Dynamic configuration of uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) frame resources for a time division duplex (TDD) transmission

1. A user equipment (UE) for dynamically reconfiguring an uplink-downlink (UL-DL) time-division duplexing (TDD) configuration, having computer circuitry configured to:

receive a UL-DL reconfiguration indicator from a node to dynamically reconfigure a flexible subframe (FlexSF) to a different UL-DL transmission direction from a semi-static UL-DL configuration, wherein the FlexSF is capable of changing an UL-DL transmission direction;

apply a DL channel timing based on a DL favored UL-DL configuration, wherein the DL favored UL-DL configuration includes more DL subframes than a semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration for the UE; and

apply a UL channel timing based on a UL favored UL-DL configuration, wherein the UL favored UL-DL configuration includes more UL subframes than a semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration for the UE.

2. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to:

communicate a HARQ feedback for subframes in a frame using the DL channel timing or the UL channel timing.

3. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein:

the DL channel timing includes a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduling grant transmission timing, a PDSCH transmission timing, or a PDSCH hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback timing for subframes of a frame when the FlexSF is configured as a DL subframe, and

the UL channel timing includes a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) scheduling grant timing, a PUSCH transmission timing, a PUSCH HARQ feedback timing, or a PUSCH HARQ retransmission timing for the subframes of the frame when the FlexSF is configured as a UL subframe.

4. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to:

configure the DL favored UL-DL configuration via radio resource control (RRC) signaling; and

configure the UL favored UL-DL configuration via radio resource control (RRC) signaling, or

set the UL favored UL-DL configuration to a legacy UL-DL TDD configuration transmitted in a system information block type 1 (SIB 1 ).

5. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to:

monitor a downlink control information (DCI) grant subframe for a DL DCI grant or an UL DCI grant which provides a grant for the FlexSF, wherein the UL-DL reconfiguration indicator is indicated by the grant or a DCI message;

configure the FlexSF as the UL subframe when the DCI grant subframe includes the UL DCI grant for the FlexSF; and

configure the FlexSF as the DL subframe when the DCI grant subframe includes the DL DCI grant for the FlexSF.

6. The computer circuitry of claim 5 , wherein:

the DCI grant subframe with the DL DCI grant comprises the FlexSF and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) is received in the FlexSF; and

the DCI grant subframe with the UL DCI grant comprises a DL subframe that precedes the FlexSF, and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) is sent in the FlexSF.

7. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein:

a third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) UL-DL configuration 0 provides the UL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 6 , 1 , 3 , 2 , 4 , and 5 ;

an LTE UL-DL configuration 1 provides the DL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 6 and 0 and the UL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 3 , 2 , 4 , and 5 ;

an LTE UL-DL configuration 2 provides the DL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 3 , 1 , 6 , and 0 and the UL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configuration 5 ;

an LTE UL-DL configuration 3 provides the DL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 1 , 6 , and 0 and the UL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configuration 2 , 4 , and 5 ;

an LTE UL-DL configuration 4 provides the DL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 3 , 1 , 6 , and 0 and the UL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configuration 5 ;

an LTE UL-DL configuration 5 provides the DL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 4 , 2 , 3 , 1 , 6 , and 0 ; and

an LTE UL-DL configuration 6 provides the DL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configuration 0 and the UL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configuration 1 , 3 , 2 , 4 , and 5 .

8. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to:

receive a dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode activation indicator from a node to activate a dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration, wherein the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode activation indicator is received via a DCI or radio resource control (RRC) signaling;

activate the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode; and

transmit an acknowledgement (ACK) of the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode.

9. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to:

receive a dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode deactivation indicator from a node, wherein the deactivation indicator is received via a DCI or radio resource control (RRC) signaling;

deactivate the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode; and

transmit an acknowledgement (ACK) of the deactivation of the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode.

10. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to:

receive a semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration belonging to a set of legacy UL-DL TDD configurations via a system information block type 1 (SIB 1 ) prior to receiving the UL-DL reconfiguration indicator.

11. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the computer circuitry dynamically reconfigures the UL-DL TDD configuration to another legacy UL-DL TDD configuration within a duration of approximately one radio frame or approximately 10 milliseconds (ms); the legacy UL-DL TDD configuration includes third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) UL-DL configurations 0 - 6 ; or the FlexSF includes subframes 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 , or 9 .

12. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to:

convert a frame of a semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration to another legacy UL-DL TDD configuration based on the received UL-DL reconfiguration indicator;

reconfigure a DL channel timing based on the DL favored UL-DL TDD configuration, wherein the DL channel timing includes a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduling grant transmission timing, a PDSCH transmission timing, or a PDSCH hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback timing; and

reconfigure a UL channel timing based on the UL favored UL-DL TDD configuration, wherein the UL channel timing includes a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) scheduling grant timing, a PUSCH transmission timing, a PUSCH HARQ feedback timing, or a PUSCH HARQ retransmission timing.

13. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the UE includes an antenna, a touch sensitive display screen, a speaker, a microphone, a graphics processor, an application processor, internal memory, or a non-volatile memory port.

14. A method for dynamically reconfiguring an uplink-downlink (UL-DL) time-division duplexing (TDD) configuration by an evolved Node B (eNB), comprising:

configuring a user equipment (UE) using a semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration belonging to a set of legacy UL-DL TDD configurations;

activating a dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode when additional DL or UL resources are needed for data traffic; and

dynamically reconfiguring the semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration to another legacy UL-DL TDD configuration using a UL-DL reconfiguration indicator to change an UL-DL transmission direction of a flexible subframe (FlexSF), wherein the flexible subframe is capable of changing an uplink-downlink transmission direction for a set of legacy UL-DL TDD configurations.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein dynamically reconfiguring the semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration to the other legacy UL-DL TDD configuration further comprises:

reconfiguring a DL channel timing based on a DL favored UL-DL configuration, wherein the DL favored UL-DL configuration includes more DL subframes than a semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration for the UE, and the DL channel timing includes a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduling grant transmission timing, a PDSCH transmission timing, and a PDSCH hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback timing;

reconfiguring an UL channel timing based on a UL favored UL-DL configuration, wherein the UL favored UL-DL configuration includes more UL subframes than a semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration for the UE, and the UL channel timing includes a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) scheduling grant timing, a PUSCH transmission timing, a PUSCH HARQ feedback timing, and a PUSCH HARQ retransmission timing; and

communicating a HARQ feedback for subframes in a frame using the DL channel timing or the UL channel timing.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

a third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) UL-DL configuration 0 provides the UL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 6 , 1 , 3 , 2 , 4 , and 5 ;

an LTE UL-DL configuration 1 provides the DL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 6 and 0 and the UL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 3 , 2 , 4 , and 5 ;

an LTE UL-DL configuration 2 provides the DL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 3 , 1 , 6 , and 0 and the UL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configuration 5 ;

an LTE UL-DL configuration 3 provides the DL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 1 , 6 , and 0 and the UL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configuration 2 , 4 , and 5 ;

an LTE UL-DL configuration 4 provides the DL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 3 , 1 , 6 , and 0 and the UL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configuration 5 ;

an LTE UL-DL configuration 5 provides the DL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configurations 4 , 2 , 3 , 1 , 6 , and 0 ; and

an LTE UL-DL configuration 6 provides the DL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configuration 0 and the UL favored UL-DL configuration for UL-DL configuration 1 , 3 , 2 , 4 , and 5 .

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein configuring the UE using the semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration further comprises:

broadcasting the semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration to the UE via a system information block type 1 (SIB 1 ).

