WO2013173992A1

WO2013173992A1 - Method and apparatus for communicating with multicarrier mobile terminals

Info

Publication number: WO2013173992A1
Application number: PCT/CN2012/075963
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xinying Gao; Pengfei Sun; Chunyan Gao; Haiming Wang; Lili Zhang; Hongnian Xing
Original assignee: Renesas Mobile Corporation
Priority date: 2012-05-23
Filing date: 2012-05-23
Publication date: 2013-11-28

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided in order to provide for flexible scheduling for multiple different types of multicarrier mobile terminals. In the context of a method, data is modulated in accordance with filter bank-based multicarrier modulation to generate a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include data. The method of this embodiment also configures the one or more cyclic prefixes to be utilized for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH MULTICARRIER

MOBILE TERMINALS

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

An example embodiment relates generally to multicarrier mobile terminals and, more particularly, to communicating with different types of multicarrier mobile terminals.

BACKGROUND

[0001] In wireless systems, multicarrier (MC) modulation techniques have been adopted in order to provide an efficient mechanism to combat inter-symbol interference (ISI) and inter- channel interference (ICI) in a time-varying multipath channel. For example, in a long-term evolution (LTE®) system, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) is utilized as the downlink (DL) access scheme, while single carrier frequency division multiple access (FDMA) (SC-FDMA) or discrete fourier transform (DFT) spread OFDMA (DFT-s-OFDMA) is utilized as the uplink (UL) access scheme as a result of a concern regarding the peak to average power ratio (PAPR). In a local area network, however, the transmit power is relatively low so that even if the PAPR is relatively high, the radio frequency (RF) efficiency can be maintained at an acceptable level. As such, MC modulation techniques may also be utilized for the UL in a local area network.

[0002] MC modulation converts a sequence of data symbols at a relatively high rate into a number of subsequences at a lower rate. Each lower rate subsequence is transmitted via a subchannel that is shaped with an appropriate filter centered on the respective subcarrier. The most common MC architecture is orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).

Through insertion of a cyclic prefix (CP) that is longer than the channel time dispersion resulting in CP-OFDM modulation, ISI and ICI are eliminated and an OFDM receiver may be simplified to a simple one- tap equalizer per subchannel. Of the various types of MC modulation, filter bank-based multicarrier (FBMC) modulation does not require a CP extension and is more robust to residual frequency offsets than CP-OFDM modulation as a result of the spectral containment of its modulation prototype filters.

[0003] Both FBMC and OFDM types of MC modulation may offer advantages. For example, in a local area network, FBMC modulation with optimized Filters may provide performance improvements relative to OFDM modulation. For example, N. Moret, et al, "Design of

Orthogonal Filtered Multitone Modulation Systems and Comparison Among Efficient

Realizations," EURASIP Journal on Advanced Signal Processing, Special Issue: Filterbank For Next Generation Wireless Multicarrier Systems (2010) compares an orthogonal FBMC system to a cyclically prefixed OFDM system in an IEEE 802. 1 1 wireless local area network (WLAN) channel and concludes that FBMC modulation with minimal length pulses and single tap subchannel equalization outperforms the OFDM system in the achievable rate. Additionally, in a multiple antennae system, polynomial singular value decomposition (PSVD) precoding with FBMC modulation may outperform the performance of precoded OFDM modulation, particularly for moderate to low signal to noise ratios (SNRs) utilizing an IEEE 802.1 1 TGn channel model. See N. Moret, et al., "MIMO Precoding For Filter Bank Modulation Systems Based On PSVD," VTC Spring 2017 : 1 -5. Additionally, in cognitive radio (CR) networks that take into account the effects of resource allocation algorithms, inter-cell interference due to timing offsets and Rayleigh fading, H. Zhang, et al., "Spectral Efficiency Comparison of OFDM/FBMC for Uplink Cognitive Radio Networks," EURASIP J. Adv. Sig. Proc. (2010) determines that FBMC modulation may achieve higher channel capacity than OFDM modulation as a result of the low spectral leakage of the FMBC prototype filters. However, even though an OFDM detector may be suboptimal since the use of cyclic prefixes results in the loss of capacity and further since OFDM modulation is unable to exploit the frequency diversity and cope with large frequency offsets as described by A.M. Tonello, "Performance Limits for Filtered

Multitone Modulation and Fading Channels," IEEE Trans, On Wireless Communications, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 2121 -2135, an OFDM detector is advantageously quite simple in design.

[0004] In a heterogeneous network in which some mobile terminals are located within a macro cell and other mobile terminals are located within a local area network, multiple types of mobile terminals may need to be supported. For example, FBMC-capable mobile terminals may be located in the local area network. As a result of the FBMC modulation, these mobile terminals need not include cyclic prefixes. Additionally, OFDM mobile terminals that is, legacy mobile terminals, may be located within the macro cell and, as a result of their reliance upon OFDM modulation, may need to include cyclic prefixes. More generally, MC mobile terminals which are capable of both OFDM and FBMC modulation may also be available in the macro cell. In some instances, the MC mobile terminals and the OFDM mobile terminals may move into the local area and may need to be supported simultaneously within the local area network. In this instance, the FBMC mobile terminals, the OFDM mobile terminals and the MC mobile tenninals may need to be scheduled by the access point of the local area network with the scheduling sometimes being challenging to accomplish in an efficient manner and without generating an excessive amount of inter-mobile terminal interference.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided in accordance with an example embodiment in order to provide for flexible scheduling for multiple different types of MC mobile terminals. In this regard, a method, apparatus and computer program product of an example embodiment provide for flexible scheduling in an efficient manner and in a manner that reduces or minimizes inter-mobile terminal interference. As such, the method, apparatus and computer program product of an example embodiment may facilitate the coexistence of newer mobile terminals with legacy mobile terminals, while avoiding implementation complexity for the mobile terminals.

