CN104822149A - Wi-Fi Signaling by Cellular Devices for Coexistence in Unlicensed Frequency Bands - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to Wi-Fi signaling by cellular devices for coexistence in unlicensed frequency bands. This disclosure relates to Wi-Fi signaling in conjunction with cellular communication in unlicensed frequency bands for efficient co-existence. According to one embodiment, a cell may be established between a cellular base station and a wireless user equipment device on a frequency channel in an unlicensed frequency band. A cellular communication may be scheduled between the base station and the user equipment device. A Wi-Fi signal may be transmitted on the frequency channel in conjunction with the scheduled cellular communication. The Wi-Fi signal may indicate a length of the scheduled cellular communication using Wi-Fi signaling. The scheduled cellular communication may be performed via the cell.

Description

Cellular device for the Wi-Fi signaling coexisted in unlicensed band

Technical field

The application relates to wireless device, and relates more specifically to the system and method using Wi-Fi signaling for cellular device when performing radio communication in unlicensed band in conjunction with cellular communication.

Background technology

The use of wireless communication system increases rapidly.In addition, there is a large amount of different wireless communication technology and standard.Some examples of wireless communication standard comprise GSM, UMTS (such as, it associates with WCDMA or TD-SCDMA air interface), LTE, senior LTE (LTE-A), HSPA, 3GPP2CDMA2000 (such as, 1xRTT, 1xEV-DO, HRPD, eHRPD), IEEE 802.11 (WLAN or Wi-Fi), IEEE802.16 (WiMAX), bluetooth etc.

In some wireless communication system such as some cellular communications networks, the frequency band of licensed (such as, being permitted by cellular network provider) performs radio communication.In addition, in some wireless communication systems such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless communication system, unlicensed band such as 2.4GHz ISM frequency band perform radio communication.

Summary of the invention

Here describe the method using Wi-Fi signaling for cellular device when performing radio communication in unlicensed band in conjunction with cellular communication, and be configured to the equipment realizing these methods.

Because Wi-Fi network can be deployed on unlicensed band usually, therefore, use on unlicensed band during cellular communication should take into account in consideration.A kind of possible mechanism for improving the coexistence characteristics in unlicensed band between honeycomb and the Wi-Fi communication technology can be represented according to the use of the Wi-Fi signaling of technology described herein.

According to technology as described herein, cellular device (such as, user equipment device, base station etc.) also can be equipped with Wi-Fi communication capacity.Such as, as a kind of possibility, LTEeNodeB can be equipped with Wi-Fi access point transceiver and baseband chip, makes it can serve as Wi-Fi access point.As another example, it is each that subscriber equipment can be equipped with in cellular radio and Wi-Fi radio device communication capacity.

Between such cellular device, dispatch cellular communication to be combined on the frequency channels in unlicensed band, one or two in those equipment can use Wi-Fi signaling to indicate the length of scheduled cellular communication.Such as, equipment can utilize its Wi-Fi ability on frequency channels, send the leading and one or more Wi-Fi header (such as Wi-Fi PHY layer SIG field) of Wi-Fi, and it can indicate transmission length or duration just as equipment performs Wi-Fi on this frequency channels.Note, the Wi-Fi ability of cellular device (such as, UE or BS) can be provided by independent Wi-Fi Circuits System, or, in some situation, can be provided by the honeycomb of equipment (such as, LTE) Circuits System.Such as, cellular telephone system can be configured to generate and send Wi-Fi signaling as the part being configured to perform cellular communication in unlicensed band.

Such as, but cellular device can stop sending Wi-Fi signal after instruction transmission length, to avoid the interference to its oneself cellular transmission, and can change into and perform scheduled cellular communication.Any Wi-Fi equipment receiving such Wi-Fi signal can be apprised of the indicated transmitting continuous time, and (such as, according to carrier sense conflict avoidance algorithm) forbids within the duration of instruction, perform Wi-Fi communication.Therefore, the Wi-Fi of the cellular communication in interference frequency channel transmits the possibility be performed will be reduced greatly.

It should be noted that Wi-Fi equipment can also be benefited from such technology and be performed by the cellular device operated in identical (or overlap) frequency channels.Such as, when the Wi-Fi signaling be not combined with cellular communication, Wi-Fi equipment may attempt Wi-Fi transmission during cellular communication, and this not only may cause the interference to cellular communication, and the interference stood from cellular communication, it likely makes Wi-Fi bust this.But according to technology described herein, Wi-Fi equipment can attempt when medium is not the actual free time sending reservation power instead by forbidding.Therefore, from the angle of two kinds of wireless communication technologys, it is useful that technology described herein (at least in some situation) coexists to honeycomb-Wi-Fi.

It should be noted that the various implementation details of technology as described herein can be possible.Such as, as will be further described subsequently, according to various embodiment, can side by side perform such Wi-Fi signaling before the cellular communication be associated or with the cellular communication be associated here.As additional example, such Wi-Fi signaling can be used in the situation of carrier aggregation (such as, dispatching communication for the community in unlicensed band is performed on different districts (its can in licensed band)), or (such as, the dispatching communication for community is originally performed with it in community) in the situation being deployed in the individual cell in unlicensed band.

Technology as described herein can realize and/or use together with much dissimilar equipment in much dissimilar equipment, and described equipment includes but not limited to any one in cellular basestation, cell phone, flat computer, wearable computing equipment, portable electronic device and other computing equipment various.

Summary of the invention aims to provide the brief overview of some to the theme described in the document.Therefore, will understand, above-mentioned feature is only example and does not should be understood to the scope or spirit that reduce theme as described herein by any way.The further feature of theme described herein, aspect and advantage will become obvious from following embodiment, accompanying drawing and claim.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Consider the following better understanding that the detailed description of embodiment will be obtained the application's theme in conjunction with the following drawings, in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates exemplary (with the simplifying) wireless communication system according to some embodiments;

Fig. 2 illustrate according to some embodiments with the base station (BS) of user's set (UE) devices communicating;

Fig. 3 illustrates the block diagram of the UE according to some embodiments;

Fig. 4 illustrates the block diagram of the BS according to some embodiments;

Fig. 5 illustrates the exemplary carrier aggregation scheme according to some embodiments;

It is exemplary across carrier dispatching scheme that Fig. 6 illustrates according to some embodiments;

Fig. 7 is the communication flow diagram of the illustrative methods for using Wi-Fi signaling in unlicensed band in conjunction with cellular communication illustrated according to some embodiments;

Fig. 8 illustrates the exemplary L TE-U access point with Wi-Fi ability module according to some embodiments;

Fig. 9-10 illustrates the possible transmission plan for using Wi-Fi signaling in unlicensed band in conjunction with cellular communication according to some embodiments;

Exemplary coexistence interface between Figure 11 illustrates according to LTE and Wi-Fi in the wireless device of some embodiments; And

Figure 12-16 illustrates the illustrative aspects communicated according to the Wi-Fi of some embodiments.

Although feature described herein can easily have various amendment and alternative form, its specific embodiment be in the accompanying drawings by shown in exemplary forms and be here shown specifically.But, should be appreciated that accompanying drawing and detailed description are not intended to be limited to disclosed concrete form, on the contrary, be intended to contain all modifications example, equivalent example and the alternative that drop in the spirit and scope of the invention that claims limit.

Specific embodiment

Term

It is below the nomenclature used in the disclosure.

Cun store up in the Jie various non-transitory memory device of Zhi – or storage facilities any one.Term " storage medium " is intended to comprise installation medium, such as CD-ROM, floppy disk or tape unit; Computer system memory or random access memory, such as DRAM, DDR RAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, Rambus RAM etc.; Nonvolatile memory is flash memory, magnetizing mediums such as, such as, and hard disk driver or light memory device; Register, or other similar memory element etc.Storage medium can comprise non-transitory memory and its combination of other type.In addition, storage medium can be arranged in first computer system, and its Program performs in first computer system, or storage medium can be arranged in the different second computer system being connected to first computer system by network such as the Internet.In a rear situation, second computer system can provide program command for execution to the first computer." " can comprise two or more storage mediums, it can reside in diverse location to storage medium to term, such as, reside in the different computer systems connected via network.Storage medium can stored program instruction (such as, being embodied as computer program), and program command can be performed by one or more processor.

Carrying Mei Jie – storage medium as above and physical transmission medium, such as bus, network, and/or other physical transmission medium of the transmission of signal such as signal of telecommunication, electromagnetic signal or digital signal.

Programmable hardware element – comprises various hardware device, and hardware device comprises the multiple programmable functions modules connected via programmable interconnect.Example comprises FPGA (field programmable gate array), PLD (programmable logic device), FPOA (Field Programmable Object array) and CPLD (complicated PLD).Programmable functions module can contain (ALU or processor core) from fine granularity (combinational logic or look-up table) to coarseness.Programmable hardware element also can be called " Reconfigurable logic ".

Ji calculates any one in the machine Xi various calculating of Tong – or treatment system, comprises personal computer system (PC), mainframe computer systems, work station, network home appliance, information household appliances, personal digital assistant (PDA), television system, computing system or miscellaneous equipment or equipment combination.Generally, term " computer system " can be broadly defined as to comprise and have any equipment (or equipment combination) of at least one execution from the processor of the instruction of storage medium.

User's set (UE) (" UE equipment ") – movement or portable and perform in the various computer system devices of radio communication any one.The example of UE equipment comprises mobile phone or smart phone (such as, iPhone ^tM, based on Android ^tMphone), portable game device (such as, Nintendo DS ^tM, PlayStation Portable ^tM, Gameboy Advance ^tM, iPhone ^tM), laptop computer, wearable device (such as, intelligent watch, intelligent glasses), PDA, portable Internet appliance, music player, Data Holding Equipment or other handheld device etc.Generally, term " UE " or " UE equipment " can be broadly defined as to comprise and easily carried by user and can carry out any electronic equipment of radio communication, computing equipment and/or telecommunication apparatus (or equipment combination).

Ji Zhan – term " base station " has complete its ordinary meaning, and at least comprises and be arranged on fixed position and radio stations for carrying out communicating as a part for radio telephone system or radio system.

Process Yuan Jian – refers to various element or elements combination.Treatment element comprises, such as, the part of circuit such as ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), Respective processors core or circuit, whole processor core, Respective processors, programmable hardware device such as field programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or comprise the greater part in the system of multiple processor.

Xin Dao – is used for the medium transmitting information from transmitter (reflector) to receiver.It should be noted that the feature due to term " channel " may be different according to different radio agreement, therefore, the mode that the standard of the type of equipment involved when can think that term used herein " channel " is to use with this term is consistent uses.In some standard, channel width may be change (such as, depending on capacity of equipment, frequency band condition etc.).Such as, LTE can support the scalable channel width from 1.4MHz to 20MHz.By comparison, WLAN channel can be that 22MHz is wide and bluetooth channel can be that 1Mhz is wide.Other protocol and standard can comprise the different definition of channel.Further, some standard can define and use polytype channel, such as, for up link or down link different channels and/or use the different channels of such as data, control information etc. for difference.

Frequency band-term " frequency band " has its complete its ordinary meaning, and at least comprise channel the portions of the spectrum (such as radio spectrum) that uses or reserve for identical object.

Zi Dong Di – refer to when directly do not specify perform an action or operate user's input the action that performed by computer system (software such as performed by computer system) or equipment (such as, Circuits System, programmable hardware element, ASIC etc.) or operation.Therefore term " automatically " and operation are manually performed by user or specify and contrast, and when operation is manually performed by user or specifies, user provides the input of direct executable operations.Automated procedure can customer-furnished input and starting, but the subsequent action that " automatically " performs is not specified by user, that is, not " manually " perform, in " manually " performs, user specifies each action that will perform.Such as, the each field of user by selecting also provides the input of appointed information (such as by key entry information, select check box, radio to select etc.) to fill in electrical form is manually fill up a form, although computer system must upgrade form in response to user action.Form automatically can be filled in by computer system, and wherein computer system (software such as, performed on the computer systems) is analyzed the field of form and filled up a form when inputting the user of the answer of field without any appointment.As indicated above, user can the Auto-writing of adopting form, and do not relate to form actually to fill in (answer of the not manual specific field of such as user, but they are accomplished automatically).Present description provides the various examples of the operation that the action taked in response to user automatically performs.

IEEE 802.11 – is called the technology based on IEEE 802.11 wireless standard, such as 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11-2012,802.11ac, and/or other IEEE 802.11 standard.IEEE 802.11 technology also can be called " Wi-Fi " or " WLAN (wireless local area network) (WLAN) " technology.

Fig. 1 and 2-communication system

Fig. 1 illustrates exemplary (with the simplifying) wireless communication system according to some embodiments.It should be noted that the system of Fig. 1 is only an example of possible system, and embodiment can be realized in a variety of systems any one as required.

As shown in the figure, example wireless communications comprises base station 102A, with one or more subscriber equipment 106A, 106B etc., it waits until that 106N communicates by transmission medium.Each subscriber equipment can be called " user's set " (UE) at this.Therefore, subscriber equipment 106 is called UE or UE equipment.

Base station 102A can be base transceiver station (BTS) or cell site, and can comprise hardware that the is enable and radio communication of UE 106A to 106N.Base station 102A can also be provided as and network 100 (such as, the core net of cellular service provider, communication network is PSTN (PSTN) such as, and/or the Internet, and other various possibility) communication.Therefore, base station 102A can assisting user equipment and/or the communication between subscriber equipment and network 100.

The communication range (or coverage) of base station can be called " community ".Base station 102A with UE 106 can be configured to use various radio access technologies (RAT) to communicate through transmission medium, radio access technologies is also referred to as wireless communication technology or communication standard, such as GSM, UMTS (WCDMA, TD-SCDMA), LTE, senior LTE (LTE-A), HSPA, 3GPP2CDMA2000 are (such as, 1xRTT, 1xEV-DO, HRPD, eHRPD), Wi-Fi, WiMAX etc.

Base station 102A and other similar base station (the such as base station 102B operated according to identical or different cellular standards ... 102N) thus can be provided as the network of community, it can provide continuous print or close to continuous print Overlay Service to UE 106A-N and similar devices via one or more cellular standards in wide geographic range.

Therefore, " Serving cell " of UE 106A-N can be served as at base station 102A while, as shown in Figure 1, each UE 106 other community (described community can be provided by base station 102B-N and/or other base station any) Received signal strength (and may in the communication range of other community the one or more) that can also can be called " neighbor cell " from one or more.According to any one in the wireless communication technology identical with base station 102A and/or other possible wireless communication technology various, such community also can communication between assisting user equipment and/or between subscriber equipment and network 100.Such community can comprise " grand " community, micro-community, " slightly " community, and/or provides other the community of granularity any one granularity of service range size various.Such as, the base station 102A-B shown in Fig. 1 can be macrocell, and base station 102N can be Microcell.Other configuration is also possible.

Notice that UE 106 can use various wireless communication standard to communicate.Such as, except at least one cellular communication protocol (such as, GSM, UMTS (WCDMA, TD-SCDMA), LTE, LTE-A, HSPA, 3GPP2CDMA2000 are (such as, 1xRTT, 1xEV-DO, HRPD, eHRPD) etc.), UE 106 can also be configured to use Wireless Networking (such as, Wi-Fi) and/or peer wireless Communications agreement (such as, BT, Wi-Fi equity, etc.) communicate.UE 106 also can or alternately be configured to use one or more GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) (GNSS as required, such as, GPS or GLONASS), one or more mobile TV broadcast standard (such as, ATSC-M/H or DVB-H) and/or other wireless communication protocol any communicate.Other combination (comprising more than two kinds of wireless communication standards) of wireless communication standard is also possible.

Fig. 2 illustrates the user's set 106 (such as, one of equipment 106A to 106N) communicated with base station 102 (such as, one of base station 102A to 102N) according to some embodiments.UE 106 can be the equipment with cellular communication capability, such as mobile phone, handheld device, wearable device, computer or flat computer, or the wireless device of any in fact type.

UE 106 can comprise processor, and it is configured to perform the program stored in memory.UE 106 can perform any embodiment of the method described herein by performing the instruction stored like this.Alternately, or in addition, UE 106 can comprise the programmable hardware element such as FPGA (field programmable gate array) being configured to any part performing any embodiment of the method described herein or any embodiment of the method described herein.

UE 106 can comprise for use or multiple wireless communication protocol or technology carry out one or more antennas of communicating.In one embodiment, UE 106 can be configured to use single shared radio device use or MA2000 (1xRTT/1xEV-DO/HRPD/eHRPD) or LTE to communicate, and/or uses single shared radio device to use GSM or LTE.The radio device shared can be coupled to individual antenna, or can be coupled to the multiple antennas (such as, for MIMO) for performing radio communication.Generally, radio device can comprise baseband processor, analog rf signal treatment circuit system (such as, comprise filter, frequency mixer, oscillator, amplifier etc.), or the combination in any of digital processing circuit system (such as, for digital modulation and other digital processing).Similarly, radio device can use aforementioned hardware to realize one or more reception and to send link.Such as, UE 106 can share the one or more parts receiving and/or send link between the various wireless communication technology of all wireless communication technologys as discussed above and so on.

In certain embodiments, UE 106 can comprise for being configured to for carrying out each wireless communication protocol communicated independent (and may be multiple) send and/or receiver.As another kind of possibility, UE 106 can be included in the one or more radio devices shared between multiple wireless communication protocol, and is monopolized one or more radio devices of use by single wireless communication protocol.Such as, UE 106 can comprise the shared radio device for using in LTE or 1xRTT (or LTE or GSM) any one communication, and for using in Wi-Fi with Bluetooth point other radio device communicated of each.Other configuration is also possible.

The block diagram of figure 3 – UE

Fig. 3 illustrates the block diagram of the UE 106 according to some embodiments.As shown in the figure, UE 106 can comprise SOC (system on a chip) (SOC) 300, and it can comprise the multiple parts for various object.Such as, as shown in the figure, SOC 300 can comprise and and can perform graphics process and provide the display circuit 304 of display to display 360 for (one or more) processor 302 of UE 106 execution of program instructions.This (one or more) processor 302 can also be couple to Memory Management Unit (MMU) 340, Memory Management Unit (MMU) 340 can be configured to from this (one or more) processor 302 receiver address and become memory (such as these address transition, memory 306, read-only memory (ROM) 350, nand flash memory memory 310) in position and/or send other circuit or equipment to, such as display circuit 304, radio communication circuit system 330, connector I/F320, and/or display 360.MMU 340 can be configured to execute store protection and page table conversion or arrange.In certain embodiments, MMU 340 can be included as the part of this (one or more) processor 302.

As shown in the figure, SOC 300 can be couple to other circuit various of UE 106.Such as, UE 106 can comprise various memory (such as, comprise nand flash memory 310), attachment unit interface 320 (such as, for being couple to computer system, docking station, charging station etc.), display 360, radio communication circuit system (such as, radio device) 330 (such as, for LTE, Wi-Fi, GPS etc.).

UE equipment 106 can comprise at least one antenna (and may multiple antenna, such as, for MIMO and/or for realizing different wireless communication technology, wait various possibility), for performing radio communication with base station and/or miscellaneous equipment.Such as, UE equipment 106 can use (one or more) antenna 335 to perform radio communication.As noted above, in certain embodiments, UE 106 can be configured to use various wireless communication technology to carry out radio communication.

As further described subsequently here, UE 106 can comprise hardware and software component, Wi-Fi signaling or new signaling is used (such as when performing radio communication in unlicensed band in conjunction with cellular communication for realizing, from WiFi signaling derive new signaling) feature, such as here with reference to figure 7 description those.Such as, the processor 302 of UE equipment 106 can be configured to pass the program command that execution is stored on storage medium (such as, non-transitory computer-readable storage media) and realize the part or all of of method described herein.In other embodiments, processor 302 can be configured to programmable hardware element, such as PGA (field programmable gate array), or is configured to ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)).Alternately (or in addition).The processor 302 of UE equipment 106, with other assembly 300,304,306,310,320,330,335,340,350, the one or more combinations in 360, can be configured to realize the part or all of of feature described herein, such as here with reference to the feature that figure 7 describes.

The block diagram of figure 4 – base station

Fig. 4 illustrates the block diagram of the base station 102 according to some embodiments.It should be noted that the base station of Fig. 4 is only an example of possible base station.As shown in the figure, base station 102 can comprise (one or more) processor 404, and it can be base station 102 execution of program instructions.This (one or more) processor 404 can also be couple to Memory Management Unit (MMU) 440, Memory Management Unit (MMU) 440 can be configured to from this (one or more) processor 404 receiver address and these addresses passed the position that changes in memory (such as, memory 460 and read-only memory (ROM) 450) or send other circuit or equipment to.

Base station 102 can comprise at least one network port 470.The network port 470 can be configured to be coupled to telephone network and to multiple equipment, such as UE equipment 106 provides the access to such as shown in fig. 1 and 2 above telephone network.

The network port 470 (or additional network port) can also or alternately be configured to be coupled to cellular network, such as, and the core network of cellular service provider.Core network can to multiple equipment, such as UE equipment 106, provides mobile relevant service and/or other service.In some cases, the network port 470 can be coupled to telephone network via core network, and/or core network can provide telephone network (such as, between other UE equipment of being served by cellular service provider).

Base station 102 can comprise at least one antenna 434, and likely comprises multiple antenna.This (one or more) antenna 434 can be configured to as wireless transceiver operation, and can be further configured to and communicate with UE equipment 106 via radio device 430.Antenna 434 communicates with radio device 430 via communication link 432.Communication link 432 can be receiver, send link or both.Radio device 430 can be configured to, via various aerogram standard, include but not limited to LTE, LTE-A, UMTS, CDMA2000, Wi-Fi etc., communicate.

BS 102 can be configured to use various wireless communication standard to carry out radio communication.In some situation, base station 102 can comprise multiple radio device, and radio device can make base station 102 can communicate according to various wireless communication technology.Such as, as a kind of possibility, base station 102 can comprise for coming the LTE radio device of executive communication and the Wi-Fi radio device for carrying out executive communication according to Wi-Fi according to the LTE in LTE (TDD-FDD), unlicensed frequency spectrum (TDD-FDD).In such a case, base station 102 can not only operate as LTE base station but also as Wi-Fi access point.As another kind of possibility, base station 102 can comprise multi-mode radio equipment, and it can according in various wireless communication technology (such as, LTE and Wi-Fi), any one carrys out executive communication.

Such ability is particularly useful with the meeting that communicates coordinated on unlicensed band for management interference, such as, on unlicensed band, likely (even may be very common) carries out the radio communication according to various wireless communication technology that BS 102 can be configured to carry out.Such as, as further described subsequently here, BS 102 can comprise hardware and software component, Wi-Fi signaling or any other (such as mixing LTE-Wi-Fi) leading feature is used when performing radio communication in unlicensed band in conjunction with cellular communication, such as here with reference to those of figure 7 description for realizing.Such as, the processor 404 of base station 102 can be configured to pass the program command that execution is stored on storage medium (such as, non-transitory computer-readable storage media) and realize the part or all of of method described herein.Alternately, processor 404 can be configured to programmable hardware element, such as FPGA (field programmable gate array), or is configured to ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), or its combination.Alternately (or in addition), the processor 404 of BS 102, with other assembly 430,432,434,440,450,460, one or more combinations in 470, can be configured to realize the part or all of of feature described herein, such as here with reference to the feature that figure 7 describes.

Figure 5 – carrier aggregation

Carrier aggregation is that wherein multiple carrier wave (such as, frequency channels) may be used for carrying out according to wireless communication technology and UE the scheme of radio communication.Fig. 5 illustrates a kind of exemplary carrier aggregation scheme (such as, the program can use according to LTE radio device access technology), and it can according to other side of the present disclosure, and the method such as about Fig. 7 uses.

In illustrated scheme, maximum five component carriers (carrier wave 504,506,508,510,512) can by polymerization for unique user equipment (such as illustrate in fig. 1-3 and about Fig. 1-3 describe UE 106 in one).Each component carrier can use the channel width of the highest 20MHz.As a kind of possibility, each component carrier can be that LTE issues 10 carrier waves.Therefore, according to this exemplary arrangement, UE can be assigned with maximum 100MHz bandwidth.In most cases, such carrier aggregation scheme can make UE can with than not using the larger throughput of the situation of such scheme to participate.

In many cases, component carrier can utilize adjacent frequency channels.But, it should be noted that and discontinuous frequency channels also can be utilized to realize carrier aggregation, likely comprise the discontinuous frequency channels in same frequency band, and/or the frequency channels in different frequency bands.Such as, also frequency channels in the usage license frequency band frequency channels in unlicensed band may be used as another component carrier to realize carrier aggregation as one-component carrier wave.

It should be noted that the description of exemplary arrangement and the association illustrated in Fig. 5 may mode be provided by example as realizing a kind of of carrier aggregation, their entirety is not intended to be limited to the disclosure.The various distortion of its details and various substituting are possible and are considered to be in the scope of the present disclosure.Such as: carrier aggregation scheme can be realized in conjunction with other wireless communication technology; The carrier wave according to other LTE issue or other radio access technologies can be used together; The carrier wave with different channels width can be used; The component carrier of different number can be supported; And/or to illustrated go out scheme various other substitute and distortion any one be all possible.

Figure 6 – is across carrier dispatching

For the system realizing carrier aggregation, various control program/mechanism is all possible.As a kind of possibility, can realize independently community on each component carrier, this is such as by providing the data dispatch for each community to realize with other controlling feature on the component carrier of this community to control channel.As another kind of possibility, some or all controlling functions can be concentrated.Such as, " main plot " can be realized on (" master ") component carrier, " auxiliary community " can be realized on any additional (" auxiliary ") component carrier simultaneously, be transmitted by main plot to make some or all control informations for auxiliary community.

Such scheme can be called " across carrier dispatching ", and Fig. 6 illustrates such exemplary arrangement (such as, it can realize according to LTE radio device access technology).It should be noted that the description of exemplary arrangement and the association illustrated in Fig. 6 is provided by example as a kind of possible mode realized across carrier dispatching mechanism, their entirety is not intended to be limited to the disclosure.The various distortion of these exemplary details and various substituting are possible and are considered to be in the scope of the present disclosure.

As shown in the figure, in this exemplary arrangement, subscriber equipment (such as, UE 106, such as illustrate in fig. 1-3 and about Fig. 1-3 describe those) three effective carrier waves can be had as it (such as, through one or more base station 102, such as describe shown in Fig. 1-2 and 4 and about Fig. 1-2 and 4 those) with the part of the connection of network, three effective carrier waves can be implemented as a main plot 602 and Liang Gefu community 604,606.Network can be provided for the control data 608 (such as, for dispatch user data communication, performing relevant function of mobility etc.) of all three communities through the control channel of main plot 602.Such as, control data 608 can transmit through the physical downlink control channel of main plot 602 (PDCCH).

Network can in community 602,604, any community in 606 or all community provide user data 610 (such as to UE 106, for working application such as web browser application, the application data of the application of e-mail applications, audio call, Video chat application, game application etc.).Such as, the different piece of user data 610 can transmit by the physical down link sharing channel of each (PDSCH) in main plot 602 and auxiliary community 604,606.

Therefore, can make for control communication (at least partially) is concentrated on a community in conjunction with carrier aggregation across carrier dispatching.This technology can in many cases for the basic mode communications between UE and network, the communication such as illustrated in the exemplary arrangement of Fig. 6.If different component carrier is known and/or expection has varying level, such technology can be useful especially, because in this case, the carrier wave with lowest interference level can be advantageously used in high priority control data.Such situation can be such situation, such as, one-component carrier wave is mainly limited in the licensed band of the interference caused by the radio communication of network control in the possibility of interference, and another component carrier is on the unlicensed band of the interference mainly caused by the radio communication of network control.

Figure 7 – communication flow diagram

Fig. 7 illustrates for supporting that LTE with Wi-Fi communicates the communication/signal flow graph of the scheme/method effectively coexisted in unlicensed band.The various aspects of the method for Fig. 7 can as required by BS 102 (such as, such as illustrate in Fig. 1-2 and 4 and about Fig. 1-2 and 4 describe) realization, by UE 106 (such as, such as illustrate in fig. 1-3 and to describe about Fig. 1-3) realization, or more generally realize in conjunction with the equipment such as any computer system shown in above diagram or equipment.

In various embodiments, some element of shown method can be executed in parallel, and performs according to the order different from shown order, or can omit.Additional elements also can be performed as required.As shown in the figure, method can operate as follows.

702, the frequency channels in unlicensed band sets up community.This community can be set up between cellular basestation (BS) and wireless user device (UE) equipment.Can according to the first wireless communication technology (or " radio access technologies " or " RAT "), such as LTE, sets up this community.

This community can be individual cell, can be maybe the part and the community formed that communicate as the carrier aggregation between BS and UE.When individual cell, the control communication for this community and data communication can be both communicating of the execution of setting up thereon on that frequency channels of this community.

If this community is formed a part for carrier aggregation communication link, then this can Shi Gai community be the situation of " auxiliary carrier wave " or " auxiliary community ", and this community is except " main carrier " or " main plot " or be formed after which.

Such as, (such as configuring) main carrier can be set up between BS and UE.Main carrier also can be set up according to the first wireless communication technology.Main carrier can be based upon on the frequency channels in licensed band, and licensed band here also can be called " the first frequency band ".Such as, cellular network provider may permit special frequency band (likely especially for particular radio access technology, such as LTE-A, LTE, WCDMA, CDMA2000, GSM etc. are combined), and the cellular network mainly operated in this licensed band can be provided.Such licensed band can stand less external disturbance than unlicensed band.Such as, unlicensed band may stand the interference from other cellular network operator utilizing similar or the same wireless communication technology in other wireless communication technology and/or next comfortable unlicensed band, and licensed band may without undergoing such external interference source, such as, if licensed band is exclusive use for a particular cellular network provider and permits.

In such a case, main carrier can be provided to the basic schema type communications link of cellular network to UE.Therefore, main carrier can be provided to the connection of the core network of such as cellular service provider, and wherein, the user of UE may have the reservation and/or other agreement that provide cellular service with this cellular service provider.Therefore cellular network such as can provide connectivity between other subscriber equipment, PSTN, the Internet, the various service based on cloud etc. in subscriber equipment and various service and/or the equipment being couple to cellular network.In this case, if needed, main carrier may be used for the control communication between UE and BS, and also may be used for data (such as, user data) communication.

Note, as a part for such cellular network, BS can with other base stations many (they can provide other community) and other network hardware and software binding operation to the wireless service providing the liaison in wide geographic range (or close to continuous print) overlapping.At least in some situation, UE can select the community with the BS that will be established as main plot from the multiple communities in the range for wireless communication of UE, and described multiple community can be provided by neighbouring base station.Such as, UE such as according to signal strength/quality, allowance, technology interoperability etc., can find some or all communities of multiple neighbor cell, detects the signal from it, and may communicate with.Main plot can be selected and be configured/set up based on main plot and/or one or more signal strength signal intensity of community and/or signal quality measured and other possible standard near other (wireless technology of congested, the operator of (one or more) community of the wireless flow of (one or more) community, the operation institute foundation of (one or more) community).

Be also noted that, according to some embodiments, community is selected can be that such as when UE 106 powers on, the initial community of (or may after the radio device of UE powers on, such as, when exiting restricted operation or " offline mode ") is selected.Alternately, community selection can be a part for cell-reselection procedure.Such as, based on such as due to move to from the coverage of main plot before new main plot service range and experience in main plot before deterioration signal strength signal intensity and/or quality, UE can perform cell-reselection procedure to select there is better signal strength signal intensity and/or quality new community as main plot.

Unlicensed band is set up the channel that community can comprise scanning unlicensed (" auxiliary ") frequency band (such as, it can be industrial scientific medical (ISM) frequency band), such as, checks interference.As previously noted, because unlicensed band may stand from not being subject to other radio communication of network control (such as, likely from one or more other wireless communication technologys) interference, therefore, be desirably in selection channel how much to disturb as current existence on each channel determined before carrier wave in unlicensed band.

Especially, at least in some situation, expect to check Wi-Fi interference, such as, to communicate the frequency band that will perform wherein if unlicensed band is known Wi-Fi.Therefore BS (or BS control and/or the Wi-Fi equipment that is couple to BS) one or more channels (such as, Wi-Fi and/or Radar channel) on unlicensed band can be scanned.BS can be equipped with as required (or be couple to or control) Wi-Fi and mixing Wi-Fi/ cellular communication circuit system are (such as, can be configured to serve as Wi-Fi access point, maybe can be couple to and control Wi-Fi access point, maybe can comprise the mixing Wi-Fi/ cellular module of enable mixing signaling) to be used in particular for this object (and/or for other object).Scanning channel can comprise measure various measures of channel condition and/or can be used for measure or infer interference level tolerance such as RSSI in any one.As a kind of possibility, BS can perform power spectral density and detect on such unlicensed band.As another kind of possibility, BS can detect the energy in particular channel by use RF front end, to make the unknowable technology used in that particular channel of energy measuring.In such a case, as long as the energy detected (RSSI) is higher than a certain threshold value (such as RSSI>-80dBm, or any threshold value that other is expected) then can suppose that particular channel (ISM frequency) is occupied (that is, not being glitch-free).

Based on scanning unlicensed band in (such as, Wi-Fi) channel, BS can select one or more channels in unlicensed band (such as, Wi-Fi channel, or according to other the unlicensed spectral channel (such as LTE channel) according to the first wireless communication technology, other unlicensed spectral channel can be corresponding with one or more described Wi-Fi channel in frequency/overlapping) be used as the possible channel setting up carrier wave thereon.Selected (one or more) channel can be those channels having determined that Wi-Fi interference so may and/or be correlated with thereon, and such as RSSI is lower than the channel expecting threshold value.

