Systems and methods for adaption and reconfiguration in a wireless network

Abstract

An embodiment method for adaptation and reconfiguration in a wireless network includes base stations coordinating and setting aside a set of time-frequency resources for probing purposes, the base stations coordinating a set of probing transmissions and timings to be used to synchronize base stations/UEs actions, the base stations signaling the resources and timings to UEs, the base stations performing coordinated operations on the resources according to the timings, the base stations receiving feedback reports from UEs based on UE measurements on the signaled resources according to the signaled timings, and the base stations further coordinating the operations for further probing or to apply probing transmissions on broader time-frequency resources.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of user equipment (UE) operation, the method comprising:
 performing, by a UE, a plurality of measurement processes for a plurality of respective network configurations determined in accordance with a change in resources or activities of a network element, the performing comprising, for each measurement process:
 receiving, by the UE from a first network controller, a measurement process configuration for the measurement process; 
 receiving, by the UE from the first network controller, a first measurement resources configuration of configured measurement resources associated with the measurement process; 
 receiving, by the UE from the first network controller, a first time interval configuration of a configured time interval associated with the measurement process comprising a starting time and a period for use in synchronizing base station and UE actions, wherein using the first time interval configuration to configure multiple time intervals; 
 receiving, by the UE from the first network controller, a reporting configuration for a report associated with the measurement process; 
 performing, by the UE, a measurement in accordance with the measurement process configuration using the configured measurement resources within the configured time interval; 
 generating, by the UE, multiple reports of the measurement in accordance with the measurement process configuration and the reporting configuration, wherein each measurement report is in accordance with a respective measurement over the configured measurement resources within a respective single time interval of the multiple time intervals; and 
 sending, by the UE, the report to the first network controller in accordance with the reporting configuration; and 
 
 receiving, by the UE, data in accordance with a selected network configuration selected in accordance with results of the measurement processes. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising a second UE:
 receiving from a second network controller a second measurement process configuration of a second measurement process; 
 receiving from the second network controller a second measurement resources configuration of second configured measurement resources associated with the second measurement process; 
 receiving from the second network a second time interval configuration for the configured time interval associated with the second measurement process; and 
 receiving from the second network a second reporting configuration for a second report associated with the second measurement process. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first time interval configuration is the same as the second time interval configuration. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 configuring one or more of measurement of a received power of a reference signal (RSRP), measurement of a received quality of a reference signal (RSRQ), measurement of a received power over a set of resource elements, measurement of a channel state information (CSI), and measurement of a signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR), in accordance with the measurement process configuration. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 configuring a first subset of resources in the configured measurement resources associated with measurements of a signal in accordance with the first measurement resources configuration, and configuring a second subset of resources in the configured measurement resources associated with measurements of an interference, or a received total power, in accordance with the first measurement resources configuration. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 performing a reference signal-based measurement in accordance with the measurement process configuration using the first subset of resources within the configured time interval; and 
 performing an interference measurement in accordance with the measurement process configuration using the second subset of resources within the configured time interval. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first time interval configuration comprises one or more of a starting time, a duration, and an ending time. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the starting time is indicated by a starting trigger signal, and the ending time is indicated by an ending trigger signal. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the ending time is indicated by a second starting trigger signal, and wherein the second starting trigger signal indicates a restart of the measurement process or a start of a second measurement process. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the starting time is indicated by an immediate previous starting time and a signaling indicating a periodicity. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time interval is configured according to a starting time, a periodicity, and an ending time. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 configuring one or more of RSRP reporting, RSRQ reporting, received signal strength indication (RSSI) reporting, CSI reporting, and SINR reporting, in accordance with the reporting configuration. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 using the reporting configuration to configure periodic reporting with reporting timing information or to configure aperiodic reporting with reporting trigger information. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement process configuration includes information about the first measurement resources configuration. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reporting configuration includes information about the measurement process configuration, information about the first measurement resources configuration, or both. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first time interval configuration comprises configuration information for multiple concurrent time intervals for multiple concurrent measurement processes. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first measurement resources configuration of configured measurement resources comprises a first frequency interval configuration of a configured frequency interval. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the configured frequency interval comprises selected subbands or a number of resource blocks. 
     
     
       19. A method for operating a wireless network, the method comprising:
 coordinating and setting aside a set of time-frequency resources for base stations; 
 performing a plurality of probing processes for a plurality of respective network configurations determined in accordance with a change in resources or activities of a network element, the performing comprising, for each probing process:
 coordinating a set of transmissions and timing interval configurations comprising a starting time and a period for use in synchronizing base station and user equipment (UE) actions, wherein using a first timing interval configuration to configure multiple timing intervals; 
 the base stations signaling the resources and the timings timing interval configurations to UEs; 
 the base stations performing coordinated communications with the UEs on the resources according to the timing interval configurations; and 
 the base stations receiving multiple feedback reports from the UEs about UE measurements on the signaled resources according to the signaled timing interval configurations, wherein each measurement report is in accordance with a respective measurement over the configured measurement signaled resources within a respective single time interval of the multiple time intervals; 
 
 selecting a selected network configuration in accordance with results of the probing processes; 
 the base stations further coordinating operations for applying the selected network configuration; and 
 sending, by the bases stations, data to the UEs in accordance with the selected network configuration. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a first base station signaling to a second base station a configuration of the set of time-frequency resources and a configuration of the timings regarding synchronized base station and UE actions associated with the set of time-frequency resources and timings. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the coordinating steps are performed by a coordination entity above the base stations. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the configured measurement signaled resources comprise a configured frequency interval. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the configured frequency interval comprises selected subbands or a number of resource blocks. 
     
     
       24. A method for backhaul signaling in a wireless network, the method comprising:
 signaling, by a first base station to a second base station, a channel state information-interference measurement (CSI-IM) resource or a CSI-reference signal (CSI-RS) resource, together with timing interval configurations comprising a starting time and a period for use in synchronizing base station and user equipment (UE) actions, wherein using a first timing interval configuration to configure multiple timing intervals, for a network configuration determined in accordance with a change in resources or activities of a network element; 
 the first and second base stations receiving multiple feedback reports from user equipments (UEs) for measurements taken of the signaled CSI-RS resource or the CSI-IM resource at the signaled timing interval configurations, wherein each measurement report is in accordance with a respective measurement over the configured measurement resources signaled CSI-IM resource or CSI-RS resource within a respective single time interval of the multiple time intervals; 
 the first and second base stations repeating the signaling and the receiving for a plurality of network configurations determined in accordance with the change in resources or activities of the network element; 
 the first and second base stations signaling to the UEs to stop the measurements and the associated feedback for the signaled CSI-IM resource or CSI-RS resource at the signaled timing; and 
 the first and second base stations adapting their physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmissions according to a selected network configuration selected in accordance with results of the feedback. 
 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the configured measurement resources signaled CSI-IM resource or CSI-RS resource comprise a configured frequency interval. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , wherein the configured frequency interval comprises selected subbands or a number of resource blocks. 
     
     
       27. A user equipment (UE) comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to:
 perform a plurality of measurement processes for a plurality of respective network configurations determined in accordance with a change in resources or activities of a network element, the instructions to perform comprising, for each measurement process, instructions to:
 receive, from a first network controller, a measurement process configuration for the measurement process; 
 receive, from the first network controller, a first measurement resources configuration for configured measurement resources associated with the measurement process; 
 receive, from the first network controller, a first time interval configuration fora configured time interval associated with the measurement process comprising a starting time and a period for use in synchronizing base station and UE actions, wherein using the first time interval configuration to configure multiple time intervals; 
 receive, from the first network controller, a reporting configuration for a report associated with the measurement process; 
 perform a measurement in accordance with the measurement process configuration using the configured measurement resources within the configured time interval; 
 generate multiple reports of the measurement in accordance with the measurement process configuration and the reporting configuration, wherein each measurement report is in accordance with a respective measurement over the configured measurement resources within a respective single time interval of the multiple time intervals; and 
 send, to the first network controller, the report in accordance with the reporting configuration; and 
 
 receive data in accordance with a selected network configuration selected in accordance with results of the measurement processes. 
 
 
     
     
       28. The method UE of  claim 27 , wherein the first measurement resources configuration for configured measurement resources comprises a first frequency interval configuration of a configured frequency interval. 
     
     
       29. The method UE of  claim 28 , wherein the configured frequency interval comprises selected subbands or a number of resource blocks. 
     
     
       30. A network controller comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to:
 perform a plurality of measurement processes for a plurality of respective network configurations determined in accordance with a change in resources or activities of a network element, the instructions to perform comprising, for each measurement process, instructions to:
 transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a measurement process configuration for the measurement process; 
 transmit, to the UE, a first measurement resources configuration for configured measurement resources associated with the measurement process; 
 transmit, to the UE, a first time interval configuration for a configured time interval associated with the measurement process comprising a starting time and a period for use in synchronizing base station and UE actions, wherein using the first time interval configuration to configure multiple time intervals; 
 transmit, to the UE, a reporting configuration for a report associated with the measurement process; and  
 receive, from the UE, multiple reports associated with the measurement process in accordance with the reporting configuration, wherein each measurement report is in accordance with a respective measurement over the configured measurement resources within a respective single time interval of the multiple time intervals; and 
 
 transmit, to the UE, data in accordance with a selected network configuration selected in accordance with results of the measurement processes. 
 
