# US 10,484,879 B2 · Synchronized communication across wireless communication spectrum

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- Number: US 10,484,879 B2
- Document ID: US10484879B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/927,801
- Filed: 2018-03-21
- Published: 2018-10-04
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-28
- Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Inventors: Karl Georg Hampel; Chong Li; Junyi Li
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484879B2

## CPC

- H04W 16/14: Spectrum sharing arrangements {between different networks}
- H04W 72/0446: Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
- H04W 74/0808: using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
- H04W 36/04: Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Various aspects of the disclosure relate to wireless communication that is synchronized across different wireless communication spectrum. For example, communication on an unlicensed spectrum may, in response to a particular trigger, switch to a licensed spectrum. Here, the switch may occur in a time synchronized manner (e.g., according to a frame structure). In addition, communication across such spectrum may be synchronized among multiple systems. For example, a controller may specify a reuse pattern to be used by the different systems for communication across unlicensed spectrum and licensed spectrum.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of communication for an apparatus, comprising:
sending first information on a first radio frequency (RF) spectrum, wherein the first RF spectrum is an unlicensed spectrum;
obtaining an indication that triggers a switch to a second RF spectrum, wherein the second RF spectrum is a licensed spectrum;
as a result of obtaining the indication, waiting for an allocated time to commence sending on the second RF spectrum;
sending second information on the second RF spectrum at the allocated time; and
performing a clear channel assessment on the first RF spectrum a specified time after the second information is sent on the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the indication that triggers a switch to the second RF spectrum is based on: a clear channel assessment for the first RF spectrum, a channel busy indication for the first RF spectrum, a listen-before-talk indication for the first RF spectrum, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the indication that triggers a switch to the second RF spectrum is based on: a transmission failure for the first information sent on the first RF spectrum, a negative acknowledgement, an evaluation of the first information sent on the first RF spectrum, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the allocated time is specified by a frame structure that defines a first set of frames for the first RF spectrum and the second set of frames for the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the frame structure specifies a reuse pattern.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the frame structure specifies an alternating pattern for allocations on the first RF spectrum and the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the frame structure is based on a time base.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein:
the time base comprises a synchronization signal; and
the method further comprises obtaining the synchronization signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining an indication of a first subset of frames to use for operation on the first RF spectrum and a second subset of frames to use for operation on the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining an indication of a first subset of frames not to use for operation on the first RF spectrum and a second subset of frames not to use for operation on the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
identifying a first subset of frames to use for operation on the first RF spectrum and a second subset of frames to use for operation on the second RF spectrum; and
sending an indication of the first subset of frames to use for operation on the first RF spectrum and the second subset of frames to use for operation on the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second frame immediately follows the first frame.

### Claim 13

An apparatus for communication comprising:
a memory; and
a processor coupled to the memory,
the processor and the memory configured to:
send first information on a first radio frequency (RF) spectrum, wherein the first RF spectrum is an unlicensed spectrum;
obtain an indication that triggers a switch to a second RF spectrum, wherein the second RF spectrum is a licensed spectrum;
as a result of obtaining the indication, wait for an allocated time to commence sending on the second RF spectrum;
send second information on the second RF spectrum at the allocated time; and
perform a clear channel assessment on the first RF spectrum a specified time after the second information is sent on the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the indication that triggers a switch to the second RF spectrum is based on: a clear channel assessment for the first RF spectrum, a channel busy indication for the first RF spectrum, a listen-before-talk indication for the first RF spectrum, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the indication that triggers a switch to the second RF spectrum is based on: a transmission failure for the first information sent on the first RF spectrum, a negative acknowledgement, an evaluation of the first information sent on the first RF spectrum, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the allocated time is specified by a frame structure that defines a first set of frames for the first RF spectrum and the second set of frames for the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the frame structure specifies a reuse pattern.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the frame structure specifies an alternating pattern for allocations on the first RF spectrum and the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the frame structure is based on a time base.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:
the time base comprises a synchronization signal; and
the processor and the memory are further configured to obtain the synchronization signal.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:
obtain an indication of a first subset of frames to use for operation on the first RF spectrum and a second subset of frames to use for operation on the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:
obtain an indication of a first subset of frames not to use for operation on the first RF spectrum and a second subset of frames not to use for operation on the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 23 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:
identify a first subset of frames to use for operation on the first RF spectrum and a second subset of frames to use for operation on the second RF spectrum; and
send an indication of the first subset of frames to use for operation on the first RF spectrum and the second subset of frames to use for operation on the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 24

An apparatus for communication, comprising:
means for sending first information on a first radio frequency (RF) spectrum, wherein the first RF spectrum is an unlicensed spectrum;
means for obtaining an indication that triggers a switch to a second RF spectrum, wherein the second RF spectrum is a licensed spectrum;
means for, as a result of obtaining the indication, waiting for an allocated time to commence sending on the second RF spectrum,
wherein the means for sending is further configured to send second information on the second RF spectrum at the allocated time; and
means for performing a clear channel assessment on the first RF spectrum a specified time after the second information is sent on the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the indication that triggers a switch to the second RF spectrum is based on: a clear channel assessment for the first RF spectrum, a channel busy indication for the first RF spectrum, a listen-before-talk indication for the first RF spectrum, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the indication that triggers a switch to the second RF spectrum is based on: a transmission failure for the first information sent on the first RF spectrum, a negative acknowledgement, an evaluation of the first information sent on the first RF spectrum, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 27 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the allocated time is specified by a frame structure that defines a first set of frames for the first RF spectrum and the second set of frames for the second RF spectrum.

### Claim 28

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code, including code to:
send first information on a first radio frequency (RF) spectrum, wherein the first RF spectrum is an unlicensed spectrum;
obtain an indication that triggers a switch to a second RF spectrum, wherein the second RF spectrum is a licensed spectrum;
as a result of obtaining the indication, wait for an allocated time to commence sending on the second RF spectrum;
send second information on the second RF spectrum at the allocated time; and
perform a clear channel assessment on the first RF spectrum at a specified time after the second information is sent on the second RF spectrum.