Network node, access nodes and method for assisting user equipments to receive signals in wireless communication network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9801106-B2
Application number	US-201415113434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2014
Priority date	Jan 22, 2014
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

A method in a wireless communication network for assisting a user equipment to receive signals from a target access node. The wireless communication network comprises the target access node, the user equipment and a serving access node serving the user equipment. The serving access node sends information about time instances to the user equipment. The time instances are scheduled for sending signals from the target access node in a beam direction towards the user equipments. The time instances may be determined in the target access node based on its own position and a position of the user equipment and/or a beam direction of the serving access node. The time instances may also be determined in the serving access node based on its own position and a schedule of the target access node on beam directions versus transmission times. The user equipment receives signals from the target access node during the time instances indicated in the received information. In this way, leaving more time for the user equipment to receive data or signal from the serving access node. As a result, the throughput of the wireless communication network is increased and improved.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method in a wireless communication network for assisting a user equipment to receive signals from a target access node, wherein the wireless communication network comprises the target access node, the user equipment and a serving access node serving the user equipment, the method comprising:
sending from the serving access node to the user equipment, information about time instances scheduled for sending signals from the target access node in a beam direction towards the user equipments;
receiving in the user equipment signals from the target access node during the time instances indicated in the received information; and wherein
the time instances are determined either in the target access node or in the serving access node,
wherein when the time instances are determined in the target access node, the method further comprises:
receiving in the target access node from the serving access node, information about a position of the user equipment;
determining in the target access node, a beam direction towards the user equipment based on received information and a position of the target access node;
determining in the target access node, the time instances scheduled for sending signals in the beam direction towards the user equipment;
sending from the target access node to the serving access node information about the time instances, and

wherein determining in the target access node, a beam direction towards the user equipment comprises determining a likeliest beam direction towards the user equipment using line-of-sight calculations.

2. A method in a target access node in a wireless communication network for assisting a user equipment to receive signals from the target access node, wherein the wireless communication network comprises the target access node and a serving access node serving the user equipment, the method comprising:
receiving from the serving access node, information about a position of the user equipment;
determining a beam direction towards the user equipment based on received information and a position of the target access node;
determining time instances scheduled for sending signals in the beam direction towards the user equipment;
sending information about the time instances to the serving access node,
wherein determining a beam direction towards the user equipment comprises determining a likeliest beam direction towards the user equipment using line-of-sight calculations.

3. A method in a serving access node in a wireless communication network for assisting a user equipment to receive signals from a target access node, wherein the wireless communication network comprises the target access node and the serving access node serving the user equipment, the method comprising:
receiving information about a schedule of the target access node on beam directions versus transmission times and/or a position of the target access node;
determining time instances scheduled for sending signals from the target access node in a beam direction towards the user equipments based on received information;
sending information about the time instances to the user equipment,
wherein the information about the schedule of the target access node on beam directions versus transmission times and/or the position of the target access node is received from the target access node.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the information about a schedule of the target access node on beam directions versus transmission times and/or a position of the target access node is received from a network controller.

5. A target access node in a wireless communication network for assisting a user equipment to receive signals from the target access node, wherein the wireless communication network comprises the target access node and a serving access node serving the user equipment, the target access node comprising:
a receiving unit configured to receive from the serving access node, information about a position of the user equipment;
a determining unit configured to determine a beam direction towards the user equipment based on received information and a position of the target access node and to determine time instances scheduled for sending signals in the beam direction towards the user equipment; and
a transmitting unit configured to send information about the time instances to the serving access node,
wherein the determining unit is configured to determining the beam direction towards the user equipment by determining a likeliest beam direction towards the user equipment using line-of-sight calculations.

6. A serving access node in a wireless communication network for assisting a user equipment to receive signals from a target access node, wherein the wireless communication network comprises the target access node and the serving access node serving the user equipment, the serving access node comprising:
a receiving unit configured to receive information about a schedule of the target access node on beam directions versus transmission times and/or a position of the target access node;
a determining unit configured to determine time instances scheduled for sending signals from the target access node in a beam direction towards the user equipments based on received information; and
a transmitting unit configured to send information about the time instances to the user equipment,
wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive, from the target access node, the information about the schedule of the target access node on beam directions versus transmission times and/or the position of the target access node.

7. A method in a wireless communication network for assisting a user equipment to receive signals from a target access node, wherein the wireless communication network comprises the target access node, the user equipment and a serving access node serving the user equipment, the method comprising:
sending from the serving access node to the user equipment, information about time instances scheduled for sending signals from the target access node in a beam direction towards the user equipments;
receiving in the user equipment signals from the target access node during the time instances indicated in the received information; and wherein
the time instances are determined either in the target access node or in the serving access node,
wherein when the time instances are determined in the serving access node, the method further comprises:
receiving in the serving access node information about a schedule of the target access node on beam directions versus transmission times and/or a position of the target access node; and
determining in the serving access node, the time instances scheduled for sending signals from the target access node in the beam direction towards the user equipments based on received information, and

wherein the information about a schedule of the target access node on beam directions versus transmission times and/or a position of the target access node is received from the target access node.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the information about a schedule of the target access node on beam directions versus transmission times and/or a position of the target access node is received from a network controller.

Assignees

• ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M (publ)

Inventors

• Baldemair Robert
• Lindoff Bengt
• Selen Yngve
• Wallen Anders
• Wilhelmsson Leif

Classifications

• H04W72/23

  in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal · CPC title

• H04W36/0088 Primary

  Scheduling hand-off measurements · CPC title

• H04W24/02

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title

• H04B7/0617

  for beam forming · CPC title

• H04W72/1289

  Electricity · mapped topic