Using the possible carrier wave of selected one or more channels as the community be used in unlicensed band, what BS can provide such channel is indicated to UE.Such as, in carrier aggregation scene, BS can generate the list of the possible channel in unlicensed band and it is supplied to UE via main plot in configuration messages (such as RRC configures object).UE can store so possible channel list and by each channel configuration in list for may carrier wave, but each kept engineering noise and not as the state of actual carrier use before more clearly being activated.

In such scene, UE can also provide feedback about such list (via main plot) of possibility channel in unlicensed band to BS in addition.Such as, UE some or all channels in possible channel can perform one or more measurement (such as, any one in relevant interference/signal strength signal intensity/RSSI scanning/other measures of channel condition various) to determine the channel condition of those channels of UE this locality, such as, confirm that those channels are also relatively glitch-free near UE.As another example, UE can have restriction on its wireless communication ability, and therefore, it may not may comprise on the one or more special frequency band in the possible channel indicated by BS according to the first wireless communication technology executive communication.Therefore, UE106 may to BS about the list of the possible channel in unlicensed band provide channel condition information, support the list of deleting (or without deleting) list, not supporting channel of channel and/or any one in the feedback of other form various.

Once BS has performed any scanning/channel measurement, and likely in addition also based on any feedback received from UE, then BS 102 can select the frequency channels will setting up community in unlicensed band thereon.This selection can one or more based in scanning/channel measurement, and from any feedback that UE receives, and/or Resource Allocation in Networks considers (such as, the known load/use of the communication of network control, Resource Availability etc.) and various possibility.

If the community in unlicensed band is carrier aggregation scheme Zhong Fu community, then BS can by such as providing the instruction of setting up auxiliary carrier wave on a second channel to activate auxiliary carrier wave via the configuration messages sent on main carrier (" ScellAdd " configuration messages in such as LTE) to UE.Alternately, if the community in unlicensed band is individual cell, then can select (such as, wherein UE is attached to this community) as initial cell or between BS and UE, set up this community via (such as netboot) cell reselection process.

In 704, the downlink communication with UE can be dispatched in the community in unlicensed band.Note, at least in some situation, BS can perform energy sense operation to guarantee medium availability before execution scheduling of resource.BS can such as only when medium is available schedule downlink communication; If medium hurry, then can delay dispatching (such as until such as medium can moment).

As a kind of possibility, UE can be supplied to by the control channel (PDCCH such as, in LTE) provided as a part for community to the instruction of scheduled downlink communication.

Alternately, as previously noted, in some situation (such as, if the community in unlicensed band is the auxiliary community of the part as carrier aggregation scheme), cellular network can utilize dispatches/distributes auxiliary local resource across carrier dispatching to UE.Such as, in such circumstances, BS can be provided for the schedule information (such as, up link and/or down link are authorized) of dispatching auxiliary local resource to UE via main carrier.Use in such scene and can make network can communication in retentive control licensed band across carrier dispatching, as noticed about Fig. 6 before, licensed band may stand less (or at least less outside) interference than unlicensed band.

In 706, in order to this medium reserved, BS can send Wi-Fi signal or mixing Wi-Fi/ cellular signal in conjunction with (or on Wi-Fi channel corresponding in frequency) on the frequency channels of the community of scheduled downlink communication in unlicensed band.As previously noted, BS can be equipped with Wi-Fi communication circuitry (or can couple communicatedly with it), such as, with the transmission of auxiliary BS to such signal, and for other reason.Alternately, note, as required, Wi-Fi signal can be incorporated in LTE protocol; Such as, this can occur in LTE transmission.Also note, in such a case, BS may not need Wi-Fi transceiver, because Wi-Fi or mixing Wi-Fi/ cellular signal can be generated by the LTE Circuits System of BS and transceiver and be sent.

Note, as required, this Wi-Fi or mixing Wi-Fi/ cellular signal can be used in unlicensed LTE frequency with timing tracking and for medium reservation.

Wi-Fi signal can use Wi-Fi signaling to indicate the length of scheduled downlink communication.Such as, as a kind of possibility, Wi-Fi signal can comprise leading and signal (SIG) field of Wi-Fi, the number of OFDM (OFDM) symbol that its instruction is corresponding with the length of scheduled downlink communication.More generally, Wi-Fi signal can be any suitable form, and this form is specified by Wi-Fi wireless communication technology and/or by Wi-Fi equipment identification.In some situation, Wi-Fi signal also or alternately can comprise Wi-Fi request and sends (request-to-send, RTS) and/or clear to send (clear-to-send, CTS) message.As another possibility (such as, following the trail of for honeycomb frequency/timing), as required, signal can comprise the discovery reference signal CSI-RS based on LTE.

The Wi-Fi signal or the mixed signal that send the length of the scheduled downlink communication of instruction can help prevent Wi-Fi equipment to send during scheduled downlink communication, and this can cause interference.Such as, any Wi-Fi equipment of detection and the Wi-Fi signal sent by BS of decoding can determine that medium will be occupied indicated time span/OFDM symbol number, and correspondingly, forbid sending until pass by indicated time span/OFDM symbol number, even if downlink communication itself (its LTE that possibly cannot can detect and/or decode according to Wi-Fi radio device or another RAT is performed) is not sensed machine-processed detection by the PHY of Wi-Fi equipment.

Wi-Fi or mixed signal can send before scheduled downlink communication, or may a part or whole part send overlappingly with scheduled downlink communication in time.If note, however, any part of Wi-Fi signal and scheduled downlink communication transmitted in parallel, then disposing interference management/technology for eliminating to avoid what caused by the transmission of Wi-Fi signal is helpful to the interference of scheduled downlink communication.

Note, the whole of scheduled downlink communication or only part can be comprised by the length of Wi-Fi signal designation.Such as, if (such as, based on RRC buffer level in LTE scene) expect that downlink communication crosses over multiple Transmission Time Interval, then indicate the Wi-Fi signal of expection (such as plural number) TTI number can be transmitted when the set of this TTI starts.Alternately, the Wi-Fi signal of the length that each TTI that can be combined in wherein schedule downlink communication provides instruction corresponding with single TTI.

Except generating and send Wi-Fi or mixed signal to avoid except the interference to scheduled downlink communication, also note, at least in some situation, BS (and possibility UE) also can for the wireless medium of the community in Wi-Fi signal monitoring unlicensed band before performing scheduled downlink communication.Such as, in some situation, be configured to other Wi-Fi equipment of operating in unlicensed band or cellular device (such as, other BS or UE) maybe may may attempt communicating communicating with BS with UE simultaneously.Correspondingly, BS (and possibility UE) can monitor or intercept wireless medium to determine that it is busy (being occupied) or not busy (not being occupied).If medium hurries, then BS can postpone (not performing) scheduled downlink communication to avoid the interference of the use to detected medium (causing conflict), if and medium is not busy, then BS can carry out scheduled downlink communication.

In 708, scheduled downlink communication can be performed.This can comprise down link data and be sent to UE via the community on unlicensed band from from BS according to the scheduling configured by BS.The data transmitted can comprise any one in various data, comprise user data (such as, for web browser, map application, email client, media flow transmission application, game or the application data of other various application any, background data (such as, software upgrading) etc.

Note, in some situation, such as some carrier aggregation scheme, auxiliary community can not be used to uplink communication.But, if the community in unlicensed band is used to uplink communication (such as, because it is individual cell or main plot, or it is the auxiliary community of wherein enable uplink communication in carrier aggregation scheme), similar techniques can be realized for the uplink communication from UE to BS as required.The step 710-714 of Fig. 7 relates to such technology.

In 710, the uplink communication via this community can be dispatched between BS and UE.Be similar to scheduled downlink communication, UE is provided to the control channel (PDCCH in such as LTE) that the instruction of scheduled uplink communication can such as provide via the part as this community.Alternately, (such as, if the community in unlicensed band is the auxiliary community of the part as carrier aggregation scheme) can use across carrier dispatching, to make it possible to provide instruction to scheduled uplink communication via different (such as leading) communities.

In 712, UE can send Wi-Fi signal or mixing Wi-Fi/ cellular signal in conjunction with (or on Wi-Fi channel corresponding in frequency) on the frequency channels of the community of scheduled uplink communication in unlicensed band.UE can be equipped with Wi-Fi communication circuitry, such as, with auxiliary by the transmission of UE to such signal, and for other a variety of causes; Alternately, and similar as described in the above situation for BS, if signal is a part for LTE protocol, Wi-Fi or mixing Wi-Fi/ cellular signal can by the honeycomb of UE (such as, LTE) Circuits System generates and sends, in this case, Wi-Fi transceiver may not be needed for this object by UE.With the Wi-Fi signal sent by BS in step 706 or to mix Wi-Fi/ cellular signal similar, as required, this Wi-Fi or mixing Wi-Fi/ cellular signal also may be used for unlicensed LTE frequency and timing is followed the trail of and for medium reservation.

Wi-Fi signal can use Wi-Fi signaling to indicate the length of scheduled uplink communication.Such as, as a kind of possibility, Wi-Fi signal can comprise the leading and signal field of Wi-Fi, the number of OFDM (OFDM) symbol that its instruction is corresponding with the length of scheduled uplink communication.More generally, as in downlink scenario, Wi-Fi signal can be any suitable form of being specified by Wi-Fi wireless communication technology.In some situation, Wi-Fi signal also or alternately can comprise Wi-Fi request and sends (request-to-send, RTS) and/or clear to send (clear-to-send, CTS) message.Wi-Fi signal can send before scheduled uplink communication, or may partly or entirely send overlappingly with scheduled uplink communication in time.

Note, the same with when scheduled downlink communication, when scheduled uplink communication, also can be such situation: except generating and send Wi-Fi or mixed signal to avoid except the interference to scheduled uplink communication, UE (and may BS) also before performing scheduled uplink communication for the wireless medium of Wi-Fi signal monitoring unlicensed band Zhong Gai community.Therefore, UE (and possibility BS) can monitor or intercept wireless medium to determine that it is busy or not busy.If medium hurries, then UE can postpone scheduled uplink communication to avoid interference detected Media Usage, and if medium is not busy, then UE can carry out scheduled uplink communication.

In 714, scheduled uplink communication can be performed.This can comprise uplink data according to the scheduling configured by BS via the transmission of the community on unlicensed band from UE to BS.The data transmitted can comprise any one in various data, comprise user data, background data etc.

Therefore, according to the scheme of Fig. 7, BS with UE can utilize Wi-Fi signaling via the cellular telecommunication art of the such as LTE on unlicensed band to provide the instruction of the scheduled length communicated.Such technology can assist effectively the coexisting between Wi-Fi and cellular telecommunication art realizing such technology, because it can prevent cellular device (such as, BS and UE) from indicating with the Wi-Fi signaling of the length detecting so scheduled cellular communication and may otherwise attempt sending conflicting between the Wi-Fi radio device of (and therefore likely causing interference) during so scheduled cellular communication.

Also note in addition, the element of the method can be expanded as required and/or repeat, to make (up link and/or down link) cellular communication of arbitrary number can be performed between BS and UE, made without interruption by the Wi-Fi signaling of the length of the such communication to BS and/or UE simultaneously.

Fig. 8-16 – additional information

Fig. 8-16 and be provided by the mode of the example of the various consideration relevant with the possible system of the method that can realize Fig. 7 and details below in conjunction with the information that Fig. 8-16 here provides, and be not intended to as a whole be limited to the disclosure.Be possible to the various distortion of the following details here provided and replacement and should be considered within the scope of this disclosure.

As previously noted, the operator of LTE network can use main carrier (Pcell) schedule LTE data in the normal fashion, and the second carrier wave (Scell) can be added in ISM frequency band or unlicensed band via the communication of LTE RAT.Needs avoid Wi-Fi to disturb by the such LTE communication in Scell could success.

As its part, provide channel that the LTE eNB of the community in unlicensed band (" LTE-UeNB ") can select having in ISM frequency band can accept interference level to provide this community.Further, may expect to provide and allow LTE-U eNB guarantee when during dispatching communication, existing and be communicated by the unexpected burst Wi-Fi of the execution of the communication in deteriorated LTE Scell in that channel.

As additional consideration, may expect that allowing such LTE-U eNB have noise elimination (muting) scheme (On/Off mechanism) allows Wi-Fi equipment access channel and do not have LTE to disturb.Further, the technology of the ability that the detection LTE-U that may expect to realize auxiliary Wi-Fi equipment communicates.Such as, if Wi-Fi equipment/access point (AP) can not communicate by sensed/detected LTE-U effectively, then such noise elimination mechanism (LTE) and DFS mechanism (Wi-Fi) may not proper operations.

In other words, in the broadest sense, in order to realize such scheme, in unlicensed band, coexisting of enable Wi-Fi and LTE-U may be required.

Wi-Fi can use random access mechanism to carry out dispatching communication.In addition, Wi-Fi comprises the mechanism of the contention on control channel medium.The Wi-Fi equipment that can allow PHY sensing in 802.11 detects the leading and signal field in PHY frame structure, and sensing has the Wi-Fi communication of the RSSI between-82dBm and-62dBM.If medium busy (such as, as determined based on to the leading signal strength signal intensity communicated with PHY sensing and/or the Wi-Fi of signal field), then Wi-Fi equipment can be waited for until current transmission terminates.The length that Wi-Fi equipment is waited for can or detect based on MAC network allocation vector (NAV) value (it can provide the duration comprising ACK) or from it, or based on leading and signal field (it can indicate the number for the OFDM symbol of transfer of data and can not comprise the length of ack signal) or detect from it.

Existing Wi-Fi contention like this and Stochastic accessing controlling mechanism can be compromised and be carried out auxiliary effective LTE and Wi-Fi and coexist.Such as, LTE-U eNB can be equipped with Wi-Fi equipment (access point transceiver and BB chip).Note, as additional possibility, in some situation, the chipset that eNB can be equipped with the LTE be configured for especially in unlicensed frequency spectrum to use, it can comprise Wi-Fi ability module, and it can avoid the needs to independent Wi-Fi chipset.Fig. 8 illustrates such exemplary " LTE-U access point " according to some embodiments.As shown in the figure, such equipment can comprise the LTE-U transceiver that can send and receive LTE-U data and the Wi-Fi ability module that can provide part or all of Wi-Fi communication capacity, and Wi-Fi ability module can make LTE-U AP can send Wi-Fi signal and/or mix Wi-Fi/LTE signal (such as leading) for medium reservation, timing and/or frequency tracking (such as, find reference signal or DRS), and/or other object.

Therefore, at least in some situation, Wi-Fi module or equipment (it can be the combination in any of hardware, software, firmware etc.) can scan all Wi-Fi channels in paid close attention to frequency band and report their RSSI and link quality metric to LTE-U eNB/AP.Once these measurements are available at LTE eNB place, then can determine not by the list of possible channel of Wi-Fi communication " pollution " to set up LTE communication in Scell.

Wi-Fi channel measurement can be performed once (such as, initially) fill the list of " well " Wi-Fi channel, and also can/be alternately performed periodically to guarantee that condition remains favourable for successful LTE communication after or before each scheduled data communication.

Coexist in order to auxiliary further, LTE-U eNB can use On/Off pattern to operate.Such as, LTE-U eNB can send a period of time (its can be by 3GPP specification document, partly statistically defined by network configuration or dynamically determine based on interference, flow load etc.) and another period of noise elimination/silence subsequently.LTE-U eNB to be the time span of " on " and " off " betwixt can be in various time span any one, and can be equal or not etc.Such as, each " on " period and/or each " off " period can be 10ms, 15ms, 20ms, 30ms, 40ms, or other desired value any.

LTE-U can be sensed in order to make Wi-Fi equipment and Wi-FiAP to communicate, and because LTE-U eNB Wi-Fi equipment or module be equipped with, so LTE-U eNB can send before dispatching communication in Scell Wi-Fi leading+signal field.

Leading+signal field can send before any scheduled LTE-U transmits, and repeated when needed.Such as, leading+signal field can be sent out before each TTI (it may have the duration of 1ms), and the number of the Wi-FiOFDM symbol indicated in signal field can correspond to 1ms.Alternately, leading and Signal transmissions can be overlapping to guarantee that Wi-Fi equipment can not access this medium with TTI (such as, it starts) in time.

The frequency sending leading+signal field can be adjusted to the typical length of the transmission in Wi-Fi (such as, a few ms).In addition, Wi-Fi is leading+and signal transmission can perform (re-transmission) based on the length (number of the OFDM symbol namely indicated) of the data be placed in SIG field by LTE-UeNB, if more LTE-U transmission is scheduled.This can make any Wi-Fi equipment/AP not access medium/channel and can ensure or at least improve the possibility of the clean channel for Scell LTE communication.When LTE-U is off, do not detect that any leading Wi-Fi equipment can access this channel.

