GB2492334A

GB2492334A - Reverse scheduling subframes in a communications network to prevent data transmission

Info

Publication number: GB2492334A
Application number: GB201110880A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kalle Petteri Kela; Pasi Petteri Yliuntinen
Original assignee: Renesas Mobile Corp
Current assignee: Renesas Electronics Corp
Priority date: 2011-06-27
Filing date: 2011-06-27
Publication date: 2013-01-02
Also published as: GB201110880D0

Abstract

A base station transmits reverse scheduling information to a terminal, the reverse scheduling information being associated with one or more subframes of a radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station and comprising information indicating that at least part of the subframe(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission. The reverse scheduling may be applied to semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) received at the terminal, resulting in reversed semi-persistent scheduling. The reverse scheduling (or de-allocation of resources) may be in response to the detection of excessive noise and/or interference, e.g. between a femto cell and a macro cell. With this mechanism, a network can mute selected terminals and/or signals to the terminals in a certain sub-frame or patterns of subframes, and previously allocated semi-persistent allocations may be temporarily cancelled. The invention has particular application to 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems.

Description

INTELLECTUAL

. . PROPERTY OFFICE Applicalion No. GB 1110880.0 RTM Date:21 October2011 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Java MeeGo Symbian Android iOS Blackberry Windows Mobile Linux Macmo Intellectual Property Office is an operaling name of Ihe Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk Wireless Communications

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to wireless communications, and particularly, but not exclusively, to subframe scheduling, and!or dc-allocation.

Backuround of the Invention In a cellular wireless communications system, a base station typically assigns radio resources to a terminal and signals this information to the terminal using a control channel. In 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LIE), for example, transmissions are performed in one millisecond time periods called subframes. A downlink (DL) assignment or an uplink (VL) grant is transmitted when resources in a subframe are assigned for the terminal. Semi-persistent scheduling enables radio resources to be semi-statically configured and allocated to a terminal for a longer time period, avoiding the need for a specific downlink assignment or uplink grant to be sent in every subframe,

Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus as specified in claim 1.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus as specified in claim 6.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method as specified in claim 16.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable medium as specified in claim 20.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method as specified in claim 21.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided another computer-readable medium as specified in claim 30.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system as specified in claim 31.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided another method according to claim 34.

Further aspects and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Example embodiments of the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures IA and lB are block diagrams illustrating apparatuses according to exemplary embodiments; Figures 2 and 5 are block diagrams illustrating radio systems according to exemplary embodiments; Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a terminal according to an embodiment; Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a base station according to an embodiment; Figures 6 and 7 are timing diagrams illustrating scheduling according to an embodiment; Figures 8 and 9 are timing diagrams illustrating signalling related to scheduling according to an embodiment; and Figures OA, lOB, 11A, and lIB are flow diagrams illustrating methods according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention The following embodiments are only examples. Although the specification may refer to "an", "one", or "some" embodiment(s) in several locations, this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Furthermore, words "comprising" and "including" should be understood as not limiting the described embodiments to consist of only those features that have been mentioned and such embodiments may contain also features/structures that have not been specifically mentioned.

Figures IA, IB, 3 and 4 illustrate example embodiments of apparatuses 100, 130. Figures IA, lB. 3 and 4 only show some elements whose implementation may differ from what is shown. The connections shown in Figures IA, I B, 3 and 4 are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. interfaces between the various elements may be implemented with suitable interface technologies, such as a message interface, a method interface, a sub-routine call interface, a block interface, a hardware interface, a software interface or any means enabling communication between functional sub-units. It should be appreciated that the apparatuses 100, 130 may comprise other parts. However, such other parts may be incidental to the example embodiments described herein and, therefore, they need not be discussed in more detail here. It is also to be noted that although some elements are depicted as separate ones, some of them may be integrated into a single physical element.

As shown in Figure 1A, the first apparatus 100 comprises at least one processor 102, and at least one memory 104 including computer program code 106.

The apparatus 100 is configured to obtain (or receive) 108 a reverse scheduling (or reverse scheduling information) from a base station. The reverse scheduling comprises information indicating that at least a part of subframes is not utilized for a radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station. Furthermore, the apparatus 100 is configured to cause 110 a radio transceiver of the terminal to operate according to the reverse scheduling in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.

In another embodiment, the apparatus as shown in Figure 1B, comprises at least one memory 104 and associated computer program code 106, which are configured to obtain (or receive) 112 a semi-persistent scheduling from a base station. The semi-persistent scheduling comprises information on scheduling of the subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station. The apparatus causes 114 a radio transceiver of the terminal to operate according to the semi-persistent scheduling in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.

Additionally, the first apparatus 100 is configured to obtain (or receive) 108 a reverse scheduling from the base station.

Furthermore, the apparatus 100 is configured to cause 116 changes to the semi-persistent scheduling on the basis of the reverse scheduling, thereby arriving at a reversed semi-persistent scheduling.

Finally, the first apparatus 100 causes 110 a radio transceiver of the terminal to operate according to the reversed semi-persistent scheduling in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.

The fir st apparatus 100 may be a terminal, e.g. user equipment (UB), a radio terminal, a subscriber terminal, smartphone, mobile station, mobile phone, portable computer, pad computer or some other type of wireless mobile communication device operating with or without a subscriber identification module (SIM). The terminal may be a piece of cquipmcnt or a device that is configured to associate the terminal and its user with a subscription and allows a user to interact with the radio system, e.g. the terminal is capable of requesting service from the radio system. The terminal presents information to the user and allows the user to input information. In other words, the terminal may be any terminal capable of wirelessly receiving information from and/or wirelessly transmitting information to the radio system. Besides communication capabilities, the terminal may include computer flinetionalities or functionalitics of other data processing devices.

However, the first apparatus 100 may also be interpreted as a circuitry implementing the required functionality within the terminal. As was explained, the first apparatus 100 obtains 108 the reverse scheduling, and causes 110 the data transmission according to the reverse scheduling.

