Close loop listen before talk to NR operation in unlicensed spectrum

Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for a closed loop Listen Before Talk (LBT) which is a coexistence mechanism used by wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, to access unlicensed shared spectrum, such as the ISM UNII bands (5 GHz). The embodiments disclosed herein enable a base station to coordinate the LBT process at both the base station and a receiver in order to avoid hidden node interference where the interfering nodes are outside the sensing range of the transmitting node. The base station device can send a LBT trigger to the receiver to synchronize the clear channel assessments that are performed at each device to determine if there is any activity on the channel. The receiving device can send back a report to the base station device, and if no activity on the channel is detected, the base station device can schedule a transmission on the channel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to the field of mobile communication and, more specifically, to implementing close loop Listen Before Talk (LBT), a radio frequency coexistence mechanism for a wireless communications transmission in a next generation wireless communications network.

BACKGROUND

To meet the huge demand for data centric applications, Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) systems and systems that employ one or more aspects of the specifications of the Fourth Generation (4G) standard for wireless communications will be extended to a Fifth Generation (5G) standard for wireless communications. Unique challenges exist to provide levels of service associated with forthcoming 5G and other next generation network standards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for a closed loop Listen Before Talk (LBT) which is a coexistence mechanism used by wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, to access unlicensed shared spectrum, such as the ISM UNII bands (5 GHz). The embodiments disclosed herein enable a base station to coordinate the LBT process at both the base station and a receiver in order to avoid hidden node interference where the interfering nodes are outside the sensing range of the transmitting node. The base station device can send a LBT trigger to the receiver to synchronize the clear channel assessments that are performed at each device to determine if there is any activity on the channel. The receiving device can then send back a report to the base station device, and if both devices detect no activity on the channel, the base station device can schedule a transmission on the channel.

While reference is generally made throughout the disclosure to a downlink communication, in other embodiments, the principles disclosed herein can apply to uplink transmissions as well. In both cases however, the base station device can initiate the LBT trigger in order to synchronize and otherwise align the clear channel assessments performed at the mobile device and the base station device.

While reference is generally made throughout the disclosure to alignment of LBT at the transmit node(s) and receive node(s), the principle disclosed herein applies to performing LBT on transmit node(s) only, receive node(s) only, or a subset of transmit and receive node(s).

Also the LBT used by New Radio (NR) (e.g., 5G) on unlicensed carriers should have features and functionality that allow it to maximize the frequency reuse especially when operating under light load or sparse deployment. When the load is low or the deployment is sparse the likelihood of collisions is low. Therefore, the LBT mechanism of NR unlicensed may adapt to such conditions and be utilized when needed. For example, the network on the licensed carrier may semi-statically (e.g. via radio resource control message) or dynamically (e.g. via downlink control information) determine whether or not to perform LBT at the transmit node(s), receiving node(s), or both.

In various embodiments, a base station device can comprise a processor and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor facilitate performance of operations. The operations can comprise facilitating transmitting a first listen before talk trigger to a first mobile device via a downlink control channel, the first listen before talk trigger comprising an instruction to the first mobile device to perform a first clear channel assessment of a channel at a defined time. The operations can also comprise performing a second clear channel assessment of the channel at the defined time. The operations can also comprise receiving a first result of the first clear channel assessment from the first mobile device via an uplink control channel. The operations can also comprise in response to the first result of the first clear channel assessment and a second result of the second clear channel assessment indicating that the channel is clear, scheduling a first transmission to the first mobile device via the channel.

In another embodiment, method comprises facilitating, by a base station device comprising a processor, transmitting a request for a first clear channel assessment to a first user equipment device via a downlink control channel, the request comprising an instruction to the first user equipment device to perform the first clear channel assessment on a frequency band at a predetermined time. The method can also comprise performing, by the base station device, a second clear channel assessment on the frequency band at the predetermined time. The method can also comprise performing, by the base station device, a second clear channel assessment on the frequency band at the predetermined time. The method can also comprise in response to the first result of the first clear channel assessment and a second result of the second clear channel assessment indicating that the frequency band is clear, scheduling, by the base station device, a first transmission to the first user equipment device on the frequency band.

