# US 2013/0156005 A1 · Carrier allocation in wireless network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156005 A1 - Document ID: US20130156005A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/641,474 - Filed: 2010-04-29 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-29 - Assignees: Nokia Corporation - Inventors: Zexian Li; Padam Kafle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156005A1 ## CPC - H04W 72/0453: Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA - H04L 5/001: {the frequencies being arranged in component carriers} - H04L 5/0041: {Frequency-non-contiguous} - H04L 5/0064: {Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority} - H04L 5/0087: {when data requirements change} - H04L 5/0096: {Indication of changes in allocation} - H04L 27/0006: {Assessment of spectral gaps suitable for allocating digitally modulated signals, e.g. for carrier allocation in cognitive radio (for spectrum sharing between different networks H04W16/14)} - H04W 36/06: Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point - H04W 16/14: Spectrum sharing arrangements {between different networks} - H04W 72/20: Control channels or signalling for resource management - 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) ## Abstract This document presents a communication scheme for use in a wireless network utilizing a fragmented frequency spectrum and supporting dynamic radio carrier allocation. At least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels are allocated for use in communication with a network element of the wireless network, and one of the allocated radio carriers is commonly used by all client stations communicating with the network element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: selecting, in a network element of a wireless network employing dynamic radio carrier allocation, at least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels for utilization in communication with the network element, wherein all stations communicating with the network element utilize in the communication with the network element at least one same radio carrier amongst the at least two radio carriers; causing transmission of a signal carrying information about the selected radio carriers to a radio channel; receiving an association request from a client station, wherein the association request comprises a message indicating a capability of the client station to operate the selected at least two radio carriers in communication with the network element; and configuring a communication link between the network element and the client station to utilize at least one of the at least two selected radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels on the basis of the received association request. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two selected radio carriers are used in communication within a basic service set, which is a set of all stations that can communicate with the network element, including the network element and the client station, or within an independent basic service set, which is a set of all stations that can communicate with the network element and in which a client station of the independent basic service set functions as the network element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: defining a principal radio carrier and at least one auxiliary radio carrier amongst the selected at least two radio carriers, wherein the principal radio carrier is configured to transfer more control information than the at least one auxiliary radio carrier; causing transmission of a downlink signal identifying the principal radio carrier and the at least one auxiliary radio carrier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising: defining a backup principal radio carrier amongst the at least one auxiliary radio carrier for use if a radio channel of the principal radio carrier has to be released; releasing the principal radio carrier; and transferring the functionality associated with the principal radio carrier to the backup principal radio carrier. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: communicating segmented medium access control packet data units over the at least two radio carriers, wherein a first segment of a medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a first radio carrier and a second segment of the same medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a second radio carrier different from the first radio carrier. ### Claim at position 6 6-7. (canceled) ### Claim 8 A method, comprising: receiving, in a client station from a network element of a wireless network employing dynamic radio carrier allocation, a signal carrying information about at least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels allocated to communication with the network element; causing transmission of an association request to the network element, wherein the association request comprises a message indicating capability of the client station to operate the selected at least two radio carriers in communication with the network element; receiving an association response message from the network element, wherein the association response message allocates at least one of the at least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels for communication between the client station and the network element; and communicating with the network element on at least one radio carrier amongst the at least two radio carriers which radio carrier is commonly used by all stations communicating with the network element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: controlling communication through the at least two radio carriers with a common medium access controller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: communicating segmented medium access control packet data units over the at least two radio carriers, wherein a first segment of a medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a first radio carrier and a second segment of the same medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a second radio carrier different from the first radio carrier. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: communicating at least two packet data units over different radio carriers; and communicating acknowledgment messages of said at least two packet data units over the same radio carrier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the at least two radio carriers comprise a principal radio carrier and at least one auxiliary radio carrier, the principal radio carrier being configured to transfer more control information than the at least one auxiliary radio carrier. ### Claim 13 (canceled) ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein all stations communicating with the network element utilize in the communication with the network element at least one same radio carrier amongst the at least two radio carriers for at least one of data transfer and data acknowledgment transfer purposes. ### Claim 15 An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to: select at least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels for utilization in communication with a network element of a wireless network employing dynamic radio carrier allocation, wherein all stations communicating with the network element utilize in the communication with the network element at least one same radio carrier amongst the at least two radio carriers; cause transmission of a signal carrying information about the selected radio carriers to a radio channel; receive an association request from a client station, wherein the association request comprises a message indicating a capability of the client station to operate the selected at least two radio carriers in communication with the network element; and configure a communication link between the network element and the client station to utilize at least one of the at least two selected radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels on the basis of the received association request. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least two selected radio carriers are used in communication within a basic service set, which is a set of all stations that can communicate with the network element, including the network element and the client station, or within an independent basic service set, which is a set of all stations that can communicate with the network element and in which a client station of the independent basic service set functions as the network element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to define a principal radio carrier and at least one auxiliary radio carrier amongst the selected at least two radio carriers, wherein the principal radio carrier is configured to transfer more control information than the at least one auxiliary radio carrier, and to cause transmission of a downlink signal identifying the principal radio carrier and the at least one auxiliary radio carrier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to define a backup principal radio carrier amongst the at least one auxiliary radio carrier for use if a radio channel of the principal radio carrier has to be released, to release the principal radio carrier, and to transfer the functionality associated with the principal radio carrier to the backup principal radio carrier. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to communicate segmented medium access control packet data units over the at least two radio carriers, wherein a first segment of a medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a first radio carrier and a second segment of the same medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a second radio carrier different from the first radio carrier. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is an access point of the wireless network configured to provide wireless communication services. ### Claim 21 (canceled) ### Claim 22 An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to: receive, from a network element of a wireless network employing dynamic radio carrier allocation, a signal carrying information about at least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels allocated to communication with the network element, in which wireless network all stations communicating with the network element utilize in the communication with the network element at least one same radio carrier amongst the at least two radio carriers, cause transmission of an association request to the network element, wherein the association request comprises a message capability of the client station to operate the selected at least two radio carriers in communication with the network element, receive an association response message from the network element, wherein the association response message allocates at least one of the at least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels for communication between the client station and the network element. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to control communication through the at least two radio carriers with a common medium access controller. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to communicate segmented medium access control packet data units over the at least two radio carriers, wherein a first segment of a medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a first radio carrier and a second segment of the same medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a second radio carrier different from the first radio carrier. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to communicate at least two packet data units over different radio carriers, and to communicate acknowledgment messages of said at least two packet data units over the same radio carrier. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least two radio carriers comprise a principal radio carrier and at least one auxiliary radio carrier, the principal radio carrier being configured to transfer more control information than the at least one auxiliary radio carrier. ### Claim 27 (canceled) ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is a terminal device of the wireless network. ### Claim at position 28 29-32. (canceled)