Operation of user equipment in C-DRx mode with token bucket based access

An apparatus for wireless communication comprising:

• a transceiver adapted to communicate on a radio frequency (RF) band;
• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
• determine, while the apparatus is operating in a low-power state with the transceiver off, that a token bucket contains a first token at a waking time defined by a discontinuous reception (DRx) schedule that was established through communication with a scheduling entity;
• turn the transceiver on to exit the low-power state in response to a determination that the token bucket contains a first token at the waking time;
• and
• receive control information transmitted by the scheduling entity over a radio frequency band at or near a token arrival time corresponding to the first token.

A method of wireless communication, comprising:

• determining that a token bucket contains or does not contain a first token at a wake up time defined by a discontinuous reception (DRx) schedule for user equipment;
• in response to a determination that the token bucket contains a first token at the wake up time:
• determining that a radio frequency band is available for communication;
• reserving the radio frequency band for communication, wherein reserving the radio frequency band comprises sending a first reservation signal;
• and
• transmitting control information in a first access block on the radio frequency band after reserving the radio frequency band;
• and
• in response to a determination that the token bucket does not contain a first token at the wake up time, transmitting control information on the radio frequency band in a physical downlink control channel.

An apparatus for wireless communication comprising:

• a transceiver adapted to communicate on a radio frequency (RF) band;
• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
• determine that a token bucket contains or does not contain a token at a wake up time defined by a discontinuous reception (DRx) schedule for user equipment;
• determine that a radio frequency band is available for communication in response to a determination that the token bucket contains a first token at the wake up time;
• transmit control information in a first access block on the radio frequency band in response to determinations that the token bucket contains a first token and the radio frequency band is available for communication;
• and
• transmit control information on the radio frequency band in a short control frame in response to a determination that the token bucket does not contain a token at the wake up time, wherein the short control frame does not require the use of a token.