In another embodiment machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a device, facilitate performance of operations. The operations can comprise transmitting a first listen before talk trigger to a first mobile device via a downlink control channel, the first listen before talk trigger comprising an instruction to the first mobile device to perform a first clear channel assessment of a channel at a defined time. The operations can also comprise performing a second clear channel assessment of the channel at the defined time. The operations can also comprise receiving a result of the first clear channel assessment from the first mobile device via an uplink control channel. The operations can also comprise in response to the first clear channel assessment and the second clear channel assessment having determined that the channel is clear, scheduling a first transmission to the first mobile device via the channel.

FIG. 1illustrates an example wireless communication system100in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure. In one or more embodiments, system100can comprise one or more user equipment UEs104and102, which can have one or more antenna panels having vertical and horizontal elements. A UE102can be a mobile device such as a cellular phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) device, a heads-up display (HUD) device, a smart car, a machine-type communication (MTC) device, and the like. UE102can also refer to any type of wireless device that communicates with a radio network node in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples of UE102are target device, device to device (D2D) UE, machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, PDA, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles etc. User equipment UE102can also comprise IOT devices that communicate wirelessly. In various embodiments, system100is or comprises a wireless communication network serviced by one or more wireless communication network providers. In example embodiments, a UE102can be communicatively coupled to the wireless communication network via a network node106.

The non-limiting term network node (or radio network node) is used herein to refer to any type of network node serving a UE102and UE104and/or connected to other network node, network element, or another network node from which the UE102or104can receive a radio signal. Network nodes can also have multiple antennas for performing various transmission operations (e.g., MIMO operations). A network node can have a cabinet and other protected enclosures, an antenna mast, and actual antennas. Network nodes can serve several cells, also called sectors, depending on the configuration and type of antenna. Examples of network nodes (e.g., network node106) can comprise but are not limited to: NodeB devices, base station (BS) devices, access point (AP) devices, and radio access network (RAN) devices. The network node106can also comprise multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node devices, including but not limited to: an MSR BS, an eNode B, a network controller, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a relay, a donor node controlling relay, a base transceiver station (BTS), a transmission point, a transmission node, an RRU, an RRH, nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), and the like. In 5G terminology, the node106can be referred to as a gNodeB device.

Wireless communication system100can employ various cellular technologies and modulation schemes to facilitate wireless radio communications between devices (e.g., the UE102and104and the network node106). For example, system100can operate in accordance with a UMTS, long term evolution (LTE), high speed packet access (HSPA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), multi-carrier code division multiple access (MC-CDMA), single-carrier code division multiple access (SC-CDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), OFDM, (DFT)-spread OFDM or SC-FDMA)), FBMC, ZT DFT-s-OFDM, GFDM, UFMC, UW DFT-Spread-OFDM, UW-OFDM, CP-OFDM, resource-block-filtered OFDM, and UFMC. However, various features and functionalities of system100are particularly described wherein the devices (e.g., the UEs102and104and the network device106) of system100are configured to communicate wireless signals using one or more multi carrier modulation schemes, wherein data symbols can be transmitted simultaneously over multiple frequency subcarriers (e.g., OFDM, CP-OFDM, DFT-spread OFMD, UFMC, FMBC, etc.).

In various embodiments, system100can be configured to provide and employ 5G wireless networking features and functionalities. 5G wireless communication networks are expected to fulfill the demand of exponentially increasing data traffic and to allow people and machines to enjoy gigabit data rates with virtually zero latency. Compared to 4G, 5G supports more diverse traffic scenarios. For example, in addition to the various types of data communication between conventional UEs (e.g., phones, smartphones, tablets, PCs, televisions, Internet enabled televisions, etc.) supported by 4G networks, 5G networks can be employed to support data communication between smart cars in association with driverless car environments, as well as machine type communications (MTCs).

In an embodiment, network node106or UE102and UE104can perform clear channel assessments (CCA) on channels to avoid sending a transmission on a beam that already has activity on the channel In an embodiment, the network node106can send a LBT trigger to the UE104and/or the UE102in order to coordinate the LBT process which comprises a clear channel assessment and then reporting the results of the clear channel assessment back to the network node106. If the network node determines that there is no activity on the channel at both the transmitter and receiver side, the network node106can schedule a transmission on the channel.

Listen Before Talk (LBT) is a coexistence mechanism used by wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, to access unlicensed shared spectrum, such as the ISM UNII (Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure) bands (5 GHz). A form of LBT is required by regulation in some countries and regions, such as Europe and Japan. In the US although LBT is not required by regulation, it is used by Wi-Fi and LTE License Assisted Access (LAA) for coexistence purposes. In an embodiment, in LAA, the data channel can use the unlicensed channel for improved throughput, but the control signaling can be performed using the licensed carriers for improved robustness and low latency since those resources are dedicated for the operator and not subject to coexistence requirements. However the data channel, on which the LBT is being performed can be an unlicensed carrier that is typically used for offloading data transmissions from the licensed carriers due to the large available bandwidth.

As part of the LBT procedure the devices perform spectrum sensing also known as Clear Channel Assessment (CCA), where multiple time/frequency slots are measured with respect to a configured energy detection (ED) threshold. While LBT performed independently at a transmitting node can be used to avoid collisions of transmissions at a target receiver, the performance may suffer from so-called “hidden node problems” if the interfering transmitting nodes are outside the sensing range of the transmitting node. Due to the challenges of hidden nodes and associated latency incurred by LBT procedures on unlicensed carriers, it is beneficial to utilize the licensed (NR-L) and unlicensed (NR-U) carriers in LAA deployments jointly to perform LBT procedures. This invention describes methods for utilizing the licensed carrier to provide LBT configuration, feedback, and coordination in networks utilizing LAA.

In one or more embodiments, NR (“New Radio” e.g., 5G) may operate in sub 6 GHz or above 6 GHz spectrum, including licensed and unlicensed spectrum. Especially in higher frequency bands, the performance of LBT may be improved significantly with transmit and receive beamforming. 5G systems, especially for mmWave spectrum, will have a large number of antenna elements which could be used for analog, digital or hybrid beamforming. With Time Division Duplex (TDD) transmission, every transmit beam has a corresponding receive beam with identical characteristics. Using this property a transceiver can sense during LBT if other users are active on some beams but not on other beams. This allows the transceiver to use the inactive beams for its transmissions, thus increasing channel reuse efficiency without causing interference.

Closed loop LBT can be beneficial in combination with multi-beam LBT by aggregating the CCA results for multiple groups of Tx/Rx beam pairs for a given device. The LBT trigger may include an indication to perform channel sensing on one or more beam pair links (BPL) corresponding to different combinations of Tx/Rx beams. This can include quasi-co-location (QCL) information for each BPL associated with a given set of LBT parameters. The QCL information may include indication that for a given BPL a set of RS/transmissions may be assumed by the UE to be quasi-co-located (e.g. identical geographically) with respect to Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average gain, average delay, and spatial Rx parameters The LBT trigger may be independently sent for each BPL or may be provided once for a set of BPLs.

Closed Loop LBT Feedback can also be sent from a UE corresponding to one or more configured BPLs that the UE utilized when performing channel sensing. The network may determine which subset of BPLs to use for a given UE based on whether LBT is successful and whether it can pair other UEs or multiple spatial layers. In this case synchronization of LBT at the transmitter and receiver refers to the same time as well on the same beam pair links. In one example the UE performs the LBT across multiple BPLs independently and sequentially. In another example, if a UE is capable of supporting multiple BPLs the LBT feedback can also be used to enable transmissions from multiple transmission or reception points (TRPs) in a given cell by synchronizing the LBT of multiple BPLs from different TRPs simultaneously. In one example the LBT triggers may be sent via multiple DCIs for each TRP or may be sent by a common DCI. In another example the LBT feedback may be sent via multiple UL messages or may be sent via common messages which group the BPLs or subsets of BPLs.

