HK1249286B - Transmission point indication in coordinated multi-point system - Google Patents

Description

Transmission point indication in coordinated multipoint system

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial No.61/556,109, entitled "advanced wireless communication systems and techniques," filed on 4.11.2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to the field of communications; and more particularly to transmission point indication in wireless communication networks.

Background

Coordinated multipoint (CoMP) systems have been developed to improve various operating parameters in wireless networks. In a CoMP system utilizing Dynamic Point Selection (DPS), transmission points may be selected from multiple nodes (e.g., base stations) of a CoMP measurement set. The transmission points may be dynamically assigned by the serving node. However, because the user equipment does not know the identity or characteristics of the current transmission point, the common reference signal (CRS, also referred to as cell-specific reference signal) location across all nodes in the CoMP measurement set must be muted.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the disclosure provides User Equipment (UE).

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a UE is provided. The UE includes: a communication circuit to: receiving a plurality of Common Reference Signal (CRS) parameter sets via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling from a first transmission point, wherein individual CRS parameter sets of the plurality of CRS parameter sets contain a number of CRS antenna ports, a CRS frequency shift, and a transmission point index, wherein the plurality of CRS parameter sets are received as part of a configuration protocol for a coordinated multipoint (CoMP) measurement set, and wherein the configuration protocol further comprises configuring uplink control channel parameters and channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) parameters for communication between the UE and one or more base stations of the CoMP measurement set; receiving a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, containing a 2-bit value, the 2-bit value indicating one of the individual sets of CRS parameters to be used by the UE for decoding a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, wherein the PDCCH is received from a second transmission point different from the first transmission point, and wherein the PDSCH is to be transmitted by the second transmission point; and a mapping circuit coupled to the communication circuit, the mapping circuit to: identifying, from the plurality of CRS parameter sets, the indicated individual CRS parameter sets based on a 2-bit value, wherein the mapping circuitry is further configured to determine a PDSCH resource element, RE, mapping pattern based on the identified individual CRS parameter sets, and the PDSCH RE mapping pattern is customized specific to the second transmission point; and decode the PDSCH transmitted by the second transmission point based on the identified individual CRS parameter set.

Drawings

The embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For ease of description, like reference numerals refer to like structural elements. In the drawings of the accompanying drawings, embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a wireless communication network in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a configuration table according to various embodiments.

Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a transmission point indication method that may be performed by a user equipment according to various embodiments.

Fig. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a transmission point indication method that may be performed by a base station in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates, in schematic form, an example system in accordance with various embodiments.

Detailed Description

Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, methods, systems, and apparatus for transmission point indication in a coordinated multipoint (CoMP) system for a wireless communication network.

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that many alternative embodiments may be practiced using only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials, and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that alternative embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Moreover, various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the illustrative embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.

The phrase "in some embodiments" is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment; however, it may refer to the same embodiment. The terms "comprising," "having," and "including" are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. The phrase "A and/or B" means (A), (B) or (A and B). The phrase "A/B" means (A), (B), or (A and B), similar to the phrase "A and/or B". The phrase "at least one of A, B and C" means (a), (B), (C), (a and B), (a and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). The phrase "(a) B" means (B) or (a and B), i.e., a is optional.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments of the present disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

As used herein, the term "module" may refer to or include portions of the following components: an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a wireless communication network 100 in accordance with various embodiments. The wireless communication network 100 (hereinafter "network 100") may be an access network of a third generation partnership project (3 GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, such as an evolved universal telecommunications network (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN). The network 100 may include a base station (e.g., an enhanced node base station (eNB) 104) configured to wirelessly communicate with a User Equipment (UE) 108.

At least initially, the eNB 104 may have an established wireless connection with the UE 108 and may operate as a serving node within a CoMP system. One or more additional enbs, e.g., enbs 112 and 116, of network 100 may also be included in the CoMP measurement set. The enbs 112 and 116 may be configured to facilitate wireless communication with the UE 108 through coordination with the eNB 104. The one or more additional enbs may be collectively referred to as a "coordinating node. The eNB may switch between a coordinating node role and a serving node role.

The serving node and the coordinating node may communicate with each other via a wireless connection and/or a wired connection (e.g., a high-speed fiber backhaul connection).

The enbs may each have substantially the same transmission power capability as one another, or alternatively, some enbs may have relatively lower transmission power capabilities. For example, in one embodiment, eNB 104 may be a relatively higher power base station, such as a macro eNB, while enbs 112 and 116 may be relatively lower power base stations, such as a pico eNB (pico eNB) and/or a femto eNB (femto eNB).

