RU2575694C2 - Mobile terminal, base station and communication control method - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: radio engineering, communication.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a mobile terminal, a base station, as well as a method of transmitting channel state information and a communication control method. The mobile terminal comprises: a receiving module configured to receive radio communication frames of a lower cell, which include a secure subframe which is a subframe with disabled transmission from an upper cell, and an non-secure subframe which is a subframe with enabled transmission from an upper cell; a measurement module configured to measure reception quality on reference signals, multiplexed separately in the secure subframe and non-secure subframe; and a transmitting module configured to transmit to the base station two types of information on reception quality, the secure subframe and the non-secure subframe, measured by the measurement module.

EFFECT: reducing noise level in a multilevel system.

18 cl, 29 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, a base station, and a communication control method in a next generation mobile communication system.

State of the art

In the UMTS network (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), in order to increase spectral efficiency and improve data transfer rates, the properties of a W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) system are maximized by applying HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access, High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and HSUPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access, High Speed Downlink Packet Access). For such a UMTS network, in order to further increase high data rates, ensure low latencies, etc., studies are being carried out on a long-term development system (LTE, long-term evolution) (non-patent document 1). Unlike W-CDMA, LTE uses OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Division Multiple Access) in downlink channels (downlink) and SC-FDMA (Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access) as multiplexing schemes with frequency separation on one carrier) in the upward channels (uplink).

In a third generation mobile communication system, it is possible to achieve a maximum transmission rate of about 2 Mbps in the downlink using a fixed frequency band with a width of about 5 MHz. Meanwhile, in the LTE system, it is possible to achieve a maximum transmission rate of about 300 Mbit / s in the downlink and about 75 Mbit / s in the uplink using a variable frequency band, varying from 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz. In addition, in the UMTS network, subsequent LTE systems (e.g., LTE-Advanced (LTE-A)) are being studied in order to achieve further bandwidth expansion and higher speed. In addition to regular cellular networks, LTE-A (LTE Release 10) studies a heterogeneous network (HetNet, heterogeneous network), which emphasizes the importance of local areas in addition to conventional cellular areas.

Non-Patent Document 1: 3GPP, TR25.912 (V7.1.0), "Feasibility Study for Evolved UTRA and UTRAN," Sept. 2006.

Disclosure of invention

The present invention is made in view of the foregoing, and therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal, a base station and a communication control method that support the next generation mobile communication system and which allow control suitable for reducing interference (interference) in a multi-level network, such as HetNet.

A mobile terminal in accordance with the present invention comprises a receiving module that receives lower cell radio frames including a secure subframe being a forbidden transmission subframe from an upper cell and an unprotected subframe which is an unauthorized transmitting subframe from an upper cell; a measurement module that measures reception quality by reference signals multiplexed individually in a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe; and a transmitting module, which transmits to the base station two types of reception quality information, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe, as measured by the measuring module.

The base station in accordance with the present invention includes a transmitting module that transmits radio frames of the lower cell, including a secure subframe being a forbidden transmission subframe from the upper cell and an unprotected subframe being an unauthorized transmission subframe from the upper cell; a CSI-RS assignment unit that multiplexes the CSI-RS, which is one of the reference signals, in a secure subframe or in an unsecure subframe in a predetermined cycle; a CRS assignment unit that multiplexes a CRS, which is one of the reference signals, in each subframe forming radio frames of the lower cell; a receiving module that receives two types of reception quality information, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe, which are transmitted as feedback from a mobile terminal receiving radio frames in a lower cell; and a user data assignment unit that assigns radio resources to the mobile terminal using two types of reception quality information transmitted as feedback from the mobile terminal.

In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide a mobile terminal, a base station, and a mobile communication control method that support the next generation mobile communication system and which allow control suitable for reducing interference in a layered network such as HetNet.

Brief Description of the Drawings

1 is a diagram for explaining a frequency band in an LTE system.

2 is a diagram for explaining a general view of a heterogeneous network.

Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining interference between radio frames of a macro cell and a pico cell.

4 is a diagram for explaining a method for coordinating interference in a pico cell radio frame.

5 is an explanatory diagram for illustrating an example of a method for assigning user data in a base station on a pico cell side.

6 is a diagram for illustrating the relationship between the protected / unsecured subframes and their received SINRs.

7 is a diagram for explaining an ABS template in HetNet.

8 is a diagram for explaining another ABS template in HetNet.

9 is a diagram for explaining a first example of a method for transmitting CSI as feedback.

10 is a diagram for explaining a second example of a method for transmitting CSI as feedback.

11 is a diagram for explaining a third example of a method for transmitting CSI as feedback.

12 is a diagram for explaining a fourth example of a method for transmitting CSI as feedback.

13 is a diagram for explaining a fifth example of a method for transmitting CSI as feedback.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining transmission shutdown in HetNet.

15 is a network configuration diagram of a radio communication system.

16 is a diagram for explaining a general configuration of a base station.

17 is a diagram for explaining a general configuration of a mobile terminal.

On Fig shows a functional block diagram of a base station related to signaling CSI-RS.

On Fig shows a functional block diagram of a mobile terminal related to the transmission of CSI as feedback.

On Fig shows a functional block diagram of a base station related to signaling CSI-RS, in accordance with a modified example.

On Fig shows a functional block diagram of a mobile terminal related to the transmission of CSI as feedback in accordance with a modified example.

The implementation of the invention

The present invention is applicable to an LTE / LTE-A system, which is one of the next generation mobile communication systems. First, an overview of the LTE / LTE-A system is described. 1 is a diagram for explaining a state of use of frequencies when performing mobile communication in a downlink. It should be noted that in the following description, fundamental frequency blocks are described as component carriers. The example shown in FIG. 1 is a state of frequency use when an LTE-A system exists simultaneously, which is a first communication system having a first frequency band of a system constituted by a plurality of component carriers, which is relatively wide, and an LTE system, which is a second communication system having a second frequency band of a system that is relatively narrow (and which is here formed using a single component carrier). In the LTE-A system, for example, radio communication is carried out using a variable system bandwidth of 100 MHz or lower, and in an LTE system, radio communication is carried out using a variable system bandwidth of 20 MHz or lower. The frequency band of the LTE-A system is at least one fundamental frequency block (component carrier: CC, component carrier), wherein the frequency band of the LTE system is one element (block). Combining a plurality of fundamental frequency blocks into a wide band of frequencies as a single band is likewise called carrier aggregation.

For example, in FIG. 1, the frequency band of an LTE-A system is a frequency band of a system containing frequency bands of five component carriers (20 MHz × 5 = 100 MHz), and the frequency band of a system (base frequency band: 20 MHz) LTE is one component carrier. In figure 1, the mobile terminal UE (User Equipment, user device) No. 1 is a mobile terminal that supports the LTE-A system (and also supports the LTE system), and has a system bandwidth of 100 MHz. UE No. 2 is a mobile terminal supporting the LTE-A system (as well as supporting the LTE system), and has a system bandwidth of 40 MHz (20 MHz × 2 = 40 MHz). UE No. 3 is a mobile terminal supporting the LTE system (and not supporting the LTE-A system), and has a system bandwidth of 20 MHz (base frequency band).

The LTE-A system examines a heterogeneous network (hereinafter referred to as “HetNet”), which emphasizes the importance of local areas. HetNet is a multi-level network that overlays cells of various kinds, such as picocell C2, femtocell, etc. (small cells), on top of the existing macro cell C1 (large cell), as shown in FIG. In this HetNet network, the downlink power of base station B2 (macro base station) of macro cell C1, which covers a relatively large area, is set to be larger than for base station B1 (picobase station) of pico cell C2, which covers a relatively small area.

Thus, HetNet is a layered network in which a picobase station B1 having lower transmit power (and cell area) is located under macro base station B2 having a higher transmit power (and cell area). In a tiered network, there is a problem in that the UE that is on the edge of the pico cell C2 cannot connect to the pico cell C2 despite the fact that the UE is located close to the picobase station B1. As shown in FIG. 3, at the edge of picocell C2, the transmit power of macro base station B2 is greater than the transmit power of picobase station B1. As a result of this, the UE at the edge of picocell C2 cannot catch radio frames from picobase station B1 of pico cell C1 and is connected to macro cell C1 by capturing radio frames from macro base station B2 with higher transmit power. This means that macrobase station B2 invades the initial zone of picocell C2, and it becomes smaller.

