Method for backhaul interference management with access terminal router
View Patent ↗An enhanced access terminal (AT) that can serve as a “proxy wireless over-the-air backhaul or relay” is provided, to connect a base station with no backhaul to its neighboring fully functional base station that is connected to the NMS. In a further embodiment, an architecture and protocol for storing and retrieving data at the base station lacking backhaul is provided, and, using that information, a mechanism by which the ATR can communicate the format information to the source to improve interference cancellation at the base station lacking backhaul, and neighboring base stations, due to backhaul transmission from the AT's routing and relaying capability.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a relay access terminal, a data transmission marked according to a timing period;
negotiating a first transmitter format and another timing period for a relay transmission associated with the data transmission;
determining a time-mark number corresponding to the another timing period;
communicating the first transmitter format, the another timing period and the time-mark number to a source base station and a plurality of additional base stations determined to be subject to interference from the relay transmission, wherein the time-mark number and the another timing period are applied for interference cancellation of signals corresponding to the time-mark number;
communicating the relay transmission using the first transmitter format and the another timing period;
proposing, via a multicast transmission from the relay access terminal, a second transmitter format for communicating the relay transmission and the another timing period to the source base station and the plurality of additional base stations determined to be subject to interference from the relay transmission; and
receiving, at the relay access terminal, an acceptance for communicating the relay transmission using the second transmitter format.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the time-mark number.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a backhaul transmission request from a base station lacking backhaul capabilities.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the data transmission is a backhaul transmission from a base station lacking backhaul capabilities.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining whether to accept the data transmission for an associated relay transmission.
6. A wireless communications system comprising:
a relay access terminal configured to:
receive, at a relay access terminal, a data transmission marked according to a timing period;
negotiate a first transmitter format and another timing period for a relay transmission associated with the data transmission;
determine a time-mark number corresponding to the another timing period;
communicate the first transmitter format, the another timing period and time-mark number to a source base station and a plurality of additional base stations determined to be subject to interference from the relay transmission, wherein the time-mark number and the another timing period are applied for interference cancellation of signals corresponding to the time-mark number;
communicate the relay transmission using the first transmitter format and the another timing period;
propose, via a multicast transmission from the relay access terminal, a second transmitter format for communicating the relay transmission and the another timing period to the source base station and the plurality of additional base stations determined to be subject to interference from the relay transmission; and
receive, at the relay access terminal, an acceptance for communicating the relay transmission using the second transmitter format.
7. The wireless communications system of claim 6 , wherein the source base station is configured to apply the time-mark number and the another timing period for interference cancellation of signals corresponding to the time-mark number.
8. The wireless communications system of claim 7 , wherein the source base station is further configured to store the time-mark number.
9. The wireless communications system of claim 6 , wherein the relay access terminal is further configured to receive a backhaul transmission request from a base station lacking backhaul capabilities.
10. The wireless communications system of claim 9 , wherein the data transmission is a backhaul transmission from a base station lacking backhaul capabilities.
11. The wireless communications system of claim 10 , wherein the relay access terminal is further configured to determine whether to accept the data transmission for an associated relay transmission.
12. The wireless communications system of claim 8 wherein the source base station is configured to provide the time-mark number to at least one neighboring base station of the relay access terminal, and further wherein the at least one neighboring base station is configured to apply the time-mark number and the another timing period received from the relay access terminal for interference cancellation respecting signals received as a result of a transmission between the relay access terminal and a target base station, the transmission corresponding to the time-mark number.
13. The wireless communications system of claim 6 wherein a same average transmission rate is maintained for end-to-end transmission from the source base station, via the relay access terminal, to a target base station.
14. The wireless communications system of claim 6 wherein the first transmitter format and the another timing period provided by the relay access terminal includes coding and modulation parameters.
15. The wireless communications system of claim 12 wherein the source base station is configured to notify the at least one neighboring base station of a pending relay transmission via the relay access terminal.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the time-mark number is provided to at least one neighboring base station of the relay access terminal, and further wherein the at least one neighboring base station applies the time-mark number and the another timing period received from the relay access terminal for interference cancellation respecting signals received as a result of a transmission between the relay access terminal and a target base station, the transmission corresponding to the time-mark number.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein a same average transmission rate is maintained for end-to-end transmission from the source base station, via the relay access terminal, to a target base station.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the first transmitter format and the another timing period provided by the relay access terminal includes coding and modulation parameters.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one neighboring base station is notified by the source base station of a pending relay transmission via the relay access terminal.