Automated triggers for application of cell association bias and/or interference mitigation techniques

Abstract

In a wireless telecommunications network, there is included: a macro cell ( 10 ) having a first coverage area; and at least one metro cell ( 20 a, 20 b, 20 c ) having a second coverage area, the metro cell being located within the first coverage area of the macro cell. Suitably, the macro cell is configured to: determine whether or not the macro cell is congested; determine whether or not the metro cell is uncongested; and, if it is determined the macro cell is congested and that the metro cell is uncongested, then the macro cell determines that an attempted application of Cell Association Bias (CAB) for the metro cell is warranted. Suitably, if CAB is in fact applied, the macro cell also implements enhanced Inter Cell Interference Coordination (eICIC) using Almost Blank Subframes (ABS) and informs its other neighboring metro cells of this configuration.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of controlling subframe blanking by a macro base station, comprising:
 determining portion of a load being carried by a metro base station is from one or more User Equipment (UE) located proximate to an outer edge of a first cell defined by the metro base station, wherein the first cell is located at least partially within a coverage area of a second cell defined by a macro base station;   determining at least one of the one or more UEs located proximate to the outer edge of the first cell cannot be scheduled by the metro base station during subframes currently blanked by the macro base station;   sending a request from the metro base station to the macro base station for an increase in subframes currently blanked by the macro base station; and   receiving a response message from the macro base station at the metro base station, said response message indicating the request was granted and identifying specific subframes that will be blanked by the macro base station.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the request identifies how many subframes the metro base station wants the macro base station to blank. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 scheduling UEs located proximate to the outer edge of the first cell and served by the metro base station during subframes blanked by the macro base station.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the macro base station notifies other metro base stations defining other cells located at least partially within the second cell of the specific subframes that will be blanked by the macro base station. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling subframe blanking by a macro base station, comprising:
 determining a percentage of user equipment served by a metro base station in at least one of a border condition and an interference condition, wherein the metro base station defines a first cell, wherein the first cell is located at least partially within a coverage area of a second cell defined by a macro base station, wherein the border condition relates to a location of the corresponding user equipment proximate to an outer edge of the first cell, wherein the interference condition relates to an interference problem between the metro base station and the macro base station for the corresponding user equipment;   sending a request message from the metro base station to the macro base station for subframe blanking by the macro base station based at least in part on scheduling requirements for the user equipment in the border or interference condition; and   receiving a response message from the macro base station at the metro base station indicating the request was granted and identifying specific subframes that will be blanked by the macro base station.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 determining the percentage of user equipment in the border or interference condition exceeds a predetermined threshold;   wherein the request message from the metro base station to the macro base station requests an increase in subframes currently blanked by the macro base station.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 determining at least one of the user equipment in the border or interference condition cannot be scheduled by the metro base station during subframes currently blanked by the macro base station;   wherein the request message from the metro base station to the macro base station requests an increase in subframes currently blanked by the macro base station.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 determining the percentage of user equipment in the border or interference condition is less than a predetermined threshold;   wherein the request message from the metro base station to the macro base station requests a decrease in subframes currently blanked by the macro base station.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 determining at least one subframe currently blanked by the macro base station is not required by the metro base station to serve the user equipment in the border or interference condition;   wherein the request message from the metro base station to the macro base station requests a decrease in subframes currently blanked by the macro base station.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein subframe blanking is provided by the macro base station in conjunction with control of cell association bias (CAB) for user equipment served by the macro and metro base stations. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein subframe blanking is provided by the macro base station in conjunction with implementation of enhanced inter cell interference coordination (eICIC) between the macro and metro base stations using almost blank subframes (ABS). 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the macro base station notifies other metro base stations that define other cells located at least partially within the second cell of the specific subframes that will be blanked by the macro base station. 
     
     
         28 . A method of controlling subframe blanking by a macro base station, comprising:
 receiving a request message from a metro base station at a macro base station for subframe blanking by the macro base station based at least in part on scheduling requirements for user equipment served by the metro base station, wherein the metro base station defines a first cell, wherein the first cell is located at least partially within a coverage area of a second cell defined by the macro base station, wherein the scheduling requirements are determined by the metro base station based on a percentage of user equipment served by the metro base station that are in at least one of a border condition or an interference condition, wherein the border condition relates to a location of the corresponding user equipment proximate to an outer edge of the first cell, wherein the interference condition relates to an interference problem between the metro base station and the macro base station for the corresponding user equipment; and   sending a response message from the macro base station to the metro base station indicating the request was granted and identifying specific subframes that will be blanked by the macro base station.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the request message from the metro base station to the macro base station requests an increase in subframes currently blanked by the macro base station based at least in part on the metro base station determining the percentage of user equipment in the border or interference condition exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the request message from the metro base station to the macro base station requests an increase in subframes currently blanked by the macro base station based at least in part on the metro base station determining at least one of the user equipment in the border or interference condition cannot be scheduled by the metro base station during subframes currently blanked by the macro base station. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the request message from the metro base station to the macro base station requests a decrease in subframes currently blanked by the macro base station based at least in part on the metro base station determining the percentage of user equipment in the border or interference condition is less than a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the request message from the metro base station to the macro base station requests a decrease in subframes currently blanked by the macro base station based at least in part on the metro base station determining at least one subframe currently blanked by the macro base station is not required by the metro base station to serve the user equipment in the border or interference condition. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein subframe blanking is provided by the macro base station in conjunction with control of cell association bias (CAB) for user equipment served by the macro and metro base stations. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein subframe blanking is provided by the macro base station in conjunction with implementation of enhanced inter cell interference coordination (eICIC) between the macro and metro base stations using almost blank subframes (ABS). 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 notifying other metro base stations that define other cells located at least partially within the second cell of the specific subframes that will be blanked by the macro base station.