Apparatus and method for coordinated sensing of wireless devices in a communication system

An apparatus comprising:

• a quiet period selector configured to:
• identify one or more first quiet periods associated with a first base station and to identify one or more second quiet periods associated with a second base station, the quiet period selector also configured to determine whether an amount of overlap between the first and second quiet periods exceeds a threshold;
• and
• if the amount of overlap exceeds the threshold, select a different start time of the first or second quiet periods such that the overlap is reduced;
• and
• a manager configured to initiate sensing of wireless devices using the first and second quiet periods when the amount of overlap between the first and second quiet periods does not exceed the threshold.

A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program comprising computer readable program code, when executed on a processor, operable to cause the processor to at least:

• identify one or more first quiet periods associated with a first base station;
• identify one or more second quiet periods associated with a second base station;
• determine whether an amount of overlap between the first and second quiet periods exceeds a threshold;
• if the amount of overlap exceeds the threshold, selecting a different start time of the first or second quiet periods such that the overlap is reduced;
• and
• initiate sensing of wireless devices using the first and second quiet periods when the amount of overlap between the first and second quiet periods does not exceed the threshold.

An apparatus comprising:

• a manager configured to perform in-band sensing of wireless devices during one or more first quiet periods associated with a first base station and out-band sensing of wireless devices during one or more second quiet periods associated with a second base station, the first and second quiet periods comprising non-overlapping quiet periods;
• and
• a coordinate device associated with the first base station and configured for selection according to a detection area associated with the coordinate device that is substantially within an interference contour associated with the first base station,
• wherein the wireless manager is configured to use the first and second quiet periods to sense the wireless devices at a coordinate device served by the first base station and assisting the second base station, and
• wherein the apparatus is configured to set a detection distance of the coordinate device, the detection distance set so that a detection area associated with the coordinate device is substantially within an interference contour associated with the second base station.

A method comprising:

• performing, using a coordinate device associated with a first base station, in-band sensing of wireless devices during one or more first quiet periods associated with a first base station;
• and
• performing, using the coordinate device, out-band sensing of wireless devices during one or more second quiet periods associated with a second base station, the first and second quiet periods comprising non-overlapping quiet periods,
• wherein the coordinate device is selected according to a detection area associated with the coordinate device that is substantially within an interference contour associated with the first base station.

A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program comprising computer readable program code, when executed on a processor, operable to cause the processor to at least:

• perform, using a coordinate device associated with a first base station, in-band sensing of wireless devices during one or more first quiet periods associated with a first base station;
• and
• perform, using the coordinate device, out-band sensing of wireless devices during one or more second quiet periods associated with a second base station, the first and second quiet periods comprising non-overlapping quiet periods,
• wherein the coordinate device is selected according to a detection area associated with the coordinate device that is substantially within an interference contour associated with the first base station.