Closed-loop LBT can be utilized in the case where multiple NR-U carriers or bandwidth parts (BWPs) are utilized. In this case the LBT trigger may indicate a set of carriers/BWP for performing synchronized LBT either independently or jointly. The trigger may also indicate a priority or time pattern for performing LBT across the multiple carriers/BWPs in case the UE is not capable of performing simultaneous LBT across them.

In addition, the LBT feedback messages may include the carrier sensing status of multiple carriers in the same message or different feedback messages for each carrier. Closed-Loop LBT can be used in case of contiguous and non-contiguous operation of multiple carriers/BWPs

Turning now toFIG. 2, illustrated is an example block diagram200showing a closed loop listen before talk system in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure.

In an embodiment, a base station device202can send a LBT trigger210to mobile device204in order to facilitate scheduling an uplink or downlink transmission from or to the mobile device204. The trigger can coordinate the clear channel assessments (CCA) performed such that they occur at roughly the same time at both the mobile device204and the base station device202. If the CCA performed at the mobile device204and the base station device202is clear (e.g., no activity on the unlicensed channel/frequency band is detected) then the mobile device204can send back a report216to the base station device indicating the results, and the base station device202can initiate scheduling of the transmission. If on the other hand, the CCA performed at the mobile device204detects a transmission (e.g., transmission214) from mobile device208that is part of a transmission212to base station device206, then the mobile device204can determine that there is activity on the channel, and inform the base station device202about the activity. Base station device202can then wait a predetermined period of time or send a second LBT trigger to see if there continues to be activity on the channel at a later time.

In an embodiment, the LBT trigger can be sent on a downlink control channel (e.g., PDCCH or PDSCH), or on a new dedicated physical channel. The trigger can include a request to perform the clear channel assessment as well as providing parameters indicating how the mobile device204should perform the CCA. The indicated LBT parameters may include a starting time location/offset for carrier sensing as well as a duration in symbols/slots, energy detection threshold, LBT type, priority, etc. Upon receiving the LBT trigger at the mobile device204, the base station device202and mobile device204can perform synchronized LBT. The LBT trigger downlink channel information (DCI) may or may not require an acknowledgement message from the UE. By utilizing the licensed carrier associated with channels210and216, the LBT procedure can become more robust with lower latency/overhead than techniques which can only utilized unlicensed spectrum.

After performing LBT the mobile device204can feedback the channel sensing status to the gNB which then can utilize the feedback to determine whether the channel is clear at both ends of the link. The LBT feedback is carried on the licensed carrier (NR-L) carrier in the form of an uplink control message, e.g. on PUCCH or PUSCH or on a new dedicated physical channel for indicating the result of the carrier sensing. In addition the LBT feedback can be included or carried in a “piggyback” fashion on other control channel messages or feedback such as HARQ ACK/NACK, CSI or beam management reports, UL data transmissions, or UL scheduling requests/buffer status reports.

The LBT feedback message may contain information such as clear channel assessment status on a per-symbol or per LBT duration. In one example the LBT feedback of the channel status for a LBT occasion on a given link can be indicated as a1-bitmessage (e.g. clear/not clear). In another example the LBT feedback may include additional information regarding the identities and/or measurements such as channel occupancy indication (time/frequency/spatial occupancy) and RSRP/RSSI measurement(s) of detected potentially interfering transmitters.

In one example the LBT feedback is provided in the uplink portion of a self-contained subframe/slot, whether the LBT trigger is carried in the downlink portion of the same subframe/slot. In another example the LBT trigger and/or feedback may be carried on mini-slots within the duration of a slot. This is beneficial to reduce the delay between LBT trigger and feedback in case the LBT duration is short. In case of longer LBT durations which are more than one slot in length, the LBT trigger DCI may indicate the timing of the LBT feedback message, for example the starting slot or symbol offset. In another example the LBT feedback timing is implicitly determined based on the duration of the LBT sensing period.

LBT feedback may also be provided on the unlicensed channel. The feedback signal carries information about the intended transmitting node. This allows collision avoidance by informing other nodes in the vicinity about the impending transmission.

In addition, longer term feedback may be provided via higher layer messages on the licensed carrier for example by radio resource control (RRC) signaling. Closed-Loop LBT operation may be configured for a given UE (e.g., mobile device204) via dedicated (RRC) or broadcast signaling (e.g. system information broadcast) messages.

Turning now toFIG. 3, illustrated is an example block diagram300showing a multi-user closed loop listen before talk system in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure.

In an embodiment, the base station device304can coordinate LBT between both devices306and308by sending LBT triggers310and314to the devices306and308respectively requesting CCAs to be performed at the same time. Devices306and308can then send back their reports312and316to the base station device304for the base station device304to determine whether to facilitate scheduling a transmission to either device306or308. If for example, device308detects activity on the unlicensed channel, but device306and base station device304do not, then the base station device304can schedule a transmission between the base station device304and the mobile device306, while sending a second LBT trigger to device308.

The closed loop LBT can be extended to multiple UEs allowing for synchronized LBT across all of them. This is shown inFIG. 4. The gNB1sends LBT triggers to both UE1and UE2which aligns their clear channel assessment (CCA) periods. When both UEs complete the sensing they send LBT feedback messages on the NR-L carrier providing the sensing result. This enables the gNB to determine which of the UEs should be scheduled based on whether the channel is clear on both ends of the gNB/UE link. In case multiple UEs indicate clear channel status, the gNB may schedule them simultaneously for example with multi-user MIMO transmissions, increasing the spectral efficiency of the NR-U carrier.

Multi-User Closed Loop LBT can be extended to support both downlink and uplink multi-user multiple input/multiple output (MU-MIMO), where the LBT trigger may be precede or be combined with a uplink data transmission grant for UEs which detect a clear channel during LBT.

Turning now toFIG. 4, illustrated is an example block diagram400showing a multi-cell closed loop listen before talk system in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure.

In an embodiment, a base station device402and a base station406can coordinate the LBT process such each of the base stations402and406and devices408and404are aligned when performing the CCA. The base stations402and406can communicate with each other over the air, or via a backhaul network424, and can respectively send LBT triggers410and418to the mobile devices404and408. Upon receiving back CCA reports416and412from devices404and408, base station devices402and406can determine whether to schedule transmission to either of devices404and/or408.

Depending on whether any transmissions of other nodes were detected the base stations402and406can independently decide which of mobile devices404and408to schedule. However if the channel was detected to be clear by mobile devices of different cells, Reuse-1 transmissions420and422may be sent from the base station devices402and406to the mobile devices404and408respectively and the downlink or uplink grants can be sent for the mobile devices404and408to transmit simultaneously on the uplink. Since the Reuse-1 transmissions are from nodes of the same operator the interference can be managed using CSI measurements and reports and is expected to be significantly less of a factor than interference in the case of transmissions from nodes not part of the same network. Coordination of LBT parameters between gNBs may be done over the X2 interface.

Multi-cell coordination is useful when nearby cells are deployed by the same operator and interfering transmissions from other sources (e.g. other operators) may be absent on a long term basis. In this case, the overhead of LBT can be reduced or eliminated through spectrum reuse (e.g. reuse 1420and422) for transmissions from the same operator, without requiring global coordination of transmissions via backhaul signaling.

InFIG. 4, both base station device402and base station device406send LBT triggers to their connected UEs, mobile device404and408respectively, in order to align their CCA durations and LBT parameters. After the CCA, the mobile devices404and408provide feedback of the LBT status to the serving base stations via CCA reports416and412. Depending on whether any transmissions of other nodes were detected the base station devices402and406can independently decide which UEs to schedule. However if the channel was detected to be clear by UEs of different cells, Reuse-1 transmissions420and422may be sent from the base station devices402and406to the mobile devices404and408in the DL or UL grants can be sent for the mobile devices404and408to transmit simultaneously on the UL. Since the Reuse-1 transmissions420and422are from nodes of the same operator the interference can be managed using CSI measurements and reports and is expected to be significantly less of a factor than interference in the case of transmissions from nodes not part of the same network.

Turning now toFIG. 5, illustrated is an example block diagram500of a dual connectivity closed loop listen before talk system in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure.

NR can be deployed as a standalone (SA) radio access technology or as a non-standalone (NSA) radio access technology assisted by another radio access technology. In one example LTE can be used as a mobility anchor comprising a master cell group (MCG) base station device504, while NR-U is used as a secondary cell group (e.g., base station device502). The Closed-Loop LBT triggers and feedback messages are carried on the MCG while the sensing and data transmissions are carried on the SCG NR-U carriers. The coordination of LBT parameters and status may be provided via backhaul or over the air signaling (e.g., message5012) between the LTE master node504and the NR-U secondary node502as shown inFIG. 5. The target transmission508can be sent to the mobile device506when then provides CCA/LBT feedback510to the master cell group base station device504.

Turning now toFIG. 6, illustrated is an example block diagram600of a base station device602configured to perform closed loop listen before talk in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure.

Base station device602can include a trigger component604that can facilitate issuing a first listen before talk trigger to a first mobile device via a downlink control channel, the first listen before talk trigger comprising an instruction to the first mobile device to perform a first clear channel assessment of a channel at a defined time. The transceiver component610can transmit the trigger on a downlink control channel to the mobile device.

A CCA component606can then perform the CCA at the base station device602at the same time as the base station device602requested the mobile device perform the CCA. The transceiver component610can then receive a result of the mobile device's CCA report via an uplink control channel. The scheduling component608can then in response to the first result of the first clear channel assessment and a second result of the second clear channel assessment indicating that the channel is clear, schedule a first transmission to the first mobile device via the channel.

FIG. 7illustrates an example method700performing closed loop listen before talk in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure.

Method700can begin at702where the method includes facilitating, by a base station device comprising a processor, transmitting a request for a first clear channel assessment to a first user equipment device via a downlink control channel, the request comprising an instruction to the first user equipment device to perform the first clear channel assessment on a frequency band at a predetermined time.

At704, the method includes performing, by the base station device, a second clear channel assessment on the frequency band at the predetermined time.

At706, the method includes facilitating, by the base station device, receiving a first result of the first clear channel assessment from the first user equipment device via an uplink control channel.

At708, the method includes in response to the first result of the first clear channel assessment and a second result of the second clear channel assessment indicating that the frequency band is clear, scheduling, by the base station device, a first transmission to the first user equipment device on the frequency band.

FIG. 8illustrates an example method800performing closed loop listen before talk in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the subject disclosure.

Method800can begin at802wherein the method includes facilitating, by the base station device, transmitting a second request for a second clear channel assessment to a second user equipment device, wherein the second clear channel assessment synchronizes a third clear channel assessment for the second user equipment device with a timing for the first clear channel assessment of the user equipment device.

At804, the method can include scheduling, by the base station device, a second transmission to the second user equipment device in response to a third result of the third clear channel assessment being clear and the first result of the first clear channel assessment being detection of activity on the frequency band.