[0006] In one embodiment, a method is provided for modulating data in accordance with filter bank (FB)-based multicarrier (FBMC) modulation to generate a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include data. The method of this embodiment also configures the one or more cyclic prefixes to be utilized for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication,

[0007] n another embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code with the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least modulate data in accordance with FBMC modulation to generate a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include data. The at least one memory and the computer program code of this embodiment are also configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to configure the one or more cyclic prefixes to be utilized for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication. [0008] In a further embodiment, a computer program product is provided that includes at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer- readable program instructions stored therein with the computer-readable program instructions including program instructions configured to modulate data in accordance with FBMC modulation to generate a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include data. The computer-readable program instructions of this embodiment also include program instructions for configuring the one or more cyclic prefixes to be utilized for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication. |0009] In yet another embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes means for modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation to generate a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include data. The apparatus of this embodiment also includes means for configuring the one or more cyclic prefixes to be utilized for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device- to-device communication.

|0010] In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include FBMC modulated data. The method of this embodiment also includes demodulating the data and utilizing the one or more cyclic prefixes for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication based upon a configuration of the one or more cyclic prefixes.

[0011] in another embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code with the at least one memory and a computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least receive a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include FBMC modulated data. The at least one memory and the computer program code of this embodiment are also configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to demodulate the data and to utilize the one or more cyclic prefixes for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication based upon a configuration of the one or more cyclic prefixes.

[0012] In a further embodiment, a computer program product is provided that includes at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein with the computer-readable program instructions including program instructions configured to receive a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include FBMC modulated data. The computer-readable program instructions of this embodiment also include program instructions configured to demodulate the data and utilizing the one or more cyclic prefixes for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication based upon a configuration of the one or more cyclic prefixes.

[0013] In yet another embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes means for receiving a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include FBMC modulated data. The apparatus of this embodiment also includes means for demodulating the data and means for utilizing the one or more cyclic prefixes for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication based upon a configuration of the one or more cyclic prefixes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014) Having thus described example embodiments of the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

|0015] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a system including a macro cell and a local area in which a plurality of different types of mobile terminals communicate in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus that may be specifically configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating operations performed by an apparatus specifically configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0018J Figure 4 illustrates time division multiplexed subframes associated with mobile terminals utilizing OFDM modulation and mobile terminals utilizing FMBC modulation in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 5 illustrates an OFDM subframe and two alternative FBMC subframes in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention; [0020] Figure 6 illustrates the subframe of a legacy mobile terminal as well as two alternative FBMC subframes in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 7 illustrates the frequency division multiplexing of subframes generated by OFDM modulation and FBMC modulation in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention;

|0022] Figure 8 illustrates a subframe generated by OFDM modulation and a subframe generated by FBMC modulation that have been frequency division multiplexed in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention; and

10023] Figure 9 illustrates the operations performed by an apparatus specifically configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0025] As used in this application, the term "circuitry" refers to all of the following:

(a)hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and (b) to combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) to a combination of processor(s) or (ii) to portions of processor(s)/software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and

(c) to circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that

require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not

physically present.

[0026] This definition of "circuitry" applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term "circuitry" would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term "circuitry" would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or application specific integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other network device.

[0027] A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided in accordance with an example embodiment in order to flexibly schedule a plurality of different types of MC mobile tenninals that may communicate within a macro cell and/or within a local area network. The method, apparatus and computer program product of an example embodiment may provide for the configuration of an FBMC subframe and may utilize cyclic prefixes for various purposes. Additionally or alternatively, the method, apparatus and computer program product of an example embodiment may provide for the selection of an appropriate MC technique for an MC mobile terminal.

[0028] While the method, apparatus and computer program product may be utilized in conjunction with mobile terminals configured to communicate in a variety of networks, a heterogeneous network in which the method, apparatus and computer program product of an example embodiment may be deployed is illustrated in Figure 1 for purposes of example, but not of limitation. As shown in Figure 1, mobile terminals 10 of a first type may be configured to communicate with a network via a macro cell that includes an access point 12, such as an evolved node B (eNB), a node B, a base station, a relay point or the like. The access point may facilitate communication between the first type of mobile terminals and various different types of networks including, for example, a Long Term Evolution (LTE®) network, an LTE- Advanced (LTE-A) network, a Global Systems for Mobile communications (GSM) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, e.g., a Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) network, a CDMA2000 network or the like, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an 802.1 1 network or other type of network. In one embodiment, the first type of mobile terminal 10 may be a legacy mobile terminal that is configured for OFDM operation, thereby employing OFDM modulation in regards to communication with the access point and, in turn, the network.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1, a local area 18 is also defined in which a second type of mobile terminal 14 communicates with an access point 16 of a local area network. The access point of the local area network may include a femtocell, a home evolved node B (HeNB), a relay point or other network entity for facilitating communications by the second type of mobile terminal within the local area network. The second type of mobile terminal may be configured to communicate in accordance with a different type of modulation than that employed by the first type of mobile terminal. For example, the second type of mobile terminal may be configured for FBMC operation, thereby employing FBMC modulation in regards to communication within the local area network.

[0030] As also shown in Figure 1 , a third type of mobile terminal 19 may also be configured to communicate, for example, with the access point 12 of the macro cell. This third type of mobile tenninal may be configured to communicate in accordance with any of a plurality of different MC modulation techniques, such as both OFDM modulation and FBMC modulation. The first and third types of mobile terminals that are shown by Figure 1 to communicate with the access point of the macro cell may also move into the local area 18. In this instance, it would be desirable for the access point 16 of the local area network to communicate with the first and third types of mobile terminals while the first and third types of mobile terminals are within the local area. As such, the method, apparatus and computer program product of an example embodiment provide for communication in accordance with a plurality of different types of MC modulation in an efficient manner and without excessive interference, for example.

[0031] An ap aratus 20 that may be embodied by or included within one or more of a mobile terminal 10, 14, 19, an access point 12, 16 or other network entity is shown in Figure 2. The apparatus may include or otherwise be in communication with a processing system including, for example, processing circuitry 22 that is configurable to perform actions in accordance with some example embodiments described herein. The processing circuitry may be configured to perform data processing, application execution and/or other processing and management services according to an example embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, the apparatus or the processing circuitry may be embodied as a chip or chip set. In other words, the apparatus or the processing circuitry may comprise one or more physical packages (e.g., chips) including materials, components and/or wires on a structural assembly (e.g., a baseboard). The structural assembly may provide physical strength, conservation of size, and/or limitation of electrical interaction for component circuitry included thereon. The apparatus or the processing circuitry may therefore, in some cases, be configured to implement an embodiment of the present invention on a single chip or as a single "system on a chip." As such, in some cases, a chip or chipset may constitute means for performing one or more operations for providing the functionalities described herein.

