Cooperation and operation of macro node and remote radio head deployments in heterogeneous networks

A method of a user equipment (UE) communicating with a macro node and at least one remote radio head (RRH) coupled to the macro node, the macro node and the at least one RRH comprising a plurality of points that are geographically displaced within a cell of the macro node, the method comprising:

• receiving, using one or more processors, control information and a common reference signal (CRS) associated with a first cell identifier from a first subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node;
• receiving, using the one or more processors, data transmitted based on UE-specific demodulation reference signals (DM-RS) associated with a second cell identifier from a second subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node;
• receiving, using the one or more processors, channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) from the second subset of points, the second subset of points being configured to use ports within a group of ports when sending the CSI-RS to the UE, wherein each of the second subset of points sends the CSI-RS to the UE on different ports within the group of ports;
• performing, using the one or more processors, interference estimation based on CSI-RS;
• and
• transmitting, using the one or more processors, a channel state information report based at least in part on the received first CSI-RS, the channel state information report comprising at least one of precoding matrix indicator (PMI), rank index (RI), or channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback,
• wherein the first cell identifier is different than the second cell identifier.

An apparatus for wireless communication comprising a plurality of points that are geographically displaced within a cell of a macro node, the plurality of points comprising the macro node and a plurality of remote radio heads (RRHs) coupled to the macro node, the apparatus further comprising:

• means for configuring channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) for a user equipment (UE) to perform interference estimation;
• means for transmitting control information and common reference signals (CRS) associated with a first cell identifier to the UE from a first subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node;
• and
• means for sending the CSI-RS and a data transmission associated with a second cell identifier to the UE from a second subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node, the second subset of points being configured to use ports within a group of ports when sending the CSI-RS to the UE, wherein each of the second subset of points sends the CSI-RS to the UE on different ports within the group of ports,
• wherein the first cell identifier is different than the second cell identifier.

An apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus communicating with a plurality of points that are geographically displaced within a cell of a macro node, the plurality of points comprising the macro node and a plurality of remote radio heads (RRHs) coupled to the macro node, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving control information and a common reference signal (CRS) associated with a first cell identifier from a first subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node;
• means for receiving data transmitted based on UE-specific demodulation reference signals (DM-RS) associated with a second cell identifier from a second subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node;
• means for receiving channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) from the second subset of points, the second subset of points being configured to use ports within a group of ports when sending the CSI-RS to the UE, wherein each of the second subset of points sends the CSI-RS to the UE on different ports within the group of ports;
• and
• means for transmitting a channel state information report based at least in part on the received first CSI-RS, the channel state information report comprising at least one of precoding matrix indicator (PMI), rank index (RI), or channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback,
• wherein the first cell identifier is different than the second cell identifier.

An apparatus for wireless communication comprising a plurality of points that are geographically displaced within a cell of a macro node, the plurality of points comprising the macro node and a plurality of remote radio heads (RRHs) coupled to the macro node, the apparatus further comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processing system coupled to the memory and configured to:
• configure channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) for a user equipment (UE) to perform interference estimation;
• transmit control information and common reference signals (CRS) associated with a first cell identifier to the UE from a first subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node;
• and
• send the CRI-RS and a data transmission associated with a second cell identifier to the UE from a second subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node, the second subset of points being configured to use ports within a group of ports when sending the CSI-RS to the UE, wherein each of the second subset of points sends the CSI-RS to the UE on different ports within the group of ports,
• wherein the first cell identifier is different than the second cell identifier.

An apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus communicating with a plurality of points that are geographically displaced within a cell of a macro node, the plurality of points comprising the macro node and a plurality of remote radio heads (RRHs) coupled to the macro node, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processing system coupled to the memory and configured to:
• receive control information and a common reference signal (CRS) associated with a first cell identifier from a first subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node;
• receive data transmitted based on UE-specific demodulation reference signals (DM-RS) associated with a second cell identifier from a second subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node;
• receive channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) from the second subset of points, the second subset of points being configured to use ports within a group of ports when sending the CSI-RS to the UE, wherein each of the second subset of points sends the CSI-RS to the UE on different ports within the group of ports;
• perform interference estimation based on CSI-RS;
• and
• transmit a channel state information report based at least in part on the received first CSI-RS, the channel state information report comprising at least one of precoding matrix indicator (PMI), rank index (RI), or channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback,
• wherein the first cell identifier is different than the second cell identifier.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for communicating with a plurality of points that are geographically displaced within a cell of a macro node, the plurality of points comprising the macro node and a plurality of remote radio heads (RRHs) coupled to the macro node, the computer-readable medium comprising code for:

• configuring channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) for a user equipment (UE) to perform interference estimation;
• transmitting control information and common reference signals (CRS) associated with a first cell identifier to the UE from a first subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node;
• and
• sending the CSI-RS and a data transmission associated with a second cell identifier to the UE from a second subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node, the second subset of points being configured to use ports within a group of ports when sending the CSI-RS to the UE, wherein each of the second subset of points sends the CSI-RS to the UE on different ports within the group of ports,
• wherein the first cell identifier is different than the second cell identifier.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for communicating with a plurality of points that are geographically displaced within a cell of a macro node, the plurality of points comprising the macro node and a plurality of remote radio heads (RRHs) coupled to the macro node, the computer-readable medium comprising code for:

• receiving control information and a common reference signal (CRS) associated with a first cell identifier from a first subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node;
• receiving data transmitted based on UE-specific demodulation reference signals (DM-RS) associated with a second cell identifier from a second subset of points that are geographically displaced within the cell of the macro node;
• receiving channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) from the second subset of points, the second subset of points being configured to use ports within a group of ports when sending the CSI-RS to the UE, wherein each of the second subset of points sends the CSI RS to the UE on different ports within the group of ports by the second subset of ports;
• performing interference estimation based on the CSI-RS;
• and
• transmitting a channel state information report based at least in part on the received first CSI-RS, the channel state information report comprising at least one of precoding matrix indicator (PMI), rank index (RI), or channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback,
• wherein the first cell identifier is different than the second cell identifier.