Method and apparatus that facilitates detecting system information blocks in a heterogeneous network

Abstract

Aspects are disclosed for detecting a system information block (SIB) within a heterogeneous network. In one aspect, a type of scheduling information pertaining to an SIB is selected, and a parameter known to a wireless terminal is associated with the type of scheduling information. The wireless terminal then decodes the SIB by deriving the scheduling information from the known parameters, without having to decode a Physical Downlink Control Channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method that facilitates detecting a system information block, the method comprising:
 constraining at least one type of scheduling information from a plurality of types of scheduling information by limiting a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices;   selecting, from the plurality of types of scheduling information, a type of scheduling information pertaining to the system information block;   associating a known parameter with the type of scheduling information, wherein a decoding of the system information block is facilitated by an association of the known parameter with the type of scheduling information independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission; and   transmitting the system information block to a wireless terminal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting comprises communicating an indication of a rule to the wireless terminal, wherein the rule is associated with the constraining of the at least one type of scheduling information, and
 wherein the indication facilitates a reduction in a maximum number of blind decode operations performed by a wireless terminal.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the system information block is a type one system information block (SIB1). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the known parameter is a system frame number or a cell identifier. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of scheduling information is a resource block allocation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising determining the known parameter based on a desired scheduling of the system information block relative to a scheduling of an interfering system information block. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the desired scheduling is an orthogonal scheduling, and wherein the resource block allocation is a non-overlapping resource block allocation relative to an interfering resource block allocation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the desired scheduling is a fully colliding scheduling, and wherein the resource block allocation is an identical resource block allocation relative to an interfering resource block allocation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising synchronizing a system frame number with an interfering system frame number, wherein the identical resource block allocation is derivable from the system frame number. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the desired scheduling is a partly colliding scheduling, and wherein the resource block allocation includes overlapping resource blocks and non-overlapping resource blocks relative to an interfering resource block allocation. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting comprises communicating the system information block to a plurality of wireless terminals via a plurality of redundancy versions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with legacy wireless terminals, and wherein a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transmitting comprises providing the second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions according to scheduling information derived from the known parameter, wherein the known parameter is known by at least one of the non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting comprises communicating an indication of a rule to the wireless terminal, wherein the rule is associated with the associating of the known parameter with the type of scheduling information. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus configured to facilitate detecting a system information block, the apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to execute computer executable components stored in memory, the components including:
 a scheduling component configured to:
 constrain at least one type of scheduling information from a plurality of types of scheduling information by limiting a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices; 
 select, from the plurality of types of scheduling information, a type of scheduling information pertaining to the system information block; 
 an association component configured to associate a known parameter with the type of scheduling information, wherein a decoding of the system information block is facilitated by an association of the known parameter with the type of scheduling information independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission; and 
 
 a communication component configured to transmit the system information block to a wireless terminal. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the communication component is configured to communicate an indication of a rule to the wireless terminal, wherein the rule is associated with a constraint of the at least one type of scheduling information, and
 wherein the indication facilitates a reduction in a maximum number of blind decode operations performed by a wireless terminal.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the communication component is configured to communicate the system information block to a plurality of wireless terminals via a plurality of redundancy versions. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with legacy wireless terminals, and wherein a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the communication component is configured to provide the second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions according to scheduling information derived from the known parameter, and wherein the known parameter is known by at least one of the non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product that facilitates detecting a system information block, comprising:
 a computer-readable storage medium comprising code for causing at least one computer to:
 constrain at least one type of scheduling information from a plurality of types of scheduling information by limiting a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices; 
 select, from the plurality of types of scheduling information, a type of scheduling information pertaining to the system information block; 
 associate a known parameter with the type of scheduling information, wherein a decoding of the system information block is facilitated by an association of the known parameter with the type of scheduling information independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission; and 
 transmit the system information block to a wireless terminal. 
   
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the code causes the at least one computer to communicate an indication of a rule to the wireless terminal, wherein the rule is associated with a constraint of the at least one type of scheduling information, and
 wherein the indication facilitates a reduction in a maximum number of blind decode operations performed by a wireless terminal.   
     