The UE 108 may include a communications module 120, a mapping module 124, and a memory 128 coupled to one another at least as shown. The communication module 120 may also be coupled with one or more of the plurality of antennas 132 of the UE 108 for wireless communication over the network 100.

The UE 108 may include any number of suitable antennas. In various embodiments, the UE 108 may include at least as many antennas as the number of simultaneous spatial layers or streams the UE 108 receives from the eNB, although the scope of the disclosure may not be limited in this respect. The number of simultaneous spatial layers or streams may also be referred to as a transmission rank or simply rank.

One or more of the antennas 132 may be used alternately as a transmit or receive antenna. Alternatively or additionally, one or more of the antennas 132 may be a dedicated receive antenna or a dedicated transmit antenna.

In various embodiments, the communications module 120 may receive Common Reference Signal (CRS) parameters associated with individual base stations (e.g., enbs 104, 112, and/or 116) of the CoMP measurement set. For example, the CRS parameters may contain an index associated with each base station of the CoMP measurement set, a number of CRS antenna ports, and/or a CRS frequency shift. These parameters, which may vary among base stations of the CoMP measurement set, may be used by communications module 120 to accurately and efficiently identify relevant CRS transmissions.

Fig. 2 is a CRS configuration table 200 containing various CRS parameters, according to some embodiments. CRS configuration table 200 (hereinafter "table 200") may be stored in memory 128 and accessible by mapping module 124. The transmission point index may be a value that is subsequently used in the communication of which node is the scheduled transmission point. The CRS antenna ports may be antenna ports of the base station through which CRS transmissions are transmitted, which may be virtual or physical. In some embodiments, the number of CRS antenna ports may be 1, 2, or 4. The CRS frequency shift may be a cell-specific frequency shift (e.g., in terms of number of subcarriers) that may be used to avoid constant collocation (constant collocation) of reference signals from different cells. In some embodiments, the CRS frequency shift may be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

In some embodiments, the CRS parameters may also include information related to the number and/or location of resource elements (e.g., subcarriers and/or OFDM symbols) of an OFDM frame dedicated to control information and/or multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) information of individual base stations of the CoMP measurement set. The resource elements used for control information and/or MBSFN subframes may not contain CRS.

In some embodiments, the UE 108 may store the received CRS parameters in the memory 128. UE 108 may maintain these CRS parameters for as long as UE 108 is associated with the CoMP measurement set, and/or for another suitable length of time.

After utilizing the appropriate CRS parameter configuration table 200, the communication module 120 may receive a transmission point index corresponding to a base station of a CoMP measurement set scheduled for communication with the UE 108 (e.g., according to a Dynamic Point Selection (DPS) protocol). The mapping module 124 may then access CRS parameters corresponding to the received transmission point index and generate a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) mapping pattern based on the CRS parameters of the scheduled base station. The PDSCH mapping pattern may be used for subsequent communications with the scheduled base station. For example, the PDSCH mapping pattern may identify locations (e.g., resource elements) of CRSs in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) frames transmitted by the scheduled base stations. These resource elements may correspond to one or more subcarriers and/or OFDM symbols in an OFDM frame. Accordingly, the PDSCH mapping pattern may be customized specifically for the scheduled base station.

In some embodiments, the CRS parameters may be transmitted by the serving base station (e.g., eNB 104) to the UE 108. In some embodiments, the CRS parameters may be transmitted to the UE 108 via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. The CRS parameters may be transmitted during CoMP measurement set configuration of the UE 108 (e.g., as part of a CoMP measurement set configuration protocol). The CoMP measurement set configuration protocol may also include configuration of channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) parameters and/or uplink control channels for Channel State Information (CSI) feedback. Accordingly, the UE 108 may receive and/or transmit one or more CSI-RS parameters and/or uplink control channel parameters as part of a CoMP measurement set configuration protocol.

In various embodiments, the communication module 120 may receive the transmission point index via physical layer signaling. For example, in one embodiment, the transmission point index may be included in Downlink Control Information (DCI), e.g., via a downlink control channel. This may allow for dynamic communication of relevant CRS parameters while allowing for dynamic switching of various transmission points in the DPS protocol. The DCI may also include other parameters for scheduling communications between the UE 108 and one or more base stations.

