BR112017024407B1 - TECHNIQUES FOR UPLINK TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

TECHNIQUES FOR UPLINK TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT. These are techniques for managing uplink transmission in a wireless communications system that are described in this document. An exemplary method may include receiving an explicit uplink grant that indicates one or more implicit uplink grants. In one aspect, the exemplary method may include performing a first clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to explicitly granting uplink in a first time slot. In another aspect, the exemplary method may include, if the first CCA fails, sequentially performing one or more additional CCAs respectively in one or more time slots subsequent to the first time slot in response to one or more implicit uplink grants, and transmit the PDU over the unlicensed or shared spectrum and in a time slot subsequent to the time slot in which one of the one or more additional CCAs succeeds.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO REFERRING ORDERS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application under serial no. U.S. 15/153,656, titled "TECHNIQUES FOR UPLINK TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT" and filed on May 12, 2016, and Patent Application under U.S. 62/161,839, titled " TECHNIQUES FOR UPLINK TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT" and deposited on May 14, 2015, which are expressly incorporated by reference in this document in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The aspects described generally refer to wireless communication systems. More particularly, the aspects described relate to techniques for managing uplink transmission in wireless communications.

[0003] Wireless communications systems are widely employed to provide various types of communication content, such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcasting, and so on. These systems can be multi-access systems that have the capacity to support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (for example, time, frequency and power). Examples of such multiple access systems include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, single carrier frequency division (SC-FDMA), time division synchronous code division multiple access systems (TD-SCDMA), and orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems.

[0004] These multiple access technologies have been adopted into various communication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate on a city, national, regional, and even global level. An example of a telecommunications standard is Long Term Evolution (LTE). LTE is a set of enhancements to the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile standard promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). LTE is designed to support mobile broadband access through improved spectral efficiency, decreased costs, and enhanced services through the use of downlink OFDMA, uplink SC-FDMA, and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology. . However, as demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, there is a need for further improvements in LTE technology. These improvements may also be applicable to other multiple access technologies and telecommunications standards that employ these technologies.

[0005] By way of example, a wireless multiple access communications system may include numerous base stations, each of which simultaneously supports communication to multiple communications devices, which may otherwise be known as user equipment (UEs). ), wireless devices, devices, or mobile stations (STAs). The base station may communicate with communication devices on downlink channels (e.g., for transmissions from a base station to a UE) and uplink channels (e.g., for transmissions from a UE to a base station). base).

[0006] As cellular networks have become more congested, operators are beginning to look for ways to maximize the use of available network resources. One approach may include utilizing unlicensed or shared spectrum (e.g., 5 Giga Hertz (GHz) band) to schedule traffic between the base station and the one or more communicating devices. As referenced herein, a wireless communications system that adapts LTE air interface to operate in unlicensed or shared spectrum may be called an LTE-U system or a license-assisted access (LAA) system. Unlicensed spectrum can be employed by cellular systems in different ways. For example, in some systems, unlicensed spectrum may be employed in a standalone configuration, with all carriers operating exclusively in an unlicensed portion of the wireless spectrum (e.g., LTE Standalone). In other systems, unlicensed spectrum may be employed in a manner that is complementary to licensed band operation by utilizing one or more unlicensed carriers that operate in the unlicensed portion of the wireless spectrum in conjunction with a licensed anchor carrier that operates in the licensed portion of the wireless spectrum (e.g., LTE Supplemental Downlink (SDL)).

[0007] Due to respective requirements related to operations in licensed spectrum and unlicensed or shared spectrum, uplink transmissions are generally subjected to a listen-before-talk (LBT) approach. That is, when a communication device (e.g., UE or STA) has uplink data for transmission, the communication device may perform a channel check (e.g., free channel assessment (CCA) or free channel assessment). extended (eCCA)) before transmitting any data on the uplink channel. If the result of the channel check indicates that a channel is available for uplink transmission, that is, the channel is clear for use and the channel check was successful, the communication device can then transmit uplink data accordingly. ascending. However, if the result of the channel check indicates that the channel is unavailable for uplink transmission, that is, the channel is currently busy and the channel check fails, the communicating device typically may have to wait up to some time. later, resulting in uplink transmission delays. Other aspects of operations in licensed spectrum and unlicensed or shared spectrum that can cause delays in uplink transmissions are related to the use of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) operations.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need to provide mechanisms for uplink transmission management that are suitable for wireless communications in an unlicensed or shared spectrum.

SUMMARY

[0009] Below, a simplified summary of one or more aspects is presented in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all aspects covered, and is not intended to identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects. The sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a preamble to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0010] The present disclosure presents examples of techniques for configuring a window size. In one aspect of the disclosure, an exemplary method for managing uplink transmissions in a license-assisted access (LAA) system may include receiving an explicit uplink grant that indicates one or more implicit uplink grants. In another aspect, the exemplary method may include performing a first free channel assessment (CCA) in response to explicitly granting uplink in a first time slot. In one aspect, the exemplary method may include, if the first CCA succeeds, transmitting a protocol data unit (PDU) over an unlicensed or shared spectrum and in a time slot subsequent to the first time slot. In another aspect, the exemplary method may include, if the first CCA fails, sequentially performing one or more additional CCAs respectively in one or more time partitions subsequent to the first time partition in response to one or more implicit uplink grants.

[0011] In another aspect, an exemplary method for managing uplink transmissions in an LAA system may include receiving an explicit uplink grant that indicates one or more implicit uplink grants. In one aspect, the exemplary method may include performing a first clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to explicitly granting uplink in a first time slot. In another aspect, the exemplary method may include, if the first CCA succeeds, respectively transmitting over an unlicensed or shared spectrum copies of a protocol data unit (PDU) in time slots immediately subsequent to the first time slot, in that a quantity of transmitted copies of the PDU is based, at least in part, on one or more implicit uplink grants.

[0012] In one aspect, an exemplary method for managing uplink transmissions in an LAA system may include receiving a first explicit uplink grant for transmission of a first protocol data unit (PDU) associated with a Request process. Hybrid Automatic Retry (HARQ) process and receive a second explicit uplink grant for transmission of a second PDU associated with a second HARQ process, with the second explicit uplink grant being received subsequent to the first explicit uplink grant. In another aspect, the exemplary method may include performing a first free channel assessment (CCA) in response to the first explicit uplink grant in a first time partition and performing a second CCA in response to the second explicit uplink grant in a second time partition. In another aspect, the exemplary method may include, if the first CCA fails and the second CCA succeeds, determining whether to transmit over an unlicensed or shared spectrum the first PDU or the second PDU in a time partition subsequent to the second time partition. time in association with the second HARQ process.

[0013] To achieve the aforementioned and related purposes, the one or more aspects comprise the features fully described from this point onwards in the present document and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and accompanying drawings present details of certain illustrative features of the one or more aspects. These resources indicate, however, only some of the diverse ways in which principles from various aspects can be employed, and this description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Hereinafter in this document, the disclosed aspects will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit the disclosed aspects, in which similar designations indicate similar elements, and in which.

[0015] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system in which uplink transmission management can be performed;

[0016] Figure 2A is a diagram illustrating an example of wireless communication system components for uplink granting and transmission management;

[0017] Figure 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of components of a network entity (e.g., base station or access point) in the wireless communication system for uplink grant management;

[0018] Figure 2C is a diagram illustrating an example of components of a mobile device (e.g., user equipment) in the wireless communication system for uplink transmission management;

[0019] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of wireless communication system subcomponents for uplink transmission management;

[0020] Figure 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of conventional operations in relation to uplink transmissions;

[0021] Figure 4B is a diagram illustrating another example of conventional operations in relation to uplink transmissions;

[0022] Figure 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of uplink transmission management operations;

[0023] Figure 5B is a diagram illustrating another example of uplink transmission management operations;

[0024] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating yet another example of uplink transmission management operations;

[0025] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for managing uplink transmission in an LAA system;

[0026] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of another method for managing uplink transmission in an LAA system;

[0027] Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of yet another method for managing uplink transmission in an LAA system;

[0028] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus employing a processing system.

[0029] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network entity (e.g., a base station or an access point) communicating with a UE in a telecommunications system that has aspects configured for transmission management uplink.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The detailed description presented below, in connection with the attached drawings, is intended to describe various configurations and is not intended to represent only the only configurations in which the concepts described herein can be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a complete understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts can be practiced without these specific details. In some cases, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring such concepts.

