GB2502606A

GB2502606A - Access point scheduling

Info

Publication number: GB2502606A
Application number: GB201209748A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mihai Horatiu Enescu; Tommi Tapani Koivisto; Karl Marko Juhani Lampinen; Timo E Roman; Soeren Skovgaard Christensen; Lars Christensen; Maja Loncar
Original assignee: Renesas Mobile Corp
Current assignee: Renesas Electronics Corp
Priority date: 2012-05-31
Filing date: 2012-05-31
Publication date: 2013-12-04
Also published as: WO2013179238A1; GB201209748D0

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program are provided for access point scheduling. In this regard, a method is provided that comprises determining a channel quality indication (CQI) corresponding to a transmission 302. The channel quality indication is transmitted from a user equipment (UE) to an access point 306. An indication of scheduled modulation type for a transmission is received 308 from the access point. In some example embodiments, the access point is configured to schedule the transmission using at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at least in part on the channel quality indication. Alternative embodiments are illustrated in figures 3b-3e.

Description

METHODS, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER

PROGRAMS FOR ACCESS POINT SCHEDULING

Technical Field

S The present invention relates to methods, apparatus and computer programs for access point scheduling. Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to communications technology and, more particularly, to access point scheduling.

Background

Incrcasing nctwork dcnsity is a trcnd in both nctwork dcploymcnts and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standardisation efforts. The main driver for the need for increased network density includes the ever increasing communications device density and the increasing need for networks to provide better coverage and capacity. In some examples, increasing the network density through the addition of macro sites or small cells (e.g. in the context of heterogeneous network deptoyments) may lead to increased interference conditions and thus may result in the dcgradation in the quality of service.

Methods to address interference, for example, include but are not limited to, coordinated multi-point -type of transmissions (C0MP). CoMP, for example, maybe used to improve cell edge performance by turning interference into useffil signals.

CoMP as a technique involves, for example, centralised control and scheduling and thus is not generally used, for example, in instances in which interference is caused from by multiple access points, especially, for example, in an instance in which those access points are from different network vendors. Also due to heavy requirements on the feedback of channel state information (CSl), CoMP is not, for example, generally configured for dense network deployments.

Additional methods to address interference may frirther include, for example, basic inter-cell interference coordination mechanisms (ICIC), based on exchanging some interference/load information between access points over the X2 interface. By way of a fhrther example, enhanced ICIC (cICIC) is configured to protcct certain subframes from interference. In some examples, eICIC is configured for a scenario in which there is one aggressor (interferer) heavily interfering another cell (one victim).

Enhanced ICIC also operates, for example, on the subframe level where the protected S subframes are set semi-statically.

Interference may also be addressed at the receiver end. For example, 3GPP Release 11 includes performance requirements for receivers bascd on a linear minimum mcan squarc error (LMMSE) estimator, aLso known as interference rejection combining (IRC) algorithm. Other type of receivers using other techniques such as maximum likelihood (ML) detection can also take into account the interference structure. By way of a further example, 3GPP standardisation may also describe, for example, single antenna interference cancellation (SAIC). The principle in SAIC, for example, is to transmit binary phase shift keying (BPSK) signals and decode these using an in phase/quadrature (I/Q)-split receiver, hence enabling improved interference suppression.

In some examples, interference covariance information needed in the interference suppression receivers may be estimated from for example the reference signal positions, for example by subtracting a serving cell reference signal from a received signal in the reference signal positions to create a residual signal. The sample set covariance may be calculated from the residual signal. If the serving cell does not have active transmission in a used resource element, simple sample set covariance can also, for example, be calculated directly.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising: determining a channel quality indication corresponding to a transmission; causing the channel quality indication to be transmitted to an access point; and receiving an indication of scheduled modulation type for a transmission from the access point, wherein the indication of scheduled modulation type is such as to schedule the transmission to use at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at least in part on the channel quality indication.

By way of example, the access point or other network entity may select an S optimum modulation type in order to gain from widely linear reception at the communication device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus comprising: a processing system arranged to cause the apparatus to at least: dcterminc a channcl quality indication corresponding to a transmission; causc the channel quality indication to be transmitted to an access point; and receive an indication of scheduled modulation type for a transmission from the access point, wherein the indication of scheduled modulation type is such as to schedule the transmission to use at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at least in part on the channel quality indication.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer proam comprising a set of instructions, which when executed on an apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the steps of: determining a channel quality indication corresponding to a transmission; causing the channel quality indication to be transmitted to an access point; and receiving an indication of scheduled modulation type for a transmission from the access point, wherein the indication of scheduled modulation type is such as to schedule the transmission to use at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at least in part on the channel quality indication.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus comprising: means for determining a channel quality indication corresponding to a transmission; means for causing the channel quality indication to be transmitted to an access point; and means for receiving an indication of scheduled modulation type for a transmission from the access point, wherein the indication of scheduled modulation type is such as to schedule the transmission using at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at least in part on the channel quality indication.

S According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising: receiving a channel quality indication from a communication device, wherein the channel quality indication is received for one or more modulation types; determining one or more scheduling metrics for one or more physical resource blocks based at least in part on the channel quality indication, wherein a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation type of the one or more modulation types; and causing a modulation type to be scheduled for a transmission.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus comprising: a processing system arranged to cause the apparatus to at least: determine one or more scheduling metrics for one or more physical resource blocks based at least in part on a channel quality indication received from a communication device, wherein the channel quality indication is received for one or more modulation types, wherein a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation type of the one or more modulation types; and cause a modulation type to be scheduled for a transmission.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program comprising a set of instructions, which when executed on an apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the stcps of: receiving a channel quality indication from a communication device, wherein the channel quality indication is received for one or more modulation types; determining one or more scheduling metrics for one or more physical resource blocks based at least in part on the channel quality indication, wherein a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation type of the one or more modulation types; and causing a modulation type to be scheduled for a transmission.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus comprising: means for receiving a channel quality indication from a communication device, wherein the channel quality indication is received for one or S more modulation types; means for determining one or more scheduling metrics for one or more physical resource blocks based at least in part on the channel quality indication, wherein a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation type of the one or more modulation types; and means for causing a modulation type to bc scheduled for a transmission.

The processing systems described above may comprise at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program instructions, the at least one memory and the computer program instructions being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform as described above.

There may be provided a computer program product that includes at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions as described above stored therein.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawinus

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a system having a communication device that may be configured for example access point scheduling and that may benefit from example embodiments of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a block diagram of an apparatus that may be embodied by a communication device and/or an access point in accordance with some example embodiments of the present invention; Figures 3a-e show flow charts illustrating operations performed by an example communication device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present invention; and

S

Figures 4a-e show flow charts illustrating operations performed by an example access point in accordance with some example embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Dcscription Thc prcscnt invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisft applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

As used in this specification, the term "circuitry" refers to all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and (b) to combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) to a combination of processor(s) or (ii) to portions of processor(s)/software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and (c) to 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.

This definition of "circuitry" applies to all uses of this term in this specification, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this specification, the term "circuitry" also covers an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term "circuitry" also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a bascband integrated circuit or application specific integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other network device.

S In some examples, Long Term Evolution (LTE) specifications are configured to support complex valued constellations, such as M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM) or the like. Thus in some examples, a communication device that is equipped with 2 receive (Rx) antennas may be configured, for example, to mitigate inter-cell interference from one rank 1 complex-valued interferer signal provided the desired transmission is rank 1 complex-valued as well. However, a real valued modulation transmission may further enable the ability to increase the degrees of freedom in the receiver as the intended transmission would be configured to occupy one dimension out of four available (2 in phase (1)/quadrature (Q) branches 2 receive (Rx) antennas). Alternatively or additionally, communication devices having a single Rx chain may also be configured, for example, to utilise real valued modulation. Real valued modulation may be configured, in some example embodiments, to enable rank 1 desired signal reception and rank 1 inter-cell interference mitigation. In some LTE examples, enabling interference suppression using one branch of an in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) -split receiver may translate into introducing transmit signal structures, in the form of real valued modulations (e.g. 2 pulse amplitude modulation (PAM)/ binary phase shift keying (BPSK), 4PAM, SPAM), which would enable the communication device to suppress interference from multiple cells In 3GPP Release 11, performance requirements for Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE)-IRC receivers are configured to suppress a number of interferers depending on the number of receive antennas at the communication device and the used transmission rank of the desired and interfering signals. For example, communication devices with two Rx antennas can suppress one rank-i interferer if receiving a rank-i transmission from their own cell. Furthermore, machine type

S

communication (MTC) devices may only be equipped with one receive antenna port and thus may not, for example, be capable of suppressing interference.

MMSE-IRC receivers may also be configured to utilise real valued S modulations, which, for example, by exploiting the I!Q domain (e.g. widely linear receivers) may lead to increased degrees of freedom in terms of interference suppression. For example, a real valued modulation transmission may be configured to enable increasing the degrees of freedom in the receiver as the intended transmission may occupy one dimension out of four available in case of 2 Rx antennas. Such tcchniqucs could be even more appealing in case of MTC devices where only one receive antenna port is envisioned to be utilised in order to decrease communication device costs. With one receive antenna, real valued modulation can enable rank-I desired signal reception and rank-i interference suppression.

However, in some examples, a network would then be configured to support both complex-valued and real-valued modulations. For example, complex-valued modulations are preferred in good SINR conditions where interference is weaker, whereas real-valued modulations may be preferred in low SINR conditions, such as at a cell edge. Complex valued modulations are also included for backwards compatibility in some examples.

As a means to enable Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) selection and link adaptation at the access point, in some example embodiments, the communications device may be configured to provide channel quality indications (CQI). CQI enables the access point the ability to predict the MCS class which can be used with a certain target block error rate (BLER), typically 10% or less in some examples. CQ1 may be computed based on observed (measured) channel from at least one transmission point as well as observed (measured) interference. The CQI is conditioned on a certain hypothesis about the transmission, for instance what kind of spatial processing the access point uses with multiple transmit antennas. In case both real-valued and complex-valued modulations are present in the system, the communication device might also need to determine a type of used modulation, as the gain of using widely linear receivers should be reflected in the CQT report. The modulation type used in the interfering nodes may aLso be captured in the CQI report as the modulation type directly impacts how well the widely linear MMSE-IRC S receiver works, in some examples. Finally, while real-valued modulations provide improved interference suppression, in some examples, the modulation order itself may somewhat offset the gains. Therefore, enabling accurate choice of real valued versus complex valued modulation at the access point is configured to provide, in some examples, the flaIl potential of real-valued modulations in interference suppression.

As such, the method, apparatus and computer program product described herein is configured to cause a CQI to be reported in instances in which real valued modulation and/or complex valued modulations are present in the network. In example embodiments, an access point is configured to process the received CQI reports, to select a modulation type for use in transmissions. In some examples, the access point may then select a modulation type that results in an improved or gain in widely linear reception at the communications device.

Although the method, apparatus and computer program product as described herein may be implemented in a variety of different systems, one example of such a system is shown schematically in Figure 1, which shows a communication device (e.g. communication device 10) that is capable of communication via an access point 12, such as a base station, a macro cell, a Node B, an eNB, a coordination unit, a macro base station or other access point, with a network 14 (e.g. a core network).

While the network may be configured in accordance with LTETM or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A1M), other networks may support the method, apparatus and computer program product of embodiments of the present invention, including those configured in accordance with wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMATM, CDMA2000, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMTM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRSIM), IEEE" 802.11 standard for wireless fidelity (WiFi'TM), wireless local access network (WLANTM) Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAXTM) protocols, and/or the like.

The network 14 may include a collection of various different nodes, devices or S functions that may be in communication with each other via corresponding wired and/or wireless interfaces. For example, the network may include one or more cells, including access point 12 and which may serve a respective coverage area. The access point 12 may be, for example, part of one or morc cellular or mobile networks or public land mobile networks (PLMNs). In turn, othcr devices such as proccssing dcvices (c.g. personal computers, scrver computers or the like) may bc coupled to the communication device 10 and/or other communication devices via the network.

A communication device, such as the communication device 10 (aLso known as user equipment (UE), a mobile terminal or the like), may be in communication with other communication devices or other devices via the access point 12 and, in turn, the network 14. In some cases, the communication device 10 may include an antenna (or multiple antennas) for transmitting signals to and for receiving signals from an access point 12. As is described herein, the communication device 10 and/or the access point 12 may take the form of a transmitter and/or receiver.

In somc cxamplc embodiments, thc communication device 10 may bc a mobile communication device such as, for example, a mobile telephone, portable digital assistant (PDA), pager, laptop computer, STA, or any of numerous other hand held or portable communication devices, computation devices, content generation devices, content consumption devices, or combinations thereof Other such devices that are configured to connect to the network include, but are not limited to a refrigerator, a security system, a home lighting system, and/or the like. As such, the communication device 10 may include one or more processors that may define processing circuitry and a processing system, either alone or in combination with one or more memories. The processing circuitry may utilise instructions stored in the memory to cause the communication device 10 to operate in a particular way or execute specific frmnctionality when the instructions are executed by the one or more processors. The communication device 10 may also include communication circuitry and corresponding hardware/software to enable communication with other devices and/or the network 14.

S

In one embodiment, for example, the communication device 10 and/or the access point 12 may be embodied as or otherwise include an apparatus 20 as generically represented by the block diagram of Figure 2. While the apparatus 20 may be employed, for example, by a communication device 10 or an access point 12, it should be noted that the components, devices or elements described below may not be mandatory and thus some may be omitted in certain embodiments. Additionally, some embodiments may include further or different components, devices or elements beyond those shown and described herein.

As shown in Figure 2, the apparatus 20 may include or otherwise be in communication with processing circuitry 22 that is configurable to perform actions in accordance with example embodiments described herein. The processing circuitry may be configured to perform data processing, application execution and/or other processing and management services according to an example embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, the apparatus or the processing circuitry may be embodied as a chip or chipset. In other words, the apparatus or the processing circuitry may comprise one or more physical packages (e.g. chips) including materials, components and/or wires on a structural assembly (e.g. a baseboard). The structural assembly may provide physical strength, conservation of size, and/or limitation of electrical interaction for component circuitry included thereon. The apparatus or the processing circuitry may therefore, in some eases, be configured to implement an embodiment of the present invention on a single chip or as a single "system-on-a-chip". As such, in some cases, a chip or chipsct may constitute means for performing one or more operations for providing the ftmnctionalities described herein.

In an example embodiment, the processing circuitry 22 may include a processor 24 and memory 28 that may be in communication with or otherwise control a communication interface 26 and, in some cases, a user interface 29. As such, the processing circuitry may be embodied as a circuit chip (e.g. an integrated circuit chip) S configured (e.g. with hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software) to perform operations described herein. However, in some embodiments taken in the context of the communication device 10, the processing circuitry may be embodied as a portion ofa mobile computing device or other mobile terminal.

The user interface 29 (if implemented) may be in communication with the processing circuitry 22 to receive an indication of a user input at the user interface and/or to provide an audible, visual, mechanical or other output to the user. As such, the user interface may include, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a display, a touch screen, a microphone, a speaker, and/or other input/output mechanisms. The apparatus 20 need not always include a user interface. For example, in instances in which the apparatus is embodied as an access point 12, the apparatus may not include a user interface. As such, the user interface is shown in dashed lines in Figure 2.

The communication interface 26 may include one or more interface mechanisms for enabling communication with other devices and/or networks. In some cases, the communication interface may be any means such as a device or circuitry embodied in either hardware, or a combination of hardware and software that is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/to a network 14 and/or any other device or module in communication with the processing circuitry 22, such as between the communication device 10 and the access point 12. In this regard, the communication interface may include, for example, an antenna (or muhiple antennas) and supporting hardware and/or software for enabling communications with a wireless communication network and/or a communication modem or other hardware/software for supporting communication via cable, digital subscriber line (DSL), universal serial bus (USB), Ethernet or other methods.

In an example embodiment, the memory 28 may include one or more non-transitory memory devices such as, for example, volatile andior non-volatile memory that may be either fixed or removable. The memory may be configured to store S information, data, applications, instructions or the like for enabling the apparatus 20 to carry out various frmnctions in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. For example, the memory could be configured to buffer input data for processing by the processor 24. Additionally or alternatively, the memory could be configured to store instructions for execution by the processor. As yet another alternative, the memory may include one of a plurality of databases that may store a variety of files, contents or data sets. Among the contents of the memory, applications may be stored for execution by the processor in order to carry out the ffinetionality associated with each respective application. In some cases, the memory may be in communication with the processor via a bus for passing information among components of the apparatus.

The processor 24 may be embodied in a number of different ways. For example, the processor may be embodied as various processing means such as one or more of a microprocessor or other processing element, a coprocessor, a controller or various other computing or processing devices including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), or the like. In an example embodiment, the processor may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory 28 or otherwise accessible to the processor. As such, whether configured by hardware or by a combination of hardware and soflwarc, the processor may represent an entity (e.g. physically embodied in circuitry -in the form of processing circuitry 22) capable of performing operations according to embodiments of the present invention while configured accordingly. Thus, for example, when the processor is embodied as an ASIC, FPGA or the like, the processor may be specifically configured hardware for conducting the operations described herein. Alternatively, as another example, when the processor is embodied as an executor of sofiware instructions, the instructions may specifically configure the processor to perform the operations described herein.

In some examples, a received signal may, for example, be represented by:

S

TI = H'0x'0 + n' where, for example, r' represents a received signal on a sub-carrier, H'1 represents a spatial channel matrix on a sub-carrier for a cell i, n' represents other cell interference and noise on a sub-carrier, and x0 is a vector which can be used to model a multiple input multiple output MIMO transmission In the complex valued domain, for example, an example equivalent signal model can be expanded based on real and imaginary parts as follows: -1,0 HQ,O [X701 FTQI -[HQO H10 IXQ,oi lQ where, for examplc, subscripts I and Q rcfer to rcal and imaginary signal componcnts, respectively. In some example embodiments, the covariancc of the transmitted signal equals: = EFX1XrI = E [zi [tIHI = E 21 In some example embodiments, a real-valued covariance matrix of a transmitted signal may include, in some examples, modulated I/Q signal branches that arc independent in a complex constellation: _[0.S 0 CXXIQAM -0 0.5 In other examples, the modulated signal may be modulated over the T branch with real-valued modulation (e.g. and that transmit power of the system is normalised to 1.0), and the real valued covarianee may include, for example: _[1.0 0 CXX iPAM -I 0 0 Other cell interference and noise can be represented, for example as: N cell [ - H11 HQ1 Xi,i 1 + [Th,tm Uk] -L HQI H11 XQj1 UQ,ther,nal 1=1 whose covariance is represented by: Nceu ç'[H1 -H rHi -H H -H. H xrllj.j. H + nn,thermal I Qi Jr L Q, t=1 Ncen II -v 1H11 -HQ( H1 -HQ1 + ff, / -L.1 [HQJ H11 XXI HQJ H11 / 2 1=1 where a, refers to the additive white gaussian noise (AWGN) variance and I refers to the identity matrix.

In some examples and in order to suppress interference, real valued modulation may be also be reflected in the interference to achieve interference suppression gains, for example real valued modulation may be reflected by the term CXXI. In some examples, the interference eovariancc term C, is formed by adding determined interference covarianees from the interfering cells and other (thermal) interference of the system. In some example embodiments, the interference covariance term C, may be estimated by a known sample set average method from the reference signal locations also known as interference measurement resource (IMR). The reference signal locations may be the so called zero power reference signal locations where a serving cell, such as a serving cell operating on or in conjunction with access point 12, is not transmitting an active signal. In an instance in which a serving cell is transmitting active transmissions, the transmission can be subtracted using a residual signal method.

In some example embodiments, the communication device 10 is configured to derive, such as by the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, at least one CQI for a particular channel based on the modulation type used. The CQI, in some example embodiments, may correspond to widely linear reception of transmissions using either real-valued modulation or complex-valued modulation. In some example embodiments and as described herein, the CQI relating to real valued modulation and/or complex valued modulation may be used by the access point 12 to schedule, for example, a modulation type for a channel, physical resource block, subband or the like based on current channel quality.

In some example embodiments, the communications device is configured to determine multiple CQI values to bc transmitted to the access point 12, such as via the communication interface 26. A first CQI value to be transmitted is determined, such as by the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, using real valued modulation on its own signal transmissions and on interfering signal transmissions. For example, for the first CQI value the communication device may assume that some or all interfering transmission points are utilising real-valued modulation and the communication device itself is scheduled with real-valued modulation. A second CQI value to be transmitted is also determined, such as by the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, using complex-valued modulation in the communication device's own signal transmission and in interfering signal transmissions. Thus, the access point 12 is provided with CQI values for both real valued modulation and complex valued modulation.

In some example embodiments, the CQI, such as a coordinated CQI, may be S determined at least in part on a performance metric, such as a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), SINR, signal-to-noise plus distortion ratio (SNDR), and or the like. For example, an SIINR may be calculated, such as by the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, or the like, by estimating the Outer-Coordination Area Interference (OCA-I) based on intcrfercncc measurement resource (IMR) resources and emulating the Intra-Coordination Area Interference (ICA-I) taking into account the transmission covariances. In some example embodiments, selecting the C.11 determines an SINR based on either real or complex valued modulation that is used in the intra-Coordination Area. The interference information is signalled (e.g. by higher layers) to the communication device 10 for use in calculating, such as by the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, the CQI report. In some example embodiments, the SINR for symbol k in transmitted symbol vector xo equaLs: SINRk = -where = Gk HOCXXHUG' = Gk + + RJ.QCA_J) G where N is the number of coordinated cells. Value RJOCAA is configured to reflect the interference outside the coordinated cell area.

In some example embodiments, the access point 12, may be configured to receive one or more CQI values generated by the communication device 10. Using the received CQI values, the access point 12 may determine, such as by the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the like, a scheduling metric for each physical resource block, subband or the like based on the received metrics, such as the CQI values. Using the scheduling metrics, the access point 12 may determine an optimal S modulation type.

