Adaptive resource negotiation between base stations for enhanced interference coordination

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for supporting adaptive resource negotiation between evolved node Bs (eNBs) for enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (eICIC) are provided. This resource negotiation may occur via a network backhaul between the eNBs or, in some cases, using over-the-air messages (OAMs). For certain aspects, a first eNB may propose its adaptive resource partitioning information (ARPI) to a second eNB, where the second eNB may accept or reject the proposed resource partitioning. If the second eNB accepts the proposed partitioning, the second eNB may schedule resources, such as subframes, based on the accepted partitioning.

1 . A method for wireless communications, comprising:
 sending, from a first base station, a resource status message to a second base station;   receiving, at the first base station from the second base station, a message indicating proposed resource partitioning between the first and second base stations, wherein the proposed resource partitioning is based on the resource status message; and   scheduling resources at the first base station based on the received resource partitioning.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending, from the first base station to the second base station, a notification that the proposed resource partitioning was accepted by the first base station. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the second base station before receiving the message, another message indicating another proposed resource partitioning between the first and second base stations;   rejecting the other proposed resource partitioning; and   sending, from the first base station to the second base station, a notification of the rejected other proposed resource partitioning.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message indicating the proposed resource partitioning is received via an X2 backhaul. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message indicating the proposed resource partitioning is received via an over-the-air message (OAM). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using an X2 setup procedure to initially associate the first and second base stations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the using comprises sending at least one of a class or an access mode of the first base station to the second base station. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining one or more parameters related to resource status associated with the first base station, wherein the resource status message indicates the parameters. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a total physical resource block (PRB) usage, a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) PRB usage, a non-GBR PRB usage, an average number of user equipment (UE) devices having queued dedicated traffic channel (DTCH) data, an average cell data rate for GBR bearers, or an average cell data rate for non-GBR bearers. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the scheduling comprises:
 scheduling the resources based on the received resource partitioning for first user equipments (UEs) in a first area covered by the second base station; and   scheduling the resources based on an independent resource partitioning determined by the first base station for second UEs in a second area covered only by the first base station.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received proposed resource partitioning comprises one or more almost blank subframes (ABSs) of the second base station. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the message indicating the proposed resource partitioning comprises a load information message indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the load information message comprises an information element (IE) indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first base station is a pico base station or a femto base station and wherein the second base station is a macro base station. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
 means for sending a resource status message to a base station;   means for receiving, from the base station, a message indicating proposed resource partitioning between the apparatus and the base station, wherein the proposed resource partitioning is based on the resource status message; and   means for scheduling resources based on the received resource partitioning.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the means for sending is configured to send, to the base station, a notification that the proposed resource partitioning was accepted by the apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 means for receiving, from the base station before receiving the message, another message indicating another proposed resource partitioning between the apparatus and the base station; and   means for rejecting the other proposed resource partitioning, wherein the means for sending is configured to send, to the base station, a notification of the rejected other proposed resource partitioning.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the message indicating the proposed resource partitioning is received via an X2 backhaul. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the message indicating the proposed resource partitioning is received via an over-the-air message (OAM). 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising means for using an X2 setup procedure to initially associate the apparatus and the base station. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the means for using the X2 setup procedure is configured to send at least one of a class or an access mode of the apparatus to the base station. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising means for determining one or more parameters related to resource status associated with the apparatus, wherein the resource status message indicates the parameters. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a total physical resource block (PRB) usage, a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) PRB usage, a non-GBR PRB usage, an average number of user equipment (UE) devices having queued dedicated traffic channel (DTCH) data, an average cell data rate for GBR bearers, or an average cell data rate for non-GBR bearers. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the means for scheduling is configured to:
 schedule the resources based on the received resource partitioning for first user equipments (UEs) in a first area covered by the base station; and   schedule the resources based on an independent resource partitioning determined by the apparatus for second UEs in a second area covered only by the apparatus.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the received proposed resource partitioning comprises one or more almost blank subframes (ABSs) of the base station. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the message indicating the proposed resource partitioning comprises a load information message indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the load information message comprises an information element (IE) indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is a pico base station or a femto base station and wherein the base station is a macro base station. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
 a transmitter configured to send a resource status message to a base station;   a receiver configured to receive, from the base station, a message indicating proposed resource partitioning between the apparatus and the base station, wherein the proposed resource partitioning is based on the resource status message; and   a scheduler configured to schedule resources based on the received resource partitioning.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the transmitter is configured to send, to the base station, a notification that the proposed resource partitioning was accepted by the apparatus. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising at least one processor, wherein the receiver is configured to receive, from the base station before receiving the message, another message indicating another proposed resource partitioning between the apparatus and the base station, wherein the at least one processor is configured to reject the other proposed resource partitioning, and wherein the transmitter is configured to send, to the base station, a notification of the rejected other proposed resource partitioning. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the message indicating the proposed resource partitioning is received via an X2 backhaul. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the message indicating the proposed resource partitioning is received via an over-the-air message (OAM). 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising at least one processor configured to use an X2 setup procedure to initially associate the apparatus and the base station. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to use the X2 setup procedure by sending at least one of a class or an access mode of the apparatus to the base station. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising at least one processor configured to determine one or more parameters related to resource status associated with the apparatus, wherein the resource status message indicates the parameters. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a total physical resource block (PRB) usage, a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) PRB usage, a non-GBR PRB usage, an average number of user equipment (UE) devices having queued dedicated traffic channel (DTCH) data, an average cell data rate for GBR bearers, or an average cell data rate for non-GBR bearers. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the scheduler is configured to:
 schedule the resources based on the received resource partitioning for first user equipments (UEs) in a first area covered by the base station; and   schedule the resources based on an independent resource partitioning determined by the apparatus for second UEs in a second area covered only by the apparatus.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the received proposed resource partitioning comprises one or more almost blank subframes (ABSs) of the base station. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the message indicating the proposed resource partitioning comprises a load information message indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the load information message comprises an information element (IE) indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the apparatus is a pico base station or a femto base station and wherein the base station is a macro base station. 
     
     
         43 . A computer-program product for wireless communications, the computer-program product comprising:
 a computer-readable medium having code for:
 sending, from a first base station, a resource status message to a second base station; 
 receiving, at the first base station from the second base station, a message indicating proposed resource partitioning between the first and second base stations, wherein the proposed resource partitioning is based on the resource status message; and 
 scheduling resources at the first base station based on the received resource partitioning. 
   
     
     
         44 . The computer-program product of  claim 43 , further comprising code for sending, from the first base station to the second base station, a notification that the proposed resource partitioning was accepted by the first base station. 
     
     
         45 . The computer-program product of  claim 43 , further comprising code for:
 receiving, from the second base station before receiving the message, another message indicating another proposed resource partitioning between the first and second base stations;   rejecting the other proposed resource partitioning; and   sending, from the first base station to the second base station, a notification of the rejected other proposed resource partitioning.   
     
     
         46 . The computer-program product of  claim 43 , wherein the message indicating the proposed resource partitioning is received via an X2 backhaul. 
     
     
         47 . The computer-program product of  claim 43 , wherein the message indicating the proposed resource partitioning is received via an over-the-air message (OAM). 
     
     
         48 . The computer-program product of  claim 43 , further comprising code for using an X2 setup procedure to initially associate the first and second base stations. 
     
     
         49 . The computer-program product of  claim 48 , wherein the using comprises sending at least one of a class or an access mode of the first base station to the second base station. 
     
     
         50 . The computer-program product of  claim 43 , further comprising code for determining one or more parameters related to resource status associated with the first base station, wherein the resource status message indicates the parameters. 
     
     
         51 . The computer-program product of  claim 50 , wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a total physical resource block (PRB) usage, a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) PRB usage, a non-GBR PRB usage, an average number of user equipment (UE) devices having queued dedicated traffic channel (DTCH) data, an average cell data rate for GBR bearers, or an average cell data rate for non-GBR bearers. 
     
     
         52 . The computer-program product of  claim 43 , wherein the scheduling comprises:
 scheduling the resources based on the received resource partitioning for first user equipments (UEs) in a first area covered by the second base station; and   scheduling the resources based on an independent resource partitioning determined by the first base station for second UEs in a second area covered only by the first base station.   
     
     
         53 . The computer-program product of  claim 43 , wherein the received proposed resource partitioning comprises one or more almost blank subframes (ABSs) of the second base station. 
     
     
         54 . The computer-program product of  claim 53 , wherein the message indicating the proposed resource partitioning comprises a load information message indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         55 . The computer-program product of  claim 54 , wherein the load information message comprises an information element (IE) indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         56 . The computer-program product of  claim 43 , wherein the first base station is a pico base station or a femto base station and wherein the second base station is a macro base station. 
     
     
         57 . A method for wireless communications, comprising:
 receiving, at a first base station, a resource status message from a second base station;   determining one or more parameters related to resource usage at the first base station;   determining proposed resource partitioning between the first and second base stations based on the received resource status message and the parameters;   sending, from the first base station to the second base station, an indication of the proposed resource partitioning.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising receiving, at the first base station, a notification that the proposed resource partitioning was accepted by the second base station. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the first base station, a notification that the proposed resource partitioning was rejected by the second base station;   determining another proposed resource partitioning between the first and second base stations; and   sending, from the first base station to the second base station, another indication of the other proposed resource partitioning.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising determining a current resource partitioning between the first and second base stations before the receiving, wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning is sent only if the proposed resource partitioning is different than the current resource partitioning. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning is sent via an X2 backhaul. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning is sent via an over-the-air message (OAM). 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising using an X2 setup procedure to initially associate the first and second base stations. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the using comprises receiving, at the first base station, at least one of a class or an access mode of the second base station. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a total physical resource block (PRB) usage, a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) PRB usage, a non-GBR PRB usage, an average number of user equipment (UE) devices having queued dedicated traffic channel (DTCH) data, an average cell data rate for GBR bearers, or an average cell data rate for non-GBR bearers. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising scheduling resources based on an independent resource partitioning determined by the first base station for user equipments (UEs) in an area covered only by the first base station. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the proposed resource partitioning comprises one or more almost blank subframes (ABSs) of the first base station. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning comprises a load information message indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the load information message comprises an information element (IE) indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the first base station is a macro base station and wherein the second base station is a pico base station or a femto base station. 
     
     
         71 . An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
 means for receiving a resource status message from a base station;   means for determining one or more parameters related to resource usage at the apparatus;   means for determining proposed resource partitioning between the apparatus and the base station based on the received resource status message and the parameters;   means for sending, to the base station, an indication of the proposed resource partitioning.   
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the means for receiving is configured to receive a notification that the proposed resource partitioning was accepted by the base station. 
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the means for receiving is configured to receive a notification that the proposed resource partitioning was rejected by the base station, wherein the means for determining the proposed resource partitioning is configured to determine another proposed resource partitioning between the apparatus and the base station, and wherein the means for sending is configured to send, to the base station, another indication of the other proposed resource partitioning. 
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , further comprising means for determining a current resource partitioning between the apparatus and the base station before receiving the resource status message, wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning is sent only if the proposed resource partitioning is different than the current resource partitioning. 
     
     
         75 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning is sent via an X2 backhaul. 
     
     
         76 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning is sent via an over-the-air message (OAM). 
     
     
         77 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , further comprising means for using an X2 setup procedure to initially associate the apparatus and the base station. 
     
     
         78 . The apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the means for using is configured to receive at least one of a class or an access mode of the base station. 
     
     
         79 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a total physical resource block (PRB) usage, a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) PRB usage, a non-GBR PRB usage, an average number of user equipment (UE) devices having queued dedicated traffic channel (DTCH) data, an average cell data rate for GBR bearers, or an average cell data rate for non-GBR bearers. 
     
     
         80 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , further comprising means for scheduling resources based on an independent resource partitioning determined by the apparatus for user equipments (UEs) in an area covered only by the apparatus. 
     
     
         81 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the proposed resource partitioning comprises one or more almost blank subframes (ABSs) of the apparatus. 
     
     
         82 . The apparatus of  claim 81 , wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning comprises a load information message indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         83 . The apparatus of  claim 82 , wherein the load information message comprises an information element (IE) indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         84 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the apparatus is a macro base station and wherein the base station is a pico base station or a femto base station. 
     
     
         85 . An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive a resource status message from a base station;   at least one processor configured to:
 determine one or more parameters related to resource usage at the apparatus; and 
 determine proposed resource partitioning between the apparatus and the base station based on the received resource status message and the parameters; and 
   a transmitter configured to send an indication of the proposed resource partitioning to the base station.   
     
