KR20080063820A - Methods and apparatus for broadcasting load information corresponding to neighboring base stations - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods of receiving load information about load conditions at a neighboring base station and then communicating (eg, broadcasting) by the first base station to, for example, mobile terminals in a cell in which the first base station is located; and The apparatus is described. Since the load information of neighboring base stations is communicated to the mobile terminal which is currently connected to the first base station through the reliable communication channel of the first base station, the mobile terminal has load factor information corresponding to the neighboring base station as well as the first base station. Can be expected to be reliably restored. By utilizing this load factor information, the mobile terminal can generate an enhanced uplink interference report. The first base station receives these interference reports from wireless terminals in its cell, thereby facilitating efficient resource allocation and interference control.

Description

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR BROADCASTING LOADING INFORMATION CORRESPONDING TO NEIGHBORING BASE STATIONS

This application is a partial consecutive application of US application Ser. No. 11 / 251,069 filed on October 14, 2005, and a partial continuous application of US application Ser. No. 11 / 302,729 filed December 14, 2005, filed July 14, 2006. To US patent application Ser. No. 11 / 486,714, which is part of a serial application of US Patent Application No. 11 / 487,017, filed Jul. 14, 2006, each of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method for communicating, collecting, measuring, reporting and / or using information that can be used for interference control and / or load management in a wireless communication system. And to an apparatus.

In a wireless multiple access communication system, wireless terminals must contend for system resources in order to communicate with a common receiver over an uplink channel. One example of such a situation is an uplink channel in a cellular wireless system that wireless terminals transmit to a base station receiver. When a wireless terminal transmits on the uplink channel, this generally causes interference to the entire system, such as neighboring base station receivers. Since wireless terminals are distributed, controlling the interference generated by their transmission is a challenge.

Many cellular wireless systems employ simple strategies for controlling uplink interference. For example, CDMA voice systems (eg, IS-95) control the power of the wireless terminals in such a way that the signals of the wireless terminals are received at the base station receiver at about the same power. State-of-the-art CDMA systems such as 1xRTT and 1xEV-DO allow wireless terminals to transmit at different rates to be received at the base station at different powers. However, interference is controlled in a distributed manner that lowers the overall interference level without precisely controlling these wireless terminals, which are the most serious interference sources in the system.

Existing interference-control methods may be used, but interference continues to limit the uplink capacity of wireless systems, and new and / or improved interference control methods will be used.

Provides the base station with information that can be used to determine the amount of signal interference to be generated in neighboring cells and / or sectors when transmission occurs and / or to determine the amount of interference likely to occur due to signal interference by the wireless terminal. It would be useful if you could. It would be particularly desirable if the information that could be used in determining the interference could be supplied to the base station by one or more wireless terminals.

The load affects considering interference in a wireless communication system. It may be advantageous if such information is available to wireless terminals and / or base stations in some implementations or not necessarily in all implementations. It may also be advantageous if wireless terminals and / or base stations utilize this load information in determining interference levels. Thus, there is a need for new methods and / or apparatus for communicating and / or using interference information to control interference.

A wireless terminal that is currently connected to and synchronized to one base station attachment point can receive detailed feature information broadcast from that base station to which it is currently connected, but the wireless terminal may receive from other base stations, such as, for example, adjacent base stations. The information may be difficult to recover. If a wireless terminal can be expected to recover load information for base stations in its vicinity, this information can be used through well controlled interference reports. It would be advantageous if the methods and apparatus facilitated to reliably convey load information to the terminal from multiple base stations currently in the vicinity of the wireless terminal.

Some communication systems may use a centralized control method such as, for example, using a core node to manage interference and / or load balancing, but this method must signal and handle delays and may be legitimately communicated to the core node. You can limit the amount of information you have. Thus, the core node method used in some systems may be prone to slow operation, or may not be able to adapt quickly to change situations leading to efficient allocation of resources.

From the above description, it should be recognized that there is a need for improved communication of information that can be used to control interference and / or new and improved interference management techniques.

Various embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for communicating, collecting, measuring, reporting and / or using information that can be used for interference control and / or load management. Methods and apparatus are described in which load information about load conditions at a neighboring base station is received at any base station and then used at and / or communicated to mobile nodes in the cell in which the receiving base station is located. do. Thus, a base station can communicate information about the load at a particular base station as well as at neighboring base stations such as, for example, physically adjacent base stations. If the mobile station can reliably receive load factor information corresponding to the base station to which it is attached as well as other base stations in its vicinity in the communication system, it can generate interference reports and / or make various decisions. If such a load can be considered, it is advantageous. Thus, information about the load at adjacent base stations can be used to improve interference control. For example, a mobile node may, in some embodiments, beacon ratios in accordance with known signals received, such as, for example, beacons and / or pilot channel signals from a unique base station and from other base stations, such as, for example, adjacent base stations. Generate uplink interference reports such as reports. The interference reports, in some embodiments, also utilize base station load information when available to calculate more accurate reports. By improving the likelihood that the wireless terminal can successfully recover and use the load information of the adjacent base station in generating the interference report, a more tightly controlled interference report is generated. As a result, interference and / or load management by the base station receiving these reports may be more efficient.

According to various embodiments, a base station communicates its load factor information to neighboring base stations via, for example, a backhaul network. The base station receives load information communicated from neighboring base stations and broadcasts load factors corresponding to neighboring base stations as well as unique load factors. Thus, load factor information from multiple base stations in the local vicinity of the communication system can be readily available to the mobile node, thereby facilitating improved interference control. This solves the difficulties in the mobile node receiving this load information directly from the base station in addition to the base station to which it has established a communication link. It should be appreciated that a mobile node in a wireless communication system can currently be connected to and synchronized with a first base station. Such a mobile node may typically be able to reliably receive broadcast information from a particular base station. However, such a mobile node may or may not reliably recover broadcast information from an adjacent base station. For example, a wireless terminal may be able to detect and measure high power beacon signals, but may not be able to recover other control information broadcast signals from an adjacent base station. By transmitting the information about the load at neighboring base stations according to various embodiments, the problem that the mobile node has to receive this information directly wirelessly from the neighboring base station is solved.

An exemplary method of operating a first base station in a wireless communication system that includes a plurality of base stations each having at least one base station attachment point includes a second base station load indicative of a load of a second base station attachment point corresponding to the second base station. Receiving factor information; And broadcasting at least some of the second base station load factor information. An exemplary first base station for use in a multiple access wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations each having at least one base station attachment point is a second base station that indicates the load of a second base station attachment point corresponding to the second base station. A first receiver for receiving load factor information; And a transmitter module for broadcasting at least some of the received second base station load factor information.

Although the various embodiments have been briefly described above, it should be understood that not all embodiments necessarily include the same features and that some of the features described above are not necessary but may be desirable in some implementations. Numerous additional features, embodiments, and advantages of the present invention are described in the following embodiments.

1 illustrates an exemplary wireless communication system implemented in accordance with various embodiments.

2 illustrates example signaling including load factor information communicated to / from base stations via a backhaul network in accordance with various embodiments.

3 illustrates exemplary broadcast signaling transmitted from base stations of the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with various embodiments.

4 illustrates an exemplary wireless terminal interacting with several base stations in its vicinity with respect to exemplary uplink interference reports in accordance with various embodiments.

5 illustrates an exemplary wireless communication system in accordance with various embodiments illustrating exchange of base station load factor information between adjacent base stations via backhaul.

6 illustrates an example wireless communication system in accordance with various embodiments illustrating an exchange of base station load factor information between adjacent base stations and an exemplary wireless terminal connected to both base stations providing a communication path.

7 illustrates an exemplary base station in accordance with various embodiments.

8 illustrates an exemplary wireless terminal in accordance with various embodiments.

9 illustrates a table representing exemplary uplink load factor information.

10 shows a table representing a format for an exemplary uplink interference report.

11 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a base station in accordance with various embodiments.

12 illustrates a combination of FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrating a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a base station in accordance with various embodiments.

1 illustrates an example wireless communication system such as, for example, a multiple access orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless communication system. Exemplary communication system 100 includes a plurality of base stations (BS 1 101, BS 2 102, BS 3 103, BS 4 104, BS 5 105, BS 6 106, BS). 7 (107), BS 8 (108), BS 9 (109), BS 10 (110), BS 11 (111), BS 12 (112), BS 13 (113), BS 14 (114), ... , BS N 115}. Each base station has a corresponding wireless coverage area, such as a cellular coverall area surrounding the base station. The cellular coverage areas of adjacent base stations can overlap and generally overlap. The base stations of system 100 may be single sector base stations, multi-sector base stations, or a combination of some single sector base stations and some multi-sector base stations. Each sector of the base station corresponds to at least one carrier and one downlink / uplink tone block pair. In addition, each sector of a base station can often correspond to multiple sets of multiple carriers and / or downlink / uplink tone block pairs. Each downlink / uplink tone block pair being used by a base station sector corresponds to a base station attachment point.

The base stations 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 of the system 100 are connected to each other via a backhaul network. . The example system 100 also includes a number of network nodes, such as routers 116, 117, 118, 119 connected to base stations, for example. In the system 100, the network node 116 is connected to BS 1 101, BS 2 102, BS4 104 via network links 123, 122, 126, 124, 125, 127, 127, 121. , BS 5 105, BS 7 107, network node 117, and network node 118, respectively. Network node 117 is connected to BS 10 110 and BS 11 111 via network links 138 and 137, respectively. The network node 118 is connected to the BS 3 103, BS 6 106, BS B 108, BS 9 109, and network node via the network links 128, 129, 130, 131, and 132. 119) respectively. The network node 119 is connected to BS 12 112, BS 13 113, BS 14 114, and BS N 115 via network links 133, 139, 134, 135, respectively. The network node 118 is also connected to other network nodes and / or the internet via another network link 122. Network links 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139 are for example optical fiber links, wired links, And / or wireless links.

