CN108476498B

CN108476498B - Frame structure signaling for a radio access network operating in unlicensed spectrum

Info

Publication number: CN108476498B
Application number: CN201680079262.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 阿比哈吉特·波尔卡尔; 叶悄扬; 权焕准; 牛华宁; 全晸鍸
Original assignee: Apple Inc
Current assignee: Apple Inc; Intel Corp
Priority date: 2016-02-04
Filing date: 2016-08-31
Publication date: 2023-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-31
Also published as: WO2017135999A1; HK1258297A1; CN108476498A

Abstract

The techniques described herein may help conserve power for user equipment devices (UEs) in a Radio Access Network (RAN) that is implementing communication policies involving flexible frame structures. A network device, such as a base station or a wireless router, may monitor network traffic in the RAN and determine an appropriate frame structure based on the network traffic. The network device may communicate a frame structure to UEs in the RAN so that the UEs know when an in-progress frame will transition from a Downlink (DL) subframe to an Uplink (UL) subframe. Doing so may alleviate the need for the UE to continuously monitor the network for actual transitions from DL subframes to UL subframes, thereby saving power usage by the UE.

Description

Frame structure signaling for a radio access network operating in unlicensed spectrum

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.62/291,383 submitted at 4/2016 and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.62/318,622 submitted at 5/4/2016, the contents of both provisional applications being incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Background

Wireless telecommunication networks typically include a Radio Access Network (RAN) that enables User Equipment (UE) (e.g., smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) to connect to a core network. Examples of wireless telecommunication networks may include Evolved Packet System (EPS) operating based on third generation partnership project (3 GPP) communication standards. EPS may include Evolved Packet Core (EPC) networks connected to one or more cellular networks, such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) RAN (also known as "evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN)"), a fifth generation (5G) RAN, etc. In cellular networks, UEs typically communicate with base stations using channels corresponding to licensed radio spectrum (e.g., the radio spectrum designated for cellular network communications).

Such as Licensed Assisted Access (LAA), carrier Aggregation (CA), and the like,

Such techniques may enable the UE to connect to the wireless telecommunications network via an unlicensed spectrum, and examples of unlicensed spectrum include 5 gigahertz (GHz) unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed uses proposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the united states. Some of these techniques, such as LAA and CA, may include the UE maintaining carriers from licensed spectrum (also referred to as "anchors") in order to use carriers in unlicensed spectrum. In contrast, such as->

Other technologies, referred to herein as "standalone technologies," may enable a UE to connect to a wireless telecommunications network without requiring an anchor from the licensed spectrum. The standalone technology may also enable network devices (e.g., small cell devices, wireless routers, etc.) to implement releases of the 3GPP LTE communication standard, whereby a UE may establish an LTE connection with a wireless telecommunications network.

In addition to increasing the overall DL and UL capabilities of a wireless telecommunications network by enabling a UE to connect to the network via unlicensed spectrum, the independent techniques may also increase the DL and UL capabilities of the network by implementing flexible frame structure techniques. Typically, the frame structures in the RAN are static (e.g., they have a fixed number of DL subframes and a fixed number of UL subframes in each frame structure). Examples of such frames may include LTE frames, such as LTE frames for Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD), LTE frames for Time Division Duplexing (TDD), and so forth.

Implementing flexible frame structure techniques may include a process by which a network device (e.g., small cell device, wireless access point, etc.) may define a frame structure based on an amount of existing and/or anticipated network traffic. For example, when a network device predicts that the level of network traffic in the DL direction will increase, flexible frame structure techniques may enable a wireless access point to increase the number of DL subframes and decrease the number of UL subframes per frame. Similarly, when it is expected that the level of network traffic in the UL direction will increase, the flexible frame structure technique may enable the network device to redefine the frame structure by reducing the number of DL subframes and increasing the number of UL subframes for each frame.

Drawings

The embodiments of the present embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For ease of description, like reference numerals may denote like structural elements. The embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example system in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented;

fig. 2 is a diagram of an example control channel that may exist between a User Equipment (UE) and a network device of a Radio Access Network (RAN);

Fig. 3 is an illustration of an example procedure for providing frame structure information to a UE within a RAN;

fig. 4 and 5 are diagrams of example frame structures;

fig. 6-9 are diagrams of example frame structures including frame structure information at different subframe locations;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of example components of an electronic device; and

fig. 11 is a diagram of example components of a network device.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Techniques that implement flexible frames in a stand-alone environment have certain drawbacks. For example, since the frame structure may change periodically in a flexible frame environment, the UE device may continuously monitor a particular control channel (e.g., a common control channel, such as a common physical downlink control channel (C-PDCCH)) in order to determine when the structure of the frame may change from DL subframes to UL subframes. The identification of the transition may enable the UE to identify the UL subframe(s) for which the UE has received the UL grant (i.e., a grant to actually use the UL subframe to transmit information to the network). Without identifying the transition, the UE may not be able to identify UL subframes for which the UE has been authorized because UL grant information may be related to (e.g., measured from) the transition from DL subframes to UL subframes. In addition, even in the case where subframes are scheduled for UL transmission to operate in a flexible frame environment, the UE may continuously monitor the DL control channel because the UE does not know whether subframes are for DL transmission or UL transmission, which is undesirable in terms of UE power consumption.

The techniques described herein may be used to reduce the amount of UE power used to implement flexible frame structure techniques by actively informing UEs about the frame structure. For example, the wireless access device may monitor network traffic in the RAN, determine an appropriate frame structure based on the network traffic, and may transmit information describing the frame structure (also referred to herein as frame structure information) to each UE in the RAN. The frame structure information may be transmitted in one or more ways according to embodiments.

For example, the wireless access device may transmit frame structure information among each DL subframe of a frame, a first DL subframe of a frame, a last DL subframe of a frame, two or more DL subframes of a frame, and so forth. In addition, the frame structure information may describe when a frame may be converted from a DL subframe to an UL subframe, the time and/or location of the UL subframe within the frame, the length of UL transmissions within the frame (e.g., the number of symbols per UL subframe), and so forth. In this way, since the radio access device can actively inform each UE in the RAN about the changing frame structure, the UE can save power by refraining from monitoring each subframe transmitted from the radio access device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example environment 100 in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented. Environment 100 may include a plurality of UEs 110, a wireless telecommunications network, and external networks and devices.

The wireless telecommunications network may include an Evolved Packet System (EPS) comprising a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network and/or an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network operating based on third generation partnership project (3 GPP) wireless communication standards. The LTE network may be or may include a RAN that includes one or more base stations (some or all of which may be enbs 120) and/or WLAN APs 130 through which ues 110 may communicate with the EPC network.

The EPC network may include a Serving Gateway (SGW) 140, a PDN Gateway (PGW) 150, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) 160, a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 170, and/or a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) 180. As shown, the EPC network may enable UE 110 to communicate with external networks such as a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and/or an Internet Protocol (IP) network (e.g., the internet).

UE 110 may include portable computing and communication devices such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), smart phones, cellular phones, laptop computers connected to wireless telecommunication networks, tablet computers, and the like. UE 110 may also include a non-portable computing device such as a desktop computer, a consumer or business device, or another device having the capability of a RAN connected to a wireless telecommunications network. UE 110 may also include computing and communication devices (also referred to as wearable devices) that may be worn by a user, such as watches, body-building bracelets, necklaces, lenses, eyeglasses, rings, waistbands, headphones, or other types of wearable devices.

