Patent Description:
As will be described in more detail herein, a BS may be referred to as a Node B, a gNB, an access point (AP), a radio head, a transmit receive point (TRP), a 5GNode B, and/or the like.

The above multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless communication devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. <NUM>, which may also be referred to as New Radio (NR), is a set of enhancements to the LTE mobile standard promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). <NUM> is designed to better support mobile broadband Internet access by improving spectral efficiency, lowering costs, improving services, making use of new spectrum, and better integrating with other open standards using OFDM with a cyclic prefix (CP) (CP-OFDM) on the downlink (DL), using CP-OFDM and/or SC-FDM (e.g., also known as discrete Fourier transform spread ODFM (DFT-s-OFDM)) on the uplink (DL), as well as supporting beamforming, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology, and carrier aggregation. However, as the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, there exists a need for further improvements in LTE and <NUM> technologies. <CIT> discloses control signaling and channel selection in cognitive Long Term Evolution (LTE). In one example, a method, operable by a mobile entity, involves receiving, on a licensed channel, broadcasted channel usage information regarding at least one unlicensed channel used by one or more network nodes. The method further involves: performing a cell search procedure based at least in part on the channel usage information to select a given network node among the one or more network nodes; determining at least one random access parameter to be used in establishing wireless communication with the given network node, the at least one random access parameter being associated with a characteristic of the user device and determining a preferred downlink channel. <CIT> discloses a communication control device, a communication control method, and a program which can reduce interference caused among different radio systems. The communication control device includes: a communication unit configured to communicate with an apparatus belonging to a first radio network; and a control unit configured to control whether or not a radio communication apparatus belonging to the first radio network performs frequency hopping based on information of a second radio network different from the first radio network.

The underlying problem of the present invention is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. When communicating in an unlicensed radio frequency (RF) spectrum band, a UE may need to account for potential interference from other devices operating on the unlicensed RF spectrum band, and/or may need to operate to coexist or share the unlicensed RF spectrum band with other devices. One way to promote coexistence with other devices is to use a listen before talk procedure to measure channel conditions before communicating on a channel. In some cases, the listen before talk procedure may be combined with frequency hopping, where the UE hops among channels to increase the likelihood of finding a clear channel for communication. This frequency hopping may be performed according to a frequency hopping pattern that is known to both the UE and a base station with which the UE communicates, so that communications can be successfully received.

In some cases, a particular set of channels may have better channel conditions than other channels, and so may be better suited for communications between the UE and the base station. This set of channels may be communicated by the base station to the UE using a list, which may change over time as channel conditions change. Thus, a UE may need to acquire the list of channels from the base station when the UE initially connects to the base station, and may need to reacquire the list of channels when the list of channels changes. Some techniques described herein assist with acquiring and/or reacquiring a dynamic list of channels to be used to communicate using frequency hopping over an unlicensed RF spectrum band, thereby increasing communication reliability and promoting coexistence in the unlicensed RF spectrum band. Some techniques described herein also assist the UE in obtaining the list of channels with low latency (e.g., shortly after the list has changed) and with low power consumption.

In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a UE, a base station, and a computer program product are provided.

Aspects generally include a method, apparatus, computer program product, non-transitory computer-readable medium, user equipment, base station, wireless communication device, and processing system as substantially described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings and specification.

It is noted that while aspects may be described herein using terminology commonly associated with <NUM> and/or <NUM> wireless technologies, aspects of the present disclosure can be applied in other generation-based communication systems, such as <NUM> and later, including <NUM> technologies.

The network <NUM> may be an LTE network or some other wireless network, such as a <NUM> network. A BS is an entity that communicates with user equipment (UEs) and may also be referred to as a base station, a Node B, a gNB, a <NUM> NB, an access point, a transmit receive point (TRP), and/or the like.

The terms "eNB", "base station", "gNB", "TRP", "AP", "node B", "<NUM> NB", and "cell" may be used interchangeably herein.

A UE may also be referred to as an access terminal, a terminal, a mobile station, a subscriber unit, a station, etc. A UE may be a cellular phone (e.g., a smart phone), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a tablet, a camera, a gaming device, a netbook, a smartbook, an ultrabook, medical device or equipment, biometric sensors/devices, wearable devices (smart watches, smart clothing, smart glasses, smart wrist bands, smart jewelry (e.g., smart ring, smart bracelet)), an entertainment device (e.g., a music or video device, or a satellite radio), a vehicular component or sensor, smart meters/sensors, industrial manufacturing equipment, a global positioning system device, or any other suitable device that is configured to communicate via a wireless or wired medium.

