DE102015203937B4 - Uplink transmission on subcarriers of an unlicensed radio frequency band - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of using a subcarrier of an unlicensed radio frequency band for uplink transmission, the method comprising: by a wireless communication device: receiving a carrier bundling configuration, the carrier bundling configuration, wherein at least one subcarrier of a licensed radio frequency band and at least one subcarrier one unlicensed radio frequency band; establishing a plurality of radio bearers; associating an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band with each of the plurality of radio bearers; andmultiplexing uplink traffic for the plurality of radio bearers on the at least a subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band and the at least a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band based at least in part on the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band associated with the plurality of radio bearers, and at a prioritized bit rate, PBR, for each of the plurality of radio carriers, the approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band comprising: an approval level of an unauthorized unlicensed radio frequency band that prohibits forwarding uplink traffic on a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band, an approval level of a preferred licensed radio frequency band, which allows forwarding of uplink data traffic on the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band only if no subcarrier resources of the license or the licensed radio frequency band are available for a transmission time interval, and an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band, which allows forwarding of uplink data traffic on the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band if subcarrier resources of the licensed radio frequency band are available.

Description

AREA

The described embodiments generally relate to wireless communication technology. More specifically, the present embodiments relate to uplink transmission on a subcarrier of an unlicensed radio frequency band by a wireless communication device capable of carrier bundling.

BACKGROUND

Modern wireless communication devices are constantly evolving, offering an ever broader range of capabilities, and are now being used virtually everywhere by consumers to access a variety of data-intensive services over wireless networks. For example, wireless communication devices are used to access a wide range of Internet services, such as audio / video streaming services, web browsing, and the like. The resulting exponentially increasing demand for wireless networks to support such data-intensive services is putting wireless network operators under pressure to update their wireless networks to support both increased data capacity and faster data transfer rates. Therefore, further efforts are being made to develop and use improved radio access technologies (RATs) to be able to support higher throughput for data transmitted over wireless networks to meet the demand for data services of modern To meet wireless communication devices.

Some modern cellular RATs, such as Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution ( LTE ) Version 10 and moreover, also referred to as LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), support the increasing demand for data-intensive services by implementing a technique known as carrier bundling, in which the radio frequency bandwidth available for communication by the bundling of several component carriers (CCs) can be expanded. In this regard, instead of using a single carrier to support communication between a device and a wireless network, carrier bundling uses multiple sub-carriers in parallel, so that the radio frequency bandwidth for data transmissions to and / or from a wireless communication device is through the bundling of several sub-carriers can be increased in order to forward data transmissions.

While carrier bundling techniques offer improved throughput to support data intensive services, there is a limited amount of licensed radio frequency spectrum available for LTE Wireless network operator is available for use for carrier bundling purposes. In this regard, become a wireless network operator LTE and other cellular RATs have conventionally been assigned one or more defined radio frequency bands within the radio frequency spectrum for use in supporting cellular transmissions. This limited availability of licensed radio frequency spectrum, which is available to wireless network operators, means that in future wireless network operators will find it increasingly difficult to manage the increasingly exponential growth in data traffic for advanced wireless communication devices. Thus, wireless network operators and wireless communication device manufacturers are looking to use unlicensed radio frequency bands to accomplish the additional traffic increase. In this regard, unlicensed radio frequency bands such as 2.4 gigahertz (GHz), 5 GHz and other industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio frequency bands are available for use without a license. So you can LTE and more cellular RATs to use unlicensed radio frequency bands to expand their capacity. For example, this allows unlicensed LTE ( LTE-U ) the use of LTE in the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum, for example for the purpose of carrier bundling. However, provided that the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum is free to use, the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum cannot match the quality of service offered by the licensed radio frequency spectrum due to the unpredictable interference through competing uses of the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum, such as Wi-Fi devices. Uplink data that is sensitive to throughput, delay, latency and / or other quality of service requirements can be particularly sensitive to the effect of interference in the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. Accordingly, the uplink transmission is in the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum, such as for LTE-U capable systems, still problematic.

The document US 2013/0242897 A1 discloses a heterogeneous carrier aggregation system, including mapping uplink traffic to cellular carriers and WLAN carriers.

The document WO 2013/040028 A2 generally discloses the use of multiple nodes to communicate with the UE .

The document WO 2013/009635 A2 discloses data traffic that is mapped onto subcarriers on the basis of QoS, traffic offloading and the like.

SUMMARY

The invention is defined in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

Some exemplary embodiments provide techniques for uplink transmission on a subcarrier of an unlicensed radio frequency band by a wireless communication device that is capable of carrier bundling. In this regard, some embodiments described herein enable effective use of an unlicensed radio frequency band by a wireless communication device capable of carrier bundling, while quality of service requirements that may be associated with some radio bearers, be fulfilled. More specifically, the wireless communication device of some exemplary embodiments may be configured to associate a permission level of an unlicensed radio frequency band with each radio bearer that transmits data for uplink transmission. In some embodiments, the approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band associated with a radio bearer may be at least partially based on a quality of service level associated with the radio bearer and / or otherwise defined correlated therewith. Thus, for example, a radio carrier that transmits data that is particularly sensitive to delay and has high requirements regarding throughput can be assigned to an approval level of an unlicensed radio frequency band, at which transmission over a subcarrier of an unlicensed radio frequency band is prohibited, while a radio bearer that transmits best effort data can be assigned an approval level of an unlicensed radio frequency band at which data for the radio bearer is permitted to be freely transmitted via a subcarrier of an unlicensed radio frequency band. The wireless communication device of such exemplary embodiments may further be configured to multiplex uplink traffic for active radio bearers on available subcarrier resources, including any available subcarriers of an unlicensed radio frequency band, based at least in part on the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band , which is associated with the active radio bearers. Accordingly, as further described herein, available subcarrier resources of the unlicensed radio frequency band can be used to increase the uplink throughput while meeting quality of service requirements for radio bearers that transmit data that is relevant to interference that is not in the licensed radio frequency spectrum can occur, can be sensitive.

This summary is for the purpose of summarizing some exemplary embodiments only, so as to ensure a basic understanding of some aspects of the description. Accordingly, it will be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are merely examples and should not be construed to limit the scope or scope of the description in any way. Further embodiments, aspects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which exemplifies the principles of the described embodiments.

Figure list

• 1 ein Drahtlos-Kommunikationssystem darstellt, welches eine Trägerbündelung sowohl in einem lizenzierten Funkfrequenzband als auch in einem nicht-lizenzierten Funkfrequenzband gemäß einigen beispielhaften Ausführungsformen implementiert;
• 2A und 2B beispielhafte LTE-A Kommunikationssysteme, welche eine Drahtlos-Kommunikationsvorrichtung umfassen, welche mit einer primären Zelle und einer oder mehreren sekundären Zellen in Verbindung steht, gemäß verschiedenen beispielhaften Ausführungsformen darstellen;
• 3 ein Blockdiagramm von einer Einrichtung, welche bei einer Drahtlos-Kommunikationsvorrichtung implementiert werden kann, gemäß einigen beispielhaften Ausführungsformen darstellt;
• 4 eine beispielhafte Transceiver-Architektur, welche als Teil von einer Drahtlos-Kommunikationsschnittstelle von einer Drahtlos-Kommunikationsvorrichtung implementiert werden kann, um eine Trägerbündelung zu unterstützen, gemäß einigen beispielhaften Ausführungsformen darstellt;
• 5 eine Architektur, welche das Multiplexen von Funkträgern auf einer Mehrzahl von Teilträgern unterstützt, gemäß einigen beispielhaften Ausführungsformen darstellt;
• 6 eine Priorisierung und ein Multiplexen von Daten für eine Mehrzahl von Funkträgern, welche verschiedene Genehmigungspegel eines nicht-lizenzierten Funkfrequenzbandes haben, auf einer Mehrzahl von Teilträger-Ressourcen, welche einen Teilträger eines nicht-lizenzierten Funkfrequenzbandes umfassen, gemäß einigen beispielhaften Ausführungsformen darstellt;
• 7 ein konzeptionelles Beispiel von einer Priorisierung und einem Multiplexen von Daten für eine Mehrzahl von Funkträgern auf einem LTE-Teilträger und einem LTE-U-Teilträger gemäß einigen beispielhaften Ausführungsformen darstellt;
• 8 ein weiteres konzeptionelles Beispiel von einer Priorisierung und einem Multiplexen von Daten für eine Mehrzahl von Funkträgern auf einem LTE-Teilträger und einem LTE-U-Teilträger gemäß einigen beispielhaften Ausführungsformen darstellt; und
• 9 ein Ablaufdiagramm gemäß einem beispielhaften Verfahren zum Nutzen eines Teilträgers eines nicht-lizenzierten Funkfrequenzbandes zur Aufwärtsstrecke-Übertragung gemäß einigen beispielhaften Ausführungsformen darstellt.

The description will be readily understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like components are assigned the same reference numerals, and in which:

• 1 10 illustrates a wireless communication system that implements carrier bundling in both a licensed radio frequency band and an unlicensed radio frequency band in accordance with some example embodiments;
• 2A and 2 B exemplary LTE-A communication systems that include a wireless communication device associated with a primary cell and one or more secondary cells in accordance with various exemplary embodiments;
• 3rd FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a device that may be implemented in a wireless communication device, in accordance with some example embodiments;
• 4th an exemplary transceiver architecture implemented as part of a wireless communication interface by a wireless communication device may to support carrier bundling, according to some example embodiments;
• 5 an architecture that supports the multiplexing of radio bearers on a plurality of sub-carriers, according to some example embodiments;
• 6 represents prioritization and multiplexing of data for a plurality of radio bearers having different licensing levels of an unlicensed radio frequency band on a plurality of subcarrier resources comprising a subcarrier of an unlicensed radio frequency band, according to some example embodiments;
• 7 10 illustrates a conceptual example of prioritizing and multiplexing data for a plurality of radio bearers on an LTE subcarrier and an LTE-U subcarrier in accordance with some example embodiments;
• 8th 10 illustrates another conceptual example of prioritizing and multiplexing data for a plurality of radio bearers on an LTE subcarrier and an LTE-U subcarrier, according to some example embodiments; and
• 9 4 illustrates a flow diagram according to an example method for using a subcarrier of an unlicensed radio frequency band for uplink transmission in accordance with some example embodiments.

PRECISE DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to illustrative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description is not intended to limit the embodiments to a preferred embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the scope and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

1 represents a wireless communication system 100 illustrates where carrier bundling is implemented in both a licensed radio frequency band and an unlicensed radio frequency band in accordance with some example embodiments. In this regard, 1 represents a wireless cellular access network which is a wireless communication device 102 and a serving base station 104 comprises network access to the wireless communication device via several sub-carriers 102 can provide. By way of non-limiting example, the wireless communication device 102 a cellular phone, such as a smartphone device, a tablet computing device, a laptop computing device, or another computing device configured to be via a serving base station 104 to access a cellular network and / or another wireless network. Once used with certain RATs, such as LTE , the wireless communication device 102 as user equipment ( UE ) be characterized. The serving base station 104 can be any cellular base station, such as an emerging node B (eNB), a node B , a base transceiver station ( BTS ) and / or any other type of base station.

The wireless cellular access network from the wireless communication system 100 can be a wireless network capable of carrier bundling, any one ADVICE implemented which carrier bundling techniques can support including, by way of a non-limiting example, LTE-A (e.g. LTE version 10 and beyond) and / or another currently or future developed LTE ADVICE which is capable of bundling carriers. However, it will be appreciated that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to use within LTE systems and are developed in any present or future ADVICE can be used which supports carrier bundling. It will also be appreciated that some example embodiments may be applied to non-cellular wireless RATs in which carrier bundling techniques can be implemented. Thus, for example, it will be recognized that a wireless network access point according to any ADVICE serves as a substitute for the serving base station within the scope of the disclosure 104 and / or can also be used for this. It will further be appreciated that when different embodiments are exemplified as in LTE and / or another cellular ADVICE applied, such examples are provided as non-limiting examples of the applications of some exemplary embodiments, and the techniques are equivalent to another within the scope of the description ADVICE can be applied which uses carrier bundling techniques.

When the carrier is bundled in the wireless communication device 102 activated, the wireless communication device 102 use multiple subcarriers to establish uplink and / or downlink communication between the wireless communication device 102 and a serving cellular wireless network (e.g., between the wireless communication device 102 and the serving cells which the wireless communication device 102 provide a cellular service). Each subcarrier, which is used for carrier bundling, can be centered at different radio frequency values within a common radio frequency band (for example intra-radio frequency band) or over two or more separate radio frequency bands (for example intermediate radio frequency band). The subcarriers can comprise two or more subcarriers in contiguous radio frequency bands and / or two or more subcarriers in non-contiguous radio frequency bands. The separated radio frequency bands can comprise two or more licensed radio frequency bands or a combination of one or more licensed radio frequency bands and one or more unlicensed radio frequency bands. In some embodiments, communication over a primary subcarrier used for carrier bundling may be within a licensed radio frequency band and communication over a secondary subcarrier used for carrier bundling may be within an unlicensed radio frequency band.

Two subcarriers, namely the subcarrier 106 of the licensed radio frequency band and the subcarriers 108 of the unlicensed radio frequency band are exemplary in 1 shown. The subcarrier 106 of the licensed radio frequency band can use a licensed radio frequency band which can be licensed, such as by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and / or another regulatory authority which is responsible for regulating the use of a radio frequency spectrum with regard to a network operator. Accordingly, it is not necessary for the subcarrier 106 of the licensed radio frequency band coexists with other wireless technologies in the licensed radio frequency band. The subcarrier 108 of the unlicensed radio frequency band can use an unlicensed radio frequency band, such as the 2.4 GHz and / or 5 GHz radio frequency band, and / or another ISM radio frequency band, which can be freely used by several wireless technologies. The unlicensed radio frequency band which is transmitted by the subcarrier 108 of the unlicensed radio frequency band can be shared by other wireless devices that can use non-cellular RATs, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and / or other wireless communication technologies that are used for communication in unlicensed radio frequency bands can be used. The quality of service, which is caused by the subcarrier 108 of the unlicensed radio frequency band is offered to be lower than that provided by the subcarrier 106 of the licensed radio frequency band is offered due to interference from competing uses of the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. Subcarriers operating in the licensed radio frequency spectrum and unlicensed radio frequency spectrum can use any of the following combinations of frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD): FDD / FDD, TDD / TDD, FDD / TDD and TDD / FDD operate.

It will be appreciated that the classification of radio frequency bands as licensed or unlicensed may be based on a licensing system implemented by a government agency such as an FCC and / or another regulatory authority, the radio frequency bands being unlicensed vary from country to country or from region to region. Thus, an unlicensed radio frequency band, which can be used to transmit the subcarrier 108 of the unlicensed radio frequency band in a first country / region can be a licensed radio frequency band in a second country / region so that a further radio frequency band can be used to support the subcarrier 108 to support the unlicensed radio frequency band in a second country / region.

In embodiments in which the system's wireless cellular access network 100 a LTE ADVICE The subcarrier can use which supports carrier bundling, such as LTE-A 106 of the licensed radio frequency band can be an LTE subcarrier, and can be the subcarrier 108 of the unlicensed radio frequency band can be an LTE-U subcarrier (which also acts as a LTE supported access subcarrier can be called). In this regard, the wireless communication device 102 of some example embodiments, a wireless communication device capable of LTE-U , which can be able to use a mixture of LTE sub-carriers (for example in a licensed radio frequency band) and LTE-U sub-carriers (for example in a non-licensed radio frequency band).

While in 1 two sub-carriers are shown by way of example, it will be appreciated that in some cases where carrier bundling is enabled, the wireless communication device 102 can use three or more subcarriers. For example, current LTE specifications allow the simultaneous use of up to five subcarriers, with a maximum of 100 megahertz (MHz) bundled radio frequency bandwidth (for example, through a radio frequency bandwidth of up to 20 MHz can be provided for each individual subcarrier). Thus, it will be appreciated that in some exemplary embodiments, one or more subcarriers of the licensed radio frequency band, in addition to the subcarrier 106 of the licensed radio frequency band and / or one or more subcarriers of the unlicensed radio frequency band, in addition to the subcarrier 108 of the unlicensed radio frequency band by the wireless communication device 102 can be used.

Each subcarrier that is through the wireless communication device 102 used can correspond to a separate cell. A cell associated with the primary subcarrier can be characterized as the primary cell, while a cell associated with a secondary subcarrier can be characterized as a secondary cell. Both the primary cells and the secondary cells can be characterized as serving cells, and thus can also be referred to as primary serving cells and secondary serving cells, respectively. For example, in embodiments in which the subcarrier 106 of the licensed radio frequency band is the primary subcarrier, the subcarrier can 106 of the licensed radio frequency band of the primary serving cell, and can be the subcarrier 108 of the unlicensed radio frequency band of a secondary serving cell. The serving base station 104 and / or other network equipment of the wireless cellular access network may have a radio resource control (RRC) connection for the wireless communication device 102 manage and data communication between the wireless cellular access network and the wireless communication device 102 Schedule over the primary subcarrier, as specified, for example, in the LTE / LTE-A wireless communication protocols. In this regard, the primary cell and secondary cell or cells can be managed through a common base station, such as the serving base station 104 . Data communication can be supplemented with an additional radio frequency bandwidth in the unlicensed radio frequency band via secondary subcarriers.

In some cases, like the one in 1 illustrated example and in the example as in 2 B shown and described below with regard to this, each sub-carrier, which is through the wireless communication device 102 is supported by a single base station, such as the serving base station 104 . In this regard, the serving base station 104 in some exemplary embodiments, support multiple cells that are co-located. In some embodiments, the cells that are co-located may have varying coverage areas.

In some cases, such as the example as in 2 B illustrated and described with respect to this, one or more sub-carriers, which or which by the wireless communication device 102 can be used, can be supported by one or more further base stations, which can or can be arranged within the wireless cellular access network. Thus, the unlicensed radio frequency band CC 108 in some embodiments by a second base station adjacent to the serving base station 104 to be provided. Additionally or alternatively, the system can 100 in some embodiments comprise one or more further base stations which support one or more additional subcarriers, which subcarriers of the licensed radio frequency band and / or subcarriers of the unlicensed radio frequency band can comprise. In some embodiments, the system 100 comprise heterogeneous wireless network (HetNet) development in which a wireless network operator can develop one or more (small) cells (e.g. a micro cell, nano cell, femto cell and / or the like), which can operate over a relatively limited geographic coverage area in an unlicensed radio frequency band or bands, which can be significantly smaller than the coverage area of a macro cell from a cellular wireless access network.

2A provides an exemplary LTE-A communication system 200 which is a wireless communication device 202 which includes a primary cell 210 and secondary cells 212 and 214 is in communication. In this regard, 2A an exemplary embodiment of the system 100 in which an LTE-A ADVICE , such as one or more LTE versions 10 , 11 , 12th and beyond, and wherein multiple serving cells can be provided by a single serving base station. Thus, the wireless communication device 202 one embodiment of the wireless communication device 102 which is LTE-A compliant and LTE-U compliant. The eNB 204 can be an embodiment of the serving base station 104 include.

As in 2A shown, the serving cells of the wireless communication device 202 (e.g. the primary cell 210 and the secondary cells 212 and 214 ) include overlapping coverage areas, including at the location of the wireless communication device 202 , but do not necessarily cover a geographic area of the same area.

In the example of 2A can the eNB 204 radio frequency transmission and reception equipment to provide radio frequency signal coverage for the wireless communication device 202 (for example in the uplink and / or downlink) via a plurality of different radio frequency resources (also referred to as a carrier or in the context of carrier bundling as a subcarrier), for example F1 , F2 and F3 . The three carriers in the example of 2A can be used as individual subcarriers for communication, which are bundled together in the wireless communication device 202 can be provided in order to offer a higher communication radio frequency bandwidth and / or throughput than can be possible by using only a single subcarrier. Regarding the wireless communication device 202 can be the subcarrier radio frequency resource F1 with the primary cell 210 can be related to the subcarrier radio frequency resource F2 with the secondary cell 212 and the subcarrier radio frequency resource F3 with the secondary cell 214 be related. One or both of the radio frequency resources F2 and F3 may be an unlicensed radio frequency band resource, so that the subcarrier radio frequency resource F2 and / or the subcarrier radio frequency resource F3 can be an LTE-U subcarrier.

2 B provides an exemplary LTE-A communication system 250 which is a wireless communication device 252 which includes a primary cell 210 and a secondary cell 256 is in communication, which can be a small cell. In this regard, 2 B another exemplary embodiment of the system 100 in which an LTE-A ADVICE , such as one or more of the LTE versions 10 , 11 , 12th and further, can be used and multiple serving cells can be provided by a single serving base station. The exemplary system 250 can include a HetNet that supports the eNB 204 and an eNB 254 a small cell. The wireless communication device 252 can accordingly be an embodiment of the wireless communication device 102 include which is LTE-A compliant and LTE-U compliant.

The wireless communication device 252 can be in communication with the primary cell 210 via a primary subcarrier at the radio frequency F1 (for example, according to an LTE / LTE-A wireless communication protocol), and with the secondary cell 256 via a secondary subcarrier at the radio frequency F4 . The radio frequency F1 can be in a licensed radio frequency band. The wireless network operator can use the eNB 254 operate the small cell using a carrier in an unlicensed radio frequency band. Accordingly, F4 can provide an LTE-U subcarrier so that the wireless communication device 252 in the primary cell 210 via a licensed radio frequency band LTE subcarrier and in the secondary cell 256 can be operated via a non-licensed radio frequency band LTE-U subcarrier.

3rd presents a block diagram of a device 300 which can be implemented in a wireless communication device, such as the wireless communication device 102 In this regard, once implemented on a computing device, such as the wireless communication device, in accordance with some example embodiments 102 , the facility can 300 enable the computing device to operate within a wireless communication system, such as one or more of the systems 100 , 200 and 250 , according to one or more exemplary embodiments. It will be recognized that the components, devices or elements as described in 3rd are shown and described below with regard to this, are not mandatory, and therefore some can be omitted in certain embodiments. In addition, some embodiments may include other or different components, devices, or elements beyond those as shown in 3rd shown and described with respect to this include.

In some exemplary embodiments, the device 300 a processing circuit 310 which is configured to perform effects according to one or more exemplary embodiments as described herein. In this regard, the processing circuit 310 be configured to provide one or more functionalities from the facility 300 perform and / or control according to various exemplary embodiments, and can thus provide means for performing functionalities of the device 300 according to various exemplary embodiments. The processing circuit 310 may be configured to perform data processing, application execution, and / or other processing and management services in accordance with one or more example embodiments.

In some embodiments, the device 300 or one or more sections or Components thereof, such as the processing circuit 310 , comprise one or more chipsets, each of which may comprise one or more chips. The processing circuit 310 and / or one or more further components of the device 300 can therefore be configured in some cases to implement an embodiment on a chipset. In some example embodiments, in which one or more components of the device 300 implemented as a chipset, the chipset may be able to enable a computing device to operate within a wireless communication system, such as one or more of the systems 100 , 200 and 250 , as soon as implemented on the calculation device or otherwise coupled with it in its mode of operation. In some exemplary embodiments, the device 300 comprise a cellular radio frequency baseband chipset, which may be configured to enable a computing device, such as the wireless communication device 102 , as a device capable of carrier bundling, operates on one or more cellular networks.

In some exemplary embodiments, the processing circuitry 310 a processor 312 and may, in some embodiments, such as those in FIG 3rd shown, also a memory 314 include. The processing circuit 310 can with the wireless communication interface 316 and / or the multiplex module 318 are in communication or control it differently.

The processor 312 can be designed in a variety of forms. For example, the processor 312 be designed as a diverse, hardware-based processing element, such as, for example, a microprocessor, a coprocessor, a controller or a wide range of other calculation or processing devices which comprise integrated circuits, such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable) Gate array), some combinations thereof, or the like. Although represented as a single processor, it will be recognized that the processor 312 can include multiple processors. The multiple processors can be in operational communication with each other and can be configured together to provide one or more functionalities from the device 300 as described here. In some example embodiments, the processor may 312 configured to execute instructions that are in memory 314 can be stored or what other way for the processor 312 are accessible. Thus, regardless of whether configured by hardware or by a combination of hardware and software, the processor is 312 capable of performing operations according to various embodiments while configured accordingly.

In some exemplary embodiments, the memory 314 comprise one or more storage devices. The memory 314 may include fixed and / or removable storage devices. In some embodiments, the memory 314 provide a non-volatile, computer readable storage medium that can store computer program instructions that are provided by the processor 312 can be executed. In this regard, the memory 314 configured to store information, data, applications, instructions, and / or the like to enable the device 300 performs various functions according to one or more exemplary embodiments. In some embodiments, the memory 314 with one or more of the processors 312 , the wireless communication interface 316 and the multiplex module 318 via one or more buses to communicate among the components of the facility 300 to transmit information.

The facility 300 can also have a wireless communication interface 316 include. The wireless communication interface 316 can allow the establishment 300 Transmits and receives wireless signals to one or more wireless networks. So the wireless communication interface 316 for example, once at the wireless communication device 102 is implemented to be configured to connect to one or more base stations, such as the serving base station 104 , the eNB 204 and / or the eNB 254 to support the small cell via one or more subcarriers. The wireless communication interface 316 may accordingly include one or more transceivers and supporting hardware and / or software to facilitate communication over one or more subcarriers in accordance with any ADVICE which is capable of bundling carriers.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication interface 316 include two or more radio frequency (RF) chains to support carrier bundling. For example, the wireless communication interface 316 of some exemplary embodiments include a number of RF chains equivalent to a maximum number of matching sub-carriers passed through the wireless communication device 102 can be supported. For example, the wireless communication interface 316 in some embodiments in which the wireless Communication device 102 a bundle of up to five subcarriers can support five RF chains. An exemplary transceiver architecture that includes a plurality of RF chains that include at least a portion of the wireless communication interface 316 according to some such embodiments is shown in 4th shown and described below with regard to this.

The wireless communication interface 316 may additionally include one or more transceivers and / or other radio components to support one or more other wireless communication technologies used in a wireless communication device 102 can be implemented. For example, the wireless communication interface 316 Include radio components to support communication over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and / or other ISM radio frequency band communication technologies.

The facility 300 can also the multiplex module 318 include. The multiplex module 318 can be implemented as a diverse element, such as, for example, a circuit, hardware, a computer program product, which comprises computer-readable program instructions which are stored on a non-volatile, computer-readable medium (for example the memory 314 ) are stored and by a processing device (e.g. the processor 312 ), or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the processor 312 (or the processing circuit 310 ) the multiplex module 318 include or otherwise control it. The multiplex module 318 may be configured to prioritize and multiplex uplink traffic for active radio bearers based at least in part on approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band associated with the radio bearers, according to various example embodiments described herein. In some exemplary embodiments, at least part of the functionality may be provided by the multiplex module 318 on a media access control (MAC) layer and / or a radio link control (RLC) layer from the wireless communication device 102 be carried out and / or otherwise implemented thereon.

4th represents a graph 400 of an exemplary transceiver architecture that is used in a wireless communication interface, such as the wireless communication interface 316 from a wireless communication device such as the wireless communication device 102 , may be implemented to support carrier bundling in accordance with some example embodiments. As in 4th illustrated, a transceiver architecture on a wireless communication device capable of carrier bundling, according to some example embodiments, may include multiple RF chains, each of which can be used to support a respective sub-carrier. For example, a first RF chain for CC ₁ can be used for a second RF chain CC ₂ can be used ..., and can be a nth RF chain for CC _n be used. In this regard, a transceiver architecture, according to some example embodiments, may include at least a number of RF chains corresponding to a number of sub-carriers that can be bundled according to device and / or network specifications. For example, some LTE-A systems support bundling of up to five sub-carriers, and a transceiver configuration on a device configured to operate on such LTE-A systems may include at least five RF chains to cover the Support use of five subcarriers. However, it will be appreciated that a wireless communication device capable of carrier bundling that includes a wireless communication interface incorporating the transceiver architecture of 4th comprises, according to various exemplary embodiments, can comprise any number, for example n ≥ 2, of RF chains.

In the in 4th As illustrated by the exemplary architecture, each RF chain can have an RF bandpass filter 402 , an RF front end 404 and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 406 include. In this regard, the first RF chain can use an RF bandpass filter 402a , an RF front end 404a and an ADC 406a include; the second RF chain can use an RF bandpass filter 402b , an RF front end 404b and an ADC 406b include; and the nth RF chain can use an RF bandpass filter 402n , an RF front end 404n and an ADC 406n include. However, it will be recognized that the in 4th RF chain architecture shown is exemplary and is in no way shown as limiting. In this regard, an RF chain according to various exemplary embodiments may add and / or alternative elements to those shown in FIG 4th shown include. In the exemplary architecture of 4th each RF chain can be converted into a digital signal processor (DSP) 408 are fed, which can provide DSP services for each of the RF chains.

5 represents a graph 500 of an architecture for supporting multiplexing of radio bearers on multiple sub-carriers, which is supported by a wireless communication device, such as the wireless communication device 102 , may be implemented in accordance with some example embodiments. As in 5 shown, a wireless Communication device include multiple logical layers, such as a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer 502 , a radio link control (RLC) layer 504 and a MAC layer 506 . 5 exemplifies multiplexing of uplink data for two radio bearers, namely a first radio bearer 508 and a second radio bearer 510 , on two subcarriers, namely CC ₁ 512 and CC ₂ 514 However, it will be recognized that the architecture of 5 can be expanded to process additional radio carriers and / or additional sub-carriers.

The PDCP layer 502 can provide header compression services such as robust header compression (ROHC) and uplink data security services generated for each radio bearer. The uplink data for each carrier can then be sent to the RLC layer 504 are transmitted, which can split the data into RLC packet data units (PDUs), which the MAC layer 506 can be provided for uplink transmission and / or are otherwise accessible through this. The RLC layer 504 can also perform other services, such as automatic retransmission request (ARQ) services for retransmission of PDUs, which are transmitted through the network as soon as it is in a confirmation mode ( AT THE ) works, are not received correctly.

