Methods and apparatus for opportunistic radio resource allocation in multi-carrier communication systems

摘要

Methods and apparatus for dynamic sharing of resources such as radio frequency (RF) spectrum in a wireless system. In one embodiment, the sharing is conducted among a number of base stations (e.g., eNodeBs or Access Points (APs)), or among different radio access technologies (RATs). In one implementation, the sharing is accomplished through reservation of new RF carriers, and temporary assignment (and release) of one or more RF carriers to the multi-carrier enabled radio access systems or base stations. Such dynamic spectrum sharing allows opportunistic use of additional RF carriers in a multi-carrier system as opposed to permanent availability to the eNodeB or AP regardless of their effective usage.

主权项

1. A wireless user device, comprising:
a processor; and a wireless interface in data communication with the processor, the wireless interface configured to operate using a first radio frequency (RF) carrier and a second RF carrier, the first RF carrier utilizing a first set of RF spectrum, wherein the first set of RF spectrum is included in a licensed spectrum band, and the second RF carrier utilizing a second set of RF spectrum different than the first set of RF spectrum and inaccessible by the first RF carrier, wherein the second set of RF spectrum is included in an unlicensed spectrum band; and logic, in data communication with the processor and the wireless interface, configured to; sample a radio frequency environment of the wireless user device, wherein the sampling comprises calculating, over a period of time, an energy over a frequency band of interest and compare the energy to a threshold; report data relating to the sampling to the network entity; and allow reconfiguration of one or more aspects of a transmit or receive chain of the wireless interface from utilizing the first set of RF spectrum of the first RF carrier to utilizing an unused RF resource from the second set of RF spectrum of the second RF carrier, at least based on information received by the wireless user device from a network entity, the information at least based on the reported data.