Methods and apparatuses for shared multioperator LTE service in unlicensed frequency bands

• US 9,706,553 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2014
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Knapp, Edward, Prakash, Rajat
• Primary Examiner(s): Miah, Liton
• Application Number:
  US14/248,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20150289270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2011/0003 Combination with other multiplexing techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0006 Assessment of spectral gaps suitable for allocating digitally modulated signals, e.g. for carrier allocation in cognitive radio for spectrum sharing between different networks H04W16/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1263 Mapping of traffic onto schedule, e.g. scheduled allocation or multiplexing of flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are described for providing a shared eNodeB that is configured to provide shared network access to UEs associated with disparate cellular service providers, or operators, over one or more unlicensed frequency bands in a multi-operator, heterogeneous, and dual-connectivity-compatible system. In an example methodology, a shared eNodeB may establish a secondary communication link with a first user equipment associated with a first operators primary cell, then may establish another secondary communication link with a second UE associated with a second operators primary cell, wherein the shared eNodeB is configured to communicate with both a first core network associated with the first operator and a second core network associated with the second operator, and may communicate wirelessly over one or more unlicensed frequency bands with both the first UE via the first communication link and the second UE via the second communication link.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communications, comprising:

establishing, at a shared base station, a first communication link with a first user equipment (UE) associated with a first operator;

establishing, at the shared base station, a second communication link with a second UE associated with a second operator, wherein the shared base station is configured to communicate with both a first network associated with the first operator and a second network associated with the second operator;

communicating wirelessly, at the shared base station, over one or more unlicensed frequency bands with both the first UE via the first communication link and the second UE via the second communication link; and

determining, at the shared base station, a transmission routing order based on the communications with both the first UE and the second UE over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link comprises a secondary connection in a dual-connectivity wireless communication system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving operator network identification information from at least one of the first UE or the second UE, wherein the operator network identification information indicates that the first operator is associated with the first UE or the second operator is associated with the second UE.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving uplink data from at least one of the first UE or the second UE over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands;

determining an operator network to which the uplink data is to be routed based on the operator network identification information; and

routing the uplink data to a network entity associated with the operator network.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising allocating one or more backhaul resources for the uplink data in the operator network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving first downlink data from a first operator network associated with the first operator, wherein the first downlink data includes first destination information indicating that the first UE is to receive the first downlink data;

receiving second downlink data from a second operator network associated with the second operator, wherein the second downlink data includes second destination information indicating the second UE is to receive the second downlink data;

generating a transmission schedule for transmitting the first downlink data and the second downlink data; and

transmitting, over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands, both the first downlink data to the first UE and the second downlink data to the second UE based on the transmission schedule.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first downlink data is encoded according to a first encoding standard associated with the first operator and the second downlink data is encoded according to a second encoding standard associated with the second operator.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a common transmission over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands to both of the first UE and the second UE via a broadcast channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more unlicensed frequency bands comprise a frequency of at least one of about 5 GHz, about 3.5 GHz, or about 2.4 GHz.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link or the second communication link comprises a supplemental communication link.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared base station serves as a standalone base station on a condition that:

at least one of the first UE or the second UE is not yet associated with a licensed band operator;

or

at least one of the first UE or the second UE is not within a coverage of the licensed band operator.

12. An apparatus for mobile communications, comprising:

a memory storing executable instructions; and

a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to;

establish a first communication link with a first user equipment (UE) associated with a first operator and a second communication link with a second UE associated with a second operator;

communicate with both a first network associated with the first operator and a second network associated with the second operator;

communicate wirelessly over one or more unlicensed frequency bands with both the first UE via the first communication link and the second UE via the second communication link; and

determine a transmission routing order based on the communications with both the first UE and the second UE over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link comprise a secondary connection in a dual-connectivity wireless communication system.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to receive operator network identification information from at least one of the first UE or the second UE, wherein the operator network identification information indicates that the first operator is associated with the first UE or the second operator is associated with the second UE.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive uplink data from at least one of the first UE or the second UE over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands;

determine an operator network to which the uplink data is to be routed based on the operator network identification information; and

route the uplink data to a network entity associated with the operator network.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to allocate one or more backhaul resources for the uplink data in the operator network.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive first downlink data from a first operator network associated with the first operator, wherein the first downlink data includes first destination information indicating that the first UE is to receive the first downlink data;

receive second downlink data from a second operator network associated with the second operator, wherein the second downlink data includes second destination information indicating the second UE is to receive the second downlink data;

generate a transmission schedule for transmitting the first downlink data and the second downlink data; and

transmit, over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands, both the first downlink data to the first UE and the second downlink data to the second UE based on the transmission schedule.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first downlink data is encoded according to a first encoding standard associated with the first operator and the second downlink data is encoded according to a second encoding standard associated with the second operator.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to transmit a common transmission over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands to both of the first UE and the second UE via a broadcast channel.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more unlicensed frequency bands comprise a frequency of at least one of about 5 GHz, about 3.5 GHz, or about 2.4 GHz.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link or the second communication link comprises a supplemental communication link.

22. An apparatus for mobile communications, comprising:

means for establishing, at a shared base station, a first communication link with a first user equipment (UE) associated with a first operator;

means for establishing, at the shared base station, a second communication link with a second UE associated with a second operator, wherein the shared base station is configured to communicate with both a first network associated with the first operator and a second network associated with the second operator;

means for communicating wirelessly over one or more unlicensed frequency bands with both the first UE via the first communication link and the second UE via the second communication link; and

means for determining, at the shared base station, a transmission routing order based on the communications with both the first UE and the second UE over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link comprise a secondary connection in a dual-connectivity wireless communication system.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

means for receiving first downlink data from a first operator network associated with the first operator, wherein the first downlink data includes first destination information indicating that the first UE is to receive the first downlink data;

means for receiving second downlink data from a second operator network associated with the second operator, wherein the second downlink data includes second destination information indicating the second UE is to receive the second downlink data;

means for generating a transmission schedule for transmitting the first downlink data and the second downlink data; and

means for transmitting, over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands, both the first downlink data to the first UE and the second downlink data to the second UE based on the transmission schedule.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for communicating wirelessly further comprises means for transmitting a common transmission over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands to both of the first UE and the second UE via a broadcast channel.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

establish, at a shared base station, a first communication link with a first user equipment (UE) associated with a first operator;

establish, at the shared base station, a second communication link with a second UE associated with a second operator, wherein the shared base station is configured to communicate with both a first network associated with the first operator and a second network associated with the second operator;

communicate wirelessly over one or more unlicensed frequency bands with both the first UE via the first communication link and the second UE via the second communication link; and

determine, at the shared base station, a transmission routing order based on the communications with both the first UE and the second UE over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands.

27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link and the second communication link comprise a secondary connection in a dual-connectivity wireless communication system.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, further comprising instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive first downlink data from a first operator network associated with the first operator, wherein the first downlink data includes first destination information indicating that the first UE is to receive the first downlink data;

receive second downlink data from a second operator network associated with the second operator, wherein the second downlink data includes second destination information indicating the second UE is to receive the second downlink data;

generate a transmission schedule for transmitting the first downlink data and the second downlink data; and

transmit, over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands, both the first downlink data to the first UE and the second downlink data to the second UE based on the transmission schedule.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, further comprising instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit a common transmission over the one or more unlicensed frequency bands to both of the first UE and the second UE via a broadcast channel.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the one or more unlicensed frequency bands comprise a frequency of at least one of about 5 GHz, about 3.5 GHz, or about 2.4 GHz.

31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the first UE communicates with the first network via a first primary communication link and the second UE communicates with the second network via a second primary communication link, and wherein at least one of the first communication link or the second communication link comprises a supplemental communication link to the shared base station.