Radio channel allocation and link adaptation in cellular telecommunication system

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, controllers, systems, and terminals can, in certain embodiments, determine a number and properties of potential interferers in a plurality of available radio channels. The properties of the potential interferers can include modulation methods used by the potential interferers. A network element responsible for channel allocation can perform channel allocation for a terminal and select a modulation method for the allocated channel on the basis of the determination.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a network element responsible for radio resource allocation, interference-related information associated with one or more base stations surrounding a terminal;   determining, by the network element responsible for radio resource allocation, potential interferers in a plurality of available radio resources based on the received interference-related information associated with the one or more base stations surrounding the terminal;   performing, by the network element responsible for radio resource allocation, radio resource allocation for the terminal on the basis of the determination; and   selecting, by the network element responsible for radio resource allocation, a modulation method for the radio resource allocation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radio resource allocation is radio channel allocation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interference-related information comprises signal strength measurements of base station signals. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the base station signals are downlink signals. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the interference-related information is received from the terminal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the signal strength measurements are made by the terminal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the potential interferers includes determining a number and properties of the potential interferers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the properties of the potential interferers comprise at least one of a signal level of the interferer, modulation method used by the interferer, and signal bandwidth of the interferer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining includes determining interference caused to surrounding one or more base stations in the plurality of available radio resources based on the received interference-related information associated with the one or more base stations surrounding the terminal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the network element responsible for radio resource allocation, a radio resource allocation request from the terminal.   
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a network element responsible for radio resource allocation, interference-related information associated with one or more base stations surrounding a terminal;   determining, by the network element responsible for radio resource allocation, interference caused to the surrounding one or more base stations in a plurality of available radio resources based on the received interference-related information associated with the one or more base stations surrounding the terminal;   performing, by the network element responsible for radio resource allocation, radio resource allocation for the terminal on the basis of the determination; and   selecting, by the network element responsible for radio resource allocation, a modulation method for the radio resource allocation.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the radio resource allocation is radio channel allocation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the interference-related information comprises signal strength measurements of base station signals. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the base station signals are downlink signals. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the interference-related information is received from the terminal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the signal strength measurements are made by the terminal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the determining includes determining a number and properties of potential interferers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein properties of the potential interferers comprise at least one of a signal level of the interferer, modulation method used by the interferer, and signal bandwidth of the interferer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the determining includes determining potential interferers in the plurality of available radio resources based on the received interference-related information associated with the one or more base stations surrounding the terminal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the network element responsible for radio resource allocation, a radio resource allocation request from the terminal.