METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE OF LICENSED SPECTRUM FOR CONTROL CHANNELS IN COGNITIVE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20120039284A1
• Filed: 08/15/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Barbieri, Alan, Malladi, Durga Prasad, Wei, Yongbin, Bhushan, Naga, Gaal, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,861,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• 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

Techniques are provided for control signaling and channel selection in cognitive Long Term Evolution (LTE). In one example, there is provided a method, operable by a mobile entity, that involves receiving, on a licensed channel, broadcasted channel usage information regarding at least one unlicensed channel used by one or more network nodes. The method further involves: performing a cell search procedure based at least in part on the channel usage information to select a given network node among the one or more network nodes; determining at least one random access parameter to be used in establishing wireless communication with the given network node, the at least one random access parameter being associated with a characteristic of the user device and determining a preferred downlink channel.

Claims

1. A method operable by a mobile entity in a wireless communication system, comprising:

receiving, on a licensed channel, broadcasted channel usage information regarding at least one unlicensed channel used by one or more network nodes;

performing a cell search procedure based at least in part on the channel usage information to select a given network node among the one or more network nodes;

determining at least one random access parameter to be used in establishing wireless communication with the given network node, the at least one random access parameter being associated with a characteristic of the user device and determining a preferred downlink (DL) channel; and

transmitting an access request to the given network node, the access request being based at least in part on the at least one random access parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a response to the access request on the preferred DL channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one unlicensed channel comprises a white space (WS) channel; and

the characteristic comprises a capability to communicate on at least one WS channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the mobile entity comprises a user equipment (UE); and

the channel usage information comprises a list included within a system information block (SIB).

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising choosing at least one of a preamble ID or resources for random access based at least in part on the access request.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the access request includes a preamble sequence.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the access request includes at least one time parameter for at least one time resource and at least one frequency parameter for at least one frequency resource.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

(a) receive, on a licensed channel, broadcasted channel usage information regarding at least one unlicensed channel used by one or more network nodes;

(b) perform a cell search procedure based at least in part on the channel usage information to select a given network node among the one or more network nodes;

(c) determine at least one random access parameter to be used in establishing wireless communication with the given network node, the at least one random access parameter being associated with a characteristic of the user device and determining a preferred downlink (DL) channel; and

(d) transmit an access request to the given network node, the access request being based at least in part on the at least one random access parameter; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the mobile entity comprises a user equipment (UE); and

the channel usage information comprises a list included within a system information block (SIB).

10. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving, on a licensed channel, broadcasted channel usage information regarding at least one unlicensed channel used by one or more network nodes;

means for performing a cell search procedure based at least in part on the channel usage information to select a given network node among the one or more network nodes;

means for determining at least one random access parameter to be used in establishing wireless communication with the given network node, the at least one random access parameter being associated with a characteristic of the user device and determining a preferred downlink (DL) channel; and

means for transmitting an access request to the given network node, the access request being based at least in part on the at least one random access parameter.

11. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

receive, on a licensed channel, broadcasted channel usage information regarding at least one unlicensed channel used by one or more network nodes;

perform a cell search procedure based at least in part on the channel usage information to select a given network node among the one or more network nodes;

determine at least one random access parameter to be used in establishing wireless communication with the given network node, the at least one random access parameter being associated with a characteristic of the user device and determining a preferred downlink (DL) channel; and

transmit an access request to the given network node, the access request being based at least in part on the at least one random access parameter.

12. A method operable by a network entity in a wireless communication system, comprising:

transmitting downlink (DL) channel information using a licensed channel occupying a first portion of a licensed frequency spectrum, the DL channel information identifying at least one unlicensed channel included within an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the at least one unlicensed channel being used by the network entity or by another network entity in its vicinity;

receiving, from a mobile entity, an access request to access one of the at least one unlicensed channel, the access request having encoded in it at least one random access parameter determining a preferred DL channel;

selecting, based at least in part on the at least one random access parameter, a given channel included within the unlicensed frequency spectrum or the licensed frequency spectrum; and

transmitting, to the mobile entity, a response to the access request on the selected given channel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the random access parameter conveys mobile entity capabilities to communicate on at least one white space (WS) channel.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the DL channel information includes a list of channels included within the unlicensed frequency spectrum.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the DL channel information further includes a priority configuration associated with the list.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein selecting comprises choosing at least one of a preamble ID or resources for random access based at least in part on the access request.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the access request includes a preamble sequence.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the access request includes at least one time parameter for at least one time resource and at least one frequency parameter for at least one frequency resource.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising extracting the at least one random access parameter from the access request.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein selecting comprises selecting the given channel based on the extracted at least one random access parameter.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the network entity comprises an evolved Node B (eNB);

the mobile entity comprises a user equipment (UE); and

the DL channel information is provided in a system information block (SIB).

22. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

(a) transmit downlink (DL) channel information using a licensed channel occupying a first portion of a licensed frequency spectrum, the DL channel information identifying at least one unlicensed channel included within an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the at least one unlicensed channel being used by the network entity or by another network entity in its vicinity;

(b) receive, from a mobile entity, an access request to access one of the at least one unlicensed channel, the access request having encoded in it at least one random access parameter determining a preferred DL channel;

(c) select, based at least in part on the at least one random access parameter, a given channel included within the unlicensed frequency spectrum or the licensed frequency spectrum; and

(d) transmit, to the mobile entity, a response to the access request on the selected given channel; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

the network entity comprises an evolved Node B (eNB);

the mobile entity comprises a user equipment (UE); and

the DL channel information is provided in a system information block (SIB).

24. An apparatus, comprising:

means for transmitting downlink (DL) channel information using a licensed channel occupying a first portion of a licensed frequency spectrum, the DL channel information identifying at least one unlicensed channel included within an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the at least one unlicensed channel being used by the network entity or by another network entity in its vicinity;

means for receiving, from a mobile entity, an access request to access one of the at least one unlicensed channel, the access request having encoded in it at least one random access parameter determining a preferred DL channel;

means for selecting, based at least in part on the at least one random access parameter, a given channel included within the unlicensed frequency spectrum or the licensed frequency spectrum; and

means for transmitting, to the mobile entity, a response to the access request on the selected given channel.

25. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

transmit downlink (DL) channel information using a licensed channel occupying a first portion of a licensed frequency spectrum, the DL channel information identifying at least one unlicensed channel included within an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the at least one unlicensed channel being used by the network entity or by another network entity in its vicinity;

receive, from a mobile entity, an access request to access one of the at least one unlicensed channel, the access request having encoded in it at least one random access parameter determining a preferred DL channel;

select, based at least in part on the at least one random access parameter, a given channel included within the unlicensed frequency spectrum or the licensed frequency spectrum; and

transmit, to the mobile entity, a response to the access request on the selected given channel.