     
         86 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the receiver is configured to receive a notification that the proposed resource partitioning was accepted by the base station. 
     
     
         87 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the receiver is configured to receive a notification that the proposed resource partitioning was rejected by the base station, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine another proposed resource partitioning between the apparatus and the base station, and wherein the transmitter is configured to send, to the base station, another indication of the other proposed resource partitioning. 
     
     
         88 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a current resource partitioning between the apparatus and the base station before receiving the resource status message and wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning is sent only if the proposed resource partitioning is different than the current resource partitioning. 
     
     
         89 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning is sent via an X2 backhaul. 
     
     
         90 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning is sent via an over-the-air message (OAM). 
     
     
         91 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to use an X2 setup procedure to initially associate the apparatus and the base station. 
     
     
         92 . The apparatus of  claim 91 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to use the X2 setup procedure by receiving at least one of a class or an access mode of the base station. 
     
     
         93 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a total physical resource block (PRB) usage, a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) PRB usage, a non-GBR PRB usage, an average number of user equipment (UE) devices having queued dedicated traffic channel (DTCH) data, an average cell data rate for GBR bearers, or an average cell data rate for non-GBR bearers. 
     
     
         94 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , further comprising a scheduler configured to schedule resources based on an independent resource partitioning determined by the apparatus for user equipments (UEs) in an area covered only by the apparatus. 
     
     
         95 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the proposed resource partitioning comprises one or more almost blank subframes (ABSs) of the apparatus. 
     
     
         96 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning comprises a load information message indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         97 . The apparatus of  claim 96 , wherein the load information message comprises an information element (IE) indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         98 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the apparatus is a macro base station and wherein the base station is a pico base station or a femto base station. 
     
     
         99 . A computer-program product for wireless communications, the computer-program product comprising:
 a computer-readable medium having code for:
 receiving, at a first base station, a resource status message from a second base station; 
 determining one or more parameters related to resource usage at the first base station; 
 determining proposed resource partitioning between the first and second base stations based on the received resource status message and the parameters; 
 sending, from the first base station to the second base station, an indication of the proposed resource partitioning. 
   
     
     
         100 . The computer-program product of  claim 99 , further comprising code for receiving, at the first base station, a notification that the proposed resource partitioning was accepted by the second base station. 
     
     
         101 . The computer-program product of  claim 99 , further comprising code for:
 receiving, at the first base station, a notification that the proposed resource partitioning was rejected by the second base station;   determining another proposed resource partitioning between the first and second base stations; and   sending, from the first base station to the second base station, another indication of the other proposed resource partitioning.   
     
     
         102 . The computer-program product of  claim 99 , further comprising code for determining a current resource partitioning between the first and second base stations before the receiving, wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning is sent only if the proposed resource partitioning is different than the current resource partitioning. 
     
     
         103 . The computer-program product of  claim 99 , wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning is sent via an X2 backhaul. 
     
     
         104 . The computer-program product of  claim 99 , wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning is sent via an over-the-air message (OAM). 
     
     
         105 . The computer-program product of  claim 99 , further comprising code for using an X2 setup procedure to initially associate the first and second base stations. 
     
     
         106 . The computer-program product of  claim 105 , wherein the using comprises receiving, at the first base station, at least one of a class or an access mode of the second base station. 
     
     
         107 . The computer-program product of  claim 99 , wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a total physical resource block (PRB) usage, a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) PRB usage, a non-GBR PRB usage, an average number of user equipment (UE) devices having queued dedicated traffic channel (DTCH) data, an average cell data rate for GBR bearers, or an average cell data rate for non-GBR bearers. 
     
     
         108 . The computer-program product of  claim 99 , further comprising code for scheduling resources based on an independent resource partitioning determined by the first base station for user equipments (UEs) in an area covered only by the first base station. 
     
     
         109 . The computer-program product of  claim 99 , wherein the proposed resource partitioning comprises one or more almost blank subframes (ABSs) of the first base station. 
     
     
         110 . The computer-program product of  claim 109 , wherein the indication of the proposed resource partitioning comprises a load information message indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         111 . The computer-program product of  claim 110 , wherein the load information message comprises an information element (IE) indicating the ABSs. 
     
     
         112 . The computer-program product of  claim 99 , wherein the first base station is a macro base station and wherein the second base station is a pico base station or a femto base station.