The wireless communication system 100 also includes a number of wireless terminals (eg, WT 1 140,..., WT N 141), such as mobile nodes, for example, which can move through the communication system. You can also use the base station attachment point in your area. In this example, WT 1 140 is shown connected to BS 5 105 via wireless link 142, and WT N 141 connects to BS 11 111 via wireless link 143. It is shown to be. In general, it should be understood that each base station typically includes a number of wireless terminals to which it is connected and uses its own attachment point or points. The current load at any given attachment point will typically vary over time depending on a number of factors, including the amount of data / information such as traffic to be communicated and / or the number of wireless terminals using the attachment point.

Although two example wireless terminals are shown in the system of FIG. 1, the system 100 generally operates a much larger number of concurrently operating on and competing for radio link resources such as uplink traffic channel segments. It will be understood that it includes the wireless terminals of. The load of a particular base station is the number of wireless terminals currently using that base station for network attachment, the type of such wireless terminals, the applications used by these wireless terminals, and / or the current wireless link needs of these wireless terminals. Accordingly it changes over time. For example, one base station may be subject to significant load in processing due to the use of a very large number of concurrent users using a small amount of uplink radio link traffic channel segments per unit time, such as a very large number of concurrent VoIP calls. have. Other base stations can be heavily loaded by a small number of concurrent uses, but each user needs a large amount of uplink radio link resources per unit time, for example, for each user to transmit digitized high resolution image stream signals. As described above, a large amount of radio link resources are required per unit time. Another base station may have some load, for example due to place and / or time and very few concurrent users.

2 is a diagram 200 illustrating example signaling being communicated over a backhaul network, in accordance with various embodiments. According to various embodiments, at least some of the base stations in the system exchange load information, such as uplink load factor information, to facilitate better allocation of radio link resources and improved interference management. In the example system 100 of FIG. 1, each base station communicates a unique determined uplink load factor to each of the adjacent base stations in the system 100, eg, based on ongoing processing. In some embodiments, uplink load factors may be communicated between base stations according to a schedule such as, for example, a recursive schedule. In some embodiments, uplink factor factors may be communicated between base stations, eg, in response to a request or command from / to another base station. In some embodiments, uplink load factors may be communicated between base stations in response to an occurring situation, such as a determined load factor exceeding a change or limit of the determined load factor, for example. In some embodiments, the base station may transmit its load factor to, for example, selected neighbor base stations when determining a high load level.

Base station 1 101 transmits its uplink load factor via signals 201 and also receives uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 2, 4 and 5 via signals 202, The signals 201 and 202 are communicated over a network link 123. Base station 2 102 transmits its uplink load factor via signals 203 and also through uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 1, 3, 5, and 6 via signals 204. In response, the signals 203 and 204 are communicated over a network link 122. Base station 3 103 transmits its uplink load factor on signals 205 and also receives uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 2 and 6 on signals 206, the signal. The ones 205 and 206 are communicated via a network link 128. Base station 4 104 transmits its uplink load factor via signals 207 and also receives uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 1, 5 and 7 via signals 208, The signals 207 and 208 are communicated over a network link 126. Base station 5 105 transmits its uplink load factor on signals 209 and also on uplink corresponding to base stations 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 on signals 210. Receive load factors, the signals 209 and 210 being communicated over a network link 124. Base station 6 106 transmits its uplink load factor on signals 211 and also corresponds to uplink load factor corresponding to base stations 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9 on signals 212. , The signals 211 and 212 are communicated over a network link 129. Base station 7 107 transmits its uplink load factor through signals 213 and also corresponds to uplink load factor corresponding to base stations 4, 5, 8, 10 and 11 via signals 214. Signals 213 and 214 are communicated over a network link 125. Base station 8 108 transmits its uplink load factor on signals 215 and also on uplink corresponding to base stations 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 and 12 on signals 216. Receive load factors, the signals 215 and 216 being communicated over a network link 130. Base station 9 109 transmits its uplink load factor via signals 217 and also receives uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 6, 8 and 12 via signals 218, The signals 217 and 218 are communicated over a network link 131. Base station 10 110 transmits its uplink load factor via signals 219 and also receives uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 7, 11 and 13 via signals 220, The signals 219 and 220 are communicated over a network link 138. Base station 11 111 transmits its uplink load factor on signals 221 and also on uplink corresponding to base stations 7, 8, 10, 12, 13 and 14 on signals 222. Receive load factors, the signals 221 and 222 being communicated over a network link 137. Base station 12 112 transmits its uplink load factor on signals 223 and also corresponds to uplink load factor corresponding to base stations 8, 9, 11, 14 and N on signals 224. Signals 223 and 224 are communicated over a network link 133. Base station 13 113 transmits its uplink load factor via signals 225 and also receives uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 10, 11 and 14 via signals 226, The signals 225 and 226 are communicated over a network link 139. Base station 14 114 transmits its uplink load factor on signals 227 and also receives uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 11, 12, 13 and N on signals 228. The signals 227 and 228 are communicated over a network link 134. Base station N 115 transmits its uplink load factor on signals 229 and also receives uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 12 and 14 on signals 230, the signal. The fields 229 and 230 are communicated via the network link 135. A given base station and one of its neighboring base stations may or may not be connected through a single network router. For example, in FIG. 1, the base stations 2 and 3 are connected with two different network routers, even though the two base stations exchange load information between them adjacent to each other as shown in FIG. 2.

It should be appreciated that the signals carrying the load factors over the backhaul may include one or more load factors. For example, the signals 202 may include separate signals such as, for example, separate messages for each of the BS 2 load factor, BS 4 load factor, and BS 5 load factor. Alternatively, signals 202 may include load factors for BSs 2, 4, and 5 in a single message.

FIG. 3 is a diagram 300 illustrating exemplary broadcast signaling being transmitted from each of the base stations of the system 100 of FIG. 1, for example according to a cyclical schedule. The operations of the base stations do not need to be timing synchronized with each other and are generally not timing synchronized. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, WT 1 140 currently connected to BS 5 105 may not be timing synchronized to other adjacent base stations, such as base station 2 102 and base station 6 106. In the example of FIG. 3, each base station transmits broadcast signals including beacon signals, pilot channel signals, and uplink load factor signals. The characteristics of the beacon signals are to facilitate easy detection by wireless terminals that cannot be synchronized to clean up with the base station transmitting the beacon signal and / or generate poor channel conditions for the base station transmitting the beacon signal. For example, the beacon signal is, in some embodiments, a relatively high power signal with a concentration of energy in one or a few tones, the width of the beacon signal being larger than a typical OFDM symbol signal, such as Two OFDM symbols with an initial symbol portion and an extended portion. Pilot signals are, in this embodiment, transmitted at a lower per-tone power than beacon signals, more often than beacon signals, and follow predetermined tone hopping patterns. Uplink load factor broadcast signals are communicated as part of the broadcast information signals. A single broadcast signal that communicates the uploading load factor information can communicate one or more uplink load factors. A wireless terminal that is timing synchronized with the downlink signaling of the base station and also has good channel conditions (eg, the wireless terminal is currently connected to the base station attachment point and good channel conditions occur) can recover uplink load factor broadcast signals. Should be However, a wireless terminal using an adjacent base station attachment point may successfully broadcast broadcast uplink load factor signals from a base station to which it is not currently connected, although it may recover and evaluate beacon signals and / or pilot channel signals. May or may not be restored.

According to features of various embodiments, a base station broadcasts its own uplink load factor and uplink load factors corresponding to other base stations, such as, for example, adjacent base stations. Thus, the wireless terminal does not need to rely on an attempt to recover uplink load factors from base stations to which it is not currently connected. Thus, wireless terminals may be easier to receive current uplink load factor information corresponding to various base stations at their current location, creating more useful uplink interference reports, such as more accurate beacon ratio reports, for example. This information can be used for this purpose. For example, if a wireless terminal could receive a load factor corresponding to its current network attachment point but could not receive a load factor corresponding to an adjacent base station, the wireless terminal would recover in calculating the beacon ratio report. You may need to use the default values for unloaded uplink loads. The default factor can typically be chosen to take a conservative way, so the interference report can be potentially higher interference than would actually be generated. However, if the wireless terminal could obtain each of the load factors needed for the interference report, a better and more controlled interference report could be generated, more efficient allocation of radio link resources by the base station and better interference management It may be communicated to the base station for.

Base station 1 101 broadcasts beacon signals 302, pilot signals 301, and signals 303 carrying uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 1, 2, 4, and 5. do. Base station 2 102 receives signals 306 that carry beacon signals 305, pilot signals 304, and uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. Broadcast. Base station 3 103 broadcasts beacon signals 308, pilot signals 307, and signals 309 carrying uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 2, 3, and 6. Base station 4 104 broadcasts beacon signals 311, pilot signals 310, and signals 312 carrying uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 1, 4, 5, and 7. do. Base station 5 105 transmits beacon signals 314, pilot signals 313, and uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Broadcast 315. Base station 6 106 carries signals 317 that carry beacon signals 317, pilot signals 316, and uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9. )). Base station 7 107 carries signals 321 that carry beacon signals 320, pilot signals 319, and uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11. )). Base station 8 108 transmits beacon signals 323, pilot signals 322, and uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12. Broadcast 324. Base station 9 109 broadcasts beacon signals 326, pilot signals 325, and signals 327 carrying uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 6, 8, 9, and 12. do. Base station 10 110 broadcasts beacon signals 329, pilot signals 328, and signals 330 carrying uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 7, 10, 11, and 13. do. Base station 11 111 transmits beacon signals 332, pilot signals 331, and uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14. Broadcast (333). Base station 12 112 carries signals 336 that carry beacon signals 335, pilot signals 334, and uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 8, 9, 11, 14, and N. Broadcast. Base station 13 113 broadcasts beacon signals 338, pilot signals 337, and signals 339 carrying uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 10, 11, 13, and 14. do. Base station 14 114 carries signals 332 that carry beacon signals 331, pilot signals 330, and uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 11, 12, 13, 14, and N. FIG. Broadcast. Base station 15 115 broadcasts beacon signals 344, pilot signals 343, and signals 345 carrying uplink load factors corresponding to base stations 12, 14, and N.

4 is a diagram 400 illustrating an exemplary wireless terminal 1 140 interacting with several base stations in its vicinity. Wireless terminal 1 140 is currently connected to base station 5 105, which is using base station 5 105 as its network attachment point. Wireless terminal 1 140 is currently an On state active user for base station 5 105, timing synchronized for base station 5 105, assigned an On state identifier by base station 5 105, and base station 5 105. Are assigned uplink dedicated control channel segments to enable communication of control information reports. Control channel reports to be communicated to base station 5 105 include uplink interference reports, such as, for example, beacon ratio reports. Several interfering reports, such as beacon ratio reports, compare the received power level of signals from the current attachment point to the received power level of signals from one or more other base stations, such as, for example, adjacent base stations, which reports are also in some embodiments. Includes uplink load factor values such as, for example, gain adjustment values to account for the load levels of the base stations.

Wireless terminal 1 104 is a beacon signals from the base stations (BS 1 (101), BS 2 (102), BS 4 (104), BS 5 (105), BS 6 (106), BS 8 (108)) 302, 305, 311, 314, 317 and 323, respectively. Due to the nature of the beacon signals, the wireless terminal may not be able to synchronize exactly with the base stations 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8, but for each of the base stations 101, 102, 104, 105, 106 and 108. The received power measurement level determination can be obtained. Wireless terminal 140 also receives and evaluates pilot channel signals 313 from base station 5 105. The wireless terminal 140 also receives uplink load factor information corresponding to the base stations 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 from the broadcast information signals 312 from the base station 105. Receive.

The wireless terminal uses the received information to generate uplink interference reports, such as various types of beacon ratio reports, communicated to base station 5 105 via uplink signals. Base station 5 105 is received in managing overall interference, in determining a schedule, in determining maximum uplink data rates, in determining uplink power control information, and / or in determining handoff. Use uplink interference reports. In addition, the uplink load factor information determined by base station 5 105 and / or the uplink load factor information received by base station 5 via the backhoe network may, in some embodiments, vary in scheduling, control, and / or Or directly by the base station 105 as an input in determining the handoff.

One type of exemplary beacon ratio report is, in some embodiments, a particular beacon ratio report that compares the current attachment point base station to another base station, such as a selected adjacent base station. For example, base station 5 105 may send a specific beacon ratio report comparing BS 5 105 to BS 6 106. Under these circumstances, the wireless terminal 140 may report at least one of the received beacon signal 317 measurement information, the received beacon signal 315 measurement information, and the received pilot channel signal 313 measurement information, and an uplink interference report. The uplink load factor information corresponding to base station 5 and base station 6 received via signals 312 is used in determining.

Another type of exemplary beacon ratio report is, in some embodiments, a generic beacon ratio report comparing the current attachment point base station to a mix of different base station broadcast signals detected. For example, base station 5 (105) is the BS 5 (105) from BS 1 (101), BS 2 (102), BS 4 (104), BS 5 (105), BS 6 (106) and BS 8 (108) You can send a generic beacon ratio report to compare to a mix of information. Under these circumstances, wireless terminal 1 140 may receive received beacon signals 302 measurement information, received beacon signals 305 measurement information, received beacon signals 311 measurement information, received beacon signals 317 in determining at least one of measurement information, received beacon signals 323 measurement information, received beacon signal 314 measurement information and received pilot channel signal 313 measurement information, and an uplink interference report. Use uplink load factor information corresponding to base stations 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 received via signals 312.

5 shows an exemplary wireless communication system 500, such as, for example, an OFDM communication system, and also communicates base station load factor information, such as, for example, uplink load factor information, between base stations via a backhaul network and unique load factor information; An example base station is shown that broadcasts load factor information corresponding to another base station, such as, for example, an adjacent base station. Exemplary system 500 is a number of base stations (BS 1 501, BS 2 502, BS 3 503) that are connected to each other and also to other network nodes via a backhaul network as shown in FIG. ), BS 4 (504), BS 5 (505), BS 6 (506), BS 7 (507), BS 8 (508), BS 9 (509), BS 10 (510), BS 11 (511), BS 12 512, BS 13 513, BS 14 514, and BS N 515}. Description 524 shows that the solid lines 526 of FIG. 5 represent a backhaul network infrastructure such as, for example, network links.

System 500 includes a number of wireless terminals (wireless terminal 1 516, ..., wireless terminal N 518). The wireless terminal may be distributed to a system 500 having a base station load such as, for example, a variable base station attachment point uplink load across the system 500. In the case of a given base station, the base station determines its own base station attachment point load.

Wireless terminal 1 516 is currently connected to BS 5 505 via wireless link 520, while wireless terminal 518 is currently connected to base station 11 511 via wireless link 522. . Base station 5 505 has its neighboring base stations (BS 1 501, BS 2 502, BS 4 504, BS 6 506, BS 7 507, BS 8 508) via the backhaul network. } Transmits its load factor via signals 528, 534, 530, 536, 532, 538, respectively. Base station 5 505 corresponds to {BS 1 501, BS 2 502, BS 4 504, BS 6 506, BS 7 507, BS 8 508} via a backhaul network. Load factor information from base stations {BS 1 501, BS 2 502, BS 4 504, BS 6 506, BS 7 507, BS 8 508} 544, 542, 546, 550, and 548, respectively. Base station 5 505 is a broadcast load factor corresponding to broadcast beacon signals 599, broadcast pilot channel signals 598, and base stations 5, 6, 7, 8, 1, 2, and 4. Information is transmitted via broadcast signals 597. Thus, for example, a wireless terminal connected to BS 5, such as WT 1 516, may recover load factor information corresponding to corresponding neighbor base stations via received broadcast signals 597. For example, wireless terminal 1 516 may correspond to base station 5 505, base station 2 502 and base station 6 506 via various uplink interference reports, such as beacon ratio reports communicated to base station 5, for example. The link load factor information can be restored and used. A base station may transmit its load information to its neighbor base stations when it has a high level load, but may or may not transmit this information at other times. In addition, the base station is a neighboring base station where a high level of load occurs, for example, to reduce the amount of overhead in the broadcast channel compared to implementations in which the load factors are directed regardless of the amount of base station load indicated by them. Can limit the broadcasts of its adjacent base station load factors. Alternatively, the base station may transmit load factor information corresponding to heavily loaded base stations at a faster rate (eg, frequency) than load factor information for adjacent base stations that are slightly loaded. In such implementations, if the terminal does not receive the load factor of one specified neighboring base station from the base station to which it has been attached, the terminal has been slightly loaded by the neighboring base station and thus the base station has, for example, a beacon ratio. It may be assumed that the first default value of the load factor for the neighboring base station is used when calculating the interference report, such as the report. The default value can be set to indicate that the neighboring base station is under some load. In a communication system in which load information of neighboring base stations is not broadcast, if the wireless terminal cannot recover the load information from the adjacent base station, the wireless terminal receives load factor information corresponding to the base station to which it is not attached. It should be pointed out that the failure to do so can not be used as an indicator that a base station for which no load factor information is received has taken some load. In some such implementations, load factor information for neighboring base stations that are heavily loaded is broadcast but load factor information for other base stations is not received when calculating beacon ratio reports than the default values used in non-broadcasting systems. The wireless terminal uses a different value, such as, for example, a second default value for the uplink load factor. This 2 default factor typically assumes that there is little load on the adjacent base stations, since a failure to receive conservative methods, such as base station load factor information, cannot be interpreted as an indicator for some load in this case. May be chosen to take the method. Thus, the first and second load factor default values corresponding to whether or not load factor information for heavily loaded base stations are normally transmitted by the base station will be different from each other.

6 illustrates an exemplary wireless communication system 600 in accordance with various embodiments, and also for exchanging base station load factor information between an exemplary wireless terminal connected to two adjacent base stations and the adjacent base stations and base station load factor information. To provide a wireless communication path for the transmission of. An exemplary wireless communication system 600, such as an OFDM communication system, is for example base station 1 602 and base station connected together to other network nodes via network links 616, 618 and / or other network nodes and / or links, for example. Multiple base stations, including two (604).

Exemplary communication system 600 includes a number of wireless terminal devices, such as, for example, mobile nodes, which travel through the system and also attach to a base station having a coverage area, such as, for example, the cell in which they are located. can do. In the example communication system 600, at least some of the wireless terminals support simultaneous connections with two base station attachment points. One wireless terminal P 614 is shown as connected to BS 1 601 via a first wireless link 630 and to BS 2 604 via a second wireless link 632. It is a terminal. Note that for the sake of explanation, wireless terminal P 614 is simultaneously connected with two base stations in this figure. However, it is also possible for wireless terminal P 614 to be connected at different moments with its two base stations. For example, wireless terminal P 614 may be connected to base station 1 first, and then disconnect and handoff to base station 2. FIG. After wireless terminal P 614 is connected to base station 2, the wireless terminal P 614 may inform base station 2 of the load information of base station 1. Additional wireless terminals (WT 1 606,..., WT N 608) are connected to BS 1 602 via wireless links 620,..., 622, respectively. Additional wireless terminals (WT 1 '610, ..., WT N' 612) are connected to BS 2 604 via wireless links 624, ..., 626, respectively.