[0032] In an example embodiment, the processing circuitry 22 may include a processor 24 and memory 26 that may be in communication with or otherwise control a communication interface 28 and, at least in instances in which the apparatus 20 is embodied by a mobile terminal 10, 14, 19, a user interface 30. As such, the processing circuitry may be embodied as a circuit chip (e.g., an integrated circuit chip) configured (e.g., with hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software) to perform operations described herein. However, in some embodiments taken in the context of the mobile terminal, the processing circuitry may be embodied as a portion of a mobile terminal. Alternatively, in embodiments taken in the context of an access point 12, 16 or other network entity, the processing circuitry may be embodied as a portion of the access point or other network entity.

|0033] The user interface 30 (if implemented in embodiments of the apparatus 20 embodied by a mobile terminal 10, 14, 19) may be in communication with the processing circuitry 22 to receive an indication of a user input at the user interface and/or to provide an audible, visual, mechanical or other output to the user. As such, the user interface may include, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a display, a touch screen, a microphone, a speaker, and/or other input/output mechanisms. In one embodiment, the user interface includes user interface circuitry configured to facilitate at least some functions of the user equipment by receiving user input via, for example, a display or touch screen, and providing output.

[0034] The communication interface 28 may include one or more interface mechanisms for enabling communication with other devices and/or networks. In some cases, the communication interface may be any means such as a device or circuitry embodied in either hardware, or a combination of hardware and software that is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/to the network and/or any other device or module in communication with the processing circuitry 22. In this regard, the communication interface may include, for example, an antenna (or multiple antennas) and supporting hardware and/or software for enabling communications with a wireless communication network and/or a communication modem or other hardware/software for supporting communication via cable, digital subscriber line (DSL), universal serial bus (USB), Ethernet or other methods. [0035] In an example embodiment, the memory 26 may include one or more non-transitory memory devices such as, for example, volatile and/or non-volatile memory that may be either fixed or removable. The memory may be configured to store information, data, applications, instructions or the like for enabling the apparatus 20 to carry out various functions in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. For example, the memory could be configured to buffer input data for processing by the processor 24. Additionally or alternatively, the memory could be configured to store instructions for execution by the processor. As yet another alternative, the memory may include one of a plurality of databases that may store a variety of files, contents or data sets. Among the contents of the memory, applications may be stored for execution by the processor in order to carry out the functionality associated with each respective application. In some cases, the memory may be in communication with the processor via a bus for passing infomiation among components of the apparatus.

[0036] The processor 24may be embodied in a number of different ways. For example, the processor may be embodied as various processing means such as one or more of a

microprocessor or other processing element, a coprocessor, a controller or various other computing or processing devices including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), or the like. In an example embodiment, the processor may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory 26 or otherwise accessible to the processor. As such, whether configured by hardware or by a combination of hardware and software, the processor may represent an entity (e.g., physically embodied in circuitry - in the form of processing circuitry) capable of perforating operations according to embodiments of the present invention while configured accordingly. Thus, for example, when the processor is embodied as an ASIC, FPGA or the like, the processor may be specifically configured hardware for conducting the operations described herein.

Alternatively, as another example, when the processor is embodied as an executor of software instructions, the instructions may specifically configure the processor to perform the operations described herein.

[0037] Referring now to Figure 3, the operations performed by a method, apparatus and computer program product of an example embodiment are illustrated from the perspective of an apparatus 20 that may be embodied by or otherwise associated with a network entity, such as an access point 12, 16. In this regard and as shown in operation 44 of Figure 3, an apparatus embodied by an access point may include means, such as a processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, for modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation so as to generate a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include data. As will be described and illustrated below, each symbol of the subframe may include an associated cyclic prefix. Alternatively, the apparatus embodied by the access point may include means for integrating one or more of the cyclic prefixes that may have otherwise been associated with a respective symbol into a separate FBMC symbol. See operation 48 of Figure 3. The apparatus embodied by the access point may also include means, such as the processing circuitry, the processor, the communication interface or the like, for configuring the one or more cyclic prefixes to be utilized for interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device transmission. See block 50 of Figure 3,

[0038] In regards to interference sensing, mobile terminals 14, 19 that utilize FBMC modulation may be configured to sense various types of interference, such as inter-mobile terminal interference, inter-cell interference, inter-MC modulation interference, etc. As such, the apparatus 20 embodied by the access point 12, 16 of this embodiment may configure one or more mobile tenninals that utilize FBMC modulation to sense interference during the duration of the cyclic prefix. The apparatus embodied by the access point may be configured to control the manner in which the mobile terminal performs such interference sensing, measurement and/or detection, such as by overhearing the interference from mobile terminals or the access points of adjacent cells and/or by measuring the interference from mobile terminals that have adopted other MC schemes. The result of the interference sensing by the mobile terminals may be reported to the access point which may, in turn, avoid more serious interference issues by scheduling or handover. Additionally or alternatively, the results of the sensing may be utilized by the mobile terminal to perform local interference cancellation, for example.

[0039] Instead of causing the mobile terminals 4, 19 to perform interference sensing, measurement and/or detection during the duration of a cyclic prefix, the access point 12, 16, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, may alternatively be configured to sense the interference environment proximate to the access point during the duration of a cyclic prefix. As the access point of one embodiment controls both the configuration of the mobile terminal and the scheduling, the access point may determine whether a cyclic prefix is required in certain subframes. In an instance in which the cyclic prefix is not utilized by a mobile terminal, the cyclic prefix may be utilized by the access point for interference sensing purposes.

[0040] With respect to the utilization of one or more cyclic prefixes for data transmission, the apparatus 20 embodied by the access point 12, 16 may configure the cyclic prefixes such that a complete FBMC symbol is distributed into all of the cyclic prefixes such that a receiver may bundle the cyclic prefixes together to form a complete CP symbol that is then fed to a demodulator. Alternatively, a CP symbol may be generated by, for example, inserting zeros among the data and after an inverse fast fourier transform (IFFT), the CP symbol may become a sequence consisting of repetitive segments with one segment being utilized to fill the CP period. If the repetition factor is the same as the ratio of cyclic prefixes per symbol, the implementation impact may be minimal.

[0041] Regarding the configuration of one or more cyclic prefixes for control signal transmission, control data that requires a loosened signal to noise ratio (SNR) environment may be transmitted via one or more cyclic prefixes. For example, synchronization and tracking signals may be transmitted by the access point 12, 16, such as by the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, during the duration of the cyclic prefix for mobile terminals 14, 19 that utilize FBMC modulation to perform timing and frequency synchronization as well as inter-cell synchronization. Additionally or alternatively, the access point, such as the processing circuitry, the processor, the communication interface or the like, may provide inter-cell coordination signaling within the cyclic prefixes. For example, during the uplink phase, the access point may be unable to detect the data filling from a mobile terminal that utilizes FBMC modulation due to the interference from legacy or OFDM mobile terminals 10. In this instance, the access point may configure a mobile terminal that utilizes FBMC modulation to send inter-cell coordination signaling to an adjacent cell utilizing the cyclic prefix, that is, within the duration of the cyclic prefix. This inter-cell coordination signaling may then be successfully detected by a mobile terminal in the adj cent cell or by the access point of the adjacent cell, Additionally or alternatively, low rate control signaling may be transmitted within one or more cyclic prefixes utilizing, for example, a long spreading sequence. In this regard, a plurality of cyclic prefixes may be bundled to ensure reliability, for example. If full duplexing is enabled for mobile terminals utilizing FBMC modulation in a local area, such as by transmitting and receiving on the same resource simultaneously, the control signaling for full duplex operation may be provided via the cyclic prefixes, such as the control signals associated with the full duplex scheduling grant, the power control parameters, the downlink/uplink resource allocation adjustment, etc.

[0042] With respect to utilization of the cyclic prefixes for device-to-device utilization, the access point 12, 16, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, may configure the mobile terminals 14, 19 that utilize FBMC modulation to offload data transmission during the duration of the cyclic prefix while the link to the access point is sustained. Additionally or alternatively, device-to-device coordination may be performed during the duration of the cyclic prefix. For example, a discovery signal may be continuously broadcast during the duration of the cyclic prefix without affecting the cellular network.

[0043] While some of the mobile terminals may be configured to operate only in accordance with OFDM modulation, such as mobile terminal 10 of Figure 1, or only in accordance with FBMC modulation, such as mobile terminal 14 of Figure 1 , some MC mobile terminals may be configured to operate in accordance with various different types of MC modulation, such as OFDM modulation or FBMC modulation, such as represented by mobile terminal 19 of Figure 1. As such, the method, apparatus and computer program product of one embodiment may appropriately configure the type of modulation to be employed by a mobile terminal to facilitate communication with the mobile terminal. In this regard and as shown in operation 42 of Figure 3, the apparatus 20 embodied by the access point 12, 16 may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, for causing instructions to be provided to a mobile terminal 19 regarding selection of either OFDM operation or FBMC operation by the mobile terminal. For example, the instructions regarding the selection of OFDM operation or FBMC operation may be provided by the access point, e.g., eNB, to the MC mobile terminals by high layer signaling or LI signaling with the type of modulation and, therefore, the type of subframe indicated, either explicitly or implicitly.

[0044] In one embodiment shown in operation 40 of Figure 3, the apparatus 20 embodied by the access point 12, 16 may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, for determining the OFDM or FBMC operation of the mobile terminal 1 , such as based on the network load and/or interference. In regards to network load, the access point, such as the processing circuitry, the processor, the communication interface or the like, may determine that in an instance in which the network load is considered heavy, such as by exceeding a predefined threshold, and in which the majority of the mobile terminals are configured for FBMC modulation, additional MC mobile terminals should be configured to also employ FBMC modulation such that the cyclic prefixes may be utilized for data transmission in order to increase the spectrum efficiency. Otherwise, the access point of this embodiment may configure the mobile terminals for OFDM modulation.

Additionally or alternatively, in an instance in which the determination of the type of operation to be employed by the mobile terminal is based upon interference considerations, the access point, such as the processing circuitry, the processor, the communication interface or the like, may detennine the type of modulation based upon the location of an MC mobile tenninal and the interference likely experienced by the MC mobile terminal such as by determining that an MC mobile terminal proximate the cell edge or within an area in which two cells overlap should utilize FBMC modulation so as to be able to perform interference measurements or to forward coordination signaling during the duration of the cyclic prefix. Although the selection of either OFDM operation or FBMC operation for a mobile terminal may be semi-static, the access point may again determine the more desirable mode of operation for a mobile terminal, such as an MC mobile tenninal, in an instance in which the conditions change, such as instances in which the network load and/or interference changes.

[0045] The access point 12, 16 may also configure the multiplexing modes for the various types of mobile terminals, such as OFDM mobile terminals 10, FBMC mobile terminals 14 and MC mobile terminals 19. In this regard and as described above in conjunction with operation 44 of Figure 3, the apparatus 20 embodied by the access point may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, for modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation for a first type of mobile terminal, such as an FBMC mobile terminal, The apparatus embodied by the access point of this embodiment may also include means, such as the processing circuitry, the processor, the communication interface or the like, for modulating data in accordance with OFDM modulation for a second type of mobile tenninal, such as an OFDM mobile terminal or an MC mobile terminal configured for OFDM operation. See operation 46 of Figure 3. [0046] The method, apparatus and computer program product of an example embodiment may multiplex the subframes generated by mobile terminals configured for OFDM operation and the subframes generated by mobile terminals configured for FBMC operation, such as via time division multiplexing or frequency division multiplexing. For example, the apparatus 20 embodied by the access point 12, 16 may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, for time division multiplexing the subframes generated by the FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by the OFDM modulation. See operation 52 of Figure 3. As shown in Figure 4, the modulation of the data in accordance with OFDM modulation may generate a plurality of subframes 60 that includes a normal OFDM subframe 62 and a plurality of multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes 64, while the modulation of data in accordance with FBMC modulation may generate a plurality of subframes 66 that includes a blocked subframe 68 and a plurality of shortened FBMC subframes 70. The subframes generated by OFDM modulation may be time multiplexed with the subframes generated by FBMC modulation as shown in Figure 4. In order to avoid control channel collision, for example, the control symbols in each FBMC subframe 70, such as the first one to three symbols of an FBMC subframe, may be made blank as shown by the vertical white bar preceding each FBMC subframe in Figure 4, thereby shortening the FBMC subframe. Additionally, in an instance in which an OFDM mobile terminal 10 or an MC mobile terminal 1 scheduled for OFDM operation are scheduled for a normal OFDM subframe, the FBMC mobile terminals 14 may be directed to block the corresponding subframe(s) 68 in order to avoid inter-mobile terminal interference, for example. In one embodiment, the apparatus 20 embodied by the access point 12, 16 may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, for configuring the number of MBSFM subframes 64 and the number of blocked subframes 68 based upon the traffic ratio between mobile terminals utilizing OFDM modulation and the mobile terminals utilizing FBMC modulation. As such, inter-mobile terminal interference may be avoided or reduced, for example.

