Carrier aggregation using unlicensed frequency bands
First Claim
1. 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 information indicating a plurality of channels on an unlicensed frequency band from the base station via the primary carrier;
determine whether the UE device is capable of communicating according to the cellular communication technology on each of the plurality of channels of the unlicensed frequency band;
transmit information indicating whether the UE device is capable of communicating according to the cellular communication technology on each of the plurality of channels of the unlicensed frequency band to the base station via the primary carrier, wherein the information indicates that the UE device is not capable of communicating according to the cellular communication technology for at least a first channel of the plurality of channels of the unlicensed frequency band, wherein the information is configured for use by the base station in selecting a channel on which to establish a secondary carrier; and
establish the secondary carrier with the base station according to the cellular communication technology, wherein the secondary carrier is on the unlicensed frequency band.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wireless user equipment (UE) device, comprising:
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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 information indicating a plurality of channels on an unlicensed frequency band from the base station via the primary carrier; determine whether the UE device is capable of communicating according to the cellular communication technology on each of the plurality of channels of the unlicensed frequency band; transmit information indicating whether the UE device is capable of communicating according to the cellular communication technology on each of the plurality of channels of the unlicensed frequency band to the base station via the primary carrier, wherein the information indicates that the UE device is not capable of communicating according to the cellular communication technology for at least a first channel of the plurality of channels of the unlicensed frequency band, wherein the information is configured for use by the base station in selecting a channel on which to establish a secondary carrier; and establish the secondary carrier with the base station according to the cellular communication technology, wherein the secondary carrier is on the unlicensed frequency band. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method, comprising:
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establishing a primary carrier between a base station and a mobile station according to a cellular communication technology, wherein the primary carrier is on a licensed frequency band; establishing a secondary carrier between the base station and the mobile station according to the cellular communication technology, wherein the secondary carrier is on an unlicensed frequency band; determining channel conditions of a first channel on which the secondary carrier is established; in response to the channel conditions of the first channel falling below a desired level, performing handover from the first channel to a second channel of the secondary carrier. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising:
one or more processing elements, wherein the one or more processing elements are configured to; establish a primary carrier between a base station and a mobile station according to a cellular communication technology, wherein the primary carrier is on a licensed frequency band; establish a secondary carrier between the base station and the mobile station according to the cellular communication technology, wherein the secondary carrier is on an unlicensed frequency band; determine channel conditions of a first channel on which the secondary carrier is established; in response to the channel conditions of the first channel falling below a desired level, perform handover from the first channel to a second channel of the secondary carrier. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification