WO2018063420A1

WO2018063420A1 - Resource assignment and interference handling for time-division duplex new radio

Info

Publication number: WO2018063420A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/059769
Authority: WO
Inventors: Qian Li; Guangjie Li; Geng Wu; Xiaoyun Wu
Original assignee: Intel IP Corp
Current assignee: Intel IP Corp
Priority date: 2016-09-30
Filing date: 2016-10-31
Publication date: 2018-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-30

Abstract

Described is an apparatus of an Evolved Node-B (eNB). The apparatus may comprise a first circuitry, a second circuitry, a third circuitry, and a fourth circuitry. The first circuitry may be operable to record a Downlink subframe position and/or UL subframe position for a first cell of the wireless network. The second circuitry may be operable to decode, within a subframe for the first cell, a transmission comprising at least one of: a DL measurement channel, a DL Reference Signal, a UL measurement channel, or a UL Reference Signal. The third circuitry may be operable to determine an interference level of the first cell based on the decoded transmission. The fourth circuitry may be operable to allocate a data channel in a subframe for a second cell of the wireless network if the interference level is below a predetermined threshold.

Description

RESOURCE ASSIGNMENT AND INTERFERENCE HANDLING

FOR TIME-DIVISION DUPLEX NEW RADIO

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to United

States Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 62/402,976 filed September 30, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A variety of wireless cellular communication systems have been implemented, including a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) Universal Mobile

Telecommunications System, a 3GPP Long-Term Evolution (LTE) system, and a 3GPP LTE- Advanced (LTE-A) system. Next-generation wireless cellular communication systems based upon LTE and LTE-A systems are being developed, such as a fifth generation (5G) wireless system / 5G mobile networks system. Next-generation wireless cellular communication systems may provide support for higher bandwidths in part by supporting New Radio (NR) features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The embodiments of the disclosure will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the disclosure. However, while the drawings are to aid in explanation and understanding, they are only an aid, and should not be taken to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments depicted therein.

[0004] Fig. 1 illustrates various Time Division Duplex (TDD) numerology and slot multiplexing scenarios, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0005] Fig. 2 illustrates a scenario of Downlink (DL) / Uplink (UL) misalignment between cells having different slot configurations with DL and UL parts in each slot, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0006] Fig. 3 illustrates a scenario of static and semi-static resource assignment, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0007] Fig. 4 illustrates scenarios of dynamic resource assignment, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

l [0008] Fig. 5 illustrates a scenario of opportunistic resource assignment, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0009] Fig. 6 illustrates a scenario of hybrid opportunistic and contention-based resource assignment, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0010] Fig. 7 illustrates an Evolved Node B (eNB) and a User Equipment (UE), in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0011] Fig. 8 illustrates hardware processing circuitries for an eNB for resource assignment and interference handling in TDD New Radio (NR) Radio Access Networks (RANs), in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0012] Fig. 9 illustrates methods for an eNB for resource assignment and interference handling in TDD NR RANs, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0013] Fig. 10 illustrates example components of a UE device, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Various wireless cellular communication systems have been implemented or are being proposed, including a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a 3GPP Long-Term Evolution (LTE) system, a 3GPP LTE-Advanced (LTE- A) system, and a 5th Generation wireless / 5th Generation mobile networks (5G) system. Next-generation wireless cellular communication systems may provide support for higher bandwidths in part by supporting various New Radio (NR) features.

[0015] In the following description, numerous details are discussed to provide a more thorough explanation of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0016] Note that in the corresponding drawings of the embodiments, signals are represented with lines. Some lines may be thicker, to indicate a greater number of constituent signal paths, and/or have arrows at one or more ends, to indicate a direction of information flow. Such indications are not intended to be limiting. Rather, the lines are used in connection with one or more exemplary embodiments to facilitate easier understanding of a circuit or a logical unit. Any represented signal, as dictated by design needs or preferences, may actually comprise one or more signals that may travel in either direction and may be implemented with any suitable type of signal scheme.

[0017] Throughout the specification, and in the claims, the term "connected" means a direct electrical, mechanical, or magnetic connection between the things that are connected, without any intermediary devices. The term "coupled" means either a direct electrical, mechanical, or magnetic connection between the things that are connected or an indirect connection through one or more passive or active intermediary devices. The term "circuit" or "module" may refer to one or more passive and/or active components that are arranged to cooperate with one another to provide a desired function. The term "signal" may refer to at least one current signal, voltage signal, magnetic signal, or data/clock signal. The meaning of "a," "an," and "the" include plural references. The meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on."

[0018] The terms "substantially," "close," "approximately," "near," and "about" generally refer to being within +/- 10% of a target value. Unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first," "second," and "third," etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

[0019] It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

[0020] The terms "left," "right," "front," "back," "top," "bottom," "over," "under," and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions.

[0021] For purposes of the embodiments, the transistors in various circuits, modules, and logic blocks are Tunneling FETs (TFETs). Some transistors of various embodiments may comprise metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors, which include drain, source, gate, and bulk terminals. The transistors may also include Tri-Gate and FinFET transistors, Gate All Around Cylindrical Transistors, Square Wire, or Rectangular Ribbon Transistors or other devices implementing transistor functionality like carbon nanotubes or spintronic devices. MOSFET symmetrical source and drain terminals i.e., are identical terminals and are interchangeably used here. A TFET device, on the other hand, has asymmetric Source and Drain terminals. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other transistors, for example, Bi-polar junction transistors-BJT PNP/NPN, BiCMOS, CMOS, etc., may be used for some transistors without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0022] For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrases "A and/or B" and "A or

B" mean (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase "A, B, and/or C" means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).

[0023] In addition, the various elements of combinatorial logic and sequential logic discussed in the present disclosure may pertain both to physical structures (such as AND gates, OR gates, or XOR gates), or to synthesized or otherwise optimized collections of devices implementing the logical structures that are Boolean equivalents of the logic under discussion.

[0024] In addition, for purposes of the present disclosure, the term "Evolved Node-B"

("eNB") may refer to a legacy eNB, a next-generation or 5G eNB, an mmWave eNB, an mmWave small cell, an AP, and/or another base station for a wireless communication system. For purposes of the present disclosure, the term "User Equipment ("UE") may refer to a UE, a 5G UE, an mmWave UE, an STA, and/or another mobile equipment for a wireless communication system.

[0025] Various embodiments of eNBs and/or UEs discussed below may process one or more transmissions of various types. Some processing of a transmission may comprise demodulating, decoding, detecting, parsing, and/or otherwise handling a transmission that has been received. In some embodiments, an eNB or UE processing a transmission may determine or recognize the transmission's type and/or a condition associated with the transmission. For some embodiments, an eNB or UE processing a transmission may act in accordance with the transmission's type, and/or may act conditionally based upon the transmission's type. An eNB or UE processing a transmission may also recognize one or more values or fields of data carried by the transmission. Processing a transmission may comprise moving the transmission through one or more layers of a protocol stack (which may be implemented in, e.g., hardware and/or software-configured elements), such as by moving a transmission that has been received by an eNB or a UE through one or more layers of a protocol stack.

[0026] Various embodiments of eNBs and/or UEs discussed below may also generate one or more transmissions of various types. Some generating of a transmission may comprise modulating, encoding, formatting, assembling, and/or otherwise handling a transmission that is to be transmitted. In some embodiments, an eNB or UE generating a transmission may establish the transmission's type and/or a condition associated with the transmission. For some embodiments, an eNB or UE generating a transmission may act in accordance with the transmission's type, and/or may act conditionally based upon the transmission's type. An eNB or UE generating a transmission may also determine one or more values or fields of data carried by the transmission. Generating a transmission may comprise moving the transmission through one or more layers of a protocol stack (which may be implemented in, e.g., hardware and/or software-configured elements), such as by moving a transmission to be sent by an eNB or a UE through one or more layers of a protocol stack.

[0027] In a Time Division Duplex (TDD) NR Radio Access Networks (RANs), environmental interference may be relatively dynamic due to various factors. One factor may be frequency reuse among radio access links (e.g., radio access links in macro cells, small cells, and/or sidelinks). Another factor may be the use of dynamic or otherwise flexible TDD Downlink (DL) and Uplink (UL) configurations. Yet another factor may be dynamics in numerology and multiplexing at subframe, slot, and/or mini-slot granularities. Another factor may be the inclusion of both DL and UL channels in the same slot.

[0028] Some scenarios may be associated with static and/or semi-static TDD DL and

UL configurations with aligned numerology multiplexing across cells. Other scenarios may be associated with static and/or semi-static TDD DL and UL configurations with different numerology multiplexing across cells. Further scenarios may be associated with dynamic TDD DL and UL configurations with aligned numerology multiplexing across cells. Still other scenarios may be associated with dynamic TDD DL and UL configurations with different numerology multiplexing across cells.

[0029] Fig. 1 illustrates various Time Division Duplex (TDD) numerology and slot multiplexing scenarios, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. In a first scenario 110, a second scenario 120, a third scenario 130, and a fourth scenario 140, two cells are engaged in transmitting DL traffic and receiving UL traffic across two slots in time.

[0030] In first scenario 110, the two cells may be aligned in DL/UL configuration, and may accordingly transmit DL traffic and receive UL traffic at substantially the same time. At the same time, the two cells may also be aligned in numerology and/or slot configuration, and may accordingly have slots of similar length and numerology. In second scenario 120, the two cells may be aligned in DL/UL configuration. However, the two cells may differ in numerology and/or slot configuration, and may accordingly have slots of differing length and/or numerology.

[0031] In third scenario 130, the two cells may be aligned in numerology and/or slot configuration. However, the two cells may differ in DL/UL configuration, and may accordingly transmit DL traffic and/or receive UL traffic at different times. In fourth scenario 140, the two cells may differ in DL/UL configuration. The two cells may also differ in numerology and/or slot configuration.

[0032] Accordingly, for neighboring cells operating in the same carrier, there may be interference among DL links across cells and among UL links across cells. There may also be interference due to DL and UL misalignment among cells (e.g., as a result of dynamic TDD and multiplexing of diverse numerologies and slot or mini-slot types).

[0033] The concepts depicted in these scenarios may be applicable to instances involving more than two cells, and may also be applicable to instances involving more than two numerologies or slot configurations. Moreover, in various embodiments employing TDD sidelink, a UE and one or more peer UEs in direct connectivity may define a sidelink cell. Accordingly, the various TDD numerology and slot multiplexing scenarios of Fig. 1 may apply in scenarios having multiple sidelink cells.

[0034] Fig. 2 illustrates a scenario of Downlink (DL) / Uplink (UL) misalignment between cells having different slot configurations with DL and UL parts in each slot, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. A scenario 200 may comprise a first cell configuration 210 and a second cell configuration 220.

[0035] First cell configuration 210 may have a first numerology and slot

configuration, while second cell configuration 220 may have a second numerology and slot configuration. In both the first numerology and slot configuration and the second numerology and slot configuration, a slot may comprise both a period accommodating DL transmission a period accommodating UL transmission. The second numerology and slot configuration may have a slot duration approximately one fourth the length of a slot duration of the first numerology and slot configuration.

[0036] Accordingly, in diverse-interference scenarios, the misalignment of DL periods and UL periods between the cells may add to interference. TDD NR may accommodate such scenarios, and comparison with TDD LTE scenarios, TDD NR may accommodate dynamic interference environments.

[0037] Effective resource assignment schemes may advantageously facilitate proactive control of interference and maximization of frequency reuse. Various applicable resource assignment schemes may comprise static and semi-static resource assignment, cooperative resource assignment, opportunistic resource access, contention-based resource acquisition, and/or various hybrids of those resource assignment schemes. [0038] In static or semi-static radio resource assignment, radio resources may be assigned to various cells or links in a static or semi-dynamic manner. Moreover, for radio access with stringent quality-of-service requirements, such as Ultra-Reliable and Low- Latency Communications, static or semi-static radio resource assignment may be applied.

[0039] Fig. 3 illustrates a scenario of static and semi-static resource assignment, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. In a scenario 300, different sets of time-and-frequency resources may be assigned to radio resources for four cells. The assignment may be semi-static in that they may be fixed or updated in a relatively long time scale (e.g., in units of tens of minutes, or in units of hours). A static or semi-static resource assignment may be performed via cell planning or network control-plane configuration, or by cooperative negotiation among the cells.

[0040] For static or semi-static resource assignment resource assignment (e.g., control-plane configured resource assignment, or cell cooperative negotiation based resource assignment), a cell may be disposed to collect measurement reports on channel conditions and interference environment from its devices, then report the measurement information to a RAN control-plane entity and/or exchange the measurement information with neighbor cells. In supporting static or semi-static resource assignment, a device may be disposed to perform intra-carrier and/or inter-carrier measurement, then report the measurement results to the Transmission Reception Point (TRP) of its serving cell.

[0041] Fig. 4 illustrates a scenario of dynamic resource assignment, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. In scenario 400, different sets of time-and- frequency resources may be assigned to radio resources for three cells. The assignment may be dynamic in that they may be updated in a relatively short time scale (e.g., in units of milliseconds (ms)). Resource assignment may be updated every subframe based on, for example, instantaneous UE reporting and instantaneous coordination among the cells.

Wideband sounding may advantageously promote instantaneous UE reporting on Channel State Information (CSI).

[0042] For deployment scenarios that incorporate timely inter-cell coordination, cooperative resource assignment and scheduling may be applied. Helpful conditions in such scenarios may include timely measurement, timely exchange of measured network interference footprints among cells, and/or timely coordination of DL and UL transmission and resource assignment. For dynamic TDD, time scales for information exchange and coordination may be on the order of a slot or a mini-slot in duration. [0043] Fig. 5 illustrates scenarios of opportunistic resource assignment, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. A first opportunistic access scenario 500 may comprise a first frame structure 510 and a second frame structure 520, and a second opportunistic access scenario 550 may comprise a third frame structure 560 and a fourth frame structure 570.

[0044] In first opportunistic access scenario 500, first frame structure 510 may comprise transmissions involving a first cell and transmitted across a set of frequency resources assigned to the first cell. The first cell may thus be a primary cell. First frame structure 510 may comprise a DL Control (DLC) channel 511, a DL Measurement or Reference Signal (MRS) channel 512, a UL MRS channel 514, a Data channel 516, and a UL Control (ULC) channel 518 within one or more slots of a first slot length.

[0045] Second frame structure 520 may comprise various transmissions involving a second cell and transmitted across the set of frequency resources assigned to the first cell. In doing so, the second cell may opportunistically access the set of frequency resources. Second frame structure 520 may comprise one or more transmission gaps 521, a Data channel 526, and a ULC channel 528 within one or more slots of a second slot length. The second slot length may be approximately one fourth the duration of the first slot length.

[0046] In second frame structure 520, transmission gaps 521 introduced in the second cell may yield to transmissions involving the first cell. For example, the second cell may follow a Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) procedure. In an LBT procedure, the second cell may refrain from engaging in transmissions which may potentially interfere with transmissions involving the first cell. The second cell may then sense the wireless medium over which the transmissions are transmitted in order to determine whether the second cell may engage in transmissions over the wireless medium without interfering with transmissions of the first cell.

[0047] As an example, during a transmission gap 521 in second frame structure 520, an eNB may format, generate, and transmit DL MRS channel 512, and a UE may format, generate, and transmit UL MRS channel 514. The second cell may sense the wireless medium for the presence of DL MRS channel 512 and/or UL MRS channel 514. If the second cell does not detect DL MRS channel 512 or UL MRS channel 514, the wireless medium may be presumed to be available to the second cell, which may then

opportunistically transmit over the wireless medium.

[0048] In second opportunistic access scenario 550, third frame structure 560 may also comprise transmissions involving a first cell and transmitted across a set of frequency resources assigned to the first cell. The first cell may thus be a primary cell. Third frame structure 560 may comprise a DLC channel 561, a DL MRS channel 562, a UL MRS channel 564, a Data channel 566, and a ULC channel 568 within one or more slots of a first slot length.

[0049] Fourth frame structure 570 may comprise various transmissions involving a second cell and transmitted across the set of frequency resources assigned to the first cell. In doing so, the second cell may opportunistically access the set of frequency resources. Fourth frame structure 570 may comprise one or more transmission gaps 571, a Data channel 576, and a ULC channel 578 within one or more slots of a second slot length. The second slot length may be approximately the same as the duration of the first slot length.

[0050] In second frame structure 570, transmission gaps 571 introduced in the second cell may yield to transmissions involving the first cell, for example by following an LBT procedure.

[0051] Accordingly, during a transmission gap 571 in second frame structure 570, an eNB may format, generate, and transmit DL MRS channel 562, and a UE may format, generate, and transmit UL MRS channel 564. The second cell may sense the wireless medium for the presence of DL MRS channel 562 and/or UL MRS channel 564. If the second cell does not detect DL MRS channel 562 or UL MRS channel 564, the wireless medium may be presumed to be available to the second cell, which may then

opportunistically transmit over the wireless medium.

[0052] For deployment scenarios in which a given radio resource may be scheduled with a primary radio access link, opportunistic access may be applied which allows other radio links to opportunistically access the resource. For example, enhanced Mobile

BroadBand (eMBB) radio links may have opportunistic access to resources assigned for Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) services, and sidelinks may have opportunistic access to resources assigned for cellular links. In various embodiments, opportunistic access may be more suitable for best-effort services.

[0053] A primary radio link may accordingly provide common reference signals for measurement, and may then advantageously achieve more accurate measurement and more efficient opportunistic access. Opportunistic access performance better than LBT may advantageously be obtained by enabling various mechanisms.

[0054] An opportunistic access cell may benefit from knowledge of a primary cell's

Cell Identification number (Cell ID), which may comprise a Cell ID associated with a synchronization signal (e.g., via Primary Synchronization Signal and/or Secondary Synchronization Signal), or a Cell ID carried by broadcast System Information (e.g., via Master Information Block and/or System Information Block). An opportunistic access cell may also benefit from knowing a primary cell's subframe type and/or structure (e.g., information such as subframe type, subframe duration, and/or location of the DL and UL parts of the subframe). This may be achieved by signaling subframe type and structure information as cell-specific common information in a DLC channel, or by a resource-specific reference signal, for example.

[0055] When the subframes in a primary cell may have both DL and UL parts, a primary cell may benefit from having DL and/or UL measurement channel or reference signal in each subframe. For primary cells operating in a dynamic TDD mode, DL and/or UL measurement channel and reference signals may be advantageously transmitted toward the beginning of a subframe.

[0056] Contention-based resource access can be applied for various deployment scenarios in which multiple radio links may have equal rights to use a given radio resource. In comparison with cooperative resource assignment, contention-based resource assignment may be more scalable and/or more feasible for deployment scenarios lacking good cell planning and inter-cell coordination.

[0057] Opportunistic resource assignment and contention-based resource assignment may accordingly be jointly applied to achieve autonomous resource assignment. In opportunistic resource access, links may opportunistically access a resource that is primary assigned for other radio links. In contention-based resource access, links may acquire radio resources that multiple links may have equal rights to use.

[0058] Fig. 6 illustrates a scenario of hybrid opportunistic and contention-based resource assignment, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. A hybrid opportunistic and contention-based resource assignment scenario 600 may comprise a first frame structure 610, a second frame structure 620, and a third frame structure 630.

[0059] In hybrid opportunistic and contention-based resource assignment scenario

600, first frame structure 610 may comprise transmissions involving a first cell and transmitted across a set of frequency resources assigned to the first cell. The first cell may thus be a primary cell. First frame structure 610 may comprise a DLC channel 611, a DL MRS channel 612, a UL MRS channel 614, a Data channel 616, and a ULC channel 618 within one or more slots of a first slot length.

[0060] Second frame structure 620 may comprise various transmissions involving a second cell and transmitted across the set of frequency resources assigned to the first cell. In doing so, the second cell may opportunistically access the set of frequency resources. Second frame structure 620 may comprise one or more transmission gaps 621 , a Data channel 626, and a ULC channel 628 within one or more slots of a second slot length. The second slot length may be approximately one fourth the duration of the first slot length.

[0061] Third frame structure 630 may comprise various transmissions involving a third cell and transmitted across the set of frequency resources assigned to the first cell. In doing so, the third cell may opportunistically access the set of frequency resources. Third frame structure 630 may comprise one or more transmission gaps 631 , a Data channel 636, and a ULC channel 638 within one or more slots of a third slot length. The third slot length may be approximately one fourth the duration of the first slot length.

[0062] Transmission gaps 621 and 631 may yield to transmissions involving the first cell. For example, the second cell and third cell may follow LBT procedures to refrain from transmitting over a wireless medium, then sense the wireless medium to determine whether the second cell and third cell may engage in transmissions over the wireless medium without interfering with transmissions of the first cell. Subsequently, if the LBT procedures followed by the second cell and the third cell indicate would permit the second cell and third cell to transmit over the wireless medium, the second cell and third cell may perform an autonomous contention resolution policy to determine which cell among them may transmit over the wireless medium.

[0063] The performance of contention-based access may be improved if some coordination can be achieved among the links. In such scenarios, a hybrid scheduled and contention-based resource assignment approach may be advantageous. Such deployment scenarios may comprise multiple small cells opportunistically accessing resources primarily assigned to a macro cell. In such scenarios, small cells may content among themselves to use an opportunistically-obtained resource.

[0064] Proper resource assignment may minimize strong interference. Remaining interference may be managed by proper interference handling schemes. Such interference handling schemes may include proactive rate adaption and power control at transmitter, and/or advanced interference cancellation schemes at a receiver.

[0065] On the transmitter side, when interference condition can be obtained based on instantaneously measurement or derived based on previously measurement, rate adaption and power control may be applied to proactively avoid link failure due to excessive interference. On the receiver side, advanced interference cancellation schemes may be applied to minimize effects of interference. When good cooperation can be achieved among receivers, coordinated interference cancellation and joint receiver processing may be applied.

[0066] Fig. 7 illustrates an eNB and a UE, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. Fig. 7 includes block diagrams of an eNB 710 and a UE 730 which are operable to co-exist with each other and other elements of an LTE network. High-level, simplified architectures of eNB 710 and UE 730 are described so as not to obscure the embodiments. It should be noted that in some embodiments, eNB 710 may be a stationary non-mobile device.

[0067] eNB 710 is coupled to one or more antennas 705, and UE 730 is similarly coupled to one or more antennas 725. However, in some embodiments, eNB 710 may incorporate or comprise antennas 705, and UE 730 in various embodiments may incorporate or comprise antennas 725.

[0068] In some embodiments, antennas 705 and/or antennas 725 may comprise one or more directional or omni-directional antennas, including monopole antennas, dipole antennas, loop antennas, patch antennas, microstrip antennas, coplanar wave antennas, or other types of antennas suitable for transmission of RF signals. In some MIMO (multiple-input and multiple output) embodiments, antennas 705 are separated to take advantage of spatial diversity.

[0069] eNB 710 and UE 730 are operable to communicate with each other on a network, such as a wireless network. eNB 710 and UE 730 may be in communication with each other over a wireless communication channel 750, which has both a downlink path from eNB 710 to UE 730 and an uplink path from UE 730 to eNB 710.

[0070] As illustrated in Fig. 7, in some embodiments, eNB 710 may include a physical layer circuitry 712, a MAC (media access control) circuitry 714, a processor 716, a memory 718, and a hardware processing circuitry 720. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that other components not shown may be used in addition to the components shown to form a complete eNB.