[0047] In one embodiment, in order to reutilize the same fast fourier transform (FFT)/IFFT module for both OFDM modulation and FBMC modulation by the access point and by the MC mobile terminals to alleviate implementation complexity, an FBMC symbol may have the same length as an OFDM symbol. As shown in Figure 5, an MBSFN subframe 80 may include a plurality of control symbols 82 and a blank region 84. In this embodiment, one example of an FBMC subframe 86 may include a blank region 88 that is aligned with the control symbols of the MBSFN subframe and a plurality of data symbols 90 that are aligned with the blank region of the MBSFN subframe. As shown in Figure 5, the FBMC subframe may also include a plurality of cyclic prefixes 92, one of which is associated with each of the data symbols 90. Figure 5 also illustrates an alternative FBMC subframe 94. In this embodiment, the FBMC subframe again includes a blank region 96 aligned with the control symbols of the MBSFN subframe and a plurality of data symbols 98 aligned with the blank region of the MBSFN subframe. However, the plurality of cyclic prefixes have been integrated into a single FBMC symbol 100 as described in conjunction with operation 48 of Figure 3 that may be utilized for various purposes as described above including, for example, data or control transmissions. The single FBMC symbol may have the same length as the data symbols 98. Although the single FBMC symbol resulting from the integration of the cyclic prefixes is illustrated to be positioned between the blank region and the data symbols, the single FBMC symbol may have other positions within the FBMC subframe, By employing time division multiplexing and aligning the various symbols of the MBSFN subframe and the FBMC subframes in the manner described above, interference for inter-cell mobile terminals may be avoided, for example.

[0048] In one embodiment, the apparatus 20 embodied by the access point 12, 16 includes means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, for separating the synchronization signals of an FBMC subframe from the

synchronization signals of a normal OFDM subframe as shown in Figure 6. In this example, a normal OFDM subframe 1 10, such as utilized by a legacy mobile terminal 10, may include one or more control symbols 1 12 and one or more data symbols 1 14 with the primary and secondary synchronization signals 1 16 being included in symbols # 6 and 7 in the middle of the frequency bandwidth. In regard to the first example of an FBMC subframe 1 18 described above that includes a blank region 120, a plurality of data symbols 122 and a cyclic prefix 124 associated with each data symbol, the cyclic prefixes may be reserved such that the synchronization signals may be inserted in any number of the cyclic prefixes. In regard to the alternative configuration of an FBMC subframe 126 that includes a blank region 128, a plurality of data symbols 130 and a single FBMC subframe 131 into which the cyclic prefixes have been integrated, the synchronization signals 132 may be included within one or more of the data symbols, albeit utilizing a different frequency resource than the OFDM subframe, such as by including the synchronization signals in the last two symbols of the FBMC subframe.

[0049] In regards to the synchronization signals included in an FBMC subframe, the synchronization signals may have a different synchronization sequence or pattern and/or the synchronization signals may be in a different resource than the synchronization signals of an OFDM subframe. As such, the synchronization signals may enable new mobile terminals to synchronize and identify the FBMC subframe type at an initial access stage. In addition, the synchronization signals may prevent mobile terminals utilizing OFDM modulation from being synchronized based upon the synchronization signals included in an FBMC subframe and, as a result, avoid obtaining the wrong timing, for example.

[0050] As described above, the OFDM subframes and the FBMC subframes may be multiplexed in accordance with time division multiplexing, Alternatively, the apparatus 20 embodied by the access point 12, 16 of one embodiment may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communications interface 28 or the like, for frequency division multiplexing the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation. See operation 52 of Figure 3, As shown in Figure 7, for example, the OFDM subframes and the FBMC subframes may be frequency division multiplexed in a manner to reduce or minimize the inter-mobile terminal interference, for example. In this regard, the physical resource blocks (PRBs) allocated for an FBMC subframe and for an OFDM subframe may be centralized. In this regard, the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and subframes generated by OFDM modulation may be separated so as to have only one adjacent subchannel for at least one of the subframes, such as subframes 1 -5 of Figure 6. As also shown in Figure 6, the synchronization signals 132, such as the primary synchronization signal (PSS)/secondary synchronization signal (SSS)/broadcast channel (BCH), in the FBMC subframe are transmitted in a different resource than that of the OFDM subframe, that is, in a different subframe or at a different frequency, or different synchronization sequences and/or patterns may be utilized. As such, the mobile terminal may avoid utilizing OFDM modulation to obtain synchronization based on this signal during a cell search, for example.

[0051] In one embodiment, there may be a fixed reserved resource and a predefined periodicity for the transmission of the synchronization signals, e.g., the PSS/SSS/BCH signals, for new mobile terminals, e.g., the FBMC mobile terminals 14 and/or the MC mobile terminals 19. As such, legacy mobile terminals, e.g., OFDM mobile terminals 10, may include a scheduling restriction so as to avoid being scheduled concurrent with the fixed reserved resource for transmission of synchronization signals, e.g., PSS/SSS/BCH signals. By utilizing frequency division multiplexing, the access point 12, 16 may be able to more granularly schedule multiple MC mobile terminals 19 than in a time division multiplexing mode, thereby providing increased scheduling flexibility.

