Method of performing resource allocation, base station, central node, and computer program product for OFDM transmission

1. A method of performing resource allocation in OFDM transmission, comprising the steps of:

performing a partitioning of the OFDM spectrum into a plurality of predefined regions, the plurality of predefined regions comprising a number of first type regions of sub-carriers and a number of second type regions of sub-carriers for a number of OFDM transmission cells;

assigning a first transmit power to the first type regions and a second transmit power to the second type regions, wherein the first transmit power is a higher transmit power than the second transmit power;

allocating said resources for communication of a first given base station with a first associated user equipment in at least one first type region of sub-carriers and with a second associated user equipment in at least one second type region of sub-carriers dependent on the first and second transmit power;

communicating the partitioning and the assigned first and second transmit power to base stations in the OFDM transmission system and to user equipments in operative connection with said base stations; and

borrowing a number of subcarriers in the first regions of a first cell from first regions of a second cell or lending a number of subcarriers from the first regions of the second cell to the first regions of the first cell for a flexible reaction to changing frequency planning, interference conditions, traffic conditions, geographical position, and channel quality, wherein the first cell neighbours the second cell, wherein the first cell has a need for resources in its outer spatial regions, and wherein orthogonality for interference coordination is achieved by first and second type regions being mutually different from each other with respect to the transmit power.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partitioning and/or characteristic assignment is requested by an element of an OFDM transmission system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of partitioning includes assigning equal sizes for all regions of sub-carriers.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of repartitioning the OFDM spectrum for said number of OFDM transmission cells.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of shifting assigned characteristics within at least one pair of transmission cells.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of assigning the respective transmission-related characteristic involves assigning a first characteristic to a given region for a given transmission cell and assigning a second characteristic to a corresponding sub-carrier region for the other transmission cells from said number of transmission cells.

7. A base station for use in an OFDM transmission system, comprising:

means for receiving from a central node in said transmission system partitioning data descriptive of a partitioning of the OFDM spectrum into a plurality of predefined regions, the plurality of predefined regions comprising a number of first type regions of sub-carriers and a number of second type regions of sub-carriers for a number of OFDM transmission cells;

means for receiving assignment data descriptive of an assignment of a first transmit power to the first type regions and a second transmit power to the second type regions, wherein the first transmit power is a higher transmit power than the second transmit power;

means for allocating said resources for communication of a given base station with a first associated user equipment in at least one first type region of sub-carriers and with a second associated user equipment in at least one second type region of sub-carriers;

means for communicating the partitioning data and the assignment data to user equipments in operative connection with the base station; and

means for borrowing a number of subcarriers in the first regions of a first cell from first regions of a second cell or lending a number of subcarriers from the first regions of the second cell to the first regions of the first cell for a flexible reaction to changing frequency planning, interference conditions, traffic conditions, geographical position, and channel quality, wherein the first cell neighbours the second cell, wherein the first cell has a need for resources in its outer spatial regions, and wherein orthogonality for interference coordination is achieved by first and second type regions being mutually different from each other with respect to the transmit power.

8. The base station of claim 7 , further comprising

means for transmitting and/or receiving an assigned characteristic shifting request to/from at least one other base station; and

means for adapting at least one of said partitioning, assignment, and resource allocation in response to said request.

9. A central node for use in an OFDM transmission system, comprising:

means for receiving from a central node in said transmission system partitioning data descriptive of a partitioning of the OFDM spectrum into a plurality of predefined regions, the plurality of predefined regions comprising a number of first type regions of sub-carriers and a number of second type regions of sub-carriers for a number of OFDM transmission cells;

means for receiving assignment data descriptive of an assignment of a first transmit power to the first type regions and a second transmit power to the second type regions, wherein the first transmit power is a higher transmit power than the second transmit power;

means for allocating said resources for communication of a given base station with a first associated user equipment in at least one first type region of sub-carriers and with a second associated user equipment in at least one second type region of sub-carriers;

means for communicating the partitioning data and the assignment data to user equipments in operative connection with the base station; and

means for borrowing a number of subcarriers in the first regions of a first cell from first regions of a second cell or lending a number of subcarriers from the first regions of the second cell to the first regions of the first cell for a flexible reaction to changing frequency planning, interference conditions, traffic conditions, geographical position, and channel quality, wherein the first cell neighbours the second cell, wherein the first cell has a need for resources in its outer spatial regions, and wherein orthogonality for interference coordination is achieved by first and second type regions being mutually different from each other with respect to the transmit power.

10. A computer program product encoded on a non-transitory computer readable medium for use in an OFDM transmission system comprising program code sequences for implementing:

means for receiving from a central node in said transmission system partitioning data descriptive of a partitioning of the OFDM spectrum into a plurality of predefined regions, the plurality of predefined regions comprising a number of first type regions of sub-carriers and a number of second type regions of sub carriers for a number of OFDM transmission cells;

means for receiving assignment data descriptive of an assignment of a first transmit power to the first type regions and a second transmit power to the second type regions, wherein the first transmit power is a higher transmit power than the second transmit power;

means for allocating said resources for communication of a given base station with a first associated user equipment in at least one first type region of sub-carriers and with a second associated user equipment in at least one second type region of sub-carriers;

means for communicating the partitioning data and the assignment data to user equipments in operative connection with the base station; and

means for borrowing a number of subcarriers in the first regions of a first cell from first regions of a second cell or tending a number of subcarriers from the first regions of the second cell to the first regions of the first cell for a flexible reaction to changing frequency planning, interference conditions, traffic conditions, geographical position, and channel quality, wherein the first cell neighbours the second cell, wherein the first cell has a need for resources in its outer spatial regions, and wherein orthogonality for interference coordination is achieved by first and second type regions being mutually different from each other with respect to the transmit power;

when being executed on data processing means in a base station of the OFDM transmission system.