# US 2010/0165845 A1 · Wireless network resource adaptation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0165845 A1 - Document ID: US20100165845A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/582,949 - Filed: 2009-10-21 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-10-24 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Christopher Gerard Lott; Donna Ghosh; Rashid Ahmed Akbar Attar; Peter John Black - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100165845A1 ## CPC - H04W 28/0958: {based on metrics or performance parameters} - H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information - H04W 72/00: Local resource management - H04W 72/52: based on load - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method of regulating data flow in a wireless communication network includes: collecting data regarding dynamic loading of sector-carrier pairs (pilots) in communication sectors of the wireless communication network; obtaining data rates for data flows of the pilots to access terminals within the wireless communication network; determining one or more pilots to use for conveying data in the wireless communication network based on the data rates and the dynamic loading; and altering data flow over the pilots by at least one of changing a data rate over at least one of the pilots or changing a combination of pilots used by the wireless communication network for conveying data to increase total data flow. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of regulating data flow in a wireless communication network, the method comprising: collecting data regarding dynamic loading of sector-carrier pairs (pilots) in communication sectors of the wireless communication network; obtaining data rates for data flows of the pilots to access terminals within the wireless communication network; determining one or more pilots to use for conveying data in the wireless communication network based on the data rates and the dynamic loading; and altering data flow over the pilots by at least one of changing a data rate over at least one of the pilots or changing a combination of pilots used by the wireless communication network for conveying data to increase total data flow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the altering comprises distributed network scheduling at a plurality of base transceiver stations of the network and biasing flow control rates at a base station controller of the network. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the determining comprises analyzing multiple network data flow options where each option comprises a combination of pilots and respective data rates for the pilots, and wherein the altering changes a flow from a first pilot to a second pilot with a lighter load than the first pilot. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the determining is based on cross-pilot interference, spatially non-uniform user demand, device partial loading performance, and load levels of the sector-carrier pairs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the determining comprises analyzing combinations of pilots as selected by the access terminals, the method further comprising at least one of: biasing SINR measurements by at least some of the access terminals based on pilot loading and using biased SINR values by the access terminals to select pilots; or inhibiting selection by at least some of the access terminals of particular pilots based on pilot loading. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the determining comprises analyzing combinations of pilots as selected by the access terminals, the method further comprising: sending pilot loading information to the access terminals; and selecting pilots by the access terminals based on the loading information sent to the access terminals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising: sending a threshold value to the access terminals; comparing signal strengths of the pilots at the access terminals with the threshold value; and sending an indication of poor forward link quality from a first access terminal corresponding to a pilot whose signal strength differs from a strongest pilot signal strength in an active set of the first access terminal by more than the threshold value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the determining comprises comparing total data rates of multiple network data flow options, where each option comprises a combination of pilots and respective data rates for the pilots, and wherein the altering comprises implementing the option with a highest total data rate of the multiple network data flow options. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising determining cross-pilot coupling estimations using pilot strength indications from the access terminals, wherein determining the one or more pilots to use for conveying data uses the cross-pilot coupling estimations. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein determining the cross-pilot coupling estimations further includes using measured received power and access terminal location information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising reducing power in one or more pilots based on the cross-pilot coupling estimations. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising disabling one or more pilots based on the cross-pilot coupling estimations. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the altering comprises base transceiver stations exchanging loading information via a base station controller and a first base transceiver station changing data flow to a particular access terminal in response to loading information for the particular access terminal from a second base transceiver station distinct from the first base transceiver station. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the collecting further includes collecting data from which data service rate, channel state, queue state, and quality of service (QoS) requirements of each pilot can be determined, and wherein the determining analyzes a tradeoff between (1) balancing pilot load and (2) partial loading performance and loss in serving pilot instantaneous signal quality. ### Claim 15 A computer program product comprising: a processor-readable medium storing processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor to: collect data regarding dynamic loading of sector-carrier pairs (pilots) in communication sectors of a wireless communication network; obtain data rates for data flows of the pilots to access terminals within the wireless communication network; determine one or more pilots to use for conveying data in the wireless communication network based on the data rates and the dynamic loading; and alter data flow over the pilots by at least one of changing a data rate over at least one of the pilots or changing a combination of pilots used by the wireless communication network for conveying data to increase total data flow. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to determine the one or more pilots are configured to cause the processor to consider cross-pilot interference, spatially non-uniform user demand, device partial loading performance, and load balancing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to determine the one or more pilots are configured to cause the processor to consider combinations of pilots as selected by the access terminals, the instructions being further configured to cause the processor to at least one of: bias forward link SINR measurements based on pilot loading; use biased SINR values to select pilots; or inhibit selection by at least one of the access terminals of a particular pilot based on pilot loading. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to alter data flow are configured to cause the processor to select pilots based on access terminal loading information. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to determine the one or more pilots are configured to cause the processor to: compare signal strengths of pilots at a first access terminal with a threshold value received from a base transceiver station; and send an indication of poor forward link quality corresponding to a pilot whose signal strength differs from a strongest pilot signal strength in an active set of the first access terminal by more than the threshold value. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to determine the one or more pilots are configured to cause the processor to compare total data rates of multiple network data flow options, where each option comprises a combination of pilots and respective data rates for the pilots, and wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to alter data flow are configured to cause the processor to implement the option with a highest total data rate of the multiple network data flow options. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to determine cross-pilot coupling estimations using pilot strength indications from the access terminals, wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to determine the one or more pilots are configured to cause the processor to use the cross-pilot coupling estimations. ### Claim 22 An apparatus configured to regulate data flow in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising: means for collecting data regarding dynamic loading of sector-carrier pairs (pilots) in communication sectors of the wireless communication network; means for obtaining data rates for data flows of the pilots to access terminals within the wireless communication network; means for determining one or more pilots to use for conveying data in the wireless communication network based on the data rates and the dynamic loading; and means altering data flow over the pilots by at least one of changing a data rate over at least one of the pilots or changing a combination of pilots used by the wireless communication network for conveying data to increase total data flow. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the means for altering comprises means for scheduling at a plurality of base transceiver stations of the network and means for biasing flow control rates at a base station controller of the network. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the means for determining comprises means analyzing multiple network data flow options where each option comprises a combination of pilots and respective data rates for the pilots. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the means for determining comprises means for considering cross-pilot interference, spatially non-uniform user demand, device partial loading performance, and load balancing. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the means for determining comprises means for analyzing combinations of pilots as selected by the access terminals, the apparatus further comprising at least one of: means for biasing SINR measurements by at least some of the access terminals based on pilot loading and using biased SINR values by the access terminals to select pilots; or means for inhibiting selection by at least some of the access terminals of particular pilots based on pilot loading. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the means for determining comprises means for comparing total data rates of multiple network data flow options, where each option comprises a combination of pilots and respective data rates for the pilots, and wherein the means for altering is configured to implement the option with a highest total data rate of the multiple network data flow options. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising means for estimating cross-pilot coupling using pilot strength indications from the access terminals, wherein means for determining is configured to use the cross-pilot coupling estimations to determine the one or more pilots. ### Claim 29 A base station controller of a wireless communication system, the base station controller comprising: a network interface configured to communicate with a wired communication network; a base transceiver station interface configured to wirelessly communicate with multiple base transceiver stations; and a scheduler configured to: collect data regarding dynamic loading of sector-carrier pairs (pilots) in communication sectors of the wireless communication network; obtain data rates for data flows of the pilots to access terminals within the wireless communication network; determine a combination of pilots to use for conveying data in the wireless communication network based on the data rates and the dynamic loading; and alter data flow over the pilots by changing data rates over the pilots and changing the pilots used in the wireless communication system according to the combination. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The base station controller of claim 29 wherein the scheduler is configured to determine the combination based on network-wide tradeoffs involving at least one of cross-pilot interference, spatially non-uniform user demand, device partial loading performance, or load balancing. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The base station controller of claim 29 wherein the scheduler is configured to alter the data flow by sending pilot loading information via the base transceiver station interface toward base transceiver stations of the wireless communication network to bias scheduler weights at the base transceiver stations. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The base station controller of claim 29 further comprising a cross-pilot coupling module configured to produce cross-pilot coupling estimations using pilot strength indications from access terminals received via the base transceiver station interface, wherein the scheduler is configured to determine the combination using the cross-pilot coupling estimations. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The base station controller of claim 32 wherein the cross-pilot coupling module is configure to produce the cross-pilot coupling estimations using measured received power and access terminal location information. ### Claim 34 An access terminal of a wireless communication system, the access terminal comprising: an antenna configured to transmit and receive wireless communications; a transceiver coupled to the antenna; and selecting means for selecting a pilot by selecting a sector for each carrier in an active set of the access terminal, the selecting means being configured use indications of pilot loading received via the antenna to select the sectors for the carriers in the active set. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The access terminal of claim 34 further comprising measuring means for measuring SINRs of forward link signals received by the antenna, wherein the selecting means is configured to use the indications of pilot loading to bias the SINR measurements to form biased SINR values and use the biased SINR values to select the sectors. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The access terminal of claim 34 wherein the selecting means is further configured to: compare signal strengths of signals received via the antenna with a threshold value received via the antenna; and eliminate any a pilot from possible selection whose signal strength differs from a strongest pilot signal strength in the active set by more than the threshold value. ### Claim 37 A base transceiver station of a wireless communication system, the base transceiver station comprising: an antenna configured for wireless communication with access terminals; a transceiver coupled to the antenna and configured to send signals to and receive signals from the antenna; a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to analyze loading information of sector-carriers and to at least one of (1) alter sector-carrier data scheduling based on the loading information, of (2) send instructions, based on the loading information, via the transceiver toward the access terminals to inhibit selection by at least some of the access terminals of particular pilots. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The base transceiver station of claim 37 wherein the instructions are DRC-lock indications indicating to the access terminals to unlock indicated sector-carriers.