Narrowband time-division duplex frame structure for narrowband communications

• US 10,404,360 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sridharan, Arvind, Bhattad, Kapil, Chandrasekar, Manikandan, Somichetty, Gowrisankar, Rico Alvarino, Alberto, Wang, Xiao feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US15/707,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20180234219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2656 for structure of frame, burst
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2668 Arrangements for Wireless Code-Division Multiple Access [CDMA] System Synchronisation, for code acquisition H04B1/7075, for code tracking H04B1/7085
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0682 by delay compensation, e.g. by compensation of propagation delay or variations thereof, by ranging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/04 using frequency diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/005 of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/006 Quality of the received signal, e.g. BER, SNR, water filling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/023 Multiplexing of multicarrier modulation signals multicarrier modulation H04L27/2601
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/143 for modulated signals H04L5/1469 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1469 using time-sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/24 : with start-stop synchronous converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 : synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/008 : detecting arrival of signal based on received raw signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA

Abstract

There is a need to support narrowband TDD frame structure for narrowband communications. The present disclosure provides a solution by supporting one or more narrowband TDD frame structure(s) for narrowband communications. In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may determine a narrowband communication frame structure comprising a FDD frame structure or a TDD frame structure and a narrowband TDD frame structure configuration for narrowband communications from a group of narrowband TDD frame structures configurations. The apparatus may determine one or more narrowband carriers and subframes within the one or more narrowband carriers to transmit at least one of a BCH or a SIB1 based on the narrowband communication frame structure or the TDD frame structure configuration. The apparatus may transmit a PSS, an SSS, and at least one of a BCH or an SIB1 using the narrowband TDD frame structure determined for the narrowband communications. In one aspect, a carrier used for transmitting the BCH and/or the SIB may be different than a carrier used to transmit one or more of the PSS or the SSS. In another aspect, a narrowband carrier used for transmitting the BCH may be different than a narrowband carrier used to transmit one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communications for a base station, comprising:

determining a time division-duplex (TDD) frame structure and a TDD frame structure configuration for narrowband communications from a group of TDD frame structures of different downlink and uplink subframe configurations;

determining one or more narrowband carriers and subframes within the one or more narrowband carriers to transmit at least one of a broadcast channel (BCH) or a system information block 1 (SIB1) based on the TDD frame structure configuration; and

transmitting a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and the at least one of the BCH or the SIB1 using the TDD frame structure determined for the narrowband communications, wherein a first carrier is used to transmit the at least one of the BCH or the SIB1, the first carrier being different than a second carrier used to transmit one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a narrowband carrier used for transmitting the BCH is different than a narrowband carrier used to transmit one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the BCH is transmitted using one or more subframes in every radio frame.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the SSS is transmitted using a particular subframe in every other frame; and

the BCH is transmitted using the particular subframe in each frame in which the SSS is not transmitted.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a periodicity associated with the transmitting the BCH indicates that the TDD frame structure is used for the narrowband communications.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of a periodicity associated with the transmitting the BCH, a location in time associated with the transmitting the BCH, or a location in frequency associated with the transmitting the BCH is related to one or more of the TDD frame structure determined for narrowband communications, the second carrier containing the PSS or the SSS, or information sent on the PSS or the SSS.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first carrier used to transmit the BCH is located at a fixed frequency offset with respect to the second carrier used to transmit the one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the BCH indicates at least one of the TDD frame structure configuration determined for the narrowband communications, or a carrier location or subframe location associated with the SIB1.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information is included in the BCH by at least one of including additional bits in a payload, by using different CRC masks based on the additional bits, or by using different scrambling codes based on the additional bits.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first carrier is used to transmit both the BCH and the SIB1 when the first carrier is different than the second carrier used to transmit the PSS and SSS.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the SIB1 is transmitted using a different carrier than the first carrier used to transmit the BCH.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of a narrowband carrier location relative to the PSS carrier location or a subframe used to transmit the SIB1 is associated with the narrowband frame structure determined for the narrowband communications.

13. An apparatus for wireless communications for a base station, comprising:

means for determining a time division-duplex (TDD) frame structure and a TDD frame structure configuration for narrowband communications from a group of TDD frame structures of different downlink and uplink subframe configurations;

means for determining one or more narrowband carriers and subframes within the one or more narrowband carriers to transmit at least one of a broadcast channel (BCH) or a system information block 1 (SIB1) based on the TDD frame structure configuration; and

means for transmitting a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and the at least one of the BCH or the SIB1 using the TDD frame structure determined for the narrowband communications, wherein a first carrier is used to transmit the at least one of the BCH or the SIB1, the first carrier being different than a second carrier used to transmit one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a narrowband carrier used for transmitting the BCH is different than a narrowband carrier used to transmit one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the BCH is transmitted using one or more subframes in every radio frame.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the SSS is transmitted using a particular subframe in every other frame; and

