Flexible standalone spectrum for NB-IoT
Embodiments described herein are directed to methods, apparatus and systems for virtualizing the standalone NB-IoT carrier to make it possible to place two standalone NB-IoT carriers side-by-side. The methods can include receiving a first anchor carrier in standalone spectrum shifted +/−2.5 kHz or +/−7.5 kHz from a 100 kHz raster grid. An indication can be received on the first anchor carrier that the first anchor carrier is operated as one of an inband carrier or a guardband carrier. A second carrier can be received in standalone spectrum, the second carrier separated from the first anchor carrier by less than 400 kHz.
1. A method in a wireless device comprising:
receiving a first anchor carrier in standalone spectrum shifted +/−2.5 kHz or +/−7.5 kHz from a 100 kHz raster grid;
receiving an indication on the first anchor carrier that the first anchor carrier is operated as one of an inband carrier or a guardband carrier;
receiving a second carrier in standalone spectrum, the second carrier separated from the first anchor carrier by less than 400 kHz; and
utilizing the first anchor carrier and the at least one second carrier for data communication.
2. A wireless device comprising processing circuitry, the processing circuitry operable to perform the steps of claim 1 .
3. A method in a network node, comprising:
transmitting a first anchor carrier in standalone spectrum shifted +/−2.5 kHz or +/−7.5 kHz from a 100 kHz raster grid;
transmitting an indication on the first anchor carrier that the anchor carrier is operated as one of an inband carrier or a guardband carrier;
transmitting a second carrier in standalone spectrum, the second carrier separated from the first anchor carrier by less than 400 kHz; and
utilizing the first anchor carrier and the second carrier for data communication.
4. A network node comprising a processing circuitry, the processing circuitry operable to perform the steps of claim 3 .
5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon for, when executed by a processor, performing a method in a wireless device, comprising:
receiving a first anchor carrier in standalone spectrum shifted +/−2.5 kHz or +/−7.5 kHz from a 100 kHz raster grid;
receiving an indication on the first anchor carrier that the first anchor carrier is operated as one of an inband carrier or a guardband carrier;
receiving a second carrier in standalone spectrum, the second carrier separated from the first anchor carrier by less than 400 kHz; and
utilizing the first anchor carrier and the second carrier for data communication.
6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the first anchor carrier and the second carrier are not separated by a guardband.
7. The computer-readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the first anchor carrier and the second carrier comprise NB-IoT carriers.
8. The computer-readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the second carrier is associated with the first anchor carrier.
9. The computer-readable medium of claim 5 , wherein a plurality of second carriers are received, each of which is separated from a neighboring carrier by less than 400 kHz.
10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon for, when executed by a processor, performing a method in a network node, comprising:
transmitting a first anchor carrier in standalone spectrum shifted +/−2.5 kHz or +/−7.5 kHz from a 100 kHz raster grid;
transmitting an indication on the first anchor carrier that the anchor carrier is operated as one of an inband carrier or a guardband carrier;
transmitting a second carrier in standalone spectrum, the second carrier separated from the first anchor carrier by less than 400 kHz; and
utilizing the first anchor carrier and the second carrier for data communication.
11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the first anchor carrier and the second carrier are not separated by a guardband.
12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the first anchor carrier and the second carrier comprise NB-IoT carriers.
13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the second carrier is associated with the first anchor carrier.
14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein a plurality of second carriers are transmitted, each of which is separated from a neighboring carrier by less than 400 kHz.
15. A method in a user equipment (UE), comprising:
transmitting a first anchor carrier in standalone spectrum shifted by a carrier gap stored in a receiving node;
transmitting an indication on the first anchor carrier that the anchor carrier is operated as one of an inband carrier or a guardband carrier;
transmitting a second carrier in standalone spectrum, the second carrier separated from the first anchor carrier by less than 400 kHz; and
utilizing the first anchor carrier and the second carrier for data communication.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first anchor carrier is shifted by a default carrier gap.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first anchor carrier is shifted by a carrier gap specific to the UE.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first anchor carrier and the second carrier are not separated by a guardband.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first anchor carrier and the second carrier comprise NB-IoT carriers.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second carrier is associated with the first anchor carrier.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein a plurality of second carriers are transmitted, each of which is separated from a neighboring carrier by less than 400 kHz.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the receiving node is a narrowband-IoT node.
23. A user equipment (UE) comprising processing circuitry, the processing circuitry operable to perform the steps of claim 15 .
24. A method in a narrowband (NB)-IoT node, comprising:
receiving, from a user equipment, a first anchor carrier in standalone spectrum shifted by a carrier gap stored in the NB-IoT node;
receiving an indication on the first anchor carrier that the anchor carrier is operated as one of an inband carrier or a guardband carrier;
receiving a second carrier in standalone spectrum, the second carrier separated from the first anchor carrier by less than 400 kHz; and
utilizing the first anchor carrier and the second carrier for data communication.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first anchor carrier is shifted by a default carrier gap.
26. A narrowband (NB)-IoT comprising processing circuitry, the processing circuitry operable to perform the steps of claim 24 .