If thc first apparatus 100 is thc terminal, then it will also comprise the equipment needed for the communication, such equipment including at least one radio transceiver with all the required hardware and software. On the other hand, if the first apparatus 100 is the circuitry, then it will not necessarily comprise the radio transceiver(s) etc. but only interfaces enabling communication with such equipment implementing the communication with the base station, for example. The first apparatus 100 may be a wireless modem designed to be used in a terminal, or in any other product, such as cars, sensor networks, multimedia, or another product requiring wireless communication capabilities. The wireless modem may be designed for a terminal, or it may be a separate product, such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) stick capable of being plugged into a product, such as a portable computer, or any other product requiring wireless communication capabilities.

As shown in Figure IA, the second apparatus 130 comprises at least one processor 132, and at least one memory 134 including computer program code 136.

The second apparatus 130 is arranged to create 138 a reverse scheduling for a terminal, cause 140 a transmission of the reverse scheduling from the base station to the terminal, and cause 142 a radio transceiver of the base station to operate according to the reverse scheduling in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.

In another embodiment, shown in Figure IB, the second apparatus 130 is configured to create 144 a semi-persistent scheduling for a terminal communicating with a base station. The semi-persistent scheduling comprises information on scheduling of the subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.

Additionally, the second apparatus is configured toeause 146 a transmission of the semi-persistent scheduling from the base station to the terminal.

The second apparatus 130 may be configured to cause 148 a radio transceiver of the base station to operate according to the semi-persistent scheduling in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.

Additionally, second apparatus 130 creates 138 a reverse scheduling for the terminal, and causes 140 a transmission of the reverse scheduling from the base station to the terminal.

Additionally, second apparatus 130 causes 150 changes to the semi-persistent scheduling on the basis of the reverse scheduling, thereby arriving at a reversed semi-persistent scheduling, and cause 142 a radio transceiver of the base station to operate according to the reversed semi-persistent scheduling in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.

The second apparatus 130 may be a base station, e.g. a Node B, enhanced or evolved NodeB (eNB), a home eNode B (HeNB), an access point (AP), an IEEE 802.11 based access point, a femto node, a femto base station, or any other equipment belonging to the network infrastructure of the radio system, and implementing the radio communication interface with the terminal.

However, the second apparatus 130 may also be interpreted as a circuitry implementing the required ifmnctionality within the base station. As was explained, the second apparatus 130 creates 138 the reverse scheduling, causes 140 transmission of the reverse scheduling, and causes 142 data transmission with the reverse scheduling.

If the second apparatus 130 is the base station, then it will also comprise the equipment needed for the communication such equipment including at least one radio transceiver with all the required hardware and software. On the other hand, if the second apparatus 130 is the circuitry, then it will not necessarily comprise the radio transceiver(s) etc. but only interfaces enabling communication with such equipment implementing the communication with the terminal, for example. The second apparatus 130 may be a wireless modem designed to be used in a base station, or another product requiring wireless communication capabilities.

The radio system may be any standard/non-standard/proprietary system that supports described kind of scheduling. In the present, such a system is evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-[JTRA), also known as long term evolution (LTE) for example, or their recent LTE-Advanced versions (LTE-A). However, the example embodiments are not restricted thereto, but may be applicable to other suitable radio systems (in their present forms and/or in their evolution forms), such as universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) radio access network (IJTRAN or EIJTRAN), a system based on International Mobile Telecommunication (EMT) standard or any one of its evolution versions (e.g. IMT-Advanced), wireless local area network (WLAN) based on IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 standard or its evolution versions (IEEE 802.1 lac), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), Wi-Fi, 3GPP, Bluetooth®, personal communications services (PCS) and systems using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. In at least some of the embodiments, the radio access technology uses network controlled resource scheduling.

Figure 2 illustrates an example of the radio system 202, Release 8 LTE.

The three basic elements of the radio system 202 are UE 200 (= terminal), eNB ( base station) 204 in a radio network and an access gateway (a-GW) 210 in a core network. Functionalities of the eNB 204 may include: all radio protocols, mobility management, all retransmissions, header compression, and packet data convergence protocols. The a-GW 210 provides the interface of the cellular radio system 202 to/from the other networks 216 such as the Taternet. The a-GW 210 may be streamlined by separating the user and the control planes: a mobility management entity (MME) 212 is just a control plane entity and the user plane bypasses MME 212 directly to a serving gateway (S-GW) 214.

Furthermore, the radio system 202 may comprise a Home eNodeB (HeNB) 206 (= base station) that may also interface with the a-GW 210. The EIeNB 206 provides LTE radio coverage for the UF 200 by incorporating the capabilities of the cNB 204. As the flat architecture of the LTE 202 is not optimized for a very large number of HeNBs 206, a HeNB gateway 208 may be used to hide the large number of the HeNBs 206 from the a-GW 210.

In a cellular radio system, such as the one illustrated in Figure 2, the reverse scheduling may be operated within one cell, within one base station, or within a group of base stations, depending on the situation. In such an environment, with the chance to affect the radio links of numerous terminals, the potential for achieving improved performance is relatively high.

Additionally, the base station may be a wireless access point of a local area network. Some example embodiments cover use in a macro cell cellular network, a cellular network having hierarchies of different cell sizes (macro, micro, pico, femto), heterogeneous networks, enterprise LAN, public hotspot networks, home networks, small enterprises, home offices, and public houses.

Figure 2 only shows some network elements, but it should be understood that the radio system may also include other types of network elements. The number of network elements also varies depending both on the geographic coverage and on the number of users, for example.

Throughout this description, the terms base station and terminal are used consistently. it should be noted, however, that in some cases these network elements might aLso be known with other names. The basic difference between these two network elements is that the base station belongs to the network infrastructure, whereas the terminal belongs to the user of the system. As the general structure of the radio system, as well as the structures and functions of the network elements are

S

well known in the art, their general structure will not be further described here, but the reader is advised to consult numerous textbooks and standards of the wireless telecommunications, such as 3GPP TS 36.XXX series.

In Figure 6, periodicity aspect of allocations is illustrated. The terminal may have several simultaneous semi-persistent reverse scheduling allocations with different periodicity. In the example embodiment of Figure 6, there are two reverse scheduling allocations: the first allocation 600A, 600B with the first periodicity 604, and the second allocation 602A, 602B, 602C, 602D with the second periodicity 606.

Note that also single subframe (non-persistent) reverse scheduling allocations are feasible.

Accordingly, the reverse scheduling may further comprise information iiidieating that the at least part of the subframes is not used in at least one of the following subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal 300, 200 and the base station 400, 204/206. Additionally, or alternatively, the reverse scheduling may further comprise information indicating that the at least part of the subframes is not used until further notice in the radio data transmission between the terminal 300, 200 and the base station 400, 204/206.

The reverse scheduling may further comprise information indicating that at least a part of downlink shared channels and/or a part of downlink control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station 400, 204/206 to the terminal 300, 200. Additionally, or alternatively, the reverse scheduling may further comprise information indicating that at least a part of uplink shared channels and/or a part of uplink control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal 300, 200 to the base station 400, 204/206.

As the reverse scheduling indicates that at least a part of subframes is not utilized for radio data transmission, such subframes may be denoted as blank or almost blank subframes. As explained with reference to Figure IB, semi-persistent scheduling may be affected by the reverse scheduling. However, it is also possible to use reverse allocations without semi-persistent scheduling as well, e.g. the embodiments may also cover single subframc reverse allocations. Besides being used for shared channels, also other kinds of channels may be subjected to the reverse scheduling. Blank or almost blank subframcs may be created in time domain where all (or a selected set of physical) channels are muted. E.g. control, synchronization, random access and broadcast channels may need to be muted in LTE.

Besides using reverse scheduling for cancellation of already allocated resources (e.g. bandwidth, frames, subframes, timeslots, etc.), it may be indicated that a subframe is almost blank subframe although no actual resources have been allocated to a certain terminal. Note that the terminal may otherwise transmit e.g. control data, HARQ (hybrid automatic repeat request) rctransmissions or random access preambles. Similarly, the base station may normally transmit synchronization channels etc. in downlink unless muted. If downlink channels are muted, it may be beneficial for the terminal to know when downlink channels are not present.

The reverse scheduling may be in at least one of the following formats: downlink control information, andior resource indication value. However, the list of the formats in non-exhaustive and other suitable formats may also be utilized, depending on the radio system and its various requirements.

As illustrated in Figure 5, in cellular networks, a terminal 200 is in varying radio conditions and ifs radio connection 502 to the base station 204 in a macroeell 500 may suffer from interference caused by a femtocell 504 transmission 506 from a HeNB 206, for example. Uplink transmissions of other terminals 5 bA, SlOB, 51 0C, 5 IOD and downlink transmissions of other macrocells 508A, 508B, 508C, SOSD, 508E, 508F, SOSG, 508H may also cause interference. There may be significant interference within the ecU 500 and between different cells utilizing the same radio channel. Users with a good radio link to the base station 204 are in a better position compared to cell 500 edge users that have poor radio conditions due to e.g. path loss and bigger inter-cell interference. Such an embodiment is also possible, wherein the femtoeell 504 is interfered by macro cells, and, instead of applying reverse scheduling for the femtocell, reverse scheduling is applied for the macrocell(s) in order to improve the interference situation in the femtocell.

Figure 7 illustrates that those base stations and/or terminals 700 that are victims of the interference may be helped with the reverse scheduling. This is achieved by muting some subframes 706, 710 with the reverse scheduling (as illustrated) of the interfering base stations and/or terminals 702, while leaving the remaining subframes 704, 708 unmuted.

A terminal 300, 200 may occasionally transmit on uplink channels when no uplink grant is given. This happens e.g. in case of random access preambles, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) retransmissions and acknowledgements, scheduling requests and channel quality indication (CQT) reports. Reverse scheduling can be employed to counter this. Without the described reverse scheduling, the base station 400, 204/206 has limited or no means to prevent this from happening.

On the other hand, the base station 400, 204/206 may not switch off downlink signal without notifying thc tcrminals since synchronization, channel estimation and tracking algorithms running on the terminals may expect that synchronization and reference signals transmitted by the base station are present at all times.

The base station 400, 204/206 may schedule resources to the terminals with fair or less fair scheduling algorithms, but there is typically no technology in use, except the described reverse scheduling, which would case and allow rapid control of the interference for the terminals in bad radio conditions. In general, interference is minimized with network planning but once the network is deployed interference control mechanisms are limited. In LTE and successor technologies resources to the terminals may be scheduled for each one millisecond subframe separately or semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) may be used for longer semi-static allocations.

The base station 400, 204/206 niay utilize existing scheduling mechanisms to create either uplink or downlink reverse allocations to the terminals.

Given the disclosure herein, such changes are easily pinpointed to the existing products, i.e. the embodiments are readily implemented by the skilled person. This allocation explicitly identifies those one millisecond subframe periods when no transmission should occur on uplink channels or when no downlink signal is present.

With this mechanism, a network can mute selected terminals and/or signals to the terminals in a certain subframe or pattern of subframes. Also certain already allocated semi-persistent allocations may be cancelled without removing the entire semi-persistent allocation. This may provide a way to quickly and precisely eliminate inter-cell and/or terminal-to-terminal interference temporarily on selected areas.

Technical implementation for LTE and successor teclmologies is considered here. For delivering reverse allocations or semi-persistent allocations to terminals, current scheduling mechanisms may be used. A parameter in a clownlink control information (DCI) format may be used for indicating that reverse allocation is indicated instead of normal allocation.

For example, resource indication values (RIV) that are normally used for indicating that allocated frequency resources contain a certain amount of invalid unused values when resource allocation type 2 is used. By utilizing some of these hivalid values, reverse allocation may be notified to the terminal by using downlink control information (DCI) format IA for downlink and DCI format 0 for uplink.

These DCI formats may be used in every transmission mode and with every Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) type which provides a universal and flexible solution. Further bits in the DCI block may be used for signalling the subframe pattem and possibly other relevant parameters.

At least some of the example embodiments may give more flexibility for a network to schedule terminals and control interference. Certain terminals or cells may be muted for certain short time periods dynamically and with very short delay.

