Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving signal in a mobile communication system

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for transmitting and receiving signals in a mobile communication system are provided. A method for transmitting a signal by an evolved Node B (eNB) in a mobile communication system includes transmitting a same control channel signal to each of a plurality of Radio Units (RUs), and transmitting a different data channel signal to each of the plurality of RUs. A data channel signal transmitted to each of the plurality of RUs may be determined taking into account at least one of a location of a User Equipment (UE) that will receive the data channel signal, and load balancing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for transmitting a signal by a base station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 determining a plurality of user equipments (UEs) with a maximum scheduling metric based on channel quality information; 
 generating a common signal for the plurality of UEs; 
 generating a radio unit (RU) specific data signal for each of RUs; 
 multiplexing the common signal and the RU specific data signal; and 
 transmitting, to each of the RUs, the multiplexed signal on a channel through a common public radio interface (CPRI) based on a wired medium; 
 wherein a cell is identified by the plurality of UEs based on the common signal, 
 wherein the cell includes a plurality of sub-cells and each sub-cell is identified by at least one UE which is located in the each sub-cell, based on the RU specific data signal. 
 
     
     
       2. A base station in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising:
 a transceiver configured to transmit and receive a signal; and 
 a controller configured to:
 determine a plurality of user equipments (UEs) with a maximum scheduling metric based on channel quality information, 
 generate a common signal for the plurality of UEs, 
 generate a radio unit (RU) specific data signal for each of RUs, 
 multiplex the common signal and the RU specific data signal, and 
 transmit, to each of RUs, the multiplexed signal through a common public radio interface (CPRI) based on a wired medium, 
 
 wherein a cell is identified by (the plurality of UEs) based on the common signal, and 
 wherein the cell includes a plurality of sub-cells and each sub-cell is identified by at least one UE which is located in the each sub-cell, based on the RU specific data signal. 
 
     
     
       3. A method for receiving and transmitting a signal by a radio unit (RU) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a base station, a signal through a common public radio interface (CPRI) based on a wired medium, wherein the received signal is generated by multiplexing a common signal for a plurality of user equipments (UEs) and a RU specific data signal for each RU; and 
 transmitting the received signal to at least one UE, 
 wherein a cell is identified by the plurality of UEs based on the common signal, and 
 wherein the cell includes a plurality of sub-cells and each sub-cell identified by the at least one UE which is located in a sub-cell, based on the RU specific data signal. 
 
     
     
       4. A radio unit (RU) in a wireless communication system, the RU comprising:
 a transceiver configured to receive and transmit a signal; and 
 a controller configured to:
 receive, from a base station, a signal through a common public radio interface (CPRI) based on a wired medium, wherein the received signal is generated by multiplexing a common signal for a plurality of user equipments (UEs) and a RU specific data signal for each RU, and 
 
 transmit the received signal to at least one UE, 
 wherein a cell is identified by the plurality of UEs based on the common signal, and 
 wherein the cell includes a plurality of sub-cells and each sub-cell is identified by the at least one UE which is located in a sub-cell, based on the RU specific data signal. 
 
     
     
       5. A method for receiving a signal by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving a multiplexed signal from at least one radio unit (RU); and 
 obtaining a common signal and a RU specific data signal from the multiplexed signal, 
 wherein a cell is identified based on the common signal, 
 wherein the cell includes a plurality of sub-cells and each sub-cell is identified by a UE which is located in the each sub-cell, based on the RU specific data signal, and 
 wherein the UE has a maximum scheduling metric based on channel quality information. 
 
     
     
       6. A user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising:
 a transceiver configured to receive and transmit a signal; and 
 a controller configured to:
 receive a multiplexed signal from at least one radio unit (RU), and 
 obtain a common signal and a RU specific data signal from the multiplexed signal; 
 
 wherein a cell is identified based on the common signal, 
 wherein the cell includes a plurality of sub-cells and each sub-cell is identified by a UE which is located in the each sub-cell, based on the RU specific data signal, and 
 wherein the UE has a maximum scheduling metric based on channel quality information. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the common signal includes at least one of a physical broadcast channel signal, a physical downlink control channel signal, a physical control format indicator channel signal, and a cell-specific reference signal. 
     
     
       8. The base station of  claim 2 , wherein the common signal includes at least one of a physical broadcast channel signal, a physical downlink control channel signal, a physical control format indicator channel signal, and a cell-specific reference signal. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the common signal includes at least one of a physical broadcast channel signal, a physical downlink control channel signal, a physical control format indicator channel signal, and a cell-specific reference signal. 
     
     
       10. The RU of  claim 4 , wherein the common signal includes at least one of a physical broadcast channel signal, a physical downlink control channel signal, a physical control format indicator channel signal, and a cell-specific reference signal. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the common signal includes at least one of a physical broadcast channel signal, a physical downlink control channel signal, a physical control format indicator channel signal, and a cell-specific reference signal. 
     
     
       12. The UE of  claim 6 , wherein the common signal includes at least one of a physical broadcast channel signal, a physical downlink control channel signal, a physical control format indicator channel signal, and a cell-specific reference signal. 
     
     
       13. A method performed by a base station including a digital unit and a plurality of radio units (RUs) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 determining, by the digital unit, a plurality of user equipments (UEs) with a maximum scheduling metric based on channel quality information;   generating a common control channel signal for the plurality of UEs;   generating a RU specific data signal for each of the plurality of RUs, wherein a first RU specific data signal is generated for a first RU among the plurality of RUs, and a second RU specific data signal different from the first RU specific data signal is generated for a second RU among the plurality of RUs;   multiplexing the common control channel signal and the RU specific data signal for each of the plurality of RUs, wherein a first multiplexed signal is generated for the first RU based on the first RU specific data signal, and a second multiplexed signal is generated for the second RU based on the second RU specific data signal; and   transmitting, to the RUs, the multiplexed signals through a common public radio interface (CPRI) based on a wired medium, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transmitted to the first RU and the second multiplexed signal is transmitted to the second RU,   wherein the common control channel signal in the first multiplexed signal is transmitted by the first RU in a cell to at least a first UE of the plurality of UEs for identification of the cell of the base station by the least the first UE of the plurality of UEs, and the common control channel signal is same for the plurality of RUs,   wherein the common control channel signal in the second multiplexed signal is transmitted by the second RU in the cell to at least a second UE of the plurality of UEs for identification of the cell of the base station by the least the second UE of the plurality of UEs,   wherein the cell includes a plurality of sub-cells including a first sub-cell and a second sub-cell,   wherein the first RU is configured to transmit a signal to the at least first UE located in the first sub-cell based on the first RU specific data signal, and   wherein the second RU is configured to transmit a signal to the at least second UE located in the second sub-cell based on the second RU specific data signal.    
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13, wherein the common control channel signal includes at least one of a physical broadcast channel signal, a physical downlink control channel signal or a physical control format indicator channel signal.  
     
     
       15. The method of claim 13, wherein the common control channel signal further includes a cell-specific reference signal.  
     
     
       16. The method of claim 13, wherein the common control channel signal includes scheduling information corresponding to different RU specific data signals.  
     
     
       17. The method of claim 13, wherein the RU specific data signals include traffic data signals for the UEs and a data channel reference signal.  
     
     
       18. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmitting by the first and second RUs further include:
 receiving, from the digital unit, the multiplexed signal in which the common control channel signal and a corresponding RU specific data signal are multiplexed; and   transmitting the received signal to at least one of the UEs located in a corresponding coverage area.    
     
