Method and apparatus for enabling channel and interference estimations in macro/RRH system

A method of wireless communications, comprising:

• receiving, by a user equipment (UE), signaling of a first resource pattern, a second resource pattern, and a third resource pattern from a serving cell, the first resource pattern identifying resources for a channel estimation on which a first transmission point located within the serving cell transmits reference signals and the second resource pattern identifying resources for an interference estimation on which a second transmission point located within the serving cell transmits the reference signals and on which the first transmission point does not transmit the reference signals, wherein the second resource pattern is a muted resource pattern that collides with a data transmission from the first transmission point to the UE, and wherein the first and second resource patterns comprise channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) patterns, respectively;
• performing channel estimation based at least in part on the first resource pattern, and interference estimation for one or more signals from outside one or more transmission points based at least in part on the second resource pattern and the third resource pattern;
• generating a channel state condition report based on the interference estimation and the channel estimation;
• and
• transmitting the channel state condition report to one or more transmission points.

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• means for signaling to a user equipment (UE), from a serving cell, to measure channel state conditions based on a first resource pattern, a second resource pattern, and a third resource pattern, the first resource pattern identifying resources for a channel estimation on which a first transmission point located within the serving cell transmits reference signals and the second resource pattern identifying resources for an interference estimation on which a second transmission point located within the serving cell transmits the reference signals and on which the first transmission point does not transmit the reference signals, wherein
• the first resource pattern identifies the resources for the channel estimation for one or more signals from one or more coordinating transmission points,
• the second resource pattern is a muted resource pattern that collides with a data transmission from the first transmission point to the UE, and
• the third resource pattern identifies resources for an interference estimation for one or more signals from outside the one or more coordinating transmission points;
• means for receiving a channel state condition report from the UE based, at least in part, on measurements obtained using the first resource pattern and second resource pattern;
• and
• means for scheduling one or more resources for use by the UE based on the received channel state condition report.

A apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

• means for receiving, by a user equipment (UE), signaling of a first resource pattern, a second resource pattern, and a third resource pattern from a serving cell, the first resource pattern identifying resources for a channel estimation on which a first transmission point located within the serving cell transmits reference signals and the second resource pattern identifying resources for an interference estimation on which a second transmission point located within the serving cell transmits the reference signals and on which the first transmission point does not transmit the reference signals, wherein the second resource pattern is a muted resource pattern that collides with a data transmission from the first transmission point to the UE, and wherein the first and second resource patterns comprise channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) patterns, respectively;
• means for performing channel estimation based at least in part on the first resource pattern, and means for performing interference estimation for one or more signals from outside one or more transmission points based at least in part on the second resource pattern and the third resource pattern;
• means for generating a channel state condition report based on the interference estimation and the channel estimation;
• and
• means for transmitting the channel state condition report to the one or more transmission points.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for wireless communication, comprising code for:

• signaling to a user equipment (UE), from a serving cell, to measure channel state conditions based on a first resource pattern, a second resource pattern, and a third resource pattern, the first resource pattern identifying resources for a channel estimation on which a first transmission point located within the serving cell transmits reference signals and the second resource pattern identifying resources for an interference estimation on which a second transmission point located within the serving cell transmits the reference signals and on which the first transmission point does not transmit the reference signals, wherein
• the first resource pattern identifies the resources for the channel estimation for one or more signals from one or more coordinating transmission points,
• the second resource pattern is a muted resource pattern that collides with a data transmission from the first transmission point to the UE, and
• the third resource pattern identifies resources for an interference estimation for one or more signals from outside the one or more coordinating transmission points;
• receiving a channel state condition report from the UE based, at least in part, on measurements obtained using the first resource pattern and second resource pattern;
• and
• scheduling one or more resources for use by the UE based on the received channel state condition report.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for wireless communication, comprising code for:

• receiving, by a user equipment (UE), signaling of a first resource pattern, a second resource pattern, and a third resource pattern from a serving cell, the first resource pattern identifying resources for a channel estimation on which a first transmission point located within the serving cell transmits reference signals and the second resource pattern identifying resources for an interference estimation on which a second transmission point located within the serving cell transmits the reference signals and on which the first transmission point does not transmit the reference signals, wherein the second resource pattern is a muted resource pattern that collides with a data transmission from the first transmission point to the UE, and wherein the first and second resource patterns comprise channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) patterns, respectively;
• performing channel estimation based at least in part on the first resource pattern, and interference estimation for one or more signals from outside one or more transmission points based at least in part on the second resource pattern and the third resource pattern;
• generating a channel state condition report based on the interference estimation and the channel estimation;
• and
• transmitting the channel state condition report to the one or more transmission points.

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured to:
• signal to a user equipment (UE), from a serving cell, to measure channel state conditions based on a first resource pattern, a second resource pattern, and a third resource pattern, the first resource pattern identifying resources for a channel estimation on which a first transmission point located within the serving cell transmits reference signals and the second resource pattern identifying resources for an interference estimation on which a second transmission point located within the serving cell transmits the reference signals and on which the first transmission point does not transmit the reference signals, wherein
• the first resource pattern identifies the resources for the channel estimation for one or more signals from one or more coordinating transmission points,
• the second resource pattern is a muted resource pattern that collides with a data transmission from the first transmission point to the UE, and
• the third resource pattern identifies resources for an interference estimation for one or more signals from outside the one or more coordinating transmission points;
• receive a channel state condition report from the UE based, at least in part, on measurements obtained using the first resource pattern and second resource pattern;
• and
• schedule one or more resources for use by the UE based on the received channel state condition report.

An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured to:
• receive signaling of a first resource pattern, a second resource pattern, and a third resource pattern from a serving cell, the first resource pattern identifying resources for a channel estimation on which a first transmission point located within the serving cell transmits reference signals and the second resource pattern identifying resources for an interference estimation on which a second transmission point located within the serving cell transmits the reference signals and on which the first transmission point does not transmit the reference signals, wherein the second resource pattern is a muted resource pattern that collides with a data transmission from the first transmission point to the UE, and wherein the first and second resource patterns comprise channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) patterns, respectively;
• perform channel estimation based at least in part on the first resource pattern, and interference estimation for one or more signals from outside one or more transmission points based at least in part on the second resource pattern and the third resource pattern;
• generate a channel state condition report based on the interference estimation and the channel estimation;
• and
• transmit the channel state condition report to the one or more transmission points.