Dynamic medium access control switching

#Field of the Disclosure

#The present disclosure, for example, relates to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to dynamically selecting medium access control schemes for a wireless communication systems.

#Description of Related Art

#A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

#FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a wireless communication system, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

#FIG. 2 shows a diagram of aspects of medium access control algorithm selection for use in a wireless communication, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

#Access techniques generally provide a mechanism for a device to access and communicate on a medium (e.g., frequency, channel, time slot, etc.) of a wireless communication system. Typically, such medium access control (MAC) algorithms are fixed for the wireless communication system, e.g., predetermined and do not change once selected. Some wireless communication systems employ an un-coordinated control technique where the device attempts to access the medium by transmitting at any time. While this un-coordinated control technique may benefit from no overhead and low latency (assuming a successful access), it may also be associated with reliability issues as there may be no guarantee that the access attempt will be successful. Other wireless communication systems employ a request-to-send/clear-to-send (RTS/CTS) technique where the device must ask for the channel before transmitting. While such an RTS/CTS technique may benefit from improved reliability and reduced interference, it may also be associated with higher overhead. Other wireless communication systems may employ a fully coordinated access control technique where the devices, e.g., base stations, UEs, etc., coordinate most or all aspects of medium access. These MAC techniques may benefit from reduced or no collisions, but may also be associated with high overhead and latency concerns. It may be beneficial for a wireless communication system to be able to dynamically select a MAC algorithm that leverages the benefits of the selected MAC algorithm for a particular situation.

#According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, one or more devices of a wireless communication system may select between different MAC algorithms depending upon identified channel conditions. For example, a non-access control algorithm may initially be employed where the devices attempt to access the medium by transmitting when needed. A device, e.g., a UE, may determine that neighbor base station communications are causing interference by monitoring pilot signals being transmitted from the neighbor base station and being transmitted from its serving base station. The UE may determine that a different MAC algorithm may reduce or eliminate the interference and therefore select a different MAC algorithm for communications. In some examples, the UE may report the channel conditions to the serving base station which may determine that a different MAC algorithm may be used to reduce or eliminate the interference. The serving base station may, in some examples, coordinate with the neighbor base station to determine certain aspects of selecting a new MAC algorithm. The wireless communication system may be a mmW communication system and the pilot signals may be directional pilot signals.

#The following description provides examples, and is not limiting of the scope, applicability, or examples set forth in the claims. Changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Various examples may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, the methods described may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to some examples may be combined in other examples.