METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FREQUENCY SYNCHRONIZATION, POWER CONTROL, AND CELL CONFIGURATION FOR UL-ONLY OPERATION IN DSS BANDS

摘要

Methods and apparatus for effecting power control as well as frequency and timing synchronization in an LTE component carrier functioning in UL-only mode or device-to-device mode, including a UL-only cell in LTE, as well as an new enabling Special Uplink Reference Signal (SURS) that is used to determine the UEs that can take advantage of a UL-only cell. One approach includes interrupting the UL-only operation in a periodic fashion to send a sync signal by the eNB. Another approach includes sending a well know synchronization sequence by the UEs in a periodic fashion, which the eNB compares with its own local frequency reference and sends feedback to the UE to readjust the frequency. Another approach uses dedicated subcarriers where the eNB can send synchronization symbols on the same channel and simultaneously with data being transmitted in the uplink. The UEs transmitting in the UL direction are equipped to receive simultaneously the synchronization symbols on these dedicated subcarriers.