Apparatus and methods for wireless coverage enhancement using technology detection
Apparatus and methods for improving coverage and/or power-saving in a wireless network. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods provide mechanisms for wireless user device (such as e.g., a 3GPP-compliant UE) to utilize downlink transmissions related to a first access technology (e.g., LTE) to enhance the detection and reception of downlink transmissions from a second access technology (e.g., 5G NR). In one variant, transmissions relating both access technologies are multiplexed on a shared frequency channel; a UE trying to detect 5G NR transmissions from a gNB leverages the easier detection of certain LTE signals such as PSS to enhance detection of the 5G NR signals. Moreover, the location of the LTE PSS (or SSS) can be used to indirectly assist a UE with detection of the NR SSB, such as via reduction of the number of noise-only samples passed to the NR PSS/SSS autocorrelation detector.
1 . A computerized user device configured to communicate with a wireless network via at least one access node, the at least one access node supporting at least first and second wireless access technologies, the computerized user device comprising:
processor apparatus;
wireless interface apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus and configured to transmit and receive wireless signals in one or more radio frequency (RF) bands; and
storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus, the storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized user device to:
receive at least one data element from the at least one access node via the first wireless access technology;
process the received at least one data element to produce information facilitating detection of signals transmitted by the at least one access node using the second wireless access technology different from the first wireless access technology; and
utilize the information as part of the detection of the signals, the utilization of the information as part of the detection of the signals comprising utilizing at least one of a timing relationship or a known channel spacing within a subframe to infer a presence of a second data element present within the signals.
2 . The computerized user device of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one access node comprises a 5G NR (New Radio)-compliant gNB (gNode B) operating in a DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing) mode;
the one or more RF bands comprises one or more RF bands within FR1 (Frequency Range 1); and
the computerized user device comprises a DSS-capable 5G NR-compliant UE (user equipment) capable of also receiving and decoding 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) signals within the one or more RF bands.
3 . The computerized user device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one data element comprises at least one of a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) or a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS).
4 . The computerized user device of claim 1 , wherein the utilization of the information as part of the detection of the signals comprises using information relating to a location of the at least one data element to reduce a complexity of detection of a data element within the signals by at least a reduction of a number of noise-only samples passed to an autocorrelation detector associated with the second wireless access technology.
5 . The computerized user device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network comprises a network utilizing quasi-licensed radio frequency (RF) spectrum within a CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) band, and the computerized user device comprises a CBRS-compliant FWA (fixed wireless access) device disposed at a user premises.
6 . A computerized access node configured for use within a wireless network and configured for wireless communication with a plurality of computerized user devices and at least one other computerized access node, the computerized access node comprising:
processor apparatus;
wireless interface apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus and configured to transmit and receive wireless signals in one or more radio frequency (RF) bands; and
storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus, the storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized access node to:
receive at least one data element from the at least one other computerized access node via a first wireless access technology, the at least one data element comprising synchronization or scheduling information including timing parameters associated with downlink or reference transmissions of the first wireless access technology;
derive, from the timing parameters, a predicted temporal relationship defining an expected interval during which the at least one other computerized access node will transmit signals using a second wireless access technology different from the first wireless access technology;
schedule activation of a receiver of the second wireless access technology based on the predicted temporal relationship to perform detection of the signals during the expected interval; and
identify, based on the detection of the signals, comprising detection of the at least one other computerized access node as a candidate or upstream node for coordinated communication or backhaul connectivity within the wireless network.
7 . The computerized access node of claim 6 , wherein the computerized access node and the at least one other computerized access node comprise part of an IAB (Integrated Access Backhaul).
8 . The computerized access node of claim 7 , wherein the the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized access node to:
utilize the at least one other computerized access node as the backhaul to a core of the wireless network.
9 . The computerized access node of claim 8 , wherein:
the utilization of the at least one other computerized access node as the backhaul to the core of the wireless network comprises use of mmWave signals within 3GPP FR2 (Frequency Range 2); and
the first wireless access technology is configured to operate in FR1 (Frequency Range 1) only.
10 . The computerized access node of claim 6 , wherein the computerized access node comprises a 5G NR gNB (gNBe) having at least one central unit (CU) and a plurality of enhanced distributed unit (DUe) in data communication therewith.
11 . The computerized access node of claim 6 , wherein the scheduling of the receiver activation comprises gating a correlation detector to limit processing of noise-only samples outside the expected interval.
12 . The computerized access node of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized access node to:
determine slot or frame timing of the first wireless access technology based on the at least one data element and aligns detection of the signals of the second wireless access technology relative to the determined slot or frame timing.
13 . The computerized access node of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized access node to:
store timing-relationship information obtained from a plurality of first wireless access technologies and selects one thereof based on a relative timing stability or accuracy associated with a corresponding synchronization reference.
14 . The computerized access node of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized access node to:
adjust the predicted temporal relationship based on a measured or estimated timing offset between the first and second wireless access technologies to align detection with an expected arrival time of the signal of the second wireless access technology.
15 . The computerized access node of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized access node to:
activate a detector of the second wireless access technology when a correlation confidence associated with a detected signal of the first wireless access technology exceeds a prescribed threshold.
16 . The computerized access node of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized access node to:
adjust the expected interval for detection based on an observed drift or offset between timing of the first and second wireless access technologies.
17 . A computerized method of data processing by a user device, the computerized method comprising:
receiving at least one data element from a at least one access node via a first wireless access technology;
processing the at least one data element to produce information facilitating detection of signals transmitted by the at least one access node using a second wireless access technology; and
utilizing the information as part of the detection of the signals, the utilizing of the information as part of the detection of the signals comprising utilizing information relating to a location of the at least one data element to reduce a complexity of detection of a data element within the signals by at least a reduction of a number of noise-only samples passed to an autocorrelation detector associated with the second wireless access technology.
18 . The computerized method of claim 17 , wherein the utilizing of the information relating to the location of the at least one data element to reduce the complexity of detection of the data element within the signals comprises utilizing a first pointer technology which has reduced complexity of detection relative to using the second wireless access technology to simplify processing subsequently conducted as part of cell detection associated with the second wireless access technology.
19 . The computerized method of claim 17 , wherein:
the at least one access node comprises a 5G NR (New Radio)-compliant gNB (gNode B) operating in a DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing) mode; and
the user device comprises a DSS-capable 5G NR-compliant UE (user equipment) capable of also receiving and decoding 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) signals within one or more RF bands, the one or more RF bands comprises one or more RF bands within FR1 (Frequency Range 1).
20 . The computerized method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one data element comprises at least one of a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) or a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS).