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WO2017135999A1 - Signalisation de structure de trame souple pour des réseaux d'accès radioélectrique fonctionnant dans le spectre sans licence - Google Patents

Signalisation de structure de trame souple pour des réseaux d'accès radioélectrique fonctionnant dans le spectre sans licence Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017135999A1
WO2017135999A1 PCT/US2016/049636 US2016049636W WO2017135999A1 WO 2017135999 A1 WO2017135999 A1 WO 2017135999A1 US 2016049636 W US2016049636 W US 2016049636W WO 2017135999 A1 WO2017135999 A1 WO 2017135999A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
subframes
subframe
frame structure
information
location
Prior art date
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Ceased
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PCT/US2016/049636
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English (en)
Inventor
Abhijeet Bhorkar
Qiaoyang Ye
Hwan Joon Kwon
Huaning Niu
Jeongho Jeon
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Intel IP Corp
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Intel IP Corp
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Application filed by Intel IP Corp filed Critical Intel IP Corp
Priority to HK19100661.7A priority Critical patent/HK1258297A1/zh
Priority to CN201680079262.9A priority patent/CN108476498B/zh
Publication of WO2017135999A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017135999A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W72/00—Local resource management
    • H04W72/04—Wireless resource allocation
    • H04W72/044—Wireless resource allocation based on the type of the allocated resource
    • H04W72/0446—Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
    • H04B7/24—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field for communication between two or more posts
    • H04B7/26—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field for communication between two or more posts at least one of which is mobile
    • H04B7/2643—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field for communication between two or more posts at least one of which is mobile using time-division multiple access [TDMA]
    • H04B7/2656—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field for communication between two or more posts at least one of which is mobile using time-division multiple access [TDMA] for structure of frame, burst
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
    • Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
    • Y02D30/70—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wireless communication networks

Definitions

  • Wireless telecommunication networks often include Radio Access Networks (RANs) that enable User Equipment (UE), such as smartphones, tablet computers, laptop computers, etc., to connect to a core network.
  • RANs Radio Access Networks
  • An example of a wireless telecommunications network may include an Evolved Packet System (EPS) that operates based on 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Communication Standards.
  • An EPS may include an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network that is connected to one or more cellular networks (e.g., a Long Term Evolution (LTE) RAN (also referred to as "Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Networks (E-UTRANs)", a Fifth Generation (5G) RAN, etc.).
  • LTE Long Term Evolution
  • UMTS Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
  • E-UTRANs Fifth Generation
  • 5G Fifth Generation
  • UEs In a cellular network, UEs typically communicate with base stations using
  • LAA License Assisted Access
  • CA Carrier Aggregation
  • MulteFire® MulteFire®
  • LAA License Assisted Access
  • CA Carrier Aggregation
  • MulteFire® MulteFire®
  • LAA and CA licensed spectrum
  • standalone technologies such as MulteFire®
  • MulteFire® may enable UEs to connect to the wireless telecommunications network without an anchor from the licensed spectrum.
  • Standalone technologies may also enable a network device (e.g., small cell device, a wireless router, etc.) to implement a version of the 3GPP LTE Communication Standards, whereby UEs may establish an LTE connection with a wireless telecommunications network.
  • a network device e.g., small cell device, a wireless router, etc.
  • UEs may establish an LTE connection with a wireless telecommunications network.
  • frame structures in a RAN are static (e.g., they have a set number of DL subframes and a set number of UL subframes in each frame structure).
  • Examples of such frames may include LTE frames, such as an LTE frame for frequency-division duplexing (FDD), an LTE frame for time-division duplexing (TDD), etc.
  • a flexible frame structure technique may include a process whereby a network device, such as a small cell device, a wireless access point, etc. , may define frame structures according to current and/or anticipated amount of network traffic. For instance, a flexible frame structure technique may enable a wireless access point to increase the number of DL subframes, and decrease the number of UL subframes, per frame when the network device anticipates an increased level of network traffic in the DL direction.
  • a flexible frame structure technique may enable the network device to redefine the frame structure by decreasing the number of DL subframes and increasing the number of UL subframes per frame.
  • Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example system in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented
  • Fig. 2 is a diagram of example control channels that may exist between user equipment (UE) and a network device of a Radio Access Network (RAN);
  • UE user equipment
  • RAN Radio Access Network
  • Fig. 3 is a diagram of an example process for providing frame structure information to UEs within a RAN
  • Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrams of example frame structures
  • Figs. 6-9 are diagrams of example frame structures that include frame structure information at different subframe locations
  • Fig. 10 is a diagram of example components of an electronic device.
  • Fig. 11 is a diagram of example components of a network device.
  • UE devices may continuously monitor a particular control channel (e.g., a common control channel, such as the common physical downlink control channel (C-PDCCH)) in order to determine when a frame's structure changes from DL subframes to UL subframes. Identifying this transition may enable the UE to identify the UL subframe(s) for which the UE has received a UL grant (i.e., permission to actually use the UL subframe to communicate information to the network).
  • a particular control channel e.g., a common control channel, such as the common physical downlink control channel (C-PDCCH)
  • C-PDCCH common physical downlink control channel
  • the UE may not be capable of identifying the UL subframe that the UE has been granted, since the UL grant information may be relative to (e.g., measured from) the transition from DL subframes to UL subframes.
  • the UE may continuously monitor a DL control channel even when the subframe is scheduled for UL transmission in order to operate in a flexible frame environment, since the UE does not know whether the subframe is for DL or UL transmission, which may be undesirable in terms of UE power consumption.
  • a wireless access device may monitor network traffic in a RAN, determine an appropriate frame structure based on the network traffic, and may communicate information that describes the frame structure (also referred to herein as frame structure information) to each UE in the RAN.
  • the frame structure information may be communicated in one or more ways depending on the implementation.
  • the wireless access device may communicate the frame structure information in each DL subframe of the frame, in a first DL subframe of the frame, a last DL subframe of the frame, two or more DL subframes of the frame, etc. ).
  • the frame structure information may describe when frames may transition from DL subframes to UL subframes, the times and/or positions of UL subframes within a frame, the length of a UL transmission within a frame (e.g. , the number of symbols per UL subframe), etc.
  • the wireless access device may proactively inform each UE in the RAN about the changing frame structures, the UEs may conserve power by refraining from monitoring each subframe communicated from the wireless access device.
  • Fig. 1 is a diagram of an example environment 100 in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented. Environment 100 may include multiple UEs 110, wireless telecommunications network, and external networks and devices.
  • the wireless telecommunications network may include an Evolved Packet System (EPS) that includes a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network and/or an evolved packet core (EPC) network that operates based on 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) wireless
  • EPS Evolved Packet System
  • LTE Long Term Evolution
  • EPC evolved packet core
  • the LTE network may be, or may include, RANs that include one or more base stations (some or all of which may be eNBs 120) and/or WLAN APs 130, via which UEs 110 may communicate with the EPC network.
  • RANs that include one or more base stations (some or all of which may be eNBs 120) and/or WLAN APs 130, via which UEs 110 may communicate with the EPC network.
  • the EPC network may include Serving Gateway (SGW) 140, PDN Gateway (PGW)
  • the EPC network may enable UEs 110 to communicate with an external network, such as a Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMN), a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and/or an Internet Protocol (IP) network (e.g., the Internet).
  • PLMN Public Land Mobile Networks
  • PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • UE 110 may include a portable computing and communication devices, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a cellular phone, a laptop computer with connectivity to the wireless telecommunications network, a tablet computer, etc.
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • UE 110 may also include non-portable computing device, such as a desktop computer, a consumer or business appliance, or another device that has the ability to connect to the RANs of the wireless telecommunications network.
  • UE 110 may also include a computing and communication device that may be worn by a user (also referred to as a wearable device) such as a watch, a fitness band, a necklace, glasses, an eyeglass, a ring, a belt, a headset, or another type of wearable device.
  • UE 110 may include software, firmware, or hardware (such as flexible frame structure software) that enables UE 110 to perform one or more of the operations described herein.
  • Examples of such operations may include receiving information via a RAN (e.g., from eNB 120 and/or WLAN AP 130) via a particular channel (e.g., a C-PDCCH), monitoring the information for frame structure information, interpreting the frame structure information to determine when UE 110 is to communicate information to eNB 120 and/or WLAN AP 130, conserving battery power by desisting from monitoring subsequent the information from eNB 120 and/or WLAN AP 130, and communicating information to eNB 120 and/or WLAN AP 130 in accordance with the frame structure information.
  • a RAN e.g., from eNB 120 and/or WLAN AP 130
  • a particular channel e.g., a C-PDCCH
  • eNB 120 may include one or more network devices that receive, process, and/or transmit traffic destined for and/or received from UE 110 (e.g., via an air interface). eNB 120 may be connected to a network device, such as site router, that functions as an intermediary for information communicated between eNB 120 and EPC network 230. eNB 120 may include a network device, such as a modem, a switch, a gateway, a router, etc., that is capable of implementing the flexible frame structure technologies described herein. eNB 2120 may coordinate with WLAN AP 130 to implement LAA, CA, etc., in order to increase the network resources (e.g., the UL and/or DL bandwidth) of the wireless telecommunications network.
  • a network device such as site router, that functions as an intermediary for information communicated between eNB 120 and EPC network 230.
  • eNB 120 may include a network device, such as a modem, a switch, a gateway, a router, etc., that
  • eNB 120 may include software, firmware, or hardware (such as flexible frame structure software) that enables eNB 120 to perform one or more of the operations described herein, such as monitoring network traffic within a RAN, implement flexible frame structure technologies, based on the network traffic, in order to use frames and subframes efficiently, communicate frame structure information to UEs 110, and communicate with the UEs in accordance with the frame structure information.
  • software, firmware, or hardware such as flexible frame structure software
  • WLAN AP 130 may include one or more network device that receive, process, and/or transmit traffic destined for and/or received form UE 110 (e.g., via an air interface).
  • WLAN AP 130 may include a network device, such as a switch, a gateway, a router, a small cell device, a wireless access point, a MulteFire® access point, a base station, etc., that is capable of implementing the flexible frame structure technologies described herein.
  • a network device such as a switch, a gateway, a router, a small cell device, a wireless access point, a MulteFire® access point, a base station, etc.
  • WLAN AP 130 may implement a standalone (e.g., a non-anchored) version of the 3GPP LTE Communication Standard in the 5 Gigahertz (GHz) Unlicensed Spectrum for Wi- Fi and Other Unlicensed Uses set forth by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States of America. In some implementations, this may include implementing MulteFire® technologies or another type of standalone communication standard.
  • a standalone e.g., a non-anchored
  • GHz 5 Gigahertz
  • FCC Federal Communications Commission
  • WLAN AP 130 may also coordinate with eNB 120 to implement LAA, CA, etc., in order to increase the network resources (e.g., the UL and/or DL bandwidth) of the wireless telecommunications network.
  • eNB 120 may include software, firmware, or hardware (such as flexible frame structure software) that enables eNB 120 to perform one or more of the operations described herein, such as monitoring network traffic within a RAN, implement flexible frame structure technologies, based on the network traffic, in order to use frames and subframes efficiently, communicate frame structure information to UEs 110, and communicate with the UEs in accordance with the frame structure information.
  • SGW 140 may aggregate traffic received from one or more eNBs 120 and/or WLAN Aps 130, and may send the aggregated traffic to an external network or device via PGW 150. Additionally, SGW 140 may aggregate traffic received from one or more PGWs 150 and may send the aggregated traffic to one or more eNBs 120 and/or WLAN Aps 130. SGW 140 may operate as an anchor for the user plane during inter-eNB handovers and as an anchor for mobility between different telecommunication networks.
  • MME 160 may include one or more computation and communication devices that act as a control node for eNB 120 and/or other devices (e.g., WLAN AP 130) that provide the air interface for the wireless telecommunications network. For example, MME 160 may perform operations to register UE 110 with the wireless telecommunications network, to establish bearer channels (e.g., traffic flows) associated with a session with UE 110, to hand off UE 110 to a different eNB, MME, or another network, and/or to perform other operations. MME 160 may perform policing operations on traffic destined for and/or received from UE 110.
  • bearer channels e.g., traffic flows
  • PGW 150 may include one or more network devices that may aggregate traffic received from one or more SGWs 140, and may send the aggregated traffic to an extemal network. PGW 150 may also, or altematively, receive traffic from the external network and may send the traffic toward UE 110 (via eNB 120 and/or WLAN 130). PGW 150 may be responsible for providing charging data for each communication session to PCRF 180 to help ensure that charging policies are properly applied to communication sessions with the wireless telecommunication network.
  • HSS 170 may include one or more devices that may manage, update, and/or store, in a memory associated with HSS 170, profile information associated with a subscriber (e.g., a subscriber associated with UE 110).
  • the profile information may identify applications and/or services that are permitted for and/or accessible by the subscriber; a Mobile Directory Number (MDN) associated with the subscriber; bandwidth or data rate thresholds associated with the applications and/or services; and/or other information.
  • MDN Mobile Directory Number
  • the subscriber may be associated with UE 110.
  • HSS 170 may perform authentication, authorization, and/or accounting operations associated with the subscriber and/or a communication session with UE 110.
  • PCRF 180 may receive information regarding policies and/or subscriptions from one or more sources, such as subscriber databases and/or from one or more users. PCRF 180 may provide these policies to PGW 150 or another device so that the policies can be enforced. As depicted, in some embodiments, PCRF 180 may communicate with PGW 150 to ensure that charging policies are properly applied to locally routed sessions within the telecommunications network. For instance, after a locally routed session is terminated, PGW 150 may collect charging information regarding the session and provide the charging information to PCRF 180 for enforcement.
  • the quantity of devices and/or networks, illustrated in Fig. 1 is provided for explanatory purposes only. In practice, there may be additional devices and/or networks; fewer devices and/or networks; different devices and/or networks; or differently arranged devices and/or networks than illustrated in Fig. 1. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more of the devices of system 100 may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another one or more of the devices of system 100. Furthermore, while “direct" connections are shown in Fig. 1, these connections should be interpreted as logical communication pathways, and in practice, one or more intervening devices (e.g. , routers, gateways, modems, switches, hubs, etc.) may be present.