The MAC layer 506 can have a scheduling and priority editing function 516 for RLC PDUs for the first radio bearer 508 and the second radio bearer 510 carry out. The scheduling and priority editing functions 516 can for example prioritize uplink data for a predetermined transmission time interval ( TTI ) based at least in part on any prioritized bit rate (PBR) that can or can be associated with the radio bearers, based on a quality of service level that can be associated with the radio bearers or can, on one or more planning permits or permits for the subcarriers for the TTI , and / or other factors. Examples of data prioritization for a plurality of radio carriers based on such factors are shown in 7 and 8th shown and described below with regard to this. The scheduled and prioritized data can then be sent via the multiplex function 518 be multiplexed and on subcarriers CC ₁ and CC ₂ be transmitted. In embodiments in which one of the subcarriers CC ₁ 512 and CC ₂ 514 the first radio carrier can use an unlicensed radio frequency band 508 and / or the second radio bearer 510 respective approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band can be assigned, and the scheduling / prioritization processing function 516 and the multiplex function 518 based at least in part on the respective approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band by the radio bearers, such as further herein with respect to 6 to 9 further described. In some embodiments, the scheduling / prioritization editing function 516 and the multiplex function 518 through the multiplex module 318 be performed and / or under the control thereof.

The prioritization and multiplexing of data for a plurality of radio bearers in accordance with some example embodiments will now be considered 6 described. According to various exemplary embodiments, sub-carriers that are available for uplink transmission can be identified either as sub-carriers of the licensed radio frequency band or as a sub-carrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band. Thus in 6 for example CC ₁ 612 can be identified as a subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band CC ₂ 614 can be identified as a subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band, and can CC ₃ 616 be identified as a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band. The available subcarriers can also be prioritized for transmission. In general, sub-carriers of the licensed radio frequency band can be prioritized higher than sub-carriers of the unlicensed radio frequency band. For example, in the example of 6 A priority for the subcarriers can be defined as follows: CC ₁ 612> CC ₂ 614> CC ₃ 616, where the subcarrier CC ₁ 612 of the licensed radio frequency band has a higher priority than the subcarrier CC ₂ 614 the licensed radio frequency band, which in turn has a higher priority than the subcarrier CC ₃ 616 of the unlicensed radio frequency band. It will be recognized that the example of three subcarriers in 6 is given as an example and is in no way restrictive. In this regard, those with regard to 6 The concepts described can be applied to any number of subcarriers, including any mixture of subcarriers of the licensed radio frequency band and subcarriers of the unlicensed radio frequency band.

To support the prioritization and multiplexing of uplink traffic over a plurality of sub-carriers, which include one or more sub-carriers of the unlicensed radio frequency band, such as CC ₃ 616 , include, facilitate, according to various exemplary embodiments, each uplink radio bearer may be assigned an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band become. The approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band can determine whether uplink traffic for a radio carrier can be forwarded via a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band and / or under what conditions. In this regard, different radio bearers may have different required quality of service requirements, for example based at least in part on a quality of service (QoS) class indication (QCI), end-to-end transmission requirements, packet loss requirements, delay tolerance, minimum throughput Requirements, tolerated packet loss and / or the like can be defined. Depending on the quality of service requirements, some radio carriers can tolerate that their uplink data are forwarded via a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band, while other radio carriers cannot tolerate this.

For example, some radio bearers, such as the radio bearer 602 in 6 , an approval level of a “prohibited unlicensed radio frequency band” which, in cases where one or more LTE-U sub-carriers are used, can also be described as “prohibited for LTE-U”. Uplink traffic for a radio bearer, which is associated with the approval level of the prohibited unlicensed radio frequency band, cannot be tolerated with regard to the lower quality of service that can be offered on an unlicensed radio frequency band, and therefore cannot over a subcarrier of the not -licensed radio frequency band. For example, a radio bearer that transmits data that has a low end-to-end delay tolerance (e.g., lower than a delay tolerance threshold level) and a relatively high throughput requirement (e.g., a request that is higher than a throughput level threshold) associated with an approval level of the prohibited unlicensed radio frequency band. For example, radio bearers that are used for real-time services, such as voice over LTE (VoLTE), real-time video and / or other service applications with a high quality, can be associated with an approval level of the prohibited unlicensed radio frequency band.

Some radio bearers, such as the radio bearer 604 in 6 , can be associated with an approval level of a "preferred licensed radio frequency band", which can be referred to as "LTE preferred" in cases in which one or more LTE-U sub-carriers are used. Uplink traffic for a radio bearer, which is related to the approval level of the preferred licensed radio frequency band, can be forwarded via a subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band, provided that resources are available (for example after satisfaction of the carrier data of the prohibited unlicensed one is prohibited Radio frequency band and / or other data of a higher priority). In some embodiments, however, if for a TTI no subcarrier resources of the licensed radio frequency band are available, the data for a radio bearer of the preferred licensed radio frequency band are forwarded via a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band. For example, a radio bearer that transmits data that is not very sensitive to delay (e.g., greater than a threshold level of delay tolerance) but still requires a relatively high throughput requirement (e.g., a requirement above a throughput level threshold), may be associated with an approval level of the preferred licensed radio frequency band. For example, non-real-time video streaming services can be associated with an approval level of the preferred licensed radio frequency band.

Some radio bearers, such as the radio bearer 606 in 6 , can be assigned an approval level of an "approved non-licensed radio frequency band", which can be referred to as "LTE-U approved" in those cases in which one or more LTE-U sub-carriers are used. The uplink traffic for a radio bearer, which is associated with the approval level of the approved unlicensed radio frequency band, can be forwarded without any preference via both the subcarriers of the licensed radio frequency band and the subcarriers of the unlicensed radio frequency band, and thus can even be via a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band can be forwarded if one or more subcarriers of the licensed radio frequency band are available. Thus, data traffic for radio bearers of an approval level of the preferred licensed radio frequency band can be prioritized higher than radio bearers of the approved unlicensed radio frequency band, and a PBR for a radio bearer of an approval level of the preferred licensed radio frequency band can be fulfilled via a subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band before data of the approved one unlicensed radio frequency band for a given TTI be forwarded via a subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band. A radio bearer that complies with the approval level of the approved unlicensed Radio frequency band is associated, for example, best effort data, such as general web browsing traffic, can be transmitted.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 102 (for example a multiplex module 318 which of the wireless communication device 102 can be assigned) to assign the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band to the radio bearers, such as the radio bearer 602 , the radio bearer 604 and the radio bearer 606 . For example, the wireless communication device 102 From such exemplary embodiments, assign an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band to a radio carrier based at least in part on a QCI and / or a further quality of service level that can be associated with the radio carrier. For example, the wireless communication device 102 maintain a data structure that maps service quality levels to respective approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band, and can use the data structure to assign an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band to a radio carrier based on the quality of service level associated with the radio carrier .

Additionally or alternatively, the cellular wireless network with which the wireless communication device 102 related to assigning licensing levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band to radio bearers in some embodiments, and may be the wireless communication device 102 connect a cellular wireless network, which is assigned an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band, to a radio bearer. For example, the cellular wireless network can assign a radio bearer with an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band based at least in part on a QCI and / or a further quality of service level which is related to the radio bearer. The assigned approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band can be given to the wireless communication device 102 are signaled, for example in the course of a radio bearer device, in the course of a radio resource control (RRC) configuration process, within an RRC connection reconfiguration message and / or in a further control signaling which occurs between the wireless communication device 102 and network elements from the cellular wireless network can occur. In some example embodiments, in which the cellular wireless network can assign an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band to a radio bearer, the assignment may be to the wireless communication device via the primary serving cell 102 be signaled.

In some embodiments, an association between one or more radio bearers and the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band can be provided via an RRC / RLC layer and / or a non-access stratum (NAS) layer, for example based on configurations which from one or more network elements, for example an eNB and / or a mobile management unit (MME), from the cellular wireless network to the wireless communication device 102 be communicated via the RRC / RLC layer and / or the NAS layer. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 102 an association between one or more radio bearers and approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band based on a set of application requirements that may coexist and / or modify configurations provided by one or more network elements from the cellular wireless network, determine. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 102 provide an indication of their capabilities to one or more network elements from the cellular wireless network, such as whether or not the wireless communication device supports the use of LTE-U subcarriers. In some embodiments, one or more network elements from the cellular wireless network may include information about capabilities from the wireless communication device 102 to use a set of approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band to associate with radio bearers for the wireless communication device 102 to determine. In some embodiments, the one or more network elements provide a set of license levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band and / or a set of associations between license levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band and a set of radio bearers for a wireless communication device 102 the wireless communication device 102 ready, for example via an RRC / RLC layer and / or a NAS layer. In some embodiments, messages may indicate through which network elements from the cellular wireless network the capabilities of the wireless communication device 102 can query, and / or messages through which the wireless communication device 102 their capabilities may display, be added and / or modified to one or more network elements to indicate support for LTE-U communication properties, such as the Support for one or more LTE-U subcarriers, support for one or more unlicensed LTE-U radio frequency bands, support for one or more LTE-U subcarrier frequencies and / or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, one or more network elements of the cellular wireless network may have capabilities from a wireless communication device 102 query for support of carrier bundling, for example whether the wireless communication device 102 supports communication using one or more combinations of LTE subcarriers in licensed radio frequency bands and LTE-U subcarriers in unlicensed radio frequency bands. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 102 are categorized to belong to a wireless communication device category type, for example an existing and / or a new UE category type, which can indicate whether the wireless communication device 102 supports carrier bundling using a combination of LTE subcarriers of the licensed radio frequency band and LTE-U subcarriers of the unlicensed radio frequency band. For example, the wireless communication device 102 in some embodiments as a category 9-U , 10-U , 11-U , 12-U or categorized according to another # -U type, in accordance with one or more categorizations which are or are defined for one or more wireless communication protocols which support LTE-U subcarriers.

As in 6 illustrated, the wireless communication device 102 a prioritization and multiplex function 610 perform on uplink traffic for the radio bearers. The prioritization and multiplex function 610 can in some embodiments by the multiplex module 318 be performed. In some embodiments, the prioritize and multiplex function 610 as part of the MAC layer 506 occur. The prioritization and multiplex function 610 can be performed at least in part at the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band that are assigned to the radio bearers. In some exemplary embodiments, the prioritize and multiplex function 610 also consider any PBRs related to the radio bearers. In this regard, the prioritization and multiplexing functions 610 be performed to meet at least respective minimum packet bit rates for each of the radio carriers.

A MAC PDU size, which for a subcarrier (for example, for a given TTI ) can serve as a restriction with regard to the maximum amount of data that can be forwarded via the subcarrier. The MAC PDU size can also be used when performing the prioritization and multiplexing functions 610 be taken into account. In this regard, if any restrictions are imposed by the licensing level of the unlicensed radio frequency band from active radio bearers, in some exemplary embodiments data is prioritized and multiplexed to provide available MAC PDUs for a given one TTI replenish. Further detailed examples of prioritization and multiplexing according to the approved MAC PDU size are with respect to the examples of 7 and 8th shown and described below with regard to this.

The PBRs of radio carriers of the prohibited unlicensed radio frequency band, such as the radio carrier 602 , may correspond to a highest priority, and the PBRs may, in terms of total available transmission resources, from a set of sub-carriers of the licensed radio frequency band, such as CC ₁ 612 and CC ₂ 614 , be forced. In some embodiments, MAC controls (CEs) and / or other control signaling can be assigned (and / or accepted) to an approval level of an unauthorized unlicensed radio frequency band, and thus a set of MAC CDs and / or further control signaling can always be are forwarded via one or more sub-carriers of the licensed radio frequency band and are not forwarded via any sub-carriers of the unlicensed radio frequency band.

The PBRs of radio bearers of the preferred licensed radio frequency band, such as the radio bearer 604 , can initially be enforced via any available transmission resources in a set of available subcarriers of the licensed radio frequency band (for example after the PBRs are fulfilled by any radio carriers of the unauthorized unlicensed radio frequency band). Any remaining section of the PBRs of radio carriers of the preferred licensed radio frequency band can subsequently be fulfilled via subcarriers of the unlicensed radio frequency band.

As previously described, data may be for carriers of the approved unlicensed radio frequency band, such as the radio carrier 606 , be transmitted via any radio carrier, regardless of whether the radio carrier is in a licensed RF band or in a non-licensed RF band. For example, in some embodiments, the data for carriers of the licensed licensed radio frequency band can be forwarded via available subcarrier resources of the licensed radio frequency band and data for carriers of the approved unlicensed radio frequency band can be forwarded via subcarrier resources of the unlicensed radio frequency band, unless an available subcarrier resource of the licensed radio frequency band is available after data (or at least the PBRs, if there are any) for carriers of the licensed licensed radio frequency band are replenished on subcarrier resources of the licensed radio frequency band. In some embodiments, data for a carrier of the licensed licensed radio frequency band can first be forwarded via subcarrier resources of the unlicensed radio frequency band before any subcarrier resources of the licensed radio frequency band are used.

7 represents a graph 700 of a conceptual example of prioritizing and multiplexing data for a first radio bearer 702 and a second radio bearer 704 on an LTE subcarrier 714 and an LTE-U subcarrier 716 for an example TTI according to some embodiments. The first radio bearer 702 can with an inadmissible approval level regarding LTE-U be related, and the second radio bearer 704 can with an approved approval level regarding LTE-U be related. The RLC PDU, which with regard to the MAC layer for the first radio bearer 702 for the exemplary TTI available may include 700 bits of data, and the PBR of the first radio bearer 702 can be 400 bits. The RLC PDU, which with regard to the MAC layer for the second radio bearer 704 for the exemplary TTI available may include 1000 bits of data and the PBR of the second radio bearer 704 can be 100 bits.

The prioritization 710 can for the available RLC PDU data for the first radio bearer 702 and the second radio bearer 704 based at least in part on the respective approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band and the PBRs for the radio bearers (for example by the multiplex module 318 ). In this regard, since the first radio bearer 702 an "LTE-U not allowed" radio carrier can hold 400 bits of data for the first radio carrier 702 be prioritized to the PBR by the first radio bearer 702 to fulfill. There can be 100 bits of data for the second radio bearer 704 correspond to the second highest priority, thus the PBR from the second radio bearer 704 to fulfill. The remaining 300 bits of available RLC PDU data for the first radio bearer 702 may correspond to the third highest priority, followed by the remaining 900 bits of available RLC PDU data for the second radio bearer 704 .

In the example of 7 becomes every LTE subcarrier 714 and LTE-U subcarrier 716 Provided an 800 bit MAC PDU license for a total of 1600 bits. Multiplexing 712 can be based at least in part on the results of the prioritization 710 as well as based on the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band, which is associated with the first radio carrier 702 and the second radio bearer 704 associated within the restrictions on individual MAC PDU size permits. Thus, for example, the PBRs for both radio carriers in the MAC PDU for the LTE subcarrier 714 be included, whereby 500 of the 800 bits are occupied by its MAC PDU. As the remaining 300 bits of available RLC PDU data for the first radio bearer 702 have a higher priority than the remaining 900 bits of available RLC PDU data for the second radio bearer 704 and not via the LTE-U subcarrier 716 The remaining 300 bits of available RLC PDU data for the first radio bearer can be forwarded 702 also in the MAC PDU for the LTE subcarrier 714 be included. Then can 800 the remaining 900 bits of available RLC PDU data for the second radio bearer 704 to be used to the unused capacity of the 800 bit MAC PDU for the LTE-U subcarrier 716 replenish.