In some example embodiments, the access point 12 may then be configured to schedule the communication device with a real-valued modulation type (for example PAM) and may derive thc per-physical resource block (PRB) scheduling metrics, in the form of throughput or the 111cc. Thc access point 12 may frirther be configured to schedule communication device 10 with complex-valued modulation (for example QAM) and further may derive the per-PRB scheduling metrics based on the complex valued modulation. The access point 12 may then be configured to compare, such as by the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the like, the scheduling metrics derived for real valued modulation and the complex valued modulation for each PRB, subband or the like. In some example embodiments, the access point 12 may then select the modulation giving the best overall metric, such as the highest throughput, lowest interference level or the 111cc. Alternatively or additionally, the access point 12 is configured to allocate resources for real-valued modulations on the same PRBs in the modulation coordination set.

Alternatively or additionally, in some example embodiments, the communication device 10 may be configured to cause a CQI value to be determined based on a received modulation type from the access point. For example, a CQI value may be determined for real valued modulation for a channel in an instance in which an indication that real valued modulation is to be used is received from the access point 12. As such, the access point 12, when the CQI value is received, is configured to determine a scheduling metric corresponding to the indicated modulation type.

Alternatively or additionally and in some example embodiments, the communications device 10 is configured to report a CQI value in an instance in which an SINR for a modulation type is determined by the communications device to be b&ow a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold may be signafled to the communications device or may be stored in a memory of the communication device 10 or may otherwise be provided to the communication device 10. As such the S access point 12, in an instance in which the CQI value is received, is configured to determine a scheduling metric corresponding to the modulation type having the SINR below the predetermined threshold.

Alternatively or additionally and in some example embodiments, the communications device 10 is configured to cause two CQI values to be transmitted to the access point 12. Each of the CQI values that are transmitted is configured to correspond to an SINR measurement made in a different set of resources. In some examples, the set of resources used for SINR measurement include but are not limited to a subband, a set of time-frequency resources, a subframe, a set of subframes or the like. In the first subframe, the communications device 10 may utilise real-valued modulation and in the second subframe, the communication device 10 may utilise complex-valued modulation, thus enabling the interference to be implicitly captured in the CQI report.

In an instance in which the communication device is configured to determine a single cell CQI report, such as a CQI report based on two sets of resources, such as subframes, other cell interference may also be measured. This other cell interference covariance R1, may be calculated and used to obtain a SINR estimate which can then be mapped to CQI. For example, the SINR for symbol k in vector x0 equals: I' SINRk = -1/c where 5/c = Gk HOCXXOHUG' -r ( r' H Ic - O'-xxO m I) k where the Gk is the receiver filter for k:th symbol in vector it0. In some examples, C',.o is equal to C,o except that k:th diagonal element is set to 0. An example LMMSE algorithm may be used in some example embodiments for deriving the G. S In some examples, C,0 is used by a serving cell signal to distinguish between complex valued modulation and real value modulation. For a complex signal, a SINR vector is determined based on the SINR of the I and Q branch. This can be mapped to throughput individually and summed together to obtain a throughput estimate for the overall complex signal. For the real valued modulation, the SINR estimate corresponding to the real branch may be used.

Alternatively or additionally and in some example embodiments, two IMR locations for the two CQI values may be assigned such that first report uses resources that overlap with physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) symbols in the neighbouring cell. Thus, the scheduled real or complex valued modulation is visible for the interference estimate. The second IMR may collide with the channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) in the neighbouring cell. Thus, the full load complex signal is visible for the interference estimate because the CSI-RS will have complex modulation.

Figures 3a-e and 4a-e illustrate example operations performed by a method, apparatus and computer program product, such as apparatus 20 of Figure 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the flowcharts, may be implemented by various means, such as hardware, firmware, processor, circuitry and/or other device associated with execution of software including one or more computer program instructions. For example, one or more of the procedures described herein may be embodied by computer program instructions. In this regard, the computer program instructions which embody the procedures described herein may be stored by a memory 28 of an apparatus employing an embodiment of the present invention and executed by a processor 24 in the apparatus. As will be apprcciatcd, any such computer program instructions may bc loaded onto a computer or othcr programmaNc apparatus (c.g. hardware) to produce a machine, such that thc resulting computer or other programmable apparatus provides for implementation of the functions specified in the flowcharts' block(s). These computer program S instructions may also be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage memory that may direct a computer or other programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage memory produce an article of manufacture, thc execution of which implements thc function spccificd in thc flowcharts' block(s). Thc computcr program instructions may also bc loaded onto a computcr or othcr proammable apparatus to causc a series of operations to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which cxccutc on thc computcr or othcr programmable apparatus providc opcrations for implementing thc functions spccificd in thc flowcharts' block(s). As such, thc operations of Figures 3a-e and 4a-e, when executed, convert a computer or processing circuitry into a particular machinc configured to pcrform an cxamplc cmbodimcnt of the present invention. Accordingly, the operations of Figures 3a-e and 4a-e define an algorithm for configuring a computer or processing circuitry 22, e.g. processor, to perform an example embodiment. In some cases, a general purpose computer may be provided with an instance of thc proccssor which performs the algorithm of Figures 3a-e and 4a-c to transform the general purpose computer into a particular machine configured to perform an example embodiment.

Accordingly, blocks of the flowcharts support combinations of means for performing the specified functions and combinations of operations for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that one or more blocks of the flowchart, and combinations of blocks in the flowcharts, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specified functions, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

In some embodiments, certain ones of the operations herein may be modified or ftirther amplified as described below. Moreover, in some embodiments additional optional operations may also be included. It should be appreciated that each of the modifications, optional additions or amplifications below may be included with the S operations herein either alone or in combination with any others among the features described herein.

Figurc 3a shows a flow chart illustrating operations performed by an example communication device 10 in accordance with some example embodiments of the prcsent invention. As is shown with respect to operation 302, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, or the like, for determining the first channel quality indication of a first transmission using the first modulation type. In some example embodiments, the channel quality indication v&uc is calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission and the interfering signal transmission using a first modulation type, such as a real valued modulation type. As is shown with respect to operation 304, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the like, for determining the second channel quality indication ofa second transmission using the second modulation type.

In some example embodiments, the channel quality indication value is calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission and the interfering signal transmission using a second modulation type, such as a complex valued modulation type.

As is shown with respect to operation 306, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communications interface 26 or the like, for causing the channel quality indications to be transmitted to an access point. As is shown with respect to operation 308, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, thc proccssor 24, thc communications intcrfacc 26 or thc like, for rccciving an indication of schcduled modulation typc for a transmission from thc acccss point. Tn some example embodiments, the access point is configured to schedule the transmission using at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type S based at least in part on the channel quality indication.

Figure 3b shows a flow chart illustrating operations performed by an example communication dcvicc 10 in accordance with somc cxamplc cmbodimcnts of thc present invcntion. As is shown with rcspcct to opcration 310, thc apparatus 20 cmbodicd, for cxamplc, by a communications dcvicc 10, may includc mcans, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, or the like, for determining the first channel quality indication of the transmission for a first set of resources, such as a subframc, using thc first modulation typc, such as a rcal valucd modulation typc. As is shown with rcspcct to opcration 312, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, thc proccssor 24 or thc like, for determining thc sccond channel quality indication of the transmission for a second set of resources, such as a subframe, using the second modulation type, such as a complex valued modulation type. In some example embodiments, the first set of resources, such as a subframe, and the second set of rcsourccs, such as a subframc, arc different scts of resources, such as subframcs.

As is shown with respect to operation 314, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communications interface 26 or the like, for causing thc channel quality indications to be transmitted to an access point. As is shown with respect to operation 316, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communications interface 26 or the like, for receiving an indication of scheduled modulation type for a transmission from the access point. In some example embodiments, the access point is configured to schedule the transmission using at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at least in part on the channel quality indication.

Figure 3c shows a flow chart illustrating operations performed by an example S communication device 10 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present invention. As is shown with respect to operation 318, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, or the 111cc, for determining the first channel quality indication for the first interference measurement resource location.

As is shown with respect to operation 320, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the like, for determining the second channel quality indication for the second interference measurement resource location. In some example embodiments, the first interference measurement resource location and the second interference measurement location are determined, such as by the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the like. In further example embodiments, the first interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with the physical downlink shared channel or demodulation reference signal symbols in a neighbouring cell and the second interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a channel state information reference signal in a neighbouring cell.

As is shown with respect to operation 322, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communications interface 26 or the like, for causing the channel quality indications to be transmitted to an access point. As is shown with respect to operation 324, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communications interface 26 or the like, for receiving an indication of scheduled modulation t)qe for a transmission from the access point. In some example embodiments, the access point is configured to schedule the transmission using at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at east in part on the ehannd quality indication.

Figure 3d shows a flow chart illustrating operations performed by an example S communication device 10 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present invention. As is shown with respect to operation 326, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, or the like, for determining that a signal to interference and noise ratio for the transmission is below a pre-defincd threshold.

In some example embodiments, the threshold may be signalled by the access point 12, the network, or the like. The threshold may also be stored in the memory 28 or may be otherwise indicated to the communication device. As is shown with respect to operation 328, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may ineude means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the like, for causing the channel quality indication to be determined for the modulation type having the signal to interference and noise ratio that is below the pre-detined threshold. In some examples, the pre-defined threshold may be defined with respect to a modulation type, such as real valued modulation, complex valued modulation or the like.

As is shown with respect to operation 330, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communications interface 26 or the like, for causing the channel quality indications to be transmitted to an access point. As is shown with respect to operation 332, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communications interface 26 or the like, for receiving an indication of scheduled modulation type for a transmission from the access point. In some example embodiments, the access point is configured to schedule the transmission using at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at least in part on the channel quality indication.

Figure 3e shows a flow chart illustrating operations performed by an example communication device 10 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present invention. As is shown with respect to operation 334, the apparatus 20 S embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, or the like, for receiving an indication of a modulation type from an access point, such as access point 12. As is shown with respect to operation 336, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the like, for determining the channel quality indication for the transmission using the modulation type received in the indication.

As is shown with respect to operation 338, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communications interface 26 or the like, for causing the channel quality indications to be transmitted to an access point. As is shown with respect to operation 340, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by a communications device 10, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communications interface 26 or the like, for receiving an indication of scheduled modulation type for a transmission from the access point. In some example embodiments, the access point is configured to schedule the transmission using at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at least in part on the channel quality indication.

Figure 4a shows a flow chart illustrating operations performed by an example access point 12 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present invention. As is shown with respect to operation 402, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for receiving the first channel quality indication for a first transmission using a first modulation type, such as a real valued modulation type, of the one or more modulation types. As is shown with respect to operation 404, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for receiving the second channel quality indication for a second transmission using a second modulation type, such as a S complex valued modulation type, of the one or more modulation types.

As is shown with respect to operation 406, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, thc processor 24 or the likc, for dctcrmining one or morc schcduling metrics, such as a schcduling mctric based on thc first channcl quality indication and a scheduling metric based on the second channel indication, for one or more physical resource blocks. In some example embodiments, a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation type of the one or more modulation types. As is shown with respect to operation 408, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for causing a modulation type to be scheduled for a transmission, the modulation type being determined based on a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics with the lowest measured interference, highest throughput or the like over the one or more physical resource blocks.

Figure 4b shows a flow chart illustrating operations performed by an example access point 12 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present invention. As is shown with respect to operation 4 0, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by thc acccss point 12, may include mcans, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for receiving the first channel quality indication for a first set of resources, such as a subframe, using a first modulation type, such as a real valued modulation type, of the one or more modulation types. As is shown with respect to operation 412, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for receiving the second channel quality indication for a second set of resources, such as a subframe, using a second modulation type, such a complex modulation type, of the one or more modulation types. In some example embodiments, the first set of resources, such as a subframe, and the second set of resources, such as a subframe, are S different sets of resources, such as subframes.

As is shown with respect to operation 414, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the like, for determining one or more scheduling metrics for one or more physical resource blocks based at least in part on the channel quality indication. In some example embodiments, a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation type of the one or more modulation types. As is shown with respect to operation 416, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for causing a modulation type to be scheduled for a transmission, the modulation type being determined based on a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics with the lowest measured interference, highest throughput or the like over the one or more physical resource blocks.

Figure 4c shows a flow chart illustrating operations performed by an example access point 12 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present invention. As is shown with respect to operation 418, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interfacc 26 or the like, for receiving the first channel quality indication for a first interference measurement resource location. As is shown with respect to operation 420, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for receiving the second channel quality indication for a second interference measurement resource location.

In some example embodiments, the first interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with at least one of a physical downlink shared channel or a demodulation reference signal symbol in a neighbouring cell and the second interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a channel state information reference signal in a neighbouring cell.

S

As is shown with respect to operation 422, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the 111cc, for determining one or more scheduling metrics for one or more physical rcsourcc blocks based at least in part on the channel quality indication. In some example embodiments, a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation type of the one or more modulation types. As is shown with respect to operation 424, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for causing a modulation type to be scheduled for a transmission, the modulation type being determined based on a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics with the lowest measured interference, highest throughput or the like over the one or more physical resource blocks.

Figure 4d shows a flow chart illustrating operations performed by an example access point 12 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present invention. As is shown with respect to operation 426, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for receiving the channel quality indication in an instance in which a signal interference noise ratio for the transmission is below a pre-defined threshold for at least one of the one or more modulation types.

As is shown with respect to operation 428, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24 or the lilce, for determining one or more scheduling metrics for one or more physical resource blocks based at least in part on the channel quality indication. In some example embodiments, a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation type of the one or more modulation types. As is shown with respect to operation 430, the apparatus 20 S embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for causing a modulation type to be scheduled for a transmission, the modulation type being determined based on a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics with thc lowcst measured intcrfcrcncc, highest throughput or thc like ovcr thc onc or more physical resource blocks.

Figure 4e shows a flow chart illustrating operations performed by an example access point 12 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present invention. As is shown with respect to operation 432, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for causing an indication of a selected modulation type to be transmitted to a communication device.

As is shown with respect to operation 434, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for receiving the channel quality indication corresponding to thc selected modulation type.

As is shown with respect to operation 436, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, thc processor 24 or the like, for determining one or more scheduling metrics for one or more physical resource blocks based at least in part on the channel quality indication. In some example embodiments, a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation type of the one or more modulation types. As is shown with respect to operation 438, the apparatus 20 embodied, for example, by the access point 12, may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 26 or the like, for causing a modulation type to be scheduled for a transmission, the modulation type being determined based on a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics with the lowest measured interference, highest throughput or the like over the one or more physical resource blocks.

S

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and!or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method comprising: determining a channel quality indication corresponding to a transmission; S causing the channel quality indication to be transmitted to an access point; and receiving an indication of scheduled modulation type for a transmission from the access point, wherein the indication of scheduled modulation type is such as to schedule the transmission to use at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at lcast in part on the channel quality indication.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the channel quality indication comprises at least one of a first channel quality indication or a second channel quality indication.
3. A method according to claim 2, comprising: determining the first channel quality indication ofa first transmission using the first modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission and the interfering signal transmission using the first modulation type.
4. A method according to claim 2 or claim 3, comprising: determining the second channel quality indication of a second transmission using the second modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission and the interfering signal transmission using the second modulation type.
5. A method according to claim 2, comprising: determining the first channel quality indication of the transmission for a first set of resources using the first modulation type; and determining the second channel quality indication of the transmission for a second set of resources using the second modulation type.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the first set of resources and second set of resources are at least one of a subband, a set of time-frequency resources or a set of subframes.
7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the first set of resources and second set of resources are in different subframes.
8. A method according to claim 2, comprising: determining a first interference measuremcnt resource location and a second interference measurement resource location, wherein the first interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a physical downlink shared channel or demodulation reference signal symbols in a neighbouring cell and the second interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a channel state information reference signal in a neighbouring cell; and determining the first channel quality indication for the fir st interference measurement resource location; and determining the second channel quality indication for the second interference measurement resource location.
9. A method according to claim 2, comprising: determining the first channel quality indication of a first transmission using the first modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the first modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a first interference measurement resource; and determining the second channel quality indication of a second transmission using the second modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the second modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a second interference measurement resource
10. A method according to claim 2, comprising: S determining the first channel quality indication of a first transmission assuming the first modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the first modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a coordinated cell transmission and a first interference measurement resource; and determining the second channel quality indication of a second transmission assuming the second modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the second modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a coordinated cell transmission and a second interference measurement resource
11. A method according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the fir st interference measurement resource and the second interference measurement resource are the same interference measurement resource.
12. A method according to any of claims ito 11, comprising: receiving an indication of a modulation type from a said access point, wherein the channel quality indication is determined for the transmission based on the indication of the modulation type that comprises at least one of the first modulation type or thc second modulation type.
13. A method according to any of claims ito 12, comprising: determining that a signal to interference and noise ratio for the transmission is below a pre-defined threshold for at least one of the fir st modulation type or the second modulation type; and causing thc channel quality indication to be determined for the modulation type having the signal to interference and noise ratio below the pre-detined threshold.
14. A method according to any of claims I to 13, wherein the first modulation type is a real valued modulation type and the second modulation type is a complex valued modulation type.
15. Apparatus comprising: a proccssing systcm arrangcd to causc thc apparatus to at least: determinc a channel quality indication corrcsponding to a transmission; cause the channel quality indication to be transmitted to an access point; and receive an indication of scheduled modulation type for a transmission from the access point, wherein the indication of scheduled modulation type is such as to schedule the transmission to use at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at least in pad on the channel quality indication.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the channel quality indication comprises at least one of a first channel quality indication or a second channel quality indication.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16, whcrcin thc proccssing systcm is arranged to cause the apparatus to: determine the first channel quality indication of a first transmission using the first modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission and the interfering signal transmission using the first modulation type.
18. Apparatus according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: determine the second channel quality indication of a second transmission using the second modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, thc signal transmission and thc intcrfering signal transmission using the second modulation typc.
19. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the processing system is arranged to S cause the apparatus to: determine the first channel quality indication of the transmission for a first set of resources using the fir st modulation type; and determine the second channel quality indication of the transmission for a sceond set of rcsources using the second modulation typc.
20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first set of resources and second set of resources are at least one of a subband, a set of time-frequency resources or a sct of subframes.
21. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first set of resources and second set of resources are in different subframes.
22. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: determine a first interference measurement resource location and a second interference mcasurcmcnt resource location, wherein the first interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a physical downlink shared channel or demodulation reference signal symbols in a neighbouring cell and the second interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a channel state information reference signal in a neighbouring cell; and determine the first channel quality indication for the first interference measurement resource location; and determine the second channel quality indication for the second interference measurement resource location.
23. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein thc processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: determine the fir st channel quality indication of a first transmission using the first modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal S transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the first modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a first interference measurement resource; and determine the second channel quality indication of a second transmission using the second modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the second modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a second interference measurement resource
24. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: determine the first channel quality indication of a first transmission assuming the first modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the first modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a coordinated cell transmission and a first interference measurement resource; and determine the second channel quality indication of a second transmission assuming the second modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the second modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a coordinated cell transmission and a second interference measurement resource
25. Apparatus according to claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the first interference measurement resource and the second interference measurement resource are the same interference measurement resource.
26. Apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 25, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: receive an indication of a modulation type from a said access point, wherein the channel quality indication is determined for the transmission based on the indication of the modulation type that comprises at least one of the first modulation type or the second modulation type.
27. Apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 26, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: determine that a signal to interference and noise ratio for the transmission is below a pre-defined threshold for at least one of the first modulation type or the second modulation type; and cause the channel quality indication to be determined for the modulation type having the signal to interference and noise ratio below the pre-defined threshold.
28. Apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 27, wherein the first modulation type is a real valued modulation type and the second modulation type is a complex valued modulation type.
29. Apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 28, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of an access point, user equipment or a communications device.
30. Apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 29, wherein the apparatus is configured for use in at least one of a wideband code division multiple access, time division synchronous code division multiple access, a Long Term Evolution or Long Term Evolution Advanced system.
31. A computer program comprising a set of instructions, which when executed on an apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the steps of determining a channel quality indication corresponding to a transmission; causing the channel quality indication to be transmitted to an access point; and receiving an indication of scheduled modulation type for a transmission from the access point, wherein the indication of scheduled modulation type is such as to schedule the transmission to use at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at least in part on the channel quality indication.S32. A computer program according to claim 31, wherein the channel quality indication comprises at least one of a first channel quality indication or a second channel quality indication.33. A computer program according to claim 32, comprising instructions, which when executed on the apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the step of determining the first channel quality indication of a first transmission using the first modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission and the interfering signal transmission using the first modulation type.34. A computer program according to claim 32 or claim 33, comprising instructions, which when executed on the apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the step of determining the second channel quality indication ofa second transmission using the second modulation type, thc channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission and the interfering signal transmission using the second modulation type.35. A computer program according to claim 32, comprising instructions, which when executed on the apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the steps of: determining the first channel quality indication of the transmission for a first set of resources using the first modulation type; and determining the second channel quality indication of the transmission for a second set of resources using the second modulation type.36. A computer program according to claim 35, whcrcin the first set of resources and second set of resources are at least one of a subband, a set of time-frequency resources or a set