Referring now toFIG. 9, illustrated is a schematic block diagram of an example end-user device such as a user equipment) that can be a mobile device900capable of connecting to a network in accordance with some embodiments described herein. Although a mobile handset900is illustrated herein, it will be understood that other devices can be a mobile device, and that the mobile handset900is merely illustrated to provide context for the embodiments of the various embodiments described herein. The following discussion is intended to provide a brief, general description of an example of a suitable environment900in which the various embodiments can be implemented. While the description includes a general context of computer-executable instructions embodied on a machine-readable storage medium, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments also can be implemented in combination with other program modules and/or as a combination of hardware and software.

The handset900includes a processor902for controlling and processing all onboard operations and functions. A memory904interfaces to the processor902for storage of data and one or more applications906(e.g., a video player software, user feedback component software, etc.). Other applications can include voice recognition of predetermined voice commands that facilitate initiation of the user feedback signals. The applications906can be stored in the memory904and/or in a firmware908, and executed by the processor902from either or both the memory904or/and the firmware908. The firmware908can also store startup code for execution in initializing the handset900. A communications component910interfaces to the processor902to facilitate wired/wireless communication with external systems, e.g., cellular networks, VoIP networks, and so on. Here, the communications component910can also include a suitable cellular transceiver911(e.g., a GSM transceiver) and/or an unlicensed transceiver913(e.g., Wi-Fi, WiMax) for corresponding signal communications. The handset900can be a device such as a cellular telephone, a PDA with mobile communications capabilities, and messaging-centric devices. The communications component910also facilitates communications reception from terrestrial radio networks (e.g., broadcast), digital satellite radio networks, and Internet-based radio services networks.

The handset900includes a display912for displaying text, images, video, telephony functions (e.g., a Caller ID function), setup functions, and for user input. For example, the display912can also be referred to as a “screen” that can accommodate the presentation of multimedia content (e.g., music metadata, messages, wallpaper, graphics, etc.). The display912can also display videos and can facilitate the generation, editing and sharing of video quotes. A serial I/O interface914is provided in communication with the processor902to facilitate wired and/or wireless serial communications (e.g., USB, and/or IEEE 1394) through a hardwire connection, and other serial input devices (e.g., a keyboard, keypad, and mouse). This supports updating and troubleshooting the handset900, for example. Audio capabilities are provided with an audio I/O component916, which can include a speaker for the output of audio signals related to, for example, indication that the user pressed the proper key or key combination to initiate the user feedback signal. The audio I/O component916also facilitates the input of audio signals through a microphone to record data and/or telephony voice data, and for inputting voice signals for telephone conversations.

The handset900can include a slot interface918for accommodating a SIC (Subscriber Identity Component) in the form factor of a card Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or universal SIM920, and interfacing the SIM card920with the processor902. However, it is to be appreciated that the SIM card920can be manufactured into the handset900, and updated by downloading data and software.

A video processing component922(e.g., a camera) can be provided for decoding encoded multimedia content. The video processing component922can aid in facilitating the generation, editing and sharing of video quotes. The handset900also includes a power source924in the form of batteries and/or an AC power subsystem, which power source924can interface to an external power system or charging equipment (not shown) by a power I/O component926.

The handset900can also include a video component930for processing video content received and, for recording and transmitting video content. For example, the video component930can facilitate the generation, editing and sharing of video quotes. A location tracking component932facilitates geographically locating the handset900. As described hereinabove, this can occur when the user initiates the feedback signal automatically or manually. A user input component934facilitates the user initiating the quality feedback signal. The user input component934can also facilitate the generation, editing and sharing of video quotes. The user input component934can include such conventional input device technologies such as a keypad, keyboard, mouse, stylus pen, and/or touch screen, for example.

Referring again to the applications906, a hysteresis component936facilitates the analysis and processing of hysteresis data, which is utilized to determine when to associate with the access point. A software trigger component938can be provided that facilitates triggering of the hysteresis component938when the Wi-Fi transceiver913detects the beacon of the access point. A SIP client940enables the handset900to support SIP protocols and register the subscriber with the SIP registrar server. The applications906can also include a client942that provides at least the capability of discovery, play and store of multimedia content, for example, music.