8th represents a graph 800 from another conceptual example of a prioritization and a multiplexing of data for several radio carriers on an LTE subcarrier 814 and an LTE-U subcarrier 816 for an example TTI In the example of 8th can be a first radio bearer 812 with an impermissible approval level with regard to LTE-U be related. The RLC PDU, which is for the MAC layer for the first radio bearer 802 for the exemplary TTI available may include 700 bits of data and the PBR from the first radio bearer 802 can be 400 bits. It can be a second radio bearer 804 with a preferred approval level regarding LTE be related. The RLC PDU, which is for the MAC layer for the second radio bearer 804 for the exemplary TTI available may include 800 bits of data and the PBR from the second radio bearer 804 can be 200 bits. It can be a third radio bearer 806 with an approved approval level regarding LTE-U be related. The RLC PDU, which is for the MAC layer for the third radio bearer 806 for the exemplary TTI is available may include 1000 bits of data and the PBR from the third radio bearer 806 can be 100 bits.

The prioritization 810 can for the available RLC PDU data for the first radio bearer 802 , the second radio bearer 804 and the third Radio bearer 806 based at least in part on the respective approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band and the PBRs for the radio bearers (for example by the multiplex module 318 ). In this regard, since the first radio bearer 802 an "LTE-U not allowed" radio carrier can hold 400 bits of data for the first radio carrier 802 be prioritized to the PBR by the first radio bearer 802 to fulfill. In general, data for the second radio bearer 804 are prioritized higher than data for the third radio bearer 806 because the second radio bearer 804 an "LTE preferred" radio bearer is and the third radio bearer 806 is an "LTE-U approved" radio carrier. Thus, 200 bits to the PBR from the second radio bearer 804 to meet the second highest priority, and can match 100 bits to the PBR from the third radio bearer 806 to meet the third highest priority. The remaining 300 bits of available PDU data for the first radio bearer 802 can then correspond to the fourth highest priority, followed by the remaining 600 bits of available PDU data for the second radio bearer 804 , and finally the remaining 900 bits of available RLC PDU data for the third radio bearer 806 .

In the example of 8th is an 800 bit MAC PDU license for both the LTE subcarrier 814 as well as the LTE-U subcarrier 816, for a total grant of 1600 bits. Multiplexing 812 can be based at least in part on the results of the prioritization 810 as well as the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band, which are associated with the radio carrier 802 , the radio bearer 804 and the radio bearer 806 related within the restrictions on MAC PDU size permits. Thus, for example, 400 bits to the PBR from the first radio bearer 802 to be fulfilled in the MAC PDU for the LTE subcarrier 814 be included, since this data cannot be transmitted via an LTE-U subcarrier. It can also use 200 bits to get the PBR from the second subcarrier 804 to be fulfilled in the MAC PDU for the LTE subcarrier 814 be included as the second radio bearer 804 with a preferred approval level regarding LTE related. Because the 100 bit PBR from the third radio bearer 806 free on the LTE-U subcarrier 816, and a transfer of data for the first radio carrier 802 is prohibited over an LTE-U subcarrier, the remaining 200 bits of free space in the MAC PDU for the LTE subcarrier 814 with an additional 200 bits of data for the first radio bearer 802 be filled in (for example, this results in a total of 600 bits from the first radio carrier 802 ).

The 100 Bits of data for the third radio bearer 806 which are needed to get the PBR from the third radio bearer 806 can be included in the MAC PDU for the LTE-U subcarrier 816. Since the 600 bits of remaining RLC PDU data for the second subcarrier 804 have a higher priority than the remaining 900 bits of RLC PDU data for the third radio bearer 806 After all PBRs are met, the remaining 600 bits of RLC can be PDU data for the second radio bearer 804 can also be included in the MAC PDU for the LTE-U subcarrier 816, which leaves space for an additional 100 bits (for example a total of 200 bits) of RLC PDU data for the third radio bearer 806 .

It will be recognized that the techniques described in the examples of 7 and 8th and are described with respect thereto, can be applied accordingly to any number of radio bearers which have differently associated approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band and / or can be applied to any number of sub-carriers, including a different number of sub-carriers of the licensed one Radio frequency band and / or sub-carriers of the unlicensed radio frequency band, on which uplink data can be multiplexed. It will also be recognized that the techniques described in the examples of 7 and 8th shown and described with regard to this, can also be applied if RATs which are capable of carrier bundling which differ from LTE distinguish, be used.

9 FIG. 13 illustrates a flow diagram according to an example method of using a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band for uplink transmission in accordance with some example embodiments. In this regard, FIG 9 Operations represented by a wireless communication device such as the wireless communication device 102 , may be performed in accordance with some example embodiments. At least one from a processing circuit 310 , a processor 312 , a store 314 , a wireless communication interface 316 and a multiplex module 318 may, for example, provide funds to perform one or more of the operations that are located in 9 are shown and are described with regard to this.

A business 900 can the wireless communication device 102 which receive a carrier bundling configuration which contains at least one subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band (for example the subcarrier 106 of the licensed radio frequency band) and at least one subcarrier of the unlicensed one Radio frequency band (for example the subcarrier 108 of the unlicensed radio frequency band).

A business 910 may include the wireless communication device 102 established a plurality of radio carriers with a wireless network. The radio bearers may be established at the same time and / or may be established over a period of time, such as in response to activation of various services that can support the radio bearers.

A business 920 may include associating an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band with each of the radio carriers. For example, an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band, which is selected from: (i) an unauthorized unlicensed radio frequency band, (ii) a preferred licensed radio frequency band, and (iii) an authorized unlicensed radio frequency band, in connection with each respective radio carrier to be brought. The selection of the license level of the unlicensed radio frequency band for the radio bearers can be based on quality of service requirements in connection with data which are transmitted via the radio bearer. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 102 autonomously assign one or more of the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band, such as based on QCIs that can be associated with the radio bearers. In some embodiments, additionally or alternatively, one or more network elements may be from the cellular wireless network (e.g., the serving base station 104 ) assign one or more of the license levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band to the radio bearers, and can assign the assigned license levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band to the wireless communication device 102 signal, for example in the course of a radio carrier setup and / or in an RRC reconfiguration message.

A business 930 may include the wireless communication device 102 multiplexes uplink traffic for the plurality of radio bearers on the at least one subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band and the at least one subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band, based at least in part on the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band associated with the plurality of radio bearers stand. In some example embodiments, the operation 930 be performed on a MAC layer. The operation 930 may also consider any PBRs for the radio bearers so that the PBRs may be replenished within any restrictions that may be imposed by the license level of the unlicensed radio frequency band and / or MAC PDU size permits. For example, the operation 930 using the prioritization and multiplexing techniques as in the examples of 7 and 8th shown and described above with regard to this. The operation 930 may be for any in some exemplary embodiments TTI for which RLC PDU data are available.

In some exemplary embodiments, the approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band associated with a radio bearer can be changed quickly. In this regard, if the wireless communication device 102 notices an increasing interference level on a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band and / or a further indication that a quality of service level for a radio carrier on the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band cannot be maintained, the wireless communication device 102 According to some example embodiments, configured to change the license level of the unlicensed radio frequency band from the radio bearer to force data to communicate over one or more subcarriers of the unlicensed radio frequency band and away from one or more subcarriers of the unlicensed radio frequency band become. For example, if a radio bearer is associated with an approval level of a "preferred licensed radio frequency band" and an interference level is reported to a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band in such a way that it cannot be guaranteed that a minimum quality of service level for the radio bearer on the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band can be met, the approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band can be changed by the radio carrier to the approval level of the "unauthorized unlicensed radio frequency band". In some embodiments, a determination of an interference level on the unlicensed radio frequency band can be estimated, for example, based on a number of HARQ processes that can be triggered on a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band.

