Methods and apparatus for coordinated multipoint communication

A method comprising:

• requesting bandwidth assistance from one or more cells operating in a network;
• in response to at least one of demand price information and headroom information provided by a plurality of cells receiving the request, identifying a set of potential helper cells and place the potential helper cells in order by rank;
• selecting one or more helper cells from the ordered set and assemble a set of helper cells based on bandwidth performance assistance criteria;
• determining whether the set of helper cells is suitable for use;
• and
• in response to a determination that the set of helper cells is suitable for use, proceeding to operate while receiving bandwidth assistance from the set of helper cells.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• memory storing a program of instructions;
• wherein the memory storing the program of instructions is configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:
• receive at least one help request from at least one recipient cell seeking bandwidth assistance in cooperative multipoint processing;
• and
• compute and broadcast at least one of demand price information and headroom information to the at least one recipient cell.