The transmission point index may identify base stations (e.g., transmission points) in the CoMP measurement set that are scheduled for communication with the UE 108 (e.g., transmission on the PDSCH). For example, the transmission point index may contain one or more bits corresponding to the scheduled base station. In some embodiments, a small number of bits may be required to identify the scheduled base station. For example, if the CoMP measurement set includes two base stations, the transmission point index may contain 1 bit, and/or if the CoMP measurement set includes three or four base stations, the transmission point index may contain 2 bits. In other embodiments, the transmission point index may contain the same number of bits regardless of the number of base stations included in the CoMP measurement set. It will be apparent that other suitable mechanisms for identifying the scheduled base station may be used.

In some embodiments, the transmission point index may be transmitted by a scheduled base station. For example, the eNB 104 may send a transmission point index to the UE 108 that identifies the eNB 104 as a scheduled base station. In other embodiments, the transmission point index may be transmitted by a different base station than the scheduled base station. For example, the eNB 104 may send a transmission point index to the UE 108 identifying the eNB 112 as a scheduled base station.

The mapping module 124 may identify CRS parameters (e.g., from the memory 128) corresponding to the scheduled base station using the transmission point index. The mapping module 124 may generate a PDSCH mapping pattern based on CRS parameters of the scheduled base station. For example, the number of CRS antenna ports of the scheduled base station may be used to identify resource elements (e.g., subcarriers and/or OFDM symbols) of an OFDM frame dedicated to CRS transmission. The CRS frequency shifts may be specific to the scheduled base station and may be used to identify CRS locations (e.g., resource elements) of OFDM frames of the scheduled base station.

The communications module 120 may then receive one or more transmissions from the scheduled base station containing an OFDM frame with a plurality of CRSs. The CRS may be arranged in the OFDM frame according to a PDSCH mapping pattern.

In various embodiments, transmission points (e.g., scheduled base stations) may be dynamically assigned. The UE 108 may receive additional transmission point indices if the identity of the scheduled base station changes and/or periodically at any suitable timing interval.

eNB 104 may include a communications module 136 and a CoMP management module 140 coupled to each other at least as shown. The communication module 136 may also be coupled with one or more of the plurality of antennas 152 of the eNB 104. The communication module 136 may communicate (e.g., transmit and/or receive) with one or more UEs (e.g., UE 108). In various embodiments, the eNB 104 may include at least as many antennas as the number of simultaneous transmission streams transmitted to the UE 108, although the scope of the disclosure may not be limited in this respect. One or more of the antennas 152 may be used alternately as a transmit or receive antenna. Alternatively or additionally, one or more of antennas 152 may be a dedicated receive antenna or a dedicated transmit antenna. CoMP management module 140 may transmit (e.g., via communications module 136) CRS parameters associated with individual base stations of the CoMP measurement set, as described above.

Although not explicitly shown, enbs 112 and 116 may include similar modules/components to those of eNB 104.

The transmission point indication as described herein may enable the UE 108 to know which base station of the CoMP measurement set is scheduled as the transmission point of the UE 108 (e.g., according to the DPS protocol). Further, the UE 108 may be aware of CRS parameters associated with the scheduled transmission point and may thus generate a PDSCH mapping pattern that is specifically tailored to the scheduled base station.

In a DPS system, demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) antenna ports may be dynamically allocated to base stations for transmission. The base station may apply the same precoding scheme (e.g., spatial and/or multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) precoding scheme) to the DM-RS as on the PDSCH. Accordingly, the UE does not need to know the identity of the transmission point in order to receive DM-RS to decode the PDSCH transmission. However, different base stations may have different numbers of CRS ports and/or may have a CRS frequency shift depending on the identity of the base station. Accordingly, CRS configurations (e.g., arrangement of CRS within PDSCH transmissions) may vary from base station to base station.

In existing CoMP systems, to enable DPS, CRS locations of all base stations in the CoMP measurement set may be muted in the PDSCH. However, this method requires high overhead because of unused resources in the PDSCH. Moreover, muting of CRS locations may negatively impact legacy UEs that perform interference measurements on CRS (e.g., UEs that are not capable of CoMP communication). For example, a legacy UE making interference measurements on CRS locations may not be able to receive interference from other base stations (because other base stations muted CRS locations). Accordingly, legacy UEs may produce interference measurements that do not accurately measure interference from other base stations. This may lead to incorrect modulation and coding decisions, which in turn may lead to increased errors and/or decreased throughput for legacy UEs.