     
         22 . An apparatus configured to facilitate detecting a system information block, the apparatus comprising:
 means for constraining at least one type of scheduling information from a plurality of types of scheduling information by limiting a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices;   means for selecting, from the plurality of types of scheduling information, a type of scheduling information pertaining to the system information block;   means for associating a known parameter with the type of scheduling information, wherein a decoding of the system information block is facilitated by an association of the known parameter with the type of scheduling information independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission; and   means for transmitting the system information block to a wireless terminal.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for communicating an indication of a rule to the wireless terminal, wherein the rule is associated with a constraint of the at least one type of scheduling information, and
 wherein the indication facilitates a reduction in a maximum number of blind decode operations performed by a wireless terminal.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the means for transmitting is configured to communicate the system information block to a plurality of wireless terminals via a plurality of redundancy versions. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with legacy wireless terminals, and wherein a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the means for transmitting is configured to provide the second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions according to scheduling information derived from the known parameter, and wherein the known parameter is known by at least one of the non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         27 . A method that facilitates detecting a system information block, the method comprising:
 receiving a transmission of the system information block;   deriving a first type of scheduling information associated with the transmission from at least one known parameter;   identifying a constraint that is associated with a second type of scheduling information, and that is associated with a limiting of a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices, wherein a reduction of blind decode operations is facilitated by the constraint; and   decoding the system information block based on the first type of scheduling information, wherein the decoding is performed independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the system information block is a type one system information block (SIB1). 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one known parameter is a system frame number or a cell identifier. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first type of scheduling information is a resource block allocation. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the transmission is received via a plurality of redundancy versions, and wherein the receiving comprises distinguishing a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with legacy wireless terminals from a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising detecting a collision between a first system information block and a second system information block. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising cancelling reconstructed symbols corresponding to contents decoded from the first system information block, wherein the cancelling is based on a detection of the collision. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the detecting is based on an association between the first type of scheduling information and the at least one known parameter. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus configured to facilitate detecting a system information block, the apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to execute computer executable components stored in memory, the components including:
 a communication component configured to receive a transmission of the system information block; 
 a derivation component configured to derive a first type of scheduling information associated with the transmission from at least one known parameter; 
 a constraint component configured to identify a constraint that is associated with a second type of scheduling information, and that is associated with a limiting of a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices, wherein a reduction of blind decode operations is facilitated by the constraint; and 
 a decoding component configured to perform a decoding of the system information block based on the first type of scheduling information, wherein the decoding is performed independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission. 
   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the transmission is received via a plurality of redundancy versions, and wherein the communication component is configured to distinguish a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with legacy wireless terminals from a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         37 . A computer program product that facilitates detecting a system information block, comprising:
 a computer-readable storage medium comprising code for causing at least one computer to:
 receive a transmission of the system information block; 
 derive a first type of scheduling information associated with the transmission from at least one known parameter; 
 identify a constraint that is associated with a second type of scheduling information, and that is associated with a limiting of a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices, wherein a reduction of blind decode operations is facilitated by the constraint; and 
 decode the system information block based on the first type of scheduling information, wherein the system information block is decoded independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission. 
   
     
     
         38 . The computer program product of  claim 37 , wherein the transmission is received via a plurality of redundancy versions, and wherein the code causes the at least one computer to distinguish a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with legacy wireless terminals from a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         39 . An apparatus configured to facilitate detecting a system information block, the apparatus comprising:
 means for receiving a transmission of the system information block;   means for deriving a first type of scheduling information associated with the transmission from at least one known parameter;   means for identifying a constraint that is associated with a second type of scheduling information, and that is associated with a limiting of a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices, wherein a reduction of blind decode operations is facilitated by the constraint; and   means for decoding the system information block based on the first type of scheduling information, wherein the system information block is decoded independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the transmission is received via a plurality of redundancy versions, and wherein the means for receiving comprises a means for distinguishing a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with legacy wireless terminals from a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         41 . A method that facilitates detecting a system information block, the method comprising:
 selecting a type of scheduling information pertaining to the system information block;   associating a known parameter with the type of scheduling information, wherein a decoding of the system information block is facilitated by an association of the known parameter with the type of scheduling information independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission; and   transmitting the system information block to a wireless terminal, wherein the transmitting comprises communicating the system information block to a plurality of wireless terminals via a plurality of redundancy versions.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with legacy wireless terminals, and wherein a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the transmitting comprises providing the second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions according to scheduling information derived from the known parameter, wherein the known parameter is known by at least one of the non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the type of scheduling information is a resource block allocation. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising determining the known parameter based on a desired scheduling of the system information block relative to a scheduling of an interfering system information block. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the desired scheduling is an orthogonal scheduling, and wherein the resource block allocation is a non-overlapping resource block allocation relative to an interfering resource block allocation. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the desired scheduling is a fully colliding scheduling, and wherein the resource block allocation is an identical resource block allocation relative to an interfering resource block allocation. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the desired scheduling is a partly colliding scheduling, and wherein the resource block allocation includes overlapping resource blocks and non-overlapping resource blocks relative to an interfering resource block allocation. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising constraining a second type of scheduling information. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the constraining comprises limiting a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices, and wherein a reduction of blind decode operations performed by the wireless terminal is facilitated by the limiting. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the transmitting comprises communicating an indication of a rule to the wireless terminal, wherein the rule is associated with the constraining of the second type of scheduling information. 
     
     
         52 . An apparatus configured to facilitate detecting a system information block, the apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to execute computer executable components stored in memory, the components including:
 a scheduling component configured to select a type of scheduling information pertaining to the system information block; 
 an association component configured to associate a known parameter with the type of scheduling information, wherein a decoding of the system information block is facilitated by an association of the known parameter with the type of scheduling information independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission; and 
 a communication component configured to transmit the system information block to a wireless terminal, and to communicate the system information block to a plurality of wireless terminals via a plurality of redundancy versions. 
   