  • intervening devices e.g. , routers, gateways, modems, switches, hubs, etc.
  • Fig. 2 is a diagram of example control channels that may be established between UEs 110 and WLAN AP 130. As shown, multiple control channels may be established between UEs 110 and a RAN, examples of which may include a common control channel (e.g., a C-PDCCH) and a UE-specific control channel (e.g., a UE-specific PDCCH).
  • a common control channel e.g., a C-PDCCH
  • a UE-specific control channel e.g., a UE-specific PDCCH
  • WLAN AP 130 may use the common control channel to communicate with multiple UEs 110 at the same time such that each UE 1 10 receives the same information transmitted via the common control channel.
  • the common control channel may be used to provide all of the UEs 1 10 with the same frame structure information, which may describe one or more aspects of the frame structure currently being implemented by WLAN AP 130.
  • the frame structure information may indicate the total number of subframes per frame, the number of DL subframes per frame, the number of UL subframes per frame, the number of special subframes per frame, when one subframe ends and another begins, when a sequence of subframes ends and another sequence of subframes begins, the number of symbols between a current subframe and a transition from DL subframes and UL subframes, and so on.
  • WLAN AP 130 may use the UE-specific control channel to
  • WLAN AP 130 may use one UE-specific control channel to provide UL grant information to one UE 110, and another UE-specific control channel to provide different UL grant information to another UE 1 10.
  • the UL grant information may indicate when each UE 110 is permitted to communicate information to WLAN AP 130. Since UL grant information may be communicated via a UE-specific control channel, one UE 1 10 may not know when (e.g., during which subframes of a frame) another UE 1 10 is permitted to communicate information in the UL direction (e.g., to WLAN AP 130).
  • each UE 1 10 may combine the information received via the common control channel and the UE-specific control channel in order to know when the UE 1 10 is to communicate information in the UL.
  • the frame structure information received via the common control channel may indicate when a sequence of UL subframes begins and ends
  • the UL grant information received via the UE-specific control channel may indicate period of time, a number of symbols, a sequence of subframe, etc., within the sequence of UL subframes, whereby UE 110 may determine precisely when the UE 1 10 is to send information to WLAN 130.
  • the UL grant information may, for example, only indicate the UL subframe number granted to a particular UE 110 (e.g., the 3rd UL subframe in a UL subframe sequence)
  • the frame structure information e.g., when the UL subframes begin
  • Fig. 3 is a diagram of an example process 300 for providing frame structure information to UEs within a RAN.
  • Example process 300 may be implemented by WLAN AP 130.
  • process 300 may include monitoring network traffic of a RAN (block 310).
  • WLAN AP 130 may monitor information communicated between UEs 110 and the RAN of WLAN AP 130.
  • the activity monitored by WLAN AP 130 may pertain to a particular channel, such as a common control channel (e.g., a C- PDCCH) that is monitored by all the UEs 1 10 in the cell.
  • WLAN AP 130 may use the common control channel to convey paging information, information regarding the network (e.g., the EPC), information regarding random access procedure, etc.
  • a common control channel e.g., a C- PDCCH
  • WLAN AP 130 may monitor the network traffic in order to determine a current level of network traffic flowing in the DL direction and/or the UL direction and an anticipated level of network traffic flowing in the DL direction and/or the UL direction. Such determination may be based on other information, such as the number of UEs 1 10 in the RAN, the level of activity of the UEs 1 10 in the RAN, the type of activity of the UEs 1 10 in the RAN, a need for the core network (e.g., the EPC) to communicate information to the UEs 1 10 in the RAN, etc.
  • the core network e.g., the EPC
  • Process 300 may also include determining an appropriate frame structure based on the network traffic (block 320).
  • WLAN AP 130 may analyze the network traffic in the RAN and may determine an appropriate frame structure for communicating with UEs 1 10. For instance, WLAN AP 130 may increase the number of DL subframes and decrease the number of UL subframes per frame when WLAN AP 130 anticipates an increased level of network traffic in the DL direction. Similarly, when an increased level of network traffic is expected in the UL direct, WLAN AP 130 may redefine the frame structure by decreasing the number of DL subframes and increasing the number of UL subframes in the frame. In some implementations, WLAN AP 130 may continuously monitor network traffic and modify frame structures to best coincide with the anticipated needs of the RAN.
  • example frame structure 400 may include a DL portion and a UL portion. Each portion may include a sequence of contiguous DL subframes or contiguous UL subframes.
  • example frame structure 400 includes 10 subframes with the frame switching from DL subframes to UL subframes between subframe 5 and subframe 6.
  • the subframe structure determined by WLAN AP 130 may include a continuous subframe structure having only one sequence of continuous DL subframes, one sequence of contiguous UL subframes, and a transition between the DL subframes and the UL subframes between subframes 5 and 6.
  • example frame structure 500 may include multiple DL portions and UL portions. Each portion may include a sequence of contiguous DL subframes or a sequence of contiguous UL subframes, and the DL portions and UL portions may be interspersed among one another.
  • the frame structure includes 10 subframes with the frame switching from DL subframes to UL subframes (and vice versa) between subframes 3 and 4, 6 and 7, and 8 and 9.
  • example frame structure 500 includes a distributed frame structure having multiple, alternating sequences of contiguous DL subframes and UL subframes.
  • WLAN AP 130 may determine which subframes may include subframe structure information. For example, WLAN AP 130 may determine that the frame structure information is to be included in each DL subframe of the frame structure. In another example, WLAN AP 130 may determine that the frame structure information is to be included in only certain DL subframes, such as the first DL subframe of each DL subframe sequence, the last DL subframe of each DL subframe sequence, in two or more DL subframes of each DL subframe sequence, etc. Specific examples of such frame structures are described in greater detail below with reference to Figs. 6-9.
  • the frame structure information can be transmitted on each DL subframe between the subframe on which UL grant is transmitted and before a first UL subframe transmission (e.g., physical UL channel (PUSCH) transmission).
  • a transmission burst may include a period of continuous transmissions in a RAN (e.g. , between UE 1 10 and WLAN AP 130).
  • a transmission burst may include an entire frame, a portion of a frame (e.g., one or more DL portions and/or UL portions), or multiple frames.
  • the frame structure information which may be provided by WLAN AP 130 to UEs 1 10, may include frame structure information pertaining to a particular transmission burst.
  • process 300 may include generating information describing the frame structure (block 330).
  • WLAN AP 130 may describe the frame structure, or aspects of the frame structure, in terms of a total number DL subframes, a number of DL subframes from a transition to UL subframes, a total number of UL subframes, a number of symbols (which may correspond to the number of symbols in one or more DL subframes and/or UL subframes), an indication (e.g., a frame number or frame position) of a transition from the DL subframes to the UL subframes, an indication of a transition from UL subframes back to DL subframes, etc.
  • the information provided may indicate when the frame transitions from DL subframes to UL subframes, the number of contiguous UL subframes following the transition, whether the frame transitions back to DL subframes, and so on.
  • the descriptive information may indicate a transition from DL subframes to UL subframes and may be provided in terms of a number of subframes, a position of one or more subframes (relative to other subframes), a duration (e.g., since each subframe may correspond to a particular amount of time), symbols (since, e.g., each subframe may include a particular number of symbols), or a combination thereof.
  • Time position may indicate an amount of time between two subframes (e.g., an amount of time between a particular DL subframe and a transition from DL subframes to UL subframes.
  • frame position may indicate a quantity of subframes between two subframes (e.g. , the number of DL subframes between a particular DL subframe and a transition from DL subframes to UL subframes).
  • symbol position may indicate a number of symbols between two symbols (e.g., a first symbol of a particular DL subframe and a symbol of a DL subframe immediately preceding a transition to UL subframes). Additional examples of frame structure information are discussed below with reference to Figs. 6-9.
  • Process 300 may also include communicating the frame structure information to UEs in the RAN using the frame structure determined to be appropriate (block 340).
  • WLAN AP 130 may communicate the frame structure information using a frame structure complementary to the network traffic conditions, and/or anticipated network traffic conditions, of the RAN.
  • the frame structure information may be included in one or more DL subframes of a frame structure, such as each DL subframe, only the first or last DL subframe of a DL subframe sequence, etc.
  • the subframe structure information may be simultaneously communicated to each UEs 110 in the RAN via one control channel, such as the C-PDCCH.
  • the processor of WLAN AP 130 may cause WLAP 130 to communicate information describing the frame structure to UEs 1 10 in accordance with the frame structure.
  • Process 300 may also include communicating with UEs based on the frame structure (block 350).
  • the frame structure used to communicate the frame structure information may also include other types of control information, such as paging information, information regarding parameters or capabilities of the network, etc.
  • the frame structure information may only take up a small portion of the information provided via the DL subframes.
  • the frame structure information may include two or three bits in a particular DL subframe. For instance, two bits may be used in a DL subframe that is within four subframes of a transitions from DL subframes to UL subframes. This may be due to the fact that two bits may convey four combinations of information (e.g. , 00, 01 , 10, and 1 1 ), which may each represent a number of subframes between the DL subframe in which the bits are conveyed and the transition from DL subframes to UL subframes. Similarly, since three bits may convey eight different combinations of information (e.g. , 000, 001 , 01 1 , 1 1 1 , etc.), three bits may be used in a DL subframe that is within eight subframes of a transition from DL subframes to UL subframes.
  • two bits may convey four combinations of information (e.g. , 00, 01 , 10, and 1 1 ), which may each represent a number of subframes between the DL sub
  • the number of bits used to convey the frame structure information may depend on the number of subframes between the subframe used to convey the frame structure information and the first (or next) UL subframe. For example, when there is only one subframe (e.g. , a DL subframe or a special subframe) between the DL subframe (or special subframeO used to convey the subframe structure information and the next UL subframe, the frame structure information may be conveyed using only one bit (e.g. , where a "0" may indicate that the next subframe is a UL subframe and a " 1 " may indicate that there is another subframe (e.g. , a DL subframe or a special subframe) before the UL subframe).
  • a "0" may indicate that the next subframe is a UL subframe
  • a " 1 " may indicate that there is another subframe (e.g. , a DL subframe or a special subframe) before the UL subframe).
  • the number of bits used in each subframe used to convey frame structure information may vary within the same frame (e.g. , according to the number of subframes in between the conveying subframe and the first UL subframe). Alternatively, the number of bits used to convey frame structure information may be the same in each subframe used to convey the frame structure information within that frame.
  • the techniques described herein may provide an effective solution to describing a frame structure (or the significant portions of a frame structure) without a significant impact on other types of control information that may be beneficial to communicate to UEs 1 10.
  • WLAN AP 130 may implement one or more of the flexible frame structure techniques, described herein, within the context of C-PDCCH
  • the flexible frame structure techniques may be implemented in other scenarios, such as a scenario involving LAA technologies, where UEs 130 are simultaneously in communication with eNB 120 (via the licensed spectrum) and a WLAN AP 130 implementing flexible frame structure techniques in the unlicensed spectrum.
  • the techniques described herein may be applicable to a variety of scenarios that involve flexible frame structure techniques.
  • Figs. 6-9 are diagrams of example frame structures 600-900 that include frame structure information at different subframe locations.
  • the example frame structures of Figs. 6-9 include multiple subframes designated as DL subframes, UL subframes, or special subframes.
  • the example frames structures of Figs. 6-9 are provided primarily for explanatory purposes and are not to limit the scope of the techniques described herein. In practice, a frame structure may include additional subframes, fewer subframes, a different distribution of subframes, a different arrangement of subframes, a different compilation of subframes (e.g., no special subframe), and so on.
  • example frame structure 600 may include a sequence of contiguous DL subframes from subframe 3 to subframe 5.
  • the DL subframes may be followed by a special subframe (subframe 6) that includes a DL portion and a UL portion, followed by a sequence of contiguous UL subframes from subframe 7 to subframe 9.
  • example frame structure 600 may include additional subframes (e.g., subframes 1, 2, 10, and so on).
  • a special subframe may include a DL portion and a UL portion (also referred to herein as "DL segment” and "UL segment,” respectively).
  • a special subframe may include a DL portion and the remaining portion (the portion that could be used as a UL portion for example) may be blank.
  • the DL portion may include 3, 6, 9, 10, 1 1 , or 12 symbols.
  • each DL subframe in Fig. 6 includes frame structure information describing the frame structure or at least a portion thereof (e.g. , the point or time at which information that is transmitted in the DL direction transition to information transmitted in the UL direction).
  • the frame structure information in each DL subframe may include the same information, thereby creating a redundancy of information to better ensure that the frame structure information is received by all UEs 1 10 within a RAN.
  • the subframe information may vary from one DL subframe to another DL subframe. For instance, each subframe may indicate a number of remaining DL subframes (e.g. , before the next UL subframe).
  • the frame structure information may include an indication of the time, subframe, and/or symbols within a subframe, wherein the UL portion of the frame begins.
  • the frame structure information may indicate that the UL portion of the frame begins during a latter half of subframe 6, which may be dedicated for physical UL control channel (PUCCH) information.
  • the frame structure information may also indicate that the UL portion of the frame continues from the latter half of subframe 6 through subframe 9.
  • the frame structure information may also indicate that the frame is a continuous subframe structure (see, e.g., Fig. 4) with only one sequence of continuous DL subframes and only one sequence of continuous UL subframes.
  • several of the UL portions of the frame may include a LBT (Listen-Before-Talk) portion, wherein UEs 1 10 may, for example, verify that the control channel corresponding to the example frame of Fig. 6 is idle (or adequately idle) before transmitting information in the UL direction.
  • LBT Listen-Before-Talk
  • the frame structure information may also, or alternatively, indicate that the first complete UL subframe begins at subframe 7, the number of symbols in each UL subframe, the total number of UL subframes, the overall duration of the UL portion of the frame, etc.
  • the frame structure information may be redundant in each DL subframe, which may (for example) increase the likelihood that each UE 1 10 will successfully receive the frame structure information.
  • some of the frame structure information may be provided via certain DL subframes while other frame structure information may be provided in DL subframes.
  • example frame structure 700 may include DL subframes from subframe 1 to a first portion of subframe 4 and UL subframes from a second portion of subframe 4 to subframe 7.
  • example frame structure 700 may include additional subframes (e.g. , subframes 8-10, etc.).
  • example frame structure 700 only includes frame structure information in the first DL subframe (subframe 1). Communicating the frame structure information in the first DL subframe may, for example, enable the other DL subframes to be used for communicating other types of control information in the DL direction.
  • the frame structure information may include a description of the overall frame structure, including the time and/or subframe in which the subframes switch from DL subframes to UL subframes (i.e., subframe 4).
  • the frames structure information may also indicate that that the latter half of subframe 4 is dedicated to enabling UEs 1 10 to communicate UL information (e.g., Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) information) to the network.
  • UL information e.g., Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) information
  • the frame structure information may also indicate that the frame is a continuous subframe structure (see, e.g., Fig. 4) as opposed to a distributed subframe structure (see, e.g., Fig. 5), with one sequence of continuous DL subframes followed by one sequence of continuous UL subframes.
  • the frame structure information might include a number of UL subframe sequences in the frame, the duration or length (e.g., number of subframes) of each (or of a particular) sequence of UL subframe, a beginning and/or ending of one or more UL subframe sequences, etc.
  • example frame structure 800 may include DL subframes from subframe 3 to a first portion of subframe 6 and UL subframes from a second portion of subframe 6 to subframe 9.
  • example frame structure 800 may include additional subframes (e.g. , subframes 1 and 2, subframes 10, etc.).
  • example frame structure 800 only includes frame structure information in the special subframe (subframe 6) of example frame structure 800.
  • Communicating the frame structure information in the last DL portion of the frame may, for example, enable the other DL subframes to be used for communicating other types of information in a C-PDCCH.
  • the frame structure information may include a description of the overall frame structure, including the time and/or subframe in which the subframes switch from DL subframes to UL subframes (i.e., special subframe 6).
  • the frames structure information may indicate that that the latter half of subframe 6 is a UL subframe that includes UL control information.
  • the frame structure information may also indicate that the frame is a continuous subframe structure (see, e.g., Fig. 4) as opposed to a distributed subframe structure (see, e.g., Fig. 5) with one sequence of continuous DL subframes that are followed by one sequence of continuous UL subframes.
  • the frame structure information may indicate that a UL portion of the frame begins at a particular symbol of transition frame 6 and continues for a number of symbols equal to the actual number of symbols in UL portion of the frame.
  • several of the UL portions of the frame may include a LBT (Listen-Before-Talk) portion, wherein UEs 1 10 may, for example, verify that the control channel corresponding to the example frame of Fig. 8 is idle (or adequately idle) before transmitting information in the UL direction.
  • LBT Listen-Before-Talk
  • the frame structure information may include an indication of the symbols in each subframe that are allocated for LBT purposes.
  • example frame structure 900 may include DL subframes from subframe 5 to subframe 8 and UL subframes from subframe 9 to subframe 1.
  • example frame structure 900 may include additional subframes (e.g., subframes 1 -4, etc.).
  • Example frame structure 900 only includes frame structure information in the two DL subframes (subframes 7 and 8) prior to the transition from DL portion of the frame to a UL portion of the frame.
  • UL control channel information (UL(C) may be communicated (e.g., physical UL channel (PUSCH) transmission) via frequency multiplexing rather than time multiplexing.
  • PUSCH physical UL channel
  • the frame structure information may include an indication of the distance (whether measured in time, frames, symbols, etc.) from a particular DL subframe a first UL subframe. For instance, if the first UL subframe is N subframes later (e.g. 2 subframes later, on subframe 9), the frame structure information in DL subframe 7 may be 1 to indicate that the first UL subframe is two subframes away from subframe 7 (e.g., a subframe offset of the first UL subframe from the DL subframe with the frame structure information). Similarly, the frame structure information of DL subframe 8 may be 0 to indicate that the next subframe (subframe 9) is the first UL subframe in the frame. In some implementations, the information may indicate the start of the subframe contains UL control channel information. The frame structure information may also, or
  • the frame structure information may provide a clear description of when the frame transitions from a DL portion of the frame to a UL portion of the frame, as well as the length of the UL portion of the frame.
  • Doing so may enable UEs 1 10 to conserve battery power by desisting from monitoring each subframe once the UEs 1 10 have received a description of the frame itself or portions of the frame that are of particular interest to the UEs 1 10, such as the transition from the DL portion of the frame to the UL portion of the frame and the length of the UL portion of the frame.
  • a frame may not include any UL subframes.
  • frame structure information may be provided in any DL subframes, or combination of DL subframes, as described herein. Additionally, the frame structure information may indicate that there are no UL subframes in the frame. For example, the frame structure information may explicitly indicate that there are no UL subframes (e.g., via a particular sequence of bits) or implicitly indicate that there are no UL subframes (e.g., by failing to indicate a transition from DL subframes to UL subframes). In implementations where frame structure information is provided in a special subframe (see, e.g., Figs. 6-8), the UL portion of the special subframe may be blank.
  • circuitry or “processing circuitry” may refer to, be part of, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group), and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality.
  • ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuit
  • the circuitry may be implemented in, or functions associated with the circuitry may be implemented by, one or more software or firmware modules.
  • circuitry may include logic, at least partially operable in hardware.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates, for one embodiment, example components of an electronic device 1000.
  • the electronic device 1000 may be a UE, an eNB, a WLAN AP, or some other appropriate electronic device.
  • the electronic device 1000 may include application circuitry 1002, baseband circuitry 1004, Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry 1006, front-end module (FEM) circuitry 1008 and one or more antennas 1060, coupled together at least as shown.
  • RF Radio Frequency
  • FEM front-end module
  • the application circuitry 1002 may include one or more application processors.
  • the application circuitry 1002 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors.
  • the processor(s) may include any combination of general -purpose processors and dedicated processors (e.g., graphics processors, application processors, etc.).
  • the processors may be coupled with and/or may include memory/storage, and may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory/storage to enable various applications and/or operating systems to run on the system.
  • storage medium 1003 may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium.
  • the memory/storage may include, for example, computer-readable medium 1003, which may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium.
  • Application circuitry 1002 may, in some embodiments, connect to or include one or more sensors, such as environmental sensors, cameras, etc.
  • Baseband circuitry 1004 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors.
  • the baseband circuitry 1004 may include one or more baseband processors and/or control logic to process baseband signals received from a receive signal path of the RF circuitry 1006 and to generate baseband signals for a transmit signal path of the RF circuitry 1006.
  • Baseband processing circuitry 1004 may interface with the application circuitry 1002 for generation and processing of the baseband signals and for controlling operations of the RF circuitry 1006.
  • the baseband circuitry 1004 may include a second generation (2G) baseband processor 1004a, third generation (3G) baseband processor 1004b, fourth generation (4G) baseband processor 1004c, and/or other baseband processor(s) 1004d for other existing generations, generations in development or to be developed in the future (e.g., fifth generation (5G), 6G, etc.).
  • the baseband circuitry 1004 e.g., one or more of baseband processors 1004a-d
  • the radio control functions may include, but are not limited to, signal modulation/demodulation, encoding/decoding, radio frequency shifting, etc.
  • baseband circuitry 1004 may be associated with storage medium 1003 or with another storage medium.
  • modulation/demodulation circuitry of the baseband circuitry 1004 may include Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT), precoding, and/or constellation mapping/demapping functionality.
  • FFT Fast-Fourier Transform
  • encoding/decoding circuitry of the baseband circuitry 1004 may include convolution, tail-biting convolution, turbo, Viterbi, and/or Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) encoder/decoder functionality.
  • LDPC Low Density Parity Check
  • the baseband circuitry 1004 may include elements of a protocol stack such as, for example, elements of an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) protocol including, for example, physical (PHY), MAC, radio link control (RLC), PDCP, and/or radio resource control (RRC) elements.
  • a central processing unit (CPU) 1004e of the baseband circuitry 1004 may be configured to run elements of the protocol stack for signaling of the PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP and/or RRC layers.
  • the baseband circuitry may include one or more audio digital signal processor(s) (DSP) 1004f.
  • the audio DSP(s) 1004f may be include elements for
  • the baseband circuitry 1004 may further include memory/storage 1004g.
  • the memory /storage 1004g may be used to load and store data and/or instructions for operations performed by the processors of the baseband circuitry 1004.
  • Memory/storage for one embodiment may include any combination of suitable volatile memory and/or non-volatile memory.
  • the memory/storage 1004g may include any combination of various levels of memory /storage including, but not limited to, read-only memory (ROM) having embedded software instructions (e.g., firmware), random access memory (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM)), cache, buffers, etc.
  • ROM read-only memory
  • DRAM dynamic random access memory
  • the memory/storage 1004g may be shared among the various processors or dedicated to particular processors.
  • Components of the baseband circuitry may be suitably combined in a single chip, a single chipset, or disposed on a same circuit board in some embodiments.
  • some or all of the constituent components of the baseband circuitry 1004 and the application circuitry 1002 may be implemented together such as, for example, on a system on a chip (SOC).
  • SOC system on a chip
  • the baseband circuitry 1004 may provide for communication compatible with one or more radio technologies.
  • the baseband circuitry 1004 may support communication with an E-UTRAN and/or other wireless metropolitan area networks (WMAN), a WLAN, a wireless personal area network (WPAN).
  • WMAN wireless metropolitan area networks
  • WLAN wireless local area network
  • WPAN wireless personal area network
  • multi-mode baseband circuitry communications of more than one wireless protocol may be referred to as multi-mode baseband circuitry.
  • RF circuitry 1006 may enable communication with wireless networks using modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium.
  • the RF circuitry 1006 may include switches, filters, amplifiers, etc. to facilitate the communication with the wireless network.
  • RF circuitry 1006 may include a receive signal path which may include circuitry to down-convert RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 1008 and provide baseband signals to the baseband circuitry 1004.
  • RF circuitry 1006 may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry to up-convert baseband signals provided by the baseband circuitry 1004 and provide RF output signals to the FEM circuitry 1008 for transmission.
  • the RF circuitry 1006 may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path.
  • the receive signal path of the RF circuitry 1006 may include mixer circuitry 1006a, amplifier circuitry 1006b and filter circuitry 1006c.
  • the transmit signal path of the RF circuitry 1006 may include filter circuitry 1006c and mixer circuitry 1006a.
  • RF circuitry 1006 may also include synthesizer circuitry 1006d for synthesizing a frequency for use by the mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path and the transmit signal path.
  • the mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path may be configured to down- convert RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 1008 based on the synthesized frequency provided by synthesizer circuitry 1006d.
  • the amplifier circuitry 1006b may be configured to amplify the down-converted signals and the filter circuitry 1006c may be a low-pass filter (LPF) or band-pass filter (BPF) configured to remove unwanted signals from the down-converted signals to generate output baseband signals.
  • LPF low-pass filter
  • BPF band-pass filter
  • Output baseband signals may be provided to the baseband circuitry 1004 for further processing.
  • the output baseband signals may be zero-frequency baseband signals, although this is not a requirement.
  • mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path may comprise passive mixers, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • the mixer circuitry 1006a of the transmit signal path may be configured to up-convert input baseband signals based on the synthesized frequency provided by the synthesizer circuitry 1006d to generate RF output signals for the FEM circuitry 1008.
  • the baseband signals may be provided by the baseband circuitry 1004 and may be filtered by filter circuitry 1006c.
  • the filter circuitry 1006c may include a low-pass filter (LPF), although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • LPF low-pass filter
  • the mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1006a of the transmit signal path may include two or more mixers and may be arranged for quadrature downconversion and/or upconversion respectively.
  • the mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1006a of the transmit signal path may include two or more mixers and may be arranged for image rejection (e.g., Hartley image rejection).
  • the mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1006a may be arranged for direct downconversion and/or direct upconversion, respectively.
  • the mixer circuitry 1006a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1006a of the transmit signal path may be configured for super-heterodyne operation.
  • the output baseband signals and the input baseband signals may be analog baseband signals, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • the output baseband signals and the input baseband signals may be digital baseband signals.
  • the RF circuitry 1006 may include analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry and the baseband circuitry 1004 may include a digital baseband interface to communicate with the RF circuitry 1006.
  • ADC analog-to-digital converter
  • DAC digital-to-analog converter
  • a separate radio IC circuitry may be provided for processing signals for each spectrum, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • the synthesizer circuitry 1006d may be a fractional -N synthesizer or a fractional N/N+6 synthesizer, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect as other types of frequency synthesizers may be suitable.
  • synthesizer circuitry 1006d may be a delta-sigma synthesizer, a frequency multiplier, or a synthesizer comprising a phase-locked loop with a frequency divider.
  • the synthesizer circuitry 1006d may be configured to synthesize an output frequency for use by the mixer circuitry 1006a of the RF circuitry 1006 based on a frequency input and a divider control input. In some embodiments, the synthesizer circuitry 1006d may be a fractional N/N+6 synthesizer.
  • frequency input may be provided by a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), although that is not a requirement.
  • VCO voltage controlled oscillator
  • Divider control input may be provided by either the baseband circuitry 1004 or the applications processor 1002 depending on the desired output frequency.
  • a divider control input (e.g., N) may be determined from a look-up table based on a channel indicated by the applications processor 1002.
  • Synthesizer circuitry 1006d of the RF circuitry 1006 may include a divider, a delay- locked loop (DLL), a multiplexer and a phase accumulator.
  • the divider may be a dual modulus divider (DMD) and the phase accumulator may be a digital phase accumulator (DP A).
  • the DMD may be configured to divide the input signal by either N or N+6 (e.g., based on a carry out) to provide a fractional division ratio.
  • the DLL may include a set of cascaded, tunable, delay elements, a phase detector, a charge pump and a D-type flip-flop.
  • the delay elements may be configured to break a VCO period up into Nd equal packets of phase, where Nd is the number of delay elements in the delay line.
  • Nd is the number of delay elements in the delay line.
  • synthesizer circuitry 1006d may be configured to generate a carrier frequency as the output frequency, while in other embodiments, the output frequency may be a multiple of the carrier frequency (e.g., twice the carrier frequency, four times the carrier frequency) and used in conjunction with quadrature generator and divider circuitry to generate multiple signals at the carrier frequency with multiple different phases with respect to each other.
  • the output frequency may be a LO frequency (fLO).
  • the RF circuitry 1006 may include an IQ/polar converter.
  • FEM circuitry 1008 may include a receive signal path which may include circuitry configured to operate on RF signals received from one or more antennas 1060, amplify the received signals and provide the amplified versions of the received signals to the RF circuitry 1006 for further processing.
  • FEM circuitry 1008 may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry configured to amplify signals for transmission provided by the RF circuitry 1006 for transmission by one or more of the one or more antennas 1060.
  • the FEM circuitry 1008 may include a TX/RX switch to switch between transmit mode and receive mode operation.
  • the FEM circuitry may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path.
  • the receive signal path of the FEM circuitry may include a low-noise amplifier (LNA) to amplify received RF signals and provide the amplified received RF signals as an output (e.g., to the RF circuitry 1006).
  • the transmit signal path of the FEM circuitry 1008 may include a power amplifier (PA) to amplify input RF signals (e.g., provided by RF circuitry 1006), and one or more filters to generate RF signals for subsequent transmission (e.g., by one or more of the one or more antennas 1060.
  • PA power amplifier
  • the electronic device 1000 may include additional elements such as, for example, memory/storage, display, camera, sensors, and/or input/output (I/O) interface.
  • the electronic device of Fig. 10 may be configured to perform one or more methods, processes, and/or techniques such as those described herein.
  • Fig. 11 is a block diagram illustrating components, according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
  • Fig. 11 shows a diagrammatic representation of hardware resources 1100 including one or more processors (or processor cores) 1110, one or more memory /storage devices 1120, and one or more communication resources 1130, each of which are communicatively coupled via a bus 1140.
  • the processors 1110 may include, for example, a processor 1112 and a processor 1114.
  • the memory/storage devices 1120 may include main memory, disk storage, or any suitable combination thereof.
  • the communication resources 1130 may include interconnection and/or network interface components or other suitable devices to communicate with one or more peripheral devices 1104 and/or one or more databases 1106 via a network 1108.
  • the communication resources 1 130 may include wired communication components (e.g., for coupling via a Universal Serial Bus (USB)), cellular communication components, Near Field Communication (NFC) components, Bluetooth® components (e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components, and other communication components.
  • wired communication components e.g., for coupling via a Universal Serial Bus (USB)
  • cellular communication components e.g., for coupling via a Universal Serial Bus (USB)
  • NFC Near Field Communication
  • Bluetooth® components e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy
  • Wi-Fi® components e.g., Wi-Fi® components
  • Instructions 1 150 may comprise software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, or other executable code for causing at least any of the processors 11 10 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
  • the instructions 1 150 may reside, completely or partially, within at least one of the processors 1 1 10 (e.g., within the processor's cache memory), the memory/storage devices 1 120, or any suitable combination thereof.
  • any portion of the instructions 1 150 may be transferred to the hardware resources 1100 from any combination of the peripheral devices 1 104 and/or the databases 1 106. Accordingly, the memory of processors 1110, the memory/storage devices 1 120, the peripheral devices 1104, and the databases 1106 are examples of computer-readable and machine-readable media.
  • an apparatus for a processor of a network device comprising circuitry to: monitor network traffic corresponding to communications between a plurality of user equipment devices (UEs) and a radio access network (RAN) of a wireless telecommunications network; determine, based on the network traffic, a frame structure for communicating with the plurality of UEs, the frame structure including: a plurality of downlink (DL) subframes, a plurality of uplink (UL) subframes, at least one location for communicating information describing the frame structure to the plurality of UEs; generate the information describing the frame structure; and cause the network device to
  • DL downlink
  • UL uplink
  • the frame structure includes at least one special frame positioned between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, and the at least one location for
  • communicating the information includes a location within at least one DL subframe, of the plurality of DL subframes, immediately preceding the at least one special subframe but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.
  • the plurality of DL subframes includes a first sequence of DL subframes and a second sequence of DL subframes
  • the plurality of UL subframes includes a first sequence of UL subframes that is preceded by the first sequence of DL subframes and a second sequence of UL subframes that is preceded by the second sequence of DL subframes
  • the at least one location for communicating information includes a first location within the first sequence of DL subframes and a second location within the second sequence of DL subframes
  • the information corresponding to the first location and the second location indicate a length of remaining information corresponding to subsequent UL subframes.
  • example 4 the subj ect matter of example 1 , or any of the examples herein, wherein the information indicates a length of remaining information corresponding to subsequent UL subframes.
  • a non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions for causing one or more processors to: determine a flexible frame structure for enabling wireless communications between a plurality of user equipment devices (UEs) of a radio access network (RAN) corresponding to a wireless telecommunications network, the flexible frame structure include: a plurality of downlink (DL) subframes that includes a first sequence of DL subframes, a plurality of uplink (UL) subframes that includes a first sequence of (UL) subframes, and at least one location, within at least one DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, for communicating information indicating a transition from DL subframes to UL subframes within the flexible frame structure, generate the information indicating the transition; cause the network device to communicate, in accordance with the flexible frame structure and at least one location, the information to the plurality of UEs via a control channel to which each UE, of the plurality of UEs, are connected to the RAN.
  • DL downlink
  • the flexible frame structure includes at least one special subframe, and the at least one location for communicating the information is located exclusively within a DL portion of the special subframe.
  • the flexible frame structure positioned between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, and the at least one location for communicating the information includes: a first location within at least one DL subframe, of the plurality of DL subframes, immediately preceding the special subframe but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, and a second location within a DL portion of the special subframe.
  • a network device comprising: means for monitoring network traffic corresponding to communications between a plurality of user equipment devices (UEs) and a radio access network (RAN) of a wireless telecommunications network; means for determining, based on the network traffic, a frame structure for communicating with the plurality of UEs, the frame structure including: a plurality of downlink (DL) subframes, a plurality of uplink (UL) subframes, and at least one location for
  • DL downlink
  • UL uplink
  • the frame structure includes at least one special frame positioned between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, and the at least one location for communicating the information includes a location within at least one DL subframe, of the plurality of DL subframes, immediately preceding the at least one special subframe but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.
  • the at least one location includes a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.
  • the plurality of DL subframes includes at least three subframes
  • the at least one location for communicating the information includes a location within two or more DL subframes, of the plurality of DL subframes, but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.
  • the frame structure further includes at least one special subframe between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, and the at least one location for communicating the information is located within a DL portion of the at least one special subframe.
  • the information includes one bit of information indicating a start of the plurality of UL subframes when: a number of DL subframes, of the plurality of DL subframes, between a DL subframe used to communicate the information and a first UL subframe, of the plurality of UL subframes, is between zero and one subframes
  • the information includes two bits of information indicating the start of the plurality of UL subframes when: the number of DL subframes, of the plurality of DL subframes, between the DL subframe used to communicate the information and the first UL subframe, of the plurality of UL subframes, is between two and three subframes
  • the information includes four bits of information indicating the start of the plurality of UL subframes when: the number of DL subframes, of the plurality of DL subframes, between the DL subframe used to communicate the information and the first UL subframe
  • example 14 the subject matter of any one of examples 1, 5, 8, or any of the examples herein, wherein the information includes four bits that indicate: a duration of a current DL subframe that is used to convey the information, and when the current DL subframe is immediately followed by another DL or special subframe, a duration of the another DL or special subframe.
