Method and apparatus for performing muting coordination and for testing of coordinating communication

Abstract

A method and apparatus can be configured to transmit a physical-resource-block muting request to a neighboring network entity. The method can also include transmitting at least one muting priority level for at least one physical-resource-block of the physical-resource-block muting request.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 transmitting, by a network entity, a physical-resource-block muting request to a neighboring network entity; 
 transmitting at least one muting priority level for at least one physical-resource-block of the physical-resource-block muting request; and 
 transmitting an expected user throughput gain to the neighboring network entity, wherein the expected user throughput gain corresponds to an expected user throughput gain that can be achieved if the neighboring network entity performs muting. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the network entity and the neighboring network entity comprise evolved Node Bs. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one muting priority level for the at least one physical-resource-block comprises a high priority level, the number of muting priorities that correspond to high priority levels are limited, and the limit is configured by a network or negotiated by evolved Node Bs. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting the physical-resource-block muting request comprises transmitting via an X2 interface. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory including computer program code, 
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to 
 transmit a physical-resource-block muting request to a neighboring network entity; 
 transmit at least one muting priority level for at least one physical-resource-block of the physical-resource-block muting request; and 
 transmit an expected user throughput gain to the neighboring network entity, wherein the expected user throughput gain corresponds to an expected user throughput gain that can be achieved if the neighboring network entity performs muting. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the apparatus and the neighboring network entity comprise evolved Node Bs. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one muting priority level for the at least one physical-resource-block comprises a high priority level, the number of muting priorities that correspond to high priority levels are limited, and the limit is configured by a network or negotiated by evolved Node Bs. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the transmitting the physical-resource-block muting request comprises transmitting via an X2 interface. 
     
     
       9. A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a network entity, a physical-resource-block muting request from a neighboring network entity; 
 receiving at least one muting priority level for at least one physical-resource-block of the physical-resource-block muting request; 
 performing muting depending on the received at least one muting priority level; and 
 receiving an expected user throughput gain from the neighboring network entity, wherein the expected user throughput gain corresponds to an expected user throughput gain that can be achieved if the network entity performs muting. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the network entity and the neighboring network entity comprise evolved Node Bs. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one muting priority level for the at least one physical-resource-block comprises a high priority level, the number of muting priorities that correspond to high priority levels are limited, and the limit is configured by a network or negotiated by evolved Node Bs. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory including computer program code, 
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to 
 receive a physical-resource-block muting request from a neighboring network entity; 
 receive at least one muting priority level for at least one physical-resource-block of the physical-resource-block muting request; 
 perform muting depending on the received at least one muting priority level; and 
 receive an expected user throughput gain from the neighboring network entity, wherein the expected user throughput gain corresponds to an expected user throughput gain that can be achieved if the apparatus performs muting. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus and the neighboring network entity comprise evolved Node Bs. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one muting priority level for the at least one physical-resource-block comprises a high priority level, the number of muting priorities that correspond to high priority levels are limited, and the limit is configured by a network or negotiated by evolved Node Bs.