Systems, methods and apparatus for facilitating handover control using resource reservation with frequency reuse

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus for facilitating handover control using resource reservation with frequency reuse are provided. In one embodiment, the method can include: transmitting scheduling information for the transmission of information on frequencies corresponding to an unreserved portion of a frequency band. The method can also include transmitting scheduling information for the transmission of information on frequencies corresponding to a reserved portion of the frequency band. A frequency reuse scheme can be employed over the frequencies corresponding to the reserved portion of the frequency band, and the information transmitted on the frequencies corresponding to the reserved portion of the frequency band can be handover signaling information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a user equipment, scheduling information indicative of one or more frequencies corresponding to a common portion of a frequency band, and indicative of a type of first information for communication over the one or more frequencies corresponding to the common portion of the frequency band; and   receiving, at the user equipment, scheduling information indicative of one or more reserved frequencies corresponding to a first reserved portion of the frequency band, and indicative of a type of second information for communication over the one or more reserved frequencies,   wherein the one or more reserved frequencies are assigned to a first base station of a plurality of base stations according to a frequency reuse scheme employed over the one or more reserved frequencies.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating data, from the user equipment, over the one or more frequencies corresponding to the common portion of the frequency band. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising communicating, from the user equipment, one or more signaling messages over the one or more reserved frequencies corresponding to the first reserved portion of the frequency band. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more signaling messages are signaling message for handover from the first base station of the plurality of base stations to a second base station of the plurality of base stations. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of first information is data information and the type of second information is signaling information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more reserved frequencies corresponding to a first reserved portion of the frequency band corresponds to a first random access channel, and at least one of the one or more frequencies corresponding to a common portion of a frequency band corresponds to a second random access channel, wherein the first random access channel and the second random access channel are accessible by the user equipment, the method further comprising:
 measuring, at the user equipment, a channel quality experienced by the user equipment;   determining, at the user equipment, that the first random access channel corresponds to at least one of the one or more reserved frequencies; and   in response to determining that the first random access channel corresponds to at least one of the one or more reserved frequencies, the user equipment communicating over the first random access channel when the channel quality is less than a selected level.   
     
     
         7 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium comprising:
 a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive, at a user equipment, scheduling information indicative of one or more frequencies corresponding to a common portion of a frequency band, and indicative of a type of first information for communication over the one or more frequencies corresponding to the common portion of the frequency band; and 
 a second set of codes for causing the computer to receive, at the user equipment, scheduling information indicative of one or more reserved frequencies corresponding to a first reserved portion of the frequency band, and indicative of a type of second information for communication over the one or more reserved frequencies,
 wherein the one or more reserved frequencies are assigned to a first base station of a plurality of base stations according to a frequency reuse scheme employed over the one or more reserved frequencies. 
 
   
     
     
         8 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a third set of codes for causing the computer to communicate data, from the user equipment, over the one or more frequencies corresponding to the common portion of the frequency band; and   a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to communicate, from the user equipment, one or more signaling messages over the one or more reserved frequencies corresponding to the first reserved portion of the frequency band.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the one or more reserved frequencies corresponding to a first reserved portion of the frequency band corresponds to a first random access channel, and at least one of the one or more frequencies corresponding to a common portion of a frequency band corresponds to a second random access channel, wherein the first random access channel and the second random access channel are accessible by the user equipment, the computer program product further comprising:
 a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to measure, at the user equipment, a channel quality experienced by the user equipment;   a sixth set of codes for causing the computer to determine, at the user equipment, that the first random access channel corresponds to at least one of the one or more reserved frequencies; and   a seventh set of codes for causing the computer to, at the user equipment, in response to determining that the first random access channel corresponds to at least one of the one or more reserved frequencies, communicate over the first random access channel when the channel quality is less than a selected level.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a control unit comprising:
 a measurement unit configured to measure a quality of a channel experienced at the apparatus; 
 a scheduling unit configured to schedule transmission and reception of information on a reserved portion of frequency or an unreserved portion of frequency; and 
 a user equipment data and signaling information generator configured to generate data or signaling information for transmission on the reserved portion of frequency or the unreserved portion of frequency; 
   a transmitter configured to transmit, to a base station serving the apparatus, information indicative of the quality of the channel experienced at the apparatus;   a receiver configured to receive resource allocation information, from the base station serving the apparatus, the resource allocation information comprising:
 scheduling information for causing the transmitter to transmit the data or the signaling information on the reserved portion of frequency or on the unreserved portion of frequency; and 
 scheduling information for causing the scheduling unit to schedule the transmission and the reception of information on the reserved portion of frequency or on the unreserved portion of frequency; and 
   a memory configured to store the scheduling information.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the signaling information is handover signaling information. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for receiving scheduling information indicative of one or more frequencies corresponding to a common portion of a frequency band, and being indicative of a type of first information for communication over the one or more frequencies corresponding to the common portion of the frequency band; and   means for receiving scheduling information indicative of one or more reserved frequencies corresponding to a first reserved portion of the frequency band, and indicative of a type of second information for communication over the one or more reserved frequencies,
 wherein the one or more reserved frequencies are assigned to a first base station of a plurality of base stations according to a frequency reuse scheme employed over the one or more reserved frequencies. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising means for communicating data over the one or more frequencies corresponding to the common portion of the frequency band. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 receiving information indicative of a frequency reuse scheme to be employed over a reserved portion of a frequency band assigned to a first base station of a plurality of base stations, wherein the reserved portion of the frequency band is a fraction of a frequency spectrum, the fraction of the frequency spectrum being determined based on a signaling traffic load for the first base station of the plurality of base stations and a position of the first base station of the plurality of base stations relative to a second base station of the plurality of base stations; and   transmitting signaling information over the reserved portion of the frequency band.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the frequency band further comprises an unreserved portion, and one or more portions of the reserved portion is interleaved with one or more portions of the unreserved portion. 
     
