Methods and devices for allocating a radio resource for an LTE-unlicensed data transmission

1. A method of allocating a radio resource for an LTE-unlicensed data transmission of a communication device in an unlicensed frequency band, the method comprising:

in response to detecting that the LTE-unlicensed data transmission is to be performed,

determining, by the communication device, a time gap duration until a start time of a subfrarne; and

selecting, by the communication device, a resource allocation transmission from a plurality of resource allocation transmissions as a function of the determined time gap duration,

wherein the selecting the resource allocation transmission comprises selecting a Wi-Fi Request to Send signal if the time gap duration exceeds a threshold, and selecting one of a Wi-Fi Clear to Send signal or dummy data if the time gap duration is less than the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of resource allocation transmissions comprises:

a first resource allocation transmission, and

a second resource allocation transmission different from the first resource allocation transmission.

3. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein the first resource allocation transmission causes a further communication device to transmit a response to the communication device and wherein the second resource allocation transmission does not cause the further communication device to transmit the response.

4. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein selecting the resource allocation transmission comprises:

selecting either the first resource allocation transmission or the second resource allocation transmission in dependence on a threshold comparison of the time gap duration.

5. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein selecting the resource allocation transmission comprises:

selecting the first resource allocation transmission if the time gap duration exceeds a threshold.

6. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein the first resource allocation transmission is a signal indicating that the communication device intends to perform the LTE-unlicensed data transmission in the subframe.

7. The method of claim 6 ,

wherein the first resource allocation transmission is a Wi-Fi Request to Send signal.

8. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving, by the communication device, a response to the selected resource allocation transmission from a further communication device, the response being received before the start time of the subframe.

9. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein the second resource allocation transmission consists of dummy data.

10. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein the second resource allocation transmission is a Wi-Fi Clear to Send signal which is transmitted by the communication device and which is addressed to the communication device.

11. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the communication device generates the selected resource allocation transmission comprising a time information which depends on the time gap duration.

12. The method of claim 11 ,

wherein the time information depends on both the time gap duration and a subframe duration.

13. The method of claim 12 ,

wherein the time information is a sum of the time gap duration and the subframe duration.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the communication device, the selected resource allocation transmission in the radio resource allocated for the LTE-unlicensed data transmission and before the start time of the subframe.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

starting, by the communication device, the LTE-unlicensed data transmission in the radio resource allocated for the LTE-unlicensed data transmission at the start time of the subframe.

16. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the LTE-unlicensed data transmission is controlled by signalling on a LTE licensed carrier.

17. A communication device, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit LTE-unlicensed, radio signals in an unlicensed frequency band,

the communication device being configured to, in response to determining that an LTE LTE-unlicensed data transmission is to be performed,

determine a time gap duration until a start time of a subframe; and

select a resource allocation transmission from a plurality of resource allocation transmissions as a function of the determined duration of the time gap duration, the resource allocation transmission allocating a radio resource for the LTE unlicensed data transmission of the communication device,

wherein the communication device comprises a processing device configured to select as the resource allocation transmission a Wi-Fi Request to Send signal if the time gap duration exceeds a threshold, and one of a Wi-Fi Clear to Send signal or dummy data if the time gap duration is less than the threshold.

18. A communication system, comprising:

a communication device comprising a transmitter configured to transmit LTE-unlicensed radio signals in an unlicensed frequency band, the communication device being configured to, in response to determining that an LTE-unlicensed data transmission is to be performed, determine a time gap duration until a start time of a subframe and to select a resource allocation transmission from a plurality of resource allocation transmissions as a function of the determined duration of the time gap duration, the resource allocation transmission allocating a radio resource for the LTE-unlicensed data transmission of the communication device; and

a further communication device configured to receive the resource allocation transmission, the resource allocation transmission preventing the further communication device from transmitting in the allocated radio resource at the start time of the subframe,

wherein the communication device comprises a processing device configured to select as the resource allocation transmission a Wi-Fi Request to Send signal if the time gap duration exceeds a threshold, and one of a Wi-Fi Clear to Send signal or dummy data if the time gap duration is, less than the threshold.

19. The communication system of claim 18 ,

wherein the communication device is an eNodeB, and

wherein the further communication device is one of a Wi-Fi transmitting device, user equipment of a cellular network, or a MAN access point.