Device and method for clustering small cells in time division duplex network, and base station

A base station that serves as a cluster head, comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to transmit in a Time Division Duplex (TDD) network a clustering request, the processing circuitry further being configured to
• receive from a small cell base station a clustering request requesting to perform dynamic clustering, the dynamic clustering being a re-assignable coordination of sub frame messaging used by the small cells by coordinating sub-frame transmissions between the small cells to avoid sub-frame cross-interference between the small cells due to differences in transmitting directions;
• determine, at least based on the clustering request, whether to perform clustering,
• wherein
• the clustering request being triggered by the small base station detecting an inability of the small base station to satisfy a communication quality and/or throughput requirement on the small base station due to at least one of following conditions:
• an interference signal from another small cell base station increases to a certain degree, a change in uplink and downlink traffic exceeds a preset value, and a decrease in throughout of the small cell exceeds a preset threshold, and the processing circuitry is further configured to
• perform the clustering in response to receiving the clustering request from more than a predetermined number of small cell base stations within a predetermined period of time, and
• acquire from each small cell base station information required by the clustering, in response to the processing circuitry determining to perform clustering, the information including at least one of a transmitting direction, an indication of uplink traffic, and indication of downlink traffic, an uplink to downlink distribution ratio, and a current sub-frame configuration.

A method for clustering small cells in a Time Division Duplex network with processing circuitry, comprising:

• receiving from a small cell base station a clustering request requesting to perform dynamic clustering, the dynamic clustering being a re-assignable coordination of sub frame messaging used by the small cells by coordinating sub-frame transmissions between the small cells to avoid sub-frame cross-interference between the small cells due to differences in transmitting directions;
• determining, at least based on the clustering request, whether to perform clustering, wherein the clustering request being triggered by the small base station detecting an inability of the small base station to satisfy a communication quality and/or throughput requirement on the small base station due to at least one of following conditions:
• an interference signal from another small cell base station increases to a certain degree, a change in uplink and downlink traffic exceeds a preset value, and a decrease in throughout of the small cell exceeds a preset threshold;
• performing with the processing circuitry the clustering in response to receiving the clustering request from more than a predetermined number of small cell base stations within a predetermined period of time;
• and
• acquiring from each small cell base station information required by the clustering, in response to the processing circuitry determining to perform clustering, the information including at least one of a transmitting direction, an indication of uplink traffic, and indication of downlink traffic, an uplink to downlink distribution ratio, and a current sub-frame configuration.