[0071] In some embodiments, physical layer circuitry 712 includes a transceiver 713 for providing signals to and from UE 730. Transceiver 713 provides signals to and from UEs or other devices using one or more antennas 705. In some embodiments, MAC circuitry 714 controls access to the wireless medium. Memory 718 may be, or may include, a storage media/medium such as a magnetic storage media (e.g., magnetic tapes or magnetic disks), an optical storage media (e.g., optical discs), an electronic storage media (e.g., conventional hard disk drives, solid-state disk drives, or flash-memory-based storage media), or any tangible storage media or non-transitory storage media. Hardware processing circuitry 720 may comprise logic devices or circuitry to perform various operations. In some embodiments, processor 716 and memory 718 are arranged to perform the operations of hardware processing circuitry 720, such as operations described herein with reference to logic devices and circuitry within eNB 710 and/or hardware processing circuitry 720.

[0072] Accordingly, in some embodiments, eNB 710 may be a device comprising an application processor, a memory, one or more antenna ports, and an interface for allowing the application processor to communicate with another device.

[0073] As is also illustrated in Fig. 7, in some embodiments, UE 730 may include a physical layer circuitry 732, a MAC circuitry 734, a processor 736, a memory 738, a hardware processing circuitry 740, a wireless interface 742, and a display 744. A person skilled in the art would appreciate that other components not shown may be used in addition to the components shown to form a complete UE.

[0074] In some embodiments, physical layer circuitry 732 includes a transceiver 733 for providing signals to and from eNB 710 (as well as other eNBs). Transceiver 733 provides signals to and from eNBs or other devices using one or more antennas 725. In some embodiments, MAC circuitry 734 controls access to the wireless medium. Memory 738 may be, or may include, a storage media/medium such as a magnetic storage media (e.g., magnetic tapes or magnetic disks), an optical storage media (e.g., optical discs), an electronic storage media (e.g., conventional hard disk drives, solid-state disk drives, or flash-memory -based storage media), or any tangible storage media or non-transitory storage media. Wireless interface 742 may be arranged to allow the processor to communicate with another device. Display 744 may provide a visual and/or tactile display for a user to interact with UE 730, such as a touch-screen display. Hardware processing circuitry 740 may comprise logic devices or circuitry to perform various operations. In some embodiments, processor 736 and memory 738 may be arranged to perform the operations of hardware processing circuitry 740, such as operations described herein with reference to logic devices and circuitry within UE 730 and/or hardware processing circuitry 740.

[0075] Accordingly, in some embodiments, UE 730 may be a device comprising an application processor, a memory, one or more antennas, a wireless interface for allowing the application processor to communicate with another device, and a touch-screen display.

[0076] Elements of Fig. 7, and elements of other figures having the same names or reference numbers, can operate or function in the manner described herein with respect to any such figures (although the operation and function of such elements is not limited to such descriptions). For example, Figs. 8 and 10 also depict embodiments of eNBs, hardware processing circuitry of eNBs, UEs, and/or hardware processing circuitry of UEs, and the embodiments described with respect to Fig. 7 and Figs. 8 and 10 can operate or function in the manner described herein with respect to any of the figures.

[0077] In addition, although eNB 710 and UE 730 are each described as having several separate functional elements, one or more of the functional elements may be combined and may be implemented by combinations of software-configured elements and/or other hardware elements. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the functional elements can refer to one or more processes operating on one or more processing elements. Examples of software and/or hardware configured elements include Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), one or more microprocessors, DSPs, Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFICs), and so

[0078] Fig. 8 illustrates hardware processing circuitries for an eNB for resource assignment and interference handling in TDD New Radio (NR) Radio Access Networks (RANs), in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. With reference to Fig. 7, an eNB may include various hardware processing circuitries discussed below (such as hardware processing circuitry 800 of Fig. 8), which may in turn comprise logic devices and/or circuitry operable to perform various operations. For example, in Fig. 7, eNB 710 (or various elements or components therein, such as hardware processing circuitry 720, or combinations of elements or components therein) may include part of, or all of, these hardware processing circuitries.

[0079] In some embodiments, one or more devices or circuitries within these hardware processing circuitries may be implemented by combinations of software-configured elements and/or other hardware elements. For example, processor 716 (and/or one or more other processors which eNB 710 may comprise), memory 718, and/or other elements or components of eNB 710 (which may include hardware processing circuitry 720) may be arranged to perform the operations of these hardware processing circuitries, such as operations described herein with reference to devices and circuitry within these hardware processing circuitries. In some embodiments, processor 716 (and/or one or more other processors which eNB 710 may comprise) may be a baseband processor.

[0080] Returning to Fig. 8, an apparatus of eNB 710 (or another eNB or base station), which may be operable to communicate with one or more UEs on a wireless network, may comprise hardware processing circuitry 800. In some embodiments, hardware processing circuitry 800 may comprise one or more antenna ports 805 operable to provide various transmissions over a wireless communication channel (such as wireless communication channel 750). Antenna ports 805 may be coupled to one or more antennas 807 (which may be antennas 705). In some embodiments, hardware processing circuitry 800 may incorporate antennas 807, while in other embodiments, hardware processing circuitry 800 may merely be coupled to antennas 807.

[0081] Antenna ports 805 and antennas 807 may be operable to provide signals from an eNB to a wireless communications channel and/or a UE, and may be operable to provide signals from a UE and/or a wireless communications channel to an eNB. For example, antenna ports 805 and antennas 807 may be operable to provide transmissions from eNB 710 to wireless communication channel 750 (and from there to UE 730, or to another UE).

Similarly, antennas 807 and antenna ports 805 may be operable to provide transmissions from a wireless communication channel 750 (and beyond that, from UE 730, or another UE) to eNB 710.

[0082] With reference to Fig. 8, hardware processing circuitry 800 may comprise a first circuitry 810, a second circuitry 820, a third circuitry 830, and/or a fourth circuitry 840. First circuitry 810 may be operable to record at least one of: a DL subframe position for a first cell of the wireless network, or an UL subframe position for the first cell. Second circuitry 820 may be operable to decode, within a subframe for the first cell, a transmission comprising at least one of: a DL measurement channel at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a DL Reference Signal at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a UL measurement channel at the UL subframe position for the first cell, or a UL Reference Signal at the UL subframe position for the first cell. Second circuitry 820 may provide information regarding the decoded transmission to third circuitry 830 over an interface 825. Third circuitry 830 may be operable to determine an interference level of the first cell based on the decoded transmission. Third circuitry 830 may provide an indicator of interference level to fourth circuitry 840 over an interface 835. Fourth circuitry 840 may be operable to allocate a data channel in a subframe for a second cell of the wireless network if the interference level is below a predetermined threshold.

[0083] In some embodiments, the transmission may be transmitted by a primary cell over a set of TDD duplex frequency resources. For some embodiments, first circuitry 810 may be operable to record a Cell ID and subframe duration for the first cell. In some embodiments, second circuitry 820 may be operable to decode the Cell ID from one of: a Synchronization Signal, or a broadcast System Information transmission. Second circuitry 820 may be operable to provide the Cell ID to first circuitry 810 over an interface 827. For some embodiments, the second cell may be a neighbor cell of the first cell. In some embodiments, the decoding may be part of a listen-before-talk procedure encompassing at least one of: the DL subframe position for the first cell, and the UL subframe position for the first cell.

[0084] For some embodiments, second circuitry 820 may be operable to detect an additional transmission for the first cell carrying one of: a DLC channel for the first cell, or a cell-specific resource signal. In some embodiments, the second circuitry 820 may also be operable to decode, from the additional transmission, at least one of: a Cell ID, a DL-or-UL subframe type indicator, a subframe duration, the DL subframe position for the first cell, or the UL subframe position for the first cell. For some embodiments, second circuitry 820 may be operable to decode a Cell ID from a cell-specific reference signal for the first cell.