the BCH is transmitted using the particular subframe in each frame in which the SSS is not transmitted.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a periodicity associated with the transmitting the BCH indicates that the TDD frame structure is used for the narrowband communications.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of a periodicity associated with the transmitting the BCH, a location in time associated with the transmitting the BCH, or a location in frequency associated with the transmitting the BCH is related to one or more of the TDD frame structure determined for narrowband communications, the second carrier containing the PSS or the SSS, or information sent on the PSS or the SSS.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first carrier used to transmit the BCH is located at a fixed frequency offset with respect to the second carrier used to transmit the one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the BCH indicates at least one of the TDD frame structure configuration determined for the narrowband communications, or a carrier location or subframe location associated with the SIB1.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the information is included in the BCH by at least one of including additional bits in a payload, by using different CRC masks based on the additional bits, or by using different scrambling codes based on the additional bits.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first carrier is used to transmit both the BCH and the SIB1 when the first carrier is different than the second carrier used to transmit the PSS and SSS.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the SIB1 is transmitted using a different carrier than the first carrier used to transmit the BCH.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of a narrowband carrier location relative to the PSS carrier location or a subframe used to transmit the SIB1 is associated with the narrowband frame structure determined for the narrowband communications.

25. An apparatus for wireless communications for a base station, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

determine a time division-duplex (TDD) frame structure and a TDD frame structure configuration for narrowband communications from a group of TDD frame structures of different downlink and uplink subframe configurations;

determine one or more narrowband carriers and subframes within the one or more narrowband carriers to transmit at least one of a broadcast channel (BCH) or a system information block 1 (SIB1) based on the TDD frame structure configuration; and

transmit a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and the at least one of the BCH or the SIB1 using the TDD frame structure determined for the narrowband communications, wherein a first carrier is used to transmit the at least one of the BCH or the SIB1, the first carrier being different than a second carrier used to transmit one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a narrowband carrier used for transmitting the BCH is different than a narrowband carrier used to transmit one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the BCH is transmitted using one or more subframes in every radio frame.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein:

the SSS is transmitted using a particular subframe in every other frame; and

the BCH is transmitted using the particular subframe in each frame in which the SSS is not transmitted.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a periodicity associated with the transmitting the BCH indicates that the TDD frame structure is used for the narrowband communications.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein at least one of a periodicity associated with the transmitting the BCH, a location in time associated with the transmitting the BCH, or a location in frequency associated with the transmitting the BCH is related to one or more of the TDD frame structure determined for narrowband communications, the second carrier containing the PSS or the SSS, or information sent on the PSS or the SSS.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first carrier used to transmit the BCH is located at a fixed frequency offset with respect to the second carrier used to transmit the one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the BCH indicates at least one of the TDD frame structure configuration determined for the narrowband communications, or a carrier location or subframe location associated with the SIB1.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the information is included in the BCH by at least one of including additional bits in a payload, by using different CRC masks based on the additional bits, or by using different scrambling codes based on the additional bits.

34. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first carrier is used to transmit both the BCH and the SIB1 when the first carrier is different than the second carrier used to transmit the PSS and SSS.

35. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the SIB1 is transmitted using a different carrier than the first carrier used to transmit the BCH.

36. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein at least one of a narrowband carrier location relative to the PSS carrier location or a subframe used to transmit the SIB1 is associated with the narrowband frame structure determined for the narrowband communications.

37. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for a base station, comprising code to:

determine a time division-duplex (TDD) frame structure and a TDD frame structure configuration for narrowband communications from a group of TDD frame structures of different downlink and uplink subframe configurations;

determine one or more narrowband carriers and subframes within the one or more narrowband carriers to transmit at least one of a broadcast channel (BCH) or a system information block 1 (SIB1) based on the TDD frame structure configuration; and

transmit a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and the at least one of the BCH or the SIB1 using the TDD frame structure determined for the narrowband communications, wherein a first carrier is used to transmit the at least one of the BCH or the SIB1, the first carrier being different than a second carrier used to transmit one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein a narrowband carrier used for transmitting the BCH is different than a narrowband carrier used to transmit one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the BCH is transmitted using one or more subframes in every radio frame.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein:

the SSS is transmitted using a particular subframe in every other frame; and

the BCH is transmitted using the particular subframe in each frame in which the SSS is not transmitted.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein a periodicity associated with the transmitting the BCH indicates that the TDD frame structure is used for the narrowband communications.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein at least one of a periodicity associated with the transmitting the BCH, a location in time associated with the transmitting the BCH, or a location in frequency associated with the transmitting the BCH is related to one or more of the TDD frame structure determined for narrowband communications, the second carrier containing the PSS or the SSS, or information sent on the PSS or the SSS.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the first carrier used to transmit the BCH is located at a fixed frequency offset with respect to the second carrier used to transmit the one or more of the PSS or the SSS.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the BCH indicates at least one of the TDD frame structure configuration determined for the narrowband communications, or a carrier location or subframe location associated with the SIB1.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the information is included in the BCH by at least one of including additional bits in a payload, by using different CRC masks based on the additional bits, or by using different scrambling codes based on the additional bits.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the first carrier is used to transmit both the BCH and the SIB1 when the first carrier is different than the second carrier used to transmit the PSS and SSS.

47. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the SIB1 is transmitted using a different carrier than the first carrier used to transmit the BCH.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein at least one of a narrowband carrier location relative to the PSS carrier location or a subframe used to transmit the SIB1 is associated with the narrowband frame structure determined for the narrowband communications.