     
         16 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium comprising:
 a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive information indicative of a frequency reuse scheme to be employed over a reserved portion of a frequency band assigned to a first base station of a plurality of base stations, wherein the reserved portion of the frequency band is a fraction of a frequency spectrum, the fraction of the frequency spectrum being determined based on a signaling traffic load for the first base station of the plurality of base stations and a position of the first base station of the plurality of base stations relative to a second base station of the plurality of base stations; and 
 a second set of codes for causing the computer to transmit signaling information over the reserved portion of the frequency band. 
   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the frequency band further comprises an unreserved portion, and one or more portions of the reserved portion is interleaved with one or more portions of the unreserved portion. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive information indicative of a frequency reuse scheme to be employed over a reserved portion of a frequency band assigned to a first base station of a plurality of base stations, wherein the reserved portion of the frequency band is a fraction of a frequency spectrum, the fraction of the frequency spectrum being determined based on a signaling traffic load for the first base station of the plurality of base stations and a position of the first base station of the plurality of base stations relative to a second base station of the plurality of base stations; and   a transmitter configured to transmit signaling information over the reserved portion of the frequency band.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the frequency band further comprises an unreserved portion, and one or more portions of the reserved portion is interleaved with one or more portions of the unreserved portion. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for receiving information indicative of a frequency reuse scheme to be employed over a reserved portion of a frequency band assigned to a first base station of a plurality of base stations, wherein the reserved portion of the frequency band is a fraction of a frequency spectrum, the fraction of the frequency spectrum being determined based on a signaling traffic load for the first base station of the plurality of base stations and a position of the first base station of the plurality of base stations relative to a second base station of the plurality of base stations; and   means for transmitting signaling information over the reserved portion of the frequency band.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the frequency band further comprises an unreserved portion, and one or more portions of the reserved portion is interleaved with one or more portions of the unreserved portion. 
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 identifying a pair of base stations in a wireless communication system, the pair of base stations comprising a first base station and a second base station;   determining if the first base station and the second base station are neighboring base stations;   assigning the first base station and the second base station to a same reserved subset of frequencies; and   in response to the first base station and the second base station being neighboring base stations, assigning full power transmission to the first base station and reduced power transmission to the second base station.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the first base station outputting the full power transmission and the second base station outputting the reduced power transmission concurrently. 
     
     
         24 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium comprising:
 a first set of codes for causing a computer to identify a pair of base stations in a wireless communication system, the pair of base stations comprising a first base station and a second base station; 
 a second set of codes for causing the computer to determine if the first base station and the second base station are neighboring base stations; 
 a third set of codes for causing the computer to assign the first base station and the second base station to a same reserved subset of frequencies; and 
 a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to, in response to the first base station and the second base station being neighboring base stations, assign full power transmission to the first base station and reduced power transmission to the second base station. 
   
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 24 , wherein the first base station outputs the full power transmission and the second base station outputs the reduced power transmission concurrently. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 identify a pair of base stations in a wireless communication system, the pair of base stations comprising a first base station and a second base station; 
 determine if the first base station and the second base station are neighboring base stations; 
 assign the first base station and the second base station to a same reserved subset of frequencies; and 
 in response to the first base station and the second base station being neighboring base stations, assign full power transmission to the first base station and reduced power transmission to the second base station. 
   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the first base station is assigned to output the full power transmission, and the second base station is assigned to output the reduced power transmission, concurrently. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processing means configured to:
 identify a pair of base stations in a wireless communication system, the pair of base stations comprising a first base station and a second base station; 
 determine if the first base station and the second base station are neighboring base stations; 
 assign the first base station and the second base station to a same reserved subset of frequencies; and 
 in response to the first base station and the second base station being neighboring base stations, assign full power transmission to the first base station and reduced power transmission to the second base station. 
   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the first base station is assigned to output the full power transmission, and the second base station is assigned to output the reduced power transmission, concurrently. 
     
     
         30 . A method, comprising:
 identifying a pair of base stations in a wireless communication system, the pair of base stations comprising a first base station and a second base station;   determining if the first base station and the second base station are neighboring base stations;   assigning the first base station and the second base station to a same reserved subset of frequencies; and   in response to the first base station and the second base station being neighboring base stations, assigning a first power level to the first base station and a second power level to the second base station, the first power level and the second power level being different and being assigned for concurrent transmissions from the first base station and the second base station.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first power level is greater than the second power level. 
     
     
         32 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium comprising:
 a first set of codes for causing a computer to identify a pair of base stations in a wireless communication system, the pair of base stations comprising a first base station and a second base station; 
 a second set of codes for causing the computer to determine if the first base station and the second base station are neighboring base stations; 
 a third set of codes for causing the computer to assign the first base station and the second base station to a same reserved subset of frequencies; and 
 a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to, in response to the first base station and the second base station being neighboring base stations, assign a first power level to the first base station and a second power level to the second base station, the first power level and the second power level being different and being assigned for concurrent transmissions from the first base station and the second base station. 
   
     
     
         33 . The computer program product of  claim 32 , wherein the first power level is greater than the second power level. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 identify a pair of base stations in a wireless communication system, the pair of base stations comprising a first base station and a second base station; 
 determine if the first base station and the second base station are neighboring base stations; 
 assign the first base station and the second base station to a same reserved subset of frequencies; and 
 in response to the first base station and the second base station being neighboring base stations, assign a first power level to the first base station and a second power level to the second base station, the first power level and the second power level being different and being assigned for concurrent transmissions from the first base station and the second base station. 
   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the first power level is greater than the second power level. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processing means configured to:
 identify a pair of base stations in a wireless communication system, the pair of base stations comprising a first base station and a second base station; 
 determine if the first base station and the second base station are neighboring base stations; 
 assign the first base station and the second base station to a same reserved subset of frequencies; and 
 in response to the first base station and the second base station being neighboring base stations, assign a first power level to the first base station and a second power level to the second base station, the first power level and the second power level being different and being assigned for concurrent transmissions from the first base station and the second base station. 
   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the first power level is greater than the second power level. 
     
     
         38 . A method, comprising:
 identifying a pair of base stations in a wireless communication system, the pair of base stations comprising a first base station and a second base station;   determining if the first base station and the second base station are neighboring base stations;   in response to the first base station and the second base station being neighboring base stations, assigning the first base station to a first reserved subset of frequencies, and assigning the second base station to a second reserved subset of frequencies; and   in response to the first base station and the second base station not being neighboring base stations, assigning the first base station and the second base station to a same reserved subset of frequencies.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising, in response to the first base station and the second base station not being neighboring base stations, assigning a first power level to the first base station and a second power level to the second base station, wherein the first power level and the second power level are substantially equal. 
     
     
         40 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium comprising:
 a first set of codes for causing a computer to identify a pair of base stations in a wireless communication system, the pair of base stations comprising a first base station and a second base station; 
 a second set of codes for causing the computer to determine if the first base station and the second base station are neighboring base stations; 
 a third set of codes for causing the computer to, in response to the first base station and the second base station being neighboring base stations, assign the first base station to a first reserved subset of frequencies, and assigning the second base station to a second reserved subset of frequencies; and 
 a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to, in response to the first base station and the second base station not being neighboring base stations, assign the first base station and the second base station to a same reserved subset of frequencies. 
   
     
     
         41 . The computer program product of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to, in response to the first base station and the second base station not being neighboring base stations, assign a first power level to the first base station and a second power level to the second base station, wherein the first power level and the second power level are substantially equal.   
     
     
         42 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 identify a pair of base stations in a wireless communication system, the pair of base stations comprising a first base station and a second base station; 
 determine if the first base station and the second base station are neighboring base stations; 
 in response to the first base station and the second base station being neighboring base stations, assign the first base station to a first reserved subset of frequencies, and assign the second base station to a second reserved subset of frequencies; and 
 in response to the first base station and the second base station not being neighboring base stations, assign the first base station and the second base station to a same reserved subset of frequencies. 
   
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to the first base station and the second base station not being neighboring base stations, assign a first power level to the first base station and a second power level to the second base station, wherein the first power level and the second power level are substantially equal. 
     
