Coordinated forward link blanking and power boosting for flexible bandwidth systems

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are provided for coordinating forward link blanking and/or power boosting in wireless communications systems. Some embodiments include two or more bandwidth systems. The bandwidth of one bandwidth system may overlap with the bandwidth of another bandwidth system. This overlap may create interference. Coordinating forward link blanking and/or power boosting may aid in reducing the impact of this interference. Some embodiments utilize flexible bandwidth and/or normal bandwidth systems. Flexible bandwidth systems may utilize portions of spectrum that may not be big enough to fit a normal waveform, though some embodiments may utilize flexible waveforms that utilize more bandwidth than a normal waveform.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing interference within a wireless communications system, the method comprising:
 identifying a first carrier bandwidth that at least partially overlaps a second carrier bandwidth of the wireless communications system; and   coordinating a transmission blanking on a forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during a concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 increasing a power of transmission over the second carrier bandwidth during the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coordinating the transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth further comprises:
 determining a timing of a control transmission over the second carrier bandwidth and coordinating the transmission blanking based on the determined timing of the control channel transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coordinating the transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth further comprises:
 determining a data transmission over the second carrier bandwidth and wherein coordinating the transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth occurs during the data transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 changing the coordinated transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidths based on at least a time of day.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 changing the coordinated transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidths based on at least a loading of the forward link.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least the first carrier bandwidth or the second carrier bandwidth is a flexible carrier bandwidth. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first carrier bandwidth and the second carrier bandwidth are normal carrier bandwidths. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first carrier bandwidth fully overlaps the second carrier bandwidth. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth and the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth occur at a co-location. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth and the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth are not co-located. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth occurs at a pre-scheduled time. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth and the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth are synchronized with respect to at least an absolute time or a known time offset. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least the first carrier bandwidth or the second carrier bandwidth utilizes licensed spectrum. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first carrier bandwidth and the second carrier bandwidth utilize different radio access technologies (RAT). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coordinating the transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth comprises:
 coordinating a hard transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coordinated hard transmission blanking comprises no flow being scheduled for transmission during a period of the coordinated hard transmission blanking. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coordinating the transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth comprises:
 coordinating a soft transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the coordinated soft transmission blanking comprises a transmission of at least a priority flow or a delay sensitive flow during a period of the coordinated soft transmission blanking. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the coordinated soft transmission blanking comprises reducing a power of transmission during a period of the coordinated soft transmission blanking. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the coordinated soft transmission blanking comprises a transmission during a portion of the coordinated soft transmission blanking less than an entire period of the coordinated soft transmission blanking. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from the second carrier bandwidth to coordinate the transmission blanking at a specific time; and   agreeing to accommodate the request from the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coordinated transmission blanking occurs at a base station. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communications system comprises a time division multiplexing system. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the power increase over the second carrier bandwidth and the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth are applied independently. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the power increase over the second carrier bandwidth and the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth are applied together. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the power increase over the second carrier bandwidth and the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth are activated in co-located systems. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the power increase over the second carrier bandwidth and the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth are activated in co-located systems based on a load of the co-located systems. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth occurs at a slot level. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 increasing at least a data rate of at least a control channel or data channel utilizing the power increase over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 increasing a power of transmission over the first carrier bandwidth during a period of time different than the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising,
 coordinating the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth during one or more slots when the first carrier bandwidth is not transmitting.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coordinating a transmission blanking on a forward link over the second carrier bandwidth during a concurrent transmission over the first carrier bandwidth or increasing a power of transmission over the first carrier bandwidth during a coordinated transmission blanking on a forward link over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein coordinating the transmission blanking on the forward link over the second carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the first carrier bandwidth depends at least upon a relative loading of the first carrier bandwidth with respect to the second carrier bandwidth or a time of day. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coordinating a power transmission increase over the first carrier bandwidth during a coordinated transmission blanking on a forward link over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a third carrier bandwidth different from the second carrier bandwidth that at least partially overlaps the first carrier bandwidth of the wireless communications system; and   coordinating a transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during a concurrent transmission over the third carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         37 . A wireless communications system configured for reducing interference, the system comprising
 a means for identifying a first carrier bandwidth that at least partially overlaps a second carrier bandwidth of the wireless communications system; and   a means for coordinating a transmission blanking on a forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during a concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 a means for coordinating the transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during a control channel transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 a means for changing the coordinated transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth based on at least a time of day or a loading of the forward link.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein at least the first carrier bandwidth or the second carrier bandwidth is a flexible carrier bandwidth. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 a means for coordinating a hard transmission blanking as the coordinated transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 a means for coordinating a soft transmission blanking as the coordinated transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 a means for increasing a transmission power over the second carrier bandwidth during the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         44 . A computer program product for reducing interference within a wireless communications system comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
 code for identifying a first carrier bandwidth that at least partially overlaps a second carrier bandwidth of the wireless communications system; and 
 code for coordinating a transmission blanking on a forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during a concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth. 
   
