Method and System for Communication Between a Plurality of Femtocells to Mitigate Interference Between the Femtocells

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for communication between a plurality of femtocells to mitigate interference between the femtocells are provided. In this regard, a first of a plurality of femtocells in a network may receive interference information from one or more other femtocells, one or more base stations, and/or one or more communication devices in the network. The first femtocell may determine configuration information for the first femtocell and one or more other femtocells in the network based on the communicated interference information. The first femtocell and the other femtocells in the network may be configured based on the determined configuration information. The interference between the plurality of femtocells may be mitigated based on configuring the first femtocell and the other femtocells in the network based on the determined configuration information.

1 . A method for network management, comprising:
 receiving at a femtocell interference information from at least one other femtocell;   determining configuration information comprising at least one frequency of operation for the receiving femtocell based on the received interference information;   configuring the receiving femtocell based on the determined configuration information; and   communicating the determined configuration information for the receiving femtocell to the at least one other femtocell, wherein the at least one other femtocell utilizes the communicated determined configuration information to configure at least a further femtocell.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the interference information comprises at least one of signal to noise ratio (SNR), signal to interference noise ratio (SINR), carrier to noise ratio (CNR), carrier to interference noise ratio (CINR), receive signal strength indication (RSSI), potential interference, power levels, and/or directionality of antennas of the receiving femtocell and the at least one other femtocell. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determined configuration information comprises at least one of: power levels, the at least one frequency of operation, location, and/or directionality of antennas of each of the femtocells. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 receiving the interference information from at least one base station and/or at least one communication device.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 receiving the interference information via a wireless connection.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising
 communicating the determined configuration information to the at least one other femtocell via the wireless connection.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the wireless connection handles signals comprising IS-95, CDMA, GSM, TDMA, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, WCDMA, OFDM, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX, WLAN, Bluetooth, ZigBee and/or HSDPA signals. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the interference information from at least one communication device. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the communication device comprises a wired and/or wireless communication device. 
     
     
         10 . A system for network management, comprising:
 a processor for use in a femtocell, wherein:   the processor is operable to receive interference information from at least one other femtocell;   the processor is operable to determine configuration information comprising at least one frequency of operation for the femtocell based on the received interference information;   the processor is operable to configure the receiving femtocell based on the determined configuration information;   the processor is configured to communicate the determined configuration information for the receiving femtocell to the at least one other femtocell; and   the at least one other femtocell is configured to utilize the communicated determined configuration information to configure the at least one other femtocell.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the interference information comprises at least one of signal to noise ratio (SNR), signal to interference noise ratio (SINR), carrier to noise ratio (CNR), carrier to interference noise ratio (CINR), receive signal strength indication (RSSI), potential interference, power levels, and/or directionality of antennas of the receiving femtocell and the at least one other femtocell. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the determined configuration information comprises at least one of: power levels, frequency of operation, location, and/or directionality of antennas of each of the receiving femtocell and the at least one other femtocell. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the interference information from at least one base station and/or at least one communication device. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the interference information via a wireless connection. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate the determined configuration information to the at least one other femtocell via the wireless connection. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the wireless connection handles signals comprising IS-95, CDMA, GSM, TDMA, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, WCDMA, OFDM, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX, WLAN, Bluetooth, ZigBee and/or HSDPA signals. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the interference information from at least one communication device. 
     
     
         18 . A method for network management in a network having a plurality of femtocells, comprising:
 receiving at a first of the plurality of femtocells, interference information comprising carrier to interference noise ratio (CINR) of the plurality of femtocells, from at least one other of the plurality of femtocells;   determining configuration information comprising at least one frequency of operation for the first of the plurality of femtocells based on the received interference information;   configuring the first of the plurality of femtocells based on the determined configuration information; and   communicating the determined configuration information for the receiving femtocell to the at least one other of the plurality of femtocells, wherein the at least one other of the plurality of femtocells utilizes the communicated determined configuration information to configure a further one of the plurality of femtocells.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the interference information comprises at least one of signal to noise ratio (SNR), signal to interference noise ratio (SINR), carrier to noise ratio (CNR), carrier to interference noise ratio (CINR), receive signal strength indication (RSSI), potential interference, power levels, and/or directionality of antennas of the receiving femtocell and the at least one other femtocell. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the determined configuration information comprises at least one of: power levels, the at least one frequency of operation, location, and/or directionality of antennas of each of the femtocells.