[0052] As shown in Figure 7, in one embodiment in which OFDM subframes and FBMC subframes are frequency division multiplexed, inter-subchannel interference may be reduced or minimized between the OFDM and FBMC subframes, for example, by maintaining the same length and alignment between OFDM symbols and FBMC symbols. In order to adapt to wireless channel conditions, a guard band may be positioned between the FBMC subframe and the OFDM subframe with the width of the guard band being configurable, thereby providing for the full separation of the OFDM subframes and the FBMC subframes in the frequency domain. In this regard, Figure 8 depicts an OFDM subframe 140 including one or more control symbols 142 and one or more data symbols 144 and an FBMC subframe 146 that includes a control region 148 and a plurality of data symbols 150 with cyclic prefixes 152 associated therewith. The OFDM symbols and the FBMC symbols (at least following insertion of the cyclic prefixes) may have the same length and may be aligned, thereby reducing inter-channel interference, As shown in Figure 8, a guard band 156 may be positioned between the FBMC subframe and the OFDM subframe to separate the subframes.

[0053] Referring now to Figure 9 in which the operations of an apparatus 20 embodied by a mobile terminal, such as an MC mobile terminal 1 , are illustrated and, more particularly, to operation 166, the apparatus embodied by a mobile terminal may include means, such as a processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, for receiving a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include FBMC modulated data. As described above, each symbol may include an associated cyclic prefix or one or more cyclic prefixes may have been integrated into a respective symbol. In an embodiment in which each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix, each cyclic prefix may include a synchronization signal. The apparatus embodied by a mobile terminal may also include means, such as the processing circuitry, the processor, the communication interface or the like, for demodulating the data. See operation 168 of Figure 9. The apparatus embodied by the mobile terminal may also include means, such as the processing circuitry, the processor, the communication interface or the like, for utilizing one or more cyclic prefixes for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signals transmission or device-to-device communication based upon the configuration of the cyclic prefixes as described above. See operation 170.

[0054] In one embodiment, the apparatus 20 embodied by the mobile terminal may include means, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, for receiving instructions regarding the selection of OFDM operation or FBMC operation. See operation 164 of Figure 9. In response to receiving the selection of OFDM or FBMC operation, the mobile terminal may, in turn, commence operations accordingly. In other embodiments, however, the apparatus embodied by the mobile terminal may include means, such as the processing circuitry, the processor, the communication interface or the like, for selecting one of OFDM modulation or FBMC modulation based upon, for example, a preference of the mobile terminal and then causing an indication of the selection to be reported to the access point 12, 16, thereby also implicitly defining the type of subframe that will be utilized. See operations 160 and 162 of Figure 9.

[0055] In one embodiment, the apparatus 20, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, may select one of OFDM modulation or FBMC modulation based upon a throughput estimation, such as by estimating the throughput utilizing OFDM modulation relative to the throughput utilizing FBMC modulation according to channel estimation results and then selecting the type of modulation that provides the highest throughput. Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus, such as the processing circuitry, the processor, the communication interface or the like, may select to use either OFDM modulation or FBMC modulation based on a delay spread statistic. In this regard, the apparatus embodied by mobile terminal, such as the processing circuitry, the processor, the communication interface or the like, may estimate the delay spread value from reference signals that may compare the delay spread value to an empirical threshold. If the estimated delay spread is greater than the threshold, the mobile terminal may determine that the multipath is richly scattered, such that OFDM modulation will be selected with cyclic prefixes being utilized to combat the multipath effect. Otherwise, FBMC modulation may be selected so as to obtain higher throughput, for example, [0056] The selection of the type of modulation technique preferred by the mobile terminal, such as an MC mobile terminal 19, may be dynamic in that the modulation technique may be reevaluated and changed as conditions change over time. Based upon the preference of modulation technique provided by the mobile terminal as represented by the selection, the access point 12, 16, such as the processing circuitry 22, the processor 24, the communication interface 28 or the like, may, in turn, determine the modulation technique to be utilized by the respective mobile terminal based upon, for example, consideration of the selection by the mobile terminal in combination with the network load or interference, as described above.

[0057] Figures 3 and 9 are flowcharts illustrating the operations performed by a method, apparatus and computer program product, such as apparatus 20 of Figure 2, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the flowcharts, may be implemented by various means, such as hardware, firmware, processor, circuitry and/or other device associated with execution of software including one or more computer program instructions. For example, one or more of the procedures described above may be embodied by computer program instructions. In this regard, the computer program instructions which embody the procedures described above may be stored by a non-transitory memory 26 of an apparatus employing an embodiment of the present invention and executed by a processor 24 in the apparatus. As will be appreciated, any such computer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus (e.g., hardware) to produce a machine, such that the resulting computer or other programmable apparatus provides for implementation of the functions specified in the flowchart blocks. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage memory that may direct a computer or other programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage memory produce an article of manufacture, the execution of which implements the function specified in the flowchart blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus to cause a series of operations to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide operations for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart blocks. As such, the operations of Figures 3 and 9, when executed, convert a computer or processing circuitry into a particular machine configured to perform an example embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, the operations of Figures 3 and 9 define an algorithm for configuring a computer or processing circuitry, e.g., processor, to perform an example embodiment, In some cases, a general purpose computer may be provided with an instance of the processor which performs the algorithm of Figures 3 and 9 to transform the general purpose computer into a particular machine configured to perform an example embodiment.

[0058] Accordingly, blocks of the flowcharts support combinations of means for performing the specified functions and combinations of operations for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that one or more blocks of the flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the flowcharts, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specified functions, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0059] In some embodiments, certain ones of the operations above may be modified or further amplified as described below. Moreover, in some embodiments additional optional operations may also be included as shown, for example by the dashed lines in Figures 3 and 9. It should be appreciated that each of the modifications, optional additions or amplifications below may be included with the operations above either alone or in combination with any others among the features described herein.

(00601 Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method comprising:

modulating data in accordance with filter bank (FB)-based multicarrier (FBMC) modulation to generate a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include data; and

configuring the one or more cyclic prefixes to be utilized for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix,

3. A method according to Claim 1 further comprising integrating the one or more cyclic prefixes into a respective symbol.

4. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 further comprising causing instructions to be provided to a mobile terminal regarding selection of orthogonal division multiplex (OFDM) operation or FBMC operation.