UE 110 may include software, firmware, or hardware (such as flexible frame structure software) that enables UE 110 to perform one or more operations described herein. Examples of such operations may include receiving information over a RAN (e.g., from eNB 120 and/or WLAN AP 130) via a particular channel (e.g., C-PDCCH), monitoring information for frame structure information, interpreting the frame structure information to determine when UE 110 is transmitting information to eNB 120 and/or WLAN AP 130, conserving battery power by ceasing to monitor subsequent information from eNB 120 and/or WLAN AP 130, and transmitting information to eNB 120 and/or WLAN AP 130 based on the frame structure information.

eNB 120 may include one or more network devices that receive, process, and/or transmit traffic (e.g., via an air interface) to UE 110 and/or received from UE 110. The eNB 120 may connect to a network device (e.g., a site router) that acts as an intermediary for information communicated between the eNB 120 and the EPC network 230. The enbs 120 may include network devices (e.g., modems, switches, gateways, routers, etc.) that are capable of implementing the flexible frame structure techniques described herein. The eNB 120 may cooperate with the WLAN AP 130 to implement LAA, CA, etc. in order to increase network resources (e.g., UL and/or DL bandwidth) of the wireless telecommunication network. In addition, eNB 120 may include software, firmware, or hardware (such as flexible frame structure software) that enables eNB 120 to perform one or more operations described herein, such as monitoring network traffic within a RAN, implementing flexible frame structure techniques based on network traffic to efficiently use frames and subframes, transmitting frame structure information to UE 110, and communicating with the UE according to the frame structure information.

WLAN AP 130 may include one or more network devices that receive, process, and/or transmit (e.g., via an air interface) traffic to UE 110 and/or received from UE 110. WLAN AP 130 may include network devices, such as switches, gateways, routers, small cell devices, wireless access points, etc., capable of implementing the flexible frame structures described herein,

Access points, base stations, etc. In some implementations, the WLAN AP 130 may implement an independent (e.g., non-anchor) version of the 3GPP LTE communication standard in the 5 gigahertz (GHz) unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed uses proposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the united states. In some embodiments, this may include a real worldNow->

Technology or another type of stand-alone communication standard.

The WLAN AP 130 may also cooperate with the eNB 120 to implement LAA, CA, etc. in order to increase network resources (e.g., UL and/or DL bandwidth) of the wireless telecommunication network. In addition, eNB 120 may include software, firmware, or hardware (such as flexible frame structure software) that enables eNB 120 to perform one or more operations described herein, such as monitoring network traffic within the RAN, implementing flexible frame structure techniques based on the network traffic to efficiently use frames and subframes, transmitting frame structure information to UE 110, and communicating with the UE according to the frame structure information.

SGW 140 may aggregate traffic received from one or more enbs 120 and/or WLAN APs 130 and may transmit the aggregated traffic to external networks or devices via PGW 150. In addition, SGW 140 may aggregate traffic received from one or more PGWs 150 and may transmit the aggregated traffic to one or more enbs 120 and/or WLAN APs 130.SGW 140 may operate as an anchor for the user plane during inter-eNB handover and may operate as an anchor for mobility between different telecommunication networks.

MME 160 may include one or more computing and communication devices that act as control nodes for eNB 120 and/or other devices providing an air interface for a wireless telecommunications network (e.g., WLAN AP 130). For example, MME 160 may perform operations to register UE 110 with a wireless telecommunications network to establish a bearer channel (e.g., traffic flow) associated with a session of UE 110, to handover UE 110 to a different eNB, MME, or another network, and/or perform other operations. MME 160 may perform policing operations for traffic to UE 110 and/or received from UE 110.

PGW 150 may include one or more network devices that may aggregate traffic received from one or more SGWs 140 and may transmit the aggregated traffic to an external network. PGW 150 may also or alternatively receive traffic from an external network and may send the traffic to UE 110 (via eNB 120 and/or WLAN 130). PGW 150 may be responsible for providing charging data for each communication session to PCRF 180 to help ensure that charging policies are properly applied to the communication session with the wireless telecommunications network.

HSS 170 may include one or more devices that may manage, update, and/or store profile information associated with subscribers (e.g., subscribers associated with UE 110) in memory associated with HSS 170. The profile information may identify applications and/or services allowed for and/or accessible by the subscriber; a Mobile Directory Number (MDN) associated with the subscriber; a bandwidth or data rate threshold associated with an application and/or service; and/or other information. A subscriber may be associated with UE 110. Additionally or alternatively, HSS 170 may perform authentication, authorization, and/or charging operations associated with subscribers and/or communication sessions with UE 110.

PCRF 180 may receive information regarding policies and/or subscriptions from one or more sources (e.g., subscriber databases) and/or from one or more subscribers. PCRF 180 may provide these policies to PGW 150 or another device to enable the policies to be enforced. As shown, PCRF 180 may communicate with PGW 150 in some embodiments to ensure that charging policies are properly applied to local routing sessions within the telecommunications network. For example, after local routing session termination, PGW 150 may collect charging information for the session and provide the charging information to PCRF 180 for implementation.

The number of devices and/or networks shown in fig. 1 is for illustration purposes only. In practice, additional devices and/or networks may be present; fewer devices and/or networks; different devices and/or networks; or a device and/or network that is arranged differently than shown in fig. 1. Alternatively or additionally, one or more devices of system 100 may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another one or more devices of system 100. Furthermore, although "direct" connections are shown in fig. 1, these connections should be interpreted as logical communication paths, and in practice, one or more intermediary devices (e.g., routers, gateways, modems, switches, hubs, etc.) may be present.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of an example control channel that may be established between UE 110 and WLAN AP 130. As shown, a plurality of control channels may be established between UE 110 and the RAN, examples of which may include a common control channel (e.g., C-PDCCH) and a UE-specific control channel (e.g., UE-specific PDCCH).

The WLAN AP 130 may communicate with multiple UEs 110 simultaneously using a common control channel such that each UE 110 receives the same information transmitted via the common control channel. The common control channel may be used to provide all UEs 110 with the same frame structure information, which may describe one or more aspects of the frame structure currently being implemented by WLAN AP 130. As described herein, the frame structure information may indicate a total number of subframes per frame, a number of DL subframes per frame, a number of UL subframes per frame, a number of special subframes per frame, when one subframe ends and another subframe starts, when a subframe sequence ends and another subframe sequence starts, a number of symbols between a current subframe and a transition from a DL subframe to a UL subframe, and so forth.

In contrast, WLAN AP 130 may transmit different information to different UEs 110 using UE-specific control channels, such that one UE 110 may not receive the same information as another UE 110. For example, WLAN AP 130 may use one UE-specific control channel to provide UL grant information to one UE 110 and another UE-specific control channel to provide different UL grant information to another UE 110. The UL grant information may indicate when each UE 110 is allowed to transmit information to WLAN AP 130. Since UL grant information may be transmitted via a UE-specific control channel, one UE 110 may not know when another UE 110 is allowed to transmit information in the UL direction (e.g., to WLAN AP 130) (e.g., during which subframe in a frame).

In some embodiments, each UE 110 may combine information received via a common control channel and a UE-specific control channel in order to know when the UE 110 will transmit information in the UL. For example, frame structure information received via a common control channel may indicate when UL subframe sequences start and end, and UL grant information received via a UE-specific control channel may indicate time periods, number of symbols, subframe sequences, etc. within the UL subframe sequences, whereby UE 110 may accurately determine when UE 110 will transmit information to WLAN 130. Since UL grant information may, for example, only indicate UL subframe numbers (e.g., the third UL subframe in a sequence of UL subframes) that are granted to a particular UE 110, frame structure information (e.g., when UL subframes start) may enable the UE 110 to identify which UL subframe is the third UL subframe without having to continuously monitor subframes in order to find when DL subframes transition to UL subframes.

Fig. 3 is an illustration of an example procedure 300 for providing frame structure information to a UE within a RAN. The example process 300 may be implemented by the WLAN AP 130.

Referring to fig. 3, process 300 may include monitoring network traffic of a RAN (block 310). For example, WLAN AP 130 may monitor information communicated between UE 110 and the RAN of WLAN AP 130. The activity monitored by the WLAN AP 130 may relate to a particular channel, such as a common control channel (e.g., C-PDCCH) monitored by all UEs 110 in the cell. The WLAN AP 130 may use a common control channel to communicate paging information, information about the network (e.g., EPC), information about random access procedures, and so on. In some implementations, the WLAN AP 130 may monitor network traffic to determine a current level of network traffic flowing in the DL direction and/or UL direction and an expected level of network traffic flowing in the DL direction and/or UL direction. Such determination may be based on other information, such as the number of UEs 110 in the RAN, the level of activity of UEs 110 in the RAN, the type of activity of UEs 110 in the RAN, the need for a core network (e.g., EPC) to communicate information to UEs 110 in the RAN, and so forth.

Process 300 may also include determining an appropriate frame structure based on the network traffic (block 320). For example, WLAN AP 130 may analyze network traffic in the RAN and may determine an appropriate frame structure for communicating with UE 110. For example, when the WLAN AP 130 predicts an increase in the level of network traffic in the DL direction, the WLAN AP 130 may increase the number of DL subframes and decrease the number of UL subframes for each frame. Similarly, when an increase in the level of network traffic in the UL direction is expected, the WLAN AP 130 may redefine the frame structure by reducing the number of DL subframes in the frame and increasing the number of UL subframes. In some embodiments, the WLAN AP 130 may continuously monitor network traffic and modify the frame structure to best conform to the anticipated needs of the RAN.

Fig. 4 and 5 are diagrams of example frame structures. As shown in fig. 4, an example frame structure 400 may include a DL portion and a UL portion. Each portion may include a sequence of consecutive DL subframes or a sequence of consecutive UL subframes. In the example provided, the example frame structure 400 includes 10 subframes, where the frame switches from DL subframes to UL subframes between subframe 5 and subframe 6. As such, the subframe structure determined by the WLAN AP 130 may include a continuous subframe structure having only one continuous DL subframe sequence, one continuous UL subframe sequence, and transitions between DL subframes and UL subframes between

subframes

5 and 6.

In contrast, as shown in fig. 5, the example frame structure 500 may include a plurality of DL portions and UL portions. Each portion may include a continuous DL subframe sequence or a continuous UL subframe sequence, and the DL portion and the UL portion may be interspersed with each other. In the example provided, the frame structure includes 10 subframes, with frames switching from DL subframes to UL subframes (and vice versa) between

subframes

3 and 4, 6 and 7, and 8 and 9. As such, the example frame structure 500 includes a distributed frame structure having a plurality of alternating consecutive DL subframe sequences and UL subframe sequences.

In addition to determining that the frame structure is continuous or distributed, WLAN AP 130 may also determine which subframes may include subframe structure information. For example, the WLAN AP 130 may determine that frame structure information is to be included in each DL subframe of the frame structure. In another example, the WLAN AP 130 may determine that frame structure information is to be included in only specific DL subframes, e.g., a first DL subframe of each DL subframe sequence, a last DL subframe of each DL subframe sequence, two or more DL subframes of each DL subframe sequence, etc. Specific examples of such frame structures are described in more detail below with reference to fig. 6-9.

In some implementations, frame structure information may be transmitted on each DL subframe between the subframe in which the UL grant is transmitted and the first UL subframe transmission (e.g., physical UL channel (PUSCH) transmission). As described herein, the transmission burst may include a continuous transmission (e.g., between UE 110 and WLAN AP 130) in the RAN for a period of time. A transmission burst may include an entire frame, a portion of a frame (e.g., one or more DL portions and/or UL portions), or multiple frames. Additionally, frame structure information that may be provided to UE 110 by WLAN AP 130 may include frame structure information related to a particular transmission burst.

Returning to fig. 3, process 300 may include generating information describing a frame structure (block 330). For example, WLAN AP 130 may describe aspects of the frame structure or frame structure in terms of a total number of DL subframes, a number of DL subframes from transition to UL subframes, a total number of UL subframes, a number of symbols (which may correspond to a number of symbols in one or more DL subframes and/or UL subframes), an indication of transition from DL subframes to UL subframes (e.g., frame number or frame position), an indication of transition from UL subframes back to DL subframes, and so forth. The provided information may indicate when a frame transitions from a DL subframe to an UL subframe, the number of consecutive UL subframes after the transition, whether the frame transitions back to a DL subframe, and so on. The descriptive information may indicate a transition from DL subframes to UL subframes and may be provided in terms of number of subframes, location of one or more subframes (relative to other subframes), duration (e.g., because each subframe may correspond to a particular amount of time), symbols (because, for example, each subframe may include a particular number of symbols), or a combination thereof.

As used herein, a time position may indicate an amount of time between two subframes (e.g., an amount of time between a particular DL subframe and a transition from a DL subframe to a UL subframe). Similarly, as used herein, a frame position may indicate a number of subframes between two subframes (e.g., a number of DL subframes between a particular DL subframe and a transition from DL subframes to UL subframes). Likewise, as used herein, a symbol position may indicate a number of symbols between two symbols (e.g., a first symbol of a particular DL subframe and a symbol of a DL subframe immediately prior to a transition to an UL subframe). Additional examples of frame structure information are discussed below with reference to fig. 6-9.

The process 300 may also include transmitting frame structure information to UEs in the RAN using the frame structure determined to be appropriate (block 340). For example, the WLAN AP 130 may transmit the frame structure information using a frame structure that is complementary to the network traffic conditions and/or the expected network traffic conditions of the RAN. As described above, the frame structure information may be included in one or more DL subframes of the frame structure, e.g., each DL subframe, only the first or last DL subframe of the DL subframe sequence, etc. Additionally, subframe structure information may be transmitted simultaneously to each UE 110 in the RAN via one control channel, such as a C-PDCCH. In some implementations, the processor of WLAN AP 130 may cause WLAP 130 to transmit information describing the frame structure to UE 110 according to the frame structure.

The process 300 may also include communicating with the UE based on the frame structure (block 350). For example, the frame structure for transmitting the frame structure information may include other types of control information, such as paging information, information about parameters or capabilities of the network, and the like, in addition to the frame structure information. In some implementations, the frame structure information may occupy only a small portion of the information provided via the DL subframes.

In some embodiments, for example, the frame structure information may include two or three bits in a particular DL subframe. For example, two bits may be used in DL subframes located within four subframes of a transition from DL subframes to UL subframes. This is due to the fact that two bits may convey four combinations of information (e.g., 00, 01, 10, and 11), each of which may represent the number of subframes between DL subframes in which the bits are conveyed and the transition from DL subframes to UL subframes. Similarly, since three bits may convey eight different combinations of information (e.g., 000, 001, 011, 111, etc.), three bits may be used in DL subframes located within eight subframes of a transition from DL subframes to UL subframes.

In some embodiments, the number of bits used to convey frame structure information may depend on the number of subframes between the subframe used to convey frame structure information and the first (or next) UL subframe. For example, when there is only one subframe (e.g., DL subframe or special subframe) between a DL subframe (or special subframe for communicating subframe structure information) and the next UL subframe, frame structure information may be communicated using only one bit (e.g., where "0" may indicate that the next subframe is a UL subframe and "1" may indicate that another subframe (e.g., DL subframe or special subframe) exists before the UL subframe). In a similar manner, two bits may be used in a case where there are two to three subframes between a subframe for communicating subframe structure information and a next UL subframe, three bits may be used in a case where there are at least four subframes between a subframe for communicating subframe structure information and a next UL subframe, and so on. Additionally, in some embodiments, the number of bits used in each subframe for communicating frame structure information may vary within the same frame (e.g., according to the number of subframes between the communicating subframe and the first UL subframe). Alternatively, in each subframe for conveying frame structure information within the frame, the number of bits for conveying frame structure information may be the same.

In this way, the techniques described herein may provide an efficient solution for describing a frame structure (or a significant portion of a frame structure) without significantly impacting other types of control information that may be beneficial for transmission to UE 110.

Additionally, the environment or scenario in which the WLAN AP 130 may implement one or more of the flexible frame structure techniques described herein may vary. For example, in some embodiments, WLAN AP 130 may be implemented in conjunction with implementing a stand-alone technology (e.g.

) And/or Listen Before Talk (LBT) communication procedures together implement the flexible frame structure techniques described herein within the context of C-PDCCH communication in unlicensed spectrum. In other embodiments, the flexible frame structure technique may be implemented in other scenarios, such as scenarios involving LAA techniques, where the UE 130 communicates with the eNB 120 (via licensed spectrum) and the WLAN AP 130 implementing the flexible frame structure technique in unlicensed spectrum at the same time. As such, the techniques described herein may be applicable to systems involving flexible framesVarious scenarios of structural technology.

Fig. 6-9 are diagrams of example frame structures 600-900 that include frame structure information at different subframe locations. The example frame structures of fig. 6-9 include a plurality of subframes designated as DL subframes, UL subframes, or special subframes. The example frame structures of fig. 6-9 are provided primarily for purposes of explanation and not limitation on the scope of the techniques described herein. In practice, the frame structure may include additional subframes, fewer subframes, different distributions of subframes, different arrangements of subframes, different compilations of subframes (e.g., no special subframes), and so forth.

Referring to fig. 6, an example frame structure 600 may include a sequence of consecutive DL subframes from subframe 3 to subframe 5. These DL subframes may be followed by a special subframe (subframe 6) comprising a DL portion and a UL portion, followed by a sequence of consecutive UL subframes from subframe 7 to subframe 9. In some implementations, the example frame structure 600 may include additional subframes (e.g.,

subframes

1, 2, 10, etc.). As shown, the special subframe may include a DL portion and an UL portion (also referred to herein as "DL segment" and "UL segment", respectively). In some implementations, the special subframe may include a DL portion and the remainder (e.g., the portion that may be used as a UL portion) may be blank. In such embodiments, the DL portion may comprise 3, 6, 9, 10, 11, or 12 symbols.

As shown, each DL subframe in fig. 6 includes frame structure information describing a frame structure or at least a portion thereof (e.g., a point or time at which information transmitted in the DL direction is converted into information transmitted in the UL direction). In some embodiments, the frame structure information in each DL subframe may include the same information, creating information redundancy to better ensure that the frame structure information is received by all UEs 110 within the RAN. In other embodiments, the subframe information may vary from DL subframe to DL subframe. For example, each subframe may indicate a number of remaining DL subframes (e.g., before a next UL subframe). In some embodiments, the frame structure information may include an indication of a time, subframe, and/or symbol at which the UL portion of the subframe begins.

For example, the frame structure information may indicate that the UL portion of the frame starts during the second half of subframe 6, which may be dedicated to Physical UL Control Channel (PUCCH) information. The frame structure information may also indicate that the UL portion of the frame continues from the second half of subframe 6 through subframe 9. The frame structure information may also indicate that the frame is a contiguous subframe structure (see, e.g., fig. 4) having only one contiguous DL subframe sequence and only one contiguous UL subframe sequence. As shown, several UL portions of a frame may include an LBT (listen before talk) portion, where UE 110 may verify that a control channel corresponding to the example frame of fig. 6 is idle (or sufficiently idle), for example, before transmitting information in the UL direction. In a scenario where LBT is not implemented, the frame and its subframes may not include LBT segments throughout the UL portion of the frame.

The frame structure information may also or alternatively indicate that the first complete UL subframe starts at subframe 7, the number of symbols in each UL subframe, the total number of UL subframes, the total duration of the UL portion of the frame, etc. In some implementations, the frame structure information may be redundant in each DL subframe, which may, for example, increase the likelihood that each UE 110 will successfully receive the frame structure information. In other embodiments, some frame structure information may be provided via a particular DL subframe, while other frame structure information may be provided in the DL subframe.

Referring now to fig. 7, an example frame structure 700 may include DL subframes from subframe 1 to a first portion of subframe 4 and UL subframes from a second portion of subframe 4 to subframe 7. In some implementations, the example frame structure 700 may include additional subframes (e.g., subframes 8-10, etc.). As shown, the example frame structure 700 includes frame structure information only in the first DL subframe (subframe 1). Transmitting frame structure information in the first DL subframe may, for example, enable other DL subframes to be used for transmitting other types of control information in the DL direction.

As described herein, the frame structure information may include a description of an overall frame structure including a time and/or a subframe (i.e., subframe 4) at which a subframe switches from a DL subframe to a UL subframe. The frame structure information may also indicate that the second half of subframe 4 is dedicated to enabling UE 110 to transmit UL information (e.g., physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) information) to the network. The frame structure information may also indicate that the frame is a continuous subframe structure (see, e.g., fig. 4) rather than a distributed subframe structure (see, e.g., fig. 5), where a continuous DL subframe sequence is followed by a continuous UL subframe sequence. However, if the frame includes a distributed frame structure, the frame structure information may include the number of UL subframe sequences in the frame, the duration or length of each (or a particular) sequence of UL subframes (e.g., the number of subframes), the beginning and/or end of one or more UL subframe sequences, and the like.

Referring now to fig. 8, an example frame structure 800 may include DL subframes from subframe 3 to a first portion of subframe 6 and UL subframes from a second portion of subframe 6 to subframe 9. In some implementations, the example frame structure 800 may include additional subframes (e.g.,

subframes

1 and 2, subframe 10, etc.). In contrast to the frame structure of fig. 6, the example frame structure 800 includes frame structure information only in a special subframe (subframe 6) of the example frame structure 800. Transmitting frame structure information in the last DL portion of a frame may, for example, enable other DL subframes to be used to transmit other types of information in the C-PDCCH.

As described herein, the frame structure information may include a description of an overall frame structure including a time and/or a subframe (i.e., special subframe 6) at which a subframe switches from a DL subframe to a UL subframe. The frame structure information may indicate that the second half of subframe 6 is a UL subframe including UL control information. The frame structure information may also indicate that the frame is a contiguous subframe structure (see, e.g., fig. 4) rather than a distributed subframe structure (see, e.g., fig. 5), where a contiguous DL subframe sequence is followed by a contiguous UL subframe sequence.

The frame structure information may indicate that the UL portion of the frame starts at a particular symbol of transition frame 6 and continues for a number of symbols equal to the actual number of symbols in the UL portion of the frame. As shown, several UL portions of a frame may include an LBT (listen before talk) portion, where UE 110 may verify that a control channel corresponding to the example frame of fig. 8 is idle (or sufficiently idle), for example, before transmitting information in the UL direction. In a scenario where LBT is implemented, the frame structure information may include an indication of the symbols allocated for LBT purposes in each subframe.

Referring now to fig. 9, an example frame structure 900 may include DL subframes from subframe 5 to subframe 8 and UL subframes from subframe 9 to subframe 1. In some implementations, the example frame structure 900 may include additional subframes (e.g., subframes 1-4, etc.). The example frame structure 900 includes frame structure information in only two DL subframes (subframes 7 and 8) prior to a transition from the DL portion of the frame to the UL portion of the frame. As shown in fig. 9, as represented in fig. 9, UL control channel information (UL (C)) may be transmitted by frequency multiplexing instead of time multiplexing (e.g., physical UL channel (PUSCH) transmission).

In some embodiments, the frame structure information may include an indication of the distance (whether measured in units of time, frame, symbol, etc.) of a particular DL subframe from the first UL subframe. For example, if the first UL subframe is N subframes later (e.g., 2 subframes later, on subframe 9), the frame structure information in DL subframe 7 may be 1 to indicate that the first UL subframe is two subframes from subframe 7 (e.g., the first UL subframe is offset from the subframe of the DL subframe having the frame structure information). Similarly, the frame structure information of DL subframe 8 may be 0 to indicate that the next subframe (subframe 9) is the first UL subframe in the frame. In some embodiments, the information may indicate the start of a subframe containing UL control channel information. The frame structure information may also or alternatively indicate that the first complete UL subframe starts at subframe 10, the total number of UL subframes, the total number of symbols in all UL subframes, the combined duration of UL subframes, etc. In this way, the frame structure information may provide a clear description of when a frame transitions from the DL portion of the frame to the UL portion of the frame and the length of the UL portion of the frame. This may be done so that UE 110 saves battery power by ceasing to monitor each subframe when the UE 110 has received a description of the frame itself or a portion of the frame that is of particular interest to the UE 110 (e.g., a transition from the DL portion of the frame to the UL portion of the frame and the length of the UL portion of the frame).

In some embodiments, the frame may not include any UL subframes. In such a scenario, frame structure information may be provided in any DL subframe or combination of DL subframes, as described herein. Additionally, the frame structure information may indicate that there are no UL subframes in the frame. For example, the frame structure information may explicitly indicate that no UL subframes are present (e.g., by a particular bit sequence) or implicitly indicate that no UL subframes are present (e.g., by failing to indicate a transition from DL subframes to UL subframes). In embodiments where the frame structure information is provided in a special subframe (see, e.g., fig. 6-8), the UL portion of the special subframe may be blank.

As used herein, the term "circuit" or "processing circuit" may refer to, belong to, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or group logic circuit that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality. In some embodiments, the circuitry may be implemented in one or more software or firmware modules, or the functions associated with the circuitry may be implemented by those software or firmware modules. In some embodiments, the circuitry may comprise logic that may be at least partially operable in hardware.

The embodiments described herein may be implemented into a system using any suitable configuration of hardware and/or software. FIG. 10 illustrates example components of an electronic device 1000 for one embodiment. In an embodiment, the electronic device 1000 may be a UE, an eNB, a WLAN AP, or some other suitable electronic device. In some embodiments, electronic device 1000 may include application circuitry 1002, baseband circuitry 1004, radio Frequency (RF) circuitry 1006, front End Module (FEM) circuitry 1008, and one or more antennas 1060 coupled together at least as shown. In other embodiments, any of the circuits may be included in different devices.

The application circuitry 1002 may include one or more application processors. For example, the application circuitry 1002 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to: one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The processor(s) may include any combination of general-purpose processors and special-purpose processors (e.g., graphics processors, application processors, etc.). The processor may be coupled to and/or may include memory/storage and may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory/storage to enable various applications and/or operating systems to run on the system. In some implementations, the storage medium 1003 may include a non-transitory computer readable medium. The memory/storage may include, for example, computer-readable media 1003, which may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium. In some embodiments, the application circuit 1002 may be connected to or include one or more sensors, such as environmental sensors, cameras, and the like.

Baseband circuitry 1004 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to: one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The baseband circuitry 1004 may include one or more baseband processors and/or control logic to process baseband signals received from the receive signal path of the RF circuitry 1006 and to generate baseband signals for the transmit signal path of the RF circuitry 1006. Baseband processing circuit 1004 may interface with application circuit 1002 to generate and process baseband signals and control the operation of RF circuit 1006. For example, in some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1004 may include a second generation (2G) baseband processor 1004a, a third generation (3G) baseband processor 1004b, a fourth generation (4G) baseband processor 1004c, and/or one or more other baseband processors 1004d for other existing generations, generations to be developed in development or future (e.g., fifth generation (5G), 6G, etc.). The baseband circuitry 1004 (e.g., one or more of the baseband processors 1004a-1004 d) may handle various radio control functions that support communication with one or more radio networks via the RF circuitry 1006. The radio control functions may include, but are not limited to: signal modulation/demodulation, encoding/decoding, radio frequency shifting, etc. In some implementations, the baseband circuitry 1004 may be associated with the storage medium 1003 or with another storage medium.

In some embodiments, the modulation/demodulation circuitry of the baseband circuitry 1004 may include Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), precoding, and/or constellation mapping/demapping functions. In some embodiments, the encoding/decoding circuitry of the baseband circuitry 1004 may include convolution, tail-biting (tail-biting) convolution, turbo, viterbi, and/or Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) encoder/decoder functions. Embodiments of the modem and encoder/decoder functions are not limited to these examples and may include other suitable functions in other embodiments. In some embodiments, baseband circuitry 1004 may include elements of a protocol stack, such as elements of an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) protocol, including, for example: physical (PHY), MAC, radio Link Control (RLC), PDCP, and/or radio link control (RRC) elements. A Central Processing Unit (CPU) 1004e of the baseband circuit 1004 may be configured to run elements of the protocol stack for PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP, and/or signaling of the RRC layer. In some embodiments, the baseband circuitry may include one or more audio Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) 1004f. One or more of the audio DSPs 1004f may include elements for compression/decompression and echo cancellation, and may include other suitable processing elements in other embodiments.

The baseband circuitry 1004 may also include memory/storage 1004g. Memory/storage 1004g may be used to load and store data and/or instructions for operations performed by the processor of baseband circuitry 1004. The memory/storage for one embodiment may include any combination of suitable volatile memory and/or non-volatile memory. Memory/storage 1004g may include any combination of various levels of memory/storage including, but not limited to: read-only memory (ROM) with embedded software instructions (e.g., firmware), random access memory (e.g., dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)), cache, buffers, etc. Memory/storage 1004g may be shared among various processors or dedicated to a particular processor.

In some embodiments, components of the baseband circuitry may be suitably combined in a single chip, a single chipset, or disposed on the same circuit board. In some embodiments, some or all of the constituent components of baseband circuitry 1004 and application circuitry 1002 may be implemented together, for example, on a system on a chip (SOC).

In some embodiments, baseband circuitry 1004 may provide communications compatible with one or more radio technologies. For example, in some embodiments, baseband circuitry 1004 may support communication with E-UTRAN and/or other Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (WMANs), WLAN, wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs). An embodiment in which the baseband circuitry 1004 is configured to support radio communications of multiple wireless protocols may be referred to as a multimode baseband circuitry.

The RF circuitry 1006 may support communication with a wireless network using modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. In various embodiments, the RF circuitry 1006 may include switches, filters, amplifiers, and the like to facilitate communication with a wireless network. The RF circuitry 1006 may include a receive signal path that may include circuitry to down-convert RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 1008 and provide baseband signals to the baseband circuitry 1004. The RF circuitry 1006 may also include a transmit signal path that may include circuitry to up-convert baseband signals provided by the baseband circuitry 1004 and provide RF output signals to the FEM circuitry 1008 for transmission.

In some embodiments, the RF circuitry 1006 may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. The receive signal path of the RF circuit 1006 may include a mixer circuit 1006a, an amplifier circuit 1006b, and a filter circuit 1006c. The transmit signal path of the RF circuit 1006 may include a filter circuit 1006c and a mixer circuit 1006a. The RF circuitry 1006 may also include synthesizer circuitry 1006d for synthesizing frequencies for use by the mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path and the transmit signal path. In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1006a of the receive signal path may be configured to down-convert the RF signal received from the FEM circuit 1008 based on the synthesized frequency provided by the synthesizer circuit 1006 d. The amplifier circuit 1006b may be configured to amplify the down-converted signal, and the filter circuit 1006c may be a Low Pass Filter (LPF) or a Band Pass Filter (BPF) configured to remove unwanted signals from the down-converted signal to generate an output baseband signal.

The output baseband signal may be provided to baseband circuitry 1004 for further processing. In some embodiments, the output baseband signal may be a zero frequency baseband signal, but this is not required. In some embodiments, mixer circuit 1006a of the receive signal path may comprise a passive mixer, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1006a of the transmit signal path may be configured to upconvert the input baseband signal based on the synthesized frequency provided by the synthesizer circuit 1006d to generate an RF output signal for the FEM circuit 1008. The baseband signal may be provided by baseband circuitry 1004 and may be filtered by filter circuitry 1006 c. The filter circuit 1006c may include a Low Pass Filter (LPF), although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1006a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuit 1006a of the transmit signal path may comprise two or more mixers and may be arranged for quadrature down-conversion and/or up-conversion, respectively. In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1006a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuit 1006a of the transmit signal path may include two or more mixers and may be arranged for image rejection (e.g., hartley image rejection). In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1006a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuit 1006a of the transmit signal path may be arranged for direct down-conversion and/or direct up-conversion, respectively. In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1006a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuit 1006a of the transmit signal path may be configured for superheterodyne operation.

In some embodiments, the output baseband signal and the input baseband signal may be analog baseband signals, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. In some alternative embodiments, the output baseband signal and the input baseband signal may be digital baseband signals. In these alternative embodiments, the RF circuitry 1006 may include analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry, and the baseband circuitry 1004 may include a digital baseband interface to communicate with the RF circuitry 1006.

In some dual mode embodiments, separate radio IC circuits may be provided to process signals for each spectrum, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, synthesizer circuit 1006d may be a fractional-N synthesizer or a fractional-N/N +6 synthesizer, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect as other types of frequency synthesizers may be suitable. For example, the synthesizer circuit 1006d may be a delta-sigma (delta-sigma) synthesizer, a frequency multiplier, or a synthesizer including a phase locked loop with a frequency divider.

The synthesizer circuit 1006d may be configured to synthesize an output frequency for use by the mixer circuit 1006a of the RF circuit 1006 based on the frequency input and the divider control input. In some embodiments, synthesizer circuit 1006d may be a fractional N/n+6 synthesizer.

In some embodiments, the frequency input may be provided by a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO), but this is not required. The divider control input may be provided by the baseband circuitry 1004 or the application processor 1002 depending on the desired output frequency. In some embodiments, the divider control input (e.g., N) may be determined from a look-up table based on a channel indicated by the application processor 1002.

The synthesizer circuit 1006d of the RF circuit 1006 may include a frequency divider, a Delay Locked Loop (DLL), a multiplexer, and a phase accumulator. In some embodiments, the frequency divider may be a dual-mode frequency divider (DMD) and the phase accumulator may be a Digital Phase Accumulator (DPA). In some embodiments, the DMD may be configured to divide the input signal by N or n+6 (e.g., based on the carry out) to provide a fractional division ratio. In some example embodiments, a DLL may include a set of cascaded, tunable delay elements, a phase detector, a charge pump, and a D-type flip-flop. In these embodiments, the delay elements may be configured to decompose the VCO period into Nd equal phase packets, where Nd is the number of delay elements in the delay line. In this way, the DLL provides negative feedback to help ensure that the total delay through the delay line is one VCO cycle.

In some embodiments, synthesizer circuit 1006d may be configured to generate a carrier frequency as the output frequency, while in other embodiments, the output frequency may be a multiple of the carrier frequency (e.g., twice the carrier frequency, four times the carrier frequency) and used with quadrature generator and divider circuits to generate a plurality of signals having a plurality of mutually different phases at the carrier frequency. In some embodiments, the output frequency may be an LO frequency (fLO). In some embodiments, the RF circuit 1006 may include an IQ/polarity converter.

The FEM circuitry 1008 may include a receive signal path that may include circuitry configured to operate on RF signals received from one or more antennas 1060, amplify the received signals, and provide an amplified version of the received signals to the RF circuitry 1006 for further processing. The FEM circuitry 1008 may also include a transmit signal path that may include circuitry configured to amplify signals provided by the RF circuitry 1006 for transmission by one or more of the one or more antennas 1060.

In some embodiments, FEM circuitry 1008 may include TX/RX switches to switch between transmit and receive mode operation. The FEM circuitry may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. The receive signal path of the FEM circuitry may include a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) to amplify the received RF signal and provide the amplified received RF signal as an output (e.g., to the RF circuitry 1006). The transmit signal path of FEM circuitry 1008 may include: a Power Amplifier (PA) for amplifying an input RF signal (e.g., provided by RF circuitry 1006), and one or more filters for generating an RF signal for subsequent transmission (e.g., through one or more of one or more antennas 1060).

In some embodiments, electronic device 1000 may include additional elements such as memory/storage, displays, cameras, sensors, and/or input/output (I/O) interfaces. In some embodiments, the electronic device of fig. 10 may be configured to perform one or more methods, processes, and/or techniques, such as those described herein.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram illustrating components capable of reading instructions from a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) and performing any one or more of the methods discussed herein, according to some example embodiments. In particular, FIG. 11 shows a graphical representation of a hardware resource 1100 including one or more processors (or processor cores) 1110, one or more memory/storage devices 1120, and one or more communication resources 1130, where each communication resource is communicatively coupled together by a bus 1140.

The processor 1110 (e.g., a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) processor, a Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) processor, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) such as a baseband processor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC), another processor, or any suitable combination thereof) may include, for example, a processor 1112 and a processor 1114. Memory/storage 1120 may include main memory, disk memory, or any suitable combination thereof.

Communication resources 1130 may include interconnection and/or network interface components or other suitable devices to communicate with one or more peripheral devices 1104 and/or one or more databases 1106 via network 1108. For example, the communication resources 1130 may include wired communication components (e.g., for coupling via a Universal Serial Bus (USB)), cellular communication components, near Field Communication (NFC) components, and so forth,

(Bluetooth) component (e.g. Bluetooth Low energy), -, bluetooth (R)>

Components, and other communication components.

The instructions 1150 may include software, programs, applications, applets, apps, or other executable code for causing at least any of the processors 1110 to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein. The instructions 1150 may reside, completely or partially, within at least one of the processors 1110 (e.g., within a cache memory of the processor), the memory/storage 1120, or any suitable combination thereof. Further, any portion of the instructions 1150 may be transferred from any combination of the peripheral 1104 and/or the database 1106 to the hardware resource 1100. Accordingly, the processor 1110, memory/storage 1120, peripheral 1104, and memory of database 1106 are examples of computer-readable and machine-readable media.

Many examples will be given next in connection with embodiments of the above-described technology.

In example 1, an apparatus for a processor of a network device, comprising circuitry to: monitoring network traffic corresponding to communications between a plurality of user equipment devices (UEs) and a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a wireless telecommunications network; determining a frame structure for communicating with the plurality of UEs based on the network traffic, the frame structure comprising: a plurality of Downlink (DL) subframes, a plurality of Uplink (UL) subframes, at least one location for transmitting information describing the frame structure to the plurality of UEs; generating information describing a frame structure; and causing the network device to transmit the information to the plurality of UEs according to the frame structure and at least one location of the frame structure.

In example 2, which is in accordance with example 1 or the subject matter of any example herein, the frame structure includes at least one special subframe located between a plurality of DL subframes and a plurality of UL subframes, and the at least one location for transmitting the information includes a location within at least one DL subframe immediately preceding the at least one special subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

In example 3 of the subject matter of example 1 or any example herein, the plurality of DL subframes includes a first DL subframe sequence and a second DL subframe sequence, the plurality of UL subframes includes a first UL subframe sequence preceded by the first DL subframe sequence and a second UL subframe sequence preceded by the second DL subframe sequence, the at least one location for transmitting the information includes a first location within the first DL subframe sequence and a second location within the second DL subframe sequence, and the information corresponding to the first location and the second location indicates a length of remaining information corresponding to a subsequent UL subframe.

In example 4, according to the subject matter of example 1 or any examples herein, wherein the information indicates a length of remaining information corresponding to a subsequent UL subframe.

In example 5, a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing program instructions for causing one or more processors to: determining a flexible frame structure for enabling wireless communication between a plurality of user equipment devices (UEs) corresponding to a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a wireless telecommunications network, the flexible frame structure comprising: a plurality of Downlink (DL) subframes including a first DL subframe sequence, a plurality of Uplink (UL) subframes including a first UL subframe sequence, and at least one location within at least one DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes for transmitting information indicating a transition from DL subframe to UL subframe within the flexible frame structure, generating information indicating the transition; the network device is caused to transmit the information to the plurality of UEs via control channels of each UE of the plurality of UEs connected to the RAN according to the flexible frame structure and the at least one location.

In example 6, according to the subject matter of example 5 or any example herein, wherein: the flexible frame structure includes at least one special subframe, and the at least one location for transmitting the information is located only within a DL portion of the special subframe.

In example 7 according to the subject matter of example 5 or any example herein, wherein: the flexible frame structure is located between a plurality of DL subframes and a plurality of UL subframes, and at least one location for transmitting the information includes: a first location within at least one DL subframe immediately preceding the special subframe but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, and a second location within a DL portion of the special subframe.

In example 8, a network device, comprising: means for monitoring network traffic corresponding to communications between a plurality of user equipment devices (UEs) and a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a wireless telecommunications network; means for determining a frame structure for communicating with the plurality of UEs based on the network traffic, the frame structure comprising: a plurality of Downlink (DL) subframes, a plurality of Uplink (UL) subframes, and at least one location for transmitting information describing the frame structure to the plurality of UEs; means for generating information describing the frame structure; and means for causing the network device to transmit the information to the plurality of UEs according to the frame structure and at least one location of the frame structure.

In example 9 according to the subject matter of example 1 or any example herein, wherein: the frame structure includes at least one special subframe located between a plurality of DL subframes and a plurality of UL subframes, and the at least one location for transmitting the information includes a location within at least one DL subframe immediately preceding the at least one special subframe of the plurality of DL subframes but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

In example 10, according to the subject matter of examples 1, 5, 8, or any example herein, wherein the at least one location comprises a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

In example 11 according to the subject matter of examples 1, 5, 8 or any example herein, wherein: the plurality of DL subframes includes at least three subframes, and the at least one location for transmitting the information includes: a location within two or more DL subframes of the plurality of DL subframes but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

In example 12 according to the subject matter of examples 1, 5, 8 or any example herein, wherein: the frame structure further includes at least one special subframe between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, and the at least one location for transmitting the information is located within a DL portion of the at least one special subframe.

In example 13 of the subject matter according to examples 1, 5, 8 or any example herein, wherein: the information includes one bit information indicating a start of the plurality of UL subframes when a number of DL subframes among the plurality of DL subframes between a DL subframe for transmitting the information and a first UL subframe among the plurality of UL subframes is between zero and one subframe, includes two bits information indicating a start of the plurality of UL subframes when a number of DL subframes among the plurality of DL subframes between a DL subframe for transmitting the information and a first UL subframe among the plurality of UL subframes is between two and three subframes, and includes four bits information indicating a start of the plurality of UL subframes when a number of DL subframes among the plurality of DL subframes between a DL subframe for transmitting the information and a first UL subframe among the plurality of UL subframes is greater than three subframes.

In example 14, which is in accordance with examples 1, 5, 8, or the subject matter of any example herein, wherein the information comprises four bits indicating: the duration of the current DL subframe used to transmit this information, and when the current DL subframe is next to another DL or special subframe, the duration of the other DL or special subframe.

In example 15, according to the subject matter of examples 1, 5, 8, or any example herein, wherein the information comprises four bits indicating a duration of the plurality of UL subframes.

In example 16, according to the subject matter of examples 1, 5, 8, or any example herein, wherein the at least one location for transmitting the information comprises a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

In example 17, according to the subject matter of examples 1, 5, 8, or any example herein, wherein the at least one location for transmitting the information is located within only a first DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

In example 18, according to the subject matter of examples 1, 5, 8, or any example herein, wherein the information includes a number of symbols corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

In example 19, according to the subject matter of examples 1, 5, 8, or any example herein, wherein the information indicates a time position corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

In example 20, according to the subject matter of examples 1, 5, 8, or any example herein, wherein the information indicates subframe locations corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

In example 21 of the subject matter according to examples 1, 5, 8 or any example herein, wherein: the plurality of DL subframes includes a first DL subframe and a second DL subframe contiguous to the first DL subframe, the at least one location includes a first location within the first DL subframe and a second location within the second DL subframe, the information included in the first location indicates a duration of the second DL subframe and a first number of subframes between the first DL subframe and a first UL subframe of the plurality of UL subframes, and the information included in the second location indicates a second number of subframes between the second DL subframe and the first UL subframe.

In example 22, according to the subject matter of examples 1, 5, 8, or any example herein, wherein the information includes a number of subframes corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

In example 23, an apparatus for a baseband processor of a user equipment device (UE) includes circuitry to: receiving information from a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a wireless telecommunication network via a common control channel; monitoring the information for a description of a frame structure being implemented by the RAN, the frame structure including a Downlink (DL) portion and an Uplink (UL) portion; determining a transition from a DL portion to an Uplink (UL) portion based on the information; stopping monitoring of this information during the remaining UL portion of the frame structure being implemented by the RAN; receiving, from the RAN and via a UE-specific control channel, a grant to communicate with the RAN during an UL portion of the frame structure; and communicating with the wireless telecommunications network according to a grant of communication with the RAN during an UL portion of the frame structure.

In example 24, according to the subject matter of example 23 or any example herein, wherein: the frame structure also includes a special subframe having a DL segment and a UL segment, and the description of the frame structure is received only within the DL segment of the special subframe.

In example 25, according to the subject matter of example 23 or any example herein, wherein: the frame structure further includes a special subframe having a DL segment and an UL segment, the special subframe being located between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes within the frame structure, and the description of the frame structure is received within: within at least one DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, but not all DL subframes of the plurality of DL subframes, and within a DL segment of a special subframe.

In example 26, a method includes: monitoring network traffic corresponding to communications between a plurality of user equipment devices (UEs) and a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a wireless telecommunications network; determining a frame structure for communicating with the plurality of UEs based on the network traffic, the frame structure comprising: a plurality of Downlink (DL) subframes, a plurality of Uplink (UL) subframes, and at least one location for transmitting information describing the frame structure to the plurality of UEs; generating, by the network device, information describing the frame structure; the information is transmitted to the plurality of UEs according to the frame structure and at least one location of the frame structure.

In example 27, according to the subject matter of example 26 or any example herein, wherein: the frame structure includes at least one special subframe located between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, and the at least one location for transmitting the information includes: a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes and a location within a DL portion of each of the at least one special subframe.

In example 28, according to the subject matter of example 26 or any example herein, wherein: the frame structure includes at least one special subframe located between a plurality of DL subframes and a plurality of UL subframes, the plurality of DL subframes including at least three subframes, and the at least one location for transmitting the information includes: a location within two or more DL subframes of the plurality of DL subframes but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, and a location within a DL portion of each special subframe of the at least one transition subframe.

In example 29, according to the subject matter of example 26 or any example herein, wherein: the frame structure includes at least one special subframe located between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, and at least one location for transmitting the information is located only within a DL portion of each of the at least one special subframe.

In example 30, according to the subject matter of example 26 or any example herein, wherein: the frame structure includes at least one special subframe located between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, and the at least one location for communicating the information includes: a position within at least one DL subframe immediately preceding the at least one special subframe but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

In example 31, according to the subject matter of example 26 or any example herein, wherein: the plurality of DL subframes includes a first DL subframe sequence and a second DL subframe sequence, the plurality of UL subframes includes a first UL subframe sequence preceded by the first DL subframe sequence and a second UL subframe sequence preceded by the second DL subframe sequence, the at least one location for transmitting the information includes a first location within the first DL subframe sequence and a second location within the second DL subframe sequence, and information corresponding to the first location and the second location indicates a length of remaining information corresponding to a subsequent UL subframe.

In example 32, according to the subject matter of example 26 or any examples herein, wherein the information indicates a length of remaining information corresponding to a subsequent UL subframe.

In example 33, according to the subject matter of example 26 or any examples herein, wherein the information is transmitted to the UE via an established common physical downlink control channel (C-PDCCH).

In example 34, according to example 26 or the subject matter of any of examples herein, wherein the at least one location for transmitting the information comprises a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

In example 35, according to the subject matter of example 26 or any examples herein, wherein the at least one location for transmitting the information is located only within a first DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

In example 36, according to the subject matter of example 26 or any examples herein, wherein the information includes a number of symbols corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

In example 37, according to the subject matter of example 26 or any example herein, wherein the information indicates a time position corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

In example 38, according to the subject matter of example 26 or any examples herein, wherein the information indicates subframe locations corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

In the foregoing specification, various embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

For example, while a series of signals may have been described with respect to one or more figures, the order of the signals may be modified in other embodiments. Furthermore, the uncorrelated signals may be performed in parallel.

