METHODS FOR LTE CHANNEL SELECTION IN UNLICENSED BANDS

• US 20150133184A1
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sadek, Ahmed Kamel, Yavuz, Mehmet, Kadous, Tamer Adel
• Granted Patent: US 10,375,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Described herein are techniques for reducing interference to non-cellular communications on an unlicensed band by a network entity sending/receiving cellular communications on the unlicensed band. For example, the technique may involve operating in a first mode using a first radio access technology (RAT1), and collecting interference measurements for interference to or from at least one mobile device while in the first mode. The technique may also involve switching to a second mode and using a second radio access technology (RAT2), and using the interference measurements from the first mode to minimize interference caused or experienced by the network entity in the second mode.

Claims

1. A method operable by a network entity configured for wireless communication, the method comprising:

operating in a first mode using a first radio access technology (RAT1);

collecting interference measurements for interference to or from at least one mobile device while in the first mode;

switching to a second mode and using a second radio access technology (RAT2); and

using the interference measurements from the first mode to minimize interference caused or experienced by the network entity in the second mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting the interference measurements in the first mode comprises using Wi-Fi over 802.11k.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting the interference measurements in the first mode comprises using Long Term Evolution (LTE) by modifying Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)/Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising building a database from the collected interference measurements, the database comprising information regarding interference levels experienced by the network entity for LTE communication on channels of the unlicensed band.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising selecting and communicating on a selected channel of the unlicensed band to minimize the interference caused or experienced by the network entity.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

defining an interference criteria based at least in part on a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) metric or a duty cycle metric; and

selecting the selected channel, in response to selected channel satisfying the interference criteria.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein:

operating in the first mode comprises communicating via Wi-Fi on the unlicensed band; and

operating in the second mode comprises communicating with one or more of the mobile devices on the unlicensed channel via LTE.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein collecting the interference measurements comprises (a) directly making the interference measurements or (b) collecting the interference measurements comprises receiving the interference measurements from one or more of the mobile devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the interference measurements are based at least in part on an RSSI.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the network entity comprises a small base station that includes a neighborhood small cell (NSC) co-located with a Wi-Fi access point.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the network entity is configured to (a) operate in a standalone unlicensed band or (b) operate in both a licensed band and the unlicensed band in a carrier aggregation mode.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

means for operating in a first mode using a first radio access technology (RAT1);

means for collecting interference measurements for interference to or from at least one mobile device while in the first mode;

means for switching to a second mode and using a second radio access technology (RAT2); and

means for using the interference measurements from the first mode to minimize interference caused or experienced by the network entity in the second mode.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising means for modifying Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)/Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ).

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising means for building a database from the collected interference measurements, the database comprising information regarding interference levels experienced by the network entity for LTE communication on channels of the unlicensed band.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means for selecting and communicating on a selected channel of the unlicensed band to minimize the interference caused or experienced by the network entity.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one radio frequency (RF) transceiver;

at least one processor coupled to the at least one RF transceiver and configured to;

operate in a first mode using a first radio access technology (RAT1);

collect interference measurements for interference to or from at least one mobile device while in the first mode;

switch to a second mode and using a second radio access technology (RAT2); and

use the interference measurements from the first mode to minimize interference caused or experienced by the network entity in the second mode; and

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

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to modify Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)/Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ).

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to build a database from the collected interference measurements, the database comprising information regarding interference levels experienced by the network entity for Wi-Fi communication on channels of the unlicensed band.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select and communicate on a selected channel of the unlicensed band to minimize the interference caused or experienced by the network entity.

20. A computer program product, comprising:

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

operate in a first mode using a first radio access technology (RAT1);

collect interference measurements for interference to or from at least one mobile device while in the first mode;

switch to a second mode and using a second radio access technology (RAT2); and

use the interference measurements from the first mode to minimize interference caused or experienced by the network entity in the second mode.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to modify Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)/Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ).

22. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to build a database from the collected interference measurements, the database comprising information regarding interference levels experienced by the network entity for Wi-Fi communication on channels of the unlicensed band.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to select and communicate on a selected channel of the unlicensed band to minimize the interference caused or experienced by the network entity.