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with legacy wireless terminals, and wherein a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the communication component is configured to provide the second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions according to scheduling information derived from the known parameter, and wherein the known parameter is known by at least one of the non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the scheduling component is configured to constrain a second type of scheduling information. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the scheduling component is configured to limit a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices, and wherein a reduction of blind decode operations performed by the wireless terminal is facilitated by the limit. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the communication component is configured to communicate an indication of a rule to the wireless terminal, wherein the rule is associated with a constraint of the second type of scheduling information. 
     
     
         58 . A computer program product that facilitates detecting a system information block, comprising:
 a computer-readable storage medium comprising code for causing at least one computer to:
 select a type of scheduling information pertaining to the system information block; 
 associate a known parameter with the type of scheduling information, wherein a decoding of the system information block is facilitated by an association of the known parameter with the type of scheduling information independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission; 
 transmit the system information block to a wireless terminal; and 
 communicate the system information block to a plurality of wireless terminals via a plurality of redundancy versions. 
   
     
     
         59 . The computer program product of  claim 58 , wherein a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with legacy wireless terminals, and wherein a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         60 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the code causes the at least one computer to provide the second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions according to scheduling information derived from the known parameter, wherein the known parameter is known by at least one of the non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         61 . The computer program product of  claim 58 , wherein the code causes the at least one computer to constrain a second type of scheduling information. 
     
     
         62 . The computer program product of  claim 61 , wherein the code causes the at least one computer to limit a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices, and wherein a reduction of blind decode operations performed by the wireless terminal is facilitated by the limit. 
     
     
         63 . The computer program product of  claim 61 , wherein the code causes the at least one computer to communicate an indication of a rule to the wireless terminal, wherein the rule is associated with a constraint of the second type of scheduling information. 
     
     
         64 . An apparatus configured to facilitate detecting a system information block, the apparatus comprising:
 means for selecting a type of scheduling information pertaining to the system information block;   means for associating a known parameter with the type of scheduling information, wherein a decoding of the system information block is facilitated by an association of the known parameter with the type of scheduling information independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission; and   means for transmitting the system information block to a wireless terminal, and for communicating the system information block to a plurality of wireless terminals via a plurality of redundancy versions.   
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with legacy wireless terminals, and wherein a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions is associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 65 , wherein the means for transmitting is configured to provide the second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions according to scheduling information derived from the known parameter, and wherein the known parameter is known by at least one of the non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         67 . A method that facilitates detecting a system information block, the method comprising:
 receiving a transmission of the system information block, wherein the transmission is received via a plurality of redundancy versions;   deriving a type of scheduling information associated with the transmission from at least one known parameter; and   decoding the system information block based on the type of scheduling information, wherein the decoding is performed independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the receiving comprises distinguishing a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with legacy wireless terminals from a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising identifying a constraint associated with a second type of scheduling information. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the constraint is associated with a limiting of a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices, and wherein a reduction of blind decode operations is facilitated by the constraint. 
     
     
         71 . An apparatus configured to facilitate detecting a system information block, the apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to execute computer executable components stored in memory, the components including:
 a communication component configured to receive a transmission of the system information block, wherein the transmission is received via a plurality of redundancy versions; 
 a derivation component configured to derive a type of scheduling information associated with the transmission from at least one known parameter; and 
 a decoding component configured to perform a decoding of the system information block based on the type of scheduling information, wherein the decoding is performed independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission. 
   
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , wherein the communication component is configured to distinguish a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with legacy wireless terminals from a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 71 , further comprising a constraint component configured to identify a constraint associated with a second type of scheduling information. 
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 73 , wherein the constraint is associated with a limiting of a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices, and wherein a reduction of blind decode operations is facilitated by the constraint. 
     
     
         75 . A computer program product that facilitates detecting a system information block, comprising:
 a computer-readable storage medium comprising code for causing at least one computer to:
 receive a transmission of the system information block, wherein the transmission is received via a plurality of redundancy versions; 
 derive a type of scheduling information associated with the transmission from at least one known parameter; and 
 decode the system information block based on the type of scheduling information, wherein the system information block is decoded independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission. 
   
     
     
         76 . The computer program product of  claim 75 , wherein the code causes the at least one computer to distinguish a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with legacy wireless terminals from a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with non-legacy wireless terminals. 
     
     
         77 . The computer program product of  claim 75 , wherein the code causes the at least one computer to identify a constraint associated with a second type of scheduling information. 
     
     
         78 . The computer program product of  claim 77 , wherein the constraint is associated with a limiting of a possible number of modulation and coding scheme choices, and wherein a reduction of blind decode operations is facilitated by the constraint. 
     
     
         79 . An apparatus configured to facilitate detecting a system information block, the apparatus comprising:
 means for receiving a transmission of the system information block, wherein the transmission is received via a plurality of redundancy versions;   means for deriving a type of scheduling information associated with the transmission from at least one known parameter; and   means for decoding the system information block based on the type of scheduling information, wherein the system information block is decoded independent of a Physical Downlink Control Channel transmission.   
     
     
         80 . The apparatus of  claim 79 , further comprising means for distinguishing a first subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with legacy wireless terminals from a second subset of the plurality of redundancy versions associated with non-legacy wireless terminals.