Network node and method for managing power of cell reference symbols
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
InventorsTomas Lagerqvist, Christian Skärby, Walter Müller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method performed by a network node for managing power of Cell Reference Symbols, CRS, wherein the network node operates one or more cells and the network node is configured to transmit the CRS in a first power mode. When the network node identifies a first cell which is not actively serving any UEs, which cell is also referred to as an empty cell, the network node reduces the power of the CRS in the first cell in relation to the first power mode. By reducing the power of the CRS, the overall interference of the CRS from the empty cell is reduced, thereby enhancing the performance in cells actively serving UEs.
Claims15
A method performed by a network node for managing power of a Cell Reference Symbol, CRS, wherein the CRS is a reference symbol in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing, OFDM subframe, the CRS being known by a User Equipment, UE, wherein the subframe comprises a control region and a data region, wherein the network node operates one or more cells and wherein the network node is configured to transmit the CRS in a first power mode, wherein in the first power mode the CRS and data symbols are transmitted with the same power, the method comprising:
- when a first cell is identified, which first cell is not actively serving any UEs, reducing power of the CRS in the first cell in relation to the first power mode, characterized in that the reduced CRS power is applied on the CRS which is sent on any OFDM symbol of the subframe, except the first OFDM symbol of the subframe, wherein the reduced CRS power is applied on the CRS in the data region of the subframe and wherein the first OFDM symbol is located in the control region of the subframe.
A network node for managing power of a Cell Reference Symbol, CRS, wherein the CRS is a reference symbol in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing, OFDM subframe, the CRS being known by a User Equipment, UE, wherein the subframe comprises a control region and a data region, wherein the network node operates one or more cells and the network node is configured to transmit the CRS in a first power mode, wherein in the first power mode the CRS and data symbols are transmitted with the same power, the network node further being configured to:
- identify a first cell that is not actively serving any UEs;
- and
- reduce power of the CRS in the first cell in relation to the first power mode, characterized in that the network node is configured to apply the reduced CRS power on the CRS which is sent on any OFDM symbol of the subframe, except the first OFDM symbol of the subframe, wherein the reduced CRS power is applied on the CRS in the data region of the subframe and wherein the first OFDM symbol is located in the control region of the subframe.
A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing program instructions executable by at least one processor of a network node to operate the network node for managing power of a Cell Reference Symbol, CRS, wherein the CRS is a reference symbol in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing, OFDM subframe, the CRS being known by a User Equipment, UE, wherein the subframe comprises a control region and a data region, wherein the network node operates one or more cells and the network node is configured to transmit the CRS in a first power mode, wherein in the first power mode the CRS and data symbols are transmitted with the same power, the program instructions executed by the at least one processor of the network node are further configured to:
- identify a first cell that is not actively serving any UEs;
- and
- reduce power of the CRS in the first cell in relation to the first power mode, characterized in that the network node is configured to apply the reduced CRS power on the CRS which is sent on any OFDM symbol of the subframe, except the first OFDM symbol of the subframe, wherein the reduced CRS power is applied on the CRS in the data region of the subframe and wherein the first OFDM symbol is located in the control region of the subframe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.