The various aspects, embodiments, implementations, or features of the described embodiments can be used separately or in any combination. Various aspects of the described embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. The described embodiments may also be implemented as a computer readable medium (or media) that stores computer readable code that includes instructions that can be performed by one or more computing devices. The computer readable medium may be associated with any data storage device that can store data that can then be read out by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include a read-only memory, a working memory, CD-ROMs, HDDs, DVDs, magnetic tape and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over computer systems coupled over a network so that the computer readable code can be stored and executed in a distributed manner.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, and in which illustrative specific embodiments are shown in accordance with the described embodiments. Although these embodiments have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the described embodiments, it is to be understood that these examples are not limitative so that other embodiments can be used and changes can be made without the spirit and scope of the described embodiments. For example, it will be understood that the order of operations shown in the flowcharts is not restrictive, so the order of two or more operations as shown in the flowchart and described with respect thereto may be changed in accordance with some example embodiments. As another example, it will be understood that, in some embodiments, one or more operations, as illustrated in the flowchart and described with respect thereto, may be optional and may be omitted.

Furthermore, in the foregoing description, for the purpose of illustration, a specific technical term is used to give a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the specific details are not required to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and description. The description of examples disclosed with respect to the embodiments as set forth in the foregoing description is provided only to add context and to aid in understanding the described embodiments. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, alternative uses and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. In this regard, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the described embodiments can be practiced without some or all of these specific details. Furthermore, in some cases known process steps are not described in detail in order to avoid an unnecessarily complex representation of the described embodiments.

Claims (15)

A method of using a subcarrier of an unlicensed radio frequency band for uplink transmission, the method comprising: by a wireless communication device: receiving a carrier bundling configuration, the carrier bundling configuration, wherein at least one subcarrier of a licensed radio frequency band and at least one subcarrier one includes unlicensed radio frequency band; Establishing a plurality of radio bearers; Associating an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band with each of the plurality of radio bearers; and multiplexing uplink traffic for the plurality of radio bearers on the at least one subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band and the at least one subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band based at least in part on the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band associated with the plurality of radio bearers, and at a prioritized bit rate, PBR, for each of the plurality of radio bearers, wherein the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band include: an approval level of an unauthorized unlicensed radio frequency band that prohibits forwarding uplink traffic on a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band , an approval level of a preferred licensed radio frequency band, which is a forwarding of Uplink data traffic on the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band is only permitted if no subcarrier resources of the licensed radio frequency band are available for a transmission time interval, and an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band that allows forwarding of uplink data traffic on the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band is permitted if subcarrier resources of the licensed radio frequency band are available. Procedure according to Claim 1 , in which the subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band comprises a long-term evolution, LTE, subcarrier which uses a licensed LTE radio frequency band, and wherein the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band comprises an unlicensed LTE, LTE-U, subcarrier. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2nd , wherein: associating an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band with each of the plurality of radio bearers comprises associating the approval level of an unauthorized unlicensed radio frequency band with a first radio bearer; and multiplexing uplink traffic for the plurality of radio bearers includes forwarding uplink traffic for the first radio bearer on only the at least one subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band. Procedure according to Claim 3 , in which the first radio carrier transmits data which have a delay tolerance below a delay tolerance threshold level and which have a request above a throughput level threshold. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2nd , wherein: associating an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band with each of the plurality of radio bearers comprises associating the approval level of a preferred licensed radio frequency band with a first radio bearer, and the first radio bearer transmits data having a delay tolerance above a delay tolerance threshold level and have a requirement above a throughput level threshold. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2nd wherein: associating an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band with each of the plurality of radio bearers comprises associating the approval level of an approved unlicensed radio frequency band with a first radio bearer, and the first radio bearer transmits best effort data. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2nd wherein each of the plurality of radio bearers has an associated quality of service level, and wherein associating an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band with each of the plurality of radio bearers includes the wireless communication device based an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band of each respective radio bearer assigns at least in part to the quality of service level associated with the respective radio bearer. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2nd wherein associating an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band with each of the plurality of radio bearers includes associating approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band assigned to a network with the plurality of radio bearers. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th in which the multiplexing on a media access control, MAC, layer is performed by the wireless communication device. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th wherein the multiplexing for each of a plurality of transmission time intervals comprises multiplexing data provided by a radio link control (RLC) layer for the plurality of radio bearers. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 to 10 in which the multiplexing comprises fulfilling the PBR of each radio carrier on sub-carriers of the radio frequency band in accordance with the corresponding approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band. A wireless communication device which is designed to use a subcarrier of an unlicensed radio frequency band for uplink transmission with a wireless network, the wireless communication device comprising: a wireless communication interface which is used to transmit signals to a plurality of cells of the wireless Network is formed using a plurality of sub-carriers of a radio frequency band; a processing circuit that includes one or more processors and a memory that stores executable instructions, the processing circuit in communication with the wireless communication interface; and a multiplex module in communication with the processing circuitry, the executable instructions, once executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless communication device to: receive a carrier bundling configuration over one of the plurality of cells from the wireless -Network, the carrier bundling- Configuration comprises at least one subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band and at least one subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band; Establishing a plurality of radio bearers with one or more of the plurality of cells of the wireless network; Associating an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band with each of the plurality of radio bearers; and multiplexing uplink traffic for the plurality of radio carriers on the at least one subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band and the at least one subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band based at least in part on the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band associated with the plurality of radio carriers, and at a prioritized bit rate, PBR, for each of the plurality of radio bearers, wherein the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band include: an approval level of an unauthorized unlicensed radio frequency band that prohibits forwarding uplink traffic on a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band , an approval level of a preferred licensed radio frequency band, which allows forwarding of uplink data traffic on the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band only if no subcarrier resources de s licensed radio frequency band are available for a transmission time interval, and an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band, which allows forwarding of uplink data traffic on the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band if subcarrier resources of the licensed radio frequency band are available. Wireless communication device after Claim 12 , in which the subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band comprises a long-term evolution, LTE, subcarrier which uses a licensed LTE radio frequency band, and wherein the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band comprises an unlicensed LTE, LTE-U, subcarrier. Non-volatile, computer readable medium that stores instructions that, when executed by one or more processors from a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to: Receiving a carrier bundling configuration over one of a plurality of cells from a wireless network, the carrier bundling configuration comprising at least one subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band and at least one subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band; Establishing a plurality of radio bearers with one or more of the plurality of cells of the wireless network; Associating an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band with each of the plurality of radio bearers; and Multiplexing uplink traffic for the plurality of radio carriers on the at least one subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band and the at least one subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band based at least in part on the approval levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band associated with the plurality of radio carriers, and on a prioritized bit rate, PBR, for each of the plurality of radio bearers, the license levels of the unlicensed radio frequency band include: an approval level of an inadmissible unlicensed radio frequency band, which prohibits forwarding of uplink data traffic on a subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band, an approval level of a preferred licensed radio frequency band, which allows forwarding of uplink data traffic on the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band only if no subcarrier resources of the licensed radio frequency band are available for a transmission time interval, and an approval level of the unlicensed radio frequency band, which allows forwarding of uplink traffic on the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band if subcarrier resources of the licensed radio frequency band are available. Non-volatile, computer-readable medium Claim 14 , in which the subcarrier of the licensed radio frequency band comprises a long-term evolution, LTE, subcarrier which uses a licensed LTE radio frequency band, and wherein the subcarrier of the unlicensed radio frequency band comprises an unlicensed LTE, LTE-U, subcarrier.

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