 
     
     
       31. The method network controller of  claim 30 , wherein the first measurement resources configuration for configured measurement resources comprises a first frequency interval configuration of a configured frequency interval. 
     
     
       32. The method network controller of  claim 31 , wherein the configured frequency interval comprises selected subbands or a number of resource blocks. 
     
     
       33. A method of user equipment (UE) operation, the method comprising:
 performing, by a UE, a plurality of measurement processes for a plurality of respective resource configurations determined in accordance with a change in a resource configuration, the performing, comprising for each measurement process:
 receiving, by the UE from a network controller, a measurement configuration for the measurement process; 
 receiving, by the UE from the network controller, a measurement resource configuration of measurement resources; 
 receiving, by the UE from the network controller, a reporting configuration associated with the measurement configuration and the measurement resource configuration; 
 receiving, by the UE from the network controller, at least one measurement timing parameter for performing a channel state information (CSI) measurement; 
 performing, by the UE, the CSI measurement in accordance with the measurement configuration and the at least one measurement timing parameter based on the measurement resource configuration; 
 generating, by the UE, a CSI report based on the CSI measurement in accordance with the reporting configuration, the measurement configuration and the measurement resource configuration; and 
 sending, by the UE, the CSI report to the network controller; and 
   receiving, by the UE, data in accordance with a selected resource configuration selected in accordance with results of the measurement processes.    
     
     
       34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:
 configuring one or more of measurement of a received power of a reference signal (RSRP), measurement of a received quality of a reference signal (RSRQ), measurement of a received power over a set of resource elements, measurement of a channel quality information (CQI), or measurement of a signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR), in accordance with the measurement configuration.    
     
     
       35. The method of claim 33, the at least one measurement timing parameter specifying at least one time interval for performing the CSI measurement.  
     
     
       36. The method of claim 35, the at least one time interval comprising one or more of a starting time, a duration, or an ending time.  
     
     
       37. The method of claim 36, the starting time indicated by a starting trigger signal, and the ending time indicated by an ending trigger signal.  
     
     
       38. The method of claim 33, further comprising:
 configuring at least one of a first subset of resources in the measurement resources associated with measurements of at least a signal/channel, or a second subset of resources in the measurement resources associated with measurements of at least an interference.    
     
     
       39. The method of claim 38, the at least one measurement timing parameter comprising:
 at least a first measurement timing parameter specifying a first time interval for performing channel/signal measurement in accordance with the first subset of resources; and   at least a second measurement timing parameter specifying a second time interval for performing interference measurement in accordance with the second subset of resources.    
     
     
       40. A user equipment (UE) comprising:
 a non-transitory memory storage comprising instructions; and   one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory storage, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
 perform a plurality of measurement processes for a plurality of respective resource configurations determined in accordance with a change in a resource configuration, the instruction to perform comprising, for each measurement process:
 receive, from a network controller, a measurement configuration for the measurement process; 
 receive, from the network controller, a measurement resource configuration of measurement resources; 
 receive, from the network controller, a reporting configuration associated with the measurement configuration and the measurement resource configuration; 
 receive, from the network controller, at least one measurement timing parameter for performing a channel state information (CSI) measurement; 
 perform the CSI measurement in accordance with the measurement configuration and the at least one measurement timing parameter based on the measurement resource configuration; 
 generate a CSI report based on the CSI measurement in accordance with the reporting configuration, the measurement configuration and the measurement resource configuration; and 
 send the CSI report to the network controller; and 
 
 receive data in accordance with a selected resource configuration selected in accordance with results of the measurement processes.  
   
     
     
       41. The UE of claim 40, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
 configure one or more of measurement of a received power of a reference signal (RSRP), measurement of a received quality of a reference signal (RSRQ), measurement of a received power over a set of resource elements, measurement of a channel quality information (CQI), or measurement of a signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR), in accordance with the measurement configuration.    
     
     
       42. The UE of claim 40, wherein the at least one measurement timing parameter specifies at least one time interval for performing the CSI measurement.  
     
     
       43. The UE of claim 42, wherein the at least one time interval comprises one or more of a starting time, a duration, or an ending time.  
     
     
       44. The UE of claim 43, wherein the starting time is indicated by a starting trigger signal, and the ending time is indicated by an ending trigger signal.  
     
     
       45. The UE of claim 40, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
 configure at least one of a first subset of resources in the measurement resources associated with measurements of at least a signal/channel, or a second subset of resources in the measurement resources associated with measurements of at least an interference.    
     
