Method and apparatus for providing communication offloading to unlicensed bands

• US 8,934,909 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2010
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Koskela, Timo, Van Phan, Vinh, Charbit, Gilles, Hakola, Sami-Jukka
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US12/782,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20110287794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455450-453, 455/456.2, 455/464, 455/509, 455/510, 455/63.3, 455/428, 455436-445, 370/395.41, 370/332, 370/468, 375/E7.141
• US Class Current: 455/444
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

An apparatus for providing network assisted local communication offloading to unlicensed bands may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least receiving, via signaling associated with licensed band resources, information indicative of unlicensed band resources available in a particular area, and providing resource availability data, via signaling associated with the licensed band resources, to one or more devices within the particular area. The resource availability data may enable unlicensed band resource usage by at least one of the one or more devices. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a registry node, from one or more of access points, evolved node Bs (eNBs), local access points, and mobile terminals, via signaling associated with licensed band resources, information indicative of unlicensed band resources available in a particular area; and

transmitting from one or more of the registry node, the access points, the eNBs, the local access points, and the mobile terminals to a local access point an instruction to cause the local access point to switch from licensed band resources to unlicensed band resources based on the available bandwidth of the unlicensed band.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the information comprises receiving a report on unlicensed band resources from a mobile terminal in the particular area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the information comprises receiving a report on unlicensed band resources from an access point in the particular area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the information further comprises storing the information at a network registry for provision to an access point associated with the particular area.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein providing resource availability data comprises indicating availability of unlicensed band resources to the access point.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the information comprises receiving the information from a network registry, the information being received at an access point associated with the particular area.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing resource availability data comprises directing a mobile terminal or access point in the particular area to utilize selected unlicensed band resources.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein providing resource availability data comprises identifying a secondary frequency and bandwidth for use of unlicensed band resources by one or more devices in the particular area.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing command instructions, via the licensed band resources, to one or more devices that have been directed to communicate user plane data via the unlicensed band resources.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising tracking interference levels of unknown unlicensed band systems detectable within the particular area.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein providing resource availability data comprises utilizing a virtual component carrier for use of unlicensed band resources by one or more devices in the particular area.

12. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive, via signaling associated with licensed band resources, information indicative of unlicensed band resources available in a particular area; and

transmit to a local access point an instruction to cause the local access point to switch from licensed band resources to unlicensed band resources based on the available bandwidth of the unlicensed band.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive the information by receiving a report on unlicensed band resources from a mobile terminal or an access point in the particular area.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to store the information at a network registry for provision to an access point associated with the particular area, wherein providing resource availability data comprises indicating availability of unlicensed band resources to the access point.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive the information by receiving the information from a network registry, the information being received at an access point associated with the particular area, wherein providing resource availability data comprises directing a mobile terminal or access point in the particular area to utilize selected unlicensed band resources or identifying a secondary frequency and bandwidth for use of unlicensed band resources by one or more devices in the particular area.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to provide command instructions, via the licensed band resources, to one or more devices that have been directed to communicate user plane data via the unlicensed band resources.

17. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive resource availability data, via signaling associated with the licensed band resources, the resource availability data enabling unlicensed band resource usage by at least one of the one or more devices; and

transmit to a local access point an instruction to cause the local access point to switch from licensed band resources to unlicensed band resources based on the available bandwidth of the unlicensed band.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive command instructions, via the licensed band resources.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to provide the information by providing the information for storage at a network registry for provision to an access point associated with the particular area.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory and computer program code being configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive resource availability data comprises receiving information identifying a secondary frequency and bandwidth for use of unlicensed band resources.