NEW RADIO (NR) PROCEDURES FOR ACCESSING SHARED SPECTRUM

• US 20180115907A1
• Filed: 08/09/2017
• Published: 04/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: DAMNJANOVIC, Aleksandar, MONTOJO, Juan, XUE, Yisheng, FAN, Michael Mingxi, ZHANG, Xiaoxia, YOO, Taesang
• Granted Patent: US 10,616,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Techniques for spectrum sharing among operators are provided. A base station (BS) licensed to a first operator monitors, while operating on a first carrier frequency assigned to the first operator, a reservation period on a second carrier frequency assigned to a second operator that shares spectrum with the first operator. The BS determines, based on the monitoring, availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS during at least one subsequent data period. The BS determines whether to attempt to reserve access on the second carrier frequency for use during the at least one subsequent data period based on the determined availability.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication by a base station (BS) of a first operator, comprising:

monitoring, while operating on a first carrier frequency assigned to the first operator, a reservation period on a second carrier frequency assigned to a second operator that shares spectrum with the first operator;

determining, based on the monitoring, availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS during at least one subsequent data period; and

determining whether to attempt to reserve access on the second carrier frequency for use during the at least one subsequent data period based on the determined availability.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS comprises:

detecting, during the reservation period, at least one of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period or a confirmation of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period, by another wireless node operating on the second carrier frequency; and

determining, based on the detecting, that the second carrier frequency is not available for use by the BS during the at least one subsequent data period.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a priority of the second operator to use the second carrier frequency is higher than a priority of the first operator to use the second carrier frequency.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS comprises:

detecting no request or confirmation of a request, during the reservation period, for reserving the at least one subsequent data period; and

determining, based on the detecting, that the second carrier frequency is available for use by the BS during the at least one subsequent data period.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

attempting to acquire the second carrier frequency based on the determination that the second carrier frequency is available for use by the BS.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the attempting to acquire the second carrier frequency comprises sending a request for reserving the second carrier frequency.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency are assigned in different frequency bands.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring an indicator time slot on the first carrier frequency subsequent to the monitoring the reservation period on the second carrier frequency;

receiving an indication in the indicator time slot from a user equipment (UE) operating on the first carrier frequency, of a detection of at least one of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period or a confirmation of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period by a wireless node operating on the second carrier frequency; and

determining, based on the detection, that the second carrier frequency is not available for use by the BS during the subsequent data period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring the reservation period on the second carrier frequency comprises monitoring the reservation period in a time slot within the reservation period assigned to the first operator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein different operators are assigned different time slots within the reservation period to monitor the reservation of the second carrier frequency.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency are assigned in the same frequency band, and wherein the BS tunes out of the first carrier frequency to monitor the reservation period on the second carrier frequency.

12. An apparatus for wireless communication by a base station (BS) of a first operator, comprising:

means for monitoring, while operating on a first carrier frequency assigned to the first operator, a reservation period on a second carrier frequency assigned to a second operator that shares spectrum with the first operator;

means for determining, based on the monitoring, availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS during at least one subsequent data period; and

means for determining whether to attempt to reserve access on the second carrier frequency for use during the at least one subsequent data period based on the determined availability.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for determining the availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS is configured to:

detect, during the reservation period, at least one of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period or a confirmation of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period, by another wireless node operating on the second carrier frequency; and

determine, based on the detecting, that the second carrier frequency is not available for use by the BS during the at least one subsequent data period.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for determining the availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS is configured to:

detect no request or confirmation of a request, during the reservation period, for reserving the at least one subsequent data period; and

determine, based on the detecting, that the second carrier frequency is available for use by the BS during the at least one subsequent data period.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for monitoring an indicator time slot on the first carrier frequency subsequent to the monitoring the reservation period on the second carrier frequency;

means for receiving an indication in the indicator time slot from a user equipment (UE) operating on the first carrier frequency, of a detection of at least one of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period or a confirmation of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period by a wireless node operating on the second carrier frequency; and

means for determining, based on the detection, that the second carrier frequency is not available for use by the BS during the subsequent data period.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for monitoring the reservation period on the second carrier frequency is configured to monitor the reservation period in a time slot within the reservation period assigned to the first operator.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein different operators are assigned different time slots within the reservation period to monitor the reservation of the second carrier frequency.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency are assigned in the same frequency band, and wherein the BS tunes out of the first carrier frequency to monitor the reservation period on the second carrier frequency.

19. An apparatus for wireless communication by a base station (BS) of a first operator, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

monitor, while operating on a first carrier frequency assigned to the first operator, a reservation period on a second carrier frequency assigned to a second operator that shares spectrum with the first operator;

determine, based on the monitoring, availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS during at least one subsequent data period; and

determine whether to attempt to reserve access on the second carrier frequency for use during the at least one subsequent data period based on the determined availability.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS by:

detecting, during the reservation period, at least one of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period or a confirmation of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period, by another wireless node operating on the second carrier frequency; and

determining, based on the detecting, that the second carrier frequency is not available for use by the BS during the at least one subsequent data period.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS by:

detecting no request or confirmation of a request, during the reservation period, for reserving the at least one subsequent data period; and

determining, based on the detecting, that the second carrier frequency is available for use by the BS during the at least one subsequent data period.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

monitor an indicator time slot on the first carrier frequency subsequent to the monitoring the reservation period on the second carrier frequency;

receive an indication in the indicator time slot from a user equipment (UE) operating on the first carrier frequency, of a detection of at least one of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period or a confirmation of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period by a wireless node operating on the second carrier frequency; and

determine, based on the detection, that the second carrier frequency is not available for use by the BS during the subsequent data period.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor is configured to monitor the reservation period on the second carrier frequency by monitoring the reservation period in a time slot within the reservation period assigned to the first operator.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein different operators are assigned different time slots within the reservation period to monitor the reservation of the second carrier frequency.

25. A computer-readable medium for wireless communication by a base station (BS) of a first operator, storing instructions which when executed by a processor performs a method comprising:

monitoring, while operating on a first carrier frequency assigned to the first operator, a reservation period on a second carrier frequency assigned to a second operator that shares spectrum with the first operator;

determining, based on the monitoring, availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS during at least one subsequent data period; and

determining whether to attempt to reserve access on the second carrier frequency for use during the at least one subsequent data period based on the determined availability.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein determining the availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS comprises:

detecting, during the reservation period, at least one of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period or a confirmation of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period, by another wireless node operating on the second carrier frequency; and

determining, based on the detecting, that the second carrier frequency is not available for use by the BS during the at least one subsequent data period.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein determining the availability of the second carrier frequency for use by the BS comprises:

detecting no request or confirmation of a request, during the reservation period, for reserving the at least one subsequent data period; and

determining, based on the detecting, that the second carrier frequency is available for use by the BS during the at least one subsequent data period.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions for:

monitoring an indicator time slot on the first carrier frequency subsequent to the monitoring the reservation period on the second carrier frequency;

receiving an indication in the indicator time slot from a user equipment (UE) operating on the first carrier frequency, of a detection of at least one of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period or a confirmation of a request for reserving the at least one subsequent data period by a wireless node operating on the second carrier frequency; and

determining, based on the detection, that the second carrier frequency is not available for use by the BS during the subsequent data period.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the monitoring the reservation period on the second carrier frequency comprises monitoring the reservation period in a time slot within the reservation period assigned to the first operator.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein different operators are assigned different time slots within the reservation period to monitor the reservation of the second carrier frequency.