Simultaneous dual mode operation in cellular networks

• US 20070232349A1
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IPWireless Inc. (NVIDIA Corporation)
• Original Assignee: IPWireless Inc. (NVIDIA Corporation)
• Inventors: Howard, Paul, Jones, Alan, Darwood, Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/398,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232349A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide for determining whether an insufficient guard band exists in a spectrum carrying potentially interfering signals and allocating a temporary guard band to spectrally separate the two signals, thereby reducing or preventing inter-signal interference.

Claims

1. :

A system for communicating using a first signal operating in a first mode and a second signal operating in a second mode, the system comprising;

a memory;

a processor coupled to the memory; and

program code executable on the processor, the program code operable for;

receiving the first signal in the first mode from a user equipment (UE);

determining that the UE requests operation in the second mode; and

determining whether an insufficient guard band exists.

2. :

The system of claim 1, wherein the first mode comprises time division duplex (TDD) operation and the second mode comprises frequency division duplex (FDD) operation.

3. :

A method for communicating using a first signal operating in a first mode and a second signal operating in a second mode, the method comprising;

receiving the first signal in the first mode from a user equipment (UE);

determining that the UE requests operation in the second mode; and

determining whether an insufficient guard band exists.

4. :

The method of claim 3, wherein the first mode comprises time division duplex (TDD) operation and the second mode comprises frequency division duplex (FDD) operation.

5. :

The method of claim 3, further comprising creating a guard band if the insufficient guard band exists.

6. :

The method of claim 5, wherein the guard band comprises a bandwidth that falls at least partially within a first band operating in the first mode.

7. :

The method of claim 5, wherein the guard band comprises a bandwidth that falls at least partially within a second band operating in the second mode.

8. :

The method of claim 5, wherein the guard band comprises a bandwidth that falls partially within a first band operating in the first mode and falls partially within a second band operating in the second mode.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein creating a guard band comprises reconfiguring one or more transmitters to limit transmissions within the guard band.

10. :

The method of claim 3, wherein;

receiving the first signal comprises receiving a first message sent from the UE; and

determining at the UE requests operation in the second mode comprises determining from the first message that the UE requests operation in the second mode.

11. :

The method of claim 10, wherein the received message from the UE comprises a request for a service.

12. :

The method of claim 11, wherein the service comprises a broadcast service.

13. :

The method of claim 10, wherein the received message from the UE comprises an explicit request for dual-mode operation.

14. :

The method of claim 11, wherein the received message from the UE comprises an implicit request for dual-mode operation.

15. :

The method of claim 3, further comprising sending, to a UE, a request for an indication from the UE of a sufficient guard band bandwidth.

16. :

The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving an indication from the UE of a sufficient guard band bandwidth.

17. :

The method of claim 3, further comprising sending, to a UE, one or more parameters indicative of a service provided in the second mode.

18. :

The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the one or more parameters comprises an encryption parameter.

19. :

A computer program product comprising program code for communicating using a first signal operating in a first mode and a second signal operating in a second mode, the computer program product comprising program code for;

receiving the first signal in the first mode from a user equipment (UE);

determining that the UE requests operation in the second made; and

determining whether an insufficient guard band exists.

20. :

User equipment (UE) for communicating using a first signal operating in a first mode and a second signal operating in a second mode, the UE comprising;

a memory;

a processor coupled to the memory;

a transmission system operable to communicate contemporaneously using the first signal operating in the first mode and the second signal operating in the second mode; and

program code executable on the processor, the program code operable for;

sending the first signal in the first mode from the UE to a network; and

indicating to the network that the UE requests operation in the second mode.

21. :

A method of using user equipment (UE) for communicating using a first signal operating in a first mode and a second signal operating in a second mode, the method comprising;

sending the first signal in the first mode from the UE to a network;

indicating to the network that the UE requests operation in the second mode; and

communicating contemporaneously using the first signal operating in the first mode and the second signal operating in the second mode.

22. :

The method of claim 21, wherein the first mode comprises time division duplex (TDD) operation and the second mode comprises frequency division duplex (FDD) operation.

23. :

The method of claim 21, wherein communicating contemporaneously comprises receiving and processing a broadcast signal in the second mode while communicating signal in the first mode.