In contrast, the transmission point indications described herein enable a UE to know CRS parameters of a base station scheduled to transmit to the UE. The UE may thus produce a PDSCH mapping pattern that is specifically tailored to the base station being scheduled. The base station transmission does not require muting of CRS positions of other base stations in the CoMP measurement set. This may save overhead caused by unused resources of all UEs (e.g., coMP-capable UEs and CoMP-incapable legacy UEs) associated with the base stations of the CoMP measurement set. Further, the transmission point indication may not affect interference measurements on CRS by legacy UEs.

Fig. 3 illustrates a transmission point indication method 300 in accordance with various embodiments. The transmission point indication method 300 may be performed by a UE (e.g., the UE 108). In some embodiments, the UE may include and/or have access to one or more computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the UE to perform method 300.

At block 304, the UE may receive CRS parameters via RRC signaling. The CRS parameters may be associated with individual base stations of a CoMP measurement set containing multiple base stations. In some embodiments, the CRS parameters may include the number of CRS antenna ports and/or CRS frequency shifts of individual base stations of the CoMP measurement set. The UE may receive these CRS parameters as part of a CoMP configuration protocol. The CoMP configuration protocol may also include configuring uplink control channels and CSI-RS parameters for CSI-RS feedback. Accordingly, the UE may receive one or more CSI-RS parameters and/or uplink control channel parameters via RRC signaling in addition to the CRS parameters. The UE may store the received CRS parameters in memory.

At block 308, the UE may receive the transmission point index via the DCI. The transmission point index may correspond to a scheduled base station in a CoMP measurement set scheduled to communicate with a UE (e.g., scheduled as a transmission point for the UE).

At block 312, the UE may generate a PDSCH mapping pattern based on received CRS parameters associated with the scheduled base station. The PDSCH mapping pattern may be used for subsequent communications between the UE and the scheduled base station. For example, a UE may receive a transmission containing an OFDM frame on a PDSCH from a scheduled base station. The OFDM frame may contain a plurality of CRSs arranged within the frame according to a PDSCH mapping pattern.

Fig. 4 illustrates a transmission point indication method 400 that may be performed by a base station (e.g., eNB 104) in accordance with various embodiments. The base station may be a serving node in a CoMP measurement set that includes a plurality of base stations.

At block 404, the base station may transmit CRS parameters to the base station via RRC signaling. The CRS parameters may include the number of CRS antenna ports and/or CRS frequency shifts of individual base stations of the CoMP measurement set. The base station may transmit the CRS parameters as part of a CoMP configuration protocol. The CoMP configuration protocol may also include configuring uplink control channels and CSI-RS parameters for CSI-RS feedback.

The base station may be pre-configured to know CRS parameters of a plurality of base stations in the CoMP measurement set. Alternatively or additionally, the base station may receive CRS parameters of one or more base stations from the respective base station. In some embodiments, the base station may store CRS parameters of a plurality of base stations in memory.

In some embodiments, the CoMP management module may determine which base stations to include in the CoMP measurement set. The CoMP management module can be included in the base station and/or in another location (e.g., in a core network including the base station). In some embodiments, the CoMP measurement set may be different for different UEs within the cell covered by the base station.

At block 408, the CoMP management module may determine which base station of the CoMP measurement set will be the scheduled base station of the UE. The scheduled base stations may be determined based on any suitable factors, such as channel conditions, relative loading on the base stations, relative power of the base stations, and/or other factors.

At block 412, the base station may transmit the transmission point index to the UE via DCI. The transmission point index may identify scheduled base stations that are scheduled as a CoMP measurement set for the UE's transmission point. The scheduled base station may then transmit PDSCH signals to the UE. In some embodiments, the transmission point index may be transmitted by a scheduled base station. In other embodiments, the transmission point index may be transmitted by another base station than the scheduled base station.

The UE 108 described herein may be implemented in any suitable hardware and/or software system configured as desired. For one embodiment, fig. 5 illustrates an example system 500, the example system 500 including one or more processors 504, system control logic 508 coupled with at least one processor 504, system memory 512 coupled with the system control logic 508, non-volatile memory (NVM)/storage 516 coupled with the system control logic 508, a network interface 520 coupled with the system control logic 508, and an input/output (I/O) device 532 coupled with the system control logic 508.

Processor 504 may include one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The processor 504 may include any combination of general-purpose processors and dedicated processors (e.g., graphics processors, application processors, baseband processors, etc.).

System control logic 508 for one embodiment may include any suitable interface controllers to provide for any suitable interface to at least one processor 504 and/or to any suitable device or component in communication with system control logic 508.

System control logic 508 for one embodiment may comprise one or more memory controllers to provide an interface to system memory 512. System memory 512 may be used to load and store data and/or instructions, for example, for system 500. System memory 512 for one embodiment may include any suitable volatile memory, such as suitable Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM).

NVM/storage 516 may include one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media for storing data and/or instructions, for example. NVM/storage 516 may include any suitable non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, and/or may include any suitable non-volatile storage device(s), such as one or more hard disk drive(s) (HDD (s)), one or more Compact Disk (CD) drive(s), and/or one or more Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) drive(s).

NVM/storage 516 may include storage resources to: physically, but not necessarily, part of the device on which system 500 is installed or through which system 500 is accessible. The NVM/storage 516 may be accessed over a network via the network interface 520 and/or through input/output (I/O) devices 532, for example.

System memory 512 and NVM/storage 516 may specifically include temporary and permanent copies of mapping logic 524, respectively. The mapping logic 524 may include instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 504, cause the system 500 to implement a mapping module (e.g., the mapping module 124) to perform the PDSCH mapping operations described herein. In some embodiments, mapping logic 524 or its hardware, firmware, and/or software may be provided in addition/as an alternative in system control logic 508, network interface 520, and/or processor 504.

Network interface 520 may have a transceiver 522 to provide a radio interface for system 500 to communicate over one or more networks and/or with any other suitable device. The transceiver 522 may implement the communication module 120. In various embodiments, transceiver 522 may be integrated with other components of system 500. For example, transceiver 522 may include a processor of processor 504, a memory of system memory 512, and a NVM/storage of NVM/storage 516. Network interface 520 may include any suitable hardware and/or firmware. The network interface 520 may include multiple antennas to provide a multiple-input multiple-output radio interface. Network interface 520 for one embodiment may include, for example, a network adapter, a wireless network adapter, a telephone modem, and/or a wireless modem.

For one embodiment, at least one processor 504 may be packaged together with logic for one or more controllers of system control logic 508. For one embodiment, at least one processor 504 may be packaged together with logic for one or more controllers of system control logic 508 to form a System In Package (SiP). For one embodiment, at least one processor 504 may be integrated on the same die with logic for one or more controllers of system control logic 508. For one embodiment, at least one processor 504 may be integrated on the same die with logic for one or more controllers of system control logic 508 to form a system on chip (SoC).

In various embodiments, the I/O devices 532 may include a user interface designed to enable user interaction with the system 500, a peripheral component interface designed to enable peripheral component interaction with the system 500, and/or sensors designed to determine environmental conditions and/or location information associated with the system 500.

In various embodiments, the user interface may include, but is not limited to, a display (e.g., a liquid crystal display, a touch screen display, etc.), a speaker, a microphone, one or more cameras (e.g., still cameras and/or video cameras), a flash (e.g., a light emitting diode flash), and a keyboard.

In various embodiments, the peripheral component interfaces may include, but are not limited to, a non-volatile memory port, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, an audio jack, and a power interface.

In various embodiments, the sensors may include, but are not limited to, a gyroscope sensor, an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a positioning unit. The positioning unit may also be part of the network interface 520 or may interact with it to communicate with components of a positioning network, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites.

In various embodiments, system 500 may be a mobile computing device, such as, but not limited to, a laptop computing device, a tablet computing device, a netbook, a smartphone, and the like. In various embodiments, system 500 may have more or fewer components and/or different architectures.

In some embodiments, an apparatus, e.g., a UE, is described that includes a communications module configured to receive CRS parameters associated with individual base stations of a CoMP measurement set including a plurality of base stations and to receive a transmission point index corresponding to a first base station of the CoMP measurement set. The UE may also include a mapping module coupled with the communication module and configured to generate a PDSCH mapping pattern based on CRS parameters associated with the first base station.

In some embodiments, the communications module may be further configured to use CRS parameters associated with the first base station for subsequent communications with the first base station.

In some embodiments, the CRS parameters and the transmission point index may be received from a second base station of the CoMP measurement set. In other embodiments, CRS parameters may be received from the second base station, and a transmission point index may be received from the first base station.

In some embodiments, the CRS parameters may be received via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. The transmission point index may be received via physical layer signaling (e.g., the transmission point index may be included in the downlink control information). The CRS parameters may include the number of CRS antenna ports and/or CRS frequency shift of individual base stations. In some embodiments, the CRS parameters may also include information related to OFDM resource elements dedicated to control information for individual base stations. In still other embodiments, the CRS parameters may also include MBSFN information of individual base stations. In some embodiments, the CRS parameters may be received as part of a configuration protocol for the CoMP measurement set. The configuration protocol may also include configuring uplink control channel parameters and CSI-RS parameters for communication between the user equipment and one or more base stations of the CoMP measurement set.

