5G new radio unlicensed band cell access

1. A user equipment device (UE), comprising:

at least one antenna;

at least one radio coupled to the at least one antenna; and

at least one processor coupled to the at least one radio;

wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to:

camp on a licensed band cell of a radio access network (RAN);

transmit, to the licensed band cell and in response to receiving first information from the licensed band cell, a request to connect to the licensed band cell;

receive, from the licensed band cell, a connection setup message indicating a switch to an unlicensed band cell of the RAN, wherein the connection setup message includes configuration information for the unlicensed band cell, and wherein the configuration information is provided by the unlicensed band cell;

receive, from the unlicensed band cell, a reference signal; and

transmit, to the unlicensed band cell and in response to confirming, based at least in part of the reference signal, radio quality and/or downlink timing of the unlicensed band cell, a connection complete message or resume complete message.

2. The UE of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the UE to transmit, to the licensed band cell and in response to confirming, based at least in part of the reference signal, radio quality and/or downlink timing of the unlicensed band cell is not satisfactory, a connection complete message or resume complete message.

3. The UE of claim 1 ,

wherein a base station supports both the licensed band cell and the unlicensed band cell, and wherein the RAN comprises 5G New Radio (5G NR) or E-UTRA (LTE or eLTE).

4. The UE of claim 1 ,

wherein switching the UE to the unlicensed band cell of the RAN is based on at least one of:

network policy;

network load and/or network traffic conditions;

a capability of the UE; or

a position of the UE.

5. The UE of claim 1 ,

wherein the connection setup message indicates at least one of:

an identifier for the unlicensed band cell;

a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) for the unlicensed band cell; or

configuration requirements for CONNECTED mode on the unlicensed band cell.

6. The UE of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the UE to:

receive, from the unlicensed band cell, a connection release message;

receive, for the licensed band cell, a reference signal; and

camp on the licensed band cell.

7. The UE of claim 6 ,

wherein the connection release message includes an indication of redirecting the UE to licensed band cell and an identifier of the licensed band cell.

8. The UE of claim 6 ,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the UE to:

determine that the licensed band cell is not suitable for camping; and

perform a cell selection/reselection procedure limited to the licensed band.

9. A non-transitory computer readable memory medium comprising programming instructions executable by a processor of a user equipment device (UE) to:

camp on a licensed band cell of a radio access network (RAN);

receive, from the licensed band cell, a connection setup message indicating a switch to an unlicensed band cell of the RAN, wherein the connection setup message includes configuration information for the unlicensed band cell, wherein the connection setup message is received after the UE requests connection to the licensed band cell, and wherein the configuration information is provided by the unlicensed band cell;

receive, from the unlicensed band cell, a reference signal;

initiate access with the unlicensed cell in response to confirming radio quality and/or downlink timing of the unlicensed band cell is satisfactory, wherein the confirming is based at least in part of the reference signal; and

perform data transmissions with the unlicensed band cell.

10. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 9 ,

wherein a base station supports both the licensed band cell and the unlicensed band cell, and wherein the RAN comprises a Fifth generation (5G) RAN operating according to a 5G New Radio (5G NR) RAT or a 4G RAN operating according to an E-UTRA (LTE or eLTE) RAT.

11. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 9 ,

wherein the programming instructions are further executable to receive, from the licensed band cell while camping on the licensed band cell, the unlicensed band cell remaining minimum system information (RMSI).

12. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 9 ,

wherein the unlicensed band cell is one of a plurality of unlicensed band cells, and wherein the programming instructions are further executable to:

receive reference signals from the plurality of unlicensed band cells; and

determine to access the unlicensed band cell based on a comparison of signal quality of the reference signal to a threshold.

13. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 9 ,

wherein the programming instructions are further executable to:

receive, from the unlicensed band cell, a connection release message;

receive, for the licensed band cell, a reference signal; and

camp on the licensed band cell.

14. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 13 ,

wherein the connection release message includes an indication of redirection to licensed band cell and optionally an identifier of the redirected licensed band cell.

15. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 13 ,

wherein the programming instructions are further executable to:

determine that the licensed band cell is not suitable for camping; and

perform a cell selection (or reselection) procedure.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor in communication with the memory;

wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive, from a user equipment device (UE) camping on a licensed band cell, a request to connect to the licensed band cell;

determine, based in part on one or more factors, to direct the UE to connect to an unlicensed band cell within range of the UE;

generate instructions to cause transmission of a request to switch the UE to the unlicensed band cell;

receive, from the unlicensed band cell, configuration information for the unlicensed band cell; and

generate instructions to cause transmission of a setup/resume message indicating the switch to the unlicensed band cell and the configuration information for the unlicensed band cell to the UE.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 ,

wherein the licensed band cell and the unlicensed band cell are supported by a base station, and wherein the base station is a 5G New Radio (NR) base station.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 ,

wherein switching the UE to an unlicensed band cell is based on at least one of:

network policy;

network load and/or network traffic conditions;

a capability of the UE; or

a position of the UE.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 ,

wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of:

an identifier for the unlicensed band cell;

a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) for the unlicensed band cell; and/or

configuration requirements for CONNECTED mode on the unlicensed band cell.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 ,

wherein the request to connect comprises a radio resource control connection request.