Method and system for centralized radio resource allocation in communication networks, related network and computer program product

A Network Control and Management System for centralized radio resource allocation in a communication network, comprising:

• a Base Station Cluster, wherein the Base Station Cluster has Base Station Entities,
• wherein permutation zones and radio resources are allocated to the Base Station Entities, a Permutation Zone is a number of contiguous Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) symbols in a downlink or uplink that use the same permutation or mapping sequence between sub-channels and sub-carriers, the permutation zones are aligned when all the base station entities of all Base Station clusters are synchronized in time and frequency so that a starting time of each permutation zone is the same for all Base Station (BS) entities of all the base station clusters controlled by a Radio Resource Control (RRC) entity within the network control and management system,
• wherein the Network Control and Management System controls the allocation of the permutation zones and the radio resources to the Base Station Entities in the Base Station Cluster by aligning the permutation zones of different Base Station Entities in Base Station Cluster and by determining the radio resources to be used within each permutation zone by the Base Station Entities in the Base Station Cluster, wherein aligning the permutation zones reduces Co-Channel Interference and mobile-to-mobile interference, and
• wherein the Network Control and Management System:
• issues towards the Base Station Entities a first message requesting information on the radio resources available, including specific information items for each permutation zone, and
• receives a second message returned from the Base Station Entities, including the information requested in the first message.

A communication network, comprising:

• a Base Station Cluster;
• a plurality of Base Station Entities;
• permutation zones allocated to the Base Station Entities, a Permutation Zone being a number of contiguous Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) symbols in a downlink or uplink that use the same permutation or mapping sequence between sub-channels and sub-carriers, the permutation zones being aligned when all the base station entities of all Base Station clusters are synchronized in time and frequency so that a starting time of each permutation zone is the same for all Base Station (BS) entities of all the base station clusters controlled by a Radio Resource Control (RRC) entity within the network control and management system, wherein aligning the permutation zones reduces Co-Channel Interference and mobile-to-mobile interference;
• radio resources allocated to the Base Station Entities;
• a Network Control and Management System to control the allocation of the permutation zones and the radio resources to the Base Station Entities in the Base Station Cluster by aligning the permutation zones of different Base Station Entities in Base Station Cluster and by determining the radio resources to be used within each permutation zone by the Base Station Entities in the Base Station Cluster;
• and
• wherein the Network Control and Management System:
• issues towards the Base Station Entities a first message requesting information on the radio resources available including specific information items for each permutation zone, and
• receives a second message returned from the Base Station Entities, including the information requested in the first message.