[0085] In some embodiments, a subframe duration for the first cell may be an integer multiple of a subframe duration for the second cell. For some embodiments, a subframe duration for the first cell may be substantially the same as a subframe duration for the second cell. In some embodiments, third circuitry 830 may be operable to perform an autonomous contention resolution policy with a third cell.

[0086] In some embodiments, first circuitry 810, second circuitry 820, third circuitry

830, and/or fourth circuitry 840 may be implemented as separate circuitries. In other embodiments, first circuitry 810, second circuitry 820, third circuitry 830, and/or fourth circuitry 840 may be combined and implemented together in a circuitry without altering the essence of the embodiments.

[0087] Fig. 9 illustrates methods for an eNB for resource assignment and interference handling in TDD NR RANs, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. With reference to Fig. 7, various methods that may relate to eNB 710 and hardware processing circuitry 720 are discussed below. Although the actions in method 900 of Fig. 9 are shown in a particular order, the order of the actions can be modified. Thus, the illustrated

embodiments can be performed in a different order, and some actions may be performed in parallel. Some of the actions and/or operations listed in Fig. 9 are optional in accordance with certain embodiments. The numbering of the actions presented is for the sake of clarity and is not intended to prescribe an order of operations in which the various actions must occur. Additionally, operations from the various flows may be utilized in a variety of combinations.

[0088] Moreover, in some embodiments, machine readable storage media may have executable instructions that, when executed, cause eNB 710 and/or hardware processing circuitry 720 to perform an operation comprising the methods of Fig. 9. Such machine readable storage media may include any of a variety of storage media, like magnetic storage media (e.g., magnetic tapes or magnetic disks), optical storage media (e.g., optical discs), electronic storage media (e.g., conventional hard disk drives, solid-state disk drives, or flash- memory-based storage media), or any other tangible storage media or non-transitory storage media.

[0089] In some embodiments, an apparatus may comprise means for performing various actions and/or operations of the methods of Fig. 9.

[0090] Returning to Fig. 9, a method 900 may comprise a recording 910, a decoding

915, a determining 920, an allocating 925, a recording 930, a decoding 940, a detecting 950, a decoding 955, a decoding 960, and/or a performing 970. In recording 910, at least one of a DL subframe position for a first cell of the wireless network, or an UL subframe position for the first cell may be recorded. IN decoding 915, a transmission may be decoded within a subframe for the first cell, the transmission comprising at least one of: a DL measurement channel at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a DL Reference Signal at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a UL measurement channel at the UL subframe position for the first cell, or a UL Reference Signal at the UL subframe position for the first cell. In determining 920, an interference level of the first cell may be determined based on the decoded transmission. In allocating 925, a data channel may be allocated in a subframe for a second cell of the wireless network if the interference level is below a predetermined threshold.

[0091] In some embodiments, the transmission may be transmitted by a primary cell over a set of TDD duplex frequency resources. In recording 930, a Cell ID and subframe duration may be recorded for the first cell. In decoding 940, the Cell ID may be decoded from one of: a Synchronization Signal, or a broadcast System Information transmission. In some embodiments, the second cell may be a neighbor cell of the first cell. For some embodiments, the decoding may be part of a listen-before-talk procedure encompassing at least one of: the DL subframe position for the first cell, and the UL subframe position for the first cell.

[0092] In detecting 950, an additional transmission for the first cell may be detected, the additional transmission carrying one of: a DLC channel for the first cell, or a cell-specific resource signal. In decoding 955, at least one of a Cell ID, a DL-or-UL subframe type indicator, a subframe duration, the DL subframe position for the first cell, or the UL subframe position for the first cell may be decoded from the additional transmission. [0093] In decoding 960, a Cell ID may be decoded from a cell-specific reference signal for the first cell. In some embodiments, a subframe duration for the first cell may be an integer multiple of a subframe duration for the second cell. For some embodiments, a subframe duration for the first cell may be substantially the same as a subframe duration for the second cell. In performing 970, an autonomous contention resolution policy may be performed with a third cell.

[0001] Fig. 10 illustrates example components of a UE device, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, a UE device 1000 may include application circuitry 1002, baseband circuitry 1004, Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry 1006, front-end module (FEM) circuitry 1008, a low-power wake-up receiver (LP-WUR), and one or more antennas 1010, coupled together at least as shown. In some embodiments, the UE device 1000 may include additional elements such as, for example, memory /storage, display, camera, sensor, and/or input/output (I/O) interface.

[0002] The application circuitry 1002 may include one or more application processors. For example, the application circuitry 1002 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The processor(s) may include any combination of general-purpose processors and dedicated processors (e.g., graphics processors, application processors, etc.). The processors may be coupled with and/or may include memory /storage and may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory /storage to enable various applications and/or operating systems to run on the system.

[0003] The baseband circuitry 1004 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The baseband circuitry 1004 may include one or more baseband processors and/or control logic to process baseband signals received from a receive signal path of the RF circuitry 1006 and to generate baseband signals for a transmit signal path of the RF circuitry 1006. Baseband processing circuity 1004 may interface with the application circuitry 1002 for generation and processing of the baseband signals and for controlling operations of the RF circuitry 1006. For example, in some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1004 may include a second generation (2G) baseband processor 1004A, third generation (3G) baseband processor 1004B, fourth generation (4G) baseband processor 1004C, and/or other baseband processor(s) 1004D for other existing generations, generations in development or to be developed in the future (e.g., fifth generation (5G), 6G, etc.). The baseband circuitry 1004 (e.g., one or more of baseband processors 1004A-D) may handle various radio control functions that enable communication with one or more radio networks via the RF circuitry 1006. The radio control functions may include, but are not limited to, signal modulation/demodulation, encoding/decoding, radio frequency shifting, etc. In some embodiments, modulation/demodulation circuitry of the baseband circuitry 1004 may include Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT), precoding, and/or constellation mapping/demapping functionality. In some embodiments, encoding/decoding circuitry of the baseband circuitry 1004 may include convolution, tail-biting convolution, turbo, Viterbi, and/or Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) encoder/decoder functionality. Embodiments of modulation/demodulation and encoder/decoder functionality are not limited to these examples and may include other suitable functionality in other embodiments.

[0004] In some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1004 may include elements of a protocol stack such as, for example, elements of an EUTRAN protocol including, for example, physical (PHY), media access control (MAC), radio link control (RLC), packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), and/or RRC elements. A central processing unit (CPU) 1004E of the baseband circuitry 1004 may be configured to run elements of the protocol stack for signaling of the PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP and/or RRC layers. In some

embodiments, the baseband circuitry may include one or more audio digital signal processor(s) (DSP) 1004F. The audio DSP(s) 1004F may be include elements for compression/decompression and echo cancellation and may include other suitable processing elements in other embodiments. Components of the baseband circuitry may be suitably combined in a single chip, a single chipset, or disposed on a same circuit board in some embodiments. In some embodiments, some or all of the constituent components of the baseband circuitry 1004 and the application circuitry 1002 may be implemented together such as, for example, on a system on a chip (SOC).

[0005] In some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1004 may provide for communication compatible with one or more radio technologies. For example, in some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1004 may support communication with an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) and/or other wireless metropolitan area networks (WMAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless personal area network (WPAN). Embodiments in which the baseband circuitry 1004 is configured to support radio communications of more than one wireless protocol may be referred to as multi-mode baseband circuitry.

[0006] RF circuitry 1006 may enable communication with wireless networks using modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. In various embodiments, the RF circuitry 1006 may include switches, filters, amplifiers, etc. to facilitate the communication with the wireless network. RF circuitry 1006 may include a receive signal path which may include circuitry to down-convert RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 1008 and provide baseband signals to the baseband circuitry 1004. RF circuitry 1006 may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry to up- convert baseband signals provided by the baseband circuitry 1004 and provide RF output signals to the FEM circuitry 1008 for transmission.