MTC and eMTC UEs include, for example, robots, drones, remote devices, such as sensors, meters, monitors, location tags, etc., that may communicate with a base station, another device (e.g., remote device), or some other entity.

UEs <NUM> and base stations <NUM> may communicate over an unlicensed radio frequency (RF) spectrum band using one or more radio access technologies, such as a Wi-Fi radio access technology, an LTE radio access technology, a <NUM> radio access technology, and/or the like. An unlicensed RF spectrum band may refer to an RF spectrum band that is open for shared use by any device that complies with regulatory agency rules for communicating via the RF spectrum band. In contrast with most licensed RF spectrum band usage, users of unlicensed RF spectrum bands do not typically have regulatory protection against radio interference from devices of other users. For example, devices that use the unlicensed RF spectrum band must typically accept any radio interference caused by other devices that use the unlicensed RF spectrum band. Because the unlicensed RF spectrum band may be shared by devices operating under different protocols (e.g., different RATs), transmitting devices may contend for access to the unlicensed RF spectrum band.

In some aspects, the unlicensed RF spectrum band may include one or more radio frequencies (e.g., one or more RF spectrum bands) included in the radio spectrum (e.g., the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum corresponding to radio frequencies, or frequencies lower than approximately <NUM> gigahertz (GHz)). In some aspects, the unlicensed RF spectrum band may include one or more RF spectrum bands that are open for shared use by any device that complies with regulatory agency rules (e.g., associated with a particular country) for communicating via the one or more RF spectrum bands. In some aspects, the unlicensed RF spectrum band may include one or more radio frequencies in the <NUM> band. For example, the unlicensed RF spectrum band may include one or more radio frequencies between approximately <NUM> and <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, the unlicensed RF spectrum band may include one or more radio frequencies in the <NUM> band. For example, the unlicensed RF spectrum band may include one or more radio frequencies between approximately <NUM> and approximately <NUM>.

The unlicensed RF spectrum band may be divided into channels via which RF communications may be transmitted. In some aspects, the unlicensed RF spectrum band may include one or more channels of approximately <NUM> bandwidth (e.g., up to <NUM> channels at <NUM> bandwidth in the <NUM> band). Additionally, or alternatively, the unlicensed RF spectrum band may include one or more channels of approximately <NUM> bandwidth. Wireless devices may communicate via a channel included in the unlicensed RF spectrum band. For example, a wireless device may communicate via an RF channel using a Wi-Fi radio access technology, an LTE radio access technology, a <NUM> radio access technology, and/or the like. In some aspects, a wireless device may contend for access to the unlicensed RF spectrum band before sending a transmission via the unlicensed RF spectrum band.

Transmit processor <NUM> may also process system information (e.g., for semi-static resource partitioning information (SRPI), and/or the like) and control information (e.g., CQI requests, grants, upper layer signaling, and/or the like) and provide overhead symbols and control symbols. Transmit processor <NUM> may also generate reference symbols for reference signals (e.g., the CRS) and synchronization signals (e.g., the primary synchronization signal (PSS) and secondary synchronization signal (SSS)). According to certain aspects described in more detail below, the synchronization signals can be generated with location encoding to convey additional information.

A receive (RX) processor <NUM> may process (e.g., demodulate and decode) the detected symbols, provide decoded data for UE <NUM> to a data sink <NUM>, and provide decoded control information and system information to a controller/processor <NUM>. A channel processor may determine RSRP, RSSI, RSRQ, CQI, and/or the like.

Controllers/processors <NUM> and <NUM> and/or any other component(s) in <FIG> may direct the operation at base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively, to determine channels for frequency hopping in an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band. For example, controller/processor <NUM> and/or other processors and modules at base station <NUM>, may perform or direct operations of UE <NUM> to determine channels for frequency hopping in an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band. For example, controller/processor <NUM> and/or other controllers/processors and modules at BS <NUM> may perform or direct operations of, for example, method <NUM> of <FIG>, method <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein. In some aspects, one or more of the components shown in <FIG> may be employed to perform example method <NUM> of <FIG>, method <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes for the techniques described herein. Memories <NUM> and <NUM> may store data and program codes for BS <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively.

<FIG> shows an example frame structure <NUM> for FDD in a telecommunications system (e.g., LTE). Each radio frame may have a predetermined duration (e.g., <NUM> milliseconds (ms)) and may be partitioned into <NUM> subframes with indices of <NUM> through <NUM>. Each subframe may include two slots. Each radio frame may thus include <NUM> slots with indices of <NUM> through <NUM>. Each slot may include L symbol periods, e.g., seven symbol periods for a normal cyclic prefix (as shown in <FIG>) or six symbol periods for an extended cyclic prefix. The <NUM> symbol periods in each subframe may be assigned indices of <NUM> through <NUM>-<NUM>.

While some techniques are described herein in connection with frames, subframes, slots, and/or the like, these techniques may equally apply to other types of wireless communication structures, which may be referred to using terms other than "frame," "subframe," "slot," and/or the like in <NUM>.

In certain telecommunications (e.g., LTE), a BS may transmit a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) on the downlink in the center of the system bandwidth for each cell supported by the BS. The PSS and SSS may be transmitted in symbol periods <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, in subframes <NUM> and <NUM> of each radio frame with the normal cyclic prefix, as shown in <FIG>. The BS may transmit a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) across the system bandwidth for each cell supported by the BS. The CRS may be transmitted in certain symbol periods of each subframe and may be used by the UEs to perform channel estimation, channel quality measurement, and/or other functions. The BS may also transmit a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) in symbol periods <NUM> to <NUM> in slot <NUM> of certain radio frames. The PBCH may carry some system information. The BS may transmit other system information such as system information blocks (SIBs) on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) in certain subframes. The BS may transmit control information/data on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in the first B symbol periods of a subframe, where B may be configurable for each subframe. The BS may transmit traffic data and/or other data on the PDSCH in the remaining symbol periods of each subframe.

In other systems (e.g., such as <NUM> systems), a Node B may transmit these or other signals in these locations or in different locations of the subframe. In some aspects, a base station may transmit one or more of the PSS, the SSS, a PBCH communication (e.g., a master information block), and/or the like on an anchor channel of an unlicensed RF spectrum band. The anchor channel may be used for initial synchronization (e.g., between UEs and base stations). In some aspects, the anchor channel may be fixed (e.g., may not change over time) to assist with such synchronization. Additionally, or alternatively, the unlicensed RF spectrum band may include multiple anchor channels.

<FIG> shows two example subframe formats <NUM> and <NUM> with the normal cyclic prefix. Each resource block may cover <NUM> subcarriers in one slot and may include a number of resource elements. Each resource element may cover one subcarrier in one symbol period and may be used to send one modulation symbol, which may be a real or complex value.

Subframe format <NUM> may be used for two antennas. A CRS may be transmitted from antennas <NUM> and <NUM> in symbol periods <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. A reference signal is a signal that is known a priori by a transmitter and a receiver and may also be referred to as a pilot signal. A CRS is a reference signal that is specific for a cell, e.g., generated based at least in part on a cell identity (ID). In <FIG>, for a given resource element with label Ra, a modulation symbol may be transmitted on that resource element from antenna a, and no modulation symbols may be transmitted on that resource element from other antennas. Subframe format <NUM> may be used with four antennas. A CRS may be transmitted from antennas <NUM> and <NUM> in symbol periods <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> and from antennas <NUM> and <NUM> in symbol periods <NUM> and <NUM>. For both subframe formats <NUM> and <NUM>, a CRS may be transmitted on evenly spaced subcarriers, which may be determined based at least in part on cell ID. CRSs may be transmitted on the same or different subcarriers, depending on their cell IDs. For both subframe formats <NUM> and <NUM>, resource elements not used for the CRS may be used to transmit data (e.g., traffic data, control data, and/or other data).

The PSS, SSS, CRS and PBCH in LTE are described in <NPL>" which is publicly available. In some aspects, one or more of these signals or channels may be transmitted on an anchor channel of an unlicensed RF spectrum band. Additionally, or alternatively, the anchor channel may be used to transmit pages, a positioning reference signal (PRS), and/or the like.

While aspects of the examples described herein may be associated with LTE technologies, aspects of the present disclosure may be applicable with other wireless communication systems, such as <NUM> technologies.

<NUM> may refer to radios configured to operate according to a new air interface (e.g., other than Orthogonal Frequency Divisional Multiple Access (OFDMA)-based air interfaces) or fixed transport layer (e.g., other than Internet Protocol (IP)). In aspects, <NUM> may utilize OFDM with a CP (herein referred to as cyclic prefix OFDM or CP-OFDM) and/or SC-FDM on the uplink, may utilize CP-OFDM on the downlink and include support for half-duplex operation using TDD. In aspects, <NUM> may, for example, utilize OFDM with a CP (herein referred to as CP-OFDM) and/or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM) on the uplink, may utilize CP-OFDM on the downlink and include support for half-duplex operation using TDD. <NUM> may include Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) service targeting wide bandwidth (e.g., <NUM> megahertz (MHz) and beyond), millimeter wave (mmW) targeting high carrier frequency (e.g., <NUM> gigahertz (GHz)), massive MTC (mMTC) targeting non-backward compatible MTC techniques, and/or mission critical targeting ultra reliable low latency communications (URLLC) service.

A single component carrier bandwidth of <NUM> may be supported. <NUM> resource blocks may span <NUM> sub-carriers with a sub-carrier bandwidth of <NUM> kilohertz (kHz) over a <NUM> duration. Each radio frame may include <NUM> subframes with a length of <NUM>. Consequently, each subframe may have a length of <NUM>. Each subframe may indicate a link direction (e.g., DL or UL) for data transmission and the link direction for each subframe may be dynamically switched. Each subframe may include DL/UL data as well as DL/UL control data.

When communicating in an unlicensed radio frequency (RF) spectrum band, a UE may need to account for potential interference from other devices operating on the unlicensed RF spectrum band, and/or may need to operate to coexist or share the unlicensed RF spectrum band with other devices. One way to promote coexistence with other devices is to use a listen before talk procedure to measure channel conditions before communicating on a channel (e.g., to determine whether other devices are communicating on the channel or whether the channel is available for communications). In some cases, the listen before talk procedure may be combined with frequency hopping, where the UE hops among channels to increase the likelihood of finding a clear channel for communication. This frequency hopping may be performed according to a frequency hopping pattern that is known to both the UE and a base station with which the UE communicates, so that communications can be successfully received.

In some cases, a particular set of channels may have better channel conditions than other channels, and so may be better suited for communications between the UE and the base station. This set of channels may be communicated by the base station to the UE using a list, such as a whitelist of channels that the UE can use for frequency hopping, a blacklist of channels that the UE should not use for frequency hopping, or some combination of the two. This list of channels may change over time as channel conditions change. Thus, a UE may need to acquire the list of channels from the base station when the UE initially connects to the base station, and may need to reacquire the list of channels when the list of channels changes. Some techniques described herein assist with acquiring and/or reacquiring a dynamic list of channels to be used to communicate over the unlicensed RF spectrum band, thereby increasing communication reliability and promoting coexistence in the unlicensed RF spectrum band. Some techniques described herein also assist the UE in obtaining the list of channels with low latency (e.g., shortly after the list has changed) and with low power consumption.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of determining channels for frequency hopping in an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band.

As shown in <FIG>, a UE <NUM> may communicate with a base station <NUM> (e.g., using an LTE radio access technology, a <NUM> radio access technology, and/or the like). In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may correspond to one or more UEs described elsewhere herein, such as the UE <NUM> of <FIG> and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the base station <NUM> may correspond to one or more base stations described elsewhere herein, such as the base station <NUM> of <FIG> and/or the like.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may receive a master information block (MIB) that indicates one or more locations from which one or more corresponding system information blocks (SIBs) can be obtained. A location may include, for example, a time resource, a frequency resource, and/or the like. For example, the MIB may indicate a frame index and/or a channel index where one or more SIBs are transmitted (e.g., SIB1 and/or one or more other SIBs). In some aspects, the MIB may be broadcast by the base station <NUM> on a broadcast channel (e.g., PBCH), and may indicate system information, such as a system bandwidth, physical HARQ indicator channel (PHICH) information, a subframe number, and/or the like. In some aspects, the PBCH may be transmitted on an anchor channel of the unlicensed RF spectrum band. In some aspects, the MIB may be configured with a fixed number of bits, such as <NUM> bits and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the MIB may be transmitted with a particular periodicity, such as <NUM> milliseconds, <NUM> milliseconds, and/or the like. The MIB may be used to determine one or more locations corresponding to one or more SIBs (e.g., SIB1, SIB2, SIB3,. , SIB17, and/or the like). For example, the MIB may include SIB scheduling information and/or physical layer information (e.g., a system bandwidth), which may be used to obtain one or more SIBs.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may receive one or more SIBs based at least in part on information in the MIB. The one or more SIBs may indicate a list of channels permitted to be used by the UE <NUM> for frequency hopping in an unlicensed RF spectrum band. In some aspects, the SIB(s) may be broadcast by the base station <NUM> on a downlink data channel (e.g., PDSCH), and may indicate system information. For example, the SIB(s) may include SIB1, which may include cell access information relevant to accessing a cell of the base station <NUM>, scheduling information for other SIBs, and/or the like. In some aspects, SIB1 may be transmitted with a particular periodicity, such as <NUM> milliseconds and/or the like.

In some aspects, one or more SIBs may indicate a list of channels that the UE <NUM> is permitted to use for frequency hopping when communicating with the base station <NUM> on an unlicensed RF spectrum band. For example, the list of channels may include a whitelist of channels that the UE <NUM> can use for frequency hopping, a blacklist of channels that the UE <NUM> should not use for frequency hopping, or some combination thereof. In some aspects, the list of channels may be indicated in SIB1. Additionally, or alternatively, the list of channels may be indicated in another SIB, such as SIB2, SIB3, and/or the like. In some aspects, the list of channels may be cell-specific (e.g., may indicate different channels for different base stations). For example, the list of channels may be specific to a serving base station <NUM> to which the UE <NUM> is connected. Additionally, or alternatively, a number of channels used for frequency hopping in the unlicensed RF spectrum band may be cell-specific, and different base stations <NUM> may use a different number of channels (e.g., depending on conditions in the cell and/or conditions associated with the base station <NUM>). In some aspects, the number of channels may be indicated to the UE <NUM> (e.g., in the MIB and/or one or more SIBs).

In some aspects, the list of channels may be indicated in the MIB. However, because the MIB may be a fixed size (e.g., <NUM> bits and/or the like), the MIB may not include enough bits to include the list for every channel in the unlicensed RF spectrum band (e.g., which may include <NUM> channels, <NUM> channels, and/or the like, which may require a bitmap of <NUM> bits, <NUM> bits, and/or the like). In this case, the list of channels may be indicated in one or more SIBs. Additionally, or alternatively, channels may be grouped, and a bit in the bitmap may provide a common indication for the group of channels (e.g., whether the multiple channels are permitted to be used for communicating in the unlicensed RF spectrum band).

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may communicate with the base station <NUM> on the unlicensed RF spectrum band by frequency hopping on a plurality of channels included in the list of channels. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may communicate by tuning to a first channel in the list and performing a listen before talk procedure to measure channel conditions (e.g., a signal energy and/or the like) before communicating on the first channel. The UE <NUM> may communicate on the first channel if channel conditions are good (e.g., the signal energy is less than or equal to a threshold), or may hop (e.g., tune) to a second channel in the list if channel conditions are poor (e.g., the signal energy is greater than or equal to a threshold). The UE <NUM> may measure channel conditions on the second channel, and may continue to operate in this manner, hopping among channels included in the list to communicate with the base station <NUM>.

Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may hop among channels in the list according to a hopping pattern indicated in the one or more SIBs, which may indicate an order in which the UE <NUM> is to hop among channels, a time period for communicating on a channel before hopping to another channel, and/or the like. In this way, the UE <NUM> may increase the likelihood of finding a clear channel for communication, and may promote coexistence with other devices communicating on the unlicensed RF spectrum band.

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may receive the MIB and/or the one or more SIBs in association with an initial connection to a cell of the base station <NUM>. For example, when the UE <NUM> connects to the cell for the first time, the UE <NUM> may obtain the MIB, which may indicate a location of one or more SIBs (e.g., SIB1 and/or the like), such as by indicating a current frame index and/or a current channel index where SIB1 and/or other SIBs are transmitted. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may obtain SIB1, which may indicate the list of channels for frequency hopping, a hopping pattern (e.g., an order or sequence of channels to hop, a time period for hopping, and/or the like), and/or other parameters. Additionally, or alternatively, this information may be indicated in a different SIB, and SIB1 may indicate the location of the different SIB.

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may receive the MIB and/or the one or more SIBs after an initial connection to a cell of the base station <NUM>. In this case, the UE <NUM> may obtain the MIB and/or the one or more SIBs based at least in part on an indication that the list of channels has changed. Otherwise, if the list of channels has not changed, then the UE <NUM> may continue to use a previously obtained list for frequency hopping, and may conserve resources by not obtaining the unchanged list.

In some aspects (e.g., when performing a cell acquisition procedure when in a radio resource control (RRC) idle mode), the UE <NUM> may obtain and read a MIB (and/or one or more SIBs, such as SIB1) to determine whether the list of channels has changed. For example, the MIB or a SIB (e.g., SIB <NUM>) may indicate whether the list of channels has changed from a previously indicated list. If the list of channels has changed, then the UE <NUM> may obtain the new list of channels (e.g., from one or more SIBs) based at least in part on determining that the list of channels has changed. In this way, the UE <NUM> may maintain a current list of channels for frequency hopping when communicating with the base station <NUM> via the unlicensed RF spectrum band.

Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may read a value from the MIB or the SIB, and may compare the value to a previously received value to determine whether the list of channels has changed from the previously indicated list. For example, each time that the base station <NUM> modifies the list of channels, the base station <NUM> may modify the value to indicate that the list has changed. If the UE <NUM> receives a value that matches the previously received value, then this may indicate that the list has not changed, and the UE <NUM> may continue to use the previous list. However, if the value does not match the previously received value, then this may indicate that the list has changed, and the UE <NUM> may obtain the new list. In some aspects, the value may be configured to be N bits in length, where N is configured to reduce a likelihood that the UE <NUM> reads a matching value when the list has changed. For example, N may be configured to be greater than or equal to <NUM>, greater than or equal to <NUM>, and/or the like.

Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may receive a page triggered by a change to the list of channels, and may obtain the new list of channels (e.g., by reading the MIB and/or the SIB(s)) based at least in part on receiving the page. Such paging may be done using the MIB (e.g., a value to indicate whether the list has changed) and the SIB (e.g., to indicate the list of channels), as described above. In some aspects, such paging may be done on one or more fixed channels. Such fixed channel(s) may be used for communication in the unlicensed RF spectrum band, and may not change over time (e.g., may be excluded from the list of channels that changes over time). In some aspects, the fixed channel(s) may include an anchor channel that assists with initial synchronization of the UE <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, the fixed channel(s) may include one or more channels other than the anchor channel. In some aspects, the combination of fixed channel(s) may be cell-specific (e.g., may be based at least in part on a physical cell identity).

By using fixed channels for paging, the UE <NUM> may conserve power that would otherwise be used by waking for an extended amount of time to receive both the MIB and the SIB to periodically read the whitelist (e.g., at every instance of transmission of the MIB and/or the SIB, or on multiple instances). However, using the MIB and the SIB may increase a likelihood of receiving the page when a load on the fixed channels is high. In some aspects, the MIB may indicate a combination of fixed channels (e.g., using one or more bits). For example, different bit values may correspond to different combinations of channel indices corresponding to the fixed channels (e.g., a first value may indicate that channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are fixed channels, a second value may indicate that channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are fixed channels, and/or the like). Additionally, or alternatively, a paging window for a plurality of fixed channels may be defined over a combination of discontinuous time intervals determined based at least in part on a frequency hopping pattern associated with the plurality of fixed channels. In this way, the channels used for paging are less likely to be overloaded. In some aspects, the fixed channel(s) may be used for transmission of pages, as described above. Additionally, or alternatively, the fixed channel(s) may be used for transmission of at least one SIB (e.g., of the one or more SIBs), transmission of one or more positioning signals (e.g., a positioning reference signal (PRS)), and/or the like. In this way, the list of channels can be indicated to the UE <NUM> via transmission of one or more SIBs and/or pages in one or more fixed channels.

In some aspects (e.g., when the list changes while the UE <NUM> is in RRC connected mode), the UE <NUM> may perform an RRC configuration procedure to obtain the MIB and/or the one or more SIBs. For example, the base station <NUM> may disconnect one or more connected UEs <NUM> that are configured to use the list (e.g., based at least in part on the class of the UE <NUM>, an indication that the UE <NUM> communicates using the unlicensed RF spectrum band, and/or the like), and the base station <NUM> may modify the list. Upon reconnecting to the base station <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may obtain the modified list (e.g., using a MIB and/or one or more SIBs) during an RRC configuration procedure.

Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may receive an indication from the base station <NUM> that the list of channels has changed or will change (e.g., after a particular time period), and the UE <NUM> may obtain the list of channels based at least in part on this indication. In some aspects, the indication may be received in a control channel, such as the PDCCH, a common PDCCH (CPDCCH), and/or the like. In some aspects, the indication may indicate a timing associated with the change (e.g., when the list changed, when the list will change, when a new list is to be used, and/or the like). Additionally, or alternatively, the timing may be indicated in the one or more SIBs. The UE <NUM> may use this information to determine when different lists are to be used.

Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may obtain the list of channels based at least in part on expiration of a modification period associated with the list of channels. For example, the UE <NUM> may periodically obtain the list of channels when a modification period expires (e.g., every <NUM> milliseconds, every <NUM> seconds, every <NUM> minutes, every hour, and/or the like). Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may periodically read the MIB and/or the one or more SIBs for an indication of whether the list has changed, and may obtain the new list if the list has changed. In this way, the UE <NUM> may obtain an accurate list of channels to be used for frequency hopping in the unlicensed RF spectrum band. Additional details regarding modifying the list of channels are described below in connection with <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, a UE <NUM> may communicate with a base station <NUM> (e.g., using an LTE radio access technology, a <NUM> radio access technology, and/or the like). In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may correspond to one or more UEs described elsewhere herein, such as the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the base station <NUM> may correspond to one or more base stations described elsewhere herein, such as the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or the like.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may report a channel condition to the base station <NUM>. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may report a channel condition for at least one channel included in the list of channels received by the UE <NUM> (e.g., one or more whitelisted channels), as described above in connection with <FIG>. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may report a channel condition for one or more channels not included in the list (e.g., one or more blacklisted channels). In some aspects, such reporting may trigger a change in the list of channels, as described below. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may report a channel parameter, such as a reference signal received power (RSRP) parameter, a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) parameter, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) parameter, and/or the like.

In some aspects, for channels not included in the list (e.g., blacklisted channels), the base station <NUM> may periodically transmit on the blacklisted channels so that the UE <NUM> can report channel parameters associated with the blacklisted channels. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may instruct the UE <NUM> to measure one or more channel parameters on one or more blacklisted channels and to report measurements for the one or more blacklisted channels.

Additionally, or alternatively, the base station <NUM> may configure reporting modes for channels included in the list (e.g., whitelisted channels). For example, the base station <NUM> may configure frequency-specific reporting for the UE <NUM> to report channel conditions of particular channels (e.g., whitelisted channels and/or blacklisted channels). In a first reporting mode, the UE <NUM> may periodically send reports for all of the channels included in the list of channels. In a second reporting mode, the UE <NUM> may send a report for a channel only if channel conditions are poor for the channel (e.g., if one or more channel parameters fail to satisfy one or more thresholds, which may be indicated to the UE <NUM> by the base station <NUM>). In a third reporting mode, the UE <NUM> may send a report (e.g., for multiple channels) if a threshold number or percentage of channels, included in the list, are associated with poor channel conditions. These different reporting modes provide tradeoffs between updating the list quickly when channel conditions are poor versus conserving network resources by reporting less frequently.

At <NUM>, the base station <NUM> may modify the list of channels. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may receive a report associated with one or more channels included in the list and/or one or more channels not included in the list, and may modify the list based at least in part on the report. Additionally, or alternatively, the base station <NUM> may measure a channel condition of one or more channels included in the list and/or one or more channels not included in the list, and may modify the list based at least in part on the measurement.

For example, the base station <NUM> may measure a channel to determine a channel parameter associated with the channel, such as a signal strength parameter (e.g., an RSSI value), a signal quality parameter, and/or the like. The base station <NUM> may determine whether to modify the list based at least in part on the channel parameter(s). For example, the base station <NUM> may remove a channel from the list when a channel parameter (e.g., an RSSI value) does not satisfy a threshold (e.g., is less than or equal to a threshold), and/or may add a channel to the list when the channel parameter satisfies a threshold (e.g., is greater than or equal to a threshold). In this way, the channels with the best conditions may be used for communicating in the unlicensed RF spectrum band, and the list may be updated to indicate the channels with the best conditions.

Similarly, the base station <NUM> may add a channel to the list and/or remove a channel from the list based at least in part on comparing one or more channel parameters, received in a report from the UE <NUM>, to one or more thresholds. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may modify the list based at least in part on a threshold number of UEs <NUM> reporting channel parameters that satisfy a threshold. For example, the base station <NUM> may add a blacklisted channel to the list of channels if a threshold number of UEs <NUM> indicate that the blacklisted channel has good quality. Similarly, the base station <NUM> may remove a whitelisted channel from the list of channels if a threshold number of UEs <NUM> indicate that the whitelisted channel has poor quality.

