US 10,313,079 B2 · Common HARQ processes

Abstract

A sharing of common hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process space by multiple unlicensed spectrum component carriers is described. Because communication access is not guaranteed over the unlicensed spectrum, a set of component carriers in the unlicensed spectrum is assigned to share a common HARQ process space, such that uplink or downlink data will be transmitted over any one or more of the set of component carriers that clear a clear channel assessment (CCA) check. The receiver then provides a HARQ process response over the same HARQ process space using the grouped component carriers that share that common HARQ process space. Thus, any one or more of the set of component carriers sharing the common HARQ process space may both carry the transmitted data and carry the HARQ process response to the attempted data transmission.

Claims88

Dependent claims

A method of wireless communication, comprising:

grouping, by a base station, two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of a plurality of component carriers assigned for communication by the base station to share a common hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process space, such that same re-transmission data is attempted for transmission on each of at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers in response to receipt of a same HARQ process response;
performing, by the base station, a clear channel access (CCA) check of each of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers;
transmitting, by the base station, downlink data over one or more of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers that clear the CCA check;
receiving, by the base station, in response to the transmitting, HARQ process response information associated with the common HARQ process space;
and
using an explicit HARQ indicator associated with a common HARQ process to notify a user equipment (UE) to expect the same re-transmission data on more than one of the at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers.

3 more elements

A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment (UE) from a serving base station, identification of two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of a plurality of component carriers assigned for communication with the serving base station that are grouped to share a common hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process space, such that same re-transmission data is attempted for transmission on each of at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers in response to receipt of a same HARQ process response;
detecting, by the UE, receipt of downlink data over at least one of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of the identification;
transmitting, by the UE to the serving base station, in response to the detecting, HARQ process response information associated with the common HARQ process space using at least one of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers;
and
receiving, by the UE from the serving base station, an explicit HARQ indicator associated with a common HARQ process to notify the UE to expect the same re-transmission data on more than one of the at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers.

2 more elements

An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving, at a user equipment (UE) from a serving base station, identification of two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of a plurality of component carriers assigned for communication with the serving base station that are grouped to share a common hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process space, such that same re-transmission data is attempted for transmission on each of at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers in response to receipt of a same HARQ process response;
means for detecting, by the UE, receipt of downlink data over at least one of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of the identification;
means for transmitting, by the UE to the serving base station, in response to the means for detecting, HARQ process response information associated with the common HARQ process space using at least one of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers;
and
means for receiving, by the UE from the serving base station, an explicit HARQ indicator associated with a common HARQ process to notify the UE to expect the same re-transmission data on more than one of the at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers.

2 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, comprising:

program code for causing a computer to group, by a base station, two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of a plurality of component carriers assigned for communication by the base station to share a common hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process space, such that same re-transmission data is attempted for transmission on each of at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers in response to receipt of a same HARQ process response;
program code for causing the computer to perform, by the base station, a clear channel access (CCA) check of each of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers;
program code for causing the computer to transmit, by the base station, downlink data over one or more of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers that clear the CCA check;
program code for causing the computer to receive, by the base station, in response to execution of the program code for causing the computer to transmit, HARQ process response information associated with the common HARQ process space;
and
program code for causing the computer to use an explicit HARQ indicator associated with a common HARQ process to notify a user equipment (UE) to expect the same re-transmission data on more than one of the at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers.

3 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, comprising:

program code for causing a computer to receive, at a user equipment (UE) from a serving base station, identification of two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of a plurality of component carriers assigned for communication with the serving base station that are grouped to share a common hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process space, such that same re-transmission data is attempted for transmission on each of at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers in response to receipt of a same HARQ process response;
program code for causing the computer to detect, by the UE, receipt of downlink data over at least one of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of the identification;
program code for causing the computer to transmit, by the UE to the serving base station, in response to execution of the program code for causing the computer to detect, HARQ process response information associated with the common HARQ process space using at least one of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers;
and
program code for causing the computer to receive, by the UE from the serving base station, an explicit HARQ indicator associated with a common HARQ process to notify the UE to expect the same re-transmission data on more than one of the at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers.

2 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, comprising:

program code for causing a computer to receive, at a user equipment (UE) from a serving base station, identification of two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of a plurality of component carriers assigned for communication with the serving base station that are grouped to share a common hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process space, such that same re-transmission data is attempted for transmission on each of at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers in response to receipt of a same HARQ process response;
program code for causing the computer to perform, by the UE, a clear channel access (CCA) check of each of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers;
program code for causing the computer to transmit, by the UE, uplink data over one or more of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers that clear the CCA check;
program code for causing the computer to receive, by the UE, in response to execution of the program code for causing the computer to transmit, HARQ process response information associated with the common HARQ process space;
generate, by the UE, a response to the HARQ process response information;
and
transmit, by the UE to the serving base station, the response using each of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers.

4 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, comprising:

program code for causing a computer to group, by a base station, two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of a plurality of component carriers assigned for communication by the base station to share a common hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process space, such that same re-transmission data is attempted for transmission on each of at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers in response to receipt of a same HARQ process response;
program code for causing the computer to detect, by the base station, receipt of uplink data from a user equipment (UE) over at least one of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers;
and
program code for causing the computer to transmit, by the base station to the UE, in response to execution of the program code for causing the computer to detect, HARQ process response information associated with the common HARQ process space, wherein the HARQ process response information is transmitted using each of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers on which the uplink data receipt is detected.

1 more element

An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;
and
a memory coupled to the at least one processor,
wherein the at least one processor is configured:
to group, by a base station, two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of a plurality of component carriers assigned for communication by the base station to share a common hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process space, such that same re-transmission data is attempted for transmission on each of at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers in response to receipt of a same HARQ process response;
to perform, by the base station, a clear channel access (CCA) check of each of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers;
to transmit, by the base station, downlink data over one or more of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers that clear the CCA check;
to receive, by the base station, in response to execution of the configuration of the at least one processor to transmit, HARQ process response information associated with the common HARQ process space;
and
to use an explicit HARQ indicator associated with a common HARQ process to notify a user equipment (UE) to expect the same re-transmission data on more than one of the at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers.

7 more elements

An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;
and
a memory coupled to the at least one processor,
wherein the at least one processor is configured:
to receive, at a user equipment (UE) from a serving base station, identification of two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of a plurality of component carriers assigned for communication with the serving base station that are grouped to share a common hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process space, such that same re-transmission data is attempted for transmission on each of at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers in response to receipt of a same HARQ process response;
to detect, by the UE, receipt of downlink data over at least one of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of the identification;
and
to transmit, by the UE to the serving base station, in response to execution of the configuration of the at least one processor to detect, HARQ process response information associated with the common HARQ process space using at least one of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers;
and
to receive, by the UE from the serving base station, an explicit HARQ indicator associated with a common HARQ process to notify the UE to expect the same re-transmission data on more than one of the at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers.

7 more elements

An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;
and
a memory coupled to the at least one processor,
wherein the at least one processor is configured:
to group, by a base station, two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers of a plurality of component carriers assigned for communication by the base station to share a common hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process space, such that same re-transmission data is attempted for transmission on each of at least two of the two or more unlicensed component carriers in response to receipt of a same HARQ process response;
to detect, by the base station, receipt of uplink data from a user equipment (UE) over at least one of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers;
and
to transmit, by the base station to the UE, in response to execution of the configuration of the at least one processor to detect, HARQ process response information associated with the common HARQ process space, wherein the HARQ process response information is transmitted using each of the two or more unlicensed spectrum component carriers on which the uplink data receipt is detected.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Common HARQ processes

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Common HARQ processes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims88