Selective activation and deactivation of carriers in unlicensed frequency bands
An apparatus, such as user equipment, includes a first radio for wireless communication over a first carrier in an unlicensed frequency band according to a first radio access technology and a second radio for wireless communication over a second carrier in the unlicensed frequency band according to a second radio access technology. The apparatus also includes a device connection manager to deactivate the first carrier in response to detecting an access point that operates according to the second radio access technology in the unlicensed frequency band.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a first radio for wireless communication over a first carrier in an unlicensed frequency band according to a first radio access technology;
a second radio for wireless communication over a second carrier in the unlicensed frequency band according to a second radio access technology; wherein the first radio is configured to receive signals in the unlicensed frequency band according to the first radio access technology during a first time interval of a gating cycle, and wherein the second radio is configured to scan for signals from an access point in the unlicensed frequency band during a second time interval of the gating cycle, and wherein the second radio is configured to detect the access point by detecting a signal from the access point in the unlicensed frequency band that has a signal strength above a threshold, and
a device connection manager to deactivate the first carrier in response to detecting the access point in the unlicensed frequency band that operates according to the second radio access technology.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device connection manager is configured to deactivate the first carrier by powering down the first radio in response to detecting the access point in the unlicensed frequency band.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device connection manager is configured to reactivate the first carrier in response to leaving a coverage area of the access point.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second radio is configured to determine that the apparatus has left the coverage area of the access point by failing to detect a signal from the access point or detecting a signal from the access point that has a signal strength below a threshold.
5. The apparatus of claim wherein 1 , the device connection manager is configured to reactivate the first carrier in response to user input that disconnects the second radio from the access point.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:
a third radio configured to transmit a reactivation signal in a licensed frequency band in response to the device connection manager reactivating the first carrier in the unlicensed frequency band.
7. An apparatus, comprising:
a first radio for wireless communication over a first carrier in an unlicensed frequency band according to a first radio access technology;
a second radio for wireless communication over a second carrier in the unlicensed frequency band according to a second radio access technology;
a device connection manager to deactivate the first carrier in response to detecting an access point in the unlicensed frequency band that operates according to the second radio access technology; and
a third radio for wireless communication in a licensed frequency band according to the first radio access technology, wherein the third radio is configured to transmit a notification in the licensed frequency band in response to the device connection manager deactivating the first carrier.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the third radio is configured to transmit a reactivation signal in the licensed frequency band in response to the device connection manager reactivating the first carrier in the unlicensed frequency band.
9. A method comprising:
deactivating a first carrier used by a first radio in user equipment for wireless communication in an unlicensed frequency band according to a first radio access technology in response to detecting an access point that operates according to a second radio access technology used by a second radio in the user equipment for wireless communication in the unlicensed frequency band;
receiving, at the first radio, signals in the unlicensed frequency band according to the first radio access technology during a first time interval of a gating cycle; and
scanning for signals from the access point in the unlicensed frequency band using the second radio during a second time interval of the gating cycle.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the access point comprises detecting a signal from the access point in the unlicensed frequency band that has a signal strength above a threshold.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein deactivating the first carrier comprises powering down the first radio in response to detecting the access point in the unlicensed frequency band.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
reactivating the first carrier in response to leaving a coverage area of the access point.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining that the user equipment has left the coverage area of the access point by failing to detect a signal from the access point or detecting the signal from the access point in the unlicensed frequency band that has a signal strength below a threshold.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
reactivating the first carrier in response to user input that disconnects the second radio from the access point.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
transmitting a reactivation signal in a licensed frequency band in response to reactivating the first carrier.
16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
reactivating the first carrier; and
transmitting a reactivation signal in a licensed frequency band in response to reactivating the first carrier.
17. A method comprising:
deactivating a first carrier used by a first radio in user equipment for wireless communication in an unlicensed frequency band according to a first radio access technology in response to detecting an access point that operates according to a second radio access technology used by a second radio in the user equipment for wireless communication in the unlicensed frequency band, and
transmitting, from a third radio in a licensed frequency band according to the first radio access technology, a notification in response to deactivating the first carrier.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
reactivating the first carrier; and
transmitting, from the third radio, a reactivation signal in the licensed frequency band in response to reactivating the first carrier.
19. An apparatus, comprising:
a transceiver to receive a notification transmitted by user equipment in a licensed frequency band according to a first radio access technology, wherein the notification indicates that the user equipment is deactivating a carrier for receiving downlink signals in an unlicensed frequency band according to the first radio access technology; and
a processor to bypass transmission of downlink signals to the user equipment on the carrier in the unlicensed frequency band in response to receiving the notification.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the notification in response to the user equipment detecting an access point that operates according to a second radio access technology in the unlicensed frequency band.
21. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit a response indicating that the processor is bypassing transmission of downlink signals to the user equipment on the carrier in the unlicensed frequency band.
22. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the processor is configured to resume transmission of downlink signals to the user equipment on the carrier in the unlicensed frequency band in response to receiving a notification indicating that the user equipment has reactivated the radio.