Selecting among spectrums within cells of a wireless communication network
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- selecting, by a corresponding access point within a corresponding cell of a wireless network, a spectrum to use for transmission of signals within the corresponding cell, wherein the spectrum that is selected is one of (i) a spectrum licensed for wireless communication, and (ii) a spectrum that is unlicensed;
transmitting, by the corresponding access point via the spectrum that is selected, signals to one or more user devices located within the corresponding cell;
receiving, by the corresponding access point via the spectrum that is selected, signals from the one or more user devices located within the corresponding cell;
determining, by the corresponding access point, that an additional user device within the corresponding cell should only operate on a licensed spectrum; and
in response to the spectrum that is selected being an unlicensed spectrum, handing off the additional user device to a corresponding base station of the wireless network.
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Abstract
A method of managing signals within a wireless network that comprises at least one macro cell, wherein the macro cell comprises at least one base station and a plurality of pico cells, and wherein each pico cell comprises an access point in communication with the at least one base station. The method includes selecting a spectrum to use for transmission of signals within a corresponding pico cell, wherein the spectrum that is selected is one of (i) a spectrum licensed for wireless communication, and (ii) a spectrum that is unlicensed. Signals within the corresponding are then transmitted and received over the selected spectrum.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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selecting, by a corresponding access point within a corresponding cell of a wireless network, a spectrum to use for transmission of signals within the corresponding cell, wherein the spectrum that is selected is one of (i) a spectrum licensed for wireless communication, and (ii) a spectrum that is unlicensed; transmitting, by the corresponding access point via the spectrum that is selected, signals to one or more user devices located within the corresponding cell; receiving, by the corresponding access point via the spectrum that is selected, signals from the one or more user devices located within the corresponding cell; determining, by the corresponding access point, that an additional user device within the corresponding cell should only operate on a licensed spectrum; and in response to the spectrum that is selected being an unlicensed spectrum, handing off the additional user device to a corresponding base station of the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a non-transitory storage medium; and instructions stored in the tangible storage medium, the instructions being executable by the apparatus to select a spectrum to use for transmission of signals within a corresponding cell within a wireless network, wherein the spectrum that is selected is one of (i) a spectrum licensed for wireless communication, and (ii) a spectrum that is unlicensed; transmit, via the spectrum that is selected, signals from a corresponding access point to one or more user devices located within the corresponding cell; receive, via the spectrum that is selected, signals at the corresponding access point from the one or more user devices located within the corresponding cell; determine that an additional user device within the corresponding cell should only operate on a licensed spectrum; and in response to the spectrum that is selected being an unlicensed spectrum, hand off the additional user device to a corresponding base station of the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method comprising:
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selecting, by a corresponding access point within a corresponding pico cell of a wireless network that comprises at least one macro cell, a spectrum to use for transmission of signals within the corresponding pico cell, wherein the spectrum that is selected is one of (i) a spectrum licensed for wireless communication, and (ii) a spectrum that is unlicensed, wherein the macro cell comprises at least one base station and a plurality of pico cells, and wherein each pico cell comprises an access point in communication with the at least one base station; transmitting, by the corresponding access point via the spectrum that is selected, signals to one or more user devices located within the corresponding pico cell; receiving, by the corresponding access point via the spectrum that is selected, signals from the one or more user devices located within the corresponding pico cell; determining, by the corresponding access point, that an additional user device within the corresponding cell should only operate on a licensed spectrum; and in response to the spectrum that is selected being an unlicensed spectrum, handing off the additional user device to the base station, wherein selecting a spectrum to use for transmission of signals within the corresponding pico cell is coordinated by the corresponding access point with the base station. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification