US 9,883,404 B2 · LTE/LTE—A uplink carrier aggregation using unlicensed spectrum

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for wireless communications. In one method, an uplink grant may be received over a licensed spectrum. A clear channel assessment (CCA) may be performed in response to the uplink grant to determine availability of an unlicensed spectrum. The CCA may be performed prior to a transmission associated with the uplink grant. In another method, scheduling information may be received over a licensed spectrum. An uplink grant may be transmitted over the licensed spectrum. The uplink grant may be based at least in part on the scheduling information. The uplink grant may be configured to trigger a CCA to determine availability of an unlicensed spectrum prior to a transmission associated with the uplink grant.

Claims61

Dependent claims

A method for wireless communications, comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment (UE) capable of transmitting over both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum, an uplink grant over the licensed spectrum, wherein the uplink grant indicates that a first set of resources on the unlicensed spectrum and a second set of fallback resources on the licensed spectrum are reserved for the UE;
performing, by the UE, a clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to the uplink grant to determine an availability of the first set of resources on the unlicensed spectrum, the CCA being performed prior to an occurrence of the first set of resources and the second set of fallback resources;
performing, by the UE, a transmission using the first set of resources on the unlicensed spectrum instead of the second set of fallback resources on the licensed spectrum when the performed CCA indicates that the first set of resources is available;
and
performing, by the UE, a fallback transmission using the second set of fallback resources on the licensed spectrum instead of the first set of resources on the unlicensed spectrum when the performed CCA indicates that the first set of resources is not available.

2 more elements

An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a processor;
memory in electronic communication with the processor;
and
instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:
receive, at a user equipment (UE) capable of transmitting over both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum, an uplink grant over the licensed spectrum, wherein the uplink grant indicates that a first set of resources on the unlicensed spectrum and a second set of fallback resources on the licensed spectrum are reserved for the UE;
perform, by the UE, a clear channel assessment (CCA) in response to the uplink grant to determine an availability of the first set of resources on the unlicensed spectrum, the CCA being performed prior to an occurrence of the first set of resources and the second set of fallback resources;
perform, by the UE, a transmission using the first set of resources on the unlicensed spectrum instead of the second set of fallback resources on the licensed spectrum when the performed CCA indicates that the first set of resources is available;
and
perform, by the UE, a fallback transmission using the second set of fallback resources on the licensed spectrum instead of the first set of resources on the unlicensed spectrum when the performed CCA indicates that the first set of resources is not available.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

LTE/LTE—A uplink carrier aggregation using unlicensed spectrum

Life of this patent

LTE/LTE—A uplink carrier aggregation using unlicensed spectrum

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims61