Unlicensed frequency band with licensed frequency band timing

• US 9,801,198 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Kalhan, Amit
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US15/311,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20170086213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 455421, 4554221, 455424, 4554352, 455 411, 455 412, 455525, 455454, 455434
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2615 using hybrid frequency-time division multiple access [FDMA-TDMA]
• 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: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• 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 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0866 using a dedicated channel for access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

The timing used by communication equipment in a licensed frequency band by is used by the communication equipment for communication in an unlicensed frequency band. Time divisions, such as frames, subframes, timeslots, and symbol times, defined for use in the licensed frequency band are used by the communication equipment to communicate in the unlicensed frequency band. Before a transmitting device transmits within the unlicensed frequency band, the unlicensed frequency band is monitored for radio frequency energy to determine if the spectrum is currently being used. If no energy is detected, or the level is below a threshold, it is determined that the unlicensed band can be used by the transmitter.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting from communication equipment first signals within a licensed frequency band using a timing structure comprising frames, subframes and timeslots;

transmitting from the communication equipment second signals within an unlicensed frequency band using the timing structure;

monitoring the unlicensed frequency band;

determining, at least partially based on the monitoring, whether the unlicensed frequency band is in use; and

transmitting, from the communication equipment, the second signals within the unlicensed frequency band only if the unlicensed frequency band is determined to not be in use.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the timing structure is in accordance with a revision of The Third-Generation Partnership Project Long-Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) communication specification.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, from the communication equipment, a reserve signal within the unlicensed frequency band only if the unlicensed frequency band is determined to not be in use, the reserve signal resulting in monitoring devices monitoring the unlicensed frequency band to determine that the unlicensed frequency band is in use.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the monitoring is performed in a first subframe of the timing structure, the first subframe prior to a second subframe of the timing structure and the second signals are transmitted within the second subframe.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein a transmitting device transmits the second signals and the monitoring is performed by the transmitting device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the transmitting device is an enhanced Node B (eNB) providing wireless service within a service area.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting, from the eNB, control information to a user equipment (UE) device, the control information identifying communication resources within the unlicensed frequency band used for transmitting the second signal from the eNB to the UE device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting, from the eNB, the control information comprises transmitting the control information within a subframe of the timing structure, and wherein the transmitting of the second signal comprises transmitting the second signal within the subframe.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting, from the eNB, the control information comprises transmitting the control information within a first subframe of the timing structure, and wherein the transmitting of the second signal comprises transmitting the second signal within a second subframe subsequent to the first subframe.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the transmitting device is a user equipment (UE) device within a service area of an enhanced Node B (eNB) providing wireless service within the service area.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting, from the eNB, control information to the UE device, the control information identifying communication resources within the unlicensed frequency band used for transmitting the second signal from the UE device to the eNB.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting, from the eNB, the control information comprises transmitting the control information within a first subframe of the timing structure, and wherein the transmitting of the second signal comprises transmitting the second signal within a second subframe subsequent to the first subframe.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein a transmitting device transmits the second signals and the monitoring is performed by another device different from the transmitting device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmitting device is an enhanced Node B (eNB) providing wireless service within a service area and the another device is a user equipment (UE) device within the service area.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting, from the eNB, control information to the UE device, the control information identifying communication resources within the unlicensed frequency band used for transmitting the second signal from the eNB to the UE device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting, from the eNB, the control information comprises transmitting the control information within a subframe of the timing structure, and wherein the transmitting of the second signal comprises transmitting the second signal within the subframe, the method further comprising:

buffering, at the UE device, data within the unlicensed frequency band.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting, from the eNB, the control information comprises transmitting the control information within a first subframe of the timing structure, and wherein the transmitting of the second signal comprises transmitting the second signal within a second subframe subsequent to the first subframe.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmitting device is a user equipment (UE) device within a service area of an enhanced Node B (eNB) providing wireless service within the service area.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting, from the eNB, control information to the UE device, the control information identifying communication resources within the unlicensed frequency band used for transmitting the second signal from the UE device to the eNB.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the transmitting, from the eNB, the control information comprises transmitting the control information within a first subframe of the timing structure, and wherein the transmitting of the second signal comprises transmitting the second signal within a second subframe subsequent to the first subframe.