Reuse pattern network scheduling using interference levels

Abstract

Interference levels occurring at one or more stations are mapped, and a reuse pattern is generated, based on the mapped interference levels, including one or more reuse sets of stations capable of sharing a transmission resource. The stations within each reuse set are listed in increasing order based on their respective interference levels, and an additional station is added to a reuse set, as long as the cumulative interference level within the reuse set is below a threshold interference level and the additional station is not already listed in another reuse set. A network schedule is updated based on the reuse pattern to increase bandwidth efficiency in the network.

1 . A method comprising:
 generating, by an entity in a wireless network, a reuse set capable of sharing a transmission resource, wherein said generating comprises:
 beginning with a respective station of a plurality of stations in the network with a smallest interference level, adding the respective station to the reuse set, and 
 adding an additional station of the plurality of stations with a next lowest interference level to the reuse set, as long as a cumulative interference level within the reuse set is below a threshold interference level and the additional station is not already assigned to another reuse set. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the network is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 system, and each of the plurality of stations is a base station or a relay station. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a plurality of reuse sets; and   removing empty reuse sets that include no stations.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a reuse pattern comprising one or a plurality of reuse sets; and   generating a network schedule, by a network management entity, based on the reuse pattern, to increase bandwidth efficiency.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stations includes at least one relay station. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for generating a reuse set capable of sharing a transmission resource, wherein the means for generating comprises:
 means, beginning with a respective station of a plurality of stations in the network with a smallest interference level, for adding the respective station to the reuse set, and 
 means for adding an additional station of the plurality of stations with a next lowest interference level to the reuse set, as long as a cumulative interference level within the reuse set is below a threshold interference level and the additional station is not already assigned to another reuse set. 
   
     
     
         7 . A system for generating a reuse group on interference levels in an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 network, comprising:
 means for generating a reuse pattern capable of sharing a transmission resource, wherein the means for generating comprises:   means for adding an additional station to a respective reuse set, as long as a cumulative interference level within the respective reuse set is below a threshold interference level and the additional station is not already assigned to another reuse set.