# US 2014/0153471 A1 · Allowing unicast subframe structure for embms > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153471 A1 - Document ID: US20140153471A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/957,363 - Filed: 2013-08-01 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Xiaoxia Zhang; Jun Wang; Gordon Kent Walker; Adrian J. Prentice - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153471A1 ## CPC - H04W 4/06: Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe configured based on a unicast subframe structure, and transmits MBSFN signals for eMBMS using the MBSFN subframe. In a one configuration, the MBSFN subframe structure for eMBMS transmissions uses the same CP length, the same common reference signal (CRS) pattern and same subframe structure used for unicast, along with the same antenna ports used for unicast transmission. In another configuration, the MBSFN subframe structure for eMBMS transmissions uses the same CP length and same subframe structure used for unicast, but potentially different CRS patterns and different antenna ports from those used for unicast transmissions. In another configuration, the MBSFN subframe structure for eMBMS transmission uses the same CP length and same subframe structure used for unicast, but with a UE-RS pattern. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of wireless communication, comprising: receiving a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe configured based on a unicast subframe structure; and transmitting MBSFN signals for evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service (eMBMS) using the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a cyclic prefix (CP) length corresponding to a unicast CP length. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a reference signal (RS) pattern corresponding to a unicast common RS (CRS) pattern. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a reference signal (RS) pattern corresponding to a unicast UE specific RS (UE-RS) pattern. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the RS is scrambled with an MBSFN area ID. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the MBSFN signals using one or more antennas corresponding to one or more antennas used for unicast transmissions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein all cells in the MBSFN area have the same physical cell ID (PCI). ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the MBSFN signals are transmitted using a single antenna. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the MBSFN signals are transmitted using a plurality of virtual antennas formed from a plurality of physical antennas. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein an allocation of the MBSFN subframe is declared in a system information block (SIB). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of an existing SIB13, multicast control channel (MCCH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) notification and MCCH scheduling information (MSI) is applied to the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the MBSFN signals using a one or more antennas different from an antenna used for unicast transmissions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a RS pattern different from a unicast CRS pattern. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a unicast RS pattern with a single antenna port in unicast and the unicast transmission uses a CRS pattern with more than one antenna port. ### Claim 15 An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: means for receiving a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe configured based on a unicast subframe structure; and means for transmitting MBSFN signals for evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service (eMBMS) using the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a cyclic prefix (CP) length corresponding to a unicast CP length. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a reference signal (RS) pattern corresponding to a unicast common RS (CRS) pattern. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a reference signal (RS) pattern corresponding to a unicast UE specific RS (UE-RS) pattern. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the RS is scrambled with an MBSFN area ID. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to transmit the MBSFN signals using one or more antennas corresponding to one or more antennas used for unicast transmissions. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein all cells in the MBSFN area have the same physical cell ID (PCI). ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the MBSFN signals are transmitted using a single antenna. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the MBSFN signals are transmitted using two virtual antennas formed from four physical antennas. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein an allocation of the MBSFN subframe is declared in a system information block (SIB). ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of an existing SIB 13, multicast control channel (MCCH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) notification and MCCH scheduling information (MSI) is applied to the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to transmit the MBSFN signals using a one or more antennas different from an antenna used for unicast transmissions. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a RS pattern different from a unicast CRS pattern. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a unicast RS pattern with a single antenna port in unicast and the unicast transmission uses a CRS pattern with more than one antenna port. ### Claim 29 A apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: a processing system configured to: receive a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe configured based on a unicast subframe structure; and transmit MBSFN signals for evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service (eMBMS) using the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 30 A computer program product, comprising: a computer-readable medium comprising code for: receiving a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe configured based on a unicast subframe structure; and transmitting MBSFN signals for evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service (eMBMS) using the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 31 A method of wireless communication in a cellular network, comprising: configuring a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe based on a unicast subframe structure; and providing information on the MBSFN subframe to one or more cells within the cellular network, the information for use in transmitting MBSFN signals for evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service (eMBMS) using the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a cyclic prefix (CP) length corresponding to a unicast CP length. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a reference signal (RS) pattern corresponding to a unicast common RS (CRS) pattern. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a reference signal (RS) pattern corresponding to a unicast UE specific RS (UE-RS) pattern. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein the RS is scrambled with an MBSFN area ID. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein an allocation of the MBSFN subframe is declared in a system information block (SIB). ### Claim 37 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein at least one of an existing SIB13, multicast control channel (MCCH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) notification and MCCH scheduling information (MSI) is applied to the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 38 A wireless communications network, comprising: means for configuring a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe based on a unicast subframe structure; and means for providing information on the MBSFN subframe to one or more cells within the cellular network, the information for use in transmitting MBSFN signals for evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service (eMBMS) using the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The network of claim 38, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a cyclic prefix (CP) length corresponding to a unicast CP length. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The network of claim 38, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a reference signal (RS) pattern corresponding to a unicast common RS (CRS) pattern. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The network of claim 38, wherein the MBSFN subframe comprises a reference signal (RS) pattern corresponding to a unicast UE specific RS (UE-RS) pattern. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The network of claim 41, wherein the RS is scrambled with an MBSFN area ID. ### Claim 43 (depends on 38) The network of claim 38, wherein an allocation of the MBSFN subframe is declared in a system information block (SIB). ### Claim 44 (depends on 38) The network of claim 38, wherein at least one of an existing SIB13, multicast control channel (MCCH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) notification and MCCH scheduling information (MSI) is applied to the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 45 A wireless communications network, comprising: a processing system configured to: configure a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe based on a unicast subframe structure; and provide information on the MBSFN subframe to one or more cells within the cellular network, the information for use in transmitting MBSFN signals for evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service (eMBMS) using the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 46 A computer program product, comprising: a computer-readable medium comprising code for: configuring a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe based on a unicast subframe structure; and providing information on the MBSFN subframe to one or more cells within the cellular network, the information for use in transmitting MBSFN signals for evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service (eMBMS) using the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 47 A method of wireless communication by a user equipment, comprising: receiving configuration information for a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe configured based on a unicast subframe structure; and obtaining MBSFN signals for evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service (eMBMS) transmitted in the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, wherein the configuration information is received in a system information block (SIB). ### Claim 49 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, wherein the MBSFN subframe configuration uses a same RS pattern as that used in a unicast subframe, and further comprising: performing channel estimations over a series of subframes regardless of whether individual subframes in the series are allocated as a unicast subframe or a MBSFN subframe configured based on a unicast subframe structure. ### Claim 50 An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: means for receiving configuration information for a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe configured based on a unicast subframe structure; and means for obtaining MBSFN signals for evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service (eMBMS) transmitted in the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the configuration information is received in a system information block (SIB). ### Claim 52 (depends on 50) The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the MBSFN subframe configuration uses a same RS pattern as that used in a unicast subframe, and further means for comprising performing channel estimations over a series of subframes regardless of whether individual subframes in the series are allocated as a unicast subframe or a MBSFN subframe configured based on a unicast subframe structure. ### Claim 53 An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: a processing system configured to: receive configuration information for a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe configured based on a unicast subframe structure; and obtain MBSFN signals for evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service (eMBMS) transmitted in the MBSFN subframe. ### Claim 54 A computer program product, comprising: a computer-readable medium comprising code for: receiving configuration information for a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe configured based on a unicast subframe structure; and obtaining MBSFN signals for evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service (eMBMS) transmitted in the MBSFN subframe.