     
         44 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processing means configured to:
 identify a pair of base stations in a wireless communication system, the pair of base stations comprising a first base station and a second base station; 
 determine if the first base station and the second base station are neighboring base stations; 
 in response to the first base station and the second base station being neighboring base stations, assign the first base station to a first reserved subset of frequencies, and assign the second base station to a second reserved subset of frequencies; and 
 in response to the first base station and the second base station not being neighboring base stations, assign the first base station and the second base station to a same reserved subset of frequencies. 
   
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the processing means is further configured to, in response to the first base station and the second base station not being neighboring base stations, assign a first power level to the first base station and a second power level to the second base station, wherein the first power level and the second power level are substantially equal. 
     
     
         46 . A system comprising:
 a central controller configured to:
 determine a signaling traffic load in a cell managed by a first base station; 
 determine a fraction of a frequency spectrum for allocation to the first base station, wherein determination of the fraction of the frequency spectrum is made based on the signaling traffic load and a position of the first base station relative to other base stations, the fraction of the frequency spectrum corresponding to a reserved portion of frequency; 
 determine a frequency reuse scheme to employ over the reserved portion of frequency; and 
 transmit information indicative of the frequency reuse scheme to the first base station; 
   user equipment configured to:
 measure channel conditions; and 
 output information indicative of channel conditions; and 
   a base station configured to:
 receive the information indicative of the frequency reuse scheme; 
 receive the information indicative of channel conditions; and 
 schedule communication for the user equipment on the reserved portion of frequency in response to the channel conditions being below a selected level, wherein a scheduled communication is handover signaling communication. 
   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the channel conditions are at least one of a transmit power or a received signal strength measurement measured at the user equipment. 
     
     
         48 . A system comprising:
 a central controlling means configured to:
 determine a signaling traffic load in a cell managed by a first base station; 
 determine a fraction of a frequency spectrum for allocation to the first base station, wherein determination of the fraction of the frequency spectrum is made based on the signaling traffic load and a position of the first base station relative to other base stations, the fraction of the frequency spectrum corresponding to a reserved portion of frequency; 
 determine a frequency reuse scheme to employ over the reserved portion of frequency; and 
 transmit information indicative of the frequency reuse scheme to the first base station; 
   user equipment means configured to:
 measure channel conditions; and 
 output information indicative of channel conditions; and 
   a base station means configured to:
 receive the information indicative of the frequency reuse scheme; 
 receive the information indicative of channel conditions; and 
 schedule communication for the user equipment on the reserved portion of frequency in response to the channel conditions being below a selected level, wherein a scheduled communication is handover signaling communication. 
   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the channel conditions are at least one of a transmit power or a received signal strength measurement measured at the user equipment. 
     
     
         50 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by a central controller, a signaling traffic load in a cell managed by a first base station;   determining, by the central controller, a fraction of a frequency spectrum for allocation to the first base station, wherein determination of the fraction of the frequency spectrum is made based on the signaling traffic load and a position of the first base station relative to other base stations, the fraction of the frequency spectrum corresponding to a reserved portion of frequency;   determining, by the central controller, a frequency reuse scheme to employ over the reserved portion of frequency;   transmitting, from the central controller, information indicative of the frequency reuse scheme to the first base station;   measuring, at the user equipment, channel conditions;   outputting, from the user equipment, information indicative of channel conditions;   receiving, at the base station, the information indicative of the frequency reuse scheme;   receiving, at the base station, the information indicative of channel conditions; and   scheduling, at the base station, communication for the user equipment on the reserved portion of frequency, in response to the channel conditions being below a selected level, wherein a scheduled communication is handover signaling communication.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the channel conditions are at least one of a transmit power or a received signal strength measurement measured at the user equipment. 
     
     
         52 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a first set of codes for causing a first computer to determine a signaling traffic load in a cell managed by a first base station;   a second set of codes for causing the first computer to determine a fraction of a frequency spectrum for allocation to the first base station, wherein determination of the fraction of the frequency spectrum is made based on the signaling traffic load and a position of the first base station relative to other base stations, the fraction of the frequency spectrum corresponding to a reserved portion of frequency;   a third set of codes for causing the first computer to determine a frequency reuse scheme to employ over the reserved portion of frequency;   a fourth set of codes for causing the first computer to transmit information indicative of the frequency reuse scheme to the first base station;   a fifth set of codes for causing a second computer to measure channel conditions;   a sixth set of codes for causing the second computer to output information indicative of channel conditions;   a seventh set of codes for causing a third computer to receive the information indicative of the frequency reuse scheme;   an eighth set of codes for causing the third computer to receive the information indicative of channel conditions; and   a ninth set of codes for causing the third computer to schedule communication for the second computer on the reserved portion of frequency, in response to the channel conditions being below a selected level, wherein a scheduled communication is handover signaling communication.   
     
     
         53 . The computer program product of  claim 52 , wherein the channel conditions are at least one of a transmit power or a received signal strength measurement measured at the user equipment.