The handset900, as indicated above related to the communications component810, includes an indoor network radio transceiver913(e.g., Wi-Fi transceiver). This function supports the indoor radio link, such as IEEE 802.11, for the dual-mode GSM handset900. The handset900can accommodate at least satellite radio services through a handset that can combine wireless voice and digital radio chipsets into a single handheld device.

Referring now toFIG. 10, there is illustrated a block diagram of a computer1000operable to execute the functions and operations performed in the described example embodiments. For example, a network node (e.g., network node106, base station device202,204, e.g.,) may contain components as described inFIG. 10. The computer1000can provide networking and communication capabilities between a wired or wireless communication network and a server and/or communication device. In order to provide additional context for various aspects thereof,FIG. 1and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which the various aspects of the embodiments can be implemented to facilitate the establishment of a transaction between an entity and a third party. While the description above is in the general context of computer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments also can be implemented in combination with other program modules and/or as a combination of hardware and software.

With reference toFIG. 10, implementing various aspects described herein with regards to the end-user device can include a computer1000, the computer1000including a processing unit1004, a system memory1006and a system bus1008. The system bus1008couples system components including, but not limited to, the system memory1006to the processing unit1004. The processing unit1004can be any of various commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors and other multi-processor architectures can also be employed as the processing unit1004.

A monitor1044or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus1008through an interface, such as a video adapter1046. In addition to the monitor1044, a computer1000typically includes other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer1000is connected to the local network1052through a wired and/or wireless communication network interface or adapter1056. The adapter1056may facilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN1052, which may also include a wireless access point disposed thereon for communicating with the wireless adapter1056.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer1000can include a modem1058, or is connected to a communications server on the WAN1054, or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN1054, such as by way of the Internet. The modem1058, which can be internal or external and a wired or wireless device, is connected to the system bus1008through the input device interface1042. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer, or portions thereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device1050. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers can be used.

As used in this application, the terms “system,” “component,” “interface,” and the like are generally intended to refer to a computer-related entity or an entity related to an operational machine with one or more specific functionalities. The entities disclosed herein can be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a server and the server can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. These components also can execute from various computer readable storage media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be an apparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric or electronic circuitry that is operated by software or firmware application(s) executed by a processor, wherein the processor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes at least a part of the software or firmware application. As yet another example, a component can be an apparatus that provides specific functionality through electronic components without mechanical parts, the electronic components can comprise a processor therein to execute software or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality of the electronic components. An interface can comprise input/output (I/O) components as well as associated processor, application, and/or API components.

Furthermore, the disclosed subject matter may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosed subject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, computer-readable carrier, or computer-readable media. For example, computer-readable media can include, but are not limited to, a magnetic storage device, e.g., hard disk; floppy disk; magnetic strip(s); an optical disk (e.g., compact disk (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), a Blu-ray Disc™ (BD)); a smart card; a flash memory device (e.g., card, stick, key drive); and/or a virtual device that emulates a storage device and/or any of the above computer-readable media.

Computer-readable storage media can include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, solid state drive (SSD) or other solid-state storage technology, compact disk read only memory (CD ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), Blu-ray disc or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices or other tangible and/or non-transitory media which can be used to store desired information.

In this regard, the terms “tangible” or “non-transitory” herein as applied to storage, memory or computer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude only propagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not relinquish rights to all standard storage, memory or computer-readable media that are not only propagating transitory signals per se. Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local or remote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or other data retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect to the information stored by the medium.

The above descriptions of various embodiments of the subject disclosure and corresponding figures and what is described in the Abstract, are described herein for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It is to be understood that one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that other embodiments having modifications, permutations, combinations, and additions can be implemented for performing the same, similar, alternative, or substitute functions of the disclosed subject matter, and are therefore considered within the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the disclosed subject matter should not be limited to any single embodiment described herein, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the claims below.