Opportunistic carrier aggregation framework for efficient LTE operation in unlicensed spectrum

A user equipment (UE) for operation in a licensed communication band and an unlicensed communication band, comprising:

• means for establishing a connection with a primary component carrier (PCC);
• means for determining at least one metric associated with a constraint on a transmission channel of a secondary component carrier (SCC) in the unlicensed communication band, the determined at least one metric including a measure of interference from at least one access point;
• and
• means for sending the determined at least one metric on the PCC;
• and
• means for receiving a message for switching on or switching off the SCC for transmissions on the unlicensed communication band in response to sending the determined at least one metric, wherein the SCC is selected from a set of unlicensed communication bands, the set being associated with a biasing parameter defining a likelihood of selection from the set.

A user equipment (UE) for operation in a licensed communication band and an unlicensed communication band, comprising:

• at least one processor configured for establishing a connection with a primary component carrier (PCC), and determining at least one metric associated with a constraint on a transmission channel of a secondary component carrier (SCC) in the unlicensed communication band, the determined at least one metric including a measure of interference from at least one access point;
• at least one transceiver configured for sending the determined at least one metric on the PCC, and receiving a message for switching on or switching off the SCC for transmissions on the unlicensed communication band in response to sending the determined at least one metric, wherein the SCC is selected from a set of unlicensed communication bands, the set being associated with a biasing parameter defining a likelihood of selection from the set;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable code for operation of a user equipment (UE) in a licensed communication band and an unlicensed communication band, comprising code to:

• establish a connection with a primary component carrier (PCC) on the licensed communication band or the unlicensed communication band;
• determine at least one metric associated with a constraint on a transmission channel of a secondary component carrier (SCC) in the unlicensed communication band, the determined at least one metric including a measure of interference from at least one access point;
• send the determined at least one metric on the primary component carrier;
• and
• receive a message for switching on or switching off the SCC for transmissions on the unlicensed communication band in response to sending the determined at least one metric, wherein the SCC is selected from a set of unlicensed communication bands, the set being associated with a biasing parameter defining a likelihood of selection from the set.

A method operable by a base station configured for operation in a licensed communication band and an unlicensed communication band, comprising:

• establishing a connection, via a primary component carrier (PCC), with a mobile entity;
• receiving, from said mobile entity, at least one metric associated with a constraint on a transmission channel of the unlicensed communication band, the at least one metric including a measure of interference from at least one access point;
• and
• sending a configuration message to the mobile entity for activation or deactivation of a secondary component carrier (SCC) for transmissions on the unlicensed communication band in response to receiving the at least one metric, wherein the SCC is selected from a set of unlicensed communication bands, the set being associated with a biasing parameter defining a likelihood of selection from the set.

A base station for operation in a licensed communication band and an unlicensed communication band, comprising:

• means for establishing a connection, via a primary component carrier (PCC), with a mobile entity;
• means for receiving, from said mobile entity, at least one metric associated with a constraint on a transmission channel of the unlicensed communication band, the at least one metric including a measure of interference from at least one access point;
• and
• means for sending a configuration message to the mobile entity for activation or deactivation of a second component carrier (SCC) in response to receiving the at least one metric, wherein the SCC is selected from a set of unlicensed communication bands, the set being associated with a biasing parameter defining a likelihood of selection from the set.

A base station for operation in a licensed communication band and an unlicensed communication band, comprising:

• at least one processor configured for establishing a connection, via a primary component carrier (PCC), with a mobile entity;
• at least one transceiver configured for receiving at least one metric associated with a constraint on a transmission channel of the unlicensed communication band, the at least one metric including a measure of interference from at least one access point;
• and
• wherein the at least one transceiver is further configured for sending a configuration message to the mobile entity for activation or deactivation of a second component carrier (SCC) for transmissions on the unlicensed communication band in response to receiving the at least one metric, wherein the SCC is selected from a set of unlicensed communication bands, the set being associated with a biasing parameter defining a likelihood of selection from the set;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable code for operation of a base station in a licensed communication band and an unlicensed communication band, comprising code to:

• establish a connection, via a primary component carrier (PCC), with a mobile entity;
• receive at least one metric associated with a constraint on a transmission channel of the unlicensed communication band, the at least one metric including a measure of interference from at least one access point;
• and
• send a configuration message to the mobile entity for activation or deactivation of a second component carrier (SCC) for transmissions on the unlicensed communication band in response to receiving the at least one metric, wherein the SCC is selected from a set of unlicensed communication bands, the set being associated with a biasing parameter defining a likelihood of selection from the set.