Method and apparatus for mitigating pilot pollution in a wireless network

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• a transmitter configured to send a common pilot at a first density and a first transmit power level during a first time period, and to send the common pilot at a second density and a second transmit power level during a second time period, the second density being lower than the first density, or the second transmit power level being lower than the first transmit power level, or both;
• and
• at least one processor configured to select a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for a terminal during the first time period, and to select a second MCS for the terminal during the second time period, wherein the common pilot is used for channel estimation by the terminal, and wherein the second MCS is lower than the first MCS to account for degradation in channel estimation during the second time period;
• the at least one processor further configured to determine the first and second time periods based on signal-to-noise-and-interference ratios (SINRs) of terminals, the SINRs being high during the second time period and not high during the first time period.

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• means for sending a common pilot at a first density and a first transmit power level during a first time period;
• means for sending the common pilot at a second density and a second transmit power level during a second time period, the second density being lower than the first density, or the second transmit power level being lower than the first transmit power level, or both;
• means for selecting a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for a terminal during the first time period;
• means for selecting a second MCS for the terminal during the second time period, wherein the common pilot is used for channel estimation by the terminal, and wherein the second MCS is lower than the first MCS to account for degradation in channel estimation during the second time period;
• and
• means for determining the first and second time periods based on signal-to-noise-and-interference ratios (SINRs) of terminals, the SINRs being high during the second time period and not high during the first time period.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
• code for causing at least one computer to send a common pilot at a first density and a first transmit power level during a first time period;
• code for causing the at least one computer to send the common pilot at a second density and a second transmit power level during a second time period, the second density being lower than the first density, or the second transmit power level being lower than the first transmit power level, or both;
• code for causing the at least one computer to select a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for a terminal during the first time period, and to select a second MCS for the terminal during the second time period, wherein the common pilot is used for channel estimation by the terminal, and wherein the second MCS is lower than the first MCS to account for degradation in channel estimation during the second time period;
• and
• code for causing the at least one computer to determine the first and second time periods based on signal-to-noise-and-interference ratios (SINRs) of terminals, the SINRs being high during the second time period and not high during the first time period.