Methods and apparatus to support coordinated interference mitigation in multi-tier networks

For use in a small base station in a wireless network, the small base station configured to communicate with a plurality of mobile stations, a method comprising:

• in response to a determination of interference at a second mobile station caused by the small base station, coordinating a handover of a first mobile station from the small base station to a neighboring base station;
• adjusting a resource of the small base station to mitigate the interference at the second mobile station after the coordination of the handover of the first mobile station
• determining that the first mobile station will be affected by the resource adjustment;
• determine a resource adjustment timing;
• and
• informing the first mobile station of the resource adjustment and the resource adjustment timing.

For use in a wireless network, a mobile station configured to communicate with a small base station, the mobile station comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to:
• receive a message from the small base station, the message in response to a determination of interference at a second mobile station caused by the small base station, the message associated with at least one of:
• a resource adjustment of the small base station, a resource adjustment reason, and a resource adjustment timing;
• in response to the message, coordinate a handover of the mobile station from the small base station to a neighboring base station, wherein the coordination of the handover precedes the resource adjustment of the small base station to mitigate the interference;
• and
• receive a coordination message from the small base station, the coordination message comprising information regarding the resource adjustment and a timer configured to expire concurrently with the resource adjustment.

For use in a mobile station wireless network, the mobile station configured to communicate with a small base station, a method comprising:

• receiving a coordinating message from the small base station, the coordinating message comprising information regarding a resource adjustment timing, the coordinating message comprising at least one of:
• a first field indicating a power reduction in decibels (dB), and a second field indicating the resource adjustment timing;
• and
• in response to the message, coordinating a handover of the mobile station from the small base station to a neighboring base station, wherein the coordinating of the handover precedes the resource adjustment of the small base station to mitigate the interference at the second mobile station.