SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ALMOST BLANK SUBFRAME (ABS) DENSITY AND RANGE EXTENSION OPTIMIZATION IN HETEROGENEOUS NETWORKS

摘要

Embodiments are provided for optimizing the Almost Blank Subframe (ABS) pattern in heterogeneous network (HetNet) deployments with multiple small cells. One ABS pattern is used for all small cells. Different small cells can have different downlink loads from user equipments (UEs). An embodiment method includes transmitting a pilot signal in a small cell, and determining downlink load (DLL) information according to a pair of measurements from each UE served by the small cell. The pair of measurements includes a first measurement of the pilot signal and a second measurement of a second pilot signal from a macro cell. The method further includes determining a number of ABSs according to the DLL information, and reporting the DLL information and the number of ABSs to a network entity for selecting ABS density and range extension for the small cell and the macro cell.