Figure 4 shows a conceptual diagram of coordination of interference (interference) to reduce interference from macrobase station with a higher transmit power relative to picobase station. LTE defines the MBSFN subframes (Multimedia Broadcast multicast service Single Frequency Network, a single frequency multicast network broadcast service). The MBSFN subframe is a subframe that is made an empty period except for a fraction of the control channel. When coordinating interference in the time domain shown in FIG. 4, a subframe (ABS: Almost Blank Subframe) serving as a period without transmission and radio resources are provided in a radio frame transmitted by macro base station B2 using the MBSFN subframe ABS periods are assigned for the pico UE, which is located near the edge C2b of the pico cell C2. In the ABS period, it is possible to transmit reference signals (cell-specific reference signal (CRS, cell-specific reference signal) and positioning reference signal), synchronization signal, broadcast channel and call, and other signals (data channel, etc.) cannot be transmitted .

When the radio resources of the ABS period are assigned to a UE located near the edge C2b of the pico cell C2, in the ABS period, the UE can connect to the pico cell C2 without affecting the transmit power of macro base station B2. On the other hand, even when radio resources outside the ABS period are assigned to the UE near the center C2a of the pico cell C2, the transmit power from the picobase station B1 is greater than the transmit power from the macro base station B2 and, therefore, the UE can be connected to the pico cell C2.

Now, as shown in FIG. 5, near the edge C2b of the picocell C2, the transmit power from the macro base station B2 has a large impact and strong interference is observed, however, near the center C2a of the pico cell C2 there is little interference from the macro base station B2. Therefore, near the edge C2b of the pico cell C2, the received SINR increases in the ABS period, but the received SINR decreases outside the ABS period. In the following description, the period in which the signals transmitted from the picobase station are protected from macro interference will be called the “protected subframe”, and the subframe in which no special measures are taken to protect the signals transmitted from the picobase station from macro interference will be called “unprotected” subframe ”or“ normal subframe ”. As special measures to protect CSI-RS picocells from macro interference, in addition to using ABS periods in a macro cell, as described above, it is possible to use transmission deactivation in a macro cell.

6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between protected subframes and unprotected subframes and their received SINRs near the edge C2b of a cell. Near the cell edge C2b, the interference from macro base station B2 is large, therefore, although the received SINR is significantly reduced in unprotected subframes, in protected subframes the interference from macro base station B2 is low and the received SINR is significantly improved.

Here, in LTE, CRS (Cell-specific Reference Signal, cell-specific reference signal), which is a reference signal shared between cells, is determined with respect to the downlink. CRS is used not only to demodulate downstream data signals, but also used to measure mobility and measure channel quality information (CQI: Channel Quality Indicator, channel quality indicator). In 3GPP for the LTE-A system, which is currently being studied for standardization, in addition to CRS, it is planned to define a common CSI-RS (Channel State Information Reference Signal) for dedicated (address) use of the CQI measurement. The E-UTRAN frame structure defines a 10 ms radio frame as a group of twenty evenly spaced 0.5 ms time slots (slots), two consecutive time slots being called a “subframe”, and ten subframes are collected in one frame. CRS is multiplexed in each subframe, and CSI-RS is multiplexed in a long cycle, for example, once in a plurality of subframes.

If the UE at the edge C2b of the cell of picobase station B1 has the ability to assign radio resources for the protected subframes, then the UE should only measure the CSI-RS quality in the protected subframes and send feedback to picobase station B1. In addition, for a UE that is located in the center C2a of the cell of picobase station B1, provided that radio resources can be assigned to unsecured subframes, the UE should only measure CSI-RS quality in unsecured subframes and send feedback to picobase station B1. It should be noted that in the center C2a of the picocell C2, interference from macro base station B2 is limited. Therefore, there is not much difference in CSI-RS quality between protected subframes and unprotected subframes. The UE in the center C2a of the cell can measure the quality of CSI-RS multiplexed in protected subframes or unsecured subframes and send feedback to picobase station B1.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, a border UE that is located near the boundary between the center C2a of the cell and the edge C2b of the cell of the picobase station B1 may have radio resources assigned to the protected subframes and unprotected subframes. However, although not as large as for the UE near the cell edge C2b, a significant difference in CSI-RS quality may form between protected subframes and unprotected subframes. Provided that the CSI-RS quality is unbalanced between the protected subframes and unprotected subframes, picobase station B1 must assign radio resources for the border UE taking into account the CSI-RS quality in both protected subframes and insecure subframes.

The inventors came to the present invention by focusing on the fact that in a multilevel network in which a pico cell formed by a picobase station having lower transmit power overlaps a macro cell that is formed by a macro base station having higher transmit power, UEs (UEs at the edge) coexist picocells), which is sufficient to transmit as feedback only the reception quality information (CSI) of the protected subframes, UE (boundary UE), to which two feedback should be transmitted such as CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes, and a UE (pico cell center UE), which can transmit as feedback CSI either protected subframes or unprotected subframes. The present invention provides a feedback CSI transmission method that is optimal for assigning pico UE radio resources to secure / insecure subframes using the CSI transmitted as feedback in a picobase station.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a mobile terminal that feeds back two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes, into a picobase station as feedback. The following describes in detail the processes that can be performed on the side of the UE to transmit as feedback two types of CSI to a picobase station.

The ABS templates in HetNet are described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The radio frames of the macro cell and pico cell are formed, for example, by ten subframes (No. 0 to No. 9). The figures show examples in which radio frames of a pico cell are shifted by two subframes with respect to a radio frame of a macro cell. In one radio frame, it is possible to place MBSFN subframes in six subframes No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8.

In the ABS pattern shown in FIG. 7, subframes No. 1, No. 2, and No. 7 of the MBSFN are set as ABS periods. The call channel for transmitting synchronization signals (PSS / SSS) is assigned a pico cell subframe No. 9 (which corresponds to a macro cell subframe No. 1 MBSFN), a pico cell subframe No. 0 (which corresponds to a macro cell subframe No. 2 of a macro cell) is assigned to a broadcast channel (PBC / SSS), and the broadcast channel (RVSN) for transmitting SIB 1 is assigned a subframe No. 5 of a pico cell (which corresponds to a subframe No. 7 of an MBSFN macro cell). Thus, by assigning macro ABS (subframes No. 1, No. 2, and No. 7 MBSFN) to the subframes in which important control signals are transmitted in the pico cell, it is possible to protect important picoframes.

In the example ABS template shown in FIG. 8, UL HARQ is transmitted in a pico cell in an 8 ms cycle. In radio frames, macro cell subframes corresponding to UL HARQ transmission subframes are defined as ABS periods. ABS in macro frames radio frames are also defined outside of MBSFN subframes.

Thus, the ABS pattern in the radio frames of a macro cell does not have a regular interval and is unevenly placed in the time domain. In the following description, the ABS pattern shown in FIG. 8 will be described as an example to simplify the explanation, however, the ABS pattern is not limited to this.

Specific examples of a method for transmitting CSI as feedback in accordance with the present invention are shown in FIGS. 9-13. 9 shows a first example of a method for transmitting CSI as feedback. In the feedback CSI transmission method shown in FIG. 9, the pico UE estimates the interference using CSI-RS reference signals in the subframes in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed and reports the reception quality information (CSI) to the picobase station, and to subframes other than those in which CSI-RS is multiplexed, the UE estimates the interference using CRS signals and reports the reception quality information (CSI) to the picobase station.

The radio frames to be transmitted in the macro cell have the same ABS pattern as the ABS pattern shown in FIG. The macro base station transmits radio frames having the ABS pattern shown in FIG. In the ABS period, the channel transmission is stopped in the radio frame except for the reference signals, synchronization signals, the broadcast channel and the call, and in the subframes other than ABS, the channel transmission is carried out, including the reference signals. A macro base station transmits CSI-RS signals (macro CSI-RS) in a 10 ms cycle. In the radio frames shown in FIG. 9, the macro CSI-RS is transmitted in subframe No. 2. Subframe No. 2 is one of the ABS (macro ABS) in the macro frames radio communication frames.