     
       19. A base station in a mobile communication system, the base station comprising:
 a digital unit configured to:
 determine a plurality of user equipments (UEs) with a maximum scheduling metric based on channel quality information, 
 generate a common control channel signal for the plurality of UEs, 
 generate a RU specific data signal for each of a plurality of RUs of the base station, wherein a first RU specific data signal is generated for a first RU among the plurality of RUs, and a second RU specific data signal different from the first RU specific data signal is generated for a second RU among the plurality of RUs, 
 multiplex the common control channel signal and the RU specific data signal for each of the plurality of RUs, wherein a first multiplexed signal is generated for the first RU based on the first RU specific data signal, and a second multiplexed signal is generated for the second RU based on the second RU specific data signal, and 
 transmit, to the RUs, the multiplexed signals through a common public radio interface (CPRI) based on a wired medium, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transmitted to the first RU and the second multiplexed signal is transmitted to the second RU, 
   wherein the common control channel signal in the first multiplexed signal is transmitted by the first RU in a cell to at least a first UE of the plurality of UEs for identification of the cell of the base station by the least the first UE of the plurality of UEs, and the common control channel signal is same for the plurality of RUs,   wherein the common control channel signal in the second multiplexed signal is transmitted by the second RU in the cell to at least a second UE of the plurality of UEs for identification of the cell of the base station by the least the second UE of the plurality of UEs,   wherein the cell includes a plurality of sub-cells including a first sub-cell and a second sub-cell,   wherein the first multiplexed signal is transmitted to the first RU for transmission of the first RU specific data signal to at least one UE located in the first sub-cell, and   wherein the second multiplexed signal is transmitted to the second RU for transmission of the second RU specific data signal to at least one UE located in the second sub-cell.    
     
     
       20. The base station of claim 19, wherein the common control channel signal includes at least one of a physical broadcast channel signal, a physical downlink control channel signal or a physical control format indicator channel signal.  
     
     
       21. The base station of claim 19, wherein the common control channel signal further includes a cell-specific reference signal.  
     
     
       22. The base station of claim 19, wherein the common control channel signal includes scheduling information corresponding to different RU specific data signals.  
     
     
       23. The base station of claim 19, wherein the RU specific data signals include traffic data signals for the UEs and a data channel reference signal.  
     
     
       24. The base station of claim 19, wherein the digital unit is further configured to:
 receive the multiplexed signal in which the common control channel signal and a corresponding RU specific data signal are multiplexed; and   transmit the received signal to at least one of the UEs located in a corresponding coverage area.    
     
     
       25. A method performed by a base station including a digital unit and a plurality of radio units (RUs) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 determining, by the digital unit, a plurality of user equipments (UEs) with a maximum scheduling metric based on channel quality information;   generating a common control channel signal for the plurality of UEs;   generating a first RU specific data signal for a first RU among the plurality of RUs, and a second RU specific data signal different from the first RU specific data signal for a second RU among the plurality of RUs;   generating a first multiplexed signal by multiplexing the common control channel signal and the first RU specific data signal;   generating a second multiplexed signal by multiplexing the common control channel signal and the second RU specific data signal;   transmitting, to the first RU, the first multiplexed signal through a common public radio interface (CPRI) using a wired medium, wherein the common control channel signal in the first multiplexed signal is transmitted by the first RU in a cell to at least a first UE of the plurality of UEs for identification of the cell of the base station by the at least the first UE of the plurality of UEs, wherein the common control channel signal is same for the plurality of RUs, and wherein the cell includes a plurality of sub-cells including a first sub-cell and a second sub-cell;   transmitting, to the second RU, the second multiplexed signal through the common public radio interface (CPRI), wherein the common control channel signal in the second multiplexed signal is transmitted by the second RU in the cell to at least a second UE of the plurality of UEs for identification of the cell of the base station by the least the second UE of the plurality of UEs;   transmitting, by the first RU, the first RU specific data signal and a first data specific reference signal dedicated to the first UE to the first UE located in the first sub-cell in order for the first UE to receive the first RU specific data signal based on a channel estimate of the first data specific reference signal; and   transmitting, by the second RU, the second RU specific data signal and a second data specific reference signal dedicated to the second UE to the second UE located in the second sub-cell in order for the second UE to receive the second RU specific data signal based on a channel estimate of the second data specific reference signal.    
     
