitor location registers (VLRs), and gateways. The packet switched domains may include, for example, serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support nodes (SGSN) and gateway GPRS support nodes (GGSNs). CN  202  may also include home location registers (HLRs), authentication centers (AUCs), equipment identity registers (EIR), etc. 
         [0063]    RAN  204  may be a part of wireless network  200  that is responsible for the radio transmission and control of a radio connection between UE  212  and CN  202 . In one embodiment, RAN  204  may include one or more RNSs  206 . RNS  206  may manage resource allocations of a radio link to a subscriber. Each RNS  206  may include an RNC  208  and a group of RBSs  210 . 
         [0064]    RNC  208  may control radio resource management and radio connectivity within a set of cells. For example. RNC  208  may manage radio access bearers for user data transfer (e.g., between CN  202  and UE  212 ), manage and optimize radio network resources (e.g., outer-loop power control and admission and congestion control), and/or control mobility, including soft handovers. RNC  208  may determine load information for purposes of admission and congestion control, as further described below. 
         [0065]    RNC  208  may control RBS  210  via Iub interface  218 . RNC  208  may also connect RAN  204  to CN  202  via Iu interface  214 . RNC  208  may include a controlling RNC and a serving RNC. For example, RNC  208 - 1  may be the controlling RNC, and RNC  208 - 2  may be the serving RNC. The controlling RNC may have overall control of a particular set of cells and their associated RBS  210 . In instances, for example, when UE  212  may need to utilize resources in a cell not controlled by its serving RNC, the serving RNC (e.g. RNC  208 - 2 ) may issue a request to the controlling RNC (e.g., RNC  208 - 1 ) for such resources via Iur interface  216 . 
         [0066]    RBS  210  (sometimes referred to as Node B) may handle radio transmission and reception within one or more cells. Each cell may be identified by a unique identifier, which may be broadcast in the cell. In some instances, there may be more than one cell covering the same geographical area. RBS  210  may perform various functions, such as calculations of timing advance, measurements in the uplink direction, scheduling headroom, channel coding, encryption, decryption, frequency hopping, inner-loop power control, softer handover combining and splitting, and operation and maintenance. 
         [0067]    UE  212  may include a mobile terminal by which subscribers may access services by maintaining a radio link with one or more cells in RAN  204 . UE  212  may include a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile computer, a laptop, and/or another type of handset or communication device. In other instances. UE  212  may include a vehicle-mounted terminal. 
         [0068]    Iu interface  214  may connect CN  202  with RAN  204 . Iur interface  216  and Iub interface  218  may connect the different nodes in RAN  204 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Uu interface  220  may connect UE  212  to RBS  144 . User data may be transported on transport bearers on these interfaces. Depending on the transport network employed, the transport bearers may be mapped to for example, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) adaptation layer type  2  (AAL 2 ) connections for an ATM based transport network, or User Datagram Protocol (UDP) connections for an Internet Protocol (IP) based transport network. 
         [0069]    Although  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary wireless network  200 , in other implementations, fewer, additional, or different devices may be employed. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more devices of wireless network  200  may perform one or more functions described as being performed by one or more other devices of wireless network  200 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating exemplary components of a device  300  that may correspond to one or more of the devices depicted in  FIG. 1 . For example, device  300  may correspond to RNC  208 , RBS  210 , and/or UE  212 . As illustrated, device  300  may include a bus  310 , a processor  320 , a memory component  330 , a storage component  340 , an input component  350 , an output component  360 , and/or a communication interface  370 . 
         [0071]    Bus  310  may include a path that permits communication among the components of device  300 . For example, bus  310  may include a system bus, an address bus, a data bus, and/or a control bus. Bus  310  may also include bus drivers, bus arbiters, bus interfaces, and/or clocks. 
         [0072]    Processor  320  may include a general-purpose processor, a microprocessor, a data processor, a co-processor, a network processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a controller, a programmable logic device, a chipset, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or any other component or group of components that may interpret and execute instructions. 
         [0073]    Memory component  330  may include any type of component that stores data and instructions related to the operation and use of device  300 . For example, memory component  330  may include a storing component, such as a random access memory (RAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), a read only memory (ROM), a programmable read only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), and/or a flash memory. 
         [0074]    Storage component  340  may include a storing component, such as a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optic disk, etc.), a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetic tape, another type of storage medium, or another type of computer-readable medium, along with a corresponding drive. 
         [0075]    Memory component  330  and/or storage component  340  may also include a storing component external to and/or removable from device  300 , such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory stick, a hard disk, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), etc. 
         [0076]    Input component  350  may include a mechanism that permits a user to input information to device  300 , such as a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, voice recognition, etc. Output component  360  may include a mechanism that outputs information to a user, such as a display, a speaker, one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), etc. 
         [0077]    Communication interface  370  may include any transceiver-like mechanism that enables device  300  to communicate with other devices and/or systems. For example, communication interface  370  may include an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, a radio interface, or the like. Communication interface  330  may allow for wired and/or wireless communication. 
         [0078]    Communication interface  330  may implement industry promulgated protocol standards, such as transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), Asynchronous Transport Mode (ATM), digital subscriber line (DSL), integrated services digital network (ISDN), fiber channel, synchronous optical network (SONET), Ethernet, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802 standards, etc. Additionally, or alternatively, communication interface  330  may implement non-standard, proprietary, and/or customized interface protocols. Communication interface  330  may contain a plurality of communication interfaces to handle multiple traffic flows. 
         [0079]    As will be described in detail below, device  300  may perform certain operations relating to the system and services described herein. Device  300  may perform these operations in response to processor  320  executing software instructions contained in a computer-readable medium, such as memory component  330 . A computer-readable medium may be defined as a physical or a logical memory device. 
         [0080]    The software instructions may be read into memory component  330  from another computer-readable medium or from another device via communication interface  370 . The software instructions contained in memory component  330  may cause processor  320  to perform processes that will be described later. Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement processes described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. 
         [0081]    Although.  FIG. 3  illustrates exemplary components of device  300 , in other implementations, device  300  may include fewer, additional, and/or different components than those depicted in  FIG. 3 . In still other implementations, one or more components of device  300  may perform one or more other tasks described as being performed by one or more other components of device  300 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of an exemplary component of RBS  210  that may perform calculations for modifying Iub  218  measurements. For purposes of discussion, the component will be referred to as an Iub measurement modifier  405 . Iub measurement modifier  405  may modify Iub  218  measurement values, such as the RTWP, the RRTWP, and/or the RSEPS, according to the expressions provided below. In one implementation, Iub measurement modifier  405  may implemented as software stored in storage component  340 . In another implementation, Iub measurement modifier  405  may be implemented as hardware, such as processor  320 . In still other implementations, Iub measurement modifier  405  may include a combination of hardware and software. 
         [0083]    Although  FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary component of RBS  210 , in other implementations, Iub measurement modifier  405  may be a component of a device other than RBS  210 . Additionally, or alternatively, the functionality associated with Tub measurement modifier  405 , as to be described more fully below, may be employed in a distributed fashion between or among more than one device, including or excluding RBS  210 . 
         [0084]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating exemplary load contributions. As illustrated, load information may include a L_scheduled portion  505  (i.e., a scheduled load), a L_non-scheduled portion  510  that may include a L_non-scheduled load, own, and an other-cell load (L_other), and a L_other, min  515  that may include a load corresponding to Δ, as described below. Further.  FIG. 5  illustrates a L_nr  520  and a L_nr, max  525  that correspond to a relative load and a maximum relative load, respectively. 
         [0085]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the non-scheduling load L non-sched  may be separated into non-scheduled load from the own cell L non-sched,own  and load from other-cells L other  as discussed above. Thus, in one implementation, the scheduling headroom may be expressed as: 
         [0000]        L   sched,headroom   =L   nr,max   −L   non-sched,own −max( L   other   ,L   other min )= L   nr,max   −L   non-sched,own   −L   other −max(0, L   other min   −L   other )  (1) 
         [0086]    In some instances, the scheduling headroom considered in RBS  210  may be (artificially) reduced according to the following expression: 
         [0000]      Δ=max(0, L   other min   −L   other ),  (2) 
         [0000]    in order to be robust to the inter-cell interference contribution as described above. However, when Δ is greater than zero, there may be a discrepancy between the scheduling headroom calculated by RBS  210  and the scheduled headroom that can be estimated in RNC  208 . That is, in instances where L other min  is greater than L other , Δ may have a value greater than zero. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the value of L_other, min  515  may exceed L_other. Thus, as indicated in expression (2) above, Δ may have a value greater than zero. 
         [0087]    Based on the load contribution illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the LEA of RNC  208  may need to consider the non-scheduled load according to the following expression: 
         [0000]        L   non-sched   =L   non-sched,own   +L   other +Δ.  (3) 
         [0088]    Since, however, RNC  208  may compute the non-scheduled load according to the following expression: 
         [0000]        L   non-sched   =L   nr   −RSEPS.   (4) 
         [0000]    the impact or effect from a non-zero A may be accounted for by modifying either RSEPS or L nr . That is, Iub measurement modifier  405  may modify either RSEPS or L nr . As previously described above, L nr  may be expressed as: 
         [0000]        L   nr =1−( RRTWP/RTWP ). 
         [0000]    Thus, L nr  may be computed from RRTWP and RTWP. Accordingly, the impact or effect from a non-zero Δ may be accounted for by modifying either of RSEPS. RTWP, or RRTWP. 
         [0089]    Based on expressions (3) and (4), the RSEPS may be modified according to the following expression: 
         [0000]        RSEPS _mod= RSEPS−Δ.   (5) 
         [0090]    In this regard, increasing the used load margin by reducing the used scheduled load measurement may appear to be an illogical approach. However, the rationale to this approach is that this measurement may be used to compute the non-scheduled load, which is increased as a consequence. 
         [0091]    Based on expressions (3) and (4), (L nr     —   mod)=+Δ, thus 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           1 
                           - 
                           
                             RRTWP_mod 
                             RTWP 
                           
                         
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           1 
                           - 
                           
                             RRTWP 
                             RTWP 
                           
                           + 
                           Δ 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           1 
                           - 
                           
                             
                               
                                 RRTWP 
                                 - 
                                 
                                   Δ 
                                   · 
                                   RTWP 
                                 
                               
                               RTWP 
                             
                             . 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   6 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0092]    Hence, the RRTWP may be modified according to the following expression: 
         [0000]        RRTWP _mod= RRTWP−Δ*RTWP.   (7) 
         [0093]    As noted from expression (6) above, the RTWP may be modified according to the following expression: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     RRTWP 
                     RTWP_mod 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           RRTWP 
                           - 
                           
                             Δ 
                             · 
                             RTWP 
                           
                         
                         RTWP 
                       
                       ⇔ 
                       
                         
 
                       
                        
                       RTWP_mod 
                     
                     = 
                     
                       
                         RTWP 
                         
                           1 
                           - 
                           
                             Δ 
                             · 
                             
                               RTWP 
                               / 
                               RRTWP 
                             
                           
                         
                       
                       . 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   8 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0094]    In one implementation. Iub  218  measurement of the RRTWP may be reported by RBS  210  infrequently to RNC  208  since the RRTWP may not change frequently. Additionally, or alternatively, the RRTWP measurement may be updated based on an event-trigger so that reporting occurs only when there is a change of the RRTWP. 
         [0095]    On the other hand, measurement modifications to the RSEPS or the RTWP may be considered. For example, a modified RTWP may be reported in the same report as the modified RSEPS. Also, a non-modified RTWP may be reported in a separate message. In either instance, modifications to the Iub  218  measurements may be utilized and reported to RNC  208  so that RNC  208  may be informed about the margins affecting RBS  210  scheduling headroom. 
         [0096]    Further, in instances when RBS  210  employs a multi-user detector or an interference cancellation receiver, the effective interference measurement may be modified. For example, the effective interference may be determined after detection, signal regeneration and subtraction has been carried out. RBS  210  may then determine the efficiency of the cancellation, and consider the effective interference in the calculations of the RTWP and the RSEPS. For example. RBS  210  may separate the received scheduled power I sched  and non-scheduled power I non-sched  into powers from connections subject to interference cancellation. I sched   IC  and I non-sched   IC , and not subject to cancellation. I sched   notIC  and I non-sched   notIC  according to the following expressions: 
         [0000]        I   sched   =I   sched   IC   +I   sched   notIC   (9) 
         [0000]        I   non-sched   =I   non-sched   IC   +I   non-sched   notIC .  (10) 
         [0000]    Further, RBS  210  may define the effective interference from connections subject to interference cancellation as I sched   ICeff  and I non-sched   ICeff  respectively. That is, I sched   ICeff  and I non-sched   ICeff  may correspond to the interference power that remains after a last step of an interference cancellation scheme. In such an instance, the measured interference values may be adjusted according to the following expressions: 
         [0000]        I _mod sched   =I   sched   +I   sched   ICeff   −I   sched   IC .  (11) 
         [0000]        I _mod non-sched   =I   non-sched   +I   non-sched   ICeff   −I   non-sched   IC .  (12) 
         [0000]    Hence, as noted from expressions (9), (10), (11), and (12) above, the RTWP may be modified according to the following expression: 
         [0000]        RTWP _mod= RTWP+I   sched   ICeff   −I   sched   IC   +I   non-sched   ICeff   −I   non-sched   IC .  (13) 
         [0000]    Further, as noted from expressions (9), (10), (11), (12), and (13) above, the RSEPS may be modified according to the following expression: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         RSEPS_mod 
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           
                             ( 
                             
                               
                                 I 
                                 sched 
                               
                               + 
                               
                                 I 
                                 sched 
                                 ICeff 
                               
                               - 
                               
                                 I 
                                 sched 
                                 IC 
                               
                             
                             ) 
                           
                           RTWP_mod 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         = 
                           
                          
                         
                           
                             
                               ( 
                               
                                 
                                   I 
                                   sched 
                                   notIC 
                                 
                                 + 
                                 
                                   I 
                                   sched 
                                   ICeff 
                                 
                               
                               ) 
                             
                             RTWP_mod 
                           
                           . 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   14 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0097]    Again, it may be beneficial to use the combined RSEPS and RTWP measurement report to provide the modified measurements, while the dedicated RTWP measurement report may include the unmodified measurement since this may be of specific interest for coverage determination. 
         [0098]    Alternatively, measurement modifications may be determined by RNC  208  based on additional information received over Iub  218  together with RTWP and/or RSEPS measurements. For example, the additional information may include cancelled scheduled F-DCH interference and cancelled non-scheduled E-DCH interference, which may be expressed according to the following expressions: 
         [0000]        I   sched,canc   =I   sched   ICeff   −I   sched   IC .  (15) 
         [0000]        I   non-sched,canc   =I   sched   ICeff   −I   sched   IC .  (16) 
         [0000]    Then, RNC  208  may be able to modify RSEPS based on the following exemplary procedure. For example, RNC  208  may calculate the received scheduled E-DCH power (RSEP) using the RSEPS and RTWP measurements according to the following expression: 
         [0000]        RSEP=RSEPS*RTWP.   (17) 
         [0000]    RNC  208  may calculate cancelled interference in total according to the following expression: 
         [0000]        I   canc   =I   sched,canc   +I   non-sched,canc   (18) 
         [0000]    RNC  208  may modify RSEP and RTWP based on the information related to cancelled interference according to the following expressions: 
         [0000]        RTWP _mod= RTWP−I   canc   (19) 
         [0000]        RSEP _mod= RSEP−I   sched,canc   (20) 
         [0000]    RNC  208  may calculate a modified RSEPS according to the following expression: 
         [0000]        RSEPS _mod= RSEP _mod/ RTWP _mod  (21) 
         [0099]    In another embodiment, interference cancellation may never be employed to connections other than scheduled E-DCH connections in which case only cancelled scheduled E-DCH interference may be reported. Similarly, the cancelled interference from connections other than scheduled E-DCH connections may be neglected and/or treated as being negligible. 
         [0100]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary process  600  that may be employed when calculating the scheduled headroom load. In one implementation, Iub measurement modifier  405  of RBS  210  may perform one or more of the operations of process  600 . In other implementations, process  600  may be performed by another device or group of devices including or excluding RBS  210 . 
         [0101]    Process  600  may begin with calculating the other-cell load (block  605 ). As described in reference to expression (1), when calculating the scheduled headroom load, other-cell load may be considered. In some instances, RBS  210  may provide a margin for inter-cell interference corresponding to expression (2). For example, as indicated in expression (2), RBS  210  may calculate the other-cell load based on a delta margin. 
         [0102]    A determination whether the delta margin is non-zero may be made (block  610 ). For example, based on expression (2), the delta margin may yield a zero or non-zero value, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . If the delta margin is non-zero (block  610  YES), then the measurements of at least one of the RSEPS, RRTWP, or the RTWP may be modified (block  615 ). For example, the RSEPS measurement may be modified based on expression (5), the RRTWP measurement may be modified based on expressions (6) and (7), and the RTWP measurement may be modified based on expression (8). 
         [0103]    The modified RWTP and the RSEPS measurement report may be transmitted (block  620 ). In one implementation, the modifications of the RWTP and the RSEPS measurements may be transmitted to for example, RNC  208 , in the same measurement report. In other implementations, the modified RRTWP may be transmitted to for example, RNC  208 , in a measurement report. Additionally, or alternatively, a non-modified RTWP measurement may be reported in the same or different message than the modified RTWP and RSEPS. 
         [0104]    If the delta margin is zero (block  610 —NO), then the process may end. For example, the scheduled headroom may be calculated without modifying measurements associated with Iub  218  measurements. 
         [0105]    Although  FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary process  600 , in other implementation, fewer, different, or additional operations may be performed. 
         [0106]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary process  700  that may be employed when calculating the effective interference. In one implementation, Iub measurement modifier  405  of RBS  210  may perform one or more of the operations of process  700 . In other implementations, process  700  may be performed by another device or group of devices including or excluding RBS  210 . 
         [0107]    Process  700  may begin with determining connections to which interference cancellation may be performed (block  705 ). For example, as described in connection to expressions (9) and (10), flows may be separated into scheduled flows and non-scheduled flows. Additionally, flows may be separated into scheduled flows subject to interference cancellation and scheduled flows not subject to interference cancellation. Further, non-scheduled flows may be separated into non-scheduled flows subject to interference cancellation and non-scheduled flows not subject to interference cancellation. 
         [0108]    The interference power before interference cancellation is performed may be determined (block  710 ). For example, in one implementation, received schedule power and non-scheduled power may each be determined before an interference scheme is employed based on power connections subject to interference cancellation and connections not subject to interference cancellation. In one implementation, the interference power may be determined based on expressions (9) and (10). 
         [0109]    The effective interference for connections subject to interference cancellation may be determined (block  715 ). For example, RBS  210  may determine the effective interference for connections subject to interference cancellation after an interference cancellation scheme is employed. In one implementation, the measured effective interference may be based on expressions (11) and (12). 
         [0110]    The measurement of the RTWP may be modified (block  720 ). For example, the RTWP may be modified based on expression (13). 
         [0111]    The measurement of the RSEPS may be modified (block  725 ). For example, the RSEPS may be modified based on expression (14). 
         [0112]    The modified RWTP and RSEPS measurement report may be transmitted (block  730 ). In one implementation, the modifications of the RWTP and the RSEPS may be transmitted to, for example, RNC  208 , in the same measurement report. Additionally, or alternatively, a non-modified RTWP measurement may be reported in the same or different message than the modified RTWP and RSEPS. 
         [0113]    Although  FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary process  700 , in other implementation, fewer, different, or additional operations may be performed. 
         [0114]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary process  800  that may be employed when calculating the effective interference. 
         [0115]    Process  800  may begin determining connections to which interference cancellation may be performed (block  805 ). For example, as described in connection to expressions (9) and (10), flows may be separated into scheduled flows and non-scheduled flows. Additionally, flows may be separated into scheduled flows subject to interference cancellation and scheduled flows not subject to interference cancellation. Further, non-scheduled flows may be separated into non-scheduled flows subject to interference cancellation and non-scheduled flows not subject to interference cancellation. 
         [0116]    The interference power before interference cancellation is performed may be determined (block  810 ). For example, in one implementation, received schedule power and non-scheduled power may each be determined before an interference scheme is employed based on power connections subject to interference cancellation and connections not subject to interference cancellation. In one implementation, the interference power may be determined based on expressions (9) and (10). 
         [0117]    The effective interference for connections subject to interference cancellation may be determined (block  815 ). For example, RBS  210  may determine the effective interference for connections subject to interference cancellation after an interference cancellation scheme is employed. In one implementation, the measured effective interference may be based on expressions (11) and (12). 
         [0118]    The effective interference for E-DCH connections subject to interference cancellation may be determined (block  820 ). For example. RBS  210  may determine the effective interference for connections subject to interference cancellation after an interference cancellation scheme is employed. In one implementation, the measured effective interference may be based on expressions (15) and (16). 
         [0119]    A measurement report and the effective interference for E-DCH connections may be transmitted (block  825 ). For example, RBS  210  may transmit the measurement report and the effective interference associated with E-DCH connections to RNC  208 . 
         [0120]    Measurements of the RTWP and the RSEPS may be modified (block  830 ). For example, RNC  208  may modify the RTWP and the RSEPS measurements based on expressions (17), (18), (19), (20), and (21). 
         [0121]    Although  FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary process  800 , in other implementation, fewer, different, or additional operations may be performed. For example, as previously described above, in some instances, interference cancellation may not be employed to connections other than scheduled E-DCH connections. In such instances, process  800  may be modified to where only cancelled E-DCH interference may reported. 
         [0122]    In contrast to other implementations where the scheduled headroom may be smaller than what is reflected by Iub  218  measurements (e.g. the RTWP, the RRTWP, and the RSEPS), the concepts described herein may provide that RNC  208  and RBS  210  have the same view of the scheduled headroom, as well as the effective interference (e.g., the actual balance between the E-DCH and the DCH). That is, given the margin information provided from, for example, the LEA, the scheduler, interference cancellation performance of the receiver, and/or knowledge about how RNC  208  calculates the non-scheduled load, RBS  210  may recognize discrepancies (in terms of view) and modify the Iub  218  measurements, as well as effective interference measurements so that RNC  208  and RBS  210  may have a corresponding network state view. As a result, a variety of advantages may be realized. For example, admission control decisions by RNC  208  may be more accurate based on the modified Iub  218  measurements, which may prevent a scenario where too many subscribers may be admitted. For example, in instances when there are too many subscribers admitted, a significant portion of the uplink resources may be utilized based on the continuous transmission over the DPCCH, which may lead to excessive non-scheduled load. Additionally, or alternatively, admission control by RNC  208  may provide for sufficient headroom for scheduled data since the estimation of the non-scheduled load may be more accurate. Additionally, or alternatively, congestion control of RNC  208  may be improved. Additionally, or alternatively, DCH Radio Resource Management (RRM) may be more efficiently managed. 
       CONCLUSION 
       [0123]    The foregoing description of implementations provides illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the teachings. For example, the concepts described herein may be applied to any type of network where a functional split exists (e.g. a base station and a base station controller) so that discrepancies of one or more network states (e.g., headroom) between respective devices may be mitigated. More generally, even a single device or node that includes a functional split (e.g., a scheduling component and an admission component) may benefit from the concepts described herein. 
         [0124]    In addition, while series of blocks have been described with regard to processes illustrated in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the order of the blocks may be modified in other implementations. Further, non-dependent blocks may be performed in parallel. Further one or more blocks may be omitted. 
         [0125]    It will be apparent that aspects described herein may be implemented in many different forms of software, firmware, and hardware in the implementations illustrated in the figures. The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement aspects does not limit the invention. Thus, the operation and behavior of the aspects were described without reference to the specific software code—it being understood that software and control hardware can be designed to implement the aspects based on the description herein. 
         [0126]    Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the invention. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. 
         [0127]    It should be emphasized that the term “comprises” or “comprising” when used in the specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. 
         [0128]    No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the implementations described herein unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated list items.

Technology Category: h