     
     
         45 . The computer program product of  claim 44 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising:
 code for coordinating the transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during a control channel transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         46 . The computer program product of  claim 44 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising:
 code for changing the coordinated transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth based on at least a time of day or a loading of the forward link.   
     
     
         47 . The computer program product of  claim 44 , wherein at least the first carrier bandwidth or the second carrier bandwidth is a flexible carrier bandwidth. 
     
     
         48 . The computer program product of  claim 44 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising:
 code for coordinating a hard transmission blanking as the coordinated transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         49 . The computer program product of  claim 44 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising:
 code for coordinating a soft transmission blanking as the coordinated transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         50 . The computer program product of  claim 44 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising:
 code for increasing a transmission power over the second carrier bandwidth during the coordinated transmission blanking over the first carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         51 . A wireless communications device configured for reducing interference within a wireless communications system, the device comprising:
 at least one processor configured to:
 identify a first carrier bandwidth that at least partially overlaps a second carrier bandwidth of the wireless communications system; and 
 coordinate a transmission blanking on a forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during a concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth. 
   
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 coordinate the transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during a control channel transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 change the coordinated transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth based on at least a time of day or a loading of the forward link.   
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 51 , wherein at least the first carrier bandwidth or the second carrier bandwidth is a flexible carrier bandwidth. 
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 coordinate a hard transmission blanking as the coordinated transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 coordinate a soft transmission blanking as the coordinated transmission blanking on the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth during the concurrent transmission over the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         57 . A method of reducing interference within a wireless communications system, the method comprising:
 identifying a first carrier bandwidth and a second carrier bandwidth of the wireless communications system, wherein the first carrier bandwidth at least partially overlaps the second carrier bandwidth; and   coordinating a transmission power increase for a forward link over the first carrier bandwidth with respect to the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 determining at least a time of day or a loading of the forward link and coordinating the transmission power increase for the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth with respect to the second carrier bandwidth changes based on at least the determined time of day or the determined loading of the forward link.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to coordinate the transmission power increase at a specific time.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 coordinating a transmission blanking over the second carrier bandwidth during the coordinated transmission power increase over the first carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein at least the first carrier bandwidth or the second carrier bandwidth is a flexible carrier bandwidth. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein coordinating the transmission power increase occurs at a pre-scheduled time. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein coordinating the transmission power increase occurs at a base station. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 identifying a third carrier bandwidth and the second carrier bandwidth of the wireless communications system, wherein the second carrier bandwidth partially overlaps the third carrier bandwidth; and   coordinating a transmission power increase for a forward link over the third carrier bandwidth with respect to the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         65 . A wireless communications system configured for reducing interference, the system comprising:
 a means for identifying a first carrier bandwidth and a second carrier bandwidth of the wireless communications system, wherein the first carrier bandwidth at least partially overlaps the second carrier bandwidth; and   a means for coordinating a transmission power increase for a forward link over the first carrier bandwidth with respect to the second carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 65 , further comprising:
 a means for changing the coordinated transmission power increase for the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth with respect to the second carrier bandwidth based on at least a time of day or a loading of the forward link.   
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 65 , wherein at least the first carrier bandwidth or the second carrier bandwidth is a flexible carrier bandwidth. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 65 , further comprising:
 a means for coordinating a transmission blanking over the second carrier bandwidth during the coordinated transmission power increase over the first carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 65 , further comprising:
 a means for receiving a request to coordinate the transmission power increase at a specific time.   
     
     
         70 . A computer program product for reducing interference within a wireless communications system comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
 code for identifying a first carrier bandwidth and a second carrier bandwidth of the wireless communications system, wherein the first carrier bandwidth at least partially overlaps the second carrier bandwidth; and 
 code for coordinating a transmission power increase for a forward link over the first carrier bandwidth with respect to the second carrier bandwidth. 
   
     
     
         71 . The computer program product of  claim 70 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising:
 code for changing the coordinated transmission power increase for the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth with respect to the second carrier bandwidth based on at least a time of day or a loading of the forward link.   
     
     
         72 . The computer program product of  claim 70 , wherein at least the first carrier bandwidth or the second carrier bandwidth is a flexible carrier bandwidth. 
     
     
         73 . A wireless communications device configured for reducing interference, the device comprising:
 at least one processor configured to:
 identify a first carrier bandwidth and a second carrier bandwidth of the wireless communications system, wherein the first carrier bandwidth at least partially overlaps the second carrier bandwidth; and 
 coordinate a transmission power increase for a forward link over the first carrier bandwidth with respect to the second carrier bandwidth. 
   
     
     
         74 . The device of  claim 73 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 change the coordinated transmission power increase for the forward link over the first carrier bandwidth with respect to the second carrier bandwidth based on at least a time of day or a loading of the forward link.   
     
     
         75 . The device of  claim 73 , wherein at least the first carrier bandwidth or the second carrier bandwidth is a flexible carrier bandwidth. 
     
     
         76 . The device of  claim 73 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 coordinate a transmission blanking over the second carrier bandwidth during the coordinated transmission power increase over the first carrier bandwidth.   
     
     
         77 . The device of  claim 73 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 receive a request to coordinate the transmission power increase at a specific time.