IP Library Granted Patent US 9,992,787
Granted Patent B2
US 9,992,787 · App. 15/425,592 · Granted Jun 5, 2018

Sharing channels in a licensed-assisted access in long term evolution operation

Inventors: Takashi Suzuki (Ichikawa, JP); Eswar Vutukuri (Havant, GB); Nicholas William Anderson (Exeter, GB); Mohammed Nawaf Smadi (Ancaster, CA); David Philip Hole (Southampton, GB); Stephen John Barrett (Haywards Heath, GB)
Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
H04W72/1215H04W16/14H04W72/0446H04W72/14H04W74/0808H04W84/042H04W88/08
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,992,787
App. No.
15/425,592
Granted
Jun 5, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A channel sharing method includes determining a starting time for transmission on an LAA-LTE channel. A length of a hybrid preamble is determined based on the starting time and a predetermined transmission time boundary. Subsequent to determining the length of the hybrid preamble, the hybrid preamble having the determined length is transmitted. Subsequent to the hybrid preamble, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) signal is transmitted.

Claims (37)

1. A method for transmitting on a Licensed-Assisted Access in Long Term Evolution (LAA-LTE) channel, comprising:

determining a starting time for transmission on the LAA-LTE channel, wherein the LAA-LTE channel is an unlicensed carrier that is configured for a Licensed-Assisted operation;

determining a length of a preamble based on the starting time and based on a predetermined transmission time boundary;

transmitting, by an evolved Node B (eNB) and subsequent to determining the length of the preamble, the preamble having the determined length, wherein the preamble is transmitted in a first subframe that is prior to the predetermined transmission time boundary, and the preamble is transmitted during a time period corresponding to a subset of fewer than all orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols within the first subframe;

transmitting, subsequent to transmitting the preamble, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) signal, wherein the LTE signal is transmitted in a second subframe different than the first subframe, the second subframe being after the predetermined transmission time boundary;

transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a transmission grant including an indication that grants a transmission of a second LTE signal without a preceding preamble, wherein the second LTE signal is transmitted on the unlicensed carrier of the LAA-LTE channel; and

in response to transmitting the transmission grant, receiving, from the UE and on the unlicensed carrier of the LAA-LTE channel, the second LTE signal without the preceding preamble.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined transmission time boundary is a Transmission Time Interval (TTI) boundary.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preamble comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Compatible Section (WCS) that indicates a length of the LTE signal.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the length of the preamble is equal to a duration of the WCS.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preamble comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Compatible Section (WCS) and a Variable Length Section (VLS), and wherein the WCS indicates a length of the LTE signal and the VLS has a length that is determined based on a difference between the length of the preamble and a length of the WCS.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the length of the preamble is larger than the length of the WCS.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preamble comprises a Variable Length Section (VLS) having a length that is determined based on the length of the preamble.

8. A base station, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one hardware processor communicatively coupled with the memory and configured to:

determine a starting time for transmission on a Licensed-Assisted Access in Long Term Evolution (LAA-LTE) channel, wherein the LAA-LTE channel is an unlicensed carrier that is configured for a Licensed-Assisted operation;

determine a length of a preamble based on the starting time and based on a predetermined transmission time boundary;

transmit, subsequent to determination of the length of the preamble, the preamble having the determined length, wherein the preamble is transmitted in a first subframe that is prior to the predetermined transmission time boundary, and the preamble is transmitted during a time period corresponding to a subset of fewer than all orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols within the first subframe;

transmit, subsequent to transmission of the preamble, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) signal, wherein the LTE signal is transmitted in a second subframe different than the first subframe, the second subframe being after the predetermined transmission time boundary;

transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a transmission grant including an indication that grants a transmission of a second LTE signal without a preceding preamble, wherein the second LTE signal is transmitted on the unlicensed carrier of the LAA-LTE channel; and

in response to transmission of the transmission grant, receive, from the UE and on the unlicensed carrier of the LAA-LTE channel, the second LTE signal without the preceding preamble.

9. The base station of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined transmission time boundary is a Transmission Time Interval (TTI) boundary.

10. The base station of claim 8 , wherein the preamble comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Compatible Section (WCS) that indicates a length of the LTE signal, and wherein the length of the preamble is equal to a duration of the WCS.

11. The base station of claim 8 , wherein the preamble comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Compatible Section (WCS) and a Variable Length Section (VLS), and wherein the WCS indicates a length of the LTE signal and the VLS has a length that is determined based on a difference between the length of the preamble and a length of the WCS, and wherein the length of the preamble is larger than the length of the WCS.

12. The base station of claim 8 , wherein the preamble comprises a Variable Length Section (VLS) having a length that is determined based on the length of the preamble.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed, cause a computing device to perform operations comprising:

determining a starting time for transmission on a Licensed-Assisted Access in Long Term Evolution (LAA-LTE) channel, wherein the LAA-LTE channel is an unlicensed carrier that is configured for a Licensed-Assisted operation;

determining a length of a preamble based on the starting time and based on a predetermined transmission time boundary;

transmitting, by an evolved Node B (eNB) and subsequent to determining the length of the preamble, the preamble having the determined length, wherein the preamble is transmitted in a first subframe that is prior to the predetermined transmission time boundary, and the preamble is transmitted during a time period corresponding to a subset of fewer than all orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols within the first subframe;

transmitting, subsequent to transmitting the preamble, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) signal, wherein the LTE signal is transmitted in a second subframe different than the first subframe, the second subframe being after the predetermined transmission time boundary;

transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a transmission grant including an indication that grants a transmission of a second LTE signal without a preceding preamble, wherein the second LTE signal is transmitted on the unlicensed carrier of the LAA-LTE channel; and

in response to transmitting the transmission grant, receiving, from the UE and on the unlicensed carrier of the LAA-LTE channel, the second LTE signal without the preceding preamble.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined transmission time boundary is a Transmission Time Interval (TTI) boundary.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the preamble comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Compatible Section (WCS) that indicates a length of the LTE signal, and wherein the length of the preamble is equal to a duration of the WCS.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the preamble comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Compatible Section (WCS) and a Variable Length Section (VLS), and wherein the WCS indicates a length of the LTE signal and the VLS has a length that is determined based on a difference between the length of the preamble and a length of the WCS, and wherein the length of the preamble is larger than the length of the WCS.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the preamble comprises a Variable Length Section (VLS) having a length that is determined based on the length of the preamble.

Assignments (12)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADDED PATENT NUMBER TO REMOVE PATENT NO. 8,873,407 AT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 64066 FRAME 1. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE DATE MARCH 20, 2023. Recorded Feb 2, 2026
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 074921/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT 12817157 APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 064015 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064807/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE COVER SHEET AT PAGE 50 TO REMOVE 12817157 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 063471 FRAME 0474. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
Reel/Frame 064806/0669 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064066/0001 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064015/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
Reel/Frame 063471/0474 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2017
From: BLACKBERRY UK LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 042345/0290 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2017
From: VUTUKURI, ESWAR; ANDERSON, NICHOLAS WILLIAM; HOLE, DAVID PHILIP; BARRETT, STEPHEN JOHN
To: BLACKBERRY UK LIMITED
Reel/Frame 042335/0095 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 26, 2017
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 042852/0500 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2017
From: SUZUKI, TAKASHI
To: BLACKBERRY JAPAN LIMITED
Reel/Frame 042148/0260 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2017
From: SMADI, MOHAMMED
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 042147/0945 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2017
From: BLACKBERRY JAPAN LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 042149/0430 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14542414 · Nov 14, 2014
Related Publication 20170150515A1 · May 25, 2017