Methods for performing link adaptation and related base stations

1. A method for performing link adaptation in an uplink subframe for a first cell, the method comprising:

obtaining information indicating interference to the uplink subframe of the first cell from at least one neighboring cell's downlink subframe occupying a time interval same as the uplink subframe;

determining whether the interference exceeds a predetermined threshold;

applying, to the uplink subframe, a first link adaptation loop by selecting a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) based on a Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) measured in the uplink subframe and a first SINR compensation factor, when the interference exceeds the predetermined threshold; and

applying, to the uplink subframe, a second link adaptation loop, when the interference is below the predetermined threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first link adaptation loop corresponds to one of the neighboring cells, from which the obtained information indicating the interference comes.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first link adaptation loop is characterized by the first SINR compensation factor.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first SINR compensation factor is based on Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) check results corresponding to transmissions, when the interference exceeds the predetermined threshold.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the interference is indicated by strength of a Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS).

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the strength of the CRS is Reference Signal Receiving Power (RSRP) of the CRS.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the interference is indicated by strength of a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) or strength of a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) or strength of Channel Status Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS).

8. A method for performing link adaptation in a downlink subframe for a first User Equipment (UE), the method comprising:

obtaining information indicating interference to the downlink subframe of the first UE from at least one neighboring cell UE's uplink subframe occupying a time interval same as the downlink subframe;

determining whether the interference exceeds a predetermined threshold;

applying, to the downlink subframe, a first link adaptation loop by selecting a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) based on a Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) measured in the downlink subframe and a first SINR compensation factor, if the interference exceeds the predetermined threshold; and

applying, to the downlink subframe, a second link adaptation loop, if the interference is below the predetermined threshold.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the first link adaptation loop corresponds to one of the neighboring cell UEs, from which the obtained information indicating the interference comes.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the first link adaptation loop is characterized by the first SINR compensation factor.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the first SINR compensation factor is based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) ACK/NACK feedbacks corresponding to transmissions, when the interference exceeds the predetermined threshold.

12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the interference is indicated by strength of a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) or Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

13. A link adaptation method comprising:

applying a first link adaptation loop to a first set of subframes by selecting a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) based on a Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) measured at least in one of the first set of subframes and a first SINR compensation factor; and

applying a second link adaptation loop to a second set of subframes.

14. A base station for performing link adaptation in an uplink subframe for a first cell, the base station comprising:

one or more processors configured to:

obtain information indicating interference to the uplink subframe of the first cell from at least one neighboring cell's downlink subframe occupying a time interval same as the uplink subframe;

determine whether the interference exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

apply, to the uplink subframe, a first link adaptation loop by selecting a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) based on a Signal to Interference and Noise Ration (SINR) measured in the uplink subframe and a first SINR compensation factor, when the interference exceeds the predetermined threshold, and apply, to the uplink subframe, a second link adaptation loop, when the interference is below the predetermined threshold.

15. The base station according to claim 14 , wherein the first link adaptation loop corresponds to one of the neighboring cells, from which the obtained information indicating the interference comes.

16. The base station according to claim 14 , wherein the first link adaptation loop is characterized by the first SINR compensation factor.

17. The base station according to claim 16 , wherein the first SINR compensation factor is based on Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) check results corresponding to transmissions, when the interference exceeds the predetermined threshold.

18. The base station according to claim 14 , wherein the second link adaptation loop is characterized by a second SINR compensation factor.

19. The base station according to claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to select the MCS based on the second SINR compensation factor and the SINR actually measured in the uplink subframe.

20. The base station according to claim 18 , wherein the second SINR compensation factor is based on Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) check results corresponding to transmissions, when the interference is below the predetermined threshold.

21. The base station according to claim 14 , wherein the interference is indicated by strength of a Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS).

22. The base station according to claim 21 , wherein the strength of the CRS is Reference Signal Receiving Power (RSRP) of the CRS.

23. The base station according to claim 14 , wherein the interference is indicated by strength of a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) or strength of a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) or strength of Channel Status Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS).

24. A base station for performing link adaptation in a downlink subframe for a first User Equipment (UE), the base station comprising:

one or more processors configured to:

obtain information indicating interference to the downlink subframe of the first UE from at least one neighboring cell UE's uplink subframe occupying a time interval same as the downlink subframe;

determine whether the interference exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

apply, to the downlink subframe, a first link adaptation loop by selecting a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) based on a Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) measured in the downlink subframe and a first SINR compensation factor, if the interference exceeds the predetermined threshold, and apply, to the downlink subframe, a second link adaptation loop, if the interference is below the predetermined threshold.

25. The base station according to claim 24 , wherein the first link adaptation loop corresponds to one of the neighboring cell UEs, from which the obtained information indicating the interference comes.

26. The base station according to claim 24 , wherein the first link adaptation loop is characterized by the first SINR compensation factor.

27. The base station according to claim 26 , wherein the first SINR compensation factor is based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) ACK/NACK feedbacks corresponding to transmissions, when the interference exceeds the predetermined threshold.

28. The base station according to claim 24 , wherein the second link adaptation loop is characterized by a second SINR compensation factor.

29. The base station according to claim 28 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to select the MCS based on the second SINR compensation factor and the SINR actually measured in the downlink subframe.

30. The base station according to claim 28 , wherein the second SINR compensation factor is based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) ACK/NACK feedbacks corresponding to transmissions, when the interference is below the predetermined threshold.

31. The base station according to claim 24 , wherein the interference is indicated by strength of a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) or Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

32. A link adaptation apparatus comprising one or more processors configured to apply a first link adaptation loop to a first set of subframes by selecting a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) based on a Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) measured at least in one of the first set of subframes and a first SINR compensation factor, and

to apply a second link adaptation loop to a second set of subframes.