This muting may be utilized e.g. for improving cell edge user conditions at least for short periods if interfering cells or/and terminals may be muted. Also, in ffiturc LTE-Advanced scenarios where there might be smaller hotspot cells inside bigger cells in heterogeneous networks, reverse allocations may be utilized for creating temporary and efficient muting patterns for certain areas dynamically. In cellular networks with high mobility and a changing number of terminals, network may easily and rapidly respond to a current situation and also take into account more fairly terminals with The structure of an exemplary terminal 300 is illustrated in Figure 3. The terminal 300 may be implemented like an electronic digital computer, which comprises, besides the processor 102 and the memory 104, a number of other parts.

In addition to the working memory 104, a non-volatile memory 302 may be needed.

Additionally, the terminal 300 may comprise a system clock 328. Furthermore, the terminal 300 may comprise a number of peripheral devices. In Figure 3, three peripheral devices are illustrated: a battery 332, a transceiver 324, and a user interface 330. Naturally, the terminal 300 may comprise a number of other peripheral devices, not illustrated here for the sake of clarity.

The user interface 330 may comprise user interface circuitry (such as integrated circuits and devices such as touch-screen, keypad etc.) and user interface computer program code configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the terminal 300. The battery 332 may be an electrical battery including elcetrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy.

The systcm clock 328 constantly generates a stream of clcctrical pulses, which cause the various transferring operations within the terminal 300 to take place in an orderly manner and with specific timing.

The transceiver 324 may implement a telecommunications connection between the terminal 300 and some other device. A wireless connection may be implemented with a wireless transceiver operating according to the earlier mentioned standards, such as the LTE, WLAN or any other suitable standard/non-standard wireless communication means. The transceiver 324 may comprise standard well-known components such as an amplifier, filter, frequency-converter, (de)modulator, encoder/decoder circuitries, and one or more antennas.

Additionally, the terminal 300 may communicate with other devices through its memory, e.g. the data 304 may have been brought into the non-volatile memory 302 via a memory device (such as a memory card, an optical disk, or any other suitable non-volatile memory device).

The term processor' 102 refers to a device that is capable of processing data. Depending on the processing power needed, the terminal 100 may comprise several (parallel) processors 102. The processor 102 may comprise an electronic circuitry. When designing the implementation, a person skilled in the art will consider the requirements set for the size and power consumption of the terminal 300, the necessary processing capacity, production costs, and production volumes, for example. The electronic circuitry of the processor 102 and the memory 104 may comprise one or more logic components, one or more standard integrated circuits, one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), one or more microprocessors, one or more processors with accompanying digital signal processors, one or more processors without accompanying digital signal processors, one or more special-purpose computer chips, one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), one or more controllers, hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analogue and/or digital circuitry, combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): a combination of processor(s) or portions of processor(s)/software including digital signal processor(s), software, and mcmory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus to perform various functions, circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present, and/or other suitable electronic structures. This definition of circuitry' applies to all uses of this term in this application. As a further example, as used in this application, the term "circuitry" would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) 102 or portion of a processor 102 and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term "circuitry" would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular clement, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for a user equipment.

The microprocessor 102 may implement functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on an integrated circuit. The CPU is a logic machine executing a computer program 334, which comprises computer program code 106.

The program code 106 may be coded as a computer program using a programming language, which may be a high-level programming language, such as C, or Java, or a low-level programming language, such as a machine language, or an assembler. The program code 106 may also be hard-wired, e.g. if the processor 102 is implemented as an ASIC, the program code is implemented as blocks developed and implemented by appropriate ASIC development tools.

The CPU may comprise a set of registers 318, an arithmetic logic unit (kLU) 320, and a control unit (CU) 322. The control unit 322 is controlled by a sequence of program code 106 transferred to the CPU from the working memory 104. The control unit 322 may contain a number of microinstructions for basic operations. The implementation of the microinstruetions may vary, depending on the CPU design. The processor 102 may also have an operating system (a general purpose operating system, a dedicated operating system of an embedded system, or a real-time operating system, for example), which may provide the computer program 334 with system services. Examples of operating systems include: MeeGo, Symbian, Android, iOS, RIM Blackberry OS, Windows Mobile, Linux, bada, Macmo etc. There may be three different types of buses between the working memory 104 and the processor 102: a data bus 310, a control bus 312, and an address bus 314. The control unit 322 uses the control bus 312 to set the working memory 104 in two states, one for writing data into the working mcrnory 104, and the other for reading data from the working memory 104. The control unit 322 uses the address bus 314 to send to the working memory 104 address signals for addressing specified portions of the memory 104 in writing and reading states. The data bus 310 is used to transfer data 308 from the working memory 104 to the processor 102 and from the processor 102 to the working memory 104, and to transfer the program code 106 from the working memory 104 to the processor 102.

The working memory 104 may be implemented as a random-access memory (RAM), where the information is lost after the power is switched off The RAM is capable of returning any piece of data in a constant time, regardless of its physical location and whether or not it is related to the previous piece of data.

The non-volatile memory 302 retains the stored information even when not powered. Examples of non-volatile memory include read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, magnetic computer storage devices such as hard disk drives, and optical discs. As is shown in Figure 3, the non-volatile memory 302 may store both data 304 and a computer program 334 comprising program code 106.

An example embodiment provides a computer-readable medium 332 comprising computer program code which, when loaded into the terminal 300, cause the apparatus to perform the required operations, illustrated as a method with reference to Figures IOA and lOB later on. The computer-readable medium 332 may be a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the computer program 334 comprising program code 106. The computer program 334 may be in source code form, object code form, executable form or in some intermediate form.

The computer-readable medium 332 may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program 334 to thc terminal 300. Thc medium 332 may be implemented as follows, for example: the computer program 334 may be embodied on a record medium, stored in a computer memory, embodied in a read-only memory, carried on an elcctrica! carrier signal, carried on a tclccommunications signal, and/or cmbodicd on a software distribution medium. In some jurisdictions, depending on the legislation and the patent practice, the medium 332 may not bc thc telccommunications signal. The medium 332 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

Figure 3 illustrates that the medium 332 may be coupled with the terminal 300, whereupon the program 334 comprising the program code 106 is transferred into the non-volatile memory 302 of the terminal 300. The program 334 with its program code 1 06 may be loaded from the non-volatile memory 302 into the working memory 104. During running of the program 334, the program instructions 106 are transferred via the data bus 310 from the working memory 104 into the control unit 322, wherein usually a portion of the program code 106 resides and controls the operation of the terminal 300.

There are many ways to structure the program 334. The operations of the program may be divided into functional modules, sub-routines, methods, classes, objects, applets, macros, widgets, design blocks etc., depending on the software design methodology and the programming language used. In modern programming environments, there are software libraries, e.g. compilations of readymade functions, which may be utilized by the program for performing a wide variety of standard operations.

A base station 400 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 4. The base station 400 may be implemented like an electronic digital computer, which may comprise, besides the processor 132 and the memory 134, a number of other parts.

Basically, the description of Figure 4 resembles the description of Figure 3, and, consequently, the following explanation will only note the differences. In Figure 4, two peripheral devices are illustrated: a power source 406, and a transceiver (TRX) 408. Naturally, the base station 400 may comprise a number of other peripheral devices, not illustrated here for the sake of clarity.

The transceiver 408 may implement a telecommunications connection between the base station 400 and the terminal 300. A wireless connection may be implemented with a wireless transceiver operating according to the earlier mentioned standards, such as the LTE, or any other suitable standard/non-standard wireless communication means.

The power source 406 may be an independent power source, such as an elcctrical battery, a solar cell, or other means of generating energy, or it may be dependent from the outside world (of the base station 400), such as a power supply connected to a wall outlet (mains).

Data stored in the non-volatile memory 302 is now denoted with reference numeral 404, and data stored in the working memory 1 34 by reference numeral 406.

An example embodiment provides a computer-readable medium 332 comprising computer program code which, when loaded into the base station 400, cause the apparatus to perform the required operations, illustrated as a method with reference to Figures 11 A and 1 lB later on.

Figure 8 illustrates an example embodiment of a signal sequence between the base station 300 and the terminal 400. It is illustrated how configuration and allocations flow between layers. The signalling messages are only exemplary and may even comprise several separate messages for transmitting the same information. In addition, the messages may also contain other information. The base station has at least the following protocol stack: a radio resource control (RRC) layer 800, a medium access control (MAC) layer 802, and a physical (PHY) layer 804.

Correspondingly, the terminal 400 has at least the following protocol stack: a PHY layer 804, a MAC layer 808, and a RRC layer 810.

The reverse scheduling may be a feature that is always on. Alternatively, the reverse scheduling may need configuration and/or activation: in Figure 8 this is achieved by communication 812 between the RRC layers 800, 810, and, by internal configuration with the message 814 from the RRC layer 810 to the MAC layer 808, and with the message 816 from the RRC layer 810 to the PHY layer 806.

The need for subframe muting may be detected 818 in RRC layer 800 and/or MAC layer 802 of the base station 300. The need for subframe muting may be detected by all feasible ways, for example, by mechanisms related to interference co-ordination.

The MAC layer 802 of the base station 300 transmits 820 the reverse allocation to the MAC layer 808 of the terminal 300. After a delay 822, the subframc may be muted 824, which affects the functioning of the PHY layers 804, 806 and MAC layers 802, 808. Note that one millisecond may be a minimum reaction time in some cases (such as in the LTE). It may also be defined longer for uplink if the terminal 400 needs more time to cancel its uplink transmission. In normal uplink allocations, if allocation is received in subframc N, then uplink transmission shall happen in subframe N+4. Consequently, this N-{-4 rule may also be reasonable for uplink reverse allocations. Additionally, there is some timing advance in uplink transmissions, which makes one millisecond reaction time challenging for uplink. In downlink direction, one millisecond works fine. Reverse allocation may be defined to one or several subframes long and non-persistent or semi-persistent. In Figure 8, two muted subframcs 824, 826 are shown. It is also shown that a special reverse allocation cancel message may be transmitted 828 from the MAC layer 802 of the base station 300 to the MAC layer 808 of the terminal 400, whereupon the reversed semi-permanent scheduling is ended, i.e. the original semi-permanent scheduling is re-applied.

In order to utilize the shared channel resources efficiently, a scheduling function may be used in the MAC layer, for which the scheduler operation, signalling of scheduler decisions and measurements to support scheduler operation arc determined. The scheduler may take into account of the traffic volume and the quality of service (QoS) requirements of each terminal and associated radio bearers.

Resource assignment may comprise physical resource blocks (PRB), modulation and coding schemes (MCS), and additional information (allocation time, allocation repetition factor). Carrier aggregation may also be applied, in which transmissions between the terminal and the base station arc aggregated on multiple carriers (on same frequency band, on different frequency bands, and/or with different radio access technologies). Note that as the reverse scheduling signalling is implemented at physical layer and/or MAC layer, the reverse scheduling may react fast to the ever-changing radio environment and its circumstances. The reverse scheduling may thus be implemented in a dynamic and explicit fashion, meaning that the processing time is kept short and the processing requirements relatively low.

Figure 9 illustrates one example embodiment of how reverse allocation may be detected in the terminal. DCI formats 920 arc decoded 9] 8 from a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) 904 of the downlink 900. Then RIV is calculated 922, and a predefined invalid value is detected 924, which leads 926 to at least one muted downlink 900 subframe 908 of the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCI-I) 906, and/or at least one muted uplink 902 subframe 914 of the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) / physical uplink control channel (PIJCCH) 912. In the next PDCCI-1 frame(s) 910, a new reverse scheduling command may be given, if needed. In this way, as the downlink assignment and uplink grant messages may be reused also for the reverse scheduling, the embodiments may be implemented to the existing environments with minimal changes. Additionally, such reverse scheduling signalling is fast enabling fast reaction times.

