Reducing Interference in Multipoint Operation

A method for transmitting interference cancellation information to a first user equipment, UE, the method being performed in a first network node and comprising the steps of:

• determining that the first UE is connected to the first network node in a multipoint fashion such that the first UE is also connected to a second network node;
• obtaining first downlink scheduling information describing downlink transmission from the first network node to a second UE;
• and
• transmitting interference cancellation information to the first UE over a control channel also used by the first network node to transmit scheduling information to the first UE, the interference cancellation information comprising the first downlink scheduling information and an indicator that the interference cancellation information does not contain scheduling information for the first UE.

A first network node for transmitting interference cancellation information to a first user equipment, UE, the first network node comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the first network node to:
• determine that the first UE is connected to the first network node in a multipoint fashion such that the first UE is also connected to a second network node;
• obtain first downlink scheduling information describing downlink transmission from the first network node to a second UE;
• and
• transmit interference cancellation information to the first UE over a control channel also used by the first network node to transmit scheduling information to the first UE, the interference cancellation information comprising the first downlink scheduling information and an indicator that the interference cancellation information does not contain scheduling information for the first UE.

A computer program product for transmitting interference cancellation information to a first user equipment, UE, the computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer program code which, when run on a first network node causes the first network node to:

• determine that the first UE is connected to the first network node in a multipoint fashion such that the first UE is also connected to a second network node;
• obtain first downlink scheduling information describing downlink transmission from the first network node to a second UE;
• and
• transmit interference cancellation information to the first UE over a control channel also used by the first network node to transmit scheduling information to the first UE, the interference cancellation information comprising the first downlink scheduling information and an indicator that the interference cancellation information does not contain scheduling information for the first UE.

A method for reducing interference, the method being performed in a first user equipment, UE, and comprising the steps of:

• determining that the first UE is connected to the first network node in a multipoint fashion such that the first UE is also connected to a second network node;
• receiving interference cancellation information from the first network node, over a control channel also used by the first network node to transmit scheduling information to the first UE, the interference cancellation information comprising first downlink scheduling information describing downlink transmission from the first network node to a second UE and an indicator that the interference cancellation information does not contain scheduling information for the first UE;
• and
• reducing interference by removing an estimated contribution by a downlink signal in accordance with the first downlink scheduling information.

A first user equipment, UE, for reducing interference, the first UE comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the first UE to:
• determine that the first UE is connected to the first network node in a multipoint fashion such that the first UE is also connected to a second network node;
• receive interference cancellation information from the first network node, over a control channel also used by the first network node to transmit scheduling information to the first UE, the interference cancellation information comprising first downlink scheduling information describing downlink transmission from the first network node to a second UE and an indicator that the interference cancellation information does not contain scheduling information for the first UE;
• and
• reduce interference by removing an estimated contribution by a downlink signal in accordance with the first downlink scheduling information.

A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer program code which, when run on a first user equipment, UE, causes the first UE to:

• determine that the first UE is connected to the first network node in a multipoint fashion such that the first UE is also connected to a second network node;
• receive interference cancellation information from the first network node, over a control channel also used by the first network node to transmit scheduling information to the first UE, the interference cancellation information comprising first downlink scheduling information describing downlink transmission from the first network node to a second UE and an indicator that the interference cancellation information does not contain scheduling information for the first UE;
• and
• reduce interference by removing an estimated contribution by a downlink signal in accordance with the first downlink scheduling information.