Configuration of cellular network nodes

• US 10,405,345 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lindoff, Bengt, Wilhelmsson, Leif
• Primary Examiner(s): Mattis, Jason E
• Application Number:
  US15/106,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20160337176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,084 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance

Abstract

There is provided configuration of a secondary cellular network node for a secondary serving cell associated with a primary serving cell in a carrier aggregation enabled communications network. The secondary cellular network node receives an indication from a primary cellular network node associated with the primary serving cell to start scanning an unlicensed frequency band for deployment of the secondary serving cell. The secondary cellular network node scans at least one unlicensed frequency band to determine whether or not interference from transmitting interferers is present in the at least one unlicensed frequency band. The secondary cellular network node determines, based on the scanning, at least one frequency interval of the at least one unlicensed frequency band substantially free from the transmitting interferers. The secondary cellular network node transmits first configuration information of the at least one frequency interval to the primary cellular network node. The secondary cellular network node deploys the secondary serving cell by configuring the secondary cellular network node for transmission in one of the at least one frequency interval according to second configuration information being based on the first configuration information.

Claims

1. A method for configuration of a secondary cellular network node for a secondary serving cell associated with a primary serving cell in a carrier aggregation enabled communications network, the method being performed by the secondary cellular network node and comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication from a primary cellular network node associated with the primary serving cell to start scanning an unlicensed frequency band for deployment of the secondary serving cell, wherein the indication is received when the primary cellular network node determines a need for configuration of the secondary cellular network node for the secondary serving cell in the unlicensed frequency band;

scanning at least one unlicensed frequency band to determine whether or not interference from transmitting interferers is present in the at least one unlicensed frequency band, wherein parameters for scanning comprises carrier frequency and secondary serving cell bandwidth as recommended by the primary cellular network node;

determining, based on said scanning, at least one frequency interval of said at least one unlicensed frequency band free from said transmitting interferers, wherein said at least one unlicensed frequency interval of said at least one unlicensed frequency band is determined based on at least one of adjacent channel leakage ratio, ACLR, requirements, adjacent channel selectivity, ACS, requirements, bandwidth requirements, and throughput requirements for the secondary serving cell;

transmitting first configuration information of said at least one frequency interval to said primary cellular network node;

deploying the secondary serving cell by configuring the secondary cellular network node for transmission in one of said at least one frequency interval according to a second configuration information being received from said primary cellular network node prior to performing said configuring and is based on said first configuration information, wherein the secondary cellular network node is configured for transmission in a widest of said at least one frequency interval;

transmitting signals in the secondary serving cell according to said second configuration information;

detecting transmission of interference from transmitting interferers in said one of said at least one frequency interval;

terminating transmission of said signals in the secondary serving cell according to said second configuration information; and

transmitting an indication, indicating that the transmission of said signals in the secondary serving cell according to said second configuration information is terminated to said primary cellular network node.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein configuring the secondary cellular network node comprises:

configuring the secondary cellular network node for transmission in a bandwidth interval being centered in said one of said at least one frequency interval.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second configuration information comprises at least one of:

bandwidth configuration information, carrier frequency configuration information, radio channel number information, and transmission power configuration information.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitted signals are any combination of synchronization signals, such as primary and secondary synchronization signals, pilot signals, such as a common or dedicated reference signal, beacon signals and broadcast information signals, such as a master information block and a system information block.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitted signals are transmitted using carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance, CSMA/CA.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said scanning comprises at least one of:

performing a power scan in said at least one unlicensed frequency band, and performing a cell search in said at least one unlicensed frequency band.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one frequency interval is determined by:

identifying a frequency range where a received signal strength indicator, RSSI, is below a predetermined threshold.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one frequency interval is determined by:

performing a cell search to detect at least one free frequency interval, said free frequency interval being substantially free from transmission from an interfering radio access technology, RAT, source; and

determining said at least one frequency interval based on said at least one free frequency interval.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

scanning said at least one unlicensed frequency band for further frequency intervals free from said transmitting interferers.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising, if at least one further frequency interval free from said transmitting interferers has been detected:

transmitting further configuration information about said at least one further frequency interval to said primary cellular network node;

