UPLINK TRANSMISSION TECHNIQUES IN SHARED SPECTRUM WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20190059001A1
• Filed: 08/16/2018
• Published: 02/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Yerramalli, Srinivas, Kadous, Tamer
• Granted Patent: US 11,051,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0073 Special arrangements for feedback channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1822 involving configuration of automatic repeat request [ARQ] with parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1854 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1864 ARQ related signaling H04L1/1607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1896 ARQ related signaling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0042 intra-user or intra-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0064 Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0096 Indication of changes in allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1268 of uplink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. The described techniques provide for transmission of uplink data from a user equipment (UE) in the absence of scheduled uplink resources for the uplink data transmission that are allocated to the UE prior to the transmission of the uplink data. Various examples provide uplink configurations that may be used for unscheduled uplink transmissions of a UE, which may be selected dynamically or semi-statically. Unscheduled uplink transmissions may be transmitted in shared radio frequency spectrum according to one or more frame structures, and access to the shared radio frequency spectrum may be determined based on a priority of an operator associated with a UE for accessing the spectrum. Beamforming techniques may be used for transmissions and beam widths may be selected based on the information in a transmission, an operator priority for use of shared radio frequency spectrum, or any combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment (UE), a plurality of uplink configurations from a base station, the plurality of uplink configurations for unscheduled uplink transmissions from the UE to the base station;

receiving, at the UE, a dynamic indication of a first uplink configuration of the plurality of uplink configurations to be used for a first unscheduled uplink transmission from the UE to the base station; and

transmitting the first unscheduled uplink transmission using the first uplink configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the plurality of uplink configurations comprises:

receiving radio resource control (RRC) signaling from the base station that includes the plurality of uplink configurations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the dynamic indication of the first uplink configuration comprises:

receiving downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control (MAC) control element from the base station that indicates the first uplink configuration is to be used for the first unscheduled uplink transmission.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each uplink configuration of the plurality of uplink configurations comprises one or more parameters associated with an unscheduled uplink transmission, the one or more parameters including one or more of:

a number of transport blocks (TBs) to be carried in each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a scheduling set size that indicates a size of each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

an interlace allocation for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a number of configured hybrid acknowledgment repeat request (HARQ) processes for the number of TBs to be carried in each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

an acknowledgment/negative-acknowledgment (ACK/NACK) bundling scheme for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a rank indication for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a scaling factor to be used to determine uplink control information (UCI) resources for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration, the scaling factor based at least in part on the rank indication and number of TBs;

a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) configuration for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

or

a number of repetitions for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of uplink configurations includes an identification index number, and wherein the dynamic indication includes the identification index number of the first uplink configuration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic indication of the first uplink configuration of the plurality of uplink configurations is used for a plurality of unscheduled uplink transmissions from the UE to the base station until a second dynamic indication indicates a different uplink configuration is to be used for uplink transmissions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises:

identifying, at the UE, wireless resources within a shared radio frequency spectrum band that are available for unscheduled uplink transmissions;

determining that at least a portion of the identified wireless resources are available for the first unscheduled uplink transmission; and

transmitting the first unscheduled uplink transmission based at least in part on the determining.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining comprises:

performing a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure at the UE to determine availability of at least the portion of the identified wireless resources for the first unscheduled uplink transmission.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the identifying comprises:

receiving a first downlink transmission in a first portion of a self-contained radio subframe that indicates that a second portion of the self-contained radio subframe is available for the unscheduled uplink transmission, and wherein the first downlink transmission includes the dynamic indication of the first uplink configuration of the plurality of uplink configurations.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, subsequent to transmitting the first unscheduled uplink transmission, an acknowledgment indicating successful or unsuccessful receipt of the first unscheduled uplink transmission at the base station.

11. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

configuring a user equipment (UE) with a plurality of uplink configurations, the plurality of uplink configurations for unscheduled uplink transmissions from the UE to a base station;

identifying wireless resources that are available for unscheduled uplink transmissions;

transmitting, to the UE, an indication of the identified wireless resources that are available for unscheduled uplink transmissions and a first uplink configuration of the plurality of uplink configurations to be used for unscheduled uplink transmissions using the identified wireless resources; and

monitoring the identified wireless resources for a first unscheduled uplink transmission from the UE.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the configuring the UE with the plurality of uplink configurations comprises:

transmitting radio resource control (RRC) signaling to the UE that includes the plurality of uplink configurations.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting the indication of the identified wireless resources and the first uplink configuration comprises:

transmitting downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control (MAC) control element to the UE that indicates the first uplink configuration is to be used for unscheduled uplink transmissions in the identified wireless resources.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein each uplink configuration of the plurality of uplink configurations comprises one or more parameters associated with an unscheduled uplink transmission, the one or more parameters including one or more of:

a number of transport blocks (TBs) to be carried in each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a scheduling set size that indicates a size of each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

an interlace allocation for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a number of configured hybrid acknowledgment repeat request (HARQ) processes for the number of TBs to be carried in each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

an acknowledgment/negative-acknowledgment (ACK/NACK) bundling scheme for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a rank indication for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a scaling factor to be used to determine uplink control information (UCI) resources for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration, the scaling factor based at least in part on the rank indication and number of TBs;

a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) configuration for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

or

a number of repetitions for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving the first unscheduled uplink transmission from the UE according to the first uplink configuration;

determining whether information contained in the first unscheduled uplink transmission is successfully decoded at the base station; and

transmitting a downlink transmission that includes an acknowledgment/negative-acknowledgment (ACK/NACK) indicating successful or unsuccessful receipt of the first unscheduled uplink transmission at the base station.

16. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to;

receive a plurality of uplink configurations from a base station, the plurality of uplink configurations for unscheduled uplink transmissions from a user equipment (UE) to the base station;

receive a dynamic indication of a first uplink configuration of the plurality of uplink configurations to be used for a first unscheduled uplink transmission from the UE to the base station; and

transmit the first unscheduled uplink transmission using the first uplink configuration.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause the apparatus to:

receive radio resource control (RRC) signaling from the base station that includes the plurality of uplink configurations.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause the apparatus to:

receive downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control (MAC) control element from the base station that indicates the first uplink configuration is to be used for the first unscheduled uplink transmission.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each uplink configuration of the plurality of uplink configurations comprises one or more parameters associated with an unscheduled uplink transmission, the one or more parameters including one or more of:

a number of transport blocks (TBs) to be carried in each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a scheduling set size that indicates a size of each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

an interlace allocation for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a number of configured hybrid acknowledgment repeat request (HARQ) processes for the number of TBs to be carried in each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

an acknowledgment/negative-acknowledgment (ACK/NACK) bundling scheme for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a rank indication for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a scaling factor to be used to determine uplink control information (UCI) resources for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration, the scaling factor based at least in part on the rank indication and number of TBs;

a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) configuration for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

or

a number of repetitions for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of uplink configurations includes an identification index number, and wherein the dynamic indication includes the identification index number of the first uplink configuration.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the dynamic indication of the first uplink configuration of the plurality of uplink configurations is used for a plurality of unscheduled uplink transmissions from the UE to the base station until a second dynamic indication indicates a different uplink configuration is to be used for uplink transmissions.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause the apparatus to:

identify wireless resources within a shared radio frequency spectrum band that are available for unscheduled uplink transmissions;

determine that at least a portion of the identified wireless resources are available for the first unscheduled uplink transmission; and

transmit the first unscheduled uplink transmission based at least in part on the determination.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause the apparatus to:

perform a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure to determine availability of at least the portion of the identified wireless resources for the first unscheduled uplink transmission.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause the apparatus to:

receive a first downlink transmission in a first portion of a self-contained radio subframe that indicates that a second portion of the self-contained radio subframe is available for the unscheduled uplink transmission, and wherein the first downlink transmission includes the dynamic indication of the first uplink configuration of the plurality of uplink configurations.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause the apparatus to:

receive, subsequent to transmission of the first unscheduled uplink transmission, an acknowledgment indicating successful or unsuccessful receipt of the first unscheduled uplink transmission at the base station.

26. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to;

configure a user equipment (UE) with a plurality of uplink configurations, the plurality of uplink configurations for unscheduled uplink transmissions from the UE to a base station;

identify wireless resources that are available for unscheduled uplink transmissions;

transmit, to the UE, an indication of the identified wireless resources that are available for unscheduled uplink transmissions and a first uplink configuration of the plurality of uplink configurations to be used for unscheduled uplink transmissions using the identified wireless resources; and

monitor the identified wireless resources for a first unscheduled uplink transmission from the UE.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause the apparatus to:

transmit radio resource control (RRC) signaling to the UE that includes the plurality of uplink configurations.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause the apparatus to:

transmit downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control (MAC) control element to the UE that indicates the first uplink configuration is to be used for unscheduled uplink transmissions in the identified wireless resources.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein each uplink configuration of the plurality of uplink configurations comprises one or more parameters associated with an unscheduled uplink transmission, the one or more parameters including one or more of:

a number of transport blocks (TBs) to be carried in each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a scheduling set size that indicates a size of each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

an interlace allocation for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a number of configured hybrid acknowledgment repeat request (HARQ) processes for the number of TBs to be carried in each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

an acknowledgment/negative-acknowledgment (ACK/NACK) bundling scheme for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a rank indication for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

a scaling factor to be used to determine uplink control information (UCI) resources for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration, the scaling factor based at least in part on the rank indication and number of TBs;

a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) configuration for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration;

or

a number of repetitions for each unscheduled uplink transmission according to the uplink configuration.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause the apparatus to:

receive the first unscheduled uplink transmission from the UE according to the first uplink configuration;

determine whether information contained in the first unscheduled uplink transmission is successfully decoded at the base station; and

transmit a downlink transmission that includes an acknowledgment/negative-acknowledgment (ACK/NACK) indicating successful or unsuccessful receipt of the first unscheduled uplink transmission at the base station.