UTILIZING IN-DEVICE COEXISTENCE MESSAGE FOR INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT IN UNLICENSED BANDS

• US 20150304872A1
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sadek, Ahmed Kamel
• Granted Patent: US 10,524,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• 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

Described herein are techniques for efficient LTE operation in the unlicensed band. For example, the technique may involve initiating, at the wireless device, a signal measurement of an unlicensed communication band device. The technique may also involve sending, to an access point configured for operation in the unlicensed communication band, a measurement report including the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device.

Claims

1. A method operable by a wireless device configured for operation in a licensed communication band or an unlicensed communication band, the method comprising:

initiating, at the wireless device, a signal measurement of an unlicensed communication band device; and

sending, to an access point configured for operation in the unlicensed communication band, a measurement report including the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request from the access point to initiate the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the signal measurement comprises initiating automatically at the wireless device based on one of a trigger comprising a high packet error rate, poor channel quality indicator, or based on detection of co-channel transmissions from another wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the measurement report comprises sending the measurement report using one of a coexistence signaling message or a message configured to carry the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device to the access point operating in at least one of the licensed communication band or unlicensed communication band, wherein the coexistence signaling message comprises information associated with cross device interference in the unlicensed communication band.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement report indicates interference from the unlicensed communication band device on a same channel used by the wireless device, and the method further comprises receiving a new channel assignment from the access point configured for operation in the licensed communication band, the new channel being different from the same channel used by the unlicensed communication band device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending to the access point a request for a transmission pattern associated with a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode; and

broadcasting a clear-to-send-to-self (CTS2S) message prior to start of the DRX mode.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting a level of at least one of acknowledgments (ACKs), clear-to-send (CTS) messages, request-to-send (RTS) messages, or other packets transmitted by a neighboring wireless device, or a pilot strength from the unlicensed communication band device; and

sending the request for the transmission pattern in response to detecting the level above a threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the unlicensed communication band device comprises one of a Wi-Fi device, Bluetooth device, cordless phone, or microwave oven.

9. An apparatus comprising:

means for initiating, at the apparatus, a signal measurement of an unlicensed communication band device; and

means for sending, to an access point configured for operation in the unlicensed communication band, a measurement report including the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for receiving a request from the access point to initiate the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for initiating the signal measurement is further configured for initiating automatically at the wireless device based on one of a trigger comprising a high packet error rate, poor channel quality indicator, or based on detection of co-channel transmissions from another wireless device.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for sending the measurement report is further configured for sending the measurement report using one of a coexistence signaling message or a message configured to carry the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device to the access point operating in at least one of the licensed communication band or unlicensed communication band.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the measurement report indicates interference from the unlicensed communication band device on a same channel used by the wireless device, and the apparatus further comprises:

means for receiving a new channel assignment from the access point configured for operation in the licensed communication band, the new channel being different from the same channel used by the unlicensed communication band device.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for sending to the access point a request for a transmission pattern associated with a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode; and

means for broadcasting a clear-to-send-to-self (CTS2S) message prior to start of the DRX mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for detecting a level of at least one of acknowledgments (ACKs), clear-to-send (CTS) messages, request-to-send (RTS) messages, or other packets transmitted by a neighboring wireless device, or a pilot strength from the unlicensed communication band device; and

means for sending the request for the transmission pattern in response to detecting the level above a threshold.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the unlicensed communication band device comprises one of a Wi-Fi device, Bluetooth device, cordless phone, or microwave oven.

17. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured for initiating, at the apparatus, a signal measurement of an unlicensed communication band device;

at least one transceiver configured for sending, to an access point configured for operation in the unlicensed communication band, a measurement report including the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device; and

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

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the transceiver is further configured for:

receiving a request from the access point to initiate the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor configured for initiating the signal measurement is further configured for initiating automatically at the wireless device based on one of a trigger comprising a high packet error rate, poor channel quality indicator, or based on detection of co-channel transmissions from another wireless device.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one transceiver configured for sending the measurement report is further configured for sending the measurement report using one of a coexistence signaling message or a message configured to carry the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device to the access point operating in at least one of the licensed communication band or unlicensed communication band.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the measurement report indicates interference from the unlicensed communication band device on a same channel used by the wireless device, and the at least one transceiver is further configured for:

receiving a new channel assignment from the access point configured for operation in the licensed communication band, the new channel being different from the same channel used by the unlicensed communication band device.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one transceiver is further configured for:

sending to the access point a request for a transmission pattern associated with a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode; and

broadcasting a clear-to-send-to-self (CTS2S) message prior to start of the DRX mode.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor is further configured for:

detecting a level of at least one of acknowledgments (ACKs), clear-to-send (CTS) messages, request-to-send (RTS) messages, or other packets transmitted by a neighboring wireless device, or a pilot strength from the unlicensed communication band device; and

wherein the at least one transceiver is further configured for;

sending the request for the transmission pattern in response to detecting the level above a threshold.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the unlicensed communication band device comprises one of a Wi-Fi device, Bluetooth device, cordless phone, or microwave oven.

25. A computer program product comprising:

computer readable medium storing code for causing at least one computer to;

initiating, at the wireless device, a signal measurement of an unlicensed communication band device; and

sending, to an access point configured for operation in the unlicensed communication band, a measurement report including the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the computer readable medium further stores code for causing the at least one computer to:

receive a request from the access point to initiate the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein initiating the signal measurement is further configured for initiating automatically at the wireless device based on one of a trigger comprising a high packet error rate, poor channel quality indicator, or based on detection of co-channel transmissions from another wireless device.

28. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein sending the measurement report is further configured for sending the measurement report using one of a coexistence signaling message or a message configured to carry the signal measurement of the unlicensed communication band device to the access point operating in at least one of the licensed communication band or unlicensed communication band.

29. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the measurement report indicates interference from the unlicensed communication band device on a same channel used by the wireless device, and the computer readable medium further stores code for causing the at least one computer to:

receive a new channel assignment from the access point configured for operation in the licensed communication band, the new channel being different from the same channel used by the unlicensed communication band device.

30. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the computer readable medium further stores code for causing the at least one computer to:

send to the access point a request for a transmission pattern associated with a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode; and

broadcast a clear-to-send-to-self (CTS2S) message prior to start of the DRX mode.