Search area based control channel monitoring
Systems and methods for search area-based control channel monitoring are provided. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by a control node for communication with a user equipment. Further, the communication is structured in frames with each frame having subframes. The method includes transmitting, by the control node, a control channel in a search area that is in a subset of the subframes for a frame so as to enable the user equipment to monitor the control channel in only the subset of the subframes for that frame.
1. A method performed by a control node for communication with a user equipment, the communication being structured in frames with each frame having subframes, the method comprising:
transmitting, by the control node, an enhanced control channel (E-PDCCH) in a search area that is in a subset of the subframes for a frame, the search area comprising one or more time-frequency resources not confined to a 3GPP LTE L1/L2 control region within a subframe, so as to enable the user equipment to refrain from monitoring a E-PDCCH in a subframe for that frame other than the E-PDCCH in the subset of the subframes for that frame.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the subset of the subframes in which the E-PDCCH is transmitted; and
transmitting, by the control node, an indication of the subset of subframes.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the search area has a configurable time span.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the configurable time span is less than a time duration of one subframe.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a position of the search area depends on a unique identifier associated with the wireless device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a position of the search area alternates between a subframe of the subset for one frame having the search area and a different subframe of the subset for a next frame having the search area.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subframes for the frame are divided in the time domain into first and second slots, and a position of the search area in a frame alternates between the first slot for one frame and the second slot for a next frame.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the search area is in a data region of the subset of the subframes.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the E-PDCCH includes a UE-specific reference signal.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control node is a base station or relay node.
11. A control node operable to communicate with user equipment, the communication being structured in frames with each frame having subframes, the control node comprising:
a transmitter; and
a processor operatively connected to the transmitter, the processor configured to cause the transmitter to transmit an enhanced control channel (E-PDCCH) in a search area that is in a subset of the subframes for a frame, the search area comprising one or more time-frequency resources not confined to a 3GPP LTE L1/L2 control region within a subframe, so as to enable the user equipment to refrain from monitoring a E-PDCCH in a subframe for that frame other than the E-PDCCH in the subset of the subframes for that frame.
12. A method performed by a user equipment for communication with a control node, the communication being structured in frames with each frame having subframes, the method comprising:
monitoring an enhanced control channel (E-PDCCH) in a search area that is only in a subset of the subframes for a frame, the search area comprising one or more time-frequency resources not confined to a 3GPP LTE L1/L2 control region within a subframe, so as to enable the user equipment to refrain from monitoring a E-PDCCH in a subframe for that frame other than the E-PDCCH in the subset of the subframes for that frame.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining to refrain from monitoring a E-PDCCH in a subframe for that frame other than the E-PDCCH in the subset of the subframes for that frame.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving, from the control node, an indication of the subset of the subframes in which the E-PDCCH is transmitted; and
determining the subset of subframes based on the indication.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the search area has a configurable time span.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the configurable time span is less than a time duration of one subframe.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein a position of the search area depends on a unique identifier associated with the wireless device.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein a position of the search area alternates between a subframe of the subset for one frame having the search area and a different subframe of the subset for a next frame having the search area.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the subframes for each frame are divided in the time domain into first and second slots, and a position of the search area alternates between the first slot for one frame and the second slot for a next frame.
20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the search area is in a data region of the subset of the subframes.
21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the E-PDCCH includes a UE-specific reference signal.
22. A user equipment operable to communicate with a control node, the communication being structured in frames with each frame having subframes, the control node comprising:
processing circuitry configured to monitor an enhanced control channel (E-PDCCH) in a search area that is only in a subset of the subframes for a frame, the search area comprising one or more time-frequency resources not confined to a 3GPP LTE L1/L2 control region within a subframe, so as to enable the user equipment to refrain from monitoring a E-PDCCH in a subframe for that frame other than the E-PDCCH in the subset of the subframes for that frame.