Next, example embodiments of a method will be described with reference to Figures 1OA and lOB. The method may be performed in the apparatus 100. The method may be implemented as the apparatus 100 or the computer program 334 comprising program code 106 which, when loaded into the apparatus 100, cause the apparatus 100 to perform the process to be described. The example embodiments of the apparatus 100 may also be used to enhance the method, and, correspondingly, the example embodiments of the method may be used to enhance the apparatus 100. The operations are not strictly in chronological order, and some of the operations may be performed simultaneously or in an order differing from the given ones. Other functions may also be executed between the operations or within the operations and other data exchanged between the operations. Some of the operations or part of the operations may also be left out or replaced by a corresponding operation or part of the operation. It should be noted that no special order of operations is required in the method, except where necessary due to the logical requirements for the processing order.

In the embodiment of Figure bA, the method starts in 1000. In 1002, a reverse scheduling (reverse scheduling information) is received/obtained by a terminal from a base station. The reverse scheduling comprises information indicating that at least a part of subframes is not utilized for a radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station. In 1004, the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station is caused to operate according to the reverse scheduling. The method ends in 1006.The embodiment of Figure lOB also starts in 1000. In 1008, a semi-persistent scheduling is received/obtained by a terminal from a base station. The semi-persistent scheduling comprises information on scheduling of subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.

In 1002, a reverse scheduling is received/obtained by the terminal from the base station.

The reverse scheduling may further comprise information indicating that the at least part of the subframes is not used in at least one of the following subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station. Additionally, or alternatively, the reverse scheduling may further comprise information indicating that the at least part of the subframes is not used until further notice in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.

The reverse scheduling may further comprise information indicating that at least a part of downlink shared channels and/or a part of downlink control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal. Additionally, or alternatively, the reverse scheduling may further comprise information indicating that at least a part of uplink shared channels and/or a part of uplink control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station.

In 1010, changes to the semi-persistent scheduling are caused on the basis of the reverse scheduling, thereby arriving at a reversed semi-persistent scheduling.

In 1004, a radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station is caused to operate according to the reversed semi-persistent scheduling.

The method ends in 1006.

Next, example embodiments of a method will be described with reference to Figures hA and IIB. The method maybe performed in the apparatus 130. The method may be implemented as the apparatus 130 or the computer program 402 comprising program code 136 which, when loaded into the apparatus 130, cause the apparatus 130 to perform the process to be described. The example embodiments of the apparatus 130 may also be used to enhance the method, and, correspondingly, the example embodiments of the method may be used to enhance the apparatus 130. The operations are not in strict chronological order, and some of the operations may be performed simultaneously or in an order differing from the given one. Other functions may also be executed between the operations or within the operations and other data exchanged between the operations. Some of the operations or part of the operations may also be left out or replaced by a corresponding operation or part of the operation. It should be noted that no special order of operations is required in the method, except where necessary due to the logical requirements for the processing order.

In the embodiment of Figure 11A, the method starts in 1100. In 1102, a reverse scheduling is created for a terminal. The reverse scheduling comprises information indicating that at least a part of subframes is not utilized for a radio data transmission between the terminal and a base station. In 1104, a transmission of the reverse scheduling is caused from the base station to the terminal. In 1106, the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station radio is caused to operate according to the reverse scheduling. The method ends in I 108.The embodiment of Figure 11B also starts in 1100. In 1110, a semi-persistent scheduling for a terminal communicating with a base station is created. The semi-persistent scheduling comprises information on scheduling of subframes utilized in radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.

In 1112, a transmission of the semi-persistent scheduling is caused from the base station to the terminal.

In 1102, a reverse scheduling is created for the terminal.

The reverse scheduling may ifirther comprise information indicating that at least a part of downlink shared channels and/or downlink control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal.

Additionally, or alternatively, the reverse scheduling may further comprise information indicating that at least a part of uplink shared channels and/or uplinlc control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station.

In 1104, a transmission of the reverse scheduling is caused from the base station to the terminal.

Tn 1114, changes to the semi-persistent scheduling are caused on the basis of the reverse scheduling, thereby arriving at a reversed semi-persistent scheduling.

In 1106, a radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station radio is caused to operate according to the reversed semi-persistent scheduling.

The method ends in 1108.

The present invention is applicable to radio systems defined above but also to other suitable telecommunication systems. The protocols used, the specifications of radio systems, their base stations, and terminals develop rapidly.

