Communication apparatus, communication method, and computer-readable storage medium for implementing coexistence with legacy system

A communication method to be performed by a communication apparatus that is capable of performing, in a predetermined frequency band to be used by a first radio communication system configured to periodically transmit a reference signal with a predetermined frequency spacing, communication using a second radio communication system that is different from the first radio communication system, the communication method comprising:

• transmitting, to a base station apparatus of the first radio communication system, a signal requesting information relating to a timing at which the base station apparatus of the first radio communication system is to operate in a mode in which periodic transmission of the reference signal is stopped for a predetermined period;
• acquiring the information from the base station apparatus of the first radio communication system as a response to the signal;
• and
• performing, based on the information, communication of the second radio communication system while the base station apparatus of the first radio communication system operates in the mode.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores a program for causing a computer, which is included in a communication apparatus that is capable of performing, in a predetermined frequency band to be used by a first radio communication system configured to periodically transmit a reference signal with a predetermined frequency spacing, communication using a second radio communication system that is different from the first radio communication system, to:

• transmit, to a base station apparatus of the first radio communication system, a signal requesting information relating to a timing at which the base station apparatus of the first radio communication system is to operate in a mode in which periodic transmission of the reference signal is stopped for a predetermined period;
• acquire the information from the base station apparatus of the first radio communication system as a response to the signal;
• and
• perform, based on the information, communication of the second radio communication system while the base station apparatus of the first radio communication system operates in the mode.