Systems and methods to define control channels using reserved resource blocks

• US 10,420,078 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Khandekar, Aamod, Montojo, Juan, Agrawal, Avneesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Skripnikov, Alex
• Application Number:
  US14/789,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20150312895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0073 Allocation arrangements that take into account other cell interferences for intercell interference mitigation or co-ordination in orthogonal multiplex systems H04J11/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate defining new control channels in legacy wireless networks. Control data resources for new systems can be defined over resources reserved for general data communications in the legacy wireless network specification. In this regard, legacy devices can still be supported by devices implementing new control data resources, and the new control data resources can avoid substantial interference that is typically exhibited over legacy control and/or reference signal resources by instead using the general data resources. In addition, new system devices can avoid scheduling data communication resources over the new control resources to create a substantially non-interfered global control segment. Control data can be transmitted over the segment using beacon-based technologies, reuse schemes, and/or the like.

Claims

1. A method for defining new control channels in a wireless communications network, comprising:

reserving, by a first wireless communications apparatus, a portion of wireless communication resources for general data communications according to a legacy network specification;

allocating a subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources for communicating control data according to a non-legacy network specification, wherein the control data comprises at least one of an uplink or downlink resource assignment assigned to a second wireless communications apparatus for transmitting general data communications thereover;

receiving legacy control data over a disparate portion of the wireless communication resources for communicating legacy control data according to the legacy network specification; and

transmitting the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources, wherein transmitting the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources includes transmitting the legacy control data over the subset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the legacy network specification corresponds to third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) and the allocated subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources comprises at least one reserved resource block in at least one subframe.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein reserving the portion of wireless communication resources for general data communications according to the legacy network specification is implied from reserving a disparate portion of the wireless communication resources for communicating legacy control data according to the legacy network specification.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein reserving the portion of wireless communication resources for general data communications is further implied from reserving another disparate portion of the wireless communication resources for communicating reference signals according to the legacy network specification.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising scheduling the general data communications from a mobile device over resources other than the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources are allocated according to a global control segment definition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources includes transmitting the control data as beacon signals over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources includes transmitting the control data at positions in the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources selected based at least in part on an identifier of an access point.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the control data includes a resource assignment, ACK/NACK information, or interface management information.

10. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

reserve a portion of wireless communications resources for data communications based at least in part on a legacy network specification;

allocate a subset of the reserved portion of wireless communications resources for communicating control data according to a non-legacy network specification, wherein the control data comprises at least one of an uplink or downlink resource assignment assigned to a different wireless communications apparatus for transmitting general data communications thereover;

receive legacy control data over a disparate portion of the wireless communication resources for communicating legacy control data according to the legacy network specification; and

transmit the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources, wherein transmitting the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources includes transmitting the legacy control data over the subset; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

11. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 10, wherein the legacy network specification corresponds to a third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) specification and the allocated subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources comprises at least one reserved resource block in at least one subframe.

12. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processer reserves the portion of wireless communications resources implicitly based at least in part on a disparate portion of the wireless communications resources reserved for communicating legacy control data according to the legacy network specification.

13. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor reserves the portion of wireless communications resources implicitly based further in part on another disparate portion of the wireless communications resources reserved for transmitting reference signals related to the wireless communications apparatus.

14. A wireless communications apparatus that facilitates defining new control channels over legacy wireless networks, comprising:

means for reserving a portion of wireless communication resources for data communication according to a legacy network specification;

means for allocating a subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources for communicating control data according to a non-legacy network specification, wherein the control data comprises at least one of an uplink or downlink resource assignment assigned to a second wireless communications apparatus for transmitting general data communications thereover;

means for receiving legacy control data over a disparate portion of the wireless communication resources for communicating legacy control data according to the legacy network specification; and

means for transmitting the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources, wherein transmitting the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources includes transmitting the legacy control data over the subset.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the legacy network specification corresponds to a third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) specification and the allocated subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources comprises at least one reserved resource block in at least one subframe.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for reserving is configured to reserve the portion of wireless communication resources for data communication implicitly based on at least in part a disparate portion of resources reserved for communicating legacy control data according to the legacy network specification.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for reserving further reserves the portion of wireless communication resources for data communication based on another disparate portion of resources reserved for transmitting reference signals.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for allocating is configured to allocate the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources according to a global control segment definition.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to transmit the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources using one or more beacon signals.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to transmit the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources using a reuse scheme involving a plurality of tones in a sub-frame.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for causing at least one computer to:

reserve a portion of wireless communication resources for general data communications according to a legacy network specification;

allocate a subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources for communicating control data according to a non-legacy network specification, wherein the control data comprises at least one of an uplink or downlink resource assignment assigned to a second wireless communications apparatus for transmitting general data communications thereover;

receive legacy control data over a disparate portion of the wireless communication resources for communicating legacy control data according to the legacy network specification; and

transmit the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources, wherein transmitting the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources includes transmitting the legacy control data over the subset.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the legacy network specification corresponds to third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) and the allocated subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources comprises at least one reserved resource block in at least one subframe.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein reserving the portion of wireless communication resources for general data communications is implied from reserving a disparate portion of the wireless communication resources for communicating legacy control data according to the legacy network specification.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein reserving the portion of wireless communication resources for general data communications is further implied from reserving another disparate portion of the wireless communication resources for communicating reference signals according to the legacy network specification.

25. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a legacy specification component configured to reserve a portion of wireless communication resources for general data communication according to a legacy network specification;

a new control data component configured to allocate a subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources for transmitting control data according to a non-legacy network specification, wherein the control data comprises at least one of an uplink or downlink resource assignment assigned to a second wireless communications apparatus for transmitting general data communications thereover;

a receiver component receive legacy control data over a disparate portion of the wireless communication resources for communicating legacy control data according to the legacy network specification; and

a transmitter component configured to transmit the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources includes transmitting the legacy control data over the subset.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the legacy network specification corresponds to a third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) specification and the allocated subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources comprises at least one reserved resource block in at least one subframe.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the legacy specification component is configured to allocate the reserved portion of wireless communication resources for general data communication based at least in part on a disparate portion of resources reserved for communicating legacy control data according to the legacy network specification.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the legacy specification component is configured to allocate the reserved portion of wireless communication resources for general data communication based further on another disparate portion of resources reserved for transmitting reference signals.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the new control data component is configured to allocate the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources according to a global control segment definition.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the transmitter component is configured to transmit the control data over the subset of the reserved portion of wireless communication resources using one or more beacon signals.