Such development may require extra changes to the described example embodiments. Therefore, all words and expressions should be interpreted broadly and they are intended to illustrate, not to restrict, the example embodiments. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its example embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A communications apparatus comprising processing means arranged to: control a communications terminal to operate in accordance with rcccivcd rcvcrse scheduling information during a radio data transmission bctwccn the terminal and a basc station, wherein, the rcvcrse scheduling information is associated with a onc or morc subframes of the radio data transmission bctwccn thc terminal and thc basc station and indicates that at least a part of the subframc(s) is not utilized for radio data transmission.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing means is arranged to: modify a received semi-persistent scheduling according to the received reverse scheduling, thereby arriving at a reversed semi-persistent scheduling; and control the terminal to operate according to the reversed semi-persistent scheduling during the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station, wherein, the semi-persistent scheduling comprises information relating to a scheduling of the subframe(s) utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the reverse scheduling information comprises at least one of the following: -information indicating that the at least part of the subframe(s) is not used in at least one of the following subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station; and -information indicating that the at least part of the subframe(s) is not used until further notice in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The apparatus of anypreeeding claim, wherein the reverse scheduling information comprises one or more of the following: -information indicating that at least a part of a downlink shared channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink shared channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station; -information indicating that at least a part of a downlink control channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; and -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink control channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A user terminal for usc in a cellular communication system, the user terminal comprising an apparatus according to anyone of the preceding claims.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A communications apparatus comprising processing means arranged to: control a base station to transmit reverse scheduling information to a terminal, thereby controlling the terminal to operate in accord with the reverse scheduling information, wherein, the reverse scheduling information is associated with a one or more subframes of a radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station and indicates that at least a part of the subframe(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processing means is arranged to: control the base station to transmit a semi-persistent scheduling to the terminal, wherein, the semi-persistent scheduling comprising information on scheduling of the subframe(s utilized in the radio data transmission bctween the terminal and the base station.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The apparatus of claim 6 or 7, wherein the reverse scheduling comprises at least one of the following: -information indicating that the at least part of the subframe(s) is not used in at least one of the following subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station; and -information indicating that the at least part of the subframe(s) is not used until further notice in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. The apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the reverse scheduling comprises at least one of the following: -information indicating that at least a part of a downlink shared channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink shared channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station; or -information indicating that at least a part of downlink control channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terimnal; or -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink control channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. The apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the processing means is responsive to the detection of excessive noise and/or interference to send the reverse scheduling information.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the noise and!or interference comprises interference of a fcmtoccll by a macro cell.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the noise and/or interference comprises interference of a macro cell by a fcmtocell.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. The apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the processing means is arranged to prevent a termina' from transmitting on an uplink by sending respective reverse scheduling information to the terminal.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. The apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the processing means is arranged to dc-allocate previously allocated uplink and!or downlink resources by sending reverse scheduling information to the terminal in order to identify resources that is/are not (to be) utilized for radio data transmission.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A base station for a cellular wireless communications system, the based station comprising an apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 13.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A communications method comprising: receiving reverse scheduling information from a base station, the reverse scheduling information being associated with one or more subframes of a radio data transmission between a terminal and the base station and indicating that at least a part of the subframe(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmissiom and performing a radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station according to the reverse scheduling.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: receiving a scmi-persistent scheduling from the base station, the semi-persistent scheduling comprising information on scheduling of subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station; modifying the semi-persistent scheduling on the basis of the reverse scheduling, thereby arriving at a reversed semi-persistent scheduling; and performing the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station according to the reversed semi-persistent scheduling.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. The method of claim 16 or 17, wherein the reverse scheduling comprises at least one of the following: -information indicating that the at least part of the subframe(s) is not used in at least one of the following subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station; and -information indicating that the at least part of the subframe(s) is not used until further notice in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. The method of any preceding claim 16 to 18, wherein the reverse scheduling comprises at least one of the following: -information indicating that at least a part of a downlink shared channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink shared channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station; -information indicating that at least a part of a downlink control channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; and -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink control channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. A computer-readable medium comprising computer program code which, when loaded into an apparatus, executes the method according to any preceding claim 16 to 19.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. A communications method comprising: transmitting reversc scheduling information for a terminal, thercby controlling the terminal to operate in accord with the reverse scheduling information, wherein, thc reverse scheduling information is associated with a one or more subframes of a radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station and comprises information indicating that at least a part of subframe(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission.</claim-text> <claim-text>22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: transmitting a semi-persistent scheduling to the terminal, wherein, the semi-persistent scheduling comprises information on scheduling of the subframe(s) utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.</claim-text> <claim-text>23. The method of claim 21 or 22, wherein the reverse scheduling further comprises at least one of the following: -information indicating that the at least part of the subframe(s) is not used in at least one of the following subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station; and -information indicating that the at least part of the subframe(s) is not used until farther notice in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.</claim-text> <claim-text>24. The method of any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the reverse scheduling farther comprises at least one of the following: -information indicating that at least a part of a downlink shared channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink shared channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station; -information indicating that at least a part of a downlink control channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; and -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink control channel(s) is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station.</claim-text> <claim-text>25. The method of any one of claims 21 to 24, whcrcin the reverse scheduling information is sent in response to dctcction of excessive noise and/or interfercncc.</claim-text> <claim-text>26. The method of claim 25, wherein the noise and/or interference comprises femtocell interference by a macro cell.</claim-text> <claim-text>27. The method of claim 25, wherein the noise and/or interference comprises macro cell interference by a femtoccll.</claim-text> <claim-text>2K The method of any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein uplink transmission is prevented by sending respective reverse scheduling information to the terminal.</claim-text> <claim-text>29. The method of any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein dc-allocation of previously allocated uplink and/or downlink channel resources is performed by sending reverse scheduling information to the terminal in order to identify at least a part of the respective subframe(s) that is not (to be) utilized for radio data transmission.</claim-text> <claim-text>30. A computer-readable medium comprising computer program code which, when loaded into an apparatus, executes the method according to any preceding claim 21 to 29.</claim-text> <claim-text>31. A wireless communications system comprising: a base station, which is adapted to transmit reverse scheduling information to a terminal; and a terminal, which is adapted to receive the reverse scheduling information and operate in response thereto during a radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station, wherein, the reverse scheduling information is associated with a one or more subframes of the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station and indicates that at least a part of the associated subframe(s) is not utilized for radio data transmission.</claim-text> <claim-text>32. The system of claim 31, wherein the base station is responsive to detection of excessive noise and/or interference within the system to send the reverse scheduling information.</claim-text> <claim-text>33. A method of reducing interfercncc is a cellular communications network, comprising: detecting excessive interference in the network; and at least temporarily dc-allocating one or more resources, which have previously been allocated for radio communications in the network, in order to reduce the level of interference.</claim-text> <claim-text>34. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of dc-allocating resources comprises sending reverse schedule information to at least one terminal in the network, wherein the reverse scheduling information is associated with one or more subframes of a radio data transmission between the terminal and a base station of the network and indicates that at least a part of the associated subframe(s) is not utilized for radio data transmission.Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows Claims I. A communications apparatus comprising proccssing means arrangcd to: control a communications terminal to operate in accordance with receivcd rcverse scheduling information during a radio data transmission betwecn S the terminal and a basc station, wherein, the rcversc scheduling information is associatcd with subframcs of the radio data transmission between thc terminal and the base station and indicates that at least a part of the subframes, is not utilized for radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.