     
       46. The UE of claim 45, wherein the at least one measurement timing parameter comprises:
 at least a first measurement timing parameter specifying a first time interval for performing channel/signal measurement in accordance with the first subset of resources; and   at least a second measurement timing parameter specifying a second time interval for performing interference measurement in accordance with the second subset of resources.    
     
     
       47. A method of network controller operation, the method comprising:
 performing, by a network controller, a plurality of measurement processes for a plurality of respective resource configurations determined in accordance with a change in a resource configuration, the performing, comprising for each measurement process:
 sending, by the network controller to a user equipment (UE), a measurement configuration for the measurement process; 
 sending, by the network controller to the UE, a measurement resource configuration of measurement resources; 
 sending, by the network controller to the UE, a reporting configuration associated with the measurement configuration and the measurement resource configuration; 
 sending, by the network controller to the UE, at least one measurement timing parameter for performing a channel state information (CSI) measurement in accordance with the measurement configuration and based on the measurement resource configuration; and 
 receiving, by the network controller from the UE, a CSI report based on the CSI measurement in accordance with the reporting configuration, the measurement configuration and the measurement resource configuration; and 
   sending, by the network controller to the UE, data in accordance with a selected resource configuration of selected in accordance with results of the measurement processes.    
     
     
       48. The method of claim 47, the measurement configuration indicating one or more of measurement of a received power of a reference signal (RSRP), measurement of a received quality of a reference signal (RSRQ), measurement of a received power over a set of resource elements, measurement of a channel quality information (CQI), or measurement of a signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR).  
     
     
       49. The method of claim 47, the at least one measurement timing parameter specifying at least one time interval for performing the CSI measurement.  
     
     
       50. The method of claim 49, the at least one time interval comprising one or more of a starting time, a duration, or an ending time.  
     
     
       51. The method of claim 50, the starting time indicated by a starting trigger signal, and the ending time indicated by an ending trigger signal.  
     
     
       52. The method of claim 47, the measurement resource configuration indicating at least one of a first subset of resources in the measurement resources associated with measurements of at least a signal/channel, or a second subset of resources in the measurement resources associated with measurements of at least an interference.  
     
     
       53. The method of claim 52, the at least one measurement timing parameter comprising:
 at least a first measurement timing parameter specifying a first time interval for performing channel/signal measurement in accordance with the first subset of resources; and   at least a second measurement timing parameter specifying a second time interval for performing interference measurement in accordance with the second subset of resources.    
     
     
       54. A network controller comprising:
 a non-transitory memory storage comprising instructions; and   one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory storage, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
 perform a plurality of measurement processes for a plurality of respective resource configurations determined in accordance with a change in a resource configuration, the instruction to perform comprising, for each measurement process:
 send, to a user equipment (UE), a measurement configuration for the measurement process; 
 send, to the UE, a measurement resource configuration of measurement resources; 
 send, to the UE, a reporting configuration associated with the measurement configuration and the measurement resource configuration; 
 send, to the UE, at least one measurement timing parameter for performing a channel state information (CSI) measurement in accordance with the measurement configuration and based on the measurement resource configuration; and 
 receive, from the UE, a CSI report based on the CSI measurement in accordance with the reporting configuration, the measurement configuration and the measurement resource configuration; and 
 
 send, to the UE, data in accordance with a selected resource configuration of selected in accordance with results of the measurement processes.  
   
     
     
       55. The network controller of claim 54, wherein the measurement configuration indicates one or more of measurement of a received power of a reference signal (RSRP), measurement of a received quality of a reference signal (RSRQ), measurement of a received power over a set of resource elements, measurement of a channel quality information (CQI), or measurement of a signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR).  
     
     
       56. The network controller of claim 54, wherein the at least one measurement timing parameter specifies at least one time interval for performing the CSI measurement.  
     
     
       57. The network controller of claim 56, wherein the at least one time interval comprises one or more of a starting time, a duration, or an ending time.  
     
     
       58. The network controller of claim 57, wherein the starting time is indicated by a starting trigger signal, and the ending time is indicated by an ending trigger signal.  
     
     
       59. The network controller of claim 54, wherein the measurement resource configuration indicates at least one of a first subset of resources in the measurement resources associated with measurements of at least a signal/channel, or a second subset of resources in the measurement resources associated with measurements of at least an interference.  
     
     
       60. The network controller of claim 59, wherein the at least one measurement timing parameter comprises:
 at least a first measurement timing parameter specifying a first time interval for performing channel/signal measurement in accordance with the first subset of resources; and   at least a second measurement timing parameter specifying a second time interval for performing interference measurement in accordance with the second subset of resources.