[0007] In some embodiments, the RF circuitry 1006 may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. The receive signal path of the RF circuitry 1006 may include mixer circuitry 1006 A, amplifier circuitry 1006B and filter circuitry 1006C. The transmit signal path of the RF circuitry 1006 may include filter circuitry 1006C and mixer circuitry 1006 A. RF circuitry 1006 may also include synthesizer circuitry 1006D for synthesizing a frequency for use by the mixer circuitry 1006A of the receive signal path and the transmit signal path. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1006 A of the receive signal path may be configured to down-convert RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 1008 based on the synthesized frequency provided by synthesizer circuitry 1006D. The amplifier circuitry 1006B may be configured to amplify the down-converted signals and the filter circuitry 1006C may be a low-pass filter (LPF) or band-pass filter (BPF) configured to remove unwanted signals from the down-converted signals to generate output baseband signals. Output baseband signals may be provided to the baseband circuitry 1004 for further processing. In some embodiments, the output baseband signals may be zero-frequency baseband signals, although this is not a requirement. In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1006A of the receive signal path may comprise passive mixers, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

[0008] In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1006A of the transmit signal path may be configured to up-convert input baseband signals based on the synthesized frequency provided by the synthesizer circuitry 1006D to generate RF output signals for the FEM circuitry 1008. The baseband signals may be provided by the baseband circuitry 1004 and may be filtered by filter circuitry 1006C. The filter circuitry 1006C may include a low-pass filter (LPF), although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

[0009] In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1006A of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1006A of the transmit signal path may include two or more mixers and may be arranged for quadrature down-conversion and/or up-conversion respectively. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1006A of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1006A of the transmit signal path may include two or more mixers and may be arranged for image rejection (e.g., Hartley image rejection). In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1006 A of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1006 A may be arranged for direct down-conversion and/or direct up-conversion, respectively. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1006 A of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1006A of the transmit signal path may be configured for super-heterodyne operation.

[0010] In some embodiments, the output baseband signals and the input baseband signals may be analog baseband signals, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. In some alternate embodiments, the output baseband signals and the input baseband signals may be digital baseband signals. In these alternate embodiments, the RF circuitry 1006 may include analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry and the baseband circuitry 1004 may include a digital baseband interface to communicate with the RF circuitry 1006.

[0011] In some dual-mode embodiments, a separate radio IC circuitry may be provided for processing signals for each spectrum, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

[0012] In some embodiments, the synthesizer circuitry 1006D may be a fractional -N synthesizer or a fractional N/N+l synthesizer, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect as other types of frequency synthesizers may be suitable. For example, synthesizer circuitry 1006D may be a delta-sigma synthesizer, a frequency multiplier, or a synthesizer comprising a phase-locked loop with a frequency divider.

[0013] The synthesizer circuitry 1006D may be configured to synthesize an output frequency for use by the mixer circuitry 1006A of the RF circuitry 1006 based on a frequency input and a divider control input. In some embodiments, the synthesizer circuitry 1006D may be a fractional N/N+l synthesizer.

[0014] In some embodiments, frequency input may be provided by a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), although that is not a requirement. Divider control input may be provided by either the baseband circuitry 1004 or the applications processor 1002 depending on the desired output frequency. In some embodiments, a divider control input (e.g., N) may be determined from a look-up table based on a channel indicated by the applications processor 1002.

[0015] Synthesizer circuitry 1006D of the RF circuitry 1006 may include a divider, a delay-locked loop (DLL), a multiplexer and a phase accumulator. In some embodiments, the divider may be a dual modulus divider (DMD) and the phase accumulator may be a digital phase accumulator (DP A). In some embodiments, the DMD may be configured to divide the input signal by either N or N+l (e.g., based on a carry out) to provide a fractional division ratio. In some example embodiments, the DLL may include a set of cascaded, tunable, delay elements, a phase detector, a charge pump and a D-type flip-flop. In these embodiments, the delay elements may be configured to break a VCO period up into Nd equal packets of phase, where Nd is the number of delay elements in the delay line. In this way, the DLL provides negative feedback to help ensure that the total delay through the delay line is one VCO cycle.

[0016] In some embodiments, synthesizer circuitry 1006D may be configured to generate a carrier frequency as the output frequency, while in other embodiments, the output frequency may be a multiple of the carrier frequency (e.g., twice the carrier frequency, four times the carrier frequency) and used in conjunction with quadrature generator and divider circuitry to generate multiple signals at the carrier frequency with multiple different phases with respect to each other. In some embodiments, the output frequency may be a LO frequency (fLO). In some embodiments, the RF circuitry 1006 may include an IQ/polar converter.

[0017] FEM circuitry 1008 may include a receive signal path which may include circuitry configured to operate on RF signals received from one or more antennas 1010, amplify the received signals and provide the amplified versions of the received signals to the RF circuitry 1006 for further processing. FEM circuitry 1008 may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry configured to amplify signals for transmission provided by the RF circuitry 1006 for transmission by one or more of the one or more antennas 1010.

[0018] In some embodiments, the FEM circuitry 1008 may include a TX/RX switch to switch between transmit mode and receive mode operation. The FEM circuitry may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. The receive signal path of the FEM circuitry may include a low-noise amplifier (LNA) to amplify received RF signals and provide the amplified received RF signals as an output (e.g., to the RF circuitry 1006). The transmit signal path of the FEM circuitry 1008 may include a power amplifier (PA) to amplify input RF signals (e.g., provided by RF circuitry 1006), and one or more filters to generate RF signals for subsequent transmission (e.g., by one or more of the one or more antennas 1010.

[0019] In some embodiments, the UE 1000 comprises a plurality of power saving mechanisms. If the UE 1000 is in an RRC_Connected state, where it is still connected to the eNB as it expects to receive traffic shortly, then it may enter a state known as Discontinuous Reception Mode (DRX) after a period of inactivity. During this state, the device may power down for brief intervals of time and thus save power. [0020] If there is no data traffic activity for an extended period of time, then the UE

1000 may transition off to an RRC Idle state, where it disconnects from the network and does not perform operations such as channel quality feedback, handover, etc. The UE 1000 goes into a very low power state and it performs paging where again it periodically wakes up to listen to the network and then powers down again. Since the device might not receive data in this state, in order to receive data, it should transition back to RRC Connected state.

[0021] An additional power saving mode may allow a device to be unavailable to the network for periods longer than a paging interval (ranging from seconds to a few hours). During this time, the device is totally unreachable to the network and may power down completely. Any data sent during this time incurs a large delay and it is assumed the delay is acceptable.

[0022] In addition, in various embodiments, an eNB may include components substantially similar to one or more of the example components of UE device 1000 described herein.

[0094] Reference in the specification to "an embodiment," "one embodiment," "some embodiments," or "other embodiments" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments. The various appearances of "an embodiment," "one embodiment," or "some embodiments" are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. If the specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic "may," "might," or "could" be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to "a" or "an" element, that does not mean there is only one of the elements. If the specification or claims refer to "an additional" element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

[0095] Furthermore, the particular features, structures, functions, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. For example, a first embodiment may be combined with a second embodiment anywhere the particular features, structures, functions, or characteristics associated with the two embodiments are not mutually exclusive.

[0096] While the disclosure has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, many alternatives, modifications and variations of such embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the foregoing description. For example, other memory architectures e.g., Dynamic RAM (DRAM) may use the embodiments discussed. The embodiments of the disclosure are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as to fall within the broad scope of the appended claims.

[0097] In addition, well known power/ground connections to integrated circuit (IC) chips and other components may or may not be shown within the presented figures, for simplicity of illustration and discussion, and so as not to obscure the disclosure. Further, arrangements may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the disclosure, and also in view of the fact that specifics with respect to implementation of such block diagram arrangements are highly dependent upon the platform within which the present disclosure is to be implemented (i.e., such specifics should be well within purview of one skilled in the art). Where specific details (e.g., circuits) are set forth in order to describe example embodiments of the disclosure, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the disclosure can be practiced without, or with variation of, these specific details. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.