The picobase station transmits CSI-RS (pico CSI-RS) in the same cycle (10 ms) as in the macro cell. In addition, subframe No. 0 in which pico CSI-RS is transmitted corresponds to subframe No. 2 in which a macro CSI-RS is transmitted in a macro cell. In subframe No. 0 in picocell, the radio frames correspond to macro ABS and, therefore, it is a protected subframe. That is, an example is shown in which in a pico cell all pico CSI-RSs are transmitted in protected subframes.

In addition, CRS signals are multiplexed to all subframes No. 0 to No. 9 in pico cell radio frames. In pico subframe No. 0, pico CSI-RS and CRS are multiplexed. CSI-RS is assigned so as not to overlap with user data, CRS and DM-RS in one resource block (12 subcarriers × 14 OFD symbols) defined in LTE. From the perspective of suppressing PAPR, as resources in which CSI-RS can be transmitted, two resource elements are assigned that are adjacent to each other in the direction of the time axis as a set. For example, forty resource elements are assigned as CSI-RS resources. For these forty resource elements, the CSI-RS assignment pattern is applied according to the number of CSI-RS ports (number of antennas).

In addition, the picobase station stops transmitting the data channel (PDSCH) with respect to subframe No. 0, which transmits pico CSI-RS (transmission shutdown). Macro CSI-RS, which is transmitted in macroframe No. 2, which corresponds to picoframe No. 0, has a large transmission power. In the pico cell in the subframes in which the CSI-RS macro is transmitted, the PDSCH transmission of the pico cell is disabled so that it becomes possible to prevent damage to the PDSCH pico cell by the macro CSI-RS signal.

The following describes a CSI measurement (interference measurement) and CSI transmission as feedback to a pico UE. The pico UE receives the pico CSI-RS transmitted from the picobase station in subframe No. 0, which is a protected subframe, and estimates the interference by the pico CSI-RS. Therefore, provided that subframe No. 0 in the pico cell is a protected subframe, in an environment in which there is little interference from the macro base station, accurate measurement of the interference becomes possible.

Now in the pico cell, all the subframes in which pico CSI-RS is transmitted are protected subframes. Therefore, interference from unprotected subframes cannot be estimated using only pico CSI-RS. For the boundary UE, which is located at the boundary between the pico cell edge and the pico cell center, there are radio resources assigned to both protected subframes and unsecured subframes, so two types of CSI are required, for protected subframes and unprotected subframes.

When CSI of insecure subframes is required, the pico UE estimates the interference using CRS in insecure subframes. In the ABS template shown in FIG. 9, an unprotected subframe in a pico cell is, for example, pico subframe No. 2, which corresponds to subframe No. 4 of a macro cell.

The picobase station provides signaling for transmitting control signals for measuring two types of CSI in the pico UE. The picobase station reports control signals for determining a subframe for measuring CSI with respect to the pico UE. The Pico UE determines an insecure subframe for estimating interference using the CRS based on control signals reported from the picobase station, and estimates interference using CRS in the insecure subframe. The CSI of an unprotected subframe is transmitted as feedback to a picobase station.

As described above, when a pico UE estimates interference using a CSI-RS, a pico UE obtains CSI by evaluating interference only in protected subframes (eg, subframe No. 0). In addition, when CSI of unprotected subframes is required, it is possible to estimate interference using CRS in unprotected subframes (eg, picopod No. 2). Then it is possible to communicate to the picobase station two types of CSI as feedback, namely CSI obtained by evaluating interference in protected subframes (subframe No. 0) and CSI obtained by evaluating interference in unprotected subframes.

Figure 10 shows a second example of a method for transmitting CSI as feedback. In the feedback CSI transmission method shown in FIG. 10, in one subframe in which CSI-RS is multiplexed, the pico UE estimates the interference using CSI-RS and CRS, which are two types of reference signals, and returns as feedback communication two types of CSI to picobase station.

Although the macro base station transmits the CSI-RS macro in a 10 ms cycle, the macro CSI-RS transmission subframe is subframe No. 4, which is outside the ABS. The picobase station transmits the CSI-RS pico in the same cycle as in the macro cell using peak subframe No. 2 corresponding to the macro CSI-RS transmission subframe No. 4.

In the CSI-RS macro transmission subframe No. 4, the macro base station disables transmission in resources corresponding to the CSI-RS transmission resource of the pico cell. By disabling the macro base station transmission, interference is reduced with respect to the pico CSI-RS transmitted by the picobase station. For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, in downstream resources of a macro cell C1, user data is allocated in connection with a CSI-RS of a pico cell C2. In addition, in downlink resources of pico cell C2, user data is allocated in connection with CSI-RS of macro cell C1. In particular, the user data of the macrocell C1 constitutes an interfering component for the pico CSI-RS in the pico cell C2 and becomes a factor negatively affecting the accuracy of the channel quality estimate in the pico UE. Then, as shown in FIG. 14B, in the downstream resource block of the macrocell C1, resources are set to disable transmission in accordance with CSI-RS of the pico cell C2.

Here, disabling the transmission in macro subframe No. 4 corresponding to the pico CSI-RS transmission subframe No. 2 protects the pico CSI-RS. Therefore, although the CSI-RS pico transmission subframe No. 2 is not an ABS period, the CSI-RS pico transmission subframe No. 2 still functions as a protected subframe. Meanwhile, in the pico CSI-RS transmission subframe No. 2, the CRS is multiplexed in a resource other than the pico CSI-RS. A resource in which CRS is transmitted in picocell C2 corresponds to a resource in which transmission is not turned off in macrocell C1. Therefore, even in subframe No. 2, which serves as a protected subframe in terms of pico CSI-RS, the CRS resource receives interference from the macro base station. A protected subframe perceived for pico CSI-RS can still be defined as an unsecured subframe perceived for CRS located in the same subframe.

Therefore, when the interference is estimated using pico CSI-RS in the No. 2 picoframe, the CSI of the protected subframe is obtained, and when the interference is estimated using CRS, the CSI of the unprotected subframe is obtained. Thus, the pico UE estimates interference using both pico CSI-RS and CRS in the same pico cell subframe No. 2, receives two types of CSI, and transmits two types of CSI as feedback to the picobase station.

It should be noted that assigning radio resources to the pico UE at the edge of the pico cell is preferably using feedback CSI for the subframes corresponding to the macro subframes of the ABS. In this case, the picobase station reports to the pico UE information for determining the positions of the subframes corresponding to the macro subframes of the ABS. In the subframe corresponding to macro ABS, the pico UE estimates the interference using CRS and transmits the CSI as feedback to the picobase station.

Thus, in one subframe, it is possible to evaluate the interference using CSI-RS and CRS, which are two types of reference signals and transmit two types of CSI as feedback to the picobase station. Furthermore, when a CSI of a subframe corresponding to macro ABS and without interference from a macro cell is needed, it is possible to estimate interference using a CRS in a picoframe corresponding to macro ABS and send CSI as feedback.

11 shows a third example of a method for transmitting CSI as feedback. Both the macro base station and the picobase station transmit CSI-RS in an 8 ms cycle. The macro base station then transmits the CSI-RS macro to the ABS macro. A picobase station transmits a CSI-RS pico in picoframes corresponding to CSI-RS macro transmission subframes. Macro CSI-RS is always transmitted in macro ABS so that the subframes for pico CSI-RS transmission are protected subframes.

In a pico cell, all subframes in which pico CSI-RS is transmitted and received are protected subframes. Therefore, even when CSI feedback transmission is required for an unsecured subframe, CSI measurement of an unsecured subframe using only pico CSI-RS is not possible.

When CSI information of an insecure subframe is needed, the pico UE estimates the interference using CRS in the insecure subframe. In the ABS template shown in FIG. 11, a subframe that, for example, is shifted one subframe to the left of the CSI-RS measurement subframe at picocell, serves as an unprotected subframe. It should be noted that when the CSI-RS pico transmission subframe is subframe No. 3, shifting one subframe to the right gives an unprotected subframe.

In addition, in the pico cell, the picobase station disables transmission in order to stop transmitting the data channel (PDSCH) with respect to the subframes for transmitting pico CSI-RS. In the pico cell in the subframes in which the CSI-RS macro is transmitted, by stopping the transmission of the PDSCH pico cells, it is possible to prevent the pico cells from adversely affecting the PDSCH from the macro CSI-RS having a high transmission power.