receiving reconfiguration confirmation from said primary cellular network node; and

reconfiguring the secondary cellular network node for transmission in one of said at least one further frequency interval according to said reconfiguration information.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said reconfiguring comprises:

terminating transmission of said signals in the secondary serving cell according to said second configuration information;

reconfiguring the secondary cellular network node to transmit said signals in one of said at least one further frequency interval; and

transmitting said signals in the secondary serving cell according to said reconfiguration information.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said at least one further frequency interval free from said transmitting interferers has better adjacent channel leakage ratio, ACLR, properties, adjacent channel selectivity, ACS, properties, bandwidth properties, or throughput than said one of said at least one frequency interval.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the unlicensed frequency band is an Industrial, Science, Medical, ISM, radio band.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one unlicensed frequency band is at least one of a 2.4 GHz frequency band, a 5 GHz frequency band, a 900 MHz frequency band, a 24 GHz frequency band or a 60 GHz frequency band.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the secondary cellular network node is a Node B or an Evolved Node B.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

deploying at least one further secondary cell of the primary serving cell by configuring the secondary cellular network node for further transmission in said one of said at least one frequency interval or in another of said at least one frequency interval according to further configuration information received from secondary cellular network node.

17. A secondary cellular network node for configuration of the secondary cellular network node for a secondary serving cell associated with a primary serving cell in a carrier aggregation enabled communications network, the secondary cellular network node comprising a processing unit arranged to:

receive an indication from a primary cellular network node associated with the primary serving cell to start scanning an unlicensed frequency band for deployment of the secondary serving cell, wherein the indication is received when the primary cellular network node determines a need for configuration of the secondary cellular network node for the secondary serving cell in the unlicensed frequency band;

scan at least one unlicensed frequency band to determine whether or not interference from transmitting interferers is present in the at least one unlicensed frequency band, wherein parameters for scanning comprises carrier frequency and secondary serving cell bandwidth as recommended by the primary cellular network node;

determine, based on said scanning, at least one frequency interval of said at least one unlicensed frequency band free from said transmitting interferers, wherein said at least one unlicensed frequency interval of said at least one unlicensed frequency band is determined based on at least one of adjacent channel leakage ratio, ACLR, requirements, adjacent channel selectivity, ACS, requirements, bandwidth requirements, and throughput requirements for the secondary serving cell;

transmit first configuration information of said at least one frequency interval to said primary cellular network node;

deploy the secondary serving cell by configuring the secondary cellular network node for transmission in one of said at least one frequency interval according to a second configuration information being received from said primary cellular network node prior to performing said configuring and is based on said first configuration information, wherein the secondary cellular network node is configured for transmission in a widest of said at least one frequency interval;

transmit signals in the secondary serving cell according to said second configuration information;

detect transmission of interference from transmitting interferers in said one of said at least one frequency interval;

terminate transmission of said signals in the secondary serving cell according to said second configuration information; and

transmit an indication, indicating that the transmission of said signals in the secondary serving cell according to said second configuration information is terminated to said primary cellular network node.

18. An arrangement comprising:

a secondary cellular network node according to claim 17; and

a primary cellular network node, wherein the primary cellular network node is for configuration of the secondary cellular network node for the secondary serving cell associated with the primary serving cell in the carrier aggregation enabled communications network, the primary cellular network node being arranged to be associated with the primary serving cell, and the primary cellular network node comprising a processing unit arranged to;

transmit an indication for the secondary cellular network node to start scanning the unlicensed frequency band for deployment of the secondary serving cell, wherein parameters for scanning comprises carrier frequency and secondary serving cell bandwidth as recommended by the primary cellular network node;

receive, from the secondary cellular network node, first configuration information, comprising adjacent channel interference level of at least one frequency interval of said at least one unlicensed frequency band;

determine, a need for re-configuration, based on said received adjacent channel interference level;

if there is a decision to re-configure, compiling a, second configuration information for configuring the secondary cellular network node for transmission in one of said at least one frequency interval; and

transmit said second configuration information to the secondary cellular network node.

19. The arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the secondary cellular network node is part of the primary cellular network node.