Method and apparatus for facilitating sensing in cognitive radio communications

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• (a) communicate with another network entity to determine parameters of a quiet period, the parameters comprising at least one of when the quiet period occurs and duration of the quiet period;
• (b) transmit a reference signal in a first channel exclusively during a first plurality of subframes of a first frame period, wherein the first frame period further includes a second plurality of subframes corresponding to the quiet period during which no signals are transmitted, wherein the first channel is a white-space channel;
• (c) transmit the reference signal in a second channel during the second plurality of subframes of the first frame period, wherein the second channel is a licensed channel;
• and (d) perform, during the quiet period, a sensing operation with respect to the first channel;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for communicating with another network entity to determine parameters of a quiet period, the parameters comprising at least one of when the quiet period occurs and duration of the quiet period;
• means for transmitting a reference signal in a first channel exclusively during a first plurality of subframes of a first frame period, wherein the first frame period further includes a second plurality of subframes corresponding to the quiet period during which no signals are transmitted, wherein the first channel is a white-space channel;
• means for transmitting the reference signal in a second channel during the second plurality of subframes of the first frame period, wherein the second channel is a licensed channel;
• and
• means for performing, during the quiet period, a sensing operation with respect to the first channel.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to:
• communicate with another network entity to determine parameters of a quiet period, the parameters comprising at least one of when the quiet period occurs and duration of the quiet period;
• transmit a reference signal in a first channel exclusively during a first plurality of subframes of a first frame period, wherein the first frame period further includes a second plurality of subframes corresponding to the quiet period during which no signals are transmitted, wherein the first channel is a white-space channel;
• transmit the reference signal in a second channel during the second plurality of subframes of the first frame period, wherein the second channel is a licensed channel;
• and
• perform, during the quiet period, a sensing operation with respect to the first channel.

A method operable by a mobile entity in a wireless communication system, comprising:

• receiving, by the mobile entity, in a first channel a reference signal during each subframe of a first frame period, wherein the first channel is a white-space channel;
• receiving, by the mobile entity, in the first channel the reference signal exclusively during a first plurality of subframes of a second frame period wherein the second frame period further includes a second plurality of subframes;
• and
• receiving, by the mobile entity, the reference signal in a second channel during the second plurality of subframes of the second frame period, wherein the second channel is a licensed channel.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• (a) receive in a first channel a reference signal during each subframe of a first frame period, wherein the first channel is a white-space channel;
• (b) receive in the first channel the reference signal exclusively during a first plurality of subframes of a second frame period wherein the second frame period further includes a second plurality of subframes;
• and (c) receive the reference signal in a second channel during the second plurality of subframes of the second frame period, wherein the second channel is a licensed channel;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for receiving in a first channel a reference signal during each subframe of a first frame period, wherein the first channel is a white-space channel;
• means for receiving in the first channel the reference signal exclusively during a first plurality of subframes of a second frame period wherein the second frame period further includes a second plurality of subframes;
• and
• means for receiving the reference signal in a second channel during the second plurality of subframes of the second frame period, wherein the second channel is a licensed channel.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to:
• receive in a first channel a reference signal during each subframe of a first frame period, wherein the first channel is a white-space channel;
• receive in the first channel the reference signal exclusively during a first plurality of subframes of a second frame period wherein the second frame period further includes a second plurality of subframes;
• and
• receive the reference signal in a second channel during the second plurality of subframes of the second frame period, wherein the second channel is a licensed channel.