Message-based approach for improved interference power estimation

A wireless communication network comprising a plurality of base stations capable of wireless communication with a plurality of subscriber stations within a coverage area of the network, wherein at least one of the plurality of base stations is capable of:

• determining one or more time-frequency resources to be used for interference power estimation;
• generating a message indicating the one or more time-frequency resources to be used for interference power estimation;
• and
• transmitting the message to a subscriber station.

A base station capable of wireless communication with a plurality of subscriber stations within a coverage area of a network, where the base station is capable of:

• determining one or more time-frequency resources to be used for interference power estimation;
• generating a message indicating the one or more time-frequency resources to be used for interference power estimation;
• and
• transmitting the message to a subscriber station.

A subscriber station capable of wireless communication with a base station within a coverage area of a network, wherein the subscriber station is capable of:

• receiving a message indicating one or more time-frequency resources to be used for interference power estimation;
• decoding the message;
• and
• estimating an interference power using the one or more time-frequency resources indicated in the message.