The pico UE receives the CSI-RS pico transmitted from the picobase station in subframes No. 1, No. 9, No. 7, No. 5 and No. 3, which are protected subframes, and evaluates the interference. Then, since subframes No. 9, No. 7, No. 5, No. 3, and No. 1 in the pico cell are protected subframes, it is possible to make an accurate estimate of interference under conditions with low interference from the macro base station.

When a CSI of an insecure subframe is required, the pico UE shifts the CRS measurement subframe from the secure subframe to the insecure subframe.

As described above, the pico UE estimates the interference using CSI-RS in the protected subframes, and also estimates the interference using CRS in the unsecured subframes. Then it is possible to report two types of CSI as feedback to the picobase station, namely CSI obtained by estimating interference in protected subframes and CSI obtained by evaluating interference in unprotected subframes.

12 shows a fourth example of a method for transmitting CSI as feedback. The macro base station and picobase station transmit CSI-RS in different cycles. In the example shown in this figure, a macro base station transmits a CSI-RS macro in an 8 ms cycle in normal subframes and in protected subframes (ABS). The picobase station transmits the CSI-RS pico in a 10 ms cycle.

The picobase station transmits a portion of the pico CSI-RS in pico subframes corresponding to the normal subframes of the macro cell, and transmits the remaining pico CSI-RS in pico subframes corresponding to the ABS (protected subframes) of the macro cell.

The Pico UE estimates interference using pico CSI-RS picoframes corresponding to normal macro cell subframes, and also evaluates the interference using pico CSI-RS picoframes corresponding to ABS (protected subframes) of the macro cell. Thus, it is possible to obtain two types of CSI of normal subframes and macro ABS (protected subframes) using CSI-RS, and two types of CSI are communicated as feedback to the picobase station.

The picobase station can recognize whether it is a subframe in which the pico UE transmits CSI, normal subframe, or macro ABS (protected subframe) as feedback. Therefore, a picobase station can separate two types of CSI obtained from a pico UE into CSI normal subframes and CSI macro ABS (protected subframes).

13 shows a fifth example of a method for transmitting CSI as feedback. The macro base station and picobase station transmit CSI-RS in different cycles. In the example shown in this figure, a macro base station transmits macro CSI-RS in normal subframes in a 10 ms cycle. The picobase station transmits the CSI-RS pico in protected subframes corresponding to macro ABS in an 8 ms cycle.

Since pico CSI-RS is always located in a protected subframe corresponding to macro ABS, by estimating interference using pico CSI-RS, the pico UE receives only CSI protected subframes. Meanwhile, CSI of unprotected subframes (normal subframe) is obtained by estimating interference using CRS in subframes shifted from subframes in which pico CSI-RS is transmitted, and which are different from ABS subframes.

As described above, the pico UE estimates interference in protected subframes using CSI-RS, and also estimates interference in unprotected subframes using CRS. It is then possible to report two types of CSI as feedback to the picobase station, namely, CSI obtained by estimating interference in protected subframes and CSI obtained by evaluating interference in unprotected subframes.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a picobase station that transmits signaling generated by control signals for measuring two types of CSI in a pico UE, and pico UE receives signaling from a picobase station and measures two types of CSI.

The picobase station reports a time offset value to the pico UE to indicate subframes for measuring two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes. Signaling a time offset value may use a higher level alarm.

When interference is estimated using reference signals in the subframes in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed and in subframes different from the subframes in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed, a time offset value from the subframes in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed is reported to the pico UE.

For example, the CSI feedback feedback method shown in FIG. 9 is effective in evaluating interference in subframes in which CSI-RS is multiplexed using CSI-RS, and interference is also measured in subframes that are different from subframes in which multiplexed CSI-RS using CRS.

The pico UE can determine the numbers of subframes in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed by the CSI-RS transmission cycle (10 ms, 8 ms, etc.) and the offset value of the subframe. The CSI-RS transmission cycle and the subframe offset value are transmitted using the upper layer signaling from the picobase station. By allowing the picobase station to send the time offset value by means of the upper level signaling, the pico UE is able to estimate interference using CRS signals of subframes with numbers obtained by adding the time offset value to the numbers of the subframes in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed and transmit as feedback CSI, which is reception quality information obtained by interference estimation, to a picobase station.

In addition, similar to the CSI feedback feedback method shown in FIG. 10, there may be cases where a subframe in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed is a subframe that does not correspond to macro ABS. Next, we assume that interference estimation using CRS is necessary in the subframe corresponding to macro ABS. In this case, the picobase station transmits the time offset value from subframe No. 2 in which CSI-RS is multiplexed to subframe No. 0 corresponding to macro ABS. The Pico UE estimates the interference at the reported positions of the CSI-RS subframe using the pico CSI-RS and estimates the interference using CRS at the positions of the subframe that are offset by the offset value from the position of the CSI-RS subframe.

In addition, the picobase station may report the type of reference signal for estimating interference in a particular subframe. A reference signal type message for use in interference estimation may use higher level signaling.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, cases arise where a subframe for transmitting a pico CSI-RS is a secure subframe for a pico CSI-RS, but is an unprotected subframe for CRS multiplexed in the same subframe. This subframe explicitly states that the type of reference signal for estimating interference in this subframe is CSI-RS and CRS.

Alternatively, similar to the CSI feedback feedback method shown in FIG. 10, cases may arise where the subframe in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed is a subframe not corresponding to macro ABS. At this time, as for the pico UE, which is located at the edge of the pico cell, only the CSI is required, which is measured in the protected subframes.

The picobase station then transmits control signals that indicate only the CSI-RS as the reference signal type, so that only the CSI-RS is measured in the subframes in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed. In addition, the picobase station transmits control signals that indicate only CRS as the reference signal type, so that only the CRS is measured in a subframe that is different from a subframe in which CSI-RS is multiplexed and which corresponds to macro ABS. The types of reference signals for evaluating interference can be signaled separately or combined and signaled at the same time.

In addition, the picobase station may signal the positions of the subframes that are the target of the CSI measurement in accordance with the transmission pattern of the protected subframes and unprotected subframes.

For example, with the CSI feedback method of FIG. 9, the picobase station reports the subframe number No. 0 as the position of the protected subframe for CSI measurement and reports the subframe number 2 as the unsecured subframe for CSI measurement. The types of reference numbers to use for measurement in secure / non-secure subframes may be communicated together.

Thus, when the positions of the subframes that are the target of CSI measurement are reported separately, even when the transmission patterns of the protected subframes and unprotected subframes are unknown, the pico UE can still transmit two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes as feedback.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a CSI feedback feedback method that provides the opportunity to reduce the amount of overhead (overhead) for CSI feedback when transmitting two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes, as feedback to a picobase station.

The Pico UE transmits the CSI of the protected subframe as feedback “as is”, and the CSI of the unsecured subframe transmits as feedback the difference value between the protected subframe and the unprotected subframe. Thus, it is possible to reduce the amount of overhead compared to when CSI of the protected subframes and unprotected subframes are separately transmitted as feedback.

Alternatively, when the difference value between the protected subframe and the unprotected subframe is less than the threshold value, only the CSI of the protected subframe is transmitted as feedback, and only when the difference value is greater than the threshold value, the CSI of the protected subframe and the CSI difference value between the protected subframe are jointly transmitted. and unprotected subframe. For example, the pico UE reports the CSI of the secure subframe as a basis, and when the difference between the CSI of the secure subframe and the CSI of the insecure subframe increases above a threshold value, reports the CSI of the insecure subframe as a difference value. Thus, it is possible to reduce the amount of overhead for CSI feedback, while the CSI quality of the protected subframes and unprotected subframes remains in a predetermined range.

In addition, CSI transmission is equally possible as feedback for protected subframes and unprotected subframes in different time cycles. For example, the pico UE transmits CSI protected subframes in a relatively short cycle as feedback and transmits unprotected subframes in a relatively long cycle as CSI feedback. In this way, it is possible to reduce the total amount of CSI transmitted as feedback.

In addition, the pico UE can find separately the average time CSI of the protected subframes and unprotected subframes and report separately two types of CSI in parallel in feedback. Thus, it is possible to reduce the number of CSI transmissions as feedback.

In addition, the picobase station uses two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes communicated from the pico UE, and uses Adaptive Modulation and Coding (Adaptive Modulation and Coding) to use separate external control loops. Although with an AFM, the data rate is controlled by changing the modulation scheme in accordance with the channel state, for example, when controlling with an external circuit using CSI protected subframes, high-speed modulation (e.g. 64QAM) is used, and when controlling with an external circuit using CSI of unprotected subframes, low speed modulation is applied (e.g. QPSK).

