METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR SHARED MULTIOPERATOR LTE SERVICE IN UNLICENSED FREQUENCY BANDS

• US 20150289270A1
• Filed: 04/08/2014
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: KNAPP, Edward, Prakash, Rajat
• Granted Patent: US 9,706,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2011/0003 Combination with other multiplexing techniques
• 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 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1263 Mapping of traffic onto schedule, e.g. scheduled allocation or multiplexing of flows
• 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

Methods and apparatuses are described for providing a shared eNodeB that is configured to provide shared network access to UEs associated with disparate cellular service providers, or operators, over one or more unlicensed frequency bands in a multi-operator, heterogeneous, and dual-connectivity-compatible system. In an example methodology, a shared eNodeB may establish a secondary communication link with a first user equipment associated with a first operators primary cell, then may establish another secondary communication link with a second UE associated with a second operators primary cell, wherein the shared eNodeB is configured to communicate with both a first core network associated with the first operator and a second core network associated with the second operator, and may communicate wirelessly over one or more unlicensed frequency bands with both the first UE via the first communication link and the second UE via the second communication link.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

establishing, at a shared eNodeB, a first communication link with a first user equipment (UE) associated with a first operator;

establishing, at the shared eNodeB, a second communication link with a second UE associated with a second operator, wherein the shared eNodeB is configured to communicate with both a first network associated with the first operator and a second network associated with the second operator; and

communicating wirelessly, at the shared eNodeB, over one or more unlicensed frequency bands with both the first UE via the first communication link and the second UE via the second communication link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link comprises a secondary connection in a dual-connectivity wireless communication system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving operator network identification information from at least one of the first UE and the second UE, wherein the operator network identification information indicates that the first operator is associated with the first UE and the second operator is associated with the second UE.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving uplink data from at least one of the first UE and the second UE over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands;

determining an operator network to which the uplink data is to be routed based on the operator network identification information; and

routing the uplink data to a network entity associated with the operator network.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising allocating one or more backhaul resources for the uplink data in the operator network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving first downlink data from a first operator network associated with the first operator and including first destination information indicating that the first UE is to receive the first downlink data;

receiving second downlink data from a second operator network associated with the second operator and including second destination information indicating the second UE is to receive the second downlink data;

generating a transmission schedule for transmitting the first downlink data and the second downlink data; and

transmitting, over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands, both the first downlink data to the first UE and the second downlink data to the second UE based on the transmission schedule.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first downlink data is encoded according to a first encoding standard associated with the first operator and the second downlink data is encoded according to a second encoding standard associated with the second operator.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a common transmission over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands to both of the first UE and the second UE via a broadcast channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more unlicensed frequency bands comprise a frequency of at least one of about 5 GHz, about 3.5 GHz, and about 2.4 GHz.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link comprises a supplemental communication link.

11. An apparatus for mobile communication, comprising:

a communication link establishing component configured to establish a first communication link with a first user equipment (UE) associated with a first operator and a second communication link with a second UE associated with a second operator, wherein the shared eNodeB is configured to communicate with both a first network associated with the first operator and a second network associated with the second operator; and

a communication component configured to communicate wirelessly over one or more unlicensed frequency bands with both the first UE via the first communication link and the second UE via the second communication link.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link comprise a secondary connection in a dual-connectivity wireless communication system.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an operator network managing component configured to receive operator network identification information from at least one of the first UE and the second UE, wherein the operator network identification information indicates that the first operator is associated with the first UE and the second operator is associated with the second UE.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

an uplink data receiving component configured to receive uplink data from at least one of the first UE and the second UE over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands;

an operator network determining component configured to determine an operator network to which the uplink data is to be routed based on the operator network identification information; and

a packet routing component configured to route the uplink data to a network entity associated with the operator network.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a backhaul resource allocating component configured to allocate one or more backhaul resources for the uplink data in the operator network.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a downlink data receiving component configured to receive first downlink data from a first operator network associated with the first operator and including first destination information indicating that the first UE is to receive the first downlink data and configured to receive second downlink data from a second operator network associated with the second operator and including second destination information indicating the second UE is to receive the second downlink data;

a transmission schedule generating component configured to generate a transmission schedule for transmitting the first downlink data and the second downlink data; and

a transmission component configured to transmit, over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands, both the first downlink data to the first UE and the second downlink data to the second UE based on the transmission schedule.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first downlink data is encoded according to a first encoding standard associated with the first operator and the second downlink data is encoded according to a second encoding standard associated with the second operator.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the communication component is further configured to transmit a common transmission over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands to both of the first UE and the second UE via a broadcast channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more unlicensed frequency bands comprise a frequency of at least one of about 5 GHz, about 3.5 GHz, and about 2.4 GHz.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link comprises a supplemental communication link.

21. An apparatus for mobile communication, comprising:

means for establishing, at a shared eNodeB, a first communication link with a first user equipment (UE) associated with a first operator;

means for establishing, at the shared eNodeB, a second communication link with a second UE associated with a second operator, wherein the shared eNodeB is configured to communicate with both a first network associated with the first operator and a second network associated with the second operator; and

means for communicating wirelessly over one or more unlicensed frequency bands with both the first UE via the first communication link and the second UE via the second communication link.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link comprise a secondary connection in a dual-connectivity wireless communication system.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving first downlink data from a first operator network associated with the first operator and including first destination information indicating that the first UE is to receive the first downlink data;

means for receiving second downlink data from a second operator network associated with the second operator and including second destination information indicating the second UE is to receive the second downlink data;

means for generating a transmission schedule for transmitting the first downlink data and the second downlink data; and

means for transmitting, over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands, both the first downlink data to the first UE and the second downlink data to the second UE based on the transmission schedule.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for communicating wirelessly further comprises means for transmitting a common transmission over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands to both of the first UE and the second UE via a broadcast channel.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

establish, at a shared eNodeB, a first communication link with a first user equipment (UE) associated with a first operator;

establish, at the shared eNodeB, a second communication link with a second UE associated with a second operator, wherein the shared eNodeB is configured to communicate with both a first network associated with the first operator and a second network associated with the second operator; and

communicate wirelessly over one or more unlicensed frequency bands with both the first UE via the first communication link and the second UE via the second communication link.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link comprise a secondary connection in a dual-connectivity wireless communication system.

27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive first downlink data from a first operator network associated with the first operator and including first destination information indicating that the first UE is to receive the first downlink data;

receive second downlink data from a second operator network associated with the second operator and including second destination information indicating the second UE is to receive the second downlink data;

generate a transmission schedule for transmitting the first downlink data and the second downlink data;

transmit, over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands, both the first downlink data to the first UE and the second downlink data to the second UE based on the transmission schedule.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit a common transmission over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands to both of the first UE and the second UE via a broadcast channel.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the one or more unlicensed frequency bands comprise a frequency of at least one of about 5 GHz, about 3.5 GHz, and about 2.4 GHz.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link comprises a supplemental communication link to the shared eNodeB.