[0031] Various aspects of telecommunications systems will now be presented with reference to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methods will be described in the detailed description below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, components, circuits, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as "elements"). These elements can be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements can be implemented as hardware or software depends on the particular design and application constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0032] By way of example, an element or any portion of an element or any combination of elements may be implemented with a "processing system" that includes one or more processors. Examples of processors include microprocessors, microcontrollers, graphics processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), application processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors, systems in a chip (SoC), baseband processors, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, switching logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionalities described in the course of this revelation. One or more processors in the processing system may execute software. Software shall be interpreted broadly to mean instructions, set of instructions, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software components, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects , executables, threads, procedures, functions, etc., regardless of whether it is called software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language or otherwise.

[0033] Various aspects are now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a complete understanding of one or more aspects. It may be evident, however, that such aspect(s) can be practiced without these specific details.

[0034] As discussed above, congestion in the traditional licensed band (e.g., 2.4 GHz band) has motivated network operators to offload wireless wide area network (WW AN) traffic to unlicensed or shared spectrum ( e.g. 5 GHz band) in order to meet ever-increasing bandwidth demands. In LTE over unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) systems or LAA systems, uplink transmissions from a UE to a network entity (e.g., eNodeB) are subject to the listen-before-talk (LBT) principle. In one aspect, the UE may have to perform a channel check before transmitting data on the uplink channel. When the channel check fails, unnecessary delays may occur as the UE may have to wait for a subsequent uplink grant to transmit data. In some examples, the data transmitted on the uplink data may be out of order.

[0035] Thus, in one aspect, a network entity may be configured to include, indicate, or specify one or more implicit uplink grants in an explicit uplink grant. That is, when a UE receives the explicit uplink grant and a first channel check fails, the UE can perform another channel check as if the UE received more than one explicit uplink grant. As referenced herein, a channel check may refer to an operation to determine whether a channel is available to transmit data. Therefore, the UE may not have to wait for the network entity to transmit another explicit uplink grant many timeslots later which may cause delays in uplink transmissions. Additionally, in another aspect, when the UE receives the explicit uplink grant with the implicit uplink grants included therein, the UE may be configured to transmit one or more copies of the data (e.g., transmit copies with different data information). redundancy) on the uplink so that the delay caused by a possible retransmission can be mitigated.

[0036] In another aspect, when there is a block in transmission in a first data unit, such as a protocol data unit (PDU) (e.g., a transmission of the PDU does not occur) due to a failed channel check , the UE may be configured to transmit the first PDU when the UE receives a subsequent uplink grant for a second PDU. Therefore, a first-in-time PDU can be transmitted before the other PDUs.

[0037] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 100 in which techniques for managing uplink transmission can be performed in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system 100 includes base stations 105, small cell access points (AP) 120, mobile devices 115, and a core network 130. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the base station 105 may be referred to as a wireless communications system 100. -macrocell base station, and the AP 120 can be called a small cell base station. Base station 105 and AP 120 may generally be referred to as network entities as they are configured to provide network access to mobile devices 115. One or more mobile devices 115 may include an uplink transmission manager component. 201 configured to manage uplink transmissions as further described herein. On the other hand, one or more network entities (base stations 105 by way of example) may include an uplink grant manager component 211 configured to generate or manage explicit uplink grant, or implicit uplink grant, or both. The core network 130 may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The base stations 105 may interface with the core network 130 via backhaul links 132 (e.g., SI, etc.). Base stations 105 and AP 120 may perform radio configuration and programming for communication with mobile devices 115, or may operate under the control of a base station controller (not shown). In various examples, base station 105 and AP 120 may communicate, directly or indirectly (e.g., via core network 130), with each other via backhaul channel traffic links 134 (e.g., X2, over the air (OTA) etc.), which can be wired or wireless communication links. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the base station 105 and the AP 120 may share their respective timing parameters associated with communication scheduling.

[0038] The base station 105 and the AP 20 may communicate wirelessly with the mobile devices 115 via one or more antennas. Each of the base station 105 and AP 120 locations may provide communications coverage for a respective geographic coverage area 110. In some examples, the base station 105 may be referred to as a transceiver base station, a radio base, an access point, a radio transceiver, a NodeB, eNodeB (eNB), Origin NodeB, an Origin eNodeB, or some other suitable technology. The geographic coverage area 110-a for a base station 105 and the coverage area 110-b for AP 120 can be divided into sectors that make up only a portion of the coverage area (not shown). The wireless communications system 100 may include base station 105 and AP 120 of different types (e.g., macrocell and/or small cell base stations). There may be overlapping geographic coverage areas 110 for different technologies.

[0039] Although mobile devices 115 may communicate with each other through the base station 105 and the AP 120 using communication links 125, each mobile device 115 may also directly communicate with one or more other mobile devices 115 via a direct wireless link 135. Two or more mobile devices 115 may communicate via a direct wireless link 135 when both mobile devices 115 are in geographic coverage area 110 or when one or more mobile devices 115 are in the geographic coverage area of AP 110-b. Examples of direct wireless link 135 may include direct Wi-Fi connections, connections established using a Wi-Fi Tunnel Direct Link Configuration (TDLS) link, and other P2P group connections. In other deployments, other end-to-end connections or ad hoc type networks may be deployed to the wireless communications system 100.

[0040] In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 includes a wireless wide area network (WW AN) such as an LTE/LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network. WW AN technologies such as LTE or LTE-A can be adapted for operation over unlicensed or shared spectrum. In LTE/LTE-A networks, the term evolved node B (eNB) may be used generally to describe base stations 105, while the term user equipment (UE) or wireless devices may be used generally to describe mobile devices 115. Wireless communications system 100 may include a heterogeneous LTE/LTE-A network in which different types of eNBs provide coverage for various geographic regions. The wireless communications system 100 may also support eCC operations, which may use listen before talking (LBT) as well as LTE over unlicensed spectrum, but may have a different numerology than LTE over unlicensed spectrum.

[0041] The wireless communications system 100 may, in some examples, also support a wireless local area network (WLAN). A WLAN can be a network that employs techniques based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11x ("Wi-Fi") family of standards. In some examples, each eNB or base station 105 and AP 120 may provide communication coverage for a macrocell, a small cell, or other cell types. The term "cell" is a 3 GPP term that can be used to describe a base station, a carrier or component carrier associated with a base station, or a coverage area (e.g., sector, etc.) of a carrier or base station, depending on the context.

[0042] A macrocell generally covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by mobile device 115 with service subscriptions with the network provider. A small cell is a lower powered base station, compared to a macrocell, which can operate in the same or different frequency bands (e.g., licensed, unlicensed, etc.) as the macrocells or in different frequency bands. Small cells can include pico cells, femto cells and micro cells, according to several examples. A picocell, for example, may cover a small geographic area and may allow unrestricted access by mobile device 115 with service subscriptions with the network provider. A femto cell may also cover a small geographic area (e.g., a home) and may provide restricted access by mobile device 115 that has an association with the femto cell (e.g., mobile device 115 in a closed subscriber group (CSG) , mobile device 115 for users at home and the like). An eNB for a macro cell can be called a macro eB. An eNB for a small cell can be called a small cell eNB, a pico eNB, a femto eNB, or a home eNB. An eNB may support one or multiple (e.g., two, three, four, and the like) cells (e.g., component carriers). In some aspects of the present disclosure, the base station 105 may be called a macrocell base station, and the AP 120 may be called a small cell base station.

[0043] The wireless communications system 100 may support synchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, base stations 105 may have similar frame timing, and transmissions from different base stations 105 may be approximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, base stations 105 may have different frame timing, and transmissions from different base stations 105 may not be time aligned. The techniques described in this document can be used for both synchronous and asynchronous operations.

[0044] Communication networks that can accommodate some of the various examples disclosed may be packet-based networks that operate according to a layered protocol stack. At the user plane, communications at the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) or carrier layer can be IP-based. A radio link control (RLC) layer can perform packet reassembly and segmentation to communicate over logical channels. A media access control (MAC) layer can perform multiplexing and priority manipulation of logical channels on transport channels. The MAC layer can also use Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) to provide retransmission at the MAC layer to improve link efficiency. In the control plane, the radio resource control (RRC) protocol layer may provide establishment, configuration, and maintenance of an RRC connection between a mobile device 115 and base stations 105. The RRC protocol layer may also be used for core network support 130 of radio carriers for user plane data. At the Physical layer (PHY), transport channels can be mapped to physical channels.

