US 9,854,590 B2 · Multi-carrier operation in a wireless communication network

Abstract

Techniques for communicating on multiple carriers in a wireless communication network are described. In an aspect, different transmit power levels may be used for different carriers to mitigate interference. A first base station may be assigned one or more carriers among multiple carriers available for communication. A second base station may be assigned one or more carriers not assigned to the first base station. Each base station may communicate on each assigned carrier at a first (e.g., full) transmit power level and may communicate on each unassigned carrier at a second (e.g., lower) transmit power level lower. The first and second base stations may belong in different power classes or support different association types. In another aspect, control information may be sent on a designated carrier to support communication on multiple carriers. In yet another aspect, a base station may broadcast bar information indicating the status of carriers.

Claims45

Dependent claims

A method of communicating in a wireless communication network, comprising:

identifying, by a user equipment (UE), a carrier for communication from among multiple carriers available for communication based on a metric for each of the multiple carriers, the metric comprising at least one parameter other than signal strength;
communicating on the identified carrier, wherein the communicating on the identified carrier comprises designating the identified carrier as an anchor carrier, and transmitting control information via the identified carrier at a first transmit power, wherein the anchor carrier is designated to be separated from a downlink carrier, on which the HE receives downlink control information transmissions, by at least one carrier and two guard bands, to mitigate self-desensitization;
and
communicating on a second carrier of the multiple carriers, wherein the communicating on the second carrier comprises sending data transmissions via the second carrier at a second transmit power lower than the first transmit power.

1 more element

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor;
and
a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
identify, by a user equipment (UE), a carrier for communication from among multiple carriers available for communication based on a metric for each of the multiple carriers, the metric comprising at least one parameter other than signal strength;
communicate on the identified carrier;
and
communicate on a second carrier of the multiple carriers,
wherein the configuration of the at least one processor to communicate on the identified carrier comprises configuration to designate the identified carrier as an anchor carrier, and configuration to transmit control information via the identified carrier, wherein the anchor carrier is designated to be separated from a downlink carrier, on which the UE receives downlink control information transmissions, by at least one carrier and two guard bands, to mitigate self-desensitization, and
wherein the configuration of the at least processor to communicate on the second carrier comprises configuration to send data transmissions via the second carrier at a second transmit power lower than the first transmit power.

6 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for identifying, by a user equipment (UE), a carrier for communication from among multiple carriers available for communication based on a metric for each of the multiple carriers, the metric comprising at least one parameter other than signal strength;
code for communicating on the identified carrier, wherein the code for communicating on the identified carrier comprises code for designating the identified carrier as an anchor carrier, and code for transmitting control information via the identified carrier at a first transmit power, wherein the anchor carrier is designated to be separated from a downlink carrier, on which the UE receives downlink control information transmissions, by at least one carrier and two guard bands;
to mitigate self-desensitization;
and
code for communicating on a second carrier of the multiple carrier, wherein the code for communicating on the second carrier comprises code for sending data transmissions via the second carrier at a second transmit power lower than the first transmit power.

2 more elements

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining a metric for each of multiple carriers available for communication, the metric comprising at least one parameter other than signal strength;
means for selecting a carrier for communication from among the multiple carriers based on the metric for each carrier;
means for communicating on the selected carrier, wherein the means for communicating on the selected carrier comprises means for designating the selected carrier as an anchor carrier, and means for transmitting control information via the selected carrier at a first transmit power, wherein the anchor carrier is selected by a network entity and separated from an uplink carrier, on which the network entity receives uplink control information transmissions, by at least one carrier and two guard bands, to mitigate self-desensitization;
and
means for communicating on a second carrier of the multiple carriers, wherein the means for communicating on the second carrier comprises means for sending data transmissions via the second carrier at a second transmit power lower than the first transmit power.

2 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for determining a metric for each of multiple carriers available for communication, the metric comprising at least one parameter other than signal strength;
code for selecting a carrier for communication from among the multiple carriers based on the metric for each carrier;
code for communicating on the selected carrier, wherein the code for communicating on the selected carrier comprises code for designating the selected carrier as an anchor carrier, and code for transmitting control information via the selected carrier at a first transmit power, wherein the anchor carrier is selected by a network entity and separated from an uplink carrier, on which the network entity receives uplink control information transmissions, by at least one carrier and two guard bands, to mitigate self-desensitization;
and
code for communicating on a second carrier of the multiple carrier, wherein the code for communicating on the second carrier comprises code for sending data transmissions via the second carrier at a second transmit power lower than the first transmit power.

2 more elements

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor;
and
a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
determine a metric for each of multiple carriers available for communication, the metric comprising at least one parameter other than signal strength;
select a carrier for communication from among the multiple carriers based on the metric for each carrier;
communicate on the selected carrier;
and
communicate on a second carrier of the multiple carriers,
wherein the configuration of the at least one processor to communicate on the selected carrier comprises configuration to designate the selected carrier as an anchor carrier, and configuration to transmit control information via the selected carrier, wherein the anchor carrier is selected by a network entity and separated from an uplink carrier, on which the network entity receives uplink control information transmissions, by at least one carrier and two guard bands, to mitigate self-desensitization, and
wherein the configuration of the at least processor to communicate on the second carrier comprises configuration to send data transmissions via the second carrier at a second transmit power lower than the first transmit power.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-carrier operation in a wireless communication network

Life of this patent

Multi-carrier operation in a wireless communication network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims45