A system and method for broadcasting a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) is disclosed. A CSI-RS that is orthogonal to CSI-RSs transmitted by each of a first network cell and each of a set of neighbor cells that interfere with the first network cell is identified. In one implementation, the first network cell has a coverage containing a coverage of a second network cell. The method includes transmitting, from the second network cell, the CSI-RS that is orthogonal to CSI-RSs transmitted by each of the first network cell and each of a set of interfering neighbor cells.

Claims

13 · 2 independent · depth 3

13 granted claims

›1.independentA method of operating a network element in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:nidentifying, by at least a network element, a cha…+5

›2.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the CSI-RS network cell group consists of the first network cell, the second network cell, and the set of interfering n…d2

›3.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the second network cell is a small cell including at least one of a femto cell, a relay cell, or a pico cell.d2

›4.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the coverage of the first network cell includes at least a portion of a coverage of a third network cell, and:nwhen the…d2+1

›6.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the set of interfering neighbor cells is empty.d2

›7.independentA base station for use in a wireless communication network, the base station comprising a processor configured to perform:nidentifying, by at least a …+6

›8.↳ 7The base station of claim 7, wherein the CSI-RS network cell group consists of the first network cell, the second network cell, and the set of interfe…d2

›9.↳ 7The base station of claim 7, wherein the second network cell is a small cell including at least one of a femto cell, a relay cell, and a pico cell.d2

›10.↳ 7The base station of claim 7, wherein the first network cell is a macro cell.d2

›11.↳ 7The base station of claim 7, wherein the coverage of the first network cell includes at least a portion of a coverage of a third network cell, and:nwh…d2+1

›13.↳ 7The base station of claim 7, wherein the set of interfering neighbor cells is empty.d2

Classifications

7 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section H — Electricity

H04W48/08
H04W4/06
H04J11/00
H04W4/00
H04W28/04

USPC · US Patent Classification

370/328370/252

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Pendency

3.7 y

1,366 days filing → grant

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non-final + final

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no RCE

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Examiner

Kan Yuen

art unit 2464 · TC 2400

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Priority chain

2 priority documents

Priority

12 Feb 2010

earliest claimed

›Priority documents — 2

Type	Document	Date
provisional	US 61304364	12 Feb 2010
related publication	US 20130044685 A1	21 Feb 2013

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