Systems and methods for coordinated multi point operation in the unlicensed band

A wireless communications system for coordinated multi point transmission over at least one channel of a wireless transmission medium, the system comprising:

• a central controller, including at least one processor and a memory;
• a first cell region, including a first communications node disposed within the first cell region;
• a plurality of neighboring cell regions disposed about the first cell region, the plurality of neighboring cell regions including a second cell region having a second communications node disposed therein;
• and
• a plurality of user equipment devices (UEs) disposed within an overlapping region of the first cell region and the second cell region, wherein the plurality of UEs are different from the central controller and the first and second communications nodes, wherein the first communications node is configured to service the plurality of UEs within the first cell region, and wherein the second communications node is configured to service the plurality of UEs within the second cell region,
• wherein the central controller is configured to dynamically select the first communications node to be an anchor transmission point of a coordinated set of transmission points based on control feedback information from the plurality of UEs received by the first communications node and the second communications node,
• wherein the anchor transmission point is configured to perform carrier sensing on the at least one channel for the first and second communication nodes,
• wherein the coordinated set of transmission points comprises the first communications node and the second communications node,
• wherein the first and second communications nodes are (i) in operable communication with the central controller, and (ii) further configured to forward to the central controller the control feedback information received from the plurality of UEs,
• wherein the anchor transmission point is further configured to (i) perform a clear channel assessment determination for the at least one channel (ii) acquire a transmission opportunity as a result of the clear channel assessment determination, and (hi) broadcast a coordinated transmission after acquiring the transmission opportunity,
• wherein the first communications node is further configured to transmit, prior to broadcasting the coordinated transmission, a short packet to the plurality of UEs, wherein the short packet includes control channel information,
• wherein the second communications node is further configured to detect at least one acknowledgement message, in response to the transmitted short packet, from the plurality of UEs, and
• wherein the anchor transmission point is further configured to align the coordinated transmission by the first communications node with the second communications node based on the received at least one acknowledgement message.