of subframes.37. A computer program according to claim 35, wherein the first set of resources and second set of resources are in different subframes.38. A computer program according to claim 32, comprising instructions, which whcn exceuted on thc apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the steps of: determining a first interference measurement resource location and a second interference measurement resource location, wherein the first interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a physical downlink shared channel or demodulation reference signal symbols in a neighbouring cell and the second interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a channel state information reference signal in a neighbouring cell; and determining the first channel quality indication for the fir st interference measurement resource location; and determining the second channel quality indication for the second interference measurement resource location.39. A computer program according to claim 32, comprising instructions, which when executed on the apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the steps of: determining the first channel quality indication of a first transmission using the first modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the first modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a first interference measurement resource; and determining the second channel quality indication of a second transmission using the second modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the second modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a second interference measurement resource 40. A computer program according to claim 32, comprising instructions, which S when executed on the apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the steps of: determining the first channel quality indication of a fir st transmission assuming the first modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the first modulation type and thc interfering signal transmission using a coordinated cell transmission and a first interference mcasurement resource; and determining the second channel quality indication of a second transmission assuming the second modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the second modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a coordinated cell transmission and a second interference measurement resource 41. A computer program according to claim 39 or claim 40, wherein the first interference measurement resource and the second interference measurement resource are the same interference measurement resource.42. A computer program according to any of claims 31 to 41, comprising instructions, which when executed on the apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the step of: recciving an indication of a modulation type from the access point, wherein the channel quality indication is determined for the transmission based on the indication of the modulation type that comprises at least one of the first modulation type or the second modulation type.43. A computcr program according to any of claims 31 to 42, comprising instructions, which whcn cxccutcd on thc apparatus causes thc apparatus to pcrform the steps of determining that a signal to interference and noise ratio for the transmission is below a pre-defined threshold for at least one of the first modulation type or the second modulation type; and causing the channel quality indication to be determined for the modulation type haying the signal to interference and noise ratio below the pre-defined threshold.44. A computcr program according to any of claims 31 to 43, whercin thc first modulation type is a real valued modulation type and the second modulation type is a complex valued modulation type.45. Apparatus comprising: means for determining a channel quality indication corresponding to a transmission; means for causing the channel quality indication to be transmitted to an access point; and means for receiving an indication of scheduled modulation type for a transmission from the access point, wherein the indication of scheduled modulation type is such as to schedule the transmission using at least one of a first modulation type or a second modulation type based at least in part on the channel quality indication.46. Apparatus according to claim 45, whcrcin the channel quality indication comprises at least one of a first channel quality indication or a second channel quality indication.47. Apparatus according to claim 46, comprising: means for determining the first channel quality indication of a first transmission using the first modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission and the interfering sign& transmission using the first modulation type.48. Apparatus according to claim 46 or claim 47, comprising: means for determining the second channel quality indication of a second transmission using the second modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission and the interfering signal transmission using thc second modulation type.49. Apparatus according to claim 46, comprising: means for determining the first channel quality indication of the transmission for a first set of resources using the first modu'ation type; and means for determining the second channel quality indication of the transmission for a second set of resources using the second modulation type.50. Apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the first set of resources and second set of resources are at least one of a subband, a set of time-frequency resources or a set of subframes.51. Apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the first set of resources and second set of resources are in different subframes.52. Apparatus according to claim 46, comprising: means for determining a first interference measurement resource location and a second interference measurement resource location, wherein the first interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a physical downlink shared channel or demodulation reference signal symbols in a neighbouring cell and the second interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a channel state information reference signal in a neighbouring cell; and means for determining the first channel quality indication for the first interference measurement resource location; and S means for determining the second channel quality indication for the second interference measurement resource location.54. Apparatus according to claim 46, comprising: means for determining the first channel quality indication of a first transmission using the first modulation type, the channel qualify indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the first modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a first interference measurement resource; and means for determining the second channd quality indication of a second transmission using the second modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the second modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a second interference measurement resource 54. Apparatus according to claim 46, comprising: means for determining the first channel quality indication of a first transmission assuming the first modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the first modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a coordinated cell transmission and a first interference measurement resource; and means for determining the second channel qualify indication of a second transmission assuming the second modulation type, the channel quality indication being calculated based on a signal transmission and an interfering signal transmission, the signal transmission using the second modulation type and the interfering signal transmission using a coordinatcd ccli transmission and a sccond intcrfcrcncc mcasurcmcnt rcsourcc 55. Apparatus according to claim 53 or claim 54 wherein the first interference measurement resource and the second interference measurement resource are the same interference measurement resource.56. Apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 55, comprising: mcans for rccciving an indication of a modulation typc from a said acccss point, whcrcin thc channci quality indication is dctcrmincd for thc transmission bascd on the indication of the modulation type that comprises at least one of the first modulation type or the second modulation type.57. Apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 56, comprising: means for determining that a signal to interference and noise ratio for the transmission is bclow a prc-dcfincd thrcshold for at Icast onc of thc first modulation type or the second modulation type; and means for causing the channel quality indication to be determined for the modulation type having the signal to interference and noise ratio below the pre-dcfincd thrcshold.58. Apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 57, wherein the first modulation type is a real valued modulation type and the second modulation type is a complex valued modulation type.59. Apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 58, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of an access point, user equipment or a communications device.60. Apparatus according to any of claims 45 to 59, wherein the apparatus is configured for use in at least one of a wideband code division muhiple access, time division synchronous code division multiple access, a Long Term Evolution or Long Term Evolution Advanced system.61. A method comprising: S receiving a channel quality indication from a communication device, wherein the channel qualify indication is received for one or more modulation types; determining one or more scheduling metrics for one or more physical resource blocks based at least in part on the channel quality indication, wherein a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation type of the one or more modulation types; and causing a modulation type to be scheduled for a transmission.62. A method according to claim 61, wherein the channel quality indication comprises at least one of a first channel quality indication or a second channel quality indication.63. A method according to claim 62, comprising: determining a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics based on the first channel quality indication; and determining a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics based on the second channel quality indication 64. A method according to claim 63, comprising: receiving the first channel quality indication for a first transmission using a first modulation type of the one or more modulation types; and receiving the second channel quality indication for a second transmission using a second modulation type of the one or more modulation types.65. A method according to claim 63, comprising: receiving the first channel quality indication for a first set of resources using a first modulation type of the one or more modulation types; and receiving the second channel quality indication for a second set of resources using a second modu'ation type of the one or more modu'ation types.66. A method according to claim 65, wherein the fir st set of resources and second S set of resources are at least one of a subband, a set of time-frequency resources or a set of subframes.67. A method according to claim 65, wherein the first set of resources and second set of resources arc in different subframes.68. A method according to claim 63, comprising: receiving the first channel quality indication for a first interference measurement resource location; and receiving the second channel quality indication for a second interference measurement resource location, wherein the first interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with at least one of a physical downlink shared channel or a demodulation reference signal symbol in a neighbouring cell and the second interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a channel state information reference signal in a neighbouring cell.69. A method according to any of claims 61 to 68, comprising: causing an indication of a selected modulation type to be transmitted to a communication device; and receiving the channel quality indication corresponding to the selected modulation type.70. A method according to any of claims 61 to 69, comprising: receiving the channel quality indication in an instance in which a signal interference noise ratio for the transmission is below a pre-defined threshold for at least one of the one or more modulation types.71. A method according to any of claims 61 to 70, wherein the one or more modulation types comprise a first modulation type that is a real valued modulation type and a second modulation type that is a complex valued modulation type.72. A method according to any of claims 61 to 71, wherein the modulation type is determined based on a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics with a lowest measured interference over the one or more physical resource blocks.73. Apparatus comprising: a processing system arrangcd to causc the apparatus to at least: determine one or more scheduling metrics for one or more physical resource blocks based at least in part on a channel quality indication received from a communication device, wherein the channel quality indication is received for one or more modulation types, wherein a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation type of the one or more modulation types; and cause a modulation type to be scheduled for a transmission.74. Apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the channel quality indication comprises at least one ofa first channel quality indication or a second channel quality indication.75. Apparatus according to claim 74, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: determine a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics based on the first channel quality indication; and determine a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics based on the second channel quality indication 76. Apparatus according to claim 75, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: rcccivc thc first channcl quality indication for a first transmission using a first modulation typc of thc onc or morc modulation types; and receive the second channel quality indication for a second transmission using a second modulation type of the one or more modulation types.77. Apparatus according to claim 75, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: rcccivc thc first channel quality indication for a first sct of rcsourccs using a first modulation typc of thc onc or morc modulation types; and receive thc sccond channel quality indication for a sccond sct of rcsourccs using a second modulation type of the one or more modulation types.78. Apparatus according to claim 77, whcrcin thc first sct of rcsourccs and sccond sct of resources arc at least one of a subband, a sct of timc-frcqucncy resources or a set of subframes.79. Apparatus according to claim 77, wherein the first set of resources and second set of resources are in different subframes.80. Apparatus according to claim 75, whcrcin thc proccssing systcm is arranged to causc thc apparatus to: receive the first channel quality indication for a first interference measurement resource location; and receive the second channel quality indication for a second interference mcasurcmcnt rcsourcc location, whercin thc first intcrfcrcncc mcasurcmcnt rcsourcc location comprises resources that overlap with at least one of a physical downlink shared channel or a demodulation reference signal symbol in a neighbouring cell and thc second interference measurement resource location comprises resourccs that overlap with a channel state information reference signal in a neighbouring cell.81. Apparatus according to any of claims 73 to 80, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: cause an indication of a selected modulation type to be transmitted to a communication device; and S receive the channel quality indication corresponding to the selected modulation type.82. Apparatus according to any of claims 73 to 81, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: receive the channel quality indication in an instance in which a signal interference noise ratio for the transmission is below a pre-defined threshold for at least one of the one or more modulation types.83. Apparatus according to any of claims 73 to 82, wherein the one or more modulation types comprise a first modulation type that is a real valued modulation type and a second modulation type that is a complex valued modulation type.84. Apparatus according to any of claims 73 to 83, wherein the modulation type is determined based on a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics with a lowest measured interference over the one or more physical resource blocks.85. Apparatus according to any of claims 73 to 84, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of an access point, user equipment or a communications device.86. Apparatus according to any of claims 73 to 85 wherein the apparatus is configured for use in at least one of a wideband code division multiple access, time division synchronous code division muhiple access, a Long Term Evolution or Long Term Evolution Advanced system.87. A computer program comprising a set of instructions, which when executed on au apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the steps of: receiving a channel quality indication from a communication device, wherein the channel quality indication is received for one or more modulation types; determining one or more scheduling metrics for one or more physical resource blocks based at least in part on the channel quality indication, wherein a scheduling S metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation type of the one or more modulation types; and causing a modulation type to be scheduled for a transmission.88. A computcr program according to claim 87, wherein thc channel quality indication comprises at least one of a first channel quality indication or a sccond channel quality indication.89. A computer program according to claim 88, comprising instructions, which when executed on the apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the steps of: determining a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics based on the first channel quality indication; and determining a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics based on the second channel quality indication 90. A computer program according to claim 89, comprising instructions, which when cxccutcd on thc apparatus causes the apparatus to pcrform the steps of: receiving the first channel quality indication for a first transmission using a first modulation type of the one or more modulation types; and receiving the second channel quality indication for a second transmission using a second modulation type of the one or more modulation types.91. A computer program according to claim 89, comprising instructions, which when executed on the apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the steps of: receiving the first channel quality indication for a first set of resources using a first modulation type of the one or more modulation types; and receiving the second channel quality indication for a second set of resources using a second modulation type of the one or more modulation types.92. A computer program according to claim 91, wherein the first set of resources S and second set of resources are at least one of a subband, a set of time-frequency resources or a set of subframes.93. A computer program according to claim 91, wherein the first set of resources and second set of resources arc in different subframcs.94. A computer program according to claim 89, comprising instructions, which when executed on the apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the steps of: receiving the fir st channel quality indication for a first interference measurement resource location; and receiving the second channel quality indication for a second interference measurement resource location, wherein the first interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with at least one of a physical downlink shared channel or a demodulation reference signal symbol in a neighbouring cell and the second interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a channel state information reference signal in a neighbouring cell.95. A computer program according to any of claims 87 to 94, comprising instructions, which when executed on the apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the steps of: causing an indication of a selected modulation type to be transmitted to a communication device; and receiving the channel quality indication corresponding to the selected modulation type.96. A computcr program according to any of claims 87 to 95, comprising instructions, which whcn cxccutcd on thc apparatus causes thc apparatus to pcrform the step of receiving the channel quality indication in an instance in which a signal S interference noise ratio for the transmission is below a pre-defined threshold for at least one of the one or more modulation types.97. A computer program according to any of claims 87 to 96, wherein the onc or morc modulation typcs comprisc a first modulation type that is a real valued modulation typc and a second modulation typc that is a complex valued modulation type.98. A computcr program according to any onc of claims 87 to 97, whcrcin thc modulation typc is determined bascd on a scheduling metric of the onc or morc scheduling metrics with a lowest measured interference over the one or more physical rcsourcc blocks.99. Apparatus comprising: means for receiving a channel quality indication from a communication device, wherein thc channel quality indication is rcccivcd for onc or more modulation types; means for determining one or more scheduling metrics for one or more physical resource blocks based at least in part on the channel quality indication, wherein a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics is determined for each modulation typc of thc onc or more modulation types; and means for causing a modulation type to be scheduled for a transmission.100. Apparatus according to claim 99, wherein the channel quality indication comprises at least one of a first channel quality indication or a second channel quality indication.101. Apparatus according to claim 100, comprising: means for dctcrmining a schcduling mctric of thc onc or morc schcduling metrics based on the first channel quality indication; and means for determining a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics based on the second channel quality indication 102. Apparatus according to claim 101, comprising: mcans for receiving the first channel quality indication for a first transmission using a first modulation type of thc onc or morc modulation types; and mcans for recciving thc sccond channel quality indication for a sccond transmission using a second modulation type of the one or more modulation types.103. Apparatus according to claim 101, comprising: mcans for receiving thc first channel quality indication for a first sct of resources using a first modulation type of the one or more modulation types; and mcans for receiving the sccond channel quality indication for a sccond sct of resources using a second modulation type of the one or more modulation types.104. Apparatus according to claim 103, wherein the first set of resources and second sct of rcsourccs arc at lcast onc of a subband, a sct of time-frequency rcsourccs or a sct of subframcs.105. Apparatus according to claim 103, wherein the first set of resources and second set of resources are in different subifames.106. Apparatus according to claim 101, comprising: means for receiving the first channel quality indication for a first interference measurement rcsourcc location; and means for receiving the second channel quality indication for a second interference measurement resource location, wherein the first interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with at least one of a physical downlink sharcd channel or a demodulation rcfcrcncc signal symbol in a neighbouring ccli and the second interference measurement resource location comprises resources that overlap with a channel state information reference signal in a neighbouring cell.S107. Apparatus according to any of claims 99 to 106, comprising: means for causing an indication of a selected modulation type to be transmitted to a communication device; and means for receiving thc channel quality indication corrcsponding to thc selected modulation typc.108. Apparatus according to any of claims 99 to 107, comprising: means for rccciving thc channel quality indication in an instancc in which a signal intcrfcrcncc noisc ratio for thc transmission is below a pre-defined threshold for at least one of the one or more modulation types.109. Apparatus according to any of claims 99 to 108, wherein the one or more modulation types comprise a first modulation type that is a real valued modulation type and a second modulation type that is a complex valued modulation type.110. Apparatus according to any of claims 99 to 109, whcrcin thc modulation typc is determined based on a scheduling metric of the one or more scheduling metrics with a lowest measured interference over the one or more physical resource blocks.111. Apparatus according to any of claims 99 to 110, whcrcin thc apparatus comprises at least one of an access point, user equipment or a communications device.112. Apparatus according to any of claims 99 to 111 whcrcin thc apparatus is configured for use in at least one of a wideband code division multiple access, time division synchronous code division multiple access, a long term evolution or long term evolution advanced system.113. A method of access point scheduling, substantially in accordance with any of the examples as described herein with reference to and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.S114. Apparatus for access point scheduling, substantially in accordance with any of the examples as described herein with reference to and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.