Carrier aggregation using unlicensed frequency bands

• US 9,813,916 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tabet, Tarik, Zhang, Dawei, Zhao, Wen
• Primary Examiner(s): Mered, Habte
• Application Number:
  US15/384,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20170105125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• 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 72/542 using measured or perceived quality

Abstract

Carrier aggregation using unlicensed frequency bands. A primary carrier for communication between a base station (BS) and a wireless user equipment (UE) device may be configured according to a first wireless communication technology. The primary carrier may be on a licensed frequency band. A secondary carrier for communication between the BS and the UE may also be configured according to a first wireless communication technology. The secondary carrier may be on an unlicensed frequency band. Channel conditions for each of multiple possible channels of the unlicensed frequency band may be assessed according to a second wireless communication technology as part of configuring the secondary carrier.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a mobile station;

establishing a primary carrier with a base station according to a cellular communication technology, wherein the primary carrier is on a licensed frequency band;

receiving, from the base station, configuration information of first and second secondary carriers, wherein the first and second secondary carriers are configured according to the cellular communication technology, wherein the first and second secondary carriers are on an unlicensed frequency band, and wherein the first and second secondary carriers are initially inactive;

performing one or more first measurements on at least the first secondary carrier;

providing the one or more first measurements to the base station;

receiving an activation indication for the first secondary carrier in response to providing the one or more first measurements;

performing one or more second measurements of at least the first secondary carrier;

providing the one or more second measurements to the base station; and

in response to providing the one or more second measurements, performing handover from the first secondary carrier to the second secondary carrier, wherein said performing handover comprises;

receiving a deactivation indication for the first secondary carrier; and

receiving an activation indication for the second secondary carrier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing the handover comprises receiving a handover command comprising the deactivation indication and the activation indication.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein performing handover from the first secondary carrier to the second secondary carrier is performed in response to at least one metric of the one or more second measurements falling below a threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first measurements comprise channel condition measurements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first measurements comprise one or more measurements of interference or signal strength.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving the activation indication for the first secondary carriers is in response to selection of the first secondary carrier based on one or more of:

the one or more first measurements, feedback received from the mobile station, or network resource allocation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more second measurements comprise one or more measurements of received signal code power (RSCP) and reference signal received quality (RSRQ).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more the second measurements comprise link quality measurements.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing the one or more second measurements is performed in response to an event.

10. An apparatus configured for inclusion in a mobile device, comprising:

one or more memory mediums storing program instructions;

one or more processing elements coupled to the one or more memory mediums, wherein the one or more processing elements are configured to execute the program instructions to;

establish a primary carrier with a base station according to a cellular communication technology, wherein the primary carrier is on a licensed frequency band;

receive, from the base station, configuration information of first and second secondary carriers, wherein the first and second secondary carriers are configured according to the cellular communication technology, wherein the first and second secondary carriers are on an unlicensed frequency band, and wherein the first and second secondary carriers are initially inactive;

perform one or more first measurements on at least the first secondary carrier;

provide the one or more first measurements to the base station;

receive an activation indication for the first secondary carrier in response to providing the one or more first measurements;

perform one or more second measurements of at least the first secondary carrier;

provide the one or more second measurements to the base station; and

in response to providing the one or more second measurements, perform handover from the first secondary carrier to the second secondary carrier, wherein said performing handover comprises;

receiving a de-activation indication for the first secondary carrier; and

receiving an activation indication for the second secondary carrier.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said performing the handover comprises receiving a handover command comprising the deactivation indication and the activation indication.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein performing handover from the first secondary carrier to the second secondary carrier is performed in response to at least one metric of the one or more second measurements falling below a threshold.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more first measurements comprise one or more measurements of interference or signal strength.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said receiving the activation indication for the first secondary carriers is in response to selection of the first secondary carrier based on one or more of:

the one or more first measurements, feedback received from the mobile station, or network resource allocation.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more second measurements comprise one or more measurements of received signal code power (RSCP) and reference signal received quality (RSRQ).

16. A wireless user equipment (UE) device, comprising:

a radio, comprising one or more antennas configured for wireless communication; and

a processing element operably coupled to the radio,

wherein the radio and the processing element are configured to;

establish a primary carrier with a base station according to a cellular communication technology, wherein the primary carrier is on a licensed frequency band;

receive, from the base station, configuration information of first and second secondary carriers, wherein the first and second secondary carriers are configured according to the cellular communication technology, wherein the first and second secondary carriers are on an unlicensed frequency band, and wherein the first and second secondary carriers are initially inactive;

perform one or more first measurements on at least the first secondary carrier;

provide the one or more first measurements to the base station;

receive an activation indication for the first secondary carrier in response to providing the one or more first measurements;

perform one or more second measurements of at least the first secondary carrier;

provide the one or more second measurements to the base station; and

in response to providing the one or more second measurements, perform handover from the first secondary carrier to the second secondary carrier, wherein said performing handover comprises;

receiving a de-activation indication for the first secondary carrier; and

receiving an activation indication for the second secondary carrier.

17. The UE device of claim 16, wherein said performing the handover comprises receiving a handover command comprising the deactivation indication and the activation indication.

18. The UE device of claim 16, wherein performing handover from the first secondary carrier to the second secondary carrier is performed in response to at least one metric of the one or more second measurements falling below a threshold.

19. The UE device of claim 16, wherein said receiving the activation indication for the first secondary carriers is in response to selection of the first secondary carrier based on one or more of:

the one or more first measurements, feedback received from the mobile station, or network resource allocation.

20. The UE device of claim 16, wherein the one or more second measurements comprise one or more measurements of received signal code power (RSCP) and reference signal received quality (RSRQ).