Duplex distance modification and blank NB-IoT subcarriers
Various communication systems may benefit from an improved signaling protocol. For example, communication systems may benefit from an improved network support for a narrowband internet of things in a hosting long term evolution carrier. A method, in certain embodiments, includes shifting a frequency of a downlink long term evolution channel by a pre-determined amount. The shift causes a duplex distance between the downlink long term evolution channel and an uplink long term evolution channel to change. The method includes blanking at least one overlapping radio resource in at least one of the uplink long term evolution channel or an uplink narrowband internet of things channel. The uplink narrowband internet of things channel and the uplink long term evolution channel at least partially overlap. In addition, the method includes receiving data on the uplink narrowband internet of things channel and an additional uplink narrowband internet of things channel at a network entity from a user equipment.
1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one memory comprising computer program code;
at least one processor;
wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
shift a frequency of a downlink long term evolution channel by a pre-determined amount, wherein the shift causes a duplex distance between the downlink long term evolution channel and an uplink long term evolution channel to change;
blank at least one overlapping radio resource in at least one of the uplink long term evolution channel or a uplink narrowband internet of things channel, wherein the uplink narrowband internet of things channel and the uplink long term evolution channel at least partially overlap; and
receive data on the uplink narrowband internet of things channel and an additional uplink narrowband internet of things channel at a network entity from a user equipment.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one radio resource in the additional uplink narrowband internet of things channel compensates for the blanking of the at least one radio resource in the uplink narrowband internet of things channel.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the additional uplink narrowband internet of things channel and the uplink narrowband internet of things channel are located on opposite sides of the long term evolution channel.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least partial overlap of the uplink narrowband internet of things channel and the uplink long term evolution channel comprises using a resource blanked out from the uplink long term evolution channel for the uplink narrowband internet of things channel, or using a resource blanked out from the uplink narrowband internet of things channel for the uplink long term evolution channel.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least partial overlap of the uplink narrowband internet of things channel and the uplink long term evolution channel occurs on a guard band of the uplink long term evolution channel.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least partial overlap of the uplink narrowband internet of things channel and the uplink long term evolution channel occurs in-band of the uplink long term evolution channel.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
place the uplink narrowband internet of things channel directly adjacent to the long term evolution uplink channel.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
blank the at least one overlapping radio resource in a physical uplink control channel.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the downlink long term evolution channel and the uplink long term evolution channel are channels are associated with a hosting long term evolution network.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the blanking of the at least one overlapping radio resource in the uplink long term evolution channel or the uplink narrowband internet of things channel is restricted to a predetermined number of resources.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frequency of the downlink long term evolution channel is shifted by an integer multiple of 100 kilohertz.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein no leakage above a pre-determined regulatory limit outside the uplink long term evolution channel occurs.
13. A method for performing a process according to claim 1 .
14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoding instructions that, when executed in hardware, perform a process according to claim 1 .
15. A computer program product encoding instructions for performing a process according to claim 1 .
16. An apparatus comprising:
at least one memory comprising computer program code;
at least one processor;
wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
receive an indication through a downlink long term evolution channel of a shift in frequency in the downlink long term evolution channel by a pre- determined amount, wherein the shift causes a duplex distance between the downlink long term evolution channel and an uplink long term evolution channel to change; and
transmit from a user equipment to a network entity data on an uplink narrowband internet of things channel and an additional uplink narrowband internet of things channel,
wherein at least one overlapping radio resource in at least one of the uplink long term evolution channel or the uplink narrowband internet of things channel has been blanked, and
wherein the uplink narrowband internet of things channel and the uplink long term evolution channel at least partially overlap.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein at least one radio resource in the additional uplink narrowband internet of things channel compensates for the blanking of the at least one radio resource in the uplink narrowband internet of things channel.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the additional uplink narrowband internet of things channel and the uplink narrowband internet of things channel are located on opposite sides of the long term evolution channel.
19. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the at least partial overlap of the uplink narrowband internet of things channel and the uplink long term evolution channel occurs on a guard band of the uplink long term evolution channel.
20. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the at least partial overlap of the uplink narrowband internet of things channel and the uplink long term evolution channel occurs in-band of the uplink long term evolution channel.
21. A method for performing a process according to claim 16 .
22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoding instructions that, when executed in hardware, perform a process according to claim 16 .
23. A computer program product encoding instructions for performing a process according to claim 16 .