Method and system for mitigating interference among femtocells via intelligent channel selection
Aspects of a method and system for mitigating interference among femtocells via intelligent channel selection are provided. In this regard, signals which may interfere with cellular communications between a femtocell and a cellular communication device may be detected via the femtocell. Based on the detection, the femtocell may be configured to transmit and/or receive signals on one or more frequencies and/or channels. The one or more frequencies and/or channels may be determined in the femtocell and/or in a network management entity. Detecting interfering signals and configuring the one or more femtocells may occur periodically, upon installation of a femtocell, upon power-up of a femtocell, and/or upon command from a network administrator. The results of the detection may be communicated to one or more other femtocells and/or to a network management entity.
1. A method for communication performed by a femtocell that is one of a plurality of femtocells that form a network, the method comprising:
receiving a hierarchy, the hierarchy defining a priority of the femtocell with respect to other femtocells in the plurality of femtocells;
detecting a presence of an interference signal operable to interfere with a prospective cellular communication transmitted to, or received from, the femtocell;
measuring a characteristic of the interference signal;
determining a frequency or channel of a cellular signal based on the measured characteristic and the priority of the femtocell within the hierarchy; and
configuring a transmitter or a receiver of the femtocell to respectively transmit or receive the cellular signal on the determined frequency or channel.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
communicating the measured characteristic to another one of the plurality of femtocells.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring the characteristic comprises:
measuring signal strength of the signal.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring the characteristic comprises:
measuring interference of the interference signal.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining the frequency or channel comprises:
determining the frequency or channel of the cellular signal following a determination of a second frequency or second channel, the second frequency or channel being associated with a second femtocell having a higher priority within the hierarchy than that of the femtocell.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining the frequency or channel comprises:
determining the frequency or channel in a network management entity.
7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:
communicating the frequency or channel from the network management entity to the femtocell.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises:
performing the detecting upon initialization of the femtocell.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises:
performing the detecting in response to a command from a network administrator.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises:
periodically performing the detecting.
11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
communicating a result of the detecting via an IP network.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises:
detecting the presence of the interference signal by the femtocell of the plurality of femtocells.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises:
detecting the presence of the interference signal another femtocell of the plurality of femtocells; and
communicating a result of the detection to the femtocell of the plurality of femtocells.
14. A system for communication, comprising:
a circuit for use in a femtocell that is one of a plurality of femtocells that form a network, the circuit being configured to:
determine a hierarchy, the hierarchy defining a priority of the femtocell with respect to other femtocells in the plurality of femtocells;
detect a presence of an interference signal operable to interfere with a prospective cellular communication transmitted to, or received from, the femtocell;
measure a characteristic of the interference signal;
determine a frequency or channel of a cellular signal based on the measured characteristic and the priority of the femtocell within the hierarchy; and
configure a transmitter or receiver of the femtocell to respectively transmit or receive the cellular signal on the determined frequency or channel.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the circuit is further configured to:
communicate the measured characteristic to another one of the plurality of femtocells.
16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the circuit is further configured to:
measure signal strength of the interference signal.
17. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the circuit is further configured to:
measure interference of the interference signal.
18. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the circuit is further configured to:
determine the frequency or channel of the signal following a determination of a second frequency or second channel, the second frequency or second channel being associated with a second femtocell having a higher priority within the hierarchy than that of the femtocell.
19. The system according to claim 14 , further comprising a network management entity, the network management entity being configured to:
determine the frequency or channel of the cellular signal.
20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the circuit is further configured to:
receive the frequency or channel determined by the network management entity from the network management entity.
21. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the circuit is further configured to:
perform the detecting upon initialization of the femtocell.
22. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the circuit is further configured to:
perform the detecting in response to a command received from a network administrator.
23. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the circuit is further configured to:
periodically perform the detecting.
24. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the circuit is further configured to:
communicate a result of the detecting via an IP network.
25. The system according to claim 14 , wherein another femtocell of the plurality of femtocells is configured to:
detect the presence of the interference signal; and
communicate a result of the detection to the femtocell of the plurality of femtocells.
26. A method of communication, comprising:
arranging a plurality of femtocells hierarchically in a first node, to form a hierarchy;
receiving, from a second node in the hierarchy, an interference signal operable to interfere with a cellular communication between a femtocell of the plurality femtocells and a cellular enabled communication device;
measuring interference of the interference signal;
determining which of the first and the second nodes is higher in the hierarchy;
selecting, based on the measuring, a first frequency or first channel to be used by the higher node to reduce interference; and
selecting, based on the measuring, a second frequency or second channel to be used by the lower node.
27. The method according to claim 26 , wherein the arranging comprises:
arranging a combination of a base station and the plurality of femtocells hierarchically in the first node.