SIGNALING INTERFERENCE INFORMATION FOR USER EQUIPMENT ASSISTANCE

BACKGROUND

In heterogeneous networks where small cells are placed within homogeneous macro coverage, user equipment (UE) will experience significantly higher interference levels compared to a homogeneous macro network scenario. The number of unknown parameters associated with the interfering transmissions makes accurate interference cancellation/suppression challenging and often inaccurate. In addition, interference cancellation/suppression may present a challenge in homogeneous macro networks where UEs are located close to the cell edge.

To help the UE in mitigating the interference, a network assisted interfere cancellation (NAICS) study was introduced in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standardization. NAICS aims at improving inter-cell interference mitigation by providing knowledge about interfering transmissions with possible network coordination to the victim UE. The potential gains of advanced UE receivers with network assistance were identified as part of the study. By increasing the degree of knowledge about interfering transmissions with possible coordination in the network, enhancements to intra-cell and inter-cell interference mitigation at the receiver side may be achieved.

A conventional receiver, which does not receive signaling information about interfering cells, uses the information transmitted on the control and broadcast channels (PBCH) and other parameters provided by the searcher, and higher layers to obtain a preliminary interference classification. Unfortunately, this information is often not sufficient to correctly assist the receiver in generating accurate estimates of the physical layer parameters. As a consequence, the conventional receiver is designed in a conservative way and for the worst case scenario thus compromising performance in many configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a homogeneous macro network scenario according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a first heterogeneous network according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a second heterogeneous network according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a plot comparing interferer signaling information assistance for a conventional receiver and a receiver using network-provided signaling information on interfering cells according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates interference scheduling of single cell via Physical Dedicated Assistance Channel (PDACH) according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates interference scheduling of two cells via a Physical Dedicated Assistance Channel (PDACH) according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for signaling interference signaling information for UE assistance according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of an example machine for signaling interference signaling information for UE assistance according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustrate specific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical, process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments. Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass available equivalents of those claims.

According to an embodiment, a user equipment (UE) is provided assistance using signaling information of the main interfering cells to allow the UE to improve its parameter estimates upon the conventional receiver approach. Assistance information provided by the network includes signaling information of the interferers and their variations across time and frequency. The signaling information allows the UE to improve parameter estimation by reducing the number of unknowns that need to be estimated by the UE. The interpretation of the signaling information provided by the network may depend on radio resource control (RRC) signaling or multi-cast transmissions information or the downlink control information (DCI) information in the physical downlink control channel/enhanced physical downlink control channel (PDCCH/ePDCCH) transmitted to the UE. This allows different network vendors to tailor and/or adapt their signaling scheme.

FIG. 1 illustrates a homogeneous macro network scenario 100 according to an embodiment. In FIG. 1, a single base station, eNodeB, or other network node 110 provides coverage for three cells 120, 122, 124. In FIG. 1, the homogenous macro network 100 may provide intra-site information exchange. However, inter-site information exchange is subject to the backhaul latency.

FIG. 2 illustrates a first heterogeneous network 200 according to an embodiment. In FIG. 2, three base stations, eNodeBs, or other network nodes 210, 212, 214 provide service coverage for three cells 220, 222, 224. Small cells 230, 232, 234, 240, 242, 244, 250, 252, 254 are shown disposed within cells 220, 222, 224, respectively. However, in FIG. 2, small cell deployment for small cells 230, 232, 234, 240, 242, 244, 250, 252, 254 is sparse rather than clustered. Backhaul may be between macro-cells, e.g., 220, 222, 224, and small cells, e.g., small cells 230, 232, 234, 240, 242, 244, 250, 252, 254, within its respective coverage. Backhaul may also be between macros of different sites, e.g., between cell 220 and cell 222. Regarding coordination, intra-site information exchange is possible. However, inter-site information exchange is subject to the backhaul latency.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second heterogeneous network 300 according to an embodiment. In FIG. 3, three base stations, eNodeBs, or other network nodes 310, 312, 314 provide service coverage for three cells 320, 322, 324. Small cells 330, 332, 334, 340, 342, 344, 350, 352, 354 are shown disposed within cells 320, 322, 324, respectively. However, in FIG. 3, fiber access is provided between network nodes 310, 312, 314 and the small cells 330, 332, 334, 340, 342, 344, 350, 352, 354.