BS 1 602 determines its own load factor and communicates the value to WT P 614 via message 634 being transmitted, which WT P 614 then generates message 638 to generate the BS. Send to 2 (604). BS 2 604 determines its own load factor and communicates the value to WT P 614 via message 640 sent, which WT P 614 then generates message 636 to BS 1. Send to 604. Alternatively, the WT P may detect a situation such as a command from base station 1, a request from base station 2, or a predetermined schedule, or a change in base station 1 load factor or BS 2 is associated with a BS 1 load. In response to acknowledgment of broadcasting stale information, the BS 1 load factor may be recovered from base station 1 broadcast signal 646 and transmitted to base station 2 604 via signal 638. . Similarly, the WT P may be a detected situation such as a command from base station 2, a request from base station 1, or a predetermined schedule, or a change in base station 2 load factor, or a BS 1 load (with respect to BS 2 load). In response to acknowledgment of broadcasting stale) information, the BS 2 load factor may be recovered from the base station 2 broadcast signal 652 and transmitted to the base station 1 602 via the signal 636.

Base station 1 602 is broadcast load factor signals 646 such as broadcast beacon signals 642, broadcast pilot channel signals 644, and uplink load factors corresponding to, for example, base station 1 and base station 2. ). Base station 2 604 is broadcast load factor signals 652 such as broadcast beacon signals 650, broadcast pilot channel signals 648, and uplink load factors corresponding to, for example, base station 1 and base station 2. ).

WTs currently connected to BS 1 602 but not to BS 2 604, such as WT 1 606, are high power, easily detectable beacon signals 650, BS 1 from BS 2 604. Beacon signal 642 from 602 and pilot channel signal 644 from BS 1 602 are received and measured. WT 1 606 provides uplink load factor information corresponding to BS 1 and BS 2 recovered from broadcast signals 646, measurements of the received strength of beacon 650, and interference such as, for example, beacon ratio reports. At least one of the received strength of the beacon 642 and the pilot 644 is used in determining the report. The determined interference report is then communicated to BS 602 via dedicated control channel segment signals using wireless link 620.

WTs currently connected to BS 4 604 but not to BS 1 602, such as WT 1 ′ 610, are high power, easily detectable beacon signals 642, BS from BS 1 602. Beacon signal 650 from 2 604 and pilot channel signal 648 from BS 2 604 are received and measured. WT 1 '610 may be used to determine uplink load factor information corresponding to BS 1 and BS 2 recovered from broadcast signals 652, measurements of the received strength of beacon 642, and beacon ratio reports, for example. At least one of the received strength of the beacon 650 and the pilot 648 is used in determining the interference report. The determined interference report is then communicated to BS 604 via dedicated control channel segment signals using wireless link 624.

7 illustrates an example base station 700 implemented in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary base station 700 may be any of the base stations of system 100 of FIG. 1, system 500 of FIG. 5, or system 600 of FIG. 6. Base station 700 may be used in a multiple access wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations, each of which includes at least one base station attachment point. In some embodiments, base station 700 includes a plurality of sectors. In some embodiments, base station 700 uses a number of different carriers. For example, a given sector / carrier combination may correspond to a base station attachment point. Exemplary base station 700 includes a receiver module 702, a transmitter module 704, a processor 706, an I / O interface module 708 that are connected to each other via a bus 712 that allows various elements to exchange data and information. ) And memory 710.

Receiver module 702, such as an OFDM receiver, is coupled to receive antenna 714, which enables a base station to receive uplink signals from wireless terminals. The uplink signals receive access signals, timing control signals, power control signals, traffic channel signals and dedicated control channel signals. In some embodiments, the uplink signals include base station load factor information corresponding to other base stations, for example the wireless terminal provides the information as relay information. For example, the base station 700 may, in some embodiments, receive base station load factor information corresponding to attachment points of physically adjacent base stations from the mobile communication device that received the adjacent base station load factor information via a wireless communication link with the adjacent base station. Receive For example, a mobile communication device may be maintaining two wireless communication links simultaneously and may be used as a relay between two adjacent base stations. Dedicated control channel signals include interference reports such as beacon ratio reports using uploading factor information. For example, if it is assumed that the first and second wireless terminals are using the same base station 700 attachment point, the wireless receiver module 702 receives the first uplink interference report from the first wireless terminal and receives from the second wireless terminal. Receive a second uplink interference report.

Transmitter module 704, such as an OFDM transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna 716, which enables base station 700 to transmit downlink signals to wireless terminals. Downlink signals include various broadcast signals, such as beacon signals and / or pilot channel signals used to identify and / or measure communication channels. The downlink signals also include broadcast channel signals that include uplink load factor information corresponding to base station 700 and also corresponding to other base stations, such as, for example, adjacent base stations. Some of the broadcast signals transmitted by the transmitter module 704 include received base station load factor information corresponding to other base stations. Downlink signals also include control signals and traffic channel segment signals.

I / O interface module 708 connects the base stations to other networks and / or to the Internet, such as other base stations. Thus, I / O interface module 708 facilitates the exchange of load factor information over a backhoe network between base station 700 and other base stations, such as, for example, adjacent base stations. I / O interface module 708 includes a network interface receiver 718 and a network interface transmitter 720. The base station 700 receives the load factor information of the physically adjacent base station using the network interface receiver 718 through a backhaul link between the base station 700 and another base station to which the receiver 718 is connected. Base station 700 transmits the determined uplink load factor information corresponding to the unique attachment point or points via network interface transmitter 720, for example, to other adjacent base stations. Base station 700 receives, via network interface receiver 718, uplink load factor information corresponding to attachment points of other base stations, such as, for example, adjacent base stations. I / O interface module 708 also enables a wireless terminal using base station 700 attachment point to participate in a communication session with another wireless terminal using attachment point of another base station.

Memory 710 includes routines 722 and data / information 724. The processor 706, such as the CPU, executes the routines 722 and uses the data / information 724 in the memory 710 to control the operation of the base station 700, and implements the steps of the methods. Routines 722 include communication routines 726 and base station control routines 728. Communication routines 726 implement various communication protocols used by base station 700. Base station control routines 728 include beacon module 730, pilot module 732, uplink load factor determination module 734, resource allocation module 736, interference report recovery module 738, load factor recovery module ( 740, and a load factor broadcast signal generation module 742.

Beacon module 730 uses data / information 724 that includes beacon signal information 756 to control the generation and transmission of beacon signals to be broadcast. Pilot signal module 732 uses data / information 724 that includes pilot signal information 754 to control the generation and transmission of pilot channel signals to be broadcast. Uplink load factor determination module 734 determines uplink load factors indicative of uplink load for one or more attachment points of base station 700. For example, the uplink load factor determination module 734 determines the determined base station load factor 748.

The resource allocation module 736 allocates uplink resources according to received uplink interference report information, such as for example received first and second uplink interference reports. The received uplink interference leftes are, in some embodiments, a function of the transmitted load factor information corresponding to the base station attachment point of base station 700 and the base station attachment point of another base station such as, for example, an adjacent base station. In some embodiments, the first interference report from the first wireless terminal is a received power level measured by the first wireless terminal of a broadcast signal, such as a beacon or pilot channel signal from base station 700, base station 700. Received power level measured by a first wireless terminal of a broadcast signal, such as a beacon or pilot channel signal from another base station, such as an adjacent base station, and a corresponding uplink load factor corresponding to an attachment point It is a function of the second uplink load factor corresponding to the attachment point of the base station.

The interference report recovery module 738 uses the base station 700 attachment point to recover uplink interference reports, such as, for example, beacon ratio reports communicated from wireless terminals. The received WT 1 interference report information 750 and the received wireless terminal N interference report information 752 are information output from the interference report recovery module 738 and used as input by the resource allocation module 736.

The load factor recovery module 740 recovers load factors corresponding to other base stations, such as, for example, adjacent base stations via messages via the network interface receiver 718 and / or the wireless receiver module 702. The received base station 2 load factor 744 and the received base station N load factor N 746 represent the output from the load factor recovery module 740.

The load factor broadcast signal generation module 742 carries one or more load factors such as, for example, one or more of the base station 2 load factor 744, the base station N load factor 746, and the determined base station load factor 748. Control the generation and broadcast of signals via transmitter 704. In some embodiments where the base station 700 includes multiple setters and / or uses multiple carriers, the load factor broadcast signal generation module selectively broadcasts load factor information related to a given attachment point while simultaneously storing other stored loads. Suppress transmission of factor information. For example, wireless terminals using a particular base station attachment point of a sector may not be related to uplink load factor information corresponding to some other attachment points due to the coverage direction of the adjacent base station sector and / or different carriers being used.

The data / information 724 may include received load factors (received base station 2 load factor 744, ..., received base station N load factor 746) corresponding to multiple base station attachment points of other base stations; The determined base station load factor 748 corresponding to the BS 700 attachment point, a plurality of interference report information (received WT 1 interference report information 750, ..., received WT N interference report information 752), Pilot signal information 754, beacon signal information 756, load factor broadcast schedule information 758, and system base station information 760. System base station information 760 includes information corresponding to a plurality of adjacent base stations (adjacent base station 2 information 762, ..., neighbor base station n information 764). The data / information 724 also includes a plurality of sets of WT allocation resource information (WT 1 allocation resource information 766,..., WN N allocation resource information 768). The WT 1 allocation resource information 766 includes base station allocation identification information 770, uplink dedicated control channel information 772, uplink traffic channel segment information 774, and handoff information 776. WT N allocation resource information 768 includes base station allocation identification information 778, uplink dedicated control channel information 780, uplink traffic channel segment information 782, and handoff information 784.

The received base station 2 load factor 744 and the received base station N load factor 746 are the outputs of the load factor recovery module 740, while the determined base station load factor 748 is the output of the decision module 734. . In the case of an example embodiment, information describing example uplink load factors and corresponding values is included in table 900 of FIG. 9 to represent load factor information.

The received WT 1 interference report information 750 and the received WT N interference report information 752, such as beacon ratio report information, are outputs of the interference report recovery module 736. In the case of an exemplary embodiment, information describing the exemplary format for the beacon ratio report is presented in table 1000 of FIG. 10.

Pilot signal information 754 includes information identifying radio link resources, such as, for example, OFDM tone-symbols, in a cyclical downlink channel structure in which pilot signals are to be broadcast, and power level information corresponding to the pilot tone signals. . Beacon signal information 756 includes information identifying which radio link resources, such as OFDM tone-symbols, will be used to convey beacon signals and power levels associated with the beacon signals. In some embodiments, the beacon signal is a narrowband signal that is broadcast at a higher power per tone level than other types of downlink signals, for example, occupies one or fewer tones with high energy concentration, and transmits OFDM symbol It has a duration that exceeds the time period and thus facilitates easy detection by the wireless terminal which may or may not be synchronized to the transmitter of the beacon signal.

The load factor broadcast schedule module 758 requires the base station 700 to broadcast specific attachment points or points and specific uplink load factors corresponding to attachment points of other base stations, such as, for example, adjacent base stations. Includes information to identify. The load factor broadcast schedule information 758 is used by the load factor broadcast signal generation module 742. In some embodiments, a predetermined load factor broadcast schedule known to the base station 700 and wireless terminals is utilized, thus eliminating the need to include at least some base station attachment point identification information in broadcast signaling. This reduces signaling overhead.

Neighbor base station 2 information 762 associates base station 2 identification information, information identifying which carriers are used by base station 2, and specific attachment points of base station 2 with respect to uplink interference with a particular attachment point of base station 700; Information, and whether the particular received BS 2 uplink load factor corresponding to the base station 2 attachment point should be broadcast to wireless terminals using the particular base station 700 attachment point.

The WT 1 allocation resource information 766 includes information determined by the resource allocation module 736. Base station assignment identification information 770 includes, for example, an On state identifier temporarily assigned to base station 700. The uplink dedicated control channel information 772 is a WT for which certain dedicated control channel segments communicate uplink control information reports (at least some of which are uplink interference reports), for example in accordance with predetermined mapping information. Contains information identifying whether it has been assigned to 1. Uplink traffic channel information 774 includes information identifying, for example, which uplink traffic channel segments have been assigned to WT 1 in a predetermined uplink channel structure. Handoff information 776 includes, for example, handoff initiation signaling information to be sent to WT 1 in response to uplink load considerations by resource allocation module 734.

8 illustrates an example wireless terminal 800 that is, for example, a mobile node in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary wireless terminal 800 includes a first receiver module 802, a first transmitter module 804, a processor 806, connected to each other via a bus 812 that allows various elements to exchange data information with each other. I / O devices 808 and memory 810. In some embodiments, for example, in some embodiments supporting simultaneous wireless communication links having at least two different base station attachment points, the second receiver module 818 to which the wireless terminal 800 is connected via the bus 812. And the second transmitter module 820.

A first receiver module 802, such as an OFDM module, is coupled to a receive antenna 814 that enables the wireless terminal 800 to receive downlink signals from base stations. The downlink signals include broadcast beacon signals, broadcast pilot channel signals, and broadcast uplink load factor signals that carry uplink load factor information corresponding to attachment points or points of the base station. Broadcasts signal and uplink load factor information corresponding to attachment points or points of other base stations, e.g., base stations adjacent to the base station that transmitted the broadcast load factor signals being received. The downlink signals also include resource allocation signals such as, for example, signals carrying a base station assigned radio terminal identifier, signals carrying traffic channel segment assignments, and signals carrying dedicated control channel assignment information. In some embodiments, the downlink signals include messages sent to the WT 800 that communicates base station attachment point load information, such that the WT 800 can relay that information to other adjacent base stations to which it is also connected. have. In some embodiments, the downlink signals include at least one of a request to transmit load factor information and a command to transmit load factor information.

A first transmitter module 804, such as an OFDM transmitter, is coupled to a transmit antenna 816 that enables the wireless terminal 800 to transmit uplink signals to base stations. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for the receiver module 802 and the transmitter module 804, for example in conjunction with the duplex module. Uplink signals are dedicated control channel reports, uplink traffic channel segment signals, access signals, power control signals, including interference reports, such as beacon ratio reports using dedicated control channel segments assigned to a wireless terminal. , Timing control signals, and handoff signals. In some embodiments, the uplink signals also include messages carrying uplink load factor information corresponding to the base station attachment point, eg, the wireless terminal serves as a relay between two base stations.

A second receiver module 818, such as an OFDM receiver, is coupled to a receive antenna 822 that enables the wireless terminal 800 to receive downlink signals from base stations. The downlink signals include broadcast beacon signals, broadcast pilot channel signals, and broadcast uplink load factor signals that carry uplink load factor information corresponding to attachment points or points of the base station. Broadcasts signal and uplink load factor information corresponding to attachment points or points of other base stations, e.g., base stations adjacent to the base station that transmitted the broadcast load factor signals being received. The downlink signals also include resource allocation signals, such as signals carrying base station assigned wireless terminal identifiers, signals carrying traffic channel segment assignments, and signals carrying dedicated control channel assignment information. In some embodiments, the downlink signals include messages delivered to the WT 800 that communicates base station attachment point load information, such that the WT 800 can relay the information to another adjacent base station to which it is also connected. have. In some embodiments, the downlink signals include at least one of a request to transmit load factor information and a command to transmit load factor information.

A second transmitter module 820, such as an OFDM transmitter, is coupled to a transmit antenna 824 that enables the wireless terminal 800 to transmit uplink signals to base stations. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for the receiver module 818 and the transmitter module 824, for example in conjunction with the duplex module. Uplink signals are dedicated control channel reports, uplink traffic channel segment signals, access signals, power control signals, including interference reports, such as beacon ratio reports using dedicated control channel segments assigned to a wireless terminal. , Timing control signals, and handoff signals. In some embodiments, the uplink signals also include messages carrying uplink load factor information corresponding to the base station attachment point, eg, the wireless terminal serves as a relay between two base stations. The inclusion of two receiver / transmitter pairs 802/804, 818/820 present in some embodiments facilitates supporting simultaneous wireless connections with two different base station attachment points, which is a wireless functioning as a relay. It facilitates transmitting the base station attachment point uplink load factor information between the terminal 800 and an adjacent base station.

I / O devices 808 such as keypads, keyboards, microphones, switches, displays, speakers, etc. allow a user of the WT 800 to enter data / information, access output data / information, Allows you to control at least some functions.

Memory 810 includes routines 826 and data / information 828. The processor 806, such as the CPU, executes the routines 826 and uses the data / information 828 in the memory 800 to control the operation of the wireless terminal 800, and implements the steps of the methods. Routines 826 include communication routines 830 and base station control routines 832. Communication routines 803 implement various communication protocols used by wireless terminal 800. Base station control routines 832 include beacon signal measurement module 834, pilot signal measurement module 836, load factor recovery module 838, and interference report generation module 840. In some embodiments, such as in some embodiments that support two simultaneous wireless communication links to two different base station attachment points, the wireless terminal includes a load factor relay module 842.

Beacon signal measurement module 834 measures the received signal strength of beacon signals broadcast from base station attachment points. Pilot signal measurement module 836 measures received signal strength of pilot channel signals broadcast from base station attachment points.

The load factor recovery module 838 recovers load factors corresponding to base station attachment points from broadcast base station signals. For example, the base station broadcasts its own base station attachment points and load factors corresponding to the attachment points of adjacent base stations over its broadcast channel, and the wireless terminal 800 signals via the first receiver module 802. And restore the load factor information using the load factor recovery module 838.

The interference report generation module 840, such as the beacon ratio report generation module, may obtain information obtained from the beacon signal module 834 and / or the pilot signal measurement module 836 in generating an interference report such as, for example, a specific or general beacon ratio report. , And load factor recovery module 838. The load factor recovery relay module 842 controls the relaying of uplink load factor information received at adjacent base stations via wireless communication channels. For example, a wireless terminal may be a base station attachment point of a first base station using a receiver / transmitter pair 802/804 and a base station attachment of a second base station adjacent to the first base station using a receiver / transmitter pair 818/820. Connected to the point at the same time, the received uplink load factor information corresponding to the first base station can be signaled via a message to the second base station, the message is generated and signaled under the control of module 842. Thus, via module 842, load factor information can be properly transferred between adjacent base stations utilizing the wireless terminal 800 currently connected to two adjacent base stations without the need for using a backhaul to transmit the load factor information. Can be communicated.

Data / information 828 includes a number of received and reconstructed uplink load factors (received base station 1 load factor 844, ..., received base station N load factor 846), measured corresponding to the base station. Pilot signal information {measured pilot signal information corresponding to BS 1 848, ..., measured pilot signal information corresponding to base station N 849}, measured beacon signal information {corresponding to base station 1 850] The measured beacon signal information, the measured beacon signal information corresponding to the base station N 851), the generated interference report information 852, the system base station information 864, and the allocated resource information 854. In some embodiments, data / information 828 also includes base station load factor relay message information 870.