     
       26. The method of claim 25, wherein the common control channel signal includes at least one of a physical broadcast channel signal, a physical downlink control channel signal or a physical control format indicator channel signal.  
     
     
       27. The method of claim 25, wherein the common control channel signal further includes a cell-specific reference signal.  
     
     
       28. The method of claim 25, wherein the common control channel signal includes scheduling information corresponding to the first and second RU specific data signals.  
     
     
       29. The method of claim 25, wherein the first and second RU specific data signals include traffic data signals for the UEs.  
     
     
       30. The method of claim 25,
 wherein the transmitting by the first RU further includes:
 receiving, from the digital unit, the first multiplexed signal in which the common control channel signal and the first RU specific data signal are multiplexed, and 
 transmitting the received signal to at least one of the UEs located in a coverage area of the first RU, and 
   wherein the transmitting by the second RUs further includes:
 receiving, from the digital unit, the second multiplexed signal in which the common control channel signal and the second RU specific data signal are multiplexed, and 
 transmitting the received signal to at least one of the UEs located in a coverage area of the second RU.  
   
     
     
       31. A base station in a mobile communication system, the base station comprising:
 a digital unit configured to:
 determine a plurality of user equipments (UEs) with a maximum scheduling metric based on channel quality information, 
 generate a common control channel signal for the plurality of UEs, 
 generate a first RU specific data signal for a first RU among the plurality of RUs, and a second RU specific data signal different from the first RU specific data signal for a second RU among the plurality of RUs, 
 generate a first multiplexed signal by multiplexing the common control channel signal and the first RU specific data signal, 
 generate a second multiplexed signal by multiplexing the common control channel signal and the second RU specific data signal, and 
 transmit, to the first and second RUs, the first and second multiplexed signals respectively through a common public radio interface (CPRI) based on a wired medium, wherein the common control channel signals in the transmitted first and second multiplexed signals are transmitted by the first and second RUs in a cell to the plurality of UEs for identification of the cell of the base station by the plurality of UEs, wherein the common control channel signals are the same for the plurality of RUs, and wherein the cell includes a plurality of sub-cells including a first sub-cell and a second sub-cell, 
   wherein the first multiplexed signal is transmitted to the first RU for transmission of the first RU specific data signal and a first data specific reference signal dedicated to a first UE to the first UE located in the first sub-cell in order for the first UE to receive the first RU specific data signal based on a channel estimate of the first data specific reference signal, and   wherein the second multiplexed signal is transmitted to the second RU for transmission of the second RU specific data signal and a second data specific reference signal dedicated to a second UE to the second UE located in the second sub-cell in order for the second UE to receive the second RU specific data signal based on a channel estimate of the second data specific reference signal.    
     
     
       32. The base station of claim 31, wherein the common control channel signal includes at least one of a physical broadcast channel signal, a physical downlink control channel signal or a physical control format indicator channel signal.  
     
     
       33. The base station of claim 31, wherein the common control channel signal further includes a cell-specific reference signal.  
     
     
       34. The base station of claim 31, wherein the common control channel signal includes scheduling information corresponding to the first and second RU specific data signals.  
     
     
       35. The base station of claim 31, wherein the first and second RU specific data signals include traffic data signals for the UEs.  
     
     
       36. The base station of claim 31, wherein the digital unit is further configured to:
 receive the first multiplexed signal in which the common control channel signal and the first RU specific data signal are multiplexed and the second multiplexed signal in which the common control channel signal and the second RU specific data signal are multiplexed; and   transmit the first received signal to at least one of the UEs located in a coverage area of the first RU and the second received signal to at least one of the UEs located in a corresponding coverage area of the second RU.