Communication system and method for mitigating interference in hierarchical cell structure

A first base station in a wireless communication system, the first base station comprising:

• a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal;
• and
• a controller for receiving control information, identifying a first subframe so as to mitigate interference between the first base station and a second base station, based on the control information to process a signal, and allocating, based at least in part on the control information, the first subframe as a first resource for communication between the first base station and a user equipment in communication with the first base station in the wireless communication system,
• wherein the first subframe is not allocated as a resource associated with data for communication between the second base station and a user equipment in communication with the second base station in the wireless communication system,
• wherein a ratio of the first subframe and a second subframe is determined based on information exchanged between the first base station and the second base station, and
• wherein the second subframe is allocated as a second resource for communication between the second base station and a user equipment in communication with the second base station in the wireless communication system.

A method for mitigating interference at a first base station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving control information;
• identifying a subframe associated with a time so as to mitigate interference between the first base station and a second base station, based on the control information to process a signal;
• and
• allocating, based at least in part on the control information, the subframe as a first resource associated with a first measurement for a first resource allocation for communication between the first base station and a user equipment in communication with the first base station in the wireless communication system,
• wherein the first subframe is not allocated as a second resource associated with a second measurement for a second resource allocation for communication between the second base station and a user equipment in communication with the second base station in the wireless communication system.

A first base station in a wireless communication system, the first base station comprising:

• a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal;
• and
• a controller for receiving control information, identifying a subframe associated with a time so as to mitigate interference between the first base station and a second base station, based on the control information to process a signal, and allocating, based at least in part on the control information, the subframe as a resource associated with a measurement for a resource allocation for communication between the first base station and a user equipment in communication with the first base station in the wireless communication system,
• wherein the first subframe is not allocated as a resource associated with a measurement for a resource allocation for communication between the second base station and a user equipment in communication with the second base station in the wireless communication system.

A method for receiving a downlink signal by a user equipment in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving control information from a first base station;
• based on the control information, identifying a first subframe allocated as a first resource associated with a first measurement for a first resource allocation for communication between the first base station and a user equipment in communication with the first base station in the wireless communication system;
• and
• receiving a downlink signal in the first subframe,
• wherein the first subframe is not allocated as a resource associated with a measurement for a resource allocation for communication between a second base station and a user equipment in communication with the second base station in the wireless communication system.

A user equipment for receiving a downlink signal in a wireless communication system, the user equipment comprising:

• a transceiver configured to transmit and receive a signal;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• control to receive control information from a first base station,
• based on the control information, identify a first subframe allocated as a first resource associated with a first measurement for a first resource allocation for communication between the first base station and a user equipment in communication with the first base station in the wireless communication system, and
• receive a downlink signal in the first subframe,
• wherein the first subframe is not allocated as a resource associated with a measurement for a resource allocation for communication between a second base station and a user equipment in communication with the second base station in the wireless communication system.