METHOD OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION IN UNLICENSED SPECTRUM AND RELATED APPARATUS USING THE SAME

• US 20170041042A1
• Filed: 03/23/2016
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Inventors: Wei, Hung-Yu
• Application Number:
  US15/078,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20170041042A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/713 using frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0012 Hopping in multicarrier systems for frequency hopping in spread spectrum systems H04B1/713
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0098 Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a method of wireless communication in an unlicensed spectrum and related apparatus using the same. In one of the exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is directed to a method of wireless communication in an unlicensed spectrum, applicable to a base station, the method would include not limited to: establishing a primary serving cell (Pcell) in a licensed spectrum; establishing a secondary serving cell (Scell) in the unlicensed spectrum to operate as a virtual frequency cell (VFC); configuring a frequency hopping sequence of the VFC; transmitting the frequency hopping sequence to the Scell through the Pcell; and controlling the Scell to operate according to the frequency hopping sequence.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication in an unlicensed spectrum, applicable to a base station, the method comprising:

establishing a primary serving cell (Pcell) in a licensed spectrum;

establishing a secondary serving cell (Scell) in the unlicensed spectrum to operate as a virtual frequency cell (VFC);

configuring a frequency hopping sequence of the VFC;

transmitting the frequency hopping sequence to the Scell through the Pcell; and

controlling the Scell to operate according to the frequency hopping sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency hopping sequence comprises:

operating under a first carrier frequency in the unlicensed spectrum during a first time period;

operating under a second carrier frequency in the unlicensed spectrum during a second time period which is immediately after the first time period; and

operating under a third carrier frequency in the unlicensed spectrum during a third time period which is immediately after the second time period.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the frequency hopping sequence is either repetitive or one repetition only.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the VFC is mapped to a plurality of actual frequency cells (AFCs), the VFC has a unique VFC identification (ID), and each actual frequency cell (AFC) has a unique AFC ID.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein controlling the Scell to operate according to the frequency hopping sequence comprising:

controlling the Scell to change an operating frequency of the Scell according to the frequency hopping sequence by changing a mapping relationship between the VFC ID and the plurality of AFC IDs.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the VFC stays the same while AFC changes during each frequency hop.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the frequency hopping sequence to the Scell comprising:

transmitting a control signaling message which comprises the frequency hopping sequence to the Scell, wherein the control signaling message is transmitting through a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) of the Pcell by using a specific radio network temporary identifier (RNTI).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring a frequency hopping sequence of the VFC comprising:

performing carrier sensing of a plurality of carrier frequencies of the unlicensed spectrum; and

configuring a frequency hopping sequence in response to performing carrier sensing of a plurality of carrier frequencies of the unlicensed spectrum.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

configuring frequency hopping sequence to have no overlaps from a nearby Scell.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting another control signaling message to activate or deactivate the Scell to operate according to the frequency hopping sequence.

11. A method of wireless communication in an unlicensed spectrum, applicable to a user equipment, the method comprising:

attaching to a primary serving cell (Pcell) in a licensed spectrum;

attaching to a secondary serving cell (Scell) in the unlicensed spectrum;

receiving a control signaling message through the primary serving cell (Pcell) to operate in a virtual frequency cell (VFC) of the Scell;

receiving a frequency hopping sequence of the VFC from the control signaling message; and

operating in the VFC according to the frequency hopping sequence.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the frequency hopping sequence comprises:

operating under a first carrier frequency in the unlicensed spectrum during a first time period;

operating under a second carrier frequency in the unlicensed spectrum during a second time period which is immediately after the first time period; and

operating under a third carrier frequency in the unlicensed spectrum during a third time period which is immediately after the second time period.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the frequency hopping sequence is either repetitive or one repetition only.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the VFC is mapped to a plurality of actual frequency cells (AFCs), the VFC has a unique VFC identification (ID), and each actual frequency cell (AFC) has a unique AFC ID.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein operating in the VFC according to the frequency hopping sequence comprising:

operating in the VFC according to the frequency hopping sequence according to a change of a mapping relationship between the VFC ID and the plurality of AFC IDs.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the VFC stays the same while AFC changes during each frequency hop.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving a frequency hopping sequence of the VFC from the control signaling message comprises:

receiving the controlling signaling message through a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) of the Pcell according to a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI).

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

performing a clear channel assessment of a plurality of carrier frequencies of the unlicensed spectrum; and

selecting an available carrier frequency of the unlicensed spectrum for uplink after performing the clear channel assessment of the plurality of carrier frequencies of the unlicensed spectrum.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving another control signaling message to activate or deactivate operating in the VFC according to the frequency hopping sequence.

20. A user equipment comprising:

a wireless transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and is configured at least for;

attaching, through the wireless transceiver, to a primary serving cell (Pcell) in a licensed spectrum;

attaching, through the wireless transceiver, to a secondary serving cell (Scell) in the unlicensed spectrum;

receiving, through the wireless transceiver, a control signaling message through the primary serving cell (Pcell) to operate in a virtual frequency cell (VFC) of the Scell;

receiving, through the wireless transceiver, a frequency hopping sequence of the VFC from the control signaling message; and

operating in the VFC according to the frequency hopping sequence.