Evolved node-b and methods for supporting co-existence with wi-fi networks in an unlicensed frequency band

An Evolved Node-B (eNB) to communicate with one or more User Equipments (UEs) on an LTE network operating in an unlicensed frequency band, the eNB comprising hardware processing circuitry to:

• when it is determined that one or more Wi-Fi networks are operating in the unlicensed frequency band;
• transmit a first LTE signal in he unlicensed frequency band during a silence period associated with the Wi-Fi networks;
• and
• refrain from transmitting LTE signals in the unlicensed frequency band during an active transmission period associated with the Wi-Fi networks;
• wherein the first LTE signal includes a first reference signal that enables maintenance of synchronization between the eNB and the UEs.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by one or more processors to perform operations for communicating with one or more User Equipments (UEs) on an LTE network operating in an unlicensed frequency band, the operations to configure the one or more processors to:

• transmit a first LTE signal that includes a first reference signal during an active transmission period of a network operating in the unlicensed frequency band;
• and
• restrict frequency spectra used for the transmission of the first LTE signal from frequency spectra used by the Wi-Fi network during the active transmission period of the network,
• wherein the first reference signal enables maintenance of synchronization between the eNB and the UEs at least during the active transmission period of the Wi-Fi network.

A method of communicating with one or more User Equipments (UEs) on an LTE network operating in an unlicensed frequency band, the method comprising:

• transmitting a first LTE signal that includes a first reference signal during an active transmission period of a Wi-Fi network operating in the unlicensed frequency band;
• and
• restricting frequency spectra used for the transmission of the first LTE signal from frequency spectra used by the Wi-Fi network during the active transmission period of the Wi-Fi network,
• wherein the first reference signal enables maintenance of synchronization between the eNB and the UEs at least during the active transmission period of the Wi-Fi network.

An Evolved Node-B (eNB) to operate in an unlicensed frequency band, the eNB comprising hardware processing circuitry configured to:

• monitor the frequency band for transmission activity of one or more other networks during a first chronological sub-frame of a periodic discovery transmission window comprising multiple non-overlapping contiguous sub-frames;
• when transmission inactivity is detected during the first chronological sub-frame, transmit a discovery signal in the frequency band during the first chronological sub-frame and refrain from transmission of discovery signals during each subsequent sub-frame of the periodic discovery transmission window;
• and
• when transmission activity is detected during the first chronological sub-frame, refrain from transmission of discovery signals during the first chronological sub-frame.