Uplink interference resolution in a wireless communication system

An access node in a wireless communication network, the access node providing interference resolution assistance to a neighboring access node, the access node comprising:

• a transceiver module configured to receive and send data via the wireless communication network;
• a backhaul module configured to receive and send data via a backhaul communication link;
• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the transceiver module, the backhaul module and the memory and configured to:
• exchange, via the backhaul module, communication parameters with the neighboring access node,
• receive, via the transceiver module, a signal comprising a transmission from a first user equipment and an interfering transmission from a second user equipment,
• receive, via the backhaul module, an assistance request from the neighboring access node, the assistance request including an identification of a plurality of uplink resources, and
• send, via the backhaul module and in response to the assistance request, resource information to the neighboring access node, the resource information being associated with the received signal in the identified plurality of uplink resources.

A system in a wireless communication network for conducting interference resolution of a received signal, the system comprising:

• an access node;
• and
• a neighboring access node;
• wherein the access node comprises a transceiver module, a backhaul module, a memory and a processor configured to:
• identify a neighboring access node in the wireless communication network,
• exchange, via the backhaul module, communication parameters with the neighboring access node,
• receive, via the transceiver module, a first signal comprising a transmission from a first user equipment and an interfering transmission from a second user equipment, the first signal being received over a plurality of uplink resources,
• receive, via the backhaul module, resource information from the neighboring access node, the resource information being associated with the plurality of uplink resources, and
• apply the resource information for interference resolution of the received first signal;
• and
• wherein the neighboring access node comprises a transceiver module, a backhaul module, a memory and a processor configured to:
• exchange, via the backhaul module, communication parameters with the access node,
• receive, via the transceiver module, a second signal comprising a transmission from the second user equipment and an interfering transmission from the first user equipment,
• receive, via the backhaul module, an assistance request from the access node, the assistance request including an identification of a plurality of uplink resources, and
• send, via the backhaul module and in response to the assistance request, resource information to the access node, the resource information being associated with the second received signal in the identified plurality of uplink resources.

A method for interference resolution of a received signal by an access node in a wireless communication network, the method the steps of:

• identifying at least one neighboring access node in the wireless communication network;
• exchanging, via a backhaul module, communication parameters with the at least one neighboring access node;
• receiving, via a transceiver module, a signal comprising a transmission from a first user equipment and an interfering transmission from a second user equipment, the signal being received over a plurality of uplink resources;
• receiving, via the backhaul module, resource information from one or more of the at least one neighboring access node, the resource information corresponding to the plurality of uplink resources;
• and
• applying the resource information for interference resolution of the received signal.

A method for an access node in a wireless communication network to provide interference resolution assistance to a neighboring access node, the method comprising the steps of:

• exchanging, via a backhaul module, communication parameters with the neighboring access node;
• receiving, via a transceiver module, a signal comprising a transmission from a first user equipment and an interfering transmission from a second user equipment;
• receiving, via the backhaul module, an assistance request from the neighboring access node, the assistance request including an identification of a plurality of uplink resources;
• and
• sending, via the backhaul module and in response to the assistance request, resource information to the neighboring access node, the resource information being associated with the received signal in the identified plurality of uplink resources.

A method for interference resolution of a received signal in a wireless communication network that includes an access node and a neighboring access node, the method comprising the steps of:

• identifying, at the access node, a neighboring access node in the wireless communication network;
• receiving at the access node, via the wireless communication network, a first signal comprising a transmission from a first user equipment and interference associated with a transmission from a second user equipment, the first signal being received over a plurality of uplink resources;
• receiving at the neighboring access node, via the wireless communication network, a second signal comprising the transmission from the second user equipment and interference associated with the transmission from the first user equipment;
• sending from the neighboring access node, via the backhaul communication link, resource information to the access node, the resource information being associated with the received second signal over the plurality of uplink resources;
• receiving at the access node, via the backhaul communication link, the resource information from the neighboring access node;
• and
• conducting, at the access node, interference resolution of the received first signal using the resource information received from the neighboring access node.