Methods and apparatus for providing a wireless expansion network

A method for network communication, the method comprising:

• identifying at least one of a selected uplink (UL) channel and a selected downlink (DL) channel, wherein the selected UL channel is provided by one of a primary network and an expansion network, and wherein the selected DL channel is provide by one of the primary network and the expansion network, and the selected UL channel and selected DL channel are selected from one of four modes:
• primary uplink and primary downlink;
• primary uplink and expansion downlink;
• expansion uplink and primary downlink;
• expansion uplink and expansion downlink, wherein the primary uplink or downlink channels are supported by the primary network, and the expansion uplink or downlink channels are supported by the expansion network;
• and
• switching to the selected mode.

An apparatus for network communication, the apparatus comprising:

• means for identifying at least one of a selected uplink (UL) channel and a selected downlink (DL) channel, wherein the selected UL channel is provided by one of a primary network and an expansion network, and wherein the selected DL channel is provide by one of the primary network and the expansion network, and the selected UL channel and selected DL channel are selected from one of four modes:
• primary uplink and primary downlink;
• primary uplink and expansion downlink;
• expansion uplink and primary downlink;
• expansion uplink and expansion downlink, wherein the primary uplink or downlink channels are supported by the primary network, and the expansion uplink or downlink channels are supported by the expansion network;
• and
• means for switching to the selected mode.

A non-transitory computer readable-medium for network communication, the non-transitory computer readable-medium comprising:

• executable codes when executed by a processor to:
• identify at least one of a selected uplink (UL) channel and a selected downlink
• (DL) channel, wherein the selected UL channel is provided by one of a primary network
• and an expansion network, and wherein the selected DL channel is provide by one of the primary network and the expansion network, and the selected UL channel and selected DL channel are selected from one of four modes:
• primary uplink and primary downlink;
• primary uplink and expansion downlink;
• expansion uplink and primary downlink;
• expansion uplink and expansion downlink, wherein the primary uplink or downlink channels are supported by the primary network, and the expansion uplink or downlink channels are supported by the expansion network;
• and
• switch to the selected mode.

A mobile device for communicating over primary and expansion networks, the mobile device comprising:

• an antenna;
• expansion circuit configured to identify at least one of a selected uplink (UL) channel and a selected downlink (DL) channel, wherein the selected UL channel is provided by one of a primary network and an expansion network, and wherein the selected DL channel is provide by one of the primary network and the expansion network, and the selected UL channel and selected DL channel are selected from one of four modes:
• primary uplink and primary downlink;
• primary uplink and expansion downlink;
• expansion uplink and primary downlink;
• expansion uplink and expansion downlink wherein the primary uplink or downlink channels are supported by the primary network, and the expansion uplink or downlink channels are supported by the expansion network;
• and
• processing circuit coupled to the antenna and configured to switch to the selected mode.

An apparatus for network communication, the apparatus comprising:

• processing circuit configured to obtain link parameters associated with a primary network and an expansion network wherein the expansion network may or may not be co-located and operates in a geographic region and may utilize unlicensed spectrum;
• expansion control circuit configured to identify clients that are assigned transmission channels on both the primary network and the expansion network based on the link parameters, wherein, a selected UL channel and a selected DL channel are selected from one of four modes:
• primary uplink and primary downlink;
• primary uplink and expansion downlink;
• expansion uplink and primary downlink;
• expansion uplink and expansion downlink, wherein the primary uplink or downlink channels are supported by the primary network, and the expansion uplink or downlink channels are supported by the expansion network;
• and
• transceiver circuit configured to transmit messages to the clients to indicate the assigned transmission mode.

A method for network communication, the method comprising:

• obtaining link parameters associated with a primary network and an expansion network wherein the expansion network may or may not be co-located and operates in a geographic region and may utilize unlicensed spectrum;
• identifying clients that are assigned to one of four transmission modes:
• primary uplink and primary downlink;
• primary uplink and expansion downlink;
• expansion uplink and primary downlink;
• expansion uplink and expansion downlink, based on the link parameters, wherein the primary uplink or downlink channels are supported by the primary network, and the expansion uplink or downlink channels are supported by the expansion network;
• and
• transmitting messages to the clients to indicate the assigned transmission mode.

An apparatus for network communication, the apparatus comprising:

• means for obtaining link parameters associated with a primary network and an expansion network wherein the expansion network may or may not be co-located and operates in a geographic region and may utilize unlicensed spectrum;
• means for identifying clients that are assigned to one of four transmission modes:
• primary uplink and primary downlink;
• primary uplink and expansion downlink;
• expansion uplink and primary downlink;
• expansion uplink and expansion downlink, based on the link parameters, wherein the primary uplink or downlink channels are supported by the primary network, and the expansion uplink or downlink channels are supported by the expansion network;
• and
• means for transmitting messages to the clients to indicate the assigned transmission mode.

A non-transitory computer readable-medium for network communication, the non-transitory computer readable-medium comprising:

• executable codes when executed by a processor to:
• obtain link parameters associated with a primary network and an expansion
• network wherein the expansion network may or may not be co-located and operates in a geographic region and may utilize unlicensed spectrum;
• identify clients that are assigned to one of four transmission modes:
• primary uplink and primary downlink;
• primary uplink and expansion downlink;
• expansion uplink and primary downlink;
• expansion uplink and expansion downlink based on the link parameters, wherein the primary uplink or downlink channels are supported by the primary network, and the expansion uplink or downlink channels are supported by the expansion network;
• and
• transmit messages to the clients to indicate the assigned transmission mode.

A base station for communicating over primary and expansion networks, the base station comprising:

• at least one antenna;
• processing circuit coupled to the at least one antenna and configured to obtain link parameters associated with a primary network and an expansion network wherein the expansion network may or may not be co-located and operates in a geographic region and may utilize unlicensed spectrum;
• expansion control circuit configured to identify clients that are assigned to one of four transmission modes:
• primary uplink and primary downlink;
• primary uplink and expansion downlink;
• expansion uplink and primary downlink;
• expansion uplink and expansion downlink based on the link parameters, wherein the primary uplink or downlink channels are supported by the primary network, and the expansion uplink or downlink channels are supported by the expansion network;
• and
• transceiver circuit configured to transmit messages to the clients to indicate the assigned transmission mode.