In FIG. 3, backhaul may be provided between macro nodes 310, 312, 314 and small nodes within the network's coverage, and between small nodes under the coverage of one macro, e.g., one of network nodes 310, 312, 314. According to the backhaul assumptions, information exchange is possible for intra-site scenarios, between a macro and a small node within the network's coverage, and among small nodes within the coverage of the same macro, e.g., one of network nodes 310, 312, 314. Information exchange is subject to the backhaul latency for inter-site exchange between macro nodes 310, 312, 314, between a macro node, e.g., one of network nodes 310, 312, 314, and a small node, e.g., one of small cells 330, 332, 334, 340, 342, 344, 350, 352, 354, outside its coverage and among small nodes 330, 332, 334, 340, 342, 344, 350, 352, 354 within the coverage of different macro nodes 310, 312, 314.

FIG. 4 is a plot 400 comparing interferer signaling information assistance for a conventional receiver and a receiver using network-provided scheduling of interfering cells according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 shows the throughput 410 versus SINR measurements 420 for signaling interference signaling information for UE assistance. One receiver 430 benefits from assistance information related to the scheduling of interfering cells provided by the network. The other receiver 440 is a conventional receiver (state-of-the-art) that is designed for the worst case interference configuration and has no access to assistance information. As can be seen, the receiver 430 receiving interferer signaling information may provide performance improvements in the order of 1-2 dB compared to a conventional receiver 440. In FIG. 4, the serving cell and the aggressor cell occupy the same bandwidth, but the aggressor is scheduled using a subset of resource blocks.

Referring to FIG. 3, for example, a base station 310 may send to one UE 360, to some UEs 362, or to all served UEs 364 a certain number of bits 370 per transmission time interval (TTI) and per interfering cell describing the scheduling of the interfering cells. The number of bits 370 may be variable, depending on signaling or multi-cast transmission information, or DCI signaling in PDCCH/ePDCCH. Current networks do not provide signaling information about interfering cells to, for example, UE 360. By providing signaling information about interfering cells to the UE 360, the UE 360 may adjust parameter estimation to mitigate interference based on the received signaling information signaling information. The signaling information providing in the bits may include information regarding variations of interfering cells across time and frequency.

It is assumed that the network 300 coordinates fast and that the information about the scheduling of the interfering cells is available in time at the primary serving cell 320, e.g., the cell which serves the UE 360. Furthermore, it is assumed that the network is synchronized with TTI accuracy. As the scheduling of interferers could potentially change each TTI, a TTI mismatch would limit the value of the interferer signaling information for the receiver of the UE 360.

To signal the accurate signaling information of one interfering cell's LTE component carrier (20 MHz bandwidth, 110 resource blocks (RBs)), N=28 bits per TTI may be used. However, this may represent an upper limit. The 28 bits may reflect the need for Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) Resource Allocation Types 0 and 1, while fewer bits may be used for the PDSCH Resource Allocation Type 2. The PDSCH is the main data bearing channel which is allocated to users on a dynamic and opportunistic basis. The PDSCH carries data in what's known as Transport Blocks (TB) which correspond to a MAC PDU. They are passed from the MAC layer to the PHY layer once per TTI, which is 1 millisecond (ms) in duration, i.e., the scheduling interval is 1 ms in order to meet low latency goals.

Furthermore, in most scenarios where a certain level of coordination has been already achieved within the network, only a subset of resource blocks will be affected by interference and fewer signaling bits might be used. Also, in the presence of more interferers, the scheduling bits could indicate the resource allocation of the superposition of all or of a subset of the relevant interfering cells (typically, limited to a few resource blocks). In another embodiment, the network could provide the interferer signaling information incrementally. The method of providing initial and delta assistance information could be signaled upfront.

Depending on the type of traffic, the scheduling of the interferer(s) may remain unchanged for some time. Then signaling may not be required until the allocation changes again. This opens the possibility to save control overhead by having the eNB transfer differential allocation information, i.e., the boundaries of the (time-frequency) regions where interferers are “switched” on or off.

FIG. 5 shows the interference scheduling 500 of a cell via a Physical Dedicated Assistance Channel (PDACH) according to an embodiment. In FIG. 5, frames 510 are shown across time 512. Signaling 520 is provided by the network, which indicates to the UE that the N bit assistance information per TTI via the PDACH channel 530 provides signaling information of an interfering cell for log 2 (N) resource allocation blocks, e.g., where the UE is scheduled. An RRC delay of t TTI 540 occurs prior to the signaling taking effect 550 in the PDACH 530.