In some embodiments, the communications module may be further configured to receive a transmission from the first base station, the transmission including an OFDM frame having a plurality of CRSs. The CRSs may be arranged within the frame according to a PDSCH mapping pattern.

In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include a memory configured to store the received CRS parameters.

In some embodiments, an apparatus, e.g., a base station (e.g., eNB), is described that includes a communications module and a CoMP management module coupled to the communications module and configured to transmit, to a UE via the communications module, CRS parameters associated with individual base stations of a CoMP measurement set including a plurality of base stations.

In some embodiments, the CoMP management module may be further configured to transmit the transmission point index to the UE. The transmission point index may correspond to a first base station in the CoMP measurement set scheduled to communicate with the UE. In some embodiments, the scheduled base station may transmit a transmission point index. In other embodiments, base stations that are not scheduled base stations may transmit transmission point indices.

In some embodiments, the base station may be a serving node in the CoMP measurement set configured to manage communications between the UE and a plurality of base stations of the CoMP measurement set.

In some embodiments, the CRS parameters may include the number of CRS antenna ports and/or the CRS frequency shift of individual base stations. These CRS parameters may be transmitted through radio resource control signaling. The transmission point index may be transmitted to the UE in a downlink control information transmission. In some embodiments, the CRS parameters may be transmitted as part of a configuration protocol for the CoMP measurement set. The configuration protocol may also include configuring uplink control channel parameters and channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) parameters for communication between the UE and one or more base stations of the CoMP measurement set.

In various embodiments, a method is disclosed that includes receiving, by a UE via radio resource signaling, CRS parameters associated with individual base stations of a CoMP measurement set including a plurality of base stations; receiving, by the UE via a downlink control information transmission, a transmission point index corresponding to a first base station of a coordinated multipoint measurement set; and generating a PDSCH mapping pattern based on CRS parameters associated with the first base station.

In various embodiments, one or more computer-readable media are disclosed having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a user equipment to receive CRS parameters associated with individual base stations of a CoMP measurement set including a plurality of base stations, the CRS parameters including a number of CRS antenna ends of the individual base stations; receiving a transmission point index corresponding to a first base station of a coordinated multipoint measurement set; and generating a PDSCH mapping pattern based on CRS parameters associated with the first base station.

Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described for purposes of description, a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that the embodiments described herein be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims (33)

1. A user equipment, UE, comprising:

a communication circuit to:

receiving a plurality of Common Reference Signal (CRS) parameter sets via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling from a first transmission point, wherein individual CRS parameter sets of the plurality of CRS parameter sets include a number of CRS antenna ports, a CRS frequency shift, and a transmission point index, wherein the plurality of CRS parameter sets are received as part of a configuration protocol for a coordinated multipoint (CoMP) measurement set, and wherein the configuration protocol further includes configuring uplink control channel parameters and channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) parameters for communication between the UE and one or more base stations of the CoMP measurement set;

receiving a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, containing a 2-bit value indicating one of individual CRS parameter sets to be used by the UE for decoding a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, wherein the PDCCH is received from a second transmission point different from the first transmission point, and wherein the PDSCH is to be transmitted by the second transmission point; and

a mapping circuit coupled to the communication circuit, the mapping circuit to:

identify, based on the 2-bit value, the indicated individual CRS parameter sets from the plurality of CRS parameter sets, wherein the mapping circuitry is further configured to determine a PDSCH Resource Element (RE) mapping pattern based on the identified individual CRS parameter sets, and the PDSCH RE mapping pattern is customized specific to the second transmission point; and

decoding the PDSCH transmitted by a second transmission point based on the identified individual CRS parameter set.

2. The UE of claim 1, wherein the PDSCH is decoded based on the PDSCH RE mapping pattern.

3. The UE of claim 1, wherein the individual CRS parameter set further includes information relating to a number or location of REs dedicated to multicast/broadcast single frequency network, MBSFN, information.

4. The UE of claim 3, wherein the individual CRS parameter sets further include one or more channel State information reference Signal (CSI-RS) parameters.

5. The UE of claim 1, wherein the individual CRS parameter sets further include a transmission point index, and wherein the 2-bit value corresponds to the transmission point index of the indicated individual CRS parameter set.

6. The UE of claim 1, wherein the individual sets of CRS parameters are associated with different transmission points of a long term evolution, LTE, network contained in a coordinated multipoint, coMP, measurement set.

