METHODS AND APPARATUS ENABLING INFORMATION EXCHANGE BETWEEN NETWORK NODES

• US 20150011233A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Kazmi, Muhammad, Queseth, Olav, Siomina, Iana
• Granted Patent: US 9,351,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/454
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2605 Symbol extensions, e.g. Zero Tail, Unique Word [UW]
• 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

Abstract

A method that may be performed by a first, second and third node for handling information related to a guard band used or required in a radio spectrum used by the second node. The first, second and third nodes are comprised in a wireless communications network. The method in the first node comprises obtaining information from the second node. The information is related to the guard band used by the second node. The method further comprises adapting one or more procedures related to the radio operation within the wireless communications network, based on the obtained guard band information. The method in the second node comprises sending information related to the guard band to the first node. The method in the third node comprises requesting the first node to obtain information related to the guard band from the second node.

Claims

1. A method in a first node for handling information related to a guard band used or required in a radio spectrum in a wireless communications network, the first node being comprised in the wireless communications network, the method comprising:

obtaining information from a second node or a third node in the wireless communications network, the information being related to the guard band used or required in the radio spectrum used by the second node, and

adapting one or more procedures related to the radio operation within the wireless communications network, based on the obtained guard band information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the guard band comprises an unused spectrum or a spectrum with restricted operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to the guard band is pre-defined or configurable, wherein, when the information related to the guard band is configurable, it is configurable by one of:

the first node, the second node and the third node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to the guard band comprises at least one of:

an indication of activation/deactivation of the guard band, band information of a band for which the guard band applies, co-existence scenario in which the guard band applies, duplex mode of operation in which the guard band applies, frequency-domain resources associated with the guard band, applicable node, time-domain resources or parameters associated with the guard band, power restriction that applies for the guard band, and geographical area or location where the guard band is applicable.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining is executed upon request or indication by one of the first node or the third node in the wireless communications network, or by proactive reporting by the second node.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining comprises autonomously determining the information related to the guard band in the radio spectrum.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining comprises at least one of:

measuring and sensing signals.

8. The method of claim claim 1, wherein the one or more procedures related to a radio operation within the wireless communications network is one or more of:

adaptation of measurement procedures, adaptation of mobility procedures, adaptation of resource assignment and scheduling procedures, adaptation of requirements, monitoring of the network performance, radio network planning and testing procedures.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein any of the first node, the second node or the third node is one of:

a first radio node, a second radio node, a network node, or a wireless device.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising signaling the autonomously obtained guard band related information to the second node or the third node.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the second node and the third node is a radio node further comprising receiving information on capability to handle the information related to the guard band from at least one of:

the second node when the second node is a radio node, and the third node when the third node is a radio node.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node is a radio node, and wherein the method further comprises sending information on capability to handle the information related to the guard band to at least one of:

the second node and the third node.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a request to the second node to send the information related to the guard band used or required in the radio spectrum used by the second node.

14. A method in a second node for handling information related to a guard band used or required in a radio spectrum in a wireless communications network the second node being comprised in the wireless communications network, the method comprising:

sending information to a first node or a third node, the first node and the third node being comprised in the wireless communications network, the information being related to the guard band used or required in the radio spectrum used by the second node.

15. A method in a third node for handling information related to a guard band used or required in a radio spectrum in a wireless communications network, the third node being comprised in the wireless communications network, the method comprising:

sending information to a first node in the wireless communications network, the information being related to the guard band used or required in the radio spectrum used by a second node in the wireless communications network.

16. A first node for handling information related to a guard band used or required in a radio spectrum in a wireless communications network, the first node being adapted to be comprised in the wireless communications network, the first node comprising:

an obtaining circuit configured to obtain information from a second node or a third node in the wireless communications network, the information being related to the guard band used or required in the radio spectrum used by the second node, and

an adapting circuit configured to adapt one or more procedures related to the radio operation within the wireless communications network, based on the obtained guard band information.

17. The first node of claim 16, wherein the guard band comprises an unused spectrum or a spectrum with restricted operation.

18. The first node of claim 16, wherein the information related to the guard band is pre-defined or configurable, wherein, when the information related to the guard band is configurable, it is configurable by one of:

the first node, the second node, and the third node.

19. The first node of claim 16, wherein the information related to the guard band comprises at least one of:

an indication of activation/deactivation of the guard band, band information of a band for which the guard band applies, co-existence scenario in which the guard band applies, duplex mode of operation in which the guard band applies, frequency-domain resources associated with the guard band, applicable node, time-domain resources or parameters associated with the guard band, power restriction that applies for the guard band, and geographical area or location where the guard band is applicable.

20. The first node of claim 16, wherein the obtaining circuit is further configured to execute the obtaining upon request by one of the first node or the third node in the wireless communications network, or by proactive reporting by the second node.

21. The first node of claim 16, wherein the obtaining circuit is further configured to autonomously determine the information related to the guard band in the radio spectrum.

22. The first node of claim 21, wherein to autonomously determine comprises at least one of:

measuring and sensing signals.

23. The first node of claim 16, wherein the one or more procedures related to a radio operation within the wireless communications network is one or more of:

adaptation of measurement procedures, adaptation of mobility procedures, adaptation of resource assignment and scheduling procedures, adaptation of requirements, monitoring of the network performance, radio network planning and testing procedures.

24. The first node of claim 16, wherein any of the first node, the second node or the third node is one of:

a first radio node, a second radio node, a network node, or a wireless device.

25. The first node of claim 21, further comprising a signaling circuit configured to signal the autonomously determined guard band related information to the second node or the third node.

26. The first node of claim 16, further comprising a receiving circuit configured to receive information on capability to handle the information related to the guard band from at least one of:

the second node, when the second node is a radio node, and the third node, when the third node is a radio node.

27. The first node of claim 16, wherein the first node is a radio node, and wherein the first node further comprises a sending circuit configured to send information on capability to handle the information related to the guard band to at least one of:

the second node and the third node.

28. The first node of claim 16, wherein the sending circuit is further configured to send a request to the second node to send the information related to the guard band used or required in the radio spectrum used by the second node.

29. A second node for handling information related to a guard band used or required in a radio spectrum in a wireless communications network, the second node being adapted to be comprised in the wireless communications network, the second node comprising:

a sending circuit configured to send information to a first node or a third node, the first node and the third node being comprised in the wireless communications network, the information being related to the guard band used or required in the radio spectrum used by the second node.

30. A third node for handling information related to a guard band used or required in a radio spectrum in a wireless communications network, the third node being adapted to be comprised in the wireless communications network, the third node comprising:

a sending circuit configured to send information to a first node in the wireless communications network, the information being related to the guard band used or required in the radio spectrum used by a second node in the wireless communications network.