Methods and Devices for Securing Radio Resources for an LTE-U Data Transmission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016007207-A1
Application number	US-201414323131-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 3, 2014
Priority date	Jul 3, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for securing radio resources for a Long Term Evolution-unlicensed, LTE-U, data transmission is disclosed. The method includes transmitting a plurality of bits in an unlicensed frequency band which are inserted before the LTE-U data transmission. Related communication devices, methods by devices, and systems are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of securing radio resources for a Long Term Evolution-unlicensed, LTE-U, data transmission of a communication device in an unlicensed frequency band, the method comprising:
transmitting, by the communication device, a plurality of bits in the unlicensed frequency band which are inserted before the LTE-U data transmission.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating the plurality of bits by the communication device in response to detecting that the communication device intends to perform the LTE-U data transmission.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
setting a number of bits of the plurality of bits in dependence on a time gap to a start time of an LTE subframe.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
synchronizing the LTE-U data transmission with the start time of the LTE subframe.

5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
monitoring, by the communication device, whether at least one further communication device uses the radio resources in the unlicensed frequency band, wherein the communication device starts transmitting the plurality of bits while the radio resources are not used by the at least one further communication device.

6 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of bits prevents at least one further communication device from using the radio resources until the LTE-U data transmission starts.

7 . The method of claim 6 ,
wherein the at least one further communication device comprises at least one device of a wireless local area network.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by a further communication device, the plurality of bits, and using, by the further communication device, the plurality of bits for demodulating the LTE-U data transmission.

9 . The method of claim 8 ,
wherein the further communication device estimates channel properties of the LTE-U data transmission using the plurality of bits.

10 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of bits comprises a resource allocation for the LTE-U data transmission.

11 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of bits comprises a WLAN preamble.

12 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of bits comprises a WLAN preamble and a PHY header.

13 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of bits comprises LTE pilot data.

14 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the LTE data transmission comprises LTE control data transmitted in the unlicensed band.

15 . A communication device, comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit Long Term Evolution-unlicensed, LTE-U, radio signals in an unlicensed frequency band, the communication device being configured to secure radio resources in the unlicensed frequency band for an LTE-U data transmission by transmitting a plurality of bits in the unlicensed frequency band which are inserted before the LTE-U data transmission.

16 . The communication device of claim 15 ,
wherein the communication device is configured to generate the plurality of bits in response to detecting that the LTE-U data transmission must be performed.

17 . The communication device of claim 16 ,
wherein the communication device is configured to set a number of bits of the plurality of bits in dependence on a time gap to a start time of an LTE subframe.

18 . A communication system, comprising:
a communication device, the communication device comprising
a transmitter configured to transmit Long Term Evolution-unlicensed, LTE-U, radio signals in an unlicensed frequency band,
the communication device being configured to secure radio resources in the unlicensed frequency band for an LTE-U data transmission by transmitting a plurality of bits in the unlicensed frequency band which are inserted before the LTE-U data transmission; and
a further communication device configured to receive the plurality of bits and to use the plurality of bits for demodulating the LTE-U data transmission.

19 . The communication system of claim 18 ,
wherein the plurality of bits prevents the further communication device from using the radio resources until the LTE-U data transmission starts.

20 . The communication system of claim 18 ,
wherein the communication device is an eNodeB, and wherein the further communication device is a user equipment.

Assignees

• Sony Corp

Inventors

• Agardh Kåre
• Ljung Rickard
• Morioko Yuichi

Classifications

• H04W74/0816

  with collision avoidance · CPC title

• H04W16/14 Primary

  Spectrum sharing arrangements {between different networks} · CPC title