Offloading and reselection policies and rules for mobile devices

• US 9,825,748 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Liang, Huarui, Tabet, Tarik, Belghoul, Farouk, Zhang, Dawei
• Primary Examiner(s): Rutkowski, Jeffrey M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Li, Ning
• Application Number:
  US14/502,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20150223115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/715 Interference-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/7154 with means for preventing interference
• 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 5/0012 Hopping in multicarrier systems for frequency hopping in spread spectrum systems H04B1/713
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0073 Allocation arrangements that take into account other cell interferences for intercell interference mitigation or co-ordination in orthogonal multiplex systems H04J11/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/082 among bearers or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for managing use of radio frequency channels in unlicensed radio frequency bands by a wireless communication device in communication with a cellular wireless network are disclosed. The wireless communication device obtains, from an eNodeB of the wireless network, one or more access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) policies that include rules for mobility of the wireless communication device and offloading of traffic for the wireless communication device to radio frequency channels in an unlicensed radio frequency band. The wireless communication device determines when at least one radio frequency channel in the unlicensed radio frequency band is available for offloading traffic, for network selection, for network re-selection, or for a supplemental connection via carrier aggregation based on the ANDSF policies, measured interference levels, and/or loading information provided by the eNodeB.

Claims

1. A method for managing use of radio frequency channels in an unlicensed radio frequency band, the method comprising:

by a wireless communication device;

obtaining one or more access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) policies for mobility to move connections of the wireless communication device between cellular network-managed cells that operate in a licensed radio frequency band and cellular network-managed wireless local area networks (WLANs) that operate in the unlicensed radio frequency band;

obtaining one or more ANDSF policies for offloading data communication traffic between radio frequency channels in the licensed radio frequency band and radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band, which include both cellular network-managed WLAN radio frequency channels and cellular network-scheduled radio frequency channels for unlicensed Long Term Evolution (LTE-U) secondary cells;

monitoring radio frequency interference levels for one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band;

obtaining loading information for the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band; and

when the monitored radio frequency interference levels and the loading information indicate that at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band is available for offloading in accordance with the one or more ANDSF policies for offloading data communication traffic, transferring at least a portion of data communication traffic from a radio frequency channel in the licensed radio frequency band to the at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band,

wherein the ANDSF policies include at least a first list of WLAN radio frequency channels for cellular network-managed WLAN communication in the unlicensed radio frequency band, a second list of LTE-U radio frequency channels for cellular network-scheduled communication in the unlicensed radio frequency band, and rules for offloading to LTE-U radio frequency channels based on LTE-U interference levels and LTE-U loading levels.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

by the wireless communication device;

providing the radio frequency interference levels for the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band to an enhanced NodeB of a wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device includes at least a cellular wireless subsystem configured to operate in accordance with a Long Term Evolution (LTE) or Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) wireless communication protocol.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless communication device includes at least a wireless local area network subsystem configured to operate in accordance with a Wi-Fi wireless communication protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored radio frequency interference levels indicate that the at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band is available for offloading when a monitored level of radio frequency interference for the at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels is below an interference threshold level specified in the ANDSF policies.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the loading information indicates that the at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band is available for offloading when a loading level for the at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band is below a loading threshold level specified in the ANDSF policies.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ANDSF policies are communicated by an enhanced NodeB of a wireless network using radio resource control (RRC) signaling messages.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the ANDSF policies are communicated by an enhanced NodeB of a wireless network using system information block (SIB) messages.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the ANDSF policies for mobility include rules for reselection to cellular network-managed WLAN connections based on a combination of LTE-U interference levels and WLAN interference levels; and

a cellular wireless subsystem of the wireless communication device measures the LTE-U interference levels, while a WLAN wireless subsystem of the wireless communication device measures the WLAN interference levels.

10. A wireless communication device comprising:

a cellular wireless subsystem;

a wireless local area network (WLAN) wireless subsystem; and

processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the cellular and WLAN wireless subsystems, the processing circuitry configured to cause the wireless communication device to;

obtain one or more access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) policies for offloading data communication traffic between radio frequency channels in a licensed radio frequency band and radio frequency channels in an unlicensed radio frequency band, which include both cellular network-managed wireless local area network (WLAN) radio frequency channels and cellular network-scheduled radio frequency channels for unlicensed Long Term Evolution (LTE-U) secondary cells;

monitor radio frequency interference levels for one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band;

obtain loading information for the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band; and

when the monitored radio frequency interference levels and the loading information indicate that at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band is available for offloading in accordance with the one or more ANDSF policies for offloading data communication traffic, transfer at least a portion of data communication traffic from a radio frequency channel in the licensed radio frequency band to the at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band,

wherein the ANDSF policies include at least a first list of WLAN radio frequency channels for cellular network-managed WLAN communication in the unlicensed radio frequency band, a second list of LTE-U radio frequency channels for cellular network-scheduled communication in the unlicensed radio frequency band, and rules for offloading to LTE-U radio frequency channels based on LTE-U interference levels and LTE-U loading levels.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless communication device to:

provide the radio frequency interference levels for the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band to an enhanced NodeB of a wireless network.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the cellular wireless subsystem operates in accordance with a Long Term Evolution (LTE) or Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) wireless communication protocol, and the WLAN wireless subsystem operates in accordance with a Wi-Fi wireless communication protocol.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the monitored radio frequency interference levels indicate that the at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band is available for offloading when a monitored level of radio frequency interference is below an interference for the at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels threshold level specified in the ANDSF policies.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the loading information indicates that the at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band is available for offloading when a loading level for the at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band is below a loading threshold level specified in the ANDSF policies.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the ANDSF policies for offloading traffic are communicated by an enhanced NodeB of a wireless network using one or more of:

Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling messages and System Information Block (SIB) messages.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless communication device to:

obtain one or more ANDSF policies for mobility to move connections of the wireless communication device between cellular network-managed cells that operate in the licensed radio frequency band and cellular network-managed wireless local area networks (WLANs) that operate in the unlicensed radio frequency band.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless communication device to:

obtain additional information from an enhanced NodeB about radio frequency interference levels for one or more of radio frequency channels specified in the first and second lists of radio frequency channels.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein:

the ANDSF policies for mobility include rules for reselection to cellular network-managed WLAN connections based on a combination of LTE-U interference levels and WLAN interference levels; and

the cellular wireless subsystem of the wireless communication device measures the LTE-U interference levels, while the WLAN wireless subsystem of the wireless communication device measures the WLAN interference levels.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to:

obtain one or more access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) policies for offloading data communication traffic between radio frequency channels in a licensed radio frequency band and radio frequency channels in an unlicensed radio frequency band, which include both cellular network-managed wireless local area network (WLAN) radio frequency channels and cellular network-scheduled radio frequency channels for unlicensed Long Term Evolution (LTE-U) secondary cells;

monitor radio frequency interference levels for one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band;

obtain loading information for the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band; and

when the monitored radio frequency interference levels and the loading information indicate that at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band is available for offloading in accordance with the one or more ANDSF policies for offloading data communication traffic, transfer at least a portion of data communication traffic from a radio frequency channel in the licensed radio frequency band to the at least one of the one or more LTE-U radio frequency channels in the unlicensed radio frequency band,

wherein the ANDSF policies include at least a first list of WLAN radio frequency channels for cellular network-managed WLAN communication in the unlicensed radio frequency band, a second list of LTE-U radio frequency channels for cellular network-scheduled communication in the unlicensed radio frequency band, and rules for offloading to LTE-U radio frequency channels based on LTE-U interference levels and LTE-U loading levels.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein:

the ANDSF policies for mobility include rules for reselection to cellular network-managed WLAN connections based on a combination of LTE-U interference levels and WLAN interference levels; and

a cellular wireless subsystem of the wireless communication device measures the LTE-U interference levels, while a WLAN wireless subsystem of the wireless communication device measures the WLAN interference levels.