[0045] Mobile devices 115 are dispersed throughout the wireless communications system 100, and each mobile device 115 may be stationary or mobile. A mobile device 115 may also include or be referred to by those skilled in the art as a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a subscriber station, STA, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology. A mobile device 115 may be a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a tablet-type computer, a laptop-type computer, a wireless telephone, wire, a wireless local loop station (WLL) or similar. A mobile device can communicate with various types of base stations and network equipment that include macroeNBs, small cell eNBs, relay base stations, and the like. In some examples, a dual radio UE 115-a may include a WLAN radio (not shown) and a WW AN radio (not shown) that may be configured to communicate concurrently with the base station 105 (using WW AN) and with the AP 120 (using WLAN radio).

[0046] The communication links 125 shown in the wireless communications system 100 may include uplink (UL) transmissions from a mobile device 115 to a base station 105 or an AP 120, or downlink (DL) transmissions, from a base station 105 or an AP 120 to a mobile device 115. Downlink transmissions can also be called forward link transmissions while uplink transmissions can also be called reverse link transmissions. Each of the communication links 125 may include one or more carriers, wherein each carrier may be a signal produced from multiple subcarriers (e.g., waveform signals of different frequencies) modulated in accordance with various radio technologies. described above. Each modulated signal can be sent on a different subcarrier and can carry control information (e.g. reference signals, control channels, etc.), overload information, user data, etc. Communication links 125 may transmit bidirectional communications using frequency division duplex (FDD) operation (e.g., using paired spectrum resources) or time division duplex (TDD) operation (e.g., using unpaired spectrum resources). Frame structures can be defined for FDD (e.g. frame structure type 1) and TDD (e.g. frame structure type 2).

[0047] Communication links 125 may utilize licensed spectrum resources or unlicensed spectrum resources, or both. More broadly, unlicensed spectrum in some jurisdictions can range from 600 Megahertz (MHz) to 6 Gigahertz (GHz), but need not be limited to that range. As used herein, the term “unlicensed spectrum” or “shared spectrum” may therefore refer to industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio bands, regardless of the frequency of those bands. An "unlicensed spectrum" or "shared spectrum" may refer to spectrum used in a containment-based communications system. Additionally, the term “licensed spectrum” or “cellular spectrum” may be used herein to refer to wireless spectrum used by wireless network operators under administrative license from a government agency.

[0048] The wireless communications system 100 may also support operation on multiple cells or carriers, a feature that may be referred to as carrier aggregation (CA) operation or multiple carrier operation. A carrier can also be referred to as a component carrier (CC), a layer, a channel, etc. The terms “carrier”, “component carrier”, “cell” and “channel” may be used interchangeably in this document. A mobile device 115 may be configured with multiple downlink CCs and one or more uplink CCs for carrier aggregation. Carrier aggregation can be used with both FDD and TDD component carriers.

[0049] Figure 2A is a diagram illustrating exemplary components of the wireless communication system for uplink granting and transmission management. As depicted, the UE 115 may be in communication with a network entity 220 associated with a core network 130 via a primary cell 205 and/or a secondary LAA cell 203. In some examples, the network entity 200 may be referred to as such as a base station, a transceiver base station, an access point, a radio transceiver, a NodeB, eNodeB (eNB), Origin NodeB, a Origin eNodeB, or some other suitable technology. In some aspects, primary cell 205 may refer to connectivity services provided on a licensed spectrum and LAA secondary cell 203 may refer to connectivity services provided on an unlicensed spectrum. The UE 115 may receive signaling, including uplink grants, through the primary cell 205 and transmit data (e.g., PDUs) through the LAA secondary cell 203.

[0050] Additionally, UE 115 may be configured to execute an uplink transmission manager component 201 that includes a grant receiver 202, a channel examiner 204, a data transmitter 206, a buffer manager 208, and a data determiner. transmission 210. Network entity 220 may be configured to execute an uplink grant manager component 211 to generate an explicit uplink grant 212 and at least one implicit uplink grant 214.

[0051] In one aspect, the uplink grant manager component 211 may generate explicit uplink grant 212 that indicates, when received by UE 115, that the UE 115 is authorized to transmit an amount of data on the uplink. The explicit uplink grant 212 may also include a maximum size of data authorized to transmit on the uplink. In addition to generating explicit uplink grant 212, the uplink grant management process 211 may additionally include, or otherwise indicate, one or more implicit uplink grants 214 in explicit uplink grant 212. In other words , each of the implicit uplink grants 214 may authorize the UE 115 to transmit the amount of data on the uplink. The uplink lease manager component 211 may determine an implicit uplink lease count 214 based on factors including a total number of UEs in coverage of the wireless communications system 100.

[0052] In another aspect, when the explicit uplink grant 212 is received by the grant receiver 202 of the UE 115 in a time partition n through the primary cell 205, the channel examiner 204 may perform a channel check before transmit data on the uplink channel. If the channel check was successful, that is, an uplink channel is available to transmit the data, the data transmitter 260 is available to transmit the data on the uplink channel through the LAA secondary cell 203. If channel check fails, that is, the uplink channel is not available to transmit the data, the buffer manager 208 may store the data, for example, a first PDU, in a HARQ buffer associated with a HARQ process , e.g., HARQ buffer 207. Additionally, transmission determiner 210 may determine which data should be transmitted if one or more PDUs were stored in the HARQ buffer due to previous failed channel checks. Such a determination may be made based on one or more factors further described in Figure 3. Additionally, other aspects of the components of the network entity 220 and the UE 115 are described in detail in accordance with Figure 2B and Figure 2C, respectively. .

[0053] Referring to Figure 2B, in one aspect, a network entity 220 (e.g., a base station or an access point) associated with the core network 130 may be in communication with UE 115 via a cell primary cell 205 and/or a secondary LAA cell 203. In some aspects, primary cell 205 may refer to connectivity services provided on a licensed spectrum and secondary LAA cell 203 may refer to connectivity services provided on an unlicensed spectrum. Network entity 220 may transmit signaling, including uplink grants, through primary cell 205 and receive data (e.g., PDUs) through secondary LAA cell 203.

[0054] In one aspect, network entity 220 may include one or more antennas 222, RF front end 224, and transceiver 226 for receiving and transmitting radio transmissions, including, for example, the described signaling messages and also any messages that correspond to uplink granting and/or uplink transmission management. The RF frontend 224 may be connected to one or more antennas 222. The RF frontend 224 may include, for example, one or more low noise amplifiers (LNAs) (not shown), one or more switches (not shown ), one or more power amplifiers (PAs) (not shown), and one or more filters (not shown) for transmitting and receiving RF signals on the uplink channel and downlink channels. The RF front end 224 is merely an exemplary configuration; In one aspect, other configurations for the RF front-end 224 may be used by network entity 220. In one aspect, the RF front-end components 224 may connect to the transceiver 226. The transceiver 226 may connect to one or more processors 230.

[0055] In another aspect, the network entity 220 may include one or more processors 230 that may operate in combination with the uplink grant manager component 211, which may generate an explicit uplink grant 212 and/or at least an implicit uplink grant 214, for uplink granting and/or uplink transmission management as described herein. In one aspect, the one or more processors 230 may include a modem 232 that uses the one or more modem processors. In another aspect, the one or more processors 230 may be communicatively coupled to at least one memory 228, wherein the memory 228 may be configured to store instructions for handling uplink granting and/or uplink transmission management. .

[0056] Referring to Figure 2C, in one aspect, a UE 115 may be in communication with a network entity 220 associated with the core network 130 via a primary cell 205 and/or a secondary LAA cell 203. In some aspects, primary cell 205 may refer to connectivity services provided on a licensed spectrum and LAA secondary cell 203 may refer to connectivity services provided on an unlicensed spectrum. UE 115 may receive signaling, including uplink grants, through the primary cell 205, and transmit data (e.g., PDUs) through the LAA secondary cell 203.

[0057] In one aspect, UE 115 may include RF front-end 223 and transceiver 237 for receiving and transmitting radio transmissions, including, for example, the described signaling messages and also any messages corresponding to the operation of the manager component. uplink transmission module 201. The RF front end 223 may be connected to one or more antennas 221. The RF front end 223 may include, for example, one or more low noise amplifiers (LNAs) 225, a or more switches 227, 229, 235, one or more power amplifiers (PAs) 233, and one or more filters 231 for transmitting and receiving RF signals. The RF 223 front end is merely an exemplary configuration; In one aspect, other configurations for the RF front-end 223 may be used by the UE 115. In one aspect, the RF front-end components 223 may connect to the transceiver 237. The transceiver 237 may connect to one or more 241 processors.

[0058] In one aspect, LNA 225 can amplify a received signal to a desired output level. In one aspect, each LNA 225 may have specified minimum and maximum gain values. In one aspect, RF front end 223 may use one or more switches 227, 229 to select a particular LNA 225 and its specified gain value based on a desired gain value for a specific application.

[0059] Furthermore, for example, one or more PAs 233 may be used by the RF front-end 223 to amplify a signal for an RF output at a desired output power level. In one aspect, each PA 233 may have specified minimum and maximum gain values. In one aspect, RF frontend 223 may use one or more switches 229, 235 to select a particular PA 233 and its specified gain value based on a desired gain value for a specific application.

[0060] Furthermore, for example, one or more filters 231 may be used by the RF front end 223 to filter a received signal in order to obtain an input RF signal. Similarly, in one aspect, for example, a respective filter 231 may be used to filter an output of a respective PA 233 to produce an output signal for transmission. In one aspect, each filter 231 may be connected to a specific LNA 225 and/or PA 233. In one aspect, RF front end 223 may use one or more switches 227, 229, 235 to select a transmit or receive path using a specific filter 231, LNA 225 and/or PA 233, based on a configuration as specified by transceiver 237 and/or processor 241.

[0061] In one aspect, UE 115 may include one or more processors 241 that may operate in combination with an uplink transmission manager component 201 to manage uplink transmissions as described herein. In one aspect, the uplink transmission manager component 201 may include a grant receiver 202, a channel examiner 204, a data transmitter 206, a buffer manager 208, and a transmission determiner 210. In another aspect, the buffer manager 208 may be associated with one or more HARQ temporary stores 207. In one aspect, the one or more processors 241 may include a modem 243 that uses one or more modem processors. In another aspect, the one or more processors 241 may be communicatively coupled to at least one memory 239, wherein the memory 239 may be configured to store instructions for handling uplink transmission management.

[0062] Various functions related to the uplink transmission manager component 201 may be included in the modem 243 and/or one or more processors 241 and, in one aspect, may be performed by a single processor, while in other aspects, different functions can be executed by a combination of two or more different processors. For example, in one aspect, the one or more processors 241 may include one or any combination of a modem processor, or a baseband processor, or a digital signal processor, or a transmission processor, or a transceiver processor. associated with transceiver 237. In particular, the one or more processors 241 may perform functions included in uplink transmission manager component 201, which includes, but is not limited to, a grant receiver 202, a channel examiner 204, a data 206, a buffer manager 208, and a transmission determiner 210. In one aspect, the buffer manager 208 may be associated with one or more HARQ temporary stores 207. Additionally, certain other aspects of the components of the data manager component 206 uplink transmission 201 are described in greater detail in accordance with Figure 4A, Figure 4B, Figure 5A, Figure 5B and Figure 6.

[0063] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating exemplary subcomponents of the wireless communication system for uplink transmission management. As depicted, transmission determiner 210 may determine which data to be transmitted on the uplink channel based on time duration 302 and granted size 304.

[0064] As referenced herein, time duration 302 may refer to a period of time between two consecutive explicit uplink grants. Granted size 304 may refer to a size limit that indicates a maximum size of data that can be transmitted on the uplink channel in response to an explicit uplink grant. Other aspects of the subcomponents of the transmission determiner 210 are described in greater detail in accordance with Figure 4A, Figure 4B, Figure 5A, Figure 5B, and Figure 6.

[0065] Figure 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of conventional operations in relation to uplink transmissions. Figure 4B is a diagram illustrating another example of conventional operations in relation to uplink transmissions. For the sake of brevity, uplink transmissions have been illustrated to occur immediately following a successful channel check.

[0066] For Figure 4A, a first problem is that uplink data transmission is delayed due to a failed channel check. As illustrated in Figure 4A, conventionally, when the grant receiver 202 receives explicit uplink grant 401 in a time partition n, the channel examiner 204 may perform a channel check before transmitting the data. If the channel check fails, e.g., shown as CCA failed 405, the data transmitter 206 may not transmit the data on the uplink channel, e.g., shown as UL transmission blocked 406, in time partition n+4 or any other predetermined time partition. Thus, the uplink transmission manager component 201 may have to wait for another explicit uplink grant 212 from the network entity 220 to transmit the blocked data. For example, when the grant receiver 202 receives another explicit uplink grant 403 in time slot n+8, the channel examiner 204 may perform another channel check before transmitting the data. If the channel check was successful, for example, shown as CCA success 407, the data transmitter 260 can transmit the data, shown as UL transmission 408, in time partition n+12.

[0067] For Figure 4B, a second problem is that the PDUs transmitted on the uplink channel may be out of order. As illustrated in Figure 4B, conventionally, grant receiver 202 may similarly receive an explicit uplink grant 413 associated with a first HARQ process from network entity 220. Channel examiner 204 may also perform a channel check before transmitting the data. If the channel check fails, shown as CCA failed 409, a MAC PDU may be blocked from transmitting, for example, shown as blocked MAC PDU 410. The blocked MAC PDU 410 may be temporarily stored by the buffer manager 208 in a HARQ buffer associated with the first HARQ process waiting to be transmitted in response to an additional explicit uplink grant. Meanwhile, the grant receiver 202 may receive another explicit uplink grant 415 associated with a second HARQ process. The channel examiner 204 may accordingly perform a channel check prior to data transmission. If the channel check was successful, for example, shown as CCA success 411, the data transmitter 260 may transmit MAC PDU 412 on the uplink channel. However, the blocked MAC PDU 410 may be a PDU that must be transmitted before the MAC PDU 412 in time and thus, the network entity 220 may have to wait for the blocked MAC PDU 410 to be transmitted, even when MAC PDU 412 is received successfully, and reorder MAC PDU 412 and blocked MAC PDU 410.

[0068] Figure 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of uplink transmission management operations and Figure 5B is a diagram illustrating another example of uplink transmission management operations.

[0069] Figure 5A provides an exemplary approach to addressing the first problem illustrated in Figure 4A. As illustrated in Figure 5A, the grant receiver 202 may receive an explicit uplink grant 501, together with one or more implicit uplink grants 503 included therein (shown as two implicit uplink grants in Figure 5A), in a time partition n. When a first channel check fails in time partition n+3 (e.g., one of the failed CCAs 502), rather than waiting for another explicit uplink grant in time partition n+8, the channel examiner 204 may perform one or more additional channel checks in subsequent time slots. For example, channel examiner 204 may immediately perform additional channel checks in subsequent time slots n+4 and n+5. A count of the additional channel checks may equal the count of implicit uplink grants 503. If one of the additional channel checks succeeds, the data transmitter 206 may subsequently transmit the data on the uplink channel. For example, an additional channel check may occur at time partition n+5 (shown as CCA Success 504), the data transmitter 206 may accordingly transmit data on the uplink channel at time partition n+6 ( shown as UL 506 transmission). Therefore, UE 115 may not have to wait until later time partitions, e.g., time partition n+12 as shown in Figure 4A, to transmit the data and unnecessary delay may be mitigated.

[0070] In one aspect, if the grant receiver 202 receives another explicit uplink grant while the UE 115 processes the implicit uplink grants, the explicit uplink grant may be delayed after the implicit uplink grants are processed. .

[0071] Additionally, each of the implicit or explicit uplink grants may expire after a predetermined duration of time.

[0072] Figure 5B provides another exemplary approach to addressing the first problem illustrated in Figure 4A. As illustrated in Figure 5B, the grant receiver 202 may receive an explicit uplink grant 508, together with one or more implicit uplink grants 509 included therein (shown as two implicit uplink grants in Figure 5B), in the time partition n. The channel examiner 204 may perform a channel check at time partition n+3, when the channel check is successful (shown as CCA success 510), the data transmitter 206 may respectively transmit multiple copies of the data in the partitions subsequent time partitions, for example, time partition n+4, n+5 and n+6. Each copy of the data can be a different redundancy version, for example, that includes different redundancy information. The copy count can be determined based on the count of implicit uplink 509 grants and the count of failed channel checks. For example, when the grant receiver 202 receives the explicit uplink grant 508 and two implicit uplink grants 509 and a first-in-time channel check succeeds (e.g., successful CCA 510), the data transmitter 260 may transmit three copies of the data, each in a time slot subsequent to the successful CCA 510. When the first in-time channel check fails, the channel examiner 204 may perform a second channel check in a time slot subsequent to the first channel check. In some examples, the channel examiner 204 may perform a second channel check in a time slot immediately subsequent to the first channel check. If the second channel check was successful, the data transmitter 206 can only transmit two copies of the data on the uplink channel.