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the UL-DL reconfiguration indicator is indicated using a DL downlink control information (DCI) grant or an UL DCI grant in a DCI grant subframe, wherein the DL DCI grant or the UL DCI grant provides a grant for the FlexSF.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

deactivating the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode when the semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration is balanced for the data traffic.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein:

activating the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode further comprises:

transmitting a dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode activation indicator to the UE to activate a dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode, wherein the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode activation indicator is transmitted via a DCI or radio resource control (RRC) signaling, and

receiving an acknowledgement (ACK) from the UE indicating that the UE is in the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode; or

deactivating the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode further comprises:

transmitting a dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode deactivation indicator to the UE to deactivate the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode, wherein the deactivation indicator is transmitted via a DCI or radio resource control (RRC) signaling; and

receiving an acknowledgement (ACK) from the UE indicating the deactivation of the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode by the UE.

21. The method of claim 14 , wherein the FlexSF includes subframes 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 , or 9 configured as UL or DL subframes by the semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration.

22. The method of claim 14 , wherein dynamically reconfiguring the semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration to the other legacy UL-DL TDD configuration occurs within a duration of approximately one radio frame or approximately 10 milliseconds (ms); the legacy UL-DL TDD configuration includes third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) UL-DL configurations 0 - 6 .

23. At least one non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions adapted to be executed to implement the method of claim 14 .

24. A configuration device operable in a node that is configured to dynamically reconfigure an uplink-downlink (UL-DL) time-division duplexing (TDD) configuration, comprising:

a processor to dynamically reconfigure a semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration to another legacy UL-DL TDD configuration using a DL DCI grant or an UL DCI grant in a downlink control information (DCI) grant subframe, wherein the DL DCI grant or the UL DCI grant provides a grant for a flexible subframe (FlexSF), wherein the flexible subframe is capable of changing an uplink-downlink transmission direction for a set of legacy UL-DL TDD configurations; and

a transceiver to transmit the DL DCI grant or the UL DCI grant to a user equipment (UE) in the DCI grant subframe.

25. The configuration device of claim 24 , wherein:

the processor is further configured to:

apply a DL channel timing based on a DL favored UL-DL configuration, wherein the DL favored UL-DL configuration includes more DL subframes than a semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration for the UE, and the DL channel timing includes a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduling grant transmission timing, a PDSCH transmission timing, and a PDSCH hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback timing; and

apply an UL channel timing based on a UL favored UL-DL configuration, wherein the UL favored UL-DL configuration includes more UL subframes than a semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration for the UE, and the UL channel timing includes a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) scheduling grant timing, a PUSCH transmission timing, a PUSCH HARQ feedback timing, and a PUSCH HARQ retransmission timing; and

the transceiver is further configured to:

communicate a HARQ feedback for subframes in a frame using the DL channel timing or the UL channel timing.

26. The configuration device of claim 24 , wherein:

the processor is further configured to:

activate a dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode when additional DL resources are needed for data traffic; and

deactivate the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode when the semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration is balanced for the data traffic; and

the transceiver is further configured to:

transmit a dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode activation indicator to the UE to activate a dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode, wherein the activation indicator is transmitted via a DCI or radio resource control (RRC) signaling;

receive an acknowledgement (ACK) from the UE indicating that the UE activated the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode;

transmit a dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode deactivation indicator to the UE to deactivate the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode, wherein the deactivation indicator is transmitted via a DCI or radio resource control (RRC) signaling; and

receive an acknowledgement (ACK) from the UE indicating the deactivation of the dynamic UL-DL reconfiguration mode by the UE.

27. The configuration device of claim 24 , wherein:

the node includes a base station (BS), a Node B (NB), an evolved Node B (eNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a remote radio head (RRH), a remote radio equipment (RRE), a remote radio unit (RRU), or a central processing module (CPM).

28. The configuration device of claim 24 , wherein processor dynamically reconfigures the semi-static UL-DL TDD configuration to the other legacy UL-DL TDD configuration within a duration of approximately one radio frame or approximately 10 milliseconds (ms); the legacy UL-DL TDD configuration includes third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) UL-DL configurations 0 - 6 ; the FlexSF includes subframes 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 , or 9 ; and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or an enhanced PDCCH (EPDCCH) is transmitted in the DCI grant subframe.