5. A method according to Claim 4 further comprising determining the OFDM or FBMC operation of the mobile terminal based on at least one of a network load or interference,

6. A method according to any one of Claims 1 , 4 or 5 wherein modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation comprises modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation for a first mobile terminal, wherein the method further comprises modulating data in accordance with OFDM modulation for a second mobile terminal to generate one or more OFDM subframes and one or more multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes, wherein the method further comprises time division multiplexing the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation, and wherein modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation comprises generating one or more blocked subframes that are aligned with the one or more OFDM subframes and one or more FBMC subframes that are aligned with the MBSFN subframes.

7. A method according to Claim 6 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix, and wherein each cyclic prefix includes a synchronization signal.

8. A method according to Claim 6 wherein the symbols of the subframes generated by FBMC modulation include a synchronization signal in a different symbol than any symbol of the subframes generated by OFDM modulation that includes a synchronization signal.

9. A method according to any one of Claims 1, 4 or 5 wherein modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation comprises modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation for a first mobile terminal, wherein the method further comprises modulating data in accordance with OFDM modulation for a second mobile terminal to generate one or more OFDM subframes and one or more multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes, wherein the method further comprises frequency division multiplexing the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation such that the subframe generated by FBMC modulation and the subframe generated by OFDM modulation are separated so as to have one adjacent subchannel for at least some of the subframes.

10. A method according to Claim 9 further comprising separating the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation by a guard band.

1 1 . A method according to any one of Claims 9 or 10 wherein the symbols of the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the symbols of the subframes generated by OFDM have a same length.

12, An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least: modulate data in accordance with filter bank (FB)-based multicarrier (FBMC)

modulation to generate a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include data; and

configure the one or more cyclic prefixes to be utilized for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication,

13. An apparatus according to Claim 12 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix.

14. An apparatus according to Claim 12 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, integrate the one or more cyclic prefixes into a respective symbol.

15. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 12 to 14 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause instructions to be provided to a mobile terminal regarding selection of orthogonal division multiplex (OFDM) operation or FBMC operation.

16. An apparatus according to Claim 15 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, determine the OFDM or FBMC operation of the mobile terminal based on at least one of a network load or interference,

17. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 12, 15 or 16 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, modulate data in accordance with FBMC modulation by modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation for a first mobile terminal, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, modulate data in accordance with OFDM modulation for a second mobile terminal to generate one or more OFDM subframes and one or more multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes and time division multiplex the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation, and the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, modulate data in accordance with FBMC modulation by generating one or more blocked subframes that are aligned with the one or more OFDM subframes and one or more FBMC subframes that are aligned with the MBSFN subframes.

18. An apparatus according to Claim 17 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix, and wherein each cyclic prefix includes a synchronization signal.

19. An apparatus according to Claim 17 wherein the symbols of the subframes generated by FBMC modulation include a synchronization signal in a different symbol than any symbol of the subframes generated by OFDM modulation that includes a synchronization signal.

20. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 12, I S or 16 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, modulate data in accordance with FBMC modulation by modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation for a first mobile terminal, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, modulate data in accordance with OFDM modulation for a second mobile terminal to generate one or more OFDM subframes and one or more multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes and frequency division multiplex the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation such that the subframe generated by FBMC modulation and the subframe generated by OFDM modulation are separated so as to have one adjacent subchannel for at least some of the subframes.

21 , An apparatus according to Claim 20 the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, separate the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation by a guard band.

22. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 20 or 21 wherein the symbols of the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the symbols of the subframes generated by

OFDM have a same length.

23. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 12 to 22 wherein the apparatus comprises an access point.

24. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 12 to 23 wherein the apparatus is configured for use in at least one of a long term evolution or a long term evolution advanced system.

25. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein with the computer-readable program instructions comprising program instructions configured to:

modulate data in accordance with filter bank (FB)-based multicarrier (FBMC) modulation to generate a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include data; and

26. A computer program product according to Claim 25 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix.

27. A computer program product according to Claim 25 wherein the computer-readable program instructions further comprise program instructions configured to integrate the one or more cyclic prefixes into a respective symbol.

28. A computer program product according to any one of Claims 25 to 27 wherein the computer-readable program instructions further comprise program instructions configured to cause instructions to be provided to a mobile terminal regarding selection of orthogonal division multiplex (OFDM) operation or FBMC operation.

29. A computer program product according to Claim 28 wherein the computer-readable program instructions further comprise program instructions configured to determine the OFDM or FBMC operation of the mobile terminal based on at least one of a network load or interference.

30. A computer program product according to any one of Claims 25, 28 or 29 wherein the program instructions configured to modulate data in accordance with FBMC modulation comprise program instructions configured to modulate data in accordance with FBMC modulation for a first mobile terminal, wherein the computer-readable program instructions further comprise program instructions configured to modulate data in accordance with OFDM modulation for a second mobile terminal to generate one or more OFDM subframes and one or more multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes, wherein the computer- readable program instructions further comprise program instructions configured to time division multiplex the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation, and wherein the program instructions configured to modulate data in accordance with FBMC modulation comprise program instructions configured to generate one or more blocked subframes that are aligned with the one or more OFDM subframes and one or more FBMC subframes that are aligned with the MBSFN subframes,

31. A computer program product according to Claim 30 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix, and wherein each cyclic prefix includes a synchronization signal.

32. A computer program product according to Claim 30 wherein the symbols of the subframes generated by FBMC modulation include a synchronization signal in a different symbol than any symbol of the subframes generated by OFDM modulation that includes a synchronization signal.

33. A computer program product according to any one of Claims 25, 28 or 29 wherein the program instructions configured to modulate data in accordance with FBMC modulation comprise program instructions configured to modulate data in accordance with FBMC modulation for a first mobile terminal, wherein the computer-readable program instructions further comprise program instructions configured to modulate data in accordance with OFDM modulation for a second mobile terminal to generate one or more OFDM subframes and one or more multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes, wherein the computer- readable program instructions further comprise program instructions configured to frequency division multiplex the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation such that the subframe generated by FBMC modulation and the subframe generated by OFDM modulation are separated so as to have one adjacent subchannel for at least some of the subframes.

34. A computer program product according to Claim 33 wherein the computer-readable program instructions further comprise program instructions configured to separate the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation by a guard band.

35. A computer program product according to any one of Claims 33 or 34 wherein the symbols of the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the symbols of the subframes generated by OFDM have a same length.

36. An apparatus comprising:

means for modulating data in accordance with filter bank (FB)-based multicarrier (FBMC) modulation to generate a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include data; and

means for configuring the one or more cyclic prefixes to be utilized for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication.

37. An apparatus according to Claim 36 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix.

38. An apparatus according to Claim 36 further comprising means for integrating the one or more cyclic prefixes into a respective symbol.

39. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 36 to 38 further comprising means for causing instructions to be provided to a mobile terminal regarding selection of orthogonal division multiplex (OFDM) operation or FBMC operation.

40. An apparatus according to Claim 39 further comprising means for determining the OFDM or FBMC operation of the mobile terminal based on at least one of a network load or interference.

41. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 36, 39 or 40 wherein the means for modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation comprising means for modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation for a first mobile terminal, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for modulating data in accordance with OFDM modulation for a second mobile terminal to generate one or more OFDM subframes and one or more multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for time division multiplexing the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation, and wherein the means for modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation comprises means for generating one or more blocked subframes that are aligned with the one or more OFDM subf ames and one or more FBMC subframes that are aligned with the MBSFN subframes.

42. An apparatus according to Claim 41 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix, and wherein each cyclic prefix includes a synchronization signal,

43. An apparatus according to Claim 41 wherein the symbols of the subframes generated by FBMC modulation include a synchronization signal in a different symbol than any symbol of the subframes generated by OFDM modulation that includes a synchronization signal.

44. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 36, 39 or 40 wherein the means for modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation comprises means for modulating data in accordance with FBMC modulation for a first mobile terminal, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for modulating data in accordance with OFDM modulation for a second mobile terminal to generate one or more OFDM subframes and one or more multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for frequency division multiplexing the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation such that the subframe generated by FBMC modulation and the subframe generated by OFDM modulation are separated so as to have one adjacent subchannel for at least some of the subframes.

45. An apparatus according to Claim 44 further comprising means for separating the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the subframes generated by OFDM modulation by a guard band.

46. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 44 or 45 wherein the symbols of the subframes generated by FBMC modulation and the symbols of the subframes generated by OFDM have a same length.

47. A method comprising:

receiving a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include filter bank (FB)-based multicarrier (FBMC) modulated data;

demodulating the data; and

utilizing the one or more cyclic prefixes for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication based upon a configuration of the one or more cyclic prefixes.

48. A method according to Claim 47 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix.

49. A method according to Claim 47 wherein the one or more cyclic prefixes are integrated into a respective symbol.

50. A method according to any one of Claims 47 to 49 further comprising:

selecting one of orthogonal division multiplex (OFDM) operation or FBMC operation; and

causing a selection of OFDM operation or FBMC operation to be reported.

51. A method according to any one of Claims 47 to 50 further comprising receiving instructions regarding selection of orthogonal division multiplex (OFDM) operation or FBMC operation.

52. A method according to any one of Claims 47 or 51 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix, and wherein each cyclic prefix includes a synchronization signal.

53. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include filter bank (FB)-based multicarrier (FBMC) modulated data;

demodulate the data; and

utilize the one or more cyclic prefixes for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication based upon a configuration of the one or more cyclic prefixes.

54. An apparatus according to Claim 53 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix.

55. An apparatus according to Claim 53 wherein the one or more cyclic prefixes are integrated into a respective symbol.

56. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 53 to 55 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

select one of orthogonal division multiplex (OFDM) operation or FBMC operation; and cause a selection of OFDM operation or FBMC operation to be reported.

57. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 53 to 56 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, receive instructions regarding selection of orthogonal division multiplex (OFDM) operation or FBMC operation.

58. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 53 or 57 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix, and wherein each cyclic prefix includes a synchronization signal.

59. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 53 to 58 wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile terminal.

60. An apparatus according to Claim 59 further comprising user interface circuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the user equipment through use of a display or a touch screen,

5

61. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 53 to 60 wherein the apparatus is configured for use in at least one of a long term evolution or a long term evolution advanced system.

10 62. A computer pro ram product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-re dable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein with the computer-readable program instructions comprising program instructions configured to:

! 5 demodulate the data; and

utilize the one or more cyclic prefixes for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication based upon a configuration of the one or more cyclic prefixes. 0

63. A computer program product according to Claim 62 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix.

64. A computer program product according to Claim 62 wherein the one or more cyclic prefixes are integrated into a respective symbol,

5

65. A computer program product according to any one of Claims 62 to 64 wherein the computer-readable program instructions further comprise program instructions configured to: select one of orthogonal division multiplex (OFDM) operation or FBMC operation; and cause a selection of OFDM operation or FBMC operation to be reported.0

66. A computer program product od according to any one of Claims 62 to 65 wherein the computer-readable program instructions further comprise program instructions configured to receive instructions regarding selection of orthogonal division multiplex (OFDM) operation or FBMC operation by the mobile terminal,

67. A computer program product according to any one of Claims 62 to 66 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix, and wherein each cyclic prefix includes a synchronization signal.

68. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a subframe including one or more cyclic prefixes and a plurality of symbols that include filter bank (FB)-based multicarrier (FBMC) modulated data;

means for demodulating the data; and

means for utilizing the one or more cyclic prefixes for at least one of interference sensing, data transmission, control signal transmission or device-to-device communication based upon a configuration of the one or more cyclic prefixes.

69. An apparatus according to Claim 68 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix.

70. An apparatus according to Claim 68 wherein the one or more cyclic prefixes are integrated into a respective symbol.

71 . An apparatus according to any one of Claims 68 to 70 further comprising:

means for selecting one of orthogonal division multiplex (OFDM) operation or FBMC operation; and

means for causing a selection of OFDM operation or FBMC operation to be reported.

72. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 68 to 71 further comprising means for receiving instructions regarding selection of orthogonal division multiplex (OFDM) operation or FBMC operation.

73. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 68 or 72 wherein each symbol includes an associated cyclic prefix, and wherein each cyclic prefix includes a synchronization signal.