Multi-tier clustering apparatus in wireless communication system and method thereof

A method in a User Equipment (UE), for determining a cluster which services the UE, in a wireless communication system including a serving Base Station (BS), a plurality of Distributed BSs (DBSs) which include neighboring BSs for cooperating with the serving BS and for configuring clusters, and the UE, the method comprising:

• receiving cluster set information indicating information about a plurality of clusters, which is broadcasted from the serving BS;
• measuring Received Signal Strength Indicators (RSSIs) of control signals transmitted from BSs included in the plurality of clusters;
• reporting information about the measured RSSIs to the serving BS;
• and
• allowing the serving BS to assign any one cluster selected among the plurality of clusters to a serving cluster for a data service based on the information about the RSSIs of the control signals.

A serving Base Station (BS) apparatus for determining a cluster which services a User Equipment (UE), in a wireless communication system including a serving BS, a plurality of Distributed BSs (DBSs) which include neighboring BSs for cooperating with the serving BS and for configuring clusters, and the UE, the apparatus comprising:

• a cluster information managing unit configured to store information about a plurality of clusters including the serving BS;
• a signal generating unit configured to generate cluster set information indicating information about the plurality of clusters;
• a transmitter configured to broadcast the generated cluster set information to the UE;
• and
• a receiver configured to receive a report of information about Received Signal Strength Indicators (RSSIs) of control signals transmitted from BSs included in the plurality of clusters from the UE,
• wherein the cluster information managing unit is configured to manage the information about the RSSIs of the controls signals, and maintain and manage the information about the clusters including the corresponding serving BS.

A User Equipment (UE) apparatus for determining a cluster which services a UE, in a wireless communication system including a serving Base Station (BS), a plurality of Distributed BSs (DBSs) which include neighboring BSs for cooperating with the serving BS and for configuring clusters, and the UE, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive cluster set information indicating information about a plurality of clusters, which is broadcasted from the serving BS;
• a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) measuring unit configured to measure RSSIs of control signals transmitted from BSs included in the plurality of clusters;
• and
• a transmitter configured to report information about the measured RSSIs to the serving BS,
• wherein the receiver is configured to receive a message from the serving BS which assigns any one cluster selected among the plurality of clusters to a serving cluster for a data service based on the information about the RSSIs of the control signals.