US 12,245,166 B2
Reference signal enhancement in a wireless communication network
Sreekar Marupaduga, Overland Park, KS (US)
Assigned to T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC, Overland Park, KS (US)
Filed by T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC, Overland Park, KS (US)
Filed on May 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/322,038.
Application 18/322,038 is a continuation of application No. 17/006,209, filed on Aug. 28, 2020, granted, now 11,696,239.
Prior Publication US 2023/0292256 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04W 52/32 (2009.01); H04L 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04W 52/325 (2013.01) [H04L 5/0048 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method performed by a primary access node, the method comprising:
wirelessly transmitting reference signals at an initial reference signal power level to first wireless communication devices served by the primary access node and one or more secondary access nodes associated with the primary access node;
wirelessly transmitting data signals to the first wireless communication devices;
determining a number of the one or more secondary access nodes associated with the primary access node;
determining respective device loads for the one or more secondary access nodes, wherein each of the device loads indicates a number of second wireless communication devices that are being served by a corresponding one of the one or more secondary access nodes;
determining a new reference signal power level for the primary access node and respective new reference signal power levels for the one or more secondary access nodes based on the respective device loads of the one or more secondary access nodes and the number of the one or more secondary access nodes;
wirelessly transmitting additional reference signals to the first wireless communication devices at the new reference signal power level for the primary access node; and
directing the one or more secondary access nodes to transmit respective secondary reference signals to the first wireless communication devices at the respective new reference power levels for the one or more secondary access nodes, wherein each of the one or more secondary access nodes receives the direction and transmits a corresponding one of the secondary reference signals to the first wireless communication devices at the respective new reference power levels for the one or more secondary access nodes.