The following describes in detail a radio communication system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 15 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a radio communication system in accordance with the present embodiment. It should be noted that the radio communication system shown in FIG. 15 is a system for applying, for example, an LTE or SUPER 3G system. This radio communication system uses carrier aggregation, which makes many fundamental frequency blocks in which the frequency band of the system is one element, a single whole. In addition, this radio communication system may be called “IMT-Advanced” or “4G”.

As shown in FIG. 15, the radio communication system 1 may include base stations 20A, 20B and 20C and a plurality of mobile terminals 10 (10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ , ... 10 _n , where n is an integer, n> 0), performing communication with base stations 20A, 20B and 20C. The base stations 20A, 20B and 20C are connected to the upper level station 30, and this upper level station 30 is connected to the core network 40. The mobile terminal 10 is configured to communicate with the base stations 20A, 20B and 20C in the cells C1, C2 and C3. It should be noted that the upper level station 30 includes, for example, an access gateway, a radio network controller (RNC), a mobility management entity (MME), etc., but is not limited in any way to these options. The present invention is applicable in a layered network such as HetNet. In HetNet, for example, base station 20A is a macro base station that has a wide coverage area and high transmit power, and base station 20B is a picobase station that is located in the coverage area of base station 20A and which has lower transmit power than a macro base station.

Each mobile terminal (10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ , ... 10 _n ) can be either an LTE terminal or an LTE-A terminal, however, the following description will be given simply with reference to “mobile terminal 10” unless otherwise indicated. In addition, although the mobile terminal is in radio communication with the base stations 20A, 20B and 20C for ease of explanation, more generally, user devices (UE: User Equipment) including mobile terminals and fixed terminals can also be used.

In radio communication system 1, OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) is used as the radio access scheme in the downlink and SC-FDMA (Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access) is used in the uplink, however, the radio access scheme in the uplink Communication is not limited to this option. OFDMA is a multi-carrier transmission scheme for communicating by dividing a frequency band into a plurality of narrow frequency bands (sub-carriers) and mapping data to each sub-carrier. SC-FDMA is a single-carrier transmission scheme for reducing interference between terminals by dividing, for each terminal, frequency bands into bands formed by one or continuous resource blocks, and allowing multiple terminals to use mutually different frequency bands.

The following describes the communication channels in the LTE system. Downlink channels include PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel), which is used by each mobile terminal 10 based on sharing as a downlink data channel, and downlink L1 / L2 control channels (PDCCH, PCFICH and PHICH). Transmitted data and higher level control information are transmitted by PDSCH. PDSCH and PUSCH channel scheduling information, etc. transmitted via PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel). The number of OFDM symbols to use for the PDCCH is transmitted through the PCFICH channel (Physical Control Format Indicator Channel). HARQ ACK / NACK for PUSCH is transmitted through PHICH (Physical Hybrid-ARQ Indicator Channel, physical channel indicator hybrid ARQ).

Uplink channels include a PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel, which is used by each mobile terminal to share as an uplink data channel, and PUCCH (Physical Uplink Control Channel, which is an uplink channel) management. Via this PUSCH, transmitted data and higher level control information are transmitted. In addition, CSI, which is reception quality information using reference signals (CSI-RS and CRS), downlink quality information (CQI: Channel Quality Indicator), ACK / NACK, and the like, is transmitted through the PUCCH.

With reference to FIG. 16, a general configuration of a base station in accordance with the present embodiment will be described. It should be noted that the base station 20A (for example, macro base station), 20B (for example, picobase station) and 20C have the same configuration and, therefore, will be described simply as “base station 20”. Base station 20 has a transmit / receive antenna 201, an amplification module 202, a transmit / receive module (transmission module) 203, a baseband signal processing module 204, a call processing module 205, and a transmission path interface 206. Data transmitted from the base station 20 to the mobile terminal 10 via the downlink is received from the upper level station 30 to the baseband signal processing module 204 via the transmission path interface 206.

In the baseband signal processing module 204, the downlink data channel signal undergoes PDCP layer processing, separation and connection of the transmitted data, RLC transmission processing (Radio Link Control, radio link control), such as retransmission control at the RLC level, retransmission control at MAC (Medium Access Control), including, for example, HARQ transmission, scheduling, transport format selection, channel coding, the process of inverse fast Fourier transform (OBPF) and about pre coding process. In addition, with respect to the signal of the physical downlink control channel, which is the downlink control channel, transmission processes such as channel coding and inverse fast Fourier transform are performed.

In addition, the baseband signal processing module 204 reports via the broadcast channel to the mobile terminal 10 connected to the same cell control information to enable the mobile terminal 10 to communicate with the base station 20. Broadcast information to enable communication in the cell contains, for example, the system bandwidth in the uplink or downlink, the identification information of the root sequence (root follower index awns) for generating preamble signals PRACH in a random access etc.

In the transmit / receive unit 203, a baseband signal provided by the baseband signal processing unit 204 undergoes frequency conversion to a radio frequency band. An amplification module 202 amplifies a transmitted signal that has undergone frequency conversion and outputs the result to a transmit / receive antenna 201.

Meanwhile, with respect to the signals transmitted in the uplink from the mobile terminal 10 to the base station 20, the radio frequency signal received by the receiving / transmitting antenna 201 is amplified by the amplifying module 202, undergoes frequency conversion, and is converted into a baseband signal in the transmitting / receiving module 203 and is supplied to the signal processing module 204 of the main frequency band.

The baseband signal processing unit 204 performs an FFT process, an OTFD process, error correction decoding, a retransmission control process at reception at the MAC level, reception processes of the RLC level and the PDCP level carried out with respect to the transmitted data contained in the baseband signal adopted in the uplink. The decoded signal is transmitted to the upper level station 30 via the transmission path interface 206.

Call processing module 205 performs call processing, such as establishing and releasing communication channels, manages the state of base station 20, and manages radio resources.

Next, with reference to FIG. 17, a general configuration of a mobile terminal according to the present embodiment is described. The LTE terminal and the LTE-A terminal have the same hardware configurations in the principal part and, therefore, will be described without distinction. The mobile terminal 10 has a receive / transmit antenna 101, an amplification module 102, a transmit / receive module (receive module) 103, a baseband signal processing module 104, and an application module 105.

With respect to downstream data, the radio frequency signal received by the transmitting / receiving antenna 101 is amplified by the amplifying unit 10 and undergoes a frequency conversion to be converted into a baseband signal in the transmitting / receiving unit 103. This baseband signal in the baseband signal processing unit 204 passes receive processes such as the FFT process, error correction decoding, and retransmission control. In this downstream data, the downstream transmission data is transmitted to the application module 105. The application module 105 performs processes related to layers higher than the physical layer and the MAC layer. In addition, broadcast information is also transmitted in the downstream data to the application module 105.

Meanwhile, upstream transmission data is supplied from the application module 105 to the baseband signal processing module 104. The baseband signal processing unit 104 performs a display process, a retransmission control process (HARQ), channel coding, an DFT and an IFFT process. The baseband signal provided by the baseband signal processing unit 104 is converted to the radio frequency band in the transmitting / receiving unit 103, and then amplified in the amplifying unit 102, and transmitted from the transmitting / receiving antenna 101.

Functional blocks of picobase station 20B will be described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that the functional blocks in FIG. 18 are primarily the processing part of the baseband signal processing module. In addition, the functional blocks shown in FIG. 18 are simplified to explain the present invention, and are considered to have configurations that a baseband processing module typically has. In addition, in the following description, indexes for determining resources in which CSI-RSs are hosted will be described as CSI-RS indices.

As shown in FIG. 18, picobase station 20B has a CRS assignment module 210, a CSI-RS assignment module 211, a CSI-RS index generation module 212, a transmission stop resource setting module 213, a transmission stop resource generation information generating module 214, a module CSI-RS parameter generation 215, transmission stop interval information generation module 216, CSI measurement time indent information generation module 217, interference measurement information RS generation module 218, CSI measurement subframe information generation module 219, a broadcast signal / dedicated signal generating unit 220; and a transmit / receive module 203.

