# US 10,455,506 B2 · Method and apparatus for discontinuous reception > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,455,506 B2 - Document ID: US10455506B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/573,161 - Filed: 2015-05-11 - Published: 2018-04-19 - Granted: 2019-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-11 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Inventors: Qianxi Lu; Rui Fan; Xinghua Song; Mattias Tan Bergström - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10455506B2 ## CPC - H04W 52/0216: {using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame} - H04W 76/15: Setup of multiple wireless link connections - H04W 76/28: Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX] - H04W 76/38: triggered by timers - H04L 5/001: {the frequencies being arranged in component carriers} - H04L 5/0091: {Signalling for the administration of the divided path, e.g. signalling of configuration information} - H04W 16/14: Spectrum sharing arrangements {between different networks} - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - 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 ## Abstract Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an efficient discontinuous reception solution applicable in a Licensed-Assisted Access scenario. Particularly, there is provided a method for discontinuous reception at a tenninal device that is operable in both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum. The method comprises receiving a subframe on an unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum during running of a first predetermined timer for which the terminal device is active and then determining whether the subframe is received from a base station that is operable in both the licensed spectrum and the unlicensed spectrum. Further, the method may also comprise extending the first predetermined timer in response to determining that the subframe is not received from the base station and during running of the extended first predetermined timer, keeping receiving a subframe on the unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum and determining whether the subframe is received from the base station. The extended first predetermined timer may be stopped in response that a subframe is received from the base station. Correspondingly, there is also provided an apparatus for discontinuous reception of a terminal device operable in both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for discontinuous reception at a terminal device operable in both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum, comprising: receiving a subframe on an unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum during running of a first predetermined timer for which the terminal device is active; determining whether the subframe is received from a base station, wherein the base station is operable in both the licensed spectrum and the unlicensed spectrum; suspending the first predetermined timer in response to determining that the subframe is not received from the base station; keeping receiving a subframe on the unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum and determining whether the subframe is received from the base station during the suspending of the first predetermined timer; and resuming, the first predetermined timer in response to reception of a message on another carrier that causes resuming of the first predetermined timer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: extending the first predetermined timer in response to determining that the subframe is not received from the base station; during running of the extended first predetermined timer, keeping receiving a subframe on the unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum, and determining whether the subframe is received from the base station; and stopping the extended first predetermined timer in response that a subframe is received from the base station. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the first predetermined timer is extended by: starting a second predetermined timer and suspending the first predetermined timer in response to determining that the subframe is not received from the base station; and resuming the first predetermined timer upon the second predetermined timer expires. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said determining whether the subframe is received from the base station is based on a reference signal comprised in a received subframe. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the message comprises any of the following: downlink control information containing a resource grant to a specific terminal device; downlink control information indicating end of an active period on a specific unlicensed carrier; a media access control element indicating end of an active period on a specific unlicensed carrier; or radio resource signalling for reconfiguring configurations of the discontinuous reception on the unlicensed carrier. ### Claim 6 A method at a base station for facilitating discontinuous reception of a terminal device, wherein the base station and the terminal device are operable in both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum, the method comprising: configuring a timer for the terminal device, the terminal device being active during running of the timer; and sending a message to the terminal device on a carrier that causes resuming of the timer that is suspended in response that no subframe is received at the terminal device from the base station on an unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum, said carrier being a licensed carrier of the licensed spectrum or another unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the message comprises any of the following: downlink control information containing a resource grant to a specific terminal device; downlink control information indicating end of an active period on a specific unlicensed carrier; a media access control element indicating end of an active period on a specific unlicensed carrier; or radio resource signalling for reconfiguring configurations of the discontinuous reception on the unlicensed carrier. ### Claim 8 A method at a base station for facilitating discontinuous reception of a terminal device, wherein the base station and the terminal device are operable in both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum, the method comprising: determining a remaining time period in an active period, the terminal device keeping active in the active period; if the remaining time period is greater than a predetermined threshold, then scheduling transmission to the terminal device on both a licensed carrier of the licensed spectrum and an unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum; otherwise, scheduling transmission to the terminal device on the licensed carrier. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for discontinuous reception at a terminal device operable in both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum, comprising one or more processors configured to: receive a subframe on an unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum during running of a first predetermined timer for which the terminal device is active; determine whether the subframe is received from a base station, wherein the base station is operable in both the licensed spectrum and the unlicensed spectrum; suspend the first predetermined timer in response to determining by the determining unit that the subframe is not received from the base station; wherein receive a subframe on the unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum during the suspending of the first predetermined timer; determine whether the subframe is received from the base station during the suspending of the first predetermined timer; and resume the first predetermined timer in response to reception of a message on another carrier that causes resuming of the first predetermined timer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: extend the first predetermined timer in response to determining by the determining unit that the subframe is not received from the base station; wherein keep receiving a subframe on the unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum during running of the extended predetermined timer; determine whether the subframe is received from the base station during running of the extended predetermined timer; and stop the extended first predetermined timer in response that a subframe is received from the base station. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: start a second predetermined timer and suspend the first predetermined timer in response to determining by the determining unit that the subframe is not received from the base station, and to resume the first predetermined timer upon the second predetermined timer expires. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine whether the subframe is received from the base station based on a reference signal comprised in a received subframe. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the message comprises any of the following: downlink control information containing a resource grant to a specific terminal device; downlink control information indicating end of an active period on a specific unlicensed carrier; a media access control element indicating end of an active period on a specific unlicensed carrier; or radio resource signaling for reconfiguring configurations of the discontinuous reception on the unlicensed carrier. ### Claim 14 An apparatus at a base station for facilitating discontinuous reception of a terminal device, wherein the base station and the terminal device are operable in both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum, the apparatus comprising one or more processors configured to: configure a timer for the terminal device, the terminal device being active during running of the timer; and send a message to the terminal device on a carrier that causes resuming of the timer that is suspended in response that no subframe is received at the terminal device from the base station on an unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum, said carrier being a licensed carrier of the licensed spectrum or another unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the message comprises any of the following: downlink control information containing a resource grant to a specific terminal device; downlink control information indicating end of an active period on a specific unlicensed carrier; a media access control element indicating end of an active period on a specific unlicensed carrier; or radio resource signalling for reconfiguring configurations of the discontinuous reception on the unlicensed carrier. ### Claim 16 An apparatus at a base station for facilitating discontinuous reception of a terminal device, wherein the base station and the terminal device are operable in both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum, the apparatus comprising one or more processors configured to: determine a remaining time period in an active period, the terminal device keeping active in the active period; schedule transmission to the terminal device on both a licensed carrier of the licensed spectrum and an unlicensed carrier of the unlicensed spectrum, if the remaining time period is greater than a predetermined threshold; otherwise to schedule transmission to the terminal device on the licensed carrier. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An apparatus for discontinuous reception at a terminal device operable in both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory said memory containing instructions executable by said processor, whereby said apparatus is operative to perform the method of any of claim 1. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An apparatus for discontinuous reception at a terminal device operable in both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum, the apparatus comprising processing means adapted to perform the method according to claim 1.