[0073] Figure 6 provides an exemplary approach to addressing the second problem in Figure 4B. As illustrated in Figure 6, the grant receiver 202 may receive explicit uplink grant 602 in time partition n through the primary cell 402. The explicit uplink grant 602 may indicate that the UE 115 is authorized to transmit PDU of MAC 606, with the MAC PDU 606 being associated with a first HARQ process. The channel examiner 204 can perform a channel check at time partition n+3. If the channel check fails (shown as CCA failure 610), the MAC PDU may be blocked from transmitting at time partition n+4 and may be stored in a buffer associated with the first HARQ process, e.g. HARQ buffer 620. Subsequently, grant receiver 202 may receive, in time partition n+4, an explicit uplink grant 604 that indicates that UE 115 is authorized to transmit another MAC PDU (not shown) that is associated with a second HARQ process. The channel examiner 204 can similarly perform a channel check at time partition n+7. If the channel check was successful (shown as CCA Success 608), the transmission determiner 210 may determine whether to transmit MAC PDU 606 based on one or more factors including time duration 302, i.e., the period of time between receiving explicit uplink grant 602 and 604, and granted size 304, that is, the maximum size of data can be transmitted in accordance with explicit uplink grant 604. For example, if the time duration 302 is greater than a predetermined threshold, which indicates that UE 115 has sufficient time to perform operations to retrieve MAC PDU 606, the transmission determiner 210 may determine to transmit MAC PDU 606, rather than the other MAC PDU originally associated with the second HARQ process. As another example, if the granted size 304 is greater than the MAC PDU size 606, the transmit determinant 210 may determine to transmit MAC PDU 606 and perhaps a portion of the other MAC PDU originally associated with the second HARQ process. . Therefore, network entity 220 can receive PDUs in a correct order.

[0074] In some aspects, prior to transmitting MAC PDU 606, buffer manager 208 may move MAC PDU 606 from a HARQ buffer associated with the first HARQ process, e.g., HARQ buffer 620, to another HARQ buffer. HARQ associated with the second HARQ process, for example, HARQ buffer 622.

[0075] In another aspect, if MAC PDU 606 is successfully transmitted on the uplink channel, the buffer that stored MAC PDU 606 in UE 115 can be cleared.

[0076] Figure 7 is an exemplary flowchart for managing uplink transmission in an LAA system. Method 700 is described below with reference to one of UEs 115 described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

[0077] At 702, method 700 may include the grant receiver 202 receiving an explicit uplink grant that indicates one or more implicit uplink grants. For example, grant receiver 202 may receive an explicit uplink grant 501, together with one or more implicit uplink grants 503 included therein (shown as two implicit uplink grants in Figure 5A), in a partition of time n.

[0078] At 704, channel examiner 204 may perform a first clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to explicit uplink granting in a first time slot. For example, channel examiner 204 may perform a channel check in time partition n+3.

[0079] At 706, the uplink transmission manager component 201 of UE 115 may determine whether the first CCA succeeds.

[0080] In one aspect, when the uplink transmission manager component 201 determines that the first CCA succeeds, UE 115 may proceed to 708, and the data transmitter 260 may transmit a PDU over an unlicensed or shared spectrum and in a time partition subsequent to the first time partition. For example, if a channel check was successful in time slot n+3, the data transmitter 206 can immediately transmit the data in time slot n+4.

[0081] In another aspect, when the uplink transmission manager component 201 determines that the first CCA has not succeeded, UE 115 may proceed to 710, and the channel examiner 204 may sequentially perform one or more additional CCAs respectively on one or more time partitions subsequent to the first time partition in response to one or more implicit uplink grants. For example, when a first channel check fails at time partition n+3 (e.g., one of the CCAs that failed 502), rather than waiting for another explicit uplink grant at time partition n+8, the examiner channel 204 may perform one or more additional channel checks in time slots n+4 and n+5. A count of the additional channel checks may equal the count of implicit uplink grants 503. If one of the additional channel checks succeeds, the data transmitter 206 may subsequently transmit the data on the uplink channel. For example, an additional channel check may occur at time partition n+5 (shown as CCA Success 504), the data transmitter 206 may accordingly transmit data on the uplink channel at time partition n+6 ( shown as UL 506 transmission). Therefore, UE 115 may not have to wait until later time partitions, e.g., time partition n+12, to transmit the data and unnecessary delay may be mitigated.

[0082] In another aspect of Figure 7, an exemplary apparatus for managing uplink transmissions in a license assisted access (LAA) system is provided. In one aspect, the apparatus includes means for receiving an explicit uplink grant that indicates one or more implicit uplink grants. In one aspect, the apparatus also includes means for performing a first clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to explicit uplink granting in a first time slot. In another aspect, the apparatus includes means for transmitting a protocol data unit (PDU) over an unlicensed or shared spectrum and in a time slot subsequent to the first time slot if the first CCA succeeds. In one aspect, the apparatus may also include means for sequentially performing, if the first CCA fails, one or more additional CCAs respectively in one or more time slots subsequent to the first time slot in response to one or more implicit uplink grants. . In another aspect, the apparatus includes means for transmitting the PDU across the unlicensed or shared spectrum and in a time slot subsequent to the time slot if the first CCA fails, in which one of one or more additional CCAs have been successful. .

[0083] In one aspect of Figure 7, an exemplary computer-readable medium is provided that stores computer-executable code for managing uplink transmissions in a license-assisted access (LAA) system. In one aspect, the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code for receiving an explicit uplink grant that indicates one or more implicit uplink grants. In another aspect, the computer-readable medium also includes computer-executable code for performing a first clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to the explicit granting of uplink in a first time slot. In one aspect, the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code for transmitting a protocol data unit (PDU) over an unlicensed or shared spectrum and in a time partition subsequent to the first time partition if the first CCA happens. In another aspect, the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code to sequentially perform, if the first CCA fails, one or more additional CCAs respectively at one or more time partitions subsequent to the first time partition in response to the one or more implicit uplink grants. In one aspect, the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code for transmitting the PDU over the unlicensed or shared spectrum and in a time partition subsequent to the time partition in which one of one or more additional CCAs have been successful. if the first CCA fails.

[0084] Still referring to Figure 7, another exemplary apparatus for managing uplink transmissions in a license assisted access (LAA) system is provided. In one aspect, the apparatus may include a memory configured to store instructions and at least one processor coupled to the memory,

[0085] wherein the at least one processor and memory are configured to execute instructions to perform the following features. In another aspect, the apparatus may include a grant receiver configured to receive an explicit uplink grant that indicates one or more implicit uplink grants. In one aspect, the apparatus may include a channel examiner configured to perform a first clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to explicit uplink granting in a first time slot. In another aspect, the apparatus may also include a data transmitter configured to transmit a protocol data unit (PDU) over an unlicensed or shared spectrum and in a time slot subsequent to the first time slot if the first CCA succeeds. . In one aspect, if the first CCA fails, the channel examiner included in the apparatus may be configured to sequentially perform one or more additional CCAs respectively in one or more time slots subsequent to the first time slot in response to one or more implicit grants. uplink. In another aspect, the data transmitter included in the apparatus may be further configured to transmit the PDU across the unlicensed or shared spectrum and in a time slot subsequent to the time slot in which one of the one or more additional CCAs have been successful. .

[0086] Figure 8 is another exemplary flowchart for uplink transmission management in an LAA system. Method 800 is described below with reference to one of UEs 115 described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

[0087] At 802, method 800 may include the grant receiver 202 receiving an explicit uplink grant that indicates one or more implicit uplink grants. For example, grant receiver 202 may receive an explicit uplink grant 508, together with one or more implicit uplink grants 509 included therein (shown as two implicit uplink grants in Figure 5B), in a partition of time n.

[0088] At 804, method 800 may include channel examiner 204 performing a first clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to explicit uplink granting in a first time slot. For example, channel examiner 204 may perform a channel check in time partition n+3.

[0089] At 806, the uplink transmission manager component 201 of UE 115 may determine whether the first CCA succeeds.

