Systems and methods for dynamically selecting and adjusting energy detection thresholds (EDTs) in uncoordinated radio nodes deploying listen before talk to improve throughput on shared spectrum

1. A method of selecting an energy detection threshold (EDT) for a first radio node deploying listen before talk, comprising:

setting a first EDT for the first radio node;

determining that a collision exists between the first radio node and a second radio node while operating on the first EDT;

adjusting to a second EDT for the first radio node such that the collision is predicted to be avoided; and

determining a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for communications with a user mobile communications device in communication with the first radio node,

wherein determining that the collision exists comprises:

determining a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the first EDT; and

determining whether the MCS matches with the determined SNR, wherein the collision exists when the MCS does not match with the determined SNR.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

measuring a first throughput for the first radio node operating on the first EDT;

measuring a second throughput for the first radio node operating on the second EDT; and

if the second throughput is not higher than the first throughput, operate the first radio node in a different wireless channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the SNR for the first EDT comprises:

receiving a reference signal received power (RSRP) report from the user mobile communications device; and

determining the SNR for the first EDT based on the RSRP report.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the first radio node can detect communications from the second radio node operating on the first EDT;

wherein adjusting to the second EDT comprises adjusting to a lower EDT when the first radio node cannot detect communications from the second radio node.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining whether the second radio node can detect communications from the first radio node;

wherein adjusting to the second EDT comprises adjusting to a higher EDT when the second radio node cannot detect communications from the first radio node.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining whether the second radio node can detect communications from the first radio node is based on at least one of active probing of a wireless channel or a radio environment map (REM) scan.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining whether the first radio node can detect communications from the second radio node is based on:

a frequency at which the first radio node does not transmit due to a listen before talk (LBT) mechanism; and

a number of Wi-Fi access points from which the first radio node can detect communications.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first EDT is based on an EDT limit according to a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specification.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring at least one of a reference signal received power (RSRP) or a received strength signal indicator (RSSI) from the second radio node;

wherein the first EDT is based on at least one of the measured RSRP or the measured RSSI.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the MCS is based on the first EDT.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the MCS is based on occupancy of a wireless channel detected by at least one of the first radio node or the user mobile communications device.

12. A method of selecting an energy detection threshold (EDT) for a first radio node deploying listen before talk, comprising:

setting a first EDT for the first radio node;

determining that a collision exists between the first radio node and a second radio node while operating on the first EDT;

adjusting to a second EDT for the first radio node such that the collision is predicted to be avoided; and

determining whether the first radio node can detect communications from the second radio node operating on the first EDT;

wherein adjusting to the second EDT comprises adjusting to a lower EDT when the first radio node cannot detect communications from the second radio node, and

wherein determining whether the first radio node can detect communications from the second radio node is based on:

a frequency at which the first radio node does not transmit due to a listen before talk (LBT) mechanism; and

a number of Wi-Fi access points from which the first radio node can detect communications.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for communications with a user mobile communications device in communication with the first radio node.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the MCS is based on the first EDT.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the MCS is based on occupancy of a wireless channel detected by at least one of the first radio node or the user mobile communications device.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining that the collision exists comprises:

determining a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the first EDT; and

determining whether the MCS matches with the determined SNR;

wherein the collision exists when the MCS does not match with the determined SNR.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising maintaining the first EDT, and after a time, probing for the collision when the second radio node can detect communications from the first radio node.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first EDT is based on an EDT limit according to a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specification.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising measuring at least one of a reference signal received power (RSRP) or a received strength signal indicator (RSSI) from the second radio node;

wherein the first EDT is based on at least one of the measured RSRP or the measured RSSI.