It should be apparent that the example aspects described above may be implemented in many different forms of software, firmware, and hardware in the embodiments illustrated in the figures. The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement these aspects should not be construed as limiting. Thus, the operation and actions of the various aspects are described without reference to specific software code—it should be understood that software and control hardware may be designed to implement the aspects based on the description herein.

In addition, some portions may be implemented as "logic" that performs one or more functions. The logic may include hardware, such as an application specific integrated circuit ("ASIC") or a field programmable gate array ("FPGA"), or a combination of hardware and software.

Although specific combinations of features are set forth in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, such combinations are not intended to be limiting. Indeed, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically set forth in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. The use of the term "and" as used herein does not necessarily preclude an interpretation of the desired phrase "and/or" in this example. Similarly, an example of use of the term "or" as used herein does not necessarily preclude an interpretation of the desired phrase "and/or" in that example. Furthermore, as used herein, the article "a" is intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with the phrase "one or more". Where an intent is to denote only one item, the terms "a", "an", "only", or similar language are used.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a processor of a network device, comprising circuitry to:

monitoring network traffic corresponding to communications between a plurality of user equipment devices UE and a radio access network RAN of a wireless telecommunications network;

determining a frame structure for communicating with the plurality of UEs based on the network traffic, the frame structure comprising:

a plurality of downlink DL subframes,

a plurality of uplink UL subframes,

at least one location within the plurality of DL subframes for transmitting information describing the frame structure to the plurality of UEs;

generating said information describing said frame structure; and

causing the network device to transmit the information to the plurality of UEs at the at least one location, wherein the information indicates an UL offset value and an UL duration value, the UL offset value indicating a first amount of subframes for transitioning from the at least one location to UL transmissions, and the UL duration value indicating a second amount of subframes for the UL transmissions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the frame structure includes at least one special subframe located between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, and

The at least one location for transmitting the information includes a location within at least one DL subframe immediately preceding the at least one special subframe of the plurality of DL subframes but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of DL subframes includes a first DL subframe sequence and a second DL subframe sequence,

the plurality of UL subframes includes a first UL subframe sequence preceded by the first DL subframe sequence and a second UL subframe sequence preceded by the second DL subframe sequence,

the at least one location for transmitting the information includes a first location within the first DL subframe sequence and a second location within the second DL subframe sequence, an

The information corresponding to the first location and the second location indicates a length of remaining information corresponding to a subsequent UL subframe.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information indicates a length of remaining information corresponding to a subsequent UL subframe.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one location comprises a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of DL subframes includes at least three subframes, and

the at least one location for transmitting the information comprises: a location within two or more DL subframes of the plurality of DL subframes but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the frame structure further includes at least one special subframe between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, an

The at least one location for transmitting the information is located within a DL portion of the at least one special subframe.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the information includes one bit information indicating the start of the plurality of UL subframes when it is:

the number of DL subframes among the plurality of DL subframes between a DL subframe for transmitting the information and a first UL subframe among the plurality of UL subframes is between zero and one subframe, and the information includes two-bit information indicating the start of the plurality of UL subframes when it is:

the number of DL subframes among the plurality of DL subframes between the DL subframe for transmitting the information and the first UL subframe among the plurality of UL subframes is between two and three subframes, and

The information includes four bits of information indicating the start of the plurality of UL subframes when:

the number of DL subframes among the plurality of DL subframes between a DL subframe for transmitting the information and a first UL subframe among the plurality of UL subframes is greater than three subframes.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information comprises four bits indicating:

duration of current DL subframe for transmitting the information, and

when the current DL subframe is immediately followed by another DL or special subframe, the duration of the other DL or the special subframe.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information comprises four bits indicating a duration of the plurality of UL subframes.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one location for transmitting the information comprises a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one location for transmitting the information is located only within a first DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a number of symbols corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information indicates a time position corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information indicates subframe locations corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of DL subframes includes a first DL subframe and a second DL subframe adjacent to the first DL subframe,

the at least one location includes a first location within the first DL subframe and a second location within the second DL subframe,

the information included in the first location indicates a duration of a second DL subframe and a first number of subframes between the first DL subframe and a first UL subframe of the plurality of UL subframes, an

The information included in the second location indicates a second number of subframes between the second DL subframe and the first UL subframe.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a number of subframes corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

18. A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for causing one or more processors to:

Determining a flexible frame structure for enabling wireless communication between a plurality of user equipment devices UE corresponding to a radio access network RAN of a wireless telecommunication network, the flexible frame structure comprising:

a plurality of DL subframes including a first downlink DL subframe sequence,

multiple UL subframes including a first uplink UL subframe sequence, and

at least one location within at least one DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes for transmitting information indicating a transition from DL subframe to UL subframe within the flexible frame structure,

generating said information indicative of said conversion;

causing a network device to transmit the information to the plurality of UEs via control channels of each UE of the plurality of UEs connected to the RAN according to the flexible frame structure and the at least one location.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

the flexible frame structure includes at least one special subframe, an

The at least one location for transmitting the information is located only within a DL portion of the special subframe.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

the flexible frame structure is located between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, an

The at least one location for transmitting the information comprises:

a first position within at least one DL subframe immediately preceding a special subframe of the plurality of DL subframes but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, an

A second location within the DL portion of the special subframe.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the at least one location comprises a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

the plurality of DL subframes includes at least three subframes, and

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the information comprises four bits indicating:

duration of current DL subframe for transmitting the information, and

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the information comprises four bits indicating a duration of the plurality of UL subframes.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the at least one location for transmitting the information comprises a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the at least one location for transmitting the information is located only within a first DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the information comprises a number of symbols corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the information indicates a time position corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the information indicates subframe locations corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the information comprises a number of subframes corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

34. A network device, comprising:

means for monitoring network traffic corresponding to communications between a plurality of user equipment devices UE and a radio access network RAN of a wireless telecommunication network;

means for determining a frame structure for communicating with the plurality of UEs based on the network traffic, the frame structure comprising:

a plurality of downlink DL subframes,

multiple uplink UL subframes

Means for generating said information describing said frame structure; and

means for causing the network device to transmit the information to the plurality of UEs in accordance with the frame structure and the at least one location of the frame structure.

35. The network device of claim 34, wherein:

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one location comprises a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein:

the plurality of DL subframes includes at least three subframes, and

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein:

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein:

40. The device of claim 34, wherein the information comprises four bits indicating:

duration of current DL subframe for transmitting the information, and

41. The device of claim 34, wherein the information comprises four bits indicating a duration of the plurality of UL subframes.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one location for transmitting the information comprises a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

43. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one location for transmitting the information is located only within a first DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.

44. The device of claim 34, wherein the information comprises a number of symbols corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

45. The device of claim 34, wherein the information indicates a time position corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

46. The device of claim 34, wherein the information indicates subframe locations corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

47. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein:

48. The device of claim 34, wherein the information comprises a number of subframes corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.

49. An apparatus for a baseband processor of a user equipment device, UE, comprising circuitry to:

processing information from a radio access network, RAN, of the wireless telecommunication network via a common control channel;

monitoring the information for a description about a frame structure being implemented by the RAN, the frame structure comprising a downlink DL portion, an uplink UL portion, and at least one location within the DL portion for transmitting the information;

Determining a transition from the DL portion to the UL portion based on the information;

stopping monitoring of the information during the remaining UL portion of the frame structure being implemented by the RAN;

processing a grant from the RAN for a UE-specific control channel to communicate with the RAN during the UL portion of the frame structure; and

communications for the UL portion of the frame structure are processed in accordance with the permission to communicate with the RAN.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein:

the frame structure further includes special subframes having a DL segment and a UL segment, and

the description of the frame structure is received only within the DL segment of the special subframe.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein:

the frame structure further includes a special subframe having a DL segment and a UL segment, the special subframe being located between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes within the frame structure, an

The description about the frame structure is received within:

within at least one but not all of the plurality of DL subframes, and

within the DL segment of the special subframe.