Fig. 9-10 illustrates possible transmission plan.It should be noted that block size is not draw in proportion about the duration of those blocks in the scheme illustrated of Fig. 9-10.

Fig. 9 illustrates a scheme, wherein communicated (such as at LTE-U by the Wi-Fi equipment of LTE-U eNB, TTI 906,912) leading 902,908 and signal 904,910 field is transmitted before, and wherein leading+signal field instruction corresponds to the transmission length (that is, the number of OFDM symbol) of one or more TTI.Such scheme such as, can be useful in independently LTE-U community, and in independently LTE-U community, leading+signal field transmission represents the expense not having LTE communication to be performed period.

Alternately, multiple TTI in LTE-U community by the situation of dispatching adjacent to each other, replace send single leading+Signal transmissions, the length that wherein this leading+Signal transmissions comprises the scheduled transfer of data of instruction is that (it can correspond to the real transfer of data length for Wi-Fi to many ms, its average transmission can be the order of magnitude of 3ms) information, LTE-U eNB can use the PDCCH OFDM symbol of each TTI to trigger Wi-Fi entity send leading+sig.Figure 10 illustrates such scheme.

Such scheme can be easily for wherein using across the carrier aggregation realization of carrier dispatching, makes Pcell be used to send the control/schedule information for Pcell and Scell; In such a case, the part being exclusively used in the LTE frame structure of the PDCCH on Scell can be empty (empty PDCCH symbol 1002,1010,1018), and with each TTI 1008,1016, use this time frame to transmit leading 1004,1012 based on 1024,1020 and signal 1006,1014,1022 fields can not disturb LTE communication.Such as, in many cases, PDCCH can occupy 3 OFDM symbol, and it can be approximately delicate corresponding to 215.This is enough for the leading+signal field of accommodation (its can be approximately 20 delicate) and RTS/CTS signaling (if needs).

Likely and expect in many cases, support that any LTE-U equipment (such as, comprising subscriber equipment) of the communication in unlicensed frequency spectrum uses similar mechanism.Such as, in independently LTE-U eNB mechanism, except down link (DL) communication, LTE-U equipment can also perform up link (UL) communication.

Due to equipment room coexistence problems (such as, as specified by 3GPP), LTE-U equipment can use coexistence interface 1102,1104 (such as, as shown in Figure 11) module 1110 module 1112 be sent in their Wi-Fi transceiver 1108 that coexisted by the LTE-U-WLAN of order from their TE transceiver 1106 generates and to send Wi-Fi leading.Any timing difference between LTE transceiver 1106 and Wi-Fi transceiver 1108 can be considered/correct to this interface.Alternately, in IC (such as, the LTE+Wi-Fi chip of combination), two transceivers can drive with identical clock, and this can eliminate or eliminate together any possible timing problems effectively.

Figure 12-16 illustrates the scheme according to above technology described here utilizable Wi-Fi channel sensing mechanism.As shown in Figure 12, the information of the length about the frame transmitted can be provided in the PHY header of frame.Based on such information and standard/appointment interframe space (such as, DCF interframe space (DIFS) and short interframe space (SIFS)) and confirm length, Wi-Fi equipment can determine the time that medium will be occupied.This Media Usage that Wi-Fi equipment can be made can to reserve power (such as will being occupied the period of period by dormancy medium) and avoid a conflict.

As shown in Figure 3, once time span so in the past, contention window (CW) can start.Be desirably in any Wi-Fi equipment of carrying out at that time transmitting can wait for before occupying medium and started to transmit until the time slot of Stochastic choice in contention window.If medium the random yielding (backoff) of Wi-Fi equipment be occupied at the end of the period (as detected by PHY sensing) (such as because want another Wi-Fi equipment transmitted have shorter random make a concession period/have selected time slot more early), then Wi-Fi equipment again can postpone medium competition and wait for next contention window.

As shown in Figure 14, follow-up re-transmission is attempted (that is, such as due to medium conflict after bust this) may stand the contention window of exponential flareout.The number of time slot increased in contention window can reduce the possibility of access interference (because can there is the time slot of more more number, the Wi-Fi equipment of carrying out medium access is wherein wanted therefrom to select), and therefore increase the possibility of Successful transmissions.

Figure 15 illustrates the distributed coordination function (DCF) used by Wi-Fi, and it comprises and uses network allocation vector protection, contention window and about the random yielding period illustrating respectively in Figure 12-14 and describe.

Figure 16 illustrates exemplary Wi-Fi physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU or PHY grouping).As shown in the figure, the PLCP that typical Wi-Fi PHY grouping can comprise 12 symbols is leading, the signal field of a symbol, and the data of the symbol of variable number.Leading usually can expand about 16 delicate, and may be used for input, automatic growth control, diversity is selected, coarse frequency is cheaply estimated, Timing Synchronization and channel and fine-frequency-offset estimation.Signal field can be expanded about 4 delicate usually, and can comprise the part of instruction for the encoding rate of data division that communicates and the number of instruction OFDM symbol, and parity bits and tail bit.Signal field can use binary phase shift keying (BPSK) and 1/2 encoding rate be (or more generally, as according to Wi-Fi specification) of its modulation and encoding scheme.Data field can comprise the data using the number of the symbol indicated by signal field to transmit usually, and it can be encoded with the encoding rate indicated by signal field.

But, in fact typical Wi-Fi communication frame can be included according to the parameter indicated in signal field and leadingly to communicate with the Wi-Fi of the data after signal field, and LTE-U equipment (such as, BS or UE) Wi-Fi communication only can be used to transmit leading and signal field according to technology as described herein, and follow LTE-U communication but not Wi-Fi communication after such Wi-Fi communication.Therefore, although the encoding rate that LTE-U communication may indicate in accurate match signal field and number of symbols, the time span for LTE-U communication afterwards can mate the time span that the symbol that is transmitted in this number indicated in signal field with the encoding rate indicated in signal field will use.

Below introduce more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

First exemplary embodiment comprises a kind of equipment for performing Wi-Fi signaling in unlicensed band in conjunction with cellular communication.This equipment can comprise sets up the device of community with wireless user device (UE) equipment on the frequency channels in unlicensed band.This equipment can also comprise for dispatching the device with the cellular communication of UE equipment.In addition, this equipment can also comprise the device for sending Wi-Fi/ cellular signal on described frequency channels in conjunction with scheduled cellular communication, and wherein, described Wi-Fi/ cellular signal uses Wi-Fi signaling to indicate the length of scheduled cellular communication.In addition, this equipment can comprise for performing the device with the scheduled cellular communication of UE equipment via described community.

Second exemplary embodiment comprises the computer program with instruction, for performing the method for performing Wi-Fi signaling in unlicensed band in conjunction with cellular communication.The method can be included on the frequency channels in unlicensed band and set up community with wireless user device (UE) equipment.The method can also comprise the cellular communication of scheduling and UE equipment.In addition, the method can comprise and on described frequency channels, sends Wi-Fi/ cellular signal in conjunction with scheduled cellular communication, and wherein, described Wi-Fi/ cellular signal uses Wi-Fi signaling to indicate the length of scheduled cellular communication.In addition, the method can comprise via the scheduled cellular communication of described community execution with UE equipment.

In any one or two of above-mentioned exemplary embodiment, described Wi-Fi signal can comprise the leading and signal field of Wi-Fi, the number of OFDM (OFDM) symbol that described Wi-Fi is leading and signal field instruction is corresponding with the length of scheduled cellular communication.Described Wi-Fi is leading can indicate the Wi-Fi with the length corresponding with the length of scheduled cellular communication to communicate with signal field, and wherein, indicated Wi-Fi communication is not performed.Signal field can indicate number and the encoding rate of OFDM (OFDM) symbol of indicated Wi-Fi communication, and wherein, the number of indicated OFDM symbol and encoding rate correspond to the time span of scheduled cellular communication.

In any one in above-mentioned exemplary embodiment, described community can be that carrier aggregation arranges Zhong Fu community.In this case, the method can be included in the frequency channels in licensed band sets up with UE equipment carrier aggregation arrange in main plot and perform via main plot and control to communicate with the honeycomb of auxiliary both communities for main plot, or this equipment can comprise the device for performing described step.

In the exemplary embodiment just described, scheduling is performed with the part that the cellular communication of UE equipment can control to communicate as the honeycomb performed via main plot, and frequency channels in unlicensed band sends Wi-Fi signal and can control with the honeycomb via main plot to communicate and side by side perform.

Alternately, honeycomb controls communication and can be performed via this community, and scheduling is performed with the part that the cellular communication of UE equipment can control to communicate as the honeycomb performed via main plot.In this case, the frequency channels in unlicensed band sends Wi-Fi signal to control to communicate and perform simultaneously or perform performing via this community before honeycomb controls to communicate with performing via this community honeycomb.

In any above-mentioned exemplary embodiment, scheduled LTE communication comprises a Transmission Time Interval (TTI) according to LTE.Alternately, in any above-mentioned exemplary embodiment, scheduled LTE communication comprises the multiple TTI according to LTE.

In any above-mentioned exemplary embodiment, cellular communication and honeycomb control to communicate and can comprise LTE communication and control to communicate with LTE.

Except above-mentioned exemplary embodiment, more embodiments of the present disclosure can any one in a variety of manners realize.Such as some embodiments can be implemented as computer implemented method, computer-readable recording medium, or computer system.Other embodiment can use the hardware device of one or more Custom Design such as ASIC to realize.Also some other embodiment can use one or more programmable hardware element such as FPGA to realize.

In certain embodiments, a kind of non-transitory computer-readable storage media can be configured to make its stored program instruction and/or data, wherein, if program command is performed by computer system, then make computer system manner of execution, such as any combination of any embodiment of the method described herein or embodiment of the method described herein, or any subset of any embodiment of the method described herein, or any combination of such subset.

In certain embodiments, a kind of equipment (such as, UE 106) can be configured to comprise processor (or one group of processor) and storage medium, wherein storage medium stored program instruction, wherein processor is configured to read and execution of program instructions from storage medium, wherein program command can perform to realize any embodiment of the method described herein (or any combination of embodiment of the method described herein, or any subset of any embodiment of the method described herein, or any combination of such subset).Described equipment can in a variety of manners in any form realize.

Although described in detail above embodiment, those skilled in the art are once understand above open completely, then a large amount of variation and modification will become apparent for them.Claims are intended to contain all such variation and modification.

Background technology

This application claims U.S. Provisional Application No.61/936,057, the applying date to be February 5, title in 2014 be " Wi-Fi Signaling by Cellular Devices for Coexistencein Unlicensed Frequency Bands " priority, this application is incorporated fully by reference by reference, as with here to have done complete to set forth completely.

Claims (20)

1. a base station BS, comprising:

One or more transceiver, is configured to perform LTE with Wi-Fi in unlicensed frequency spectrum and communicates;

Treatment element;

Wherein, described one or more transceiver and described treatment element are configured to:

Frequency channels in licensed band sets up main plot according to LTE and wireless user device (UE) equipment;

Frequency channels in unlicensed band sets up auxiliary community according to LTE and UE equipment;

Via main plot scheduling on auxiliary community with the LTE communication of UE equipment;

Described frequency channels in described unlicensed band sends Wi-Fi or mixing Wi-Fi/LTE signal, wherein said signal uses Wi-Fi signaling to indicate the length of scheduled LTE communication; And

Auxiliary community performs the scheduled LTE communication with UE equipment.

2. base station as claimed in claim 1,

Wherein, described signal comprises the leading and signal field of Wi-Fi, and the leading Wi-Fi with signal field instruction with the length corresponding with the length of scheduled LTE communication of described Wi-Fi communicates, and wherein indicated Wi-Fi communication is not performed.

3. base station as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described one or more transceiver and described treatment element are further configured to:

For the wireless medium of the auxiliary community of Wi-Fi signal monitoring before perform the scheduled LTE communication with UE equipment on auxiliary community, determine that described wireless medium is busy or not busy,

Wherein, if described wireless medium is not busy, then scheduled LTE communication is performed,

Wherein, if described wireless medium is busy, then scheduled LTE communication is not performed.

4. base station as claimed in claim 1,

Wherein, described signal is mixing Wi-Fi/LTE signal, described mixing Wi-Fi/LTE signal comprise the LTE signal of the LTE time in unlicensed frequency spectrum of being arranged to and frequency tracking and Wi-Fi leading the two.

5. base station as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described LTE transceiver, described Wi-Fi transceiver and described treatment element are further configured to:

Via main plot scheduling on auxiliary community with the LTE communication of UE equipment while, the described frequency channels in described unlicensed band sends Wi-Fi signal.

6., for operating a method for cellular basestation, described method comprises:

Frequency channels in unlicensed band sets up community with wireless user device (UE) equipment;

The cellular communication of scheduling and UE equipment;

On described frequency channels, mixing Wi-Fi/ cellular signal is sent in conjunction with scheduled cellular communication, wherein, described mixing Wi-Fi/ cellular signal uses Wi-Fi signaling to indicate the length of scheduled cellular communication, and wherein said mixing Wi-Fi/ cellular signal also comprises honeycomb timing for using in unlicensed band and frequency tracking information; And

The scheduled cellular communication with UE equipment is performed via described community.

7. method as claimed in claim 6,

Wherein said mixing Wi-Fi/ cellular signal comprises the leading and signal field of Wi-Fi, the number of the orthogonal frequency division multiplex OFDM symbol that described Wi-Fi is leading and signal field instruction is corresponding with the length of scheduled cellular communication.

8. method as claimed in claim 6,

Wherein scheduled cellular communication comprises at least one Transmission Time Interval TTI.

9. method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said community comprises carrier aggregation and arranges Zhong Fu community, and the method also comprises:

Frequency channels in licensed band is set up with UE equipment carrier aggregation arrange in main plot,

Perform via main plot and control to communicate with the honeycomb of auxiliary both communities for main plot.

10. method as claimed in claim 9,

Wherein scheduling is performed with the part that the cellular communication of UE equipment controls to communicate as the honeycomb performed via main plot,

Wherein, the frequency channels in unlicensed band sends signal and perform described honeycomb via main plot and control to communicate and side by side perform.

11. methods as claimed in claim 6, the method also comprises:

Perform honeycomb via described community and control communication, wherein scheduling is performed with the part that the cellular communication of UE equipment controls to communicate as the described honeycomb performed via described community.

12. methods as claimed in claim 11,

Frequency channels wherein in unlicensed band sends described signal and perform described honeycomb via described community and control to communicate and be performed simultaneously or be performed performing via described community before described honeycomb controls to communicate.

13. 1 kinds of methods for operate wireless user's set UE equipment, described method comprises:

Frequency channels in unlicensed band sets up community according to LTE and cellular basestation;

Receiving uplink is authorized for the up link LTE communication with described cellular basestation;

Be combined on described frequency channels with scheduled up link LTE communication and send signal, wherein, described signal uses Wi-Fi signaling to indicate the length of scheduled up link LTE communication; And

Described community performs described up link LTE communication with described cellular basestation.

14. methods as claimed in claim 13,

Wherein, described signal is mixing Wi-Fi/LTE signal, and described mixing Wi-Fi/LTE signal also comprises the discovery reference signal DRS for LTE timing and frequency tracking.

15. methods as claimed in claim 13, wherein said signal comprises the leading and one or more PHY header fields of Wi-Fi, wherein said one or more PHY header fields comprises Wi-Fi that instruction has the length corresponding with the length of scheduled up link LTE communication and to communicate the information be just performed, and the method also comprises:

Send Wi-Fi signal after leading and described one or more PHY header fields not to be actually carried out with the remainder making indicated Wi-Fi and communicate and Wi-Fi signal is not sent by UE during the remainder of scheduled up link LTE communication at described Wi-Fi.

16. methods as claimed in claim 13,

Wherein, the length of scheduled up link LTE communication comprises the integer number of Transmission Time Interval TTI, wherein, the length of scheduled up link LTE communication is instructed to as the number of the Wi-Fi orthogonal frequency division multiplex OFDM symbol of the length corresponding to scheduled LTE communication in described signal.

17. methods as claimed in claim 13, wherein said community comprises arranges Zhong Fu community with the carrier aggregation of cellular basestation, and the method also comprises:

On frequency channels in licensed band according to LTE and cellular basestation set up carrier aggregation arrange in main plot,

Wherein, the up link for the up link LTE communication with described cellular basestation is authorized via described main plot received.

18. methods as claimed in claim 13,

Wherein, the up link for the up link LTE communication with described cellular basestation is authorized via described community received.

19. methods as claimed in claim 13, the method also comprises:

The instruction of the Wi-Fi Circuits System in conjunction with scheduled up link LTE communication, signal being sent to UE equipment via LTE-Wi-Fi coexistence interface from the LTE Circuits System of UE equipment is provided.

20. methods as claimed in claim 13,

Wherein send the restriction of described signal in conjunction with scheduled up link LTE communication to receive on the Wi-Fi equipment of the described signal frequency channels during scheduled up link LTE communication in unlicensed band and perform Wi-Fi transmission.