Multiplexing multi-radio access technology transmissions

• US 10,638,512 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2018
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Mukherjee, Amitav
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Warner
• Application Number:
  US15/975,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20190349991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0006 Assessment of spectral gaps suitable for allocating digitally modulated signals, e.g. for carrier allocation in cognitive radio for spectrum sharing between different networks H04W16/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1469 using time-sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• 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

A device may monitor a frequency band over a time interval; determine that the frequency band is not occupied by transmissions to or from another device based on information obtained from monitoring the frequency band over the time interval; schedule transmissions of a first set of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDM) symbols within a particular time interval over the frequency band, wherein the first set of OFDM symbols is associated with a first radio access technology; and schedule transmissions of a second set of OFDM symbols within the particular time interval over the frequency band, wherein the second set of OFDM symbols is associated with a second radio access technology.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory device to store a set of processor-executable instructions; and

one or more processors configured to execute the processor-executable instructions, wherein executing the processor-executable instructions causes the one or more processors to;

monitor a frequency band over a time interval;

determine that the frequency band is not occupied by transmissions to or from another device based on information obtained from monitoring the frequency band over the time interval;

schedule first transmissions of a first set of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDM) symbols, within a particular time interval, which fully occupy a range of frequencies in the frequency band, wherein the first transmissions are to be performed using a first radio access technology; and

schedule second transmissions of a second set of OFDM symbols, within the particular time interval, which also fully occupy the range of frequencies in the frequency band, wherein the second transmissions are to be performed using a second radio access technology, and

wherein time-frequency locations of the second set of OFDM symbols within the particular time interval either do not overlap time-frequency locations of signals or channels of a radio frame comprising the scheduled first set of OFDM symbols, or partially overlap the time-frequency locations of the signals or channels of the radio frame in a manner known to a second device receiving the radio frame.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the particular time interval comprises a maximum channel occupancy time for the frequency band.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the signals or channels comprise one or more of:

a primary synchronization signal;

a secondary synchronization signal;

a downlink reference signal;

a physical downlink control channel;

or

a physical downlink shared channel.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the signals or channels comprise one or more of:

a physical uplink shared channel;

an uplink reference signal;

a physical random access channel;

or

a physical uplink control channel.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first set of OFDM symbols comprises Long-Term Evolution (LTE) OFDM symbols;

and

wherein the second set of OFDM symbols comprises New Radio OFDM symbols.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein each symbol in the set of LTE OFDM symbols has a time duration that is a multiple of a time duration of each symbol of the NR OFDM symbols.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is an evolved node B (eNB), a gNB, or a user equipment (UE) device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the frequency band comprises:

an unlicensed spectrum;

or a shared spectrum.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the radio frame comprises a time division duplex (TDD) radio frame.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein when the one or more processors schedule the second set of OFDM symbols, the one or more processors are to determine:

a channel condition;

a user device priority;

or

a requested quality of service.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is an evolved node B (eNB), a gNB, or a user equipment (UE) device.

11. A method comprising:

monitoring, by a device, a frequency band over a time interval;

determining, by the device, that the frequency band is not occupied by transmissions to or from another device based on information obtained from monitoring the frequency band over the time interval;

scheduling, by the device, first transmissions of a first set of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDM) symbols, within a particular time interval, which fully occupy a range of frequencies in the frequency band, wherein the first transmissions are to be performed using a first radio access technology; and

scheduling, by the device, second transmissions of a second set of OFDM symbols, within the particular time interval, which also fully occupy the range of frequencies in the frequency band, wherein the second transmissions are to be performed using a second radio access technology, and

wherein time-frequency locations of the second set of OFDM symbols within the particular time interval either do not overlap time-frequency locations of signals or channels of a radio frame comprising the scheduled first set of OFDM symbols, or partially overlap the time-frequency locations of the signals or channels of the radio frame in a manner known to a second device receiving the radio frame.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the particular time interval comprises a maximum channel occupancy time for the frequency band.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the signals or channels comprise one or more of:

a primary synchronization signal;

a secondary synchronization signal;

a downlink reference signal;

a physical downlink control channel;

or

a physical downlink shared channel.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the signals or channels comprise or more of:

a physical uplink shared channel;

an uplink reference signal;

a physical random access channel;

or

a physical uplink control channel.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first set of OFDM symbols comprises Long-Term Evolution (LTE) OFDM symbols;

and

wherein the second set of OFDM symbols comprises New Radio OFDM symbols.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each symbol in the LTE OFDM symbols has a tune duration that is a multiple of a time duration of each symbol of the NR OFDM symbols.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the frequency band comprises:

an unlicensed spectrum;

or

a shared spectrum.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the radio frame comprises a frequency division duplex (FDD) radio frame.

20. The method claim 11, wherein scheduling the second set of OFDM symbols comprises determining at least one of:

a channel condition;

a user device priority;

or

a requested quality of service.