[0090] In one aspect, when the uplink transmission manager component 201 determines that the first CCA succeeds, UE 115 may proceed to 808, the data transmitter 206 may respectively transmit over an unlicensed or shared spectrum copies of a protocol data unit (PDU) in time slots subsequent to the first time slot, wherein a number of transmitted copies of the PDU is based, at least in part, on one or more implicit uplink grants. For example, when the channel check is successful (shown as CCA Success 510), the data transmitter 206 may respectively transmit multiple copies of the data in subsequent time slots, e.g., time slots n+4, n+ 5, and n+6. Each copy of the data can be a different redundancy version, for example, that includes different redundancy information. The copy count can be determined based on the count of implicit uplink 509 grants and the count of failed channel checks. For example, when the grant receiver 202 receives the explicit uplink grant 508 and two implicit uplink grants 509 and a first-in-time channel check succeeds (e.g., successful CCA 510), the data transmitter 260 may transmit three copies of the data, each in a time slot subsequent to successful CCA 510.

[0091] In another aspect, when the uplink transmission manager component 201 determines that the first CCA did not succeed, UE 115 may proceed to 810, and the channel examiner 204 may perform an additional CCA subsequent to the first time slot and the data transmitter 206 may respectively transmit to one or more copies of the PDU in one or more third time slots subsequent to the additional CCA if the CCA succeeds. When the first time channel check fails, the channel examiner 204 may perform a second channel check in a time slot subsequent to the first channel check. If the second channel check was successful, the data transmitter 206 can only transmit two copies of the data on the uplink channel in time slots n+5 and n+6.

[0092] In another aspect of Figure 8, an exemplary apparatus for managing uplink transmissions in a license assisted access (LAA) system is provided. In one aspect, the apparatus includes means for receiving an explicit uplink grant that indicates one or more implicit uplink grants. In one aspect, the apparatus also includes means for performing a first clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to explicit uplink granting in a first time slot. In another aspect, the apparatus includes means for respectively transmitting over an unlicensed or shared spectrum copies of a protocol data unit (PDU), if the first CCA succeeds, in time partitions subsequent to the first time partition, wherein a number of transmitted copies of the PDU is based, at least in part, on one or more implicit uplink grants. In one aspect, the apparatus also includes means for performing an additional CCA on a time partition subsequent to the first time partition if the first CCA fails. In another aspect, the apparatus includes means for respectively transmitting over the unlicensed or shared spectrum one or more copies of the PDU in one or more time slots subsequent to a time slot in which the additional CCA succeeds.

[0093] In one aspect of Figure 8, an exemplary computer-readable medium stores computer-executable code for managing uplink transmissions in a license-assisted access (LAA) system is provided. In one aspect, the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code for receiving an explicit uplink grant that indicates one or more implicit uplink grants. In another aspect, the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code for performing a first clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to explicit granting of uplink in a first time slot. In one aspect, the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code for respectively transmitting over an unlicensed or shared spectrum copies of a protocol data unit (PDU), if the first CCA succeeds, in time partitions subsequent to the first time partition, wherein a quantity of transmitted copies of the PDU is based, at least in part, on one or more implicit uplink grants.

[0094] In another aspect, the exemplary computer-readable medium mentioned above may also include computer-executable code to perform an additional CCA on a time partition subsequent to the first time partition if the first CCA fails. In another aspect, the exemplary computer-readable medium mentioned above may include computer-executable code for respectively transmitting over the unlicensed or shared spectrum one or more copies of the PDU in one or more time partitions subsequent to a time partition in which the additional CCA succeeds.

[0095] Figure 9 is an exemplary flowchart for managing uplink transmission in an LAA system. Method 900 is described below with reference to one of UEs 115 described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

[0096] At 902, method 900 may include the grant receiver 202 receiving a first explicit uplink grant for transmission of a first PDU associated with a first HARQ process. For example, the grant receiver 202 may receive explicit uplink grant 602 in time partition n through the primary cell 402. The explicit uplink grant 602 may indicate that the UE 115 is authorized to transmit MAC PDU 606, whereby the MAC PDU 606 is associated with a first HARQ process.

[0097] At 904, method 900 may include the grant receiver 202 receiving a second explicit uplink grant for transmission of a second PDU associated with a second HARQ process, with the second explicit uplink grant subsequently being received to the first explicit grant of uplink. For example, grant receiver 202 may receive, in time partition n+4, an explicit uplink grant 604 that indicates that UE 115 is authorized to transmit another MAC PDU (not shown) that is associated with a second process. by HARQ.

[0098] At 906, method 900 may include channel examiner 204 performing a first clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to the first explicit uplink grant in a first time slot. For example, channel examiner 204 may perform a channel check in time partition n+3.

[0099] At 908, method 900 may include channel examiner 204 performing a second CCA in response to the second explicit uplink grant in a second time partition. For example, channel examiner 204 may similarly perform a channel check at time partition n+7.

[00100] At 910, the method 900 may include the transmission determiner 210 determining whether to transmit over an unlicensed or shared spectrum the first PDU or the second PDU in a time slot subsequent to the second time slot in association with the second HARQ process if the first CCA fails and the second CCA succeeds. For example, with failed CCA 610 and successful CCA 608, transmission determiner 210 may determine whether to transmit MAC PDU 606 based on one or more factors including time duration 302, i.e., the period of time between receiving explicit uplink grant 602 and 604, and grant size 304, that is, the maximum size of data can be transmitted in accordance with explicit uplink grant 604. For example, if the time duration 302 is greater than that a predetermined threshold, which indicates that UE 115 has sufficient time to perform operations to retrieve MAC PDU 606, the transmission determiner 210 may determine to transmit MAC PDU 606, rather than the other MAC PDU originally associated with the second processing process. HARQ. As another example, if the grant size 304 is greater than the MAC PDU size 606, the transmission determiner 210 may determine to transmit MAC PDU 606 and perhaps a portion of the other MAC PDU originally associated with the second transmission process. HARQ. Therefore, network entity 220 can receive PDUs in a correct order.

[00101] In one aspect, before transmitting MAC PDU 606, buffer manager 208 may move MAC PDU 606 from the buffer associated with the first HARQ process to another buffer associated with the second HARQ process.

[00102] In another aspect of Figure 9, an exemplary apparatus for managing uplink transmissions in a license assisted access (LAA) system is provided. In one aspect, the apparatus includes means for receiving a first explicit uplink grant for transmission of a first protocol data unit (PDU) associated with a Hybrid Automatic Retry Request (HARQ) process. In one aspect, the apparatus also includes means for receiving a second explicit uplink grant for transmission of a second PDU associated with a second HARQ process, wherein the second explicit uplink grant is received subsequent to the first explicit uplink grant. ascending. In another aspect, the apparatus includes a means for performing a first free channel assessment (CCA) in response to the first explicit uplink grant in a first time slot. In one aspect, the apparatus also includes means for performing a second CCA in response to the second explicit uplink grant in a second time partition. In another aspect, the apparatus includes a means for determining whether to transmit over an unlicensed or shared spectrum the first PDU or the second PDU, if the first CCA fails and the second CCA succeeds, in a time partition subsequent to the second partition. of time in association with the second HARQ process.

[00103] Still referring to Figure 9, in another aspect, the exemplary apparatus mentioned above may include a means for storing the first PDU in a first HARQ buffer associated with the first HARQ process. In one aspect, the exemplary apparatus mentioned above may also include a means for moving the first PDU, in response to a determination that is made to transmit the first PDU in association with the second HARQ process, from the first HARQ buffer to a second buffer. HARQ process associated with the second HARQ process. In one aspect, the exemplary apparatus mentioned above may also include a means for moving the second PDU from a MAC buffer to a second HARQ buffer associated with the second HARQ process in response to a determination that is made to transmit the second PDU in association with the second HARQ process. In another aspect of the exemplary apparatus mentioned above, the means of determining whether to transmit over the unlicensed or shared spectrum the first PDU or the second PDU is based, at least in part, on a transmission time difference and/or a of size between the first explicit grant and the second explicit grant.

[00104] In one aspect of Figure 9, an exemplary computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code for managing uplink transmissions in a license-assisted access (LAA) system is provided. In one aspect, the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code for receiving a first explicit uplink grant for transmission of a first protocol data unit (PDU) associated with a Hybrid Automatic Retry Request (HARQ) process. . In another aspect, the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code for receiving a second explicit uplink grant for transmission of a second PDU associated with a second HARQ process, wherein the second explicit uplink grant is subsequently received. to the first explicit grant of uplink. In one aspect, the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code for performing a first clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to the first explicit uplink grant in a first time slot. In another aspect, the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code for performing a second CCA in response to the second explicit grant of uplink in a second time partition. In one aspect, the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable code for determining whether to transmit over an unlicensed or shared spectrum the first PDU or the second PDU, if the first CCA fails and the second CCA succeeds, in a partition of time subsequent to the second time partition in association with the second HARQ process.

