Method and apparatus for adjacent channel interference mitigation
Systems and methods for mitigation of cross channel interference are disclosed in which the TDD configuration of a potential cross channel interference source is detected by received signals within the network with which the source interferes. The TDD configuration is then used to synchronize the transmissions from the network with which the source interferes to reduce the interference. In addition, interference is mitigated by providing adaptive guard bands based on results of a radio frequency environmental survey and/or coaxing an interfering user to another channel. Sub-channels can be assigned based on the results of the radio frequency environmental survey and Quality of Service requirements for traffic flows.
1. A communications system comprising:
a) an interference mitigation unit (IMU) comprising a processor, memory and at least one input/output (I/O) port, the processor configured to:
i) output RF environment survey instructions from the at least one I/O port to cause a plurality of recipients to measure signals received within a predetermined frequency range;
ii) receive through the at least one I/O port, in response to the RF environment survey instructions, measurements indicating the RF environment;
iii) determine whether to use guard bands in transmissions;
iv) output information regarding the guard band if a determination is made to use the guard bands;
b) a Network Operations Unit comprising a processor and coupled to the IMU, the processor configured to:
i) receive the information regarding the guard band from the IMU; and
ii) in response to the received guard band information, output instructions to cause at least one of the recipients to transmit with the guard bands; and
c) further including a Medium Access Control sub-layer module (server MAC) configured to:
i) receive from the IMU the RF environmental survey instructions;
ii) transmit the RF environmental survey instructions to the plurality of recipients;
iii) receive measurements from the at least one of the plurality of recipients in response to the RF environmental survey instructions;
iv) prepare a report based on the receive measurements;
v) transmit the report to the IMU; and
vi) receive guard band instructions from the Network Operations Unit;
and wherein the IMU is further configured to receive the report prepared by the server MAC and determine whether to use guard bands in response to information provided in the report.
2. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recipients includes base station/access points (BS/APs).
3. The communication system of claim 2 , wherein the environment survey instructions output by the IMU cause the BS/APs to measure signals within a predetermined frequency range.
4. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recipients includes user equipment (UEs).
5. The communication system of claim 4 , wherein the environment survey instructions output by the IMU cause the UEs to measure signals within a predetermined frequency range.