Methods and apparatus for managing uplink resource grants in wireless networks

A wireless communications method comprising:

• operating a first wireless base station in a first mode of operation, said first mode of operation including managing uplink resource grant schedules for a plurality of wireless devices connected to the first wireless base station;
• receiving, by the first wireless base station operating in said first mode of operation, a transmission power down command from a resource management system;
• determining in response to receiving said transmission power down command, by the first wireless base station, whether to switch from operating in said first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation, said operating in said second mode of operation including ceasing managing uplink resource grant schedules for said plurality of wireless devices connected to the first wireless base station;
• and
• wherein determining whether to switch from operating in said first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation includes determining whether the implementation of the transmission power down command by the first wireless base station will result in a downlink control channel coverage area of the first wireless base station being less than an uplink control channel coverage area of the first wireless base station.

A wireless communications method comprising:

• operating a first wireless base station in a first mode of operation, said first mode of operation including managing uplink resource grant schedules for a plurality of wireless devices connected to the first wireless base station;
• receiving, by the first wireless base station operating in said first mode of operation, a transmission power down command from a resource management system;
• determining in response to receiving said transmission power down command, by the first wireless base station, whether to switch from operating in said first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation, said operating in said second mode of operation including ceasing managing uplink resource grant schedules for said plurality of wireless devices connected to the first wireless base station;
• and
• wherein said determining whether to switch from operating in said first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation includes determining whether the implementation of the transmission power down command by the first wireless base station will result in a transmission power level for a downlink control channel used for communicating uplink resource grants to the wireless devices being less than a first threshold value.

A wireless communications system comprising:

• a first wireless base station, said first wireless base station including:
• a memory;
• and
• a processor, said processor controlling the first wireless base station to perform the following operations:
• operate in a first mode of operation, operating in said first mode of operation including managing uplink resource grant schedules for a plurality of wireless devices connected to the first wireless base station;
• receive, by the first wireless base station operating in said first mode of operation, a transmission power down command from a resource management system;
• and
• determine in response to receiving said transmission power down command, by the first wireless base station, whether to switch from operating in said first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation, said operating in said second mode of operation including ceasing managing uplink resource grant schedules for said plurality of wireless devices connected to the first wireless base station;
• and
• wherein said operating in said second mode of operation includes communicating a message to each wireless device connected to the first wireless base station prior to ceasing managing said uplink grant schedule for said plurality of wireless devices, said message indicating that each wireless device is responsible for managing its uplink resource grant schedule.

A wireless communications system comprising:

• a first wireless base station, said first wireless base station including:
• a memory;
• and
• a processor, said processor controlling the first wireless base station to perform the following operations:
• operate in a first mode of operation, operating in said first mode of operation including managing uplink resource grant schedules for a plurality of wireless devices connected to the first wireless base station;
• receive, by the first wireless base station operating in said first mode of operation, a transmission power down command from a resource management system;
• and
• determine in response to receiving said transmission power down command, by the first wireless base station, whether to switch from operating in said first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation, said operating in said second mode of operation including ceasing managing uplink resource grant schedules for said plurality of wireless devices connected to the first wireless base station;
• and
• wherein said operation of determining whether to switch from operating in said first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation includes determining whether the implementation of the transmission power down command by the first wireless base station will result in a downlink control channel coverage area of the first wireless base station being less than an uplink control channel coverage area of the first wireless base station.

A wireless communications system comprising:

• a first wireless base station, said first wireless base station including:
• a memory;
• and
• a processor, said processor controlling the first wireless base station to perform the following operations:
• operate in a first mode of operation, operating in said first mode of operation including managing uplink resource grant schedules for a plurality of wireless devices connected to the first wireless base station;
• receive, by the first wireless base station operating in said first mode of operation, a transmission power down command from a resource management system;
• determine in response to receiving said transmission power down command, by the first wireless base station, whether to switch from operating in said first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation, said operating in said second mode of operation including ceasing managing uplink resource grant schedules for said plurality of wireless devices connected to the first wireless base station;
• and
• wherein said operation of determining whether to switch from operating in said first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation includes determining whether the implementation of the transmission power down command by the first wireless base station will result in a transmission power level for a downlink control channel used for communicating uplink resource grants to the wireless devices being less than a first threshold value.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including a first set of computer executable instructions which when executed by a processor of a first wireless base station cause the first wireless base station to perform the steps of:

• operating in a first mode of operation, said first mode of operation including managing uplink resource grant schedules for a plurality of wireless devices connected to the first wireless base station;
• receiving, by the first wireless base station operating in said first mode of operation, a transmission power down command from a resource management system;
• determining in response to receiving said transmission power down command, by the first wireless base station, whether to switch from operating in said first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation, said operating in said second mode of operation including ceasing managing uplink resource grant schedules for said plurality of wireless devices connected to the first wireless base station;
• and
• wherein said determining whether to switch from operating in said first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation includes determining whether the implementation of the transmission power down command by the first wireless base station will result in a transmission power level for a downlink control channel used for communicating uplink resource grants to the wireless devices being less than a first threshold value.