In general, the way the network signals the signaling information to the UE may be provided using a plurality of techniques. For example, a new assistance channel, the Physical Dedicated Assistance Channel (PDACH) 530, may be used to transmit assistance information to the UE as shown in FIG. 5. The PDACH 530 is used by the serving cell to transmit assistance information related to interference cancellation (NAICS) to the UE. Similar to the enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH) channel, this channel may reside in the data region of the subframe. For example the ePDCCH is currently used to support increased downlink control channel capacity, beamforming and improved spatial reuse, and frequency-domain intercell interference coordination, while taking into account the coexistence with legacy terminals. The PDACH 530 uses the data regions to provide the signaling information signaling information.

The position of the Physical Dedicated Assistance Channel (PDACH) 530, i.e., subcarrier(s), starting OFDM symbol, ending OFDM symbol, is also signaled by the network (RRC) signaling 520. In FIG. 5, subframe 0560 to subframe 9562 are illustrated in more detail. The signaling in a frame 564 may include N=10 bits per TTI for indicating interference on the log 2 (N) allocated resource blocks 570, 572. Thus, N=10 bits per TTI via PDACH are shown in the resource block 570, 572 for subframe 0560 and subframe 9562. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 5, the network may also signal a frequency hopping pattern over the 10 subframes, i.e., subframe 0560 to subframe 9562 within a TTI or a hopping pattern over multiple TTIs. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the signaling takes effect 550 after t TTIs 540.

As mentioned, the location and size of the PDACH channel 530 is indicated to the UE via signaling 520 similar to the ePDCCH channel. The UE reads the assistance information and applies it as part of the layer one (L1) processing without involving higher layers (latency). Signaling 520 may include RRC signaling for indicating the location of the PDACH channel and may also specify a frequency hopping pattern for the PDACH 530 to realize frequency diversity. This approach is well-suited when one or a few UEs in a cell request or can exploit interferer signaling information signaling information. Transmitting the assistance information via the PDACH channel 530 may be used for UE specific assistance information. Nevertheless, the network may decide to transmit mulit-cast transmission to a user-group of UE's via the PDACH 530. A user-group may be defined by users that experience the same or similar interference conditions. The size of the user-group may vary from a single user to all users in a cell.

According to another embodiment, when the majority of served UEs may exploit interferer signaling information signaling information, an assistance broadcast channel (ABCH) may be used to provide assistance information, e.g., reserving 1 to M center RBs in the first Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) symbol following the PDCCH OFDM symbols. Also, the ABCH may be embedded into the common search space part of the PDCCH 530.

In another embodiment, when the number of bits N is sufficiently small, the network may use the control channel, e.g., the PDCCH or ePDCCH 590, to signal signaling information to the UE.

According to another embodiment, one component carrier may be reserved solely for the transmission of assistance information. The system bandwidth of such an assistance carrier could be different from other component carriers, for example 1.4 MHz or even less or even a Global System for Mobile Communications, originally Group Special Mobile (GSM) carrier. This implies that the UE transceiver may be capable of receiving an additional component carrier on top of the long term evolution (LTE) carrier aggregation (CA). Having a dedicated beacon, e.g., pilot channel for control and synchronization, may be provided to solve a variety of issues, in particular, time and frequency synchronization. Also, identifying a dedicated assistance channel, e.g., PDACH 530, may be used to provide information for DL-CoMP operation, for supporting cognitive radio, for support information in case of small cell deployments with many component carriers, for deployment and interference assistance information in the presence of new carrier type, etc.

Most likely the amount of bits that can be spent to signal signaling information is not too high. According to a further embodiment, the UE may suffer from interference from more than 1 interfering cell/component carrier, implying that the number of bits to provide signaling information increases depending on the network setup and the system bandwidth of the eNodeBs. Signaling the signaling information of a 20 MHz cell (a component carrier) would require 28 bits per TTI if no scheduling restriction was applied on the eNodeB side.

In order to fully specify the signaling information with a reasonable number of bits (N) independently of the network setup and UE configuration, the network uses either signaling 520, which may also include multi-cast transmission information or DCI signaling in PDCCH/ePDCCH 590 to signal slowly changing assistance information and/or to signal the meaning of such messages, i.e., how to interpret the assistance information.

However, signaling 520 via a system information block (SIB) is typically slow (quasi-static), while DCI signaling via PDCCH/ePDCCH or PDACH signaling is fast (per TTI, if necessary). Also, it is assumed that the network setup and UE configuration does not change with TTI granularity and hence RRC or multi-cast signaling related to the assistance/signaling information can be exchanged less frequently than per TTI. Different network vendors may signal with differing periodicity or frequency, potentially exploiting different options of structuring the assistance information depending on the behavior of the particular scheduling algorithm.

Thus, according to an embodiment, the network uses signaling 520 to inform the UE about the meaning of the assistance/signaling information signaling information. However, the network may use multi-cast transmission information or DCI signaling to inform the UE about the meaning of the UE specific assistance/signaling information signaling information.

Supporting dedicated signaling 520 or the reception of multi-cast transmission information, e.g., via system information blocks (SIBs) of the meaning of or of the slowly changing assistance information, also allows the network to trade-off multi-cell scheduler coordination, and hence DL throughput gains from network assisted UE receivers, versus scheduling flexibility in a cell. The more coordination the network scheduler applies, the more efficient could the required interferer signaling information be signaled.

Thus, according to an embodiment, the network may employ coordination to enable efficient assistance information signaling. For example, the network may specify by signaling 520 whether the (up to) N bits per TTI transferred via PDACH 530 refer to:

- a) A differential resource allocation or not, meaning that a change in resource allocation is signaled.
- b) An accumulated resource allocation over interfering cells or the resource allocation of a cell (depending on the location and on the interference configuration seen by the UE).
- c) A subset of the resource blocks of the served UE, e.g. the resource blocks where the UE is scheduled and neighboring resource blocks (time and frequency). The network could then send staggered interference signaling information over multiple TTIs with a certain periodicity. The interference signaling information rotates then through that period, and/or
- d) Different interfering cells or component carriers, e.g., in a round-robin fashion. The network could use signaling 520 to map the N bits per TTI to different interfering cells or component carriers.

FIG. 6 illustrates interference scheduling of two cells via a PDACH channel 600 according to an embodiment. In FIG. 6, the network dynamically changes the meaning of the assistance information via signaling according to an embodiment. First, the network indicates via signaling 620 to the UE that the N assistance bits indicate the interference scheduling of two interfering cells. In each TTI, the network transmits N bits for an interfering cell, e.g., Cell0622 or Cell1624, in a staggered fashion. FIG. 6 shows that at a later point in time 626, the network changes the meaning of the assistance information via signaling 628 as there is a single cell which interferes with the UE. Each time the signaling takes effect 650, 652 after an RRC delay of t TTI 640, 642.

The signaling 520, 620, 622 of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 assumes that the network configures the channel state information (CSI) reference symbols in such a way that there is no collision between the location of the PDACH channel 530 and the CSI reference symbols 580, 582, 680682. However, in another embodiment, the eNodeB may indicate to the UE that there are 4 scheduling bits per TTI in the PDACH channel 530, 630 and that the scheduling assistance/information has a period of 3 TTI. Thus, in the first TTI the 4 bits may refer to the first 16 resource allocation blocks of the UE, the 4 bits in the second TTI may refer to the next 16 resource allocation blocks of the UE and the 4 bits in the third TTI may refer to the last 16 resource allocation blocks of the UE. The network then ensures that the scheduling of the interferers covering the 48 resource allocation blocks of the UE in the interfering cell is changed in accordance with these rules, i.e., the interferers can be rescheduled every third TTI and certain resource allocation blocks may be changed in a given TTI.

In yet another embodiment, signaling information may be transmitted every 5th or Jth TTI. Accordingly, the eNodeB may change the scheduling of the UEs in the interfering cells, at least those that interfere with the UE, every 5th or Jth TTI. At any rate, the network may change this pattern via signaling 520, 620.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart 700 of a method for signaling interference signaling information for UE assistance according to an embodiment. In FIG. 7, signaling information associated with interfering cells is received by a user equipment (UE) from a network node via a physical dedicated assistance channel (PDACH) from the serving cell to the UE or an assistance broadcast channel (ABCH) used for a plurality of UEs 710. First, the location and size of the PDACH are identified via radio resource control (RRC) signaling, then the bits contained in the PDACH (or ABCH) are decoded per transmission time interval (TTI) and per interfering cell, describing the scheduling of the interfering cells 720. Based on the interference signaling information 730 received, parameter estimation in the UE is dynamically adjusted in order to mitigate the interference. Changes in interference is monitored and a determination is made whether changes in interference by cells have occurred 740. If not 742, the process concludes. If yes 744, additional signaling information may be received for resource blocks found affected by interference 750.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of an example machine 800 for signaling interference signaling information for UE assistance according to an embodiment of any one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein. In alternative embodiments, the machine 800 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine 800 may operate in the capacity of a server machine and/or a client machine in server-client network environments. In an example, the machine 800 may act as a peer machine in peer-to-peer (P2P) (or other distributed) network environment. The machine 800 may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, such as cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), other computer cluster configurations.

Examples, as described herein, may include, or may operate on, logic or a number of components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules are tangible entities (e.g., hardware) capable of performing specified operations and may be configured or arranged in a certain manner. In an example, circuits may be arranged (e.g., internally or with respect to external entities such as other circuits) in a specified manner as a module. In an example, at least a part of one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone, client or server computer system) or one or more hardware processors 802 may be configured by firmware or software (e.g., instructions, an application portion, or an application) as a module that operates to perform specified operations. In an example, the software may reside on at least one machine readable medium. In an example, the software, when executed by the underlying hardware of the module, causes the hardware to perform the specified operations.

Accordingly, the term “module” is understood to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physically constructed, specifically configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarily (e.g., transitorily) configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a specified manner or to perform at least part of any operation described herein. Considering examples in which modules are temporarily configured, a module need not be instantiated at any one moment in time. For example, where the modules comprise a general-purpose hardware processor 802 configured using software; the general-purpose hardware processor may be configured as respective different modules at different times. Software may accordingly configure a hardware processor, for example, to constitute a particular module at one instance of time and to constitute a different module at a different instance of time. The term “application,” or variants thereof, is used expansively herein to include routines, program modules, programs, components, and the like, and may be implemented on various system configurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based electronics, single-core or multi-core systems, combinations thereof, and the like. Thus, the term application may be used to refer to an embodiment of software or to hardware arranged to perform at least part of any operation described herein.

Machine (e.g., computer system) 800 may include a hardware processor 802 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a main memory 804 and a static memory 806, at least some of which may communicate with others via an interlink (e g, bus) 808. The machine 800 may further include a display unit 810, an alphanumeric input device 812 (e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI) navigation device 814 (e.g., a mouse). In an example, the display unit 810, input device 812 and UI navigation device 814 may be a touch screen display. The machine 800 may additionally include a storage device (e.g., drive unit) 816, a signal generation device 818 (e.g., a speaker), a network interface device 820, and one or more sensors 821, such as a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, compass, accelerometer, or other sensor. The machine 800 may include an output controller 828, such as a serial (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), parallel, or other wired or wireless (e.g., infrared (IR)) connection to communicate or control one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a printer, card reader, etc.).

The storage device 816 may include at least one machine readable medium 822 on which is stored one or more sets of data structures or instructions 824 (e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the techniques or functions described herein. The instructions 824 may also reside, at least partially, in additional machine readable memories such as main memory 804, static memory 806, or within the hardware processor 802 during execution thereof by the machine 800. In an example, one or any combination of the hardware processor 802, the main memory 804, the static memory 806, or the storage device 816 may constitute machine readable media.

While the machine readable medium 822 is illustrated as a single medium, the term “machine readable medium” may include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that are configured to store the one or more instructions 824.

The term “machine readable medium” may include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the machine 800 and that cause the machine 800 to perform any one or more of the techniques of the present disclosure, or that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying data structures used by or associated with such instructions. Non-limiting machine readable medium examples may include solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media. Specific examples of machine readable media may include: non-volatile memory, such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

The instructions 824 may further be transmitted or received over a communications network 826 using a transmission medium via the network interface device 820 utilizing any one of a number of transfer protocols (e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP), transmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), etc.). Example communication networks may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a packet data network (e.g., the Internet), mobile telephone networks ((e.g., channel access methods including Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time-division multiple access (TDMA), Frequency-division multiple access (FDMA), and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and cellular networks such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), CDMA 2000 1×* standards and Long Term Evolution (LTE)), Plain Old Telephone (POTS) networks, and wireless data networks (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802 family of standards including IEEE 802.11 standards (WiFi), IEEE 802.16 standards (WiMax®) and others), peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, or other protocols now known or later developed.

For example, the network interface device 820 may include one or more physical jacks (e.g., Ethernet, coaxial, or phone jacks) or one or more antennas to connect to the communications network 826. In an example, the network interface device 820 may include a plurality of antennas to wirelessly communicate using at least one of single-input multiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), or multiple-input single-output (MISO) techniques. The term “transmission medium” shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying instructions for execution by the machine 800, and includes digital or analog communications signals or other intangible medium to facilitate communication of such software.

Additional Notes & in Examples

Example 1 includes subject matter (such as a method or means for performing acts), including receiving, by a user equipment (UE), signaling information associated with interfering cells from a network node and adjusting, by the UE, parameter estimation for mitigating interference based on the received signaling information.

In Example 2 the subject matter of Example 1 may optionally include, wherein the receiving the signaling information includes receiving information regarding variations of interfering cells across time and frequency.

In Example 3, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-2 may optionally include, wherein receiving, by a user equipment (UE), signaling information associated with interfering cells from a network node comprises at least one type of information selected from the group, consisting of an indication to the UE via signaling of N bit assistance information per TTI via a PDACH channel, including signaling information of a single interfering cell for log 2(N) resource allocation blocks, an indication of a position of PDACH channel via RRC, an indication of a frequency hopping pattern over 10 subframes within a TTI, and a frequency hopping pattern over multiple TTIs.

In Example 4 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-3 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving a number of bits per Transmission Time Interval (TTI) and per interfering cell describing the scheduling of the interfering cells.

In Example 5 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-4 may optionally include, wherein the receiving a number of bits per Transmission Time Interval (TTI) and per interfering cell is variable.

In Example 6 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-5 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises signaling information of one 20 MHz interfering cell including at least 28 bits per TTI.

In Example 7 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-6 may optionally include, wherein the receiving at least 28 bits per TTI comprises receiving 28 bits per TTI for Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) Resource Allocation Types 0 and 1.

In Example 8 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-7 may optionally include, wherein the receiving at least 28 bits per TTI comprises receiving less than 28 bits per TTI for PDSCH Resource Allocation Type 2.

In Example 9 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-8 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information further comprises receiving additional signaling information for only resource blocks determined to be affected by interference.

In Example 10 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-9 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving signaling information incrementally.

In Example 11 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-10 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving signaling information only after allocation changes.

In Example 12 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-11 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving signaling information over a physical dedicated assistance channel (PDACH) from the serving cell to the UE.

In Example 13 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-12 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information over a physical dedicated assistance channel (PDACH) from the serving cell to the UE comprises receiving information in a data region of a subframe of the PDACH.

In Example 14 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-13 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information includes receiving identification of a frequency hopping pattern for the PDACH to provide frequency diversity.

In Example 15 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-14 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving multi-cast transmission information directed to a plurality of UEs via PDACH allocated for the plurality of UEs.

In Example 16 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-15 may optionally include, receiving an indication at the UE of the location and size of the PDACH via radio resource control signaling.

In Example 17 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-16 may optionally include, reading, by the UE, the received assistance information and applying the received assistance information as part of the layer one (L1) processing without involving higher layers (latency).

In Example 18 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-17 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving signaling information over an assistance broadcast channel (ABCH) used for a plurality of UEs.

In Example 19 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-18 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information over an assistance broadcast channel (ABCH) comprises receiving signaling information using center resource blocks (RBs) 1 to M in the first Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) symbol following the PDCCH OFDM symbols.

In Example 20 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-19 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information over an assistance broadcast channel (ABCH) comprises receiving signaling information embedded into the common search space part of the PDCCH.

In Example 21 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-20 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving the signaling information over a control channel when a number of bits, N, less than a predetermined number.

In Example 22 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-21 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving signaling information using a component carrier reserved solely for the transmission of assistance information.

In Example 23 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-22 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information using a component carrier comprises receiving signaling information using a component carrier having a bandwidth different from other component carriers.

In Example 24 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-23 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving signaling information using at least one type of signaling selected multi-cast transmission information and DCI signaling in PDCCH/ePDCCH, the receiving signaling information signaling at least one of slowly changing assistance information and how to interpret the assistance information.

In Example 25 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-24 may optionally include, wherein the receiving the signaling information comprises receiving coordinated signaling information including a differential resource allocation reflecting only a change in resource allocation.