7. The UE of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the 2-bit value is contained in Downlink Control Information (DCI) of the PDCCH, and wherein the PDCCH is detected after the reception of the plurality of CRS parameter sets via the RRC signaling.

8. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a base station to:

transmitting, to a user equipment, UE, a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, containing a 2-bit value for indicating an individual common resource signal, CRS, parameter set from among a plurality of CRS parameter sets that were transmitted to the UE by another base station, wherein individual CRS parameter sets of the plurality of CRS parameter sets contain a number of CRS antenna ports, a CRS frequency shift, and a transmission point index, wherein the plurality of CRS parameter sets are transmitted as part of a configuration protocol for a coordinated multipoint, coMP, measurement set, and wherein the configuration protocol further includes configuring uplink control channel parameters and channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, parameters for communication between the UE and one or more base stations of the CoMP measurement set, wherein the indicated individual CRS parameter sets are to be used by the UE for decoding a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH; wherein, to transmit the PDSCH based on the indicated individual CRS parameter set, the base station is to provide a PDSCH Resource Element (RE) mapping pattern to the PDSCH in accordance with the indicated individual CRS parameter set, the PDSCH RE mapping pattern being customized specific to the base station; and

transmitting the PDSCH to the UE based on the indicated individual CRS parameter sets.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the individual CRS parameter sets further contain information relating to a number or location of REs dedicated to multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) information.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the individual CRS parameter sets further include one or more channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, parameters.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the individual CRS parameter sets further include a transmission point index, and wherein the 2-bit value corresponds to the transmission point index of the indicated individual CRS parameter set.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the plurality of CRS parameter sets are associated with different transmission points of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.

13. The computer-readable medium of any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the 2-bit value is transmitted after the transmission of the plurality of CRS parameter sets.

14. An apparatus to be employed by a user equipment, UE, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of parameter sets from a first transmission point via radio resource control, RRC, signaling, wherein individual parameter sets of the plurality of parameter sets contain a number of common reference signal, CRS, antenna ports, a CRS frequency shift, and a transmission point index, wherein the plurality of parameter sets are received as part of a configuration protocol for a coordinated multipoint, coMP, measurement set, and wherein the configuration protocol further includes configuring uplink control channel parameters and channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, parameters for communication between the UE and one or more base stations of the CoMP measurement set;

means for receiving downlink control information, DCI, comprising a 2-bit value after the plurality of parameter sets are received, the 2-bit value for indicating one of the individual parameter sets to be used by the UE for decoding a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, wherein the DCI is received from a second transmission point different from the first transmission point, and wherein the PDSCH is to be transmitted by the second transmission point;

means for identifying the individual parameter sets indicated by the 2-bit value;

means for determining a PDSCH Resource Element (RE) mapping pattern based on the identified individual parameter set, the PDSCH RE mapping pattern being customized specific to the second transmission point; and

means for decoding the PDSCH based on the identified individual parameter sets.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for decoding the PDSCH is to decode the PDSCH further based on the PDSCH RE mapping pattern.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the individual parameter sets further comprise:

information relating to the number or location of REs dedicated to multicast/broadcast single frequency network MBSFN information; and

one or more channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, parameters.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the individual parameter set further includes a transmission point index, and wherein the 2-bit value corresponds to the transmission point index of the indicated individual parameter set.

18. An apparatus to be employed by a base station, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting a plurality of parameter sets to a user equipment, UE, via radio resource control, RRC, signaling, wherein individual parameter sets of the plurality of parameter sets contain a number of common reference signal, CRS, antenna ports, a CRS frequency shift, and a transmission point index, wherein the plurality of parameter sets are transmitted as part of a configuration protocol for a coordinated multipoint, coMP, measurement set, and wherein the configuration protocol further includes configuring uplink control channel parameters and channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, parameters for communication between the UE and one or more base stations of the CoMP measurement set;

means for transmitting downlink control information, DCI, including a 2-bit value after the plurality of parameter sets are transmitted, the 2-bit value corresponding to the transmission point index of one of the individual parameter sets to indicate that the individual parameter set is to be used by the UE for decoding a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH;

means for determining a PDSCH Resource Element (RE) mapping pattern based on the indicated individual parameter sets, the PDSCH RE mapping pattern being customized specific to the base station; and

means for transmitting the PDSCH to the UE based on the indicated individual parameter sets.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the individual parameter sets further comprise:

information relating to the number or location of REs dedicated to multicast/broadcast single frequency network MBSFN information; and

one or more channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, parameters.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of parameter sets are associated with different transmission points of a long term evolution, LTE, network.

21. An apparatus to be utilized by a base station, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting, to a User Equipment (UE), a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) including a 2-bit value for indicating an individual Common Resource Signal (CRS) parameter set from among a plurality of CRS parameter sets that were transmitted to the UE by another base station, wherein individual CRS parameter sets of the plurality of CRS parameter sets include a number of CRS antenna ports, a CRS frequency shift, and a transmission point index, wherein the plurality of CRS parameter sets are transmitted as part of a configuration protocol for a coordinated multipoint (CoMP) measurement set, and wherein the configuration protocol further includes configuring uplink control channel parameters and channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) parameters for communication between the UE and one or more base stations of the CoMP measurement set, wherein the indicated individual CRS parameter sets are to be used by the UE for decoding a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH); and

means for transmitting the PDSCH to the UE based on the indicated individual CRS parameter sets, comprising means for providing a PDSCH Resource Element (RE) mapping pattern to the PDSCH in accordance with the indicated individual CRS parameter sets, wherein the PDSCH RE mapping pattern is customized specific to the base station.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the individual CRS parameter set further includes information relating to a number or location of REs dedicated to multicast/broadcast single frequency network, MBSFN, information.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the individual CRS parameter sets further include one or more channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, parameters.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the individual CRS parameter sets further include a transmission point index, and wherein the 2-bit value corresponds to the transmission point index of the indicated individual CRS parameter set.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of sets of CRS parameters are associated with different transmission points of a long term evolution, LTE, network.

26. The apparatus of any of claims 21 to 25, wherein the 2-bit value is transmitted after the transmission of the plurality of CRS parameter sets.

27. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a user equipment, UE, to:

receiving a plurality of parameter sets from a first transmission point via radio resource control, RRC, signaling, wherein individual parameter sets of the plurality of parameter sets include a number of common reference signal, CRS, antenna ports, a CRS frequency shift, and a transmission point index, wherein the plurality of parameter sets are received as part of a configuration protocol for a coordinated multipoint, coMP measurement set, and wherein the configuration protocol further includes configuring uplink control channel parameters and channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, parameters for communication between the UE and one or more base stations of the CoMP measurement set;

receiving downlink control information, DCI, containing a 2-bit value after the plurality of parameter sets are received, the 2-bit value to indicate one of the individual parameter sets to be used by the UE for decoding a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, wherein the DCI is received from a second transmission point different from the first transmission point, and wherein the PDSCH is to be transmitted by the second transmission point;

identifying the individual parameter sets indicated by the 2-bit values;

determining a PDSCH Resource Element (RE) mapping pattern based on the identified individual parameter sets, the PDSCH RE mapping pattern being customized specific to the second transmission point; and

decoding the PDSCH based on the identified individual parameter sets.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further having instructions that when executed cause the UE to: the instructions to decode the PDSCH are to cause the UE to decode the PDSCH further based on the PDSCH RE mapping pattern.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the individual parameter set further comprises:

information relating to the number or location of REs dedicated to multicast/broadcast single frequency network MBSFN information; and

one or more channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, parameters.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the individual parameter set further contains a transmission point index, and wherein the 2-bit value corresponds to the transmission point index of the indicated individual parameter set.

31. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a base station to:

transmitting a plurality of parameter sets to a user equipment, UE, via radio resource control, RRC, signaling, wherein individual parameter sets of the plurality of parameter sets contain a number of common reference signal, CRS, antenna ports, a CRS frequency shift, and a transmission point index, wherein the plurality of parameter sets are transmitted as part of a configuration protocol for a coordinated multipoint, coMP, measurement set, and wherein the configuration protocol further includes configuring uplink control channel parameters and channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, parameters for communication between the UE and one or more base stations of the CoMP measurement set;

transmitting downlink control information, DCI, including a 2-bit value after the plurality of parameter sets are transmitted, the 2-bit value corresponding to the transmission point index of one of the individual parameter sets to indicate that the individual parameter set is to be used by the UE for decoding a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH;

determining a PDSCH Resource Element (RE) mapping pattern based on the indicated individual parameter sets, the PDSCH RE mapping pattern being customized specific to the base station; and

transmitting the PDSCH to the UE based on the indicated individual parameter set.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the individual parameter set further comprises:

information relating to the number or location of REs dedicated to multicast/broadcast single frequency network MBSFN information; and

one or more channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, parameters.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the plurality of parameter sets are associated with different transmission points of a long term evolution, LTE, network.