Unlicensed narrowband internet of things control channel communication
In embodiments, a base station may be able to identify whether a user equipment (UE) is to operate within the cellular network in accordance with a wideband (WB) protocol or a narrowband (NB) protocol. Based on this identification, the base station may further be able to identify a number of resource blocks (RBs) that include subcarriers occupied by enhanced narrowband control channel elements (eNCCEs). Finally, the base station may be able to transmit the eNCCEs on the subcarriers. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
1. An apparatus to be used in a base station of a cellular network, wherein the apparatus comprises:
means to identify whether a user equipment (UE) is to operate within the cellular network in accordance with a narrowband (NB) protocol or a wideband (WB) protocol;
means to identify, based on the identification that the UE is to operate in accordance with the NB protocol, a plurality of subcarriers within a single physical resource block (PRB) on which the base station is to transmit a transmission related to an enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH);
means to aggregate two enhanced control channel elements (eCCEs) of the ePDCCH to generate a single further eCCE (feCCE), wherein the feCCE has DMRS that are orthogonal to DMRS of another feCCE of the ePDCCH;
means to transmit an indication of the plurality of subcarriers within the single PRB; and
means to transmit the transmission related to the ePDCCH on the plurality of subcarriers within the single PRB.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means to identify, based on the identification that the UE is to operate in accordance with the NB protocol, a number of resource blocks (RBs) that include subcarriers occupied by enhanced narrowband control channel elements (eNCCEs).
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the NB protocol relates to NB Internet of Things (NB-IoT) operation within the cellular network.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means to transmit the transmission related to the ePDCCH on the plurality of subcarriers within the single PRB.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the NB protocol relates to cellular communication using a single resource block (RB).
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means to transmit a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) related to a narrowband physical downlink control channel (NPDCCH) on a narrowband reference signal (NRS) resource element (RE).
7. An apparatus for a user equipment (UE), wherein the apparatus comprises:
a radio frequency (RF) interface to cause reception, by the UE, of a transmission from a base station; and
a processor coupled with the RF interface, configured to:
identify that the UE is to operate in accordance with a narrowband (NB) protocol within a cellular network;
identify, based on the transmission received from the base station, an indication of a plurality of subcarriers within a single physical resource block (PRB); and
identify, based on the indication, a transmission related to an enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH) on the plurality of subcarriers;
wherein the transmission includes a further enhanced control channel element (feCCE) that is based on aggregation, by the base station, of two enhanced control channel elements (eCCEs), wherein the feCCE has DMRS that are orthogonal to DMRS of another feCCE of the ePDCCH.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of subcarriers within the single PRB is based on an identification, by the base station, that the UE is to operate in accordance with the NB protocol.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the NB protocol relates to NB Internet of Things (NB-IoT) operation within the cellular network.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the NB protocol relates to cellular communication using a single resource block (RB).
11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to identify, in a narrowband reference signal (NRS) resource element (RE), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) related to a narrowband physical downlink control channel (NPDCCH).
12. A method for a user equipment (UE), comprising:
identifying that the UE is to operate in accordance with a narrowband (NB) protocol within a cellular network;
receiving a first transmission from a base station;
identifying, based on the first transmission received from a base station, an indication of a plurality of subcarriers within a single physical resource block (PRB); and
identifying, based on the indication, a second transmission related to an enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH) on the plurality of subcarriers;
wherein the transmission includes a further enhanced control channel element (feCCE) that is based on aggregation, by the base station, of two enhanced control channel elements (eCCEs), wherein the feCCE has DMRS that are orthogonal to DMRS of another feCCE of the ePDCCH.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of subcarriers within the single PRB is based on an identification, by the base station, that the UE is to operate in accordance with the NB protocol.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the NB protocol relates to NB Internet of Things (NB-IoT) operation within the cellular network.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the NB protocol relates to cellular communication using a single resource block (RB).
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising identifying, in a narrowband reference signal (NRS) resource element (RE), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) related to a narrowband physical downlink control channel (NPDCCH).