[0098] The following examples pertain to further embodiments. Specifics in the examples may be used anywhere in one or more embodiments. All optional features of the apparatus described herein may also be implemented with respect to a method or process.

[0099] Example 1 provides an apparatus of an Evolved Node B (eNB) operable to communicate with a User Equipment (UE) on a wireless network, comprising: one or more processors to: record at least one of: a Downlink (DL) subframe position for a first cell of the wireless network, or an Uplink (UL) subframe position for the first cell; decode, within a subframe for the first cell, a transmission comprising at least one of: a DL measurement channel at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a DL Reference Signal at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a UL measurement channel at the UL subframe position for the first cell, or a UL Reference Signal at the UL subframe position for the first cell; determine an interference level of the first cell based on the decoded transmission; and allocate a data channel in a subframe for a second cell of the wireless network if the interference level is below a predetermined threshold.

[00100] In example 2, the apparatus of example 1, wherein the transmission is transmitted by a primary cell over a set of TDD duplex frequency resources.

[00101] In example 3, the apparatus of either of examples 1 or 2, wherein the one or more processors are to: record a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) and subframe duration for the first cell. [00102] In example 4, the apparatus of example 3, wherein the one or more processors are to: decode the Cell ID from one of: a Synchronization Signal, or a broadcast System Information transmission.

[00103] In example 5, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 4, wherein the second cell is a neighbor cell of the first cell.

[00104] In example 6, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 5, wherein the decoding is part of a listen-before-talk procedure encompassing at least one of: the DL subframe position for the first cell, and the UL subframe position for the first cell.

[00105] In example 7, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 6, wherein the one or more processors are to: detect an additional transmission for the first cell carrying one of: a DL Control (DLC) channel for the first cell, or a cell-specific resource signal; and decode, from the additional transmission, at least one of: a Cell Identification number (Cell ID), a DL-or-UL subframe type indicator, a subframe duration, the DL subframe position for the first cell, or the UL subframe position for the first cell.

[00106] In example 8, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 7, wherein the one or more processors are to: decode a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) from a cell-specific reference signal for the first cell.

[00107] In example 9, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 8, wherein a subframe duration for the first cell is an integer multiple of a subframe duration for the second cell.

[00108] In example 10, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 9, wherein a subframe duration for the first cell is substantially the same as a subframe duration for the second cell.

[00109] In example 11 , the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 10, wherein the one or more processors are to: perform an autonomous contention resolution policy with a third cell.

[00110] Example 12 provides an Evolved Node B (eNB) device comprising an application processor, a memory, one or more antenna ports, and an interface for allowing the application processor to communicate with another device, the eNB device including the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 1 1.

[00111] Example 13 provides an Evolved Node B (eNB) device comprising an application processor, a memory, one or more antenna ports, and an interface for allowing the application processor to communicate with another device, the eNB device including an apparatus of an Evolved Node B (eNB) operable to communicate with a User Equipment (UE) on a wireless network, comprising: one or more processors to: record at least one of: a Downlink (DL) subframe position for a first cell of the wireless network, or an Uplink (UL) subframe position for the first cell; decode, within a subframe for the first cell, a transmission comprising at least one of: a DL measurement channel at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a DL Reference Signal at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a UL measurement channel at the UL subframe position for the first cell, or a UL Reference Signal at the UL subframe position for the first cell; determine an interference level of the first cell based on the decoded transmission; and allocate a data channel in a subframe for a second cell of the wireless network if the interference level is below a predetermined threshold.

[00112] In example 14, the device of example 13, wherein the transmission is transmitted by a primary cell over a set of TDD duplex frequency resources.

[00113] In example 15, the device of either of examples 13 or 14, wherein the one or more processors are to: record a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) and subframe duration for the first cell.

[00114] In example 16, the device of example 15, wherein the one or more processors are to: decode the Cell ID from one of: a Synchronization Signal, or a broadcast System Information transmission.

[00115] In example 17, the device of any of examples 13 through 16, wherein the second cell is a neighbor cell of the first cell.

[00116] In example 18, the device of any of examples 13 through 17, wherein the decoding is part of a listen-before-talk procedure encompassing at least one of: the DL subframe position for the first cell, and the UL subframe position for the first cell.

[00117] In example 19, the device of any of examples 13 through 18, wherein the one or more processors are to: detect an additional transmission for the first cell carrying one of: a DL Control (DLC) channel for the first cell, or a cell-specific resource signal; and decode, from the additional transmission, at least one of: a Cell Identification number (Cell ID), a DL-or-UL subframe type indicator, a subframe duration, the DL subframe position for the first cell, or the UL subframe position for the first cell.

[00118] In example 20, the device of any of examples 13 through 19, wherein the one or more processors are to: decode a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) from a cell-specific reference signal for the first cell.

[00119] In example 21, the device of any of examples 13 through 20, wherein a subframe duration for the first cell is an integer multiple of a subframe duration for the second cell. [00120] In example 22, the device of any of examples 13 through 21, wherein a subframe duration for the first cell is substantially the same as a subframe duration for the second cell.

[00121] In example 23, the device of any of examples 13 through 22, wherein the one or more processors are to: perform an autonomous contention resolution policy with a third cell.

[00122] Example 24 provides a method comprising: recording at least one of: a

Downlink (DL) subframe position for a first cell of the wireless network, or an Uplink (UL) subframe position for the first cell; decoding, within a subframe for the first cell, a transmission comprising at least one of: a DL measurement channel at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a DL Reference Signal at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a UL measurement channel at the UL subframe position for the first cell, or a UL Reference Signal at the UL subframe position for the first cell; determining an interference level of the first cell based on the decoded transmission; and allocating a data channel in a subframe for a second cell of the wireless network if the interference level is below a predetermined threshold.

[00123] In example 25, the method of example 24, wherein the transmission is transmitted by a primary cell over a set of TDD duplex frequency resources.

[00124] In example 26, the method of either of examples 24 or 25, comprising:

recording a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) and subframe duration for the first cell.

[00125] In example 27, the method of example 26, comprising: decoding the Cell ID from one of: a Synchronization Signal, or a broadcast System Information transmission.

[00126] In example 28, the method of any of examples 24 through 27, wherein the second cell is a neighbor cell of the first cell.

[00127] In example 29, the method of any of examples 24 through 28, wherein the decoding is part of a listen-before-talk procedure encompassing at least one of: the DL subframe position for the first cell, and the UL subframe position for the first cell.

[00128] In example 30, the method of any of examples 24 through 29, comprising: detecting an additional transmission for the first cell carrying one of: a DL Control (DLC) channel for the first cell, or a cell-specific resource signal; and decoding, from the additional transmission, at least one of: a Cell Identification number (Cell ID), a DL-or-UL subframe type indicator, a subframe duration, the DL subframe position for the first cell, or the UL subframe position for the first cell. [00129] In example 31, the method of any of examples 24 through 30, comprising: decoding a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) from a cell-specific reference signal for the first cell.

[00130] In example 32, the method of any of examples 24 through 31, wherein a subframe duration for the first cell is an integer multiple of a subframe duration for the second cell.

[00131] In example 33, the method of any of examples 24 through 32, wherein a subframe duration for the first cell is substantially the same as a subframe duration for the second cell.

[00132] In example 34, the method of any of examples 24 through 33, comprising: performing an autonomous contention resolution policy with a third cell.

[00133] Example 35 provides machine readable storage media having machine executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform a method according to any of examples 24 through 34.

[00134] Example 36 provides an apparatus of an Evolved Node B (eNB) operable to communicate with a User Equipment (UE) on a wireless network comprising: means for recording at least one of: a Downlink (DL) subframe position for a first cell of the wireless network, or an Uplink (UL) subframe position for the first cell; means for decoding, within a subframe for the first cell, a transmission comprising at least one of: a DL measurement channel at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a DL Reference Signal at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a UL measurement channel at the UL subframe position for the first cell, or a UL Reference Signal at the UL subframe position for the first cell; means for determining an interference level of the first cell based on the decoded

transmission; and means for allocating a data channel in a subframe for a second cell of the wireless network if the interference level is below a predetermined threshold.

[00135] In example 37, the apparatus of example 36, wherein the transmission is transmitted by a primary cell over a set of TDD duplex frequency resources.

[00136] In example 38, the apparatus of either of examples 36 or 37, comprising: means for recording a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) and subframe duration for the first cell.

[00137] In example 39, the apparatus of example 38, comprising: means for decoding the Cell ID from one of: a Synchronization Signal, or a broadcast System Information transmission. [00138] In example 40, the apparatus of any of examples 36 through 39, wherein the second cell is a neighbor cell of the first cell.

[00139] In example 41 , the apparatus of any of examples 36 through 40, wherein the decoding is part of a listen-before-talk procedure encompassing at least one of: the DL subframe position for the first cell, and the UL subframe position for the first cell.

[00140] In example 42, the apparatus of any of examples 36 through 41 , comprising: means for detecting an additional transmission for the first cell carrying one of: a DL Control (DLC) channel for the first cell, or a cell-specific resource signal; and means for decoding, from the additional transmission, at least one of: a Cell Identification number (Cell ID), a DL-or-UL subframe type indicator, a subframe duration, the DL subframe position for the first cell, or the UL subframe position for the first cell.

[00141] In example 43, the apparatus of any of examples 36 through 42, comprising: means for decoding a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) from a cell-specific reference signal for the first cell.

[00142] In example 44, the apparatus of any of examples 36 through 43, wherein a subframe duration for the first cell is an integer multiple of a subframe duration for the second cell.

[00143] In example 45, the apparatus of any of examples 36 through 44, wherein a subframe duration for the first cell is substantially the same as a subframe duration for the second cell.

[00144] In example 46, the apparatus of any of examples 36 through 45, comprising: means for performing an autonomous contention resolution policy with a third cell.

[00145] Example 47 provides machine readable storage media having machine executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of an Evolved Node B (eNB) to perform an operation comprising: record at least one of: a Downlink (DL) subframe position for a first cell of the wireless network, or an Uplink (UL) subframe position for the first cell; decode, within a subframe for the first cell, a transmission comprising at least one of: a DL measurement channel at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a DL Reference Signal at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a UL measurement channel at the UL subframe position for the first cell, or a UL Reference Signal at the UL subframe position for the first cell; determine an interference level of the first cell based on the decoded transmission; and allocate a data channel in a subframe for a second cell of the wireless network if the interference level is below a predetermined threshold. [00146] In example 48, the machine readable storage media of example 47, wherein the transmission is transmitted by a primary cell over a set of TDD duplex frequency resources.

[00147] In example 49, the machine readable storage media of either of examples 47 or

48, the operation comprising: record a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) and subframe duration for the first cell.

[00148] In example 50, the machine readable storage media of example 49, the operation comprising: decode the Cell ID from one of: a Synchronization Signal, or a broadcast System Information transmission.

[00149] In example 51, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 47 through 50, wherein the second cell is a neighbor cell of the first cell.

[00150] In example 52, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 47 through 51, wherein the decoding is part of a listen-bef ore-talk procedure encompassing at least one of: the DL subframe position for the first cell, and the UL subframe position for the first cell.

[00151] In example 53, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 47 through 52, the operation comprising: detect an additional transmission for the first cell carrying one of: a DL Control (DLC) channel for the first cell, or a cell-specific resource signal; and decode, from the additional transmission, at least one of: a Cell Identification number (Cell ID), a DL-or-UL subframe type indicator, a subframe duration, the DL subframe position for the first cell, or the UL subframe position for the first cell.

[00152] In example 54, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 47 through 53, the operation comprising: decode a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) from a cell-specific reference signal for the first cell.

[00153] In example 55, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 47 through 54, wherein a subframe duration for the first cell is an integer multiple of a subframe duration for the second cell.

[00154] In example 56, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 47 through 55, wherein a subframe duration for the first cell is substantially the same as a subframe duration for the second cell.

[00155] In example 57, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 47 through 56, the operation comprising: perform an autonomous contention resolution policy with a third cell. [00156] In example 58, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 1 1, wherein the one or more processors comprise a baseband processor.

[00157] In example 59, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 1 1, comprising a transceiver circuitry for at least one of: generating transmissions, encoding transmissions, processing transmissions, or decoding transmissions.

[00158] In example 60, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 1 1, comprising a transceiver circuitry for generating transmissions and processing transmissions.

[00159] An abstract is provided that will allow the reader to ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:

1. An apparatus of an Evolved Node-B (eNB) operable to communicate with a User

Equipment (UE) on a wireless network, comprising:

one or more processors to:

record at least one of: a Downlink (DL) subframe position for a first cell of the

wireless network, or an Uplink (UL) subframe position for the first cell; decode, within a subframe for the first cell, a transmission comprising at least one of: a DL measurement channel at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a DL Reference Signal at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a UL measurement channel at the UL subframe position for the first cell, or a UL Reference Signal at the UL subframe position for the first cell;

determine an interference level of the first cell based on the decoded transmission; and

allocate a data channel in a subframe for a second cell of the wireless network if the interference level is below a predetermined threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the transmission is transmitted by a primary cell over a set of TDD duplex frequency resources.

3. The apparatus of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the one or more processors are to: record a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) and subframe duration for the first cell.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one or more processors are to:

decode the Cell ID from one of: a Synchronization Signal, or a broadcast System Information transmission.

5. The apparatus of either of claims 1 or 2,

wherein the second cell is a neighbor cell of the first cell.

6. The apparatus of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the decoding is part of a listen-before-talk procedure encompassing at least one of: the DL subframe position for the first cell, and the UL subframe position for the first cell.

7. The apparatus of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the one or more processors are to:

detect an additional transmission for the first cell carrying one of: a DL Control

(DLC) channel for the first cell, or a cell-specific resource signal; and decode, from the additional transmission, at least one of: a Cell Identification number (Cell ID), a DL-or-UL subframe type indicator, a subframe duration, the DL subframe position for the first cell, or the UL subframe position for the first cell.

8. The apparatus of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the one or more processors are to:

decode a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) from a cell-specific reference signal for the first cell.

9. The apparatus of either of claims 1 or 2,

wherein a subframe duration for the first cell is an integer multiple of a subframe duration for the second cell.

10. The apparatus of either of claims 1 or 2,

wherein a subframe duration for the first cell is substantially the same as a subframe duration for the second cell.

1 1. The apparatus of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the one or more processors are to:

perform an autonomous contention resolution policy with a third cell.

12. An Evolved Node B (eNB) device comprising an application processor, a memory, one or more antenna ports, and an interface for allowing the application processor to

communicate with another device, the eNB device including an apparatus of an Evolved Node-B (eNB) operable to communicate with a User Equipment (UE) on a wireless network, comprising:

one or more processors to:

13. The device of claim 12,

14. The device of either of claims 12 or 13, wherein the one or more processors are to:

record a Cell Identification number (Cell ID) and subframe duration for the first cell.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are to:

16. A method comprising:

recording at least one of: a Downlink (DL) subframe position for a first cell of the wireless network, or an Uplink (UL) subframe position for the first cell; decoding, within a subframe for the first cell, a transmission comprising at least one of: a DL measurement channel at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a DL Reference Signal at the DL subframe position for the first cell, a UL measurement channel at the UL subframe position for the first cell, or a UL Reference Signal at the UL subframe position for the first cell;

determining an interference level of the first cell based on the decoded transmission; and

allocating a data channel in a subframe for a second cell of the wireless network if the interference level is below a predetermined threshold.

17. The method of claim 16.

18. The method of either of claims 16 or 17, comprising:

19. The method of claim 18, comprising:

decoding the Cell ID from one of: a Synchronization Signal, or a broadcast System Information transmission.

20. The method of either of claims 16 or 17,

wherein the second cell is a neighbor cell of the first cell.