CRS assignment module 210 assigns a CRS transmission resource for CRS in the resource block of each subframe. The CRS signal is assigned a suitable resource element in the resource block in accordance with the CRS assignment pattern, in which the CRS assignment positions are determined so that the CRS does not overlap other control signals.

The CSI-RS assignment module 211 assigns for the CSI-RS suitable subframes in the radio frame in the CSI-RS transmission cycle (e.g., 10 ms or 8 ms). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 9, picosubframes in a 10 ms cycle are assigned for CSI-RS. More specifically, a CSI-RS is assigned to a CSI-RS transmission resource in a resource block in a target subframe. CSI-RS transmission resources can also be defined according to the CSI-RS pattern to match the number of CSI-RS ports.

The CSI-RS index generating module 212 generates a CSI-RS index corresponding to a CSI-RS transmission resource in a resource block. The CSI-RS index generated in the CSI-RS index generating module 212 is supplied to the broadcast signal / dedicated signal generating module 220 as one of the CSI-RS parameters.

The transmission terminating resource setting module 213 sets the resource that corresponds to the CSI-RS transmission resource initially in the neighboring cell as the terminated transmission resource. The operation of stopping the transmission of PDSCH in the same resource as the resource for transmitting CSI-RS in the neighboring cell is one way to terminate the transmission, when transmitting together, on HetNet. Meanwhile, the neighboring base station of the picobase station is a macrobase station. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, when the picobase station transmits the CSI-RS in the same subframe as the macro cell, the CSI-RS (interferes) of the macro cell significantly affects the PDSCH transmitted in the pico cell, and its accuracy is significantly declining. When the reception quality in the pico cell is reduced due to the exposure (interfering) of the CSI-RS macro cell, there is a possibility that the PDSCH transmitted in the pico cell may continue to be re-transmitted. When the CSI-RS is transmitted using the same subframe as the subframe for transmitting the CSI-RS in the macro cell, it is preferable to stop transmitting the PDSCH in the subframe.

Transmission termination resource indication information generating unit 214 generates termination of transmission resource indication information for terminating PDSCH transmission in a subframe for transmitting pico CSI-RS. Information indicating the termination of a resource specifies resources for terminating a PDSCH transmission. As information indicating the resource with the cessation of transmission, information is generated in the format of a bitmap or a template for the allocation of resources to terminate the transmission. When the information indicating the resource with the termination of transmission is reported to the mobile terminal 10, which is a pico UE, the resources reflected in the information of the indication of the resource with the termination of transmission are recognized as resources of the termination of transmission on the side of the mobile terminal 10. Information of the indication of the resource with the termination of transmission is supplied to the module 220 generating a broadcast signal / dedicated signal as one of the parameters of the termination of transmission.

The CSI-RS parameter generation module 215 generates parameters different from the CSI-RS indices, such as the CSI-RS sequence and transmit power. The CSI-RS parameters generated by the CSI-RS parameter generating unit 215 are supplied to the broadcast signal / dedicated signal generating unit 220.

The transmission stop interval information generating unit 216 generates the transmission stop interval information, which indicates a common transmission interval that is shared by the plurality of cells, in connection with all subframes for transmitting CSI-RS among the plurality of cells C1-C3. The transmission stop interval information generating unit 216 generates the transmission stop interval information based on the CSI-RS transmission cycle in the cell in question and the CSI-RS transmission cycle received from the neighboring cell. The information of the transmission stop interval generated by the transmission stop interval information generating unit 216 is supplied to the broadcast signal / dedicated signal generating unit 220.

The CSI measurement indentation information generating unit 217 generates the indentation value as information for indicating subframes for measuring two types of CSI, a protected subframe, and an unprotected subframe. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 9, in pico cell radio frames, it becomes possible to measure two types of CSI by evaluating interference using CSI-RS in subframe No. 0 and by evaluating interference using CRS in subframe No. 2. If the protected subframes are limited to subframe No. 0, where the CSI-RS is located, then subframe No. 2, offset two subframes from subframe No. 0, is an unprotected subframe. In this case, the value of the temporary indentation is set in subframe No. 2. In addition, it is equally possible to lock an unprotected subframe to enable the indication of a protected subframe by means of a time offset value. The time offset value may also be called the time difference between the protected subframe and the unprotected subframe.

The interference measurement information generating unit RS 218 generates RS type information for interference measurement, which denotes a type of a reference signal for estimating interference in target subframes. Using RS type information for interference measurement, the type of reference signal for use in estimating interference in protected subframes and the type of reference signal for evaluating interference in unprotected subframes are reported. For example, although pico subframes No. 0 and No. 9 shown in FIG. 9 are protected subframes, for a pico UE that only needs CSI protected subframes, CSI-RS is specified as the RS (reference signal) for interference measurement in picoframe No. 0, and in picopod No. 9, CRS is set as RS for interference measurement. In addition, picoframe No. 2 shown in FIG. 10 is a protected subframe for pico CSI-RS and an unsecured subframe for CRS. As shown in FIG. 10, when the subframe in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed is a subframe that does not correspond to macro ABS, for a pico UE that is located at the edge of the pico cell, CSI measurement only in protected subframes is required. In this case, in the RS type information for measuring interference with respect to the subframes in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed, only CSI-RS is specified, and CRS is specified in the RS type information for measuring interference with respect to the subframe No. 0 corresponding to macro ABS. Thus, it is possible to report RS for interference measurement to ensure CSI measurement only using protected subframes for a pico UE located at the edge of the pico cell. In addition, resource allocation for a pico UE located near the center of the pico cell (not including the edge of the cell) requires CSI of both protected subframes and unprotected subframes. In this case, with respect to the subframes in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed, two types, CSI-RS and CRS are set as RS type information for interference measurement. Thus, it is possible to implement CSI measurement of secure subframes using CSI-RS and implement CSI measurement of an unprotected subframe in the same subframe via CRS. RS type information for interference measurement from the interference measurement information generating unit 218 RS is supplied to the broadcast signal / dedicated signal generating unit 220.

The CSI measurement subframe information generating unit 219 generates CSI measurement subframe information for indicating subframe positions specified for CSI measurement. Although the CSI measurement time offset information generating unit 217 indicates the positions of the subframes that are the target of the CSI measurement using the time offset value, the CSI measurement subframe information generating unit 219 directly indicates the subframes that are the target of the CSI measurement using the subframe positions. For the type of reference signal to be used to estimate interference in the reported subframes, RS type information for interference measurement may be used. The CSI measurement subframe information generated in the CSI measurement subframe information generating unit 219 is supplied to the broadcast signal / dedicated signal generating unit 220.

The broadcast signal / dedicated signal generating unit 220 generates broadcast signals or dedicated signals including CSI-RS indices, transmission deactivation resource indication information, transmission deactivation interval information, other CSI-RS parameters, CSI time offset information, RSI information for interference measurement, CSI measurement subframe information. Information that must be communicated to all mobile terminals 10 in a pico cell (for example, CSI-RS indices and other CSI-RS parameters) is generated as broadcast signals, and information that must be communicated to each mobile terminal 10 separately (resource indication information with transmission deactivation, CSI time offset information, RS information for interference measurement, and CSI measurement subframe information) are generated as dedicated (address) signals. Broadcast signals and dedicated signals generated in the broadcast signal / dedicated signal generating unit 220 are sent by higher level signaling. The transmit / receive module 203 maps the CRS, CSI-RS, and broadcast signals / dedicated signals to resources and transmits them to the mobile terminals 10.

Functional blocks of a mobile terminal 10 serving as a pico UE are described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that the functional blocks in FIG. 19 mainly relate to processing in the baseband signal processing module. In addition, the functional blocks shown in FIG. 19 are simplified to explain the present invention and are considered to have the configuration that a baseband signal processing module typically has.

As shown in FIG. 19, the mobile terminal 10 has a transmit / receive module 103, a receiving module 111, a measurement module 112, and a user data demodulation module 113. The transmit / receive module 103 receives a control channel (CRS, CSI-RS, etc.) and a broadcast channel (broadcast signal / dedicated signal) and the like transmitted from picobase station 20B, and also receives a data channel (user data )

The receiving module 111 analyzes the broadcast signal / extracted signal received by the transmitting / receiving module 103 and obtains CSI-RS parameters including CSI-RS indices, transmission disable resource indication information, transmission disable interval information, CSI measurement timeout information, RS information for interference measurement and CSI measurement subframe information.

Measurement module 112 performs the following CSI measurements to feed back two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes, as feedback. The subframes that are the target of the CSI measurement and the types of reference signals intended for use in the CSI measurement are notified using the broadcast signal / dedicated signal. The measurement module 112 may indicate the subframes that are the target of CSI measurement, and the RS type for interference measurement in each target subframe by combining the CSI measurement indent information and the RS information for interference measurement. For example, by reporting the CSI-RS transmission cycle and the offset value of the subframe from the picobase station to the mobile terminal 10, it is possible to specify another CSI measurement subframe by adding a time offset based on the position of the CSI-RS subframe. Alternatively, the measurement module 112 may indicate the subframes that are the target of the CSI measurement and the RS type for interference measurement in each target subframe by combining the RS information for interference measurement and the CSI measurement subframe information. Provided that the positions of the subframes for CSI measurement are directly indicated by the information of the CSI measurement subframe, it is possible to indicate the positions of the subframes for use for CSI measurements using only the CSI measurement subframe information. In addition, the measurement module 112 indicates a CSI-RS resource in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed in the resource block based on the CSI-RS index.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, interference is estimated based on the pico CSI-RS received in subframe No. 0, which is a protected subframe. Provided that subframe No. 0 in the pico cell is a protected subframe, it is possible to accurately measure interference under conditions in which there is little interference from the macro base station. In addition, when CSI of unprotected subframes is required, CSI measurement subframe position information and RS information for interference measurement are reported from the picobase station. For example, a CSI measurement using CRS is reported in picoframe No. 2. The measurement module 112 estimates the interference based on the CRS in picoframe No. 2. The CSI, which is measured using CSI-RS in subframe No. 0, which is a protected subframe, is transmitted to the transmit / receive module 103. The transmit / receive module 103 transmits two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes, to the picobase station as feedback.

In addition, as shown in the example in FIG. 10, interference is estimated based on the pico CSI-RS received in subframe No. 2, which is a subframe outside the macro ABS, and interference is estimated based on CRS adopted in the same subframe No. 2 . Peak subframe No. 2 is not in the ABS period, however, it disables the transmission of the pico CSI-RS resource in the macro cell so that by evaluating the interference using CSI-RS, the CSI for the protected subframe that is not interfered with from the macro base station is measured. In addition, peak number 2 is not in the ABS period and, therefore, resources other than the pico CSI-RS resource are interfered with by the macro base station. By evaluating the interference based on the CRS adopted in the same subframe No. 2, the CSI is measured for an unprotected subframe that is interfered with by a macro base station. Thus, two types of CSI obtained by interference estimation using both pico CSI-RS and CRS in the same subframe No. 2 are received by the transmitting / receiving unit 103. Transmit / receive module 103 transmits to the picobase station two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes, as feedback.

Furthermore, when it is necessary to measure CSI in a subframe corresponding to macro ABS, as subframe of CSI measurement from picobase station, subframe No. 0 corresponding to subframes of macro ABS is reported and CRS is reported as RS for interference measurement in this subframe No. 0. In this case, in addition to measuring interference using CSI-RS in subframe No. 2, interference is estimated using CRS in subframe No. 0, which is a protected subframe. Thus, two types of CSI obtained by estimating interference using CSI-RS and CRS in two protected subframes (subframes No. 0 and No. 2) are received at the transmitter / receiver module 103. The transmit / receive module 103 transmits to the picobase station two CSI types received in two protected subframes as feedback.

In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 12, depending on the position of the pico CSI-RS transmission, the frame may be a protected subframe or an unprotected subframe. By evaluating interference using a CSI-RS in which pico CSI-RS is received, two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes are measured as a result. The CSI-RS transmission subframe No. 1 is notified from the picobase station as the CSI measurement subframe, and only the CSI-RS is reported as the RS for interference measurement in the No. 1 subframe. The measurement module 112 measures interference using CSI-RS in each individual subframe No. 1, thereby measuring the two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes, differently. Thus, two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes, are received in the transmitter / receiver module 103. The transmit / receive module 103 transmits two types of CSI as feedback to the picobase station.

In addition, the measurement module 112 can find the time-averaged CSI of the protected subframes and the time-averaged CSI of the unprotected subframes individually. Thus, the CSI measured in protected subframes in which interference is prevented and the CSI measured in unprotected subframes that experience significant interference are averaged separately, thereby making it possible to measure the receiving quality more accurately.

The user data demodulation module 113 demodulates the user data received through the transmit / receive module 103. The user data demodulation module 113 excludes the resources with the transmission disabled, reflected in the resource indication information with the transmission disabled, from the target information for the demodulation process, and demodulates the user data. Therefore, the performance of the demodulation process and the accuracy of the demodulation are improved. It should be noted that instead of providing the user data demodulation module 113, it is equally possible to carry out the user data demodulation process in the receiving module 111.

Now that two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes, are transmitted as feedback, the amount of overhead for CSI transmitted as feedback is increasing. The following describes the reduction in overhead (overhead) for CSI transmitted as feedback.

Functional blocks of the picobase station will be described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that the parts that are the same in comparison with the functional blocks of the base station shown in Fig. 18 have the same designations. As shown in FIG. 20, picobase station 20B has a CRS assignment module 210, a CSI-RS assignment module 211, a CSI-RS index generation module 212, a transmission stop resource setting module 213, a transmission stop resource generating information module 214, a module CSI-RS parameter generation 215, transmission stop interval information generation module 216, CSI measurement time indent information generation module 217, interference measurement information RS generation module 218, CSI measurement subframe information generation module 219, a broadcast signal / dedicated signal generation module 220, a user data generation module 221, a user data assignment module 222, and a transmit / receive module 203.

New functions are added to the user data generation module 221 with respect to the CSI transmitted as feedback. The user data generating unit 221 obtains two types of CSI, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe, from CSI information communicated in a special compressed format that corresponds to the feedback CSI message method from the pico UE, and which is designed to reduce the CSI amount, transmitted as feedback. The user data generating unit 221 determines the assignment of radio resources to each user based on the CSI received as feedback.

The user data assignment module 222 assigns the user data according to the assignment of radio resources to each user.

Functional blocks of the mobile terminal 10 are described with reference to FIG. Parts identical with the functional blocks of the mobile terminal 10 shown in FIG. 19 have the same designations. As shown in FIG. 21, the mobile terminal 10 has a transmit / receive module 103, a receive module 111, a measurement module 112, a user data demodulation module 113, and a CSI feedback information reduction module 114.

Receive module 111 receives two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes, as described above. When measuring two types of CSI, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe, the CSI feedback information reduction module 114 finds a difference value between the two types of CSI, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe. The difference value between the two types of CSI, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe, serves as compressed CSI information. The CSI of the secure subframe is transmitted in the normal format, and the CSI of the non-secure subframe is converted to the difference value format between the CSI of the secure subframe and the unprotected subframe and transmitted as feedback. The CSI of the secure subframe thus obtained and the compressed CSI information related to the CSI of the insecure subframe are communicated from the transmit / receive unit 103 to the picobase station 20B.

Thus, compared with the case of transmitting two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes as feedback, separately, it is possible to reduce the amount of CSI transmitted as feedback.

In addition, the CSI feedback information reduction module 114 typically transmits only CSI of the protected subframes as feedback, and when the difference between the CSI of the protected subframe and the CSI of the insecure subframe exceeds a threshold value, the CSI of the unsecured subframe is reported as a difference value. In other words, the CSI feedback information reduction module 114 constantly calculates and monitors the difference value between the CSI of the secure subframe and the CSI of the insecure subframe, and when the difference between the CSI of the secure subframe and the CSI of the insecure subframe exceeds the threshold value, additionally transmits the difference value as feedback between the CSI of the secure subframe and the CSI of the insecure subframe in addition to the separate CSI of the secure subframe transmitted as feedback.

Thus, as long as the CSI quality of the protected subframes and unprotected subframes remains within a predetermined range, it is possible to reduce the amount of overhead for CSI transmitted as feedback.

Alternatively, the CSI feedback information reduction module 114 may transmit CSI of the protected subframes and CSI of the unsecured subframes in different time cycles as feedback. For example, CSI of protected subframes may be transmitted as feedback in a relatively short time cycle, and CSI of unprotected subframes may be transmitted as feedback in a relatively long time cycle.

In this way, it is possible to feed back two types of CSI, protected subframes and unprotected subframes, as well as reduce the amount of CSI transmitted as feedback.

In picobase station 20B, when the CSI of the insecure subframe from the mobile terminal 10 is represented by the difference value with the CSI of the secure subframe, the user data generating section 221 reconstructs the CSI of the insecure subframe using the CSI of the secure subframe and the difference value reported as compressed CSI information.

Furthermore, in a period in which only the CSI of the secure subframe is transmitted as feedback, the user data generating unit 221 considers the CSI of the insecure subframe to be the same as the CSI of the secure subframe, and assigns radio resources to the user based on the same CSI.

In addition, the user data generating unit 221 may apply the AMC using individual external loop control using two types of CSI, secure subframes and unprotected subframes. For example, external loop control using CSI protected subframes can apply high-speed modulation (e.g. 64QAM), and external loop control using CSI of non-protected subframes can apply low-speed modulation (e.g. QPSK).

The present invention is in no way limited to the above described embodiments and can be implemented in various modifications. For example, within the framework of the present invention, it is possible to change the set positions of resources with disabling transmission, the number of processing modules, the order of steps and the number of resources with disabling transmission in the above description, if necessary. Meanwhile, the present invention can be implemented with various changes without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-250096, filed November 8, 2010, including the description, drawings and abstract, are fully incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (18)

1. A mobile terminal containing
a receiving module configured to receive a protected subframe in a lower level cell corresponding to a subframe with a lower transmit power in a high level cell and an unprotected subframe in a lower level cell corresponding to a subframe with a higher transmit power in a high level cell;
a measuring module configured to measure channel quality from reference signals multiplexed individually in a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe; and
a transmitting module configured to transmit to the base station two types of channel quality information, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe, as measured by the measurement module. 2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that both the position of the subframe for measuring the channel quality of the protected subframe and the position of the subframe for measuring the channel quality of the unprotected subframe are set by signaling. 3. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the information for determining the subframes for measuring two types of channel quality, the protected subframe and the unprotected subframe, is set using high-level signaling. 4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring module is configured to measure channel quality in a protected subframe or insecure subframe, in which the channel status information reference signal (CSI-RS), which is one of the reference signals, is multiplexed by evaluating interference using CSI-RS, and with the ability to measure channel quality in a secure subframe or insecure subframe different from the subframe in which CSI-RS is multiplexed by estimating interference using a cell-specific PORN signal (CRS), which is another signal from among the reference signals; and the transmitting module is configured to transmit to the base station two types of channel quality information measured using CSI-RS and CRS. 5. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring module is configured to measure channel quality in a protected subframe or insecure subframe in which the CSI-RS signal, which is one of the reference signals, is multiplexed by estimating interference using CSI-RS , and with the ability to measure channel quality in a subframe different from the subframe in which the CSI-RS is multiplexed and in which the transmission of the data channel of the upper cell is stopped by estimating interference using CRS. 6. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring module is configured to measure two types of channel quality by estimating interference using CSI-RS and CRS in a subframe in which CSI-RS, which is one of the reference signals, is multiplexed, and CRS, which is another signal from among the reference signals. 7. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving module is configured to receive a broadcast signal or a dedicated signal that is transmitted from a base station of a lower level cell; and the measurement module is configured to determine the position of a subframe for a protected subframe or an unprotected subframe using a time offset value that is obtained from a broadcast signal or a extracted signal and which indicates a time difference between subframes that are intended to measure channel state information (CSI). 8. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving module is configured to receive a broadcast signal or a dedicated signal that is transmitted from a base station of a lower level cell; and the measurement module is configured to determine the type of reference signal for measurement in a subframe that is a target of CSI measurement, in accordance with information of the interference measurement reference signal obtained from the broadcast signal or the extracted signal. 9. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving module is configured to receive a broadcast signal or a dedicated signal that is transmitted from a base station of a lower level cell; and the measurement module is configured to determine the position of the subframe being the target of CSI measurement in accordance with the information of the CSI measurement subframe obtained from the broadcast signal or the extracted signal. 10. A base station containing
a transmitting unit configured to transmit radio frames of a lower level cell including a secure subframe in a lower level cell corresponding to a subframe with a lower transmit power in the upper level cell and an unprotected subframe in a lower level cell corresponding to a subframe with a higher transmit power in the cell top level;
a CSI-RS assignment unit configured to multiplex a CSI-RS, which is one of the reference signals, in a secure subframe or in an unsecure subframe in a predetermined cycle;
a CRS assignment unit configured to multiplex a CRS, which is one of the reference signals, in each subframe forming the radio frames of the lower level cell;
a receiving module, configured to receive two types of channel quality information, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe, which are transmitted as feedback from a mobile terminal receiving radio frames in a lower layer cell; and
a user data assignment unit configured to assign radio resources to the mobile terminal using two types of channel quality information transmitted as feedback from the mobile terminal. 11. The base station according to claim 10, characterized in that the position of the subframe for measuring the channel quality of the protected subframe and the position of the subframe for measuring the channel quality of the insecure subframe are individually signaled to the mobile terminal. 12. The base station according to claim 10, characterized in that the information for determining subframes for measuring two types of channel quality, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe, is signaled to the mobile terminal using high-level signaling. 13. The base station according to claim 10, characterized in that the time offset value, which indicates the time difference between the subframes that are the target of CSI measurement, is signaled to the mobile terminal by means of a broadcast signal or a dedicated signal. 14. The base station according to claim 10, characterized in that the information of the reference signal for measuring interference, which indicates the type of reference signal for measurement in the subframe, which is the target of measuring CSI, is signaled to the mobile terminal by means of a broadcast signal or a dedicated signal. 15. The base station according to claim 10, characterized in that the CSI measurement reference signal information that indicates the position of the subframe being the target of CSI measurement is signaled to the mobile terminal by means of a broadcast signal or a dedicated signal. 16. A method for transmitting channel status information (CSI) as feedback, comprising the following steps:
receiving radio frames including a secure subframe in a lower level cell corresponding to a subframe with lower transmit power in a high level cell, and
an unprotected subframe in a lower layer cell corresponding to a subframe with a higher transmit power in a high level cell;
channel quality measurement by reference signals multiplexed individually in a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe; and
transmitting to the base station the measured two types of channel quality information, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe. 17. A communication management method, comprising the following steps:
transmitting radio frames including a secure subframe in a lower level cell corresponding to a subframe with a lower transmit power in a high level cell and an unprotected subframe in a lower level cell corresponding to a subframe with a higher transmit power in a high level cell;
CSI-RS multiplexing, which is one of the reference signals, in a protected subframe or in an unsecured subframe in a predetermined cycle;
multiplexing CRS, which is one of the reference signals, in each subframe forming the radio frames of the lower level cell;
receiving two types of channel quality information, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe, which are transmitted as feedback from a mobile terminal receiving radio frames in a lower level cell; and
assigning radio resources to the mobile terminal using two types of channel quality information transmitted as feedback from the mobile terminal. 18. A radio communication system comprising a base station and a mobile terminal connected to a base station, the base station comprising
a transmitting unit configured to transmit radio frames of a lower level cell including a secure subframe in a lower level cell corresponding to a subframe with a lower transmit power in the upper level cell and an unprotected subframe in a lower level cell corresponding to a subframe with a higher transmit power in the cell top level;
a CSI-RS assignment unit configured to multiplex a CSI-RS, which is one of the reference signals, in a secure subframe or in an unsecure subframe in a predetermined cycle;
a CRS assignment unit configured to multiplex a CRS, which is one of the reference signals, in each subframe forming the radio frames of the lower level cell;
a receiving module, configured to receive two types of channel quality information, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe, which are transmitted as feedback from a mobile terminal receiving radio frames in a lower layer cell; and
a user data assignment unit configured to assign radio resources to the mobile terminal using two types of channel quality information transmitted as feedback from the mobile terminal;
and the mobile terminal contains
a receiving module configured to receive a protected subframe in a lower layer cell and an unprotected subframe in a lower level cell;
a measuring module configured to measure channel quality from reference signals multiplexed individually in a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe; and
a transmitting module configured to transmit to the base station two types of channel quality information, a protected subframe and an unprotected subframe, as measured by the measurement module.

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