[00105] Still referring to Figure 9, the exemplary computer-readable medium mentioned above may, in one aspect, include computer-executable code for storing the first PDU in a first HARQ buffer associated with the first HARQ process. In another aspect, the exemplary computer-readable medium mentioned above may include computer-executable code for moving the first PDU, in response to a determination that is made to transmit the first PDU in association with the second HARQ process, from the first data buffer. HARQ to a second HARQ buffer associated with the second HARQ process. In one aspect, the exemplary computer-readable medium mentioned above may also include computer-executable code for moving the second PDU from a MAC buffer to a second HARQ buffer associated with the second HARQ process in response to a determination that is made to transmit the second PDU in association with the second HARQ process. In another aspect of the exemplary computer-readable medium above, the computer-executable code for determining whether to transmit over the unlicensed or shared spectrum the first PDU or the second PDU is based, at least in part, on a transmission time difference. and/or a size difference between the first explicit grant and the second explicit grant.

[00106] In one aspect of Figure 9, another exemplary apparatus for managing uplink transmissions in a license assisted access (LAA) system is provided. In one aspect, the apparatus may include a memory configured to store instructions and at least one processor coupled to the memory, wherein the at least one processor and the memory are configured to execute the instructions to perform the following features. In another aspect, the apparatus may include a grant receiver configured to receive a first explicit uplink grant for transmission of a first protocol data unit (PDU) associated with a Hybrid Automatic Retry Request (HARQ) process, and receiving a second explicit uplink grant for transmission of a second PDU associated with a second HARQ process, the second explicit uplink grant being received subsequent to the first explicit uplink grant. In one aspect, the apparatus may include a channel examiner configured to perform a first free channel assessment (CCA) in response to the first explicit uplink grant in a first time slot, and perform a second CCA in response to the second grant. explicit uplink in a second time partition. In one aspect, the apparatus may include a transmission determiner configured to determine whether to transmit over an unlicensed or shared spectrum the first PDU or the second PDU in a time partition subsequent to the second time partition in association with the second transmission process. HARQ if the first CCA fails and the second CCA succeeds.

[00107] Still referring to Figure 9, in one aspect, the above exemplary apparatus may additionally include a buffer manager configured to store the first PDU in a first HARQ buffer associated with the first HARQ process; and in response to a determination that is made to transmit the first PDU in association with the second HARQ process, moving the first PDU from the first HARQ buffer to a second HARQ buffer associated with the second HARQ. In another aspect, the apparatus buffer manager is further configured to move the second PDU from a MAC buffer to a second HARQ buffer associated with the second HARQ process in response to a determination that is made to transmit the second PDU in association. to the second HARQ process. In one aspect, the transmission determinator of the apparatus is configured to determine whether to transmit the first PDU or the second PDU based at least in part on a transmission time difference and/or a size difference between the first explicit grant and the second explicit concession.

[00108] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus employing a processing system. In some examples, the processing system 1014 may be an example of a UE 115 or a network entity 220 described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In this example, the processing system 1014 may be deployed with a bus architecture, depicted , generally speaking, by bus 1002. Bus 1002 may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges depending on the specific application of processing system 1014 and general design constraints. Bus 1002 connects various circuits that include one or more processors represented generally by processor 1004 and computer-readable media represented generally by computer-readable medium 1006 and the UE components (e.g., UE 12), such as the information component of the system 24. 2A), which may be configured to perform one or more methods or procedures described herein.

[00109] In some cases, the communication management component 305 may be deployed when the processing system 1014 is used in a UE 115 or a network entity 220. In one aspect, the uplink transmission management component 201 and The components therein may comprise hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software that can be configured to perform the functions, methodologies (e.g., method 400 of Figure 4), or methods set forth in the present disclosure. The uplink grant manager component 211 and components therein may comprise hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software that may be configured to perform the functions, methodologies (e.g., method 500 of Figure 5), or methods presented in the present disclosure.

[00110] Bus 1002 can also connect various other circuits, such as timing resources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be further described. A bus interface 1008 provides an interface between the bus 1002 and a transceiver 1010. The transceiver 1010 provides a means for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium. Depending on the nature of the apparatus, a user interface 1012 (e.g., numeric keypad, display, speakerphone, microphone, joystick) may also be provided.

[00111] Processor 1004 is responsible for managing bus 1002 and general processing, which includes executing software stored on computer-readable media 1006. The software, when executed by processor 1004, causes processing system 1014 to perform the various functions described below on any particular device. Computer-readable media 1006 may also be used to store data that is manipulated by processor 1004 when executing software. In some aspects, at least a portion of the functions, methodologies, or methods associated with the uplink transmission manager component 201 or the uplink grant manager component 211 may be performed or implemented by the processor 1004 and/or the readable medium. computer 1006.

[00112] In some examples, the computer-readable medium 1006 may store code for wireless communications. The code may comprise instructions executable by a computer (e.g., processor 1004) to monitor one or more wireless channels for one or more trigger conditions, to transmit a probe signal over a first wireless channel of the one or more channels. wirelessly in order to access a network entity when the one or more trigger conditions are met on the first wireless channel, wherein the properties of the probe signal are based on at least one type of access with the network entity; and to receive a response signal from the network entity in response to the probe signal, wherein the response signal includes information to permit access by the first wireless device.

[00113] Referring to Figure 11, a Node B 1110 is in communication with a UE 1150 and which has aspects configured to manage cell update messages. In one aspect, the Node B 1110 may be an example of a network entity 220 associated with the core network 130 of Figures 2A and 2B, which executes the uplink grant manager component 211. In one aspect, the UE 1150 may be an example UE 115 of Figures 1, 2A and 2C, which executes the uplink transmission manager component 201. In downlink communication, a transmission processor 1120 may receive data from a data source 1112 and control signals from a controller/processor 1140. The transmission processor 1120 provides various signal processing functions for data and control signals, as well as reference signals (e.g., pilot signals). For example, the transmission processor 1120 may provide cyclic redundancy check (CRC) codes for error detection, coding and interleaving to facilitate forward error correction (FEC), mapping of signal constellations based on various modulation schemes. (e.g. binary phase keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), M phase shift keying (M-PSK), M quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM) and the like), spreading with orthogonal variable spreading factors (OVSF) and multiplication with cipher codes to produce a series of symbols. Channel estimates from a channel processor 1144 can be used by a controller/processor 1140 to determine coding, modulation, spreading and/or scrambling schemes for the transmission processor 1120. These channel estimates can be derived from a reference signal transmitted by the UE 1150 or feedback from the UE 1150. Symbols generated by the transmission processor 1120 are provided to a transmission frame processor 1130 to create a frame structure. The transmit frame processor 1130 creates this frame structure by multiplexing the symbols with information from the controller/processor 1140 which results in a series of frames. Then, the frames are provided to a transmitter 1132, which provides various signal conditioning functions, which include amplifying, filtering, and modulating the frames on a carrier for downlink transmission in the wireless medium via the antenna 1134. The antenna 1134 may include one or more antennas, for example, which include bidirectional adaptive beam steering antenna arrays or other similar beam technologies.

[00114] In the UE 1150, a receiver 1154 receives the downlink transmission through an antenna 1152 and processes the transmission to recover the modulated information on the carrier. The information retrieved by the receiver 1154 is provided to a receive frame processor 1160 which analyzes each frame and provides frame information to a channel processor 1194 and the data, control and reference signals to a receive processor 1170. Then, the receive processor 1170 performs the reverse of the processing performed by the transmit processor 1120 at the Node B 1110. More specifically, the receive processor 1170 unscrambles and joins the symbols and then determines the most likely signal constellation points transmitted by the Node B 1110 based on modulation scheme. These soft decisions may be based on channel estimates computed by the channel processor 1194. Then, the soft decisions are decoded and deinterlaced to recover the data, control, and reference signals. Then, the CRC codes are checked to determine whether the frames were successfully decoded. The data carried by the successfully decoded frames will then be provided to a data store 1172 representing applications running on the UE 1150 and/or various user interfaces (e.g., display). The control signals carried by the successfully decoded frames will be provided to a controller/processor 1190. When the frames are unsuccessfully decoded by the receiving processor 1170, the controller/processor 1190 may also use an acknowledgment protocol (ACK) and/or negative acknowledgment (NACK) to support retransmission requests for those frames.

[00115] In the uplink, data from a data source 1178 and control signals from the controller/processor 1190 are provided to a transmission processor 1180. The data source 1178 may represent applications running on the UE 1150 and various interfaces user interface (e.g. keyboard). Similar to the functionality described in connection with downlink transmission by Node B 1110, the transmission processor 1180 provides various signal processing functions that include CRC codes, coding and interleaving to facilitate FEC, mapping of signal constellations, spreading with OVSFs and encryption to produce a series of symbols. Channel estimates derived by channel processor 1194 from a reference signal transmitted by Node B 1110 or from feedback contained in training transmitted by Node B 1110 may be used to select appropriate coding, modulation, spreading and/or scrambling schemes. . Symbols produced by the broadcast processor 1180 will be provided to a broadcast frame processor 1182 to create a frame structure. The transmit frame processor 1182 creates this frame structure by multiplexing the symbols with information from the controller/processor 1190, which results in a series of frames. Then, the frames are provided to a transmitter 1156 that provides various signal conditioning functions that include amplification, filtering, and modulation of the frames on a carrier for uplink transmission in the wireless medium via the antenna 1152.

[00116] The uplink transmission is processed at Node B 1110 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the receiver function at UE 1150. A receiver 1135 receives the uplink transmission via antenna 1134 and processes the transmission to recover the information modulated on the carrier. Information retrieved by receiver 1135 is provided to a receive frame processor 1136 which analyzes each frame and provides frame information to channel processor 1144 and data, control and reference signals to a receive processor 1138. The processor The receiving processor 1138 performs the reverse of the processing performed by the transmitting processor 1180 in the UE 1150. Then, the data and control signals carried by the successfully decoded frames can be provided to a data sink 1139 and to the controller/processor, respectively. If some of the frames have been unsuccessfully decoded by the receiving processor, the controller/processor 1140 may also use an acknowledgment (ACK) and/or negative acknowledgment (NACK) protocol to support retransmission requests for those frames.

[00117] Controller/processors 1140 and 1190 can be used to direct operation on Node B 1110 and UE 1150, respectively. For example, the controller/processors 1140 and 1190 may provide various functions that include timing, peripheral interfaces, voltage regulation, power management, and other control functions. The computer-readable memory media 1142 and 1192 can store data and software for the Node B 1110 and the UE 1150, respectively. A scheduler/processor 1146 in Node B 1110 may be used to allocate resources to the UEs and schedule downlink and/or uplink transmissions to the UEs. In one aspect, the uplink grant manager component 211 may communicate with the controller/processors 1140 at Node B 1110 to manage uplink grants, and the uplink transmission manager component 201 may communicate with the controller/ processors 1190 in the UE 1150 to manage uplink transmissions.

[00118] The detailed description presented above in connection with the attached drawings describes exemplary modalities and does not represent all modalities that can be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. The term “exemplary” used throughout this description means “serving as an example, case or illustration”, and not “preferred” or “advantageous over other embodiments”. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the techniques described. This set of procedures, however, can be practiced without these specific details. In some examples, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring concepts of the described embodiments.

[00119] Information and signals can be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and sets of procedures. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and integrated circuits that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic particles or fields, optical particles or fields, or any combination thereof.

[00120] The various illustrative blocks and modules described together in connection with the disclosure herein can be implemented or realized with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device , discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described in this document. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be deployed as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[00121] The functions described in this document can be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may be stored or transmitted as one or more instructions or code in a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described above may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, wiring, or combinations of any thereof. The feature deployment functions may also be physically located in various locations, which includes being distributed so that portions of the functions are deployed in different physical locations. Furthermore, as used herein, which includes in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items introduced by a sentence such as “at least one of or “one or more of) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of [at least one of A, B, or C] means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (that is, A and B and C).

[00122] Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media, including any media that facilitates the transfer of a computer program from one location to another. A storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or specific-purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices, or any other media that can be used to carry or store desired program code media in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer, or a processor general purpose or special purpose. Furthermore, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio and microwave, then coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio and microwave are included in the definition of media. Magnetic disc and optical disc, as used herein, include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc, where magnetic discs often reproduce data magnetically, while magnetic discs Optical discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also included in the scope of computer-readable media.

[00123] The foregoing description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to produce or use the present invention. Various modifications in such embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure should not be limited to the embodiments shown in this document, but should be in accordance with the broadest scope consistent with the principles and innovative features disclosed in this document.

[00124] The sets of procedures described in this document can be used for various wireless communications systems, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access ( FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) and other systems. The terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably. A CDMA system can deploy a radio technology such as CDMA2000, Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), etc. CDMA2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856 standards. Releases 0 and A of IS-2000 are commonly called CDMA2000 IX, IX, etc. IS-856 (TIA-856) is commonly called lxEV-DO of CDMA2000, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), etc. UTRA includes Broadband CDMA (WCDMA) and other CDMA variants. A TDMA system can deploy a radio technology such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA system can deploy radio technology such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash -OFDM, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are parts of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Long-Term Evolution 3GPP (LTE) and LTE Advanced (LTE-A) are new Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) releases that use E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A and Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) are described in documents from an organization called “3rd Generation Partnership Project” (3 GPP). CDMA2000 and UMB are described in documents from an organization called the “3rd Generation Partnership Project 2” (3GPP2). The set of procedures described in this document can be used for the radio systems and technologies mentioned above as well as other radio systems and technologies. However, the above description describes an LTE system for example purposes and LTE terminology is used throughout much of the above description, although the techniques are applicable beyond LTE applications.

Claims (13)

1. Method for managing uplink transmissions in a license-assisted access system, LAA, by a user equipment, UE, comprising: receiving (702), from a primary cell, an explicit grant uplink indicating one or more implicit uplink concessions and configuring the UE to transmit one or more copies of data on the uplink in accordance with the implicit uplink concessions; performing (704) a first free channel evaluation, CCA, in response to explicit uplink granting in a first time slot; if the first CCA is successful (706), transmit (708), through an LAA secondary cell, a protocol data unit, PDU, comprising the data over an unlicensed or shared spectrum and in a subsequent time partition to the first time partition; and if the first CCA fails (706): sequentially perform (710) one or more additional CCAs respectively in one or more time partitions subsequent to the first time partition in response to the one or more implicit uplink grants; and transmitting, through the LAA secondary cell, the PDU comprising the data over the unlicensed or shared spectrum and in a time partition subsequent to the time partition in which one of the one or more additional CCAs was successful. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of the one or more additional CCAs is equal to the number of the one or more implicit uplink grants. 3. Method according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that performing the first CCA comprises performing an extended free channel assessment, eCCA. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the one or more additional CCAs comprises performing one or more extended free channel assessments, eCCAs. 5. Method, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that transmitting the PDU comprises transmitting a medium access control PDU, MAC. 6. Method according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the unlicensed or shared spectrum is a 5 GHz band. 7. Computer-readable memory characterized by the fact that it comprises instructions stored therein which, when executed, cause a computer to perform the method as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. User equipment, UE, for managing uplink transmissions in a license-assisted access system, LAA, comprising: means for receiving (202), from a primary cell, an explicit grant of uplink indicating one or more implicit uplink grants and configuring the UE to transmit one or more copies of data on the uplink in accordance with the implicit uplink grant; means for performing (204) a first clear channel evaluation, CCA, in response to explicit uplink granting in a first time slot; means for transmitting (206), if the first CCA is successful (706), through an LAA secondary cell, a protocol data unit, PDU, comprising the data over an unlicensed or shared spectrum and into a partition of time subsequent to the first time partition; and if the first CCA fails: means for sequentially performing (204) one or more additional CCAs respectively in one or more time partitions subsequent to the first time partition in response to the one or more implicit uplink grants; and means for transmitting (206), through the LAA secondary cell, the PDU comprising the data across the unlicensed or shared spectrum and in a time partition subsequent to the time partition in which one of the one or more additional CCAs has been successful. . 9. User equipment according to claim 8, wherein the number of the one or more additional CCAs is equal to the number of the one or more implicit uplink grants. 10. User equipment according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the means for performing the first CCA is adapted to perform an extended free channel assessment, eCCA. 11. User equipment according to claim 8, wherein the means for performing the one or more additional CCAs is further adapted to perform one or more extended free channel assessments, eCCAs. 12. User equipment according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the means for transmitting the PDU is adapted to transmit a medium access control PDU, MAC. 13. User equipment according to claim 8, wherein the unlicensed or shared spectrum is a 5 GHz band.