In Example 26 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-25 may optionally include, wherein the receiving the signaling information comprises receiving coordinated signaling information including an accumulated resource allocation over a plurality of interfering cells.

In Example 27 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-26 may optionally include, wherein the receiving the signaling information comprises receiving coordinated signaling information including only a subset of the resource blocks of the served UE to allow staggering of interference signaling information over multiple TTIs using a predetermined periodicity.

Example 28 may include subject matter (such as a device, apparatus, client or system) including a transceiver arranged to receive signaling information associated with interfering cells from a network node, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to adjust parameter estimation for mitigating interference based on the received signaling information to receive information regarding variations of interfering cells across time and frequency.

In Example 29 the subject matter of Example 28 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive an indication to the UE via signaling N bits of assistance information per transmission time interval (TTI) via a physical dedicated assistance channel (PDACH) and an indication of a position of PDACH channel via radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

In Example 30 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-29 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive at least one type of information selected from the group consisting of an indication to the UE via signaling N bits of assistance information per transmission time interval (TTI) via a physical dedicated assistance channel (PDACH) including signaling information of a single interfering cell for log 2(N) resource allocation block, an indication of a position of PDACH channel via radio resource control (RRC) signaling, an indication of a frequency hopping pattern over 10 subframes within a TTI and a frequency hopping pattern over multiple TTIs.

In Example 31 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-30 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive a number of bits per transmission time interval (TTI) and per interfering cell describing the scheduling of the interfering cells.

In Example 32 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-31 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive signaling information including signaling information regarding one 20 MHz interfering cell including at least 28 bits per TTI.

In Example 33 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-32 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive 28 bits per TTI for Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) Resource Allocation Types 0 and 1.

In Example 34 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-33 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive less than 28 bits per TTI for PDSCH Resource Allocation Type 2.

In Example 35 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-34 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive additional signaling information for only resource blocks determined to be affected by interference.

In Example 36 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-35 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive signaling information comprises receiving signaling information incrementally.

In Example 37 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-36 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive signaling information only after allocation changes.

In Example 38 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-37 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive signaling information over a physical dedicated assistance channel (PDACH) from the serving cell to the UE.

In Example 39 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-38 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive information in a data region of a subframe of the PDACH.

In Example 40 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-39 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive identification of a frequency hopping pattern for the PDACH to provide frequency diversity.

In Example 41 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-40 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive multi-cast information directed to a plurality of UEs.

In Example 42 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-41 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to identify from the received signaling information a location and size of the PDACH via radio resource control signaling.

In Example 43 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-42 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to reading the received assistance information and apply the received assistance information as part of the layer one (L1) processing without involving higher layers (latency).

In Example 44 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-43 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive signaling information over an assistance broadcast channel (ABCH) used for a plurality of UEs.

In Example 45 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-44 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver receives signaling information using center resource blocks (RBs) 1 to M in the first Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) symbol following the PDCCH OFDM symbols.

In Example 46 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-45 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver receives signaling information embedded into the common search space part of the PDCCH.

In Example 47 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-46 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive signaling information over a control channel when a number of bits, N, is less than a predetermined number.

In Example 48 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-47 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive signaling information using a component carrier reserved solely for the transmission of assistance information.

In Example 49 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-48 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive signaling information using a component carrier having a bandwidth different from other component carriers.

In Example 50 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-49 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive signaling information using at least one type of signaling selected from multi-cast transmission information and DCI signaling in a physical downlink control channel, the receiving signaling information signaling at least one of slowly changing assistance information and how to interpret the assistance information.

In Example 51 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-50 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive coordinated signaling information including a differential resource allocation reflecting only a change in resource allocation.

In Example 52 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-51 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive coordinated signaling information including an accumulated resource allocation over a plurality of interfering cells.

In Example 53 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 28-52 may optionally include, wherein the transceiver is further arranged to receive coordinated signaling information including only a subset of the resource blocks of the served UE to allow staggering of interference signaling information over multiple TTIs using a predetermined periodicity.

Example 54 may include subject matter (such as means for performing acts or machine readable medium including instructions that, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform acts) including signaling information associated with interfering cells from a network node and adjusting, by the UE, parameter estimation for mitigating interference based on the received signaling information.

In Example 55 the subject matter of Example 54 may optionally include, wherein the receiving the signaling information includes receiving information regarding variations of interfering cells across time and frequency.

In Example 56 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-55 may optionally include, wherein receiving, by a user equipment (UE), signaling information associated with interfering cells from a network node comprises at least one type of information selected from the group consisting of an indication to the UE via signaling that the N bit assistance information per TTI via a PDACH channel including signaling information of a single interfering cell for log 2(N) resource allocation block, an indication of a position of PDACH channel via RRC, an indication of a frequency hopping pattern over 10 subframes within a TTI and a frequency hopping pattern over multiple TTIs.

In Example 57 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-56 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving a number of bits per Transmission Time Interval (TTI) and per interfering cell describing the scheduling of the interfering cells.

In Example 58 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-57 may optionally include, wherein the receiving a number of bits per Transmission Time Interval (TTI) and per interfering cell is variable.

In Example 59 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-58 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises signaling information of one 20 MHz interfering cell including at least 28 bits per TTI.

In Example 60 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-59 may optionally include, wherein the receiving at least 28 bits per TTI comprises receiving 28 bits per TTI for Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) Resource Allocation Types 0 and 1.

In Example 61 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-60 may optionally include, wherein the receiving at least 28 bits per TTI comprises receiving less than 28 bits per TTI for PDSCH Resource Allocation Type 2.

In Example 62 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-61 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information further comprises receiving additional signaling information for only resource blocks determined to be affected by interference.

In Example 63 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-62 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving signaling information incrementally.

In Example 64 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-63 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving signaling information only after allocation changes.

In Example 65 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-64 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving signaling information over a physical dedicated assistance channel (PDACH) from the serving cell to the UE.

In Example 66 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-65 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information over a physical dedicated assistance channel (PDACH) from the serving cell to the UE comprises receiving information in a data region of a subframe of the PDACH.

In Example 67 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-66 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information includes receiving identification of a frequency hopping pattern for the PDACH to provide frequency diversity.

In Example 68 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-67 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving multicast information directed to a plurality of UEs via PDACH allocated for the plurality of UEs.

In Example 69 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-68 may optionally include, receiving an indication at the UE of the location and size of the PDACH via radio resource control signaling.

In Example 70 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-69 may optionally include, reading, by the UE, the received assistance information and applying the received assistance information as part of the layer one (L1) processing without involving higher layers (latency).

In Example 71 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-70 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving signaling information over an assistance broadcast channel (ABCH) used for a plurality of UEs.

In Example 72 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-71 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information over an assistance broadcast channel (ABCH) comprises receiving signaling information using center resource blocks (RBs) 1 to M in the first Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) symbol following the PDCCH OFDM symbols.

In Example 73 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-72 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information over an assistance broadcast channel (ABCH) comprises receiving signaling information embedded into the common search space part of the PDCCH.

In Example 74 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-73 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving the signaling information over a control channel when a number of bits, N, less than a predetermined number.

In Example 75 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-74 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving signaling information using a component carrier reserved solely for the transmission of assistance information.

In Example 76 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-75 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information using a component carrier comprises receiving signaling information using a component carrier having a bandwidth different from other component carriers.

In Example 77 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-76 may optionally include, wherein the receiving signaling information comprises receiving signaling information using at least one type of signaling selected from multi-cast information and DCI signaling in PDCCH/ePDCCH, the receiving signaling information signaling at least one of slowly changing assistance information and how to interpret the assistance information.

In Example 78 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-77 may optionally include, wherein the receiving the signaling information comprises receiving coordinated signaling information including a differential resource allocation reflecting only a change in resource allocation.

In Example 79 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-78 may optionally include, wherein the receiving the signaling information comprises receiving coordinated signaling information including an accumulated resource allocation over a plurality of interfering cells.

In Example 80 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 54-79 may optionally include, wherein the receiving the signaling information comprises receiving coordinated signaling information including only a subset of the resource blocks of the served UE to allow staggering of interference signaling information over multiple TTIs using a predetermined periodicity.

The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples may include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, also contemplated are examples that include the elements shown or described. Moreover, also contemplate are examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.

Publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s) are supplementary to that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to suggest a numerical order for their objects.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with others. Other embodiments may be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure, for example, to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) in the United States of America. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. However, the claims may not set forth features disclosed herein because embodiments may include a subset of said features. Further, embodiments may include fewer features than those disclosed in a particular example. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with a claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. The scope of the embodiments disclosed herein is to be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

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