Received base station load factors (received base station 1 load factor 844,... Received base station N load factor 846) are the outputs of load factor recovery module 838. Individual base stations often have, for example, several uplink load factors corresponding to a number of different attachment points at that base station, and the wireless terminal often restores several load factors corresponding to different base station attachment points of the same base station. Understand, store and / or transmit.

The measured pilot signal information {BS 1 pilot signal information 848, BS N pilot signal information 849} are outputs of the module 836, whereas the measured beacon signal information {BS 1 beacon signal information 850, BS N beacon signal information 851} are the outputs of the beacon signal measurement module 834. Measured pilot signal information (BS N) 849 is shown in dashed boxes to indicate that in some embodiments may not be present. For example, an embodiment that supports two simultaneous connections to two different base station attachment points, such as an embodiment comprising a second receiver module 818 / second transmitter module 820, may be two base stations of pilot channel signals. The measurements from can be restored simultaneously. However, some other embodiments, such as some embodiments using a single receiver module 802, may support a single set of pilot signal measurements 848 corresponding to the current attachment point and may be single from other base stations. Beacon signal measurements can be used to evaluate the intensity.

Generated interference report information 852, such as general or specific beacon ratio reports using pilot and / or beacon signal measurements, and uplink load factor information are outputs of interference report generation module 840. System base station information 864 includes information corresponding to a plurality of base stations (base station 1 information 866, ..., base station n information 868). Base station 1 information 866 includes information corresponding to different attachment points of base station 1, including downlink timing and frequency structure information, uplink timing and frequency structure information, carrier information, tone block information, and base station uplink load factor. Schedule information that includes information identifying when to broadcast them, and information identifying which adjacent base station attachment points are important to each of the attachment points of base station 1.

The allocated resource information 854 is a dedicated control channel assigned to the wireless terminal for transmitting base station assignment identification information 856, such as uplink control reports, for example uplink interference reports, such as a base station assigned wireless terminal ON status identifier. Uplink dedicated control channel information 858 such as information identifying segments, for example uplink traffic channel information 860 such as information identifying uplink traffic channel segments assigned to a wireless terminal, and handoff information 862. It includes.

Base station load factor relay message information 870 includes signals generated by the load factor relay module, such as signals used to convey an uplink load factor from one base station to an adjacent base station via wireless terminal 800.

9 shows a table 900 of example uplink load factor information. The first column 952 represents eight different values, for example using three information bits, which may be communicated to the wireless terminals via a downlink broadcast channel message corresponding to an attachment point of the base station sector and / or for example. It is communicated via a message between base stations, such as adjacent base stations, the value of which is used to indicate the uplink load factor for the base station attachment point. Second column 954 represents the uplink load factor b _i corresponding to the base station attachment point in dB and represents different levels of uplink load that can be communicated according to this exemplary format. The load factor value b _i communicated is used through the wireless terminals in generating interference reports, such as generating beacon ratio reports, for example. Communication values (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) depend on the load factor (0, -1, -2, -3, -4, -6, -9, -infinite) in dB. Each corresponds. Thus, an exemplary load factor, expressed as real values, may take eight possible values in the range of 1 to 0.

10 shows a table 1000 for the format of an example 4-bit uplink interference report, such as for example the 4-bit downlink beacon ratio report (DLBNR4). First column 1002 identifies sixteen alternative bit patterns that can be represented by the report. Second column 1004 identifies the reported adjusted power calculation level, such as the interpretation associated with each potential bit pattern, such as the ratio of wireless terminal measurement received downlink beacon channel signals from two or more base station attachment points, The ratio is gain adjusted using uplink load factors corresponding to attachment points. In the example of table 1000, the report value is between -3 dB and 26 dB.

One example specific beacon ratio report uses measured beacon signals, where each beacon is transmitted at the same power level (= (PB ₀ * b ₀ ) / (PB ₁ * b ₁ )), where PB ₀ is The wireless terminal measurement power of the beacon signal received from the serving base station to which the wireless terminal is currently connected, PB ₁ is the wireless terminal measurement power of the beacon received from the adjacent base station, and b ₀ is the uplink load factor of the base station currently serving B ₁ is an uplink load factor of an adjacent base station.

One exemplary generic beacon ratio report uses measured beacon signals, where each beacon has the same power level (= (PB ₀ * b ₀ ) / ((PB ₁ * b ₁ ) + (PB ₂ * b ₂₎ PB ₀ is the wireless terminal measured power of the beacon signal received from the serving base station to which the wireless terminal is connected, PB ₁ is the wireless terminal measured power of the beacon received from the first neighbor base station attachment point, PB ₂ is the wireless terminal measurement power of the beacon received from the second neighbor base station attachment point, b ₀ is the uplink load factor of the base station currently serving, b ₁ is the uplink load factor of the first neighbor base station attachment point, b ₂ is the uplink load factor of the second neighbor base station attachment point. This exemplary type of beacon ratio report can be extended for N adjacent base station attachment points, i.e. (PB ₀ * b _o ) / ((PB ₁ * b ₁ ) + (PB ₂ * b ₂ ) +, ..., + (PB _N * b _n )), where PB _N is the received power measured on the Nth neighbor base station attachment point, and b _n is the uplink load factor of the Nth neighbor base station attachment point.

Another exemplary generic beacon ratio report uses measured beacon signals, where each beacon has the same power level (= (PB ₀ * b ₀ ) / max ((PB ₁ * b ₁ ), (PB ₂ * b) ₂ ))), PB ₀ is the wireless terminal measurement power of the beacon signal received from the serving base station to which the wireless terminal is connected, and PB ₁ is the wireless terminal measurement power of the beacon received from the first neighbor base station attachment point , PB ₂ is the wireless terminal measurement power of the beacon received from the second neighbor base station attachment point, b ₀ is the uplink load factor of the currently serving base station, b ₁ is the uplink load factor of the first neighbor base station attachment point , b ₂ is the uplink load factor of the second neighbor base station attachment point. This example type of beacon ratio report may be extended for N adjacent base station attachment points, i.e. (PB ₀ * b _o ) / max ((PB ₁ * b ₁ ), (PB ₂ * b ₂ ), ..., (PB _N * b _n )), where PB _N is the received power measured on the Nth neighbor base station attachment point, and b _n is the uplink load factor of the Nth neighbor base station attachment point.

In some embodiments, different base station attachment points transmit their beacon signals at different power levels, and additional gain adjustment factors are utilized in the beacon ratio reports. In some embodiments, a mix of pilot and beacon signals is utilized in the beacon ratio report, and additional gain adjustment factors are utilized to equalize the scaling. In some embodiments, different base station attachment points transmit pilots at different power levels, and additional gain adjustment factors are used to equalize the scaling.

If the wireless terminal cannot receive neighbor base station load factor information, it should be noted that the wireless terminal may have to use the default value for the non-restored neighbor base station load factor that it needs to calculate the report. In such a situation, the wireless terminal may use a conservative default value for the non-restored load factor of the adjacent base station, resulting in an overestimation of the interference level. This will likely result in wasted radio link resources when the base station allocates resources in consideration of the interference report. Thus, by communicating adjacent base station load factors over the current connection, the possibility that the wireless terminal can successfully restore the load factors of the adjacent base station is significantly improved. This can lead to more accurate and better controlled interference reports. The base station can be provided with more consistent and accurate interference reports, thereby more efficiently allocating resources and managing the interference.

11 shows a flowchart 1100 of an exemplary method of operating a first base station in a multiple access wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations. Each base station of the wireless communication system includes at least one base station attachment point. The first base station may be a single sector base station or a multi sector base station. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the attachment point of a single sector base station corresponds to a cell, downlink carrier, downlink tone block, corresponding uplink carrier and corresponding uplink tone block combination; On the other hand, the attachment point of a multi-sector base station corresponds to a cell, downlink carrier, downlink tone block, corresponding uplink carrier and corresponding uplink tone block combination.

Operation begins in step 1102, where power is provided and initialized to the first base station. Operation proceeds from step 1102 to step 1104. In step 1104, the first base station broadcasts a first broadcast signal, such as, for example, a beacon or pilot channel signal. In some embodiments, the first base station broadcasts both beacon signals and pilot channel signals. In some embodiments, the first broadcast signal is broadcast according to a cyclical downlink channel structure. Operation proceeds from step 1104 to step 1106. In step 1106, the first base station determines a first uplink load factor that represents the uplink load for the first base station attachment point, the first base station attachment point corresponding to the first base station. Next, in step 1108, the first base station transmits the first uplink load factor using a downlink broadcast channel. Operation proceeds from step 1108 to step 1110.

In step 1110, the first base station receives second base station load factor information indicating a load of a second base station attachment point corresponding to the second base station. In some embodiments, the second base station is physically adjacent to the first base station, and receiving the second base station load factor information receives the second base station load factor information over a backhaul link between the first and second base stations. It involves doing. In some embodiments, the second base station is physically adjacent to the first base station, and receiving the second base station load factor information from the mobile communication device receiving the second base station load factor information via a wireless communication link. Receiving second base station load factor information. For example, a mobile communication device is, in some embodiments, a mobile wireless terminal supporting several simultaneous wireless communication links.

Next, at step 1112, the first base station broadcasts at least some of the received second base station load factor information. For example, a first base station broadcasts a second uplink load factor corresponding to the second base station attachment point, wherein the second uplink load factor is included in at least part of the second base station load factor information. In some embodiments, transmitting at least some of the second base station load factor information uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signals. Operation proceeds from step 1112 to step 1114 or step 1118. Step 1114 and 1116 are performed for some base stations in some embodiments but not for other base stations. For example, if the first base station has several adjacent base stations of a wireless communication system that potentially interfere with each other using the same uplink frequency spectrum, step 1114 and step 1116 may in some embodiments be the first base station. Is performed by.

In step 1114, the first base station receives second uplink load factor information indicative of the uplink load for the third base station attachment point, for example via a backhaul network, the third base station attachment point being the third base station and the third base station attachment point. Corresponds to one of two base stations, and the third base station is adjacent to the first base station. In some embodiments where the third attachment point corresponds to the second base station, the second and third base station attachment points correspond to, for example, different adjacent sectors of the second base station. Next, in step 1116, the first base station transmits the third uplink load factor using the downlink broadcast communication channel. Operation proceeds from step 1116 to step 1118.

In step 1118, the first base station receives a first uplink interference report, such as, for example, a beacon ratio report, from the first wireless terminal, and in step 1120, the first base station receives a second up, such as, for example, a beacon ratio report. Receive a link interference report from a second wireless terminal. In some embodiments, the first and second uplink interference reports are a function of the first and second load factors transmitted. In various embodiments, the first uplink interference report is based on the received power level measured by the first wireless terminal of the first broadcast signal, the first uplink load factor, and the second broadcast signal from the second base station. It is a function of the received power level measurement by the first wireless terminal, and the second uplink load factor. In some such embodiments, the first broadcast signal from the first base station is one of the beacons and pilot channel signals and the second broadcast signal from the second base station is one of the beacons and pilot channel signals.

In some embodiments of some base stations for at least some of the first and second interference reports, the first and second uplink interference reports are determined according to the first, second and third uplink load factors. Determined by the second wireless terminals. For example, the first base station can have at least two adjacent base stations sharing the same frequency spectrum, and the first and second interference reports use a general type of report using power measurement information and load factor information from three base stations. Can be entered. Alternatively, the first and second interference reports compare power measurements received from two base stations, such as the first base station and one other selected neighboring base station, and also load from the first base station and one other selected neighboring base station. There may be certain types of interference reports that use the factor information.

Next, at step 1122, the first base station determines uplink resource allocation according to the received first and second uplink interference reports. In some embodiments, determining the uplink resource allocation in accordance with the received first and second uplink interference reports includes scheduling traffic channel segments. In some embodiments, determining uplink resource allocation in accordance with the received first and second uplink interference reports initiates a handoff of the first wireless terminal from a first attachment point to a second attachment point. Include. In some embodiments, determining uplink resource allocation in accordance with the received first and second uplink interference reports includes controlling dedicated control channel allocation. In some embodiments, determining uplink resource allocation in accordance with the received first and second uplink interference reports is to use a different attachment point of the first base station, for example for attachment to the first base station. Initiating modification of the first wireless terminal to use different carriers and / or sectors.

In some embodiments, the first base station transmits uplink load factors according to a downlink transmission circular schedule; The first base station assigns uplink segments to the first wireless terminal for transmitting uplink interference reports according to a cyclical uplink schedule; Uplink interference reports from the first wireless terminal are scheduled to be received by the first base station at a higher frequency than the uplink load factor corresponding to the attachment point is scheduled to be transmitted. Uplink interference reports are, in some embodiments, assigned to predetermined locations within the uplink dedicated control channel, and uplink load factor information is assigned to predetermined locations within the downlink broadcast channel structure.

12, which includes the combination of FIGS. 12A and 12B, illustrates an example of operating a base station in a multiple access wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations, such as an OFDM spread spectrum multiple access wireless communication system including uplink tone hopping. A flowchart 1200 of the method is shown. Operation begins in step 1202, where the base station is powered up and initialized. Operation proceeds from step 1202 to step 1204, step 1206, step 1208, node A connection 1212, node B connection 1214, and node C connection 1216.

In step 1204, the base station receives load factor information corresponding to base station attachment points of another base station, such as, for example, adjacent base stations. Reception is in some embodiments via a network interface receiver over a backhoe network link and / or over a wireless link to a mobile terminal. The operation of step 1204 is performed based on the ongoing processing. From step 1204, attachment point information (BS 2 attachment point 1 load factor information 1218, ..., BS N attachment M load factor information 1220) corresponding to other base stations is obtained and step 1208. Is passed on.

In step 1206, the base station determines load factor information (BS 1 attachment point 1 load factor information 1222, ..., base station 1 attachment point n load factor information 1224) corresponding to the base station attachment point of the base station. do. The determined load factor information 1222, 1224 is provided as input to step 1208. Step 1206 includes ongoing processing, such as a change in the number of users that are On, a change in the amount of backlog frames requested to be communicated over the uplink traffic channel segments, and an uplink traffic channel data rate associated with the wireless terminals. It is performed by the base station based on the process of readjusting the load factor corresponding to the attachment point in accordance with the change of the information.

In step 1208, the base station generates broadcast messages that include base station load factor information, wherein at least some of the broadcast messages transmitted include load factor information of other base stations, such as, for example, adjacent base stations. Step 1208 is performed based on the processing in progress. The outputs from step 1208 include a number of broadcast messages containing load factor information (broadcast message 1, ..., load factor information 1228 including load factor information 1226). Broadcast message m). Operation proceeds from step 1208 to step 1210. In step 1210, the base station transmits the generated broadcast messages containing the load factor information over the wireless link, wherein at least some of the transmitted messages correspond to a load corresponding to another base station, such as, for example, neighboring base stations. Contains factor information. Step 1210 is performed based on the ongoing processing, i.e., according to predetermined positions reserved for the load factor information of the broadcast channel in a circular downlink channel structure.

For each base station attachment point of the base station, the operation proceeds from connection 1212 to node A to step 1230. In step 1230, the base station receives uplink interference reports, such as, for example, beacon ratio reports, from wireless terminals currently using the base station attachment point, some of which may be, for example, adjacent base stations. It is generated using load factor information corresponding to another base station, which is broadcast in advance by that base station. Step 1230 is performed based on the ongoing processing. For example, at predetermined locations within a recursive uplink channel structure that includes a dedicated control channel, dedicated control channel segments deliver interference reports from wireless terminals that are currently on using the base station attachment point. The recovered interference reports (WT 1 uplink interference report 1238, ..., WT N uplink interference report 1240) are the output from step 1230 and are used as input in step 1232.

For each base station attachment point of the base station, operation proceeds from node B connection 1214 to step 1232. In step 1312, the base station schedules radio link resources such as, for example, uplink traffic channel segments, according to the received uplink interference reports. Step 1232 is performed based on the processing in progress.

From node C connection 1216, operation proceeds to step 1234. In step 1234, the base station generates messages that include its corresponding base station load factor information. Base station 1 attachment point load factor information (BS attachment point 1 load factor information 1222, ..., BS attachment point n load factor information 1224) is the output of step 1234. Message 1242 is one of the base stations. Includes load factor information corresponding to the above attachment points, for example, the base station may be a single sector base station having only one attachment point, and message 1224 includes load factor information corresponding to that single attachment point. Alternatively, the base station may include multiple attachment points corresponding to multiple sectors and / or carriers With multiple attachment points, in some embodiments message 1242 may correspond to a load factor corresponding to a single attachment point. Convey information, via multiple attachment points, in some embodiments message 1242 is a base station; Convey load factor information corresponding to a corresponding set of attachment points The attachment point set corresponding to message 1242 may be a subset of the complete load factor information set corresponding to the base station, eg, some base station attachment point loads. Factor information may be associated with an adjacent base station, while other base station attachment point load factor information may not be related, for example, depending on the coverage area and / or frequency spectrum utilized, step 1234 is based on processing in progress. The operation proceeds from step 1234 to step 1236.

In step 1236, the base station sends the generated message 1242 to another network node, such as an adjacent base station. For example, the transmission can be via a backhaul network. In some such embodiments, the message containing the load factor information is provided from a base station having a destination that is an adjacent base station. Alternatively, the transmitted message containing the load factor information may, in some embodiments, collect load factor information from multiple base stations of the system and then retrieve the associated load factor information, for example, according to the topology. It is sent to the central node transmitting to the base station. Alternatively, the base station utilizes, in some embodiments, a wireless terminal currently connected to itself and the neighboring base station to transmit load factor information to the neighboring base station. Step 1236 is performed based on the processing in progress.

In some embodiments, load factor information is exchanged between adjacent base stations according to a cyclical timing structure. In some embodiments, the load factor information is communicated by any base station in response to a request from an adjacent base station. In some embodiments, load factor information is communicated by a base station in response to a predetermined condition being met, for example, the base station communicates load factor information in response to a high level of load being applied. In some embodiments, load factor information is communicated in response to a change in load detected at the base station.

Although described in connection with an OFDM system, the methods and apparatus of the various embodiments may be applied to a wide range of communication systems including many non-OFDM and / or non-cellular systems.

In various embodiments, the nodes described herein comprise steps corresponding to one or more methods, such as signal processing, beacon generation, beacon detection, beacon measurement, connection comparison, and connection implementation. Implemented using one or more modules to perform. In some embodiments, various features are implemented using modules. Such modules may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. Most of the methods or method steps described above implement, for example, all or some of the methods described above in one or more nodes, for example, to control a machine such as a general purpose computer with or without additional hardware. May be implemented using machine executable instructions, such as software included in a machine readable medium such as a memory device (eg, RAM, floppy disk, etc.). Thus, in particular, various embodiments may be embodied in a machine-readable medium comprising machine readable instructions for causing a machine, such as a processor and associated hardware, to perform one or more of the steps of the method (s) described above. Related.

Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above description. Such modifications should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention. The methods and apparatus of various embodiments are used through CDMA, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), and / or various other types of communication technologies that can be used to provide wireless communication links between access nodes and mobile nodes. . In some embodiments, access nodes are implemented from a base station that forms communication links with mobile nodes using OFDM and / or CDMA. In various embodiments, mobile nodes are implemented as notebook computers, personal data assistants, or other portable device including receiver / transmitter circuits and logic and / or routines for implementing the methods of the various embodiments. do.

Claims (42)

CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A method of operating a first base station in a multiple access wireless communication system comprising a plurality of base stations each having at least one base station attachment point. Receiving second base station load factor information indicating a loading of a second base station attachment point corresponding to the second base station; And Broadcasting at least some of the received second base station load factor information; Method of operating a first base station. The method of claim 1, The second base station is physically adjacent to the first base station, Receiving the second base station load factor information includes receiving second base station load factor information over a backhaul link between the first and second base stations; Method of operating a first base station. The method of claim 1, The second base station is physically adjacent to the first base station, Receiving the second base station load factor information comprises receiving the second base station load factor information from a mobile communication device that has received the second base station load factor information via a wireless communication link with a second base station; Method of operating a first base station. The method of claim 1, Determining a first uplink load factor indicative of an uplink load for a first base station attachment point corresponding to the first base station; And In addition to at least some of the second base station load factor information, transmitting the first uplink load factor using a downlink broadcast communication channel, At least some of the second base station load factor information includes a second uplink load factor corresponding to a second base station attachment point, Method of operating a first base station. The method of claim 4, wherein Receiving a first uplink interference report from a first wireless terminal; Receiving a second uplink interference report from a second wireless terminal; And Determining an uplink resource allocation in accordance with the first and second uplink interference reports received; Method of operating a first base station. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second uplink interference reports are a function of the first and second uplink load factors transmitted. Method of operating a first base station. The method of claim 6, Broadcasting a first broadcast signal prior to receiving a first uplink interference report, The first uplink interference report is received by the first wireless terminal of the received power level measured by the first wireless terminal of the first broadcast signal, the first uplink load factor, and the second broadcast signal from the second base station. A function of the received power level measurement, and the second uplink load factor, Method of operating a first base station. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first broadcast signal from the first base station is one of a beacon and a pilot channel signal, and the second broadcast signal from the second base station is one of a beacon and a pilot channel signal, Method of operating a first base station. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the uplink resource allocation in accordance with received first and second uplink interference reports comprises scheduling traffic channel segments. Method of operating a first base station. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining uplink resource allocation in accordance with received first and second uplink interference reports initiates handoff of a first wireless terminal from a first attachment point to a second attachment point. Comprising the steps of: Method of operating a first base station. The method of claim 5, Receiving, via a backhaul link, a third uplink load factor indicative of an uplink load for a third base station attachment point, wherein the third base station attachment point corresponds to a third base station, and the third base station is adjacent to the base station. Hamm; And Transmitting the third uplink load factor using a downlink broadcast communication channel; The first and second uplink interference reports are determined according to the first, second, and third uplink load factors transmitted. Method of operating a first base station. The method of claim 5, Receiving, via a backhaul network, a third uplink load factor indicative of an uplink load for a third base station attachment point, the third base station attachment point corresponding to the second base station, and the second and third base station attachment points Corresponds to different sectors of the second base station; And Transmitting the third uplink load factor using a downlink broadcast communication channel, The first and second uplink interference reports are determined according to the first, second, and third uplink load factors transmitted. Method of operating a first base station. The method of claim 5, The first base station transmits uplink load factors according to a downlink transmission circular schedule, The first base station allocates uplink segments to the first wireless terminal for transmitting uplink interference reports according to a cyclical uplink schedule, Uplink interference reports from the first wireless terminal are scheduled to be received at a higher frequency than the frequency at which the uplink load factor corresponding to the attachment point is scheduled to be transmitted, Method of operating a first base station. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second interference reports are beacon ratio reports. Method of operating a first base station. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein broadcasting at least some of the received second base station load factor information comprises transmitting at least some of the second base station load factor information using orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signals. Method of operating a first base station. A first base station for use in a multiple access wireless communication system comprising a plurality of base stations each having at least one base station attachment point. A first receiver for receiving second base station load factor information indicating a load of a second base station attachment point corresponding to the second base station; And A transmitter module for broadcasting at least some of the received second base station load factor information, First base station. The method of claim 16, The second base station is physically adjacent to the first base station, Wherein the first receiver is a network interface receiver for receiving second base station load factor information via a backhaul network between first and second base stations to which the first receiver is connected; First base station. The method of claim 16, The second base station is physically adjacent to the first base station, Wherein the first base station further comprises a wireless receiver for receiving second base station load factor information from a mobile communication device that has received the second base station load factor information via a wireless communication link with a second base station; First base station. The method of claim 16, Further comprising an uplink load factor determination module for determining a first uplink load factor indicative of an uplink load for a first base station attachment point corresponding to the first base station; First base station. The method of claim 19, A wireless receiver for receiving a first uplink interference report from a first wireless terminal and also receiving a second uplink interference report from a second wireless terminal; And A resource allocation module for allocating uplink resources in accordance with the received first and second uplink interference reports; First base station. The method of claim 20, Further comprising a memory for storing received load factor information and first and second uplink interference reports, The first and second uplink interference reports are a function of the first and second uplink load factors transmitted. First base station. The method of claim 21, At least one of a beacon module and a pilot module for controlling generation of at least one of the beacon and pilot signals to be broadcast as the first broadcast signal, The first uplink interference report is received by the first wireless terminal of the received power level measured by the first wireless terminal of the first broadcast signal, the first uplink load factor, and the second broadcast signal from the second base station. A function of the received power level measurement, and the second uplink load factor, First base station. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first and second base stations comprise several sectors, and the second base station attachment point corresponds to one carrier of one sector of the second base station. First base station. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the transmitter module comprises an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing transmitter. First base station. A first base station for use in a multiple access wireless communication system comprising a plurality of base stations each having at least one base station attachment point. First receiver means for receiving second base station load factor information indicating a load of a second base station attachment point corresponding to the second base station; And A transmitter means for broadcasting at least some of the received second base station load factor information; First base station. The method of claim 25, The second base station is physically adjacent to the first base station, The first receiver means is a network interface receiver for receiving second base station load factor information via a backhaul network between first and second base stations to which the first receiver is connected; First base station. The method of claim 25, The second base station is physically adjacent to the first base station, The first base station further comprises wireless receiver means for receiving second base station load factor information from a mobile communication device receiving the second base station load factor information via a wireless communication link with a second base station; First base station. The method of claim 25, Uplink load factor determining means for determining a first uplink load factor indicative of an uplink load for a first base station attachment point corresponding to the first base station, First base station. The method of claim 28, Wireless receiver means for receiving a first uplink interference report from a first wireless terminal and receiving a second uplink interference report from a second wireless terminal; And Further comprising resource allocating means for allocating uplink resources in accordance with the received first and second uplink interference reports, First base station. The method of claim 29, Memory means for storing received load factor information and first and second uplink interference reports, The first and second uplink interference reports are a function of the first and second uplink load factors transmitted. First base station. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first and second base stations comprise several sectors, and wherein the second base station attachment point corresponds to one carrier of one sector of the second base station. First base station. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the transmitter means comprises an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing transmitter. First base station. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a first base station in a multiple access wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations to implement the method, the method comprising: Receiving second base station load factor information indicating a load of a second base station attachment point corresponding to the second base station; And Broadcasting at least some of the received second base station load factor information; Computer readable media. The method of claim 33, The second base station is physically adjacent to the first base station, The computer readable medium may further implement machine executable instructions for receiving second base station load factor information as part of receiving second base station load factor information over a backhaul link between the first and second base stations. , Machine-readable medium. The method of claim 33, The second base station is physically adjacent to the first base station, The computer readable medium is part of the step of receiving second base station load factor information, the second base station load factor information from a mobile communication device receiving the second base station load factor information via a wireless communication link with a second base station. Also implementing machine executable instructions for receiving a Machine-readable medium. The method of claim 33, Machine realizable instructions for determining a first uplink load factor indicative of an uplink load for a first base station attachment point corresponding to the first base station; And In addition to at least some of the second base station load factor information, also implement machine executable instructions for transmitting the first uplink load factor using a downlink broadcast communication channel, At least some of the second base station load factor information includes a second uplink load factor corresponding to a second base station attachment point, Machine-readable medium. The method of claim 36, Machine readable instructions for receiving a first uplink interference report from a first wireless terminal; Machine readable instructions for receiving a second uplink interference report from a second wireless terminal; And Also implementing machine readable instructions for determining uplink resource allocation in accordance with the first and second uplink interference reports received. Machine-readable medium. A base station capable of operating in a communication system, The base station includes a processor, The processor, Control reception of second base station load factor information indicating a load of a second base station attachment point corresponding to the second base station, And control the broadcasting of at least some of the received second base station load factor information. Base station. The method of claim 38, The second base station is physically adjacent to the first base station, The processor is further configured to control reception of the second base station load factor information over a backhaul link between the first and second base stations as part of control of the reception of the second base station load factor information; Base station. The method of claim 38, The second base station is physically adjacent to the first base station, The processor is configured to receive the second base station load factor information from a mobile communication device that receives the second base station load factor information through a wireless communication link with the second base station as part of the control for receiving second base station load factor information. Configured to control, Base station. The processor of claim 38, wherein the processor is configured to: Determine a first uplink load factor indicative of an uplink load for a first base station attachment point corresponding to the first base station, Is also configured to control transmission using the downlink broadcast communication channel of the first uplink load factor in addition to at least some of the second base station load factor information, At least some of the second base station load factor information includes a second uplink load factor corresponding to a second base station attachment point, Base station. The processor of claim 41, wherein the processor is configured to: Control reception of a first uplink interference report from a first wireless terminal, Control reception of a second uplink interference report from a second wireless terminal, Further configured to determine an uplink resource allocation in accordance with the first and second uplink interference reports received; Base station.

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