  • example 15 the subject matter of any one of examples 1, 5, 8, or any of the examples herein, wherein the information includes four bits that indicate a duration of the plurality of UL subframes.
  • the at least one location for communicating the information includes a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.
  • example 17 the subject matter of any one of examples 1, 5, 8, or any of the examples herein, wherein the at least one location for communicating the information is located exclusively within a first DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.
  • example 19 the subject matter of any one of examples 1, 5, 8, or any of the examples herein, wherein the information indicates a time position corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.
  • example 20 the subject matter of any one of examples 1, 5, 8, or any of the examples herein, wherein the information indicates subframe positions corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.
  • the plurality of DL subframes includes a first DL subframe and a second DL subframe that is contiguous to the first DL subframe
  • the at least one location includes a first location within the first DL subframe and a second location with the second DL subframe
  • the information included in the first location indicates a duration of second DL subframe and a first number of subframes between the first DL subframe and a first UL subframe of the plurality of UL subframes
  • the information included in the second location indicates a second number of subframes between the second DL subframe and the first UL subframe.
  • example 22 the subject matter of any one of examples 1, 5, 8, or any of the examples herein, wherein the information includes a number of subframes corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.
  • an apparatus for a baseband processor of a user equipment device comprising circuitry to: receive, via a common control channel, information from a radio access network (RAN) of a wireless telecommunications network; monitor the information for a description regarding a frame structure being implemented by the RAN, the frame structure including a downlink (DL) portion and an uplink (UL) portion; determine, based on the information, a transition from the DL portion to the uplink (UL) portion; discontinue the monitoring of the information during a remainder of the UL portion of the frame structure being implemented by the RAN;
  • RAN radio access network
  • the frame structure also includes a special subframe with a DL segment and a UL segment, and the description regarding the frame structure is received exclusively within the DL segment of the special subframe.
  • the frame structure also includes a special subframe with a DL segment and a UL segment, the special subframe being position within the frame structure between a plurality of DL subframes and a plurality of UL subframes, and the description regarding the frame structure is received: within at least one DL subframe, of the plurality of DL subframes, but not within all of the DL subframes of the plurality of DL subframes, and within the DL segment of the special subframe.
  • a method comprising: monitoring network traffic corresponding to communications between a plurality of user equipment devices (UEs) and a radio access network (RAN) of a wireless telecommunications network; determining, based on the network traffic, a frame structure for communicating with the plurality of
  • UEs user equipment devices
  • RAN radio access network
  • the frame structure including: a plurality of downlink (DL) subframes, a plurality of uplink (UL) subframes, and at least one location for communicating information describing the frame structure to the plurality of UEs; generating, by the network device, the information describing the frame structure; and communicating the information to the plurality of UEs in accordance with the frame structure and the at least one location of the frame structure.
  • DL downlink
  • UL uplink
  • the frame structure includes at least one special frame positioned between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, and the at least one location for communicating the information includes : a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, and a location within the DL portion of each special subframe of the at least one special subframe.
  • the frame structure includes at least one special frame positioned between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes
  • the plurality of DL subframes includes at least three subframes
  • the at least one location for communicating the information includes : a location within two or more DL subframes of the plurality of DL subframes but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, and a location within the DL portion of each special subframe of the at least one transition subframe.
  • the frame structure includes at least one special frame positioned between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes, and the at least one location for communicating the information is located exclusively within a DL portion of each special subframe of the at least one special subframe.
  • the frame structure includes at least one special frame positioned between the plurality of DL subframes and the plurality of UL subframes
  • the at least one location for communicating the information includes : a location within at least one DL subframe, of the plurality of DL subframes, immediately preceding the at least one special subframe but not within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, and a location within the DL portion of each special subframe of the at least one special subframe.
  • the plurality of DL subframes includes a first sequence of DL subframes and a second sequence of DL subframes
  • the plurality of UL subframes includes a first sequence of UL subframes that is preceded by the first sequence of DL subframes and a second sequence of UL subframes that is preceded by the second sequence of DL subframes
  • the at least one location for communicating information includes a first location within the first sequence of DL subframes and a second location within the second sequence of DL subframes
  • the information corresponding to the first location and the second location indicate a length of remaining information corresponding to subsequent UL subframes.
  • example 32 the subj ect matter of example 26, or any of the examples herein, wherein the information indicates a length of remaining information corresponding to subsequent UL subframes.
  • example 33 the subj ect matter of example 26, or any of the examples herein, wherein the information is communicated to the UE via a common physical downlink control channel (C-PDCCH) established.
  • C-PDCCH common physical downlink control channel
  • the subj ect matter of example 26, or any of the examples herein, wherein the at least one location for communicating the information includes a location within each DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.
  • example 35 the subj ect matter of example 26, or any of the examples herein, wherein the at least one location for communicating the information is located exclusively within a first DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes.
  • example 36 the subj ect matter of example 26, or any of the examples herein, wherein the information includes a number of symbols corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.
  • example 37 the subj ect matter of example 26, or any of the examples herein, wherein the information indicates a time position corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.
  • example 38 the subj ect matter of example 26, or any of the examples herein, wherein the information indicates subframe positions corresponding to the plurality of UL subframes.
  • the order of the signals may be modified in other embodiments. Further, non-dependent signals may be performed in parallel.
  • This logic may include hardware, such as an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) or a field programmable gate array (“FPGA”), or a combination of hardware and software.
  • ASIC application-specific integrated circuit
  • FPGA field programmable gate array

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne des techniques pouvant aider à conserver la puissance de dispositifs d'équipement utilisateur (UE) dans un réseau d'accès radioélectrique (RAN) mettant en œuvre une politique de communication impliquant des structures de trame souple. Un dispositif de réseau, tel qu'une station de base ou un routeur sans fil, peut surveiller un trafic de réseau dans le RAN et déterminer une structure de trame appropriée en fonction du trafic de réseau. Le dispositif de réseau peut communiquer la structure de trame à des UE dans le RAN de sorte que les UE connaissent le moment où une trame en cours passera de sous-trames de liaison descendante (DL) à des sous-trames de liaison montante (UL). Ainsi, la nécessité pour les UE de continuer à surveiller le réseau pour le passage réel de sous-trames DL à des sous-trames UL est réduite, ce qui permet de conserver la consommation d'énergie des UE.
PCT/US2016/049636 2016-02-04 2016-08-31 Signalisation de structure de trame souple pour des réseaux d'accès radioélectrique fonctionnant dans le spectre sans licence Ceased WO2017135999A1 (fr)

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HK19100661.7A HK1258297A1 (zh) 2016-02-04 2016-08-31 用於在未授权频谱中操作的无线电接入网络的灵活帧结构信令
CN201680079262.9A CN108476498B (zh) 2016-02-04 2016-08-31 用于在未授权频谱中操作的无线电接入网络的帧结构信令

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