2. The apparatus of claim I, wherein the processing means is arranged to: modi' a received semi-persistent scheduling according to the rcccived reversc scheduling, thereby arriving at a reversed semi-persistent scheduling; and control the terminal to operate according to the reversed semi-persistent scheduling during the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base 1 5 station, wherein, the semi-persistent scheduling comprises information relating u) to a scheduling of the subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the (\J terminal and the base station.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the reverse scheduling information comprises at least one of the following: -information indicating that the at least part of the subframes is not used in at least one of the following subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station; and -information indicating that the at least part of the subframcs is not used until further notice in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.
4. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the reverse scheduling information comprises one or more of the following: -information indicating that at least a part of downlink shared channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; -information indicating that at least a part of uplink shared channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station; -information indicating that at least a part of a downlink control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the tcrminal; and -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station.
5. A user terminal for usc in a cellular communication system, the user terminal comprising an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.
6. A communications apparatus comprising processing means arranged to: control a base station to transmit reverse scheduling information to a terminal, thereby controlling the terminal to operate in accord with the reverse scheduling information, wherein, the reverse scheduling information is associated with subframes of a radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station and çs,j indicates that at least a part of the subframes is not utilized for the radio data r 15 transmission.If)
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processing means is arranged to: 0 control the base station to transmit a semi-persistent scheduling to the LI') terminal, wherein, the semi-persistent scheduling comprising information on scheduling of the subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 or?, wherein the reverse scheduling comprises at least one of the following: -information indicating that the at least part of the subframes is not used in at least one of the following subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station; and -information indicating that the at least part of the subframes is not used until further notice in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.
9. The apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the reverse scheduling comprises at least one of the following: -information indicating that at least a part of a downlink shared channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink shared channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station; or -information indicating that at least a part of downlink control channels is not utilized for thc radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; or -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station.
10. The apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the processing means is responsive to the detectioa of excessive noise and/or interference to send the reverse scheduling information.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the noise and/or interference comprises interference of a femtocell by a macro cell.çs,j
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the noise and/or interference comprises interference of a macro cell by a femtocell.If)
13. The apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the processing means is 0 arranged to prevent a terminal from transmitting on an uplink by sending respective LI') reverse scheduling information to the terminal.
14. The apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the processing means is arranged to dc-allocate previously allocated uplink and/or downlink resources by sending reverse scheduling information to the terminal in order to identify resources that is/are not (to be) utilized for radio data transm[ssion.
15. A base station for a cellular wireless communications system, the based station comprising an apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 13.
16. A communications method comprising: receiving reverse scheduling information from a base station, the reverse scheduling information being associated with subframes of a radio data transmission between a terminal and the base station and indicating that at least a part of the subframes is not utilized for the radio data transmission; and performing a radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station according to the reverse scheduling.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: receiving a semi-persistent scheduling from the base station, the semi-persistent scheduling comprising information on scheduling of subframes utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station; modi'ing the semi-persistent scheduling on the basis of the reverse scheduling, thereby arriving at a reversed semi-persistent scheduling; and performing the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station according to the reversed scmi-pcrsistent scheduling.
18. The method of claim 16 or 17, whcrcin the reverse scheduling comprises at least one of the following: -information [ndicating that the at least part of thc subframes is not uscd in at least onc of the following subframcs utilized in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station; and -information indicating that the at least part of the subframes is not used until further notice in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base r 15 station.If)
19. The method of any preceding claim 1 6 to 1 8, wherein the reverse scheduling 0 compriscs at kast one of the following: LI') -information indicating that at Icast a part of a downlink sharcd channels C\J is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink shared channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station; -information indicating that at least a part of a downlinlc control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; and -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station.
20. A computer-readable medium comprising computer program code which, when loaded into an apparatus, executes the method according to any preceding claim 16 to 19.
21. A communications method comprising: transmitting reverse scheduling information for a terminal, thereby controlling the terminal to operate in accord with the reverse scheduling information, wherein, the reverse scheduling information is associated with subframes of a radio data transmission between the terminal and a base station and comprises information indicating that at lcast a part of subframcs is not utilized for the radio data transmission.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: transmitting a semi-persistent scheduling to the terminal, wherein, the semi-persistent scheduling comprises information on scheduling of thc subframes utilized in thc radio data transmission bctween the terminal and the base station.
23. The method of claim 21 or 22, wherein the reverse scheduling further comprises çs,j at least one of the following: r 15 -information indicating that the at least part of the subframes is not used in at least one of the following subframes utilized in the radio data transmission 0 between the terminal and the base station; and LI) -information indicating that the at least part of the subframes is not used until further notice in the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station.
24. The method of any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the reverse scheduling furthcr comprises at least one of the following: -information indicating that at least a part of a downlink shared channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminaL -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink shared channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station; -information indicating that at least a part of a downlink control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the base station to the terminal; and -information indicating that at least a part of an uplink control channels is not utilized for the radio data transmission from the terminal to the base station.
25. The method of any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the reverse scheduling information is sent in response to detection of excessive noise and/or interference.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the noise and/or interference comprises femtocell interference by a macro cell.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein the noise and/or interference comprises macro cell interference by a fcmtocell.
28. The method of any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein uplinic transmission is prevented by scnding respective reverse scheduling information to the terminal.
29. The method of any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein dc-allocation of previously allocated uplink and/or downlink channel resources is performed by sending reverse scheduling information to the terminal in order to identify at least a part of the respective subframes that is not (to be) utilized for radio data transmission.
30. A computer-readable medium comprising computer program code which, when çs,j loaded into an apparatus, executes the method according to any preceding claim 21 r 15 to29.If)
31. A wireless communications system comprising: 0 a base station, which is adapted to transmit reverse scheduling If) information to a terminal; and a terminal, which is adapted to receive the reverse scheduling information and operate in response thereto during a radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station, wherein, the reverse scheduling information is associated with subframes of the radio data transmission between the terminal and the base station and indicates that at least a part of the associated subframes is not utilized for radio data transmission.
32. The system of claim 31, wherein the base station is responsive to detection of excessive noise and/or interference within the system to send the reverse scheduling information.
33. A method of reducing interference is a cellular communications network, comprising: detecting excessive interference in the network; and at least temporarily dc-allocating one or more resources, which have previously been or may be allocated for radio communications in the network, in order to reduce the level of interference, wherein the step of dc-allocating resources comprises sending reverse schedule information to at least one terminal in the network, wherein the reverse scheduling information is associated with subframes of a radio data transmission between the terminal and a base station of the network and indicates that at least a part of the associated subframes is not utilized for radio data transmission. (4 rLIDLU (4</claim-text>