In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may modify the list by adding a channel (e.g., a blacklisted channel) to the list. Additionally, or alternatively, the base station <NUM> may modify the list by removing a channel (e.g., a whitelisted channel) from the list. In some aspects, the number of channels included in the list is not fixed. In this case, the base station <NUM> may add a channel to the list without removing another channel from the list, and/or may remove a channel from the list without adding another channel to the list. Additionally, or alternatively, the base station <NUM> may add and/or remove any number of channels at the same time (e.g., in between transmission of consecutive lists). In this case, when indicating the list of channels, the base station <NUM> may indicate the full list of channels so that the UE <NUM> can be updated with multiple possible modifications to the list.

In some aspects, a number of channels included in the list is fixed. In this case, the base station <NUM> may add a first channel to the list only when removing a second channel from the list (e.g., when channel conditions of the first channel are better than channel conditions of the second channel). In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may indicate the change to the list (e.g., by indicating a first channel index of the added channel and a second channel index of the removed channel). For example, the base station <NUM> may indicate the change in the MIB. In this way, the UE <NUM> may need to read only the MIB to update the list stored by the UE <NUM>, rather than reading a SIB to obtain the full list. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may indicate changes to the list in the MIB, and may also transmit the full list in a SIB. In this way, if the UE <NUM> misses an update in a MIB, then the UE <NUM> can still obtain the full list by reading the SIB.

At <NUM>, the base station <NUM> may transmit an indication that the list of channels has changed, as described in more detail above in connection with <FIG>. For example, the base station <NUM> may transmit the indication using a MIB (e.g., using a value that indicates whether the list has changed), one or more SIBs, a page, a downlink data channel, and/or the like. The UE <NUM> may acquire the modified list based at least in part on receiving the indication that the list of channels has changed. In this way, the base station <NUM> may keep the UE <NUM> updated on the list of channels to be used for frequency hopping in the unlicensed RF spectrum band.

In some aspects, the base station <NUM> (e.g., a serving base station for the UE <NUM>) may transmit one or more neighbor lists of channels corresponding to one or more neighbor base stations. A neighbor list of channels for a neighbor base station may indicate the channels to be used for frequency hopping on the neighbor base station when communicating with the neighbor base station on the unlicensed RF spectrum band. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may indicate a neighbor list to the UE <NUM>. In this case, two base stations that are neighbors to one another may exchange lists, and may indicate to one another when a list has changed so that a new list may be obtained. Furthermore, when a serving base station <NUM> obtains a neighbor list or a new neighbor list from a neighbor base station, the serving base station <NUM> may provide the neighbor list to the UE <NUM>. In this way, the UE <NUM> may store an updated neighbor list, which may be used for positioning, during handover, and/or the like.

<FIG> is a flow chart of a method <NUM> of wireless communication. The method <NUM> may be performed by a UE (e.g., the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>', and/or the like).

At <NUM>, the UE may receive a MIB that indicates a location of one or more SIBs. For example, the UE may receive a MIB, which may indicate one or more locations corresponding to one or more SIBs, as described above in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may receive the one or more SIBs. For example, the UE may receive the one or more SIBs based at least in part on the MIB. As described above in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>, the one or more SIBs may indicate a list of channels for frequency hopping in an unlicensed RF spectrum band.

At <NUM>, the UE may communicate by frequency hopping on a plurality of channels included in the list of channels. For example, the UE may communicate by frequency hopping on a plurality of channels included in the list, as described above in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>.

Method <NUM> may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in connection with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In some aspects, the MIB or the one or more SIBs are obtained based at least in part on receiving a page triggered by a change to the list of channels. In some aspects, the MIB or a SIB, of the one or more SIBs, indicates whether the list of channels has changed from a previously indicated list. In some aspects, the list of channels is obtained based at least in part on determining that the list of channels has changed from the previously indicated list. In some aspects, the UE reads a value from the MIB or the SIB and compares the value to a previously received value to determine whether the list of channels has changed from the previously indicated list.

In some aspects, the list of channels corresponds to a base station serving the UE. In some aspects, the list of channels is associated with a neighbor base station. In some aspects, the list of channels changes over time (e.g., periodically). In some aspects, the MIB or the one or more SIBs indicate one or more fixed channels, for communication in the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, that do not change over time (e.g., that are semi-static or permanent). In some aspects, the one or more fixed channels are used for at least one of: transmission of at least one SIB of the one or more SIBs, transmission of one or more pages, one or more positioning signals, or some combination thereof. In some aspects, the MIB or the one or more SIBs include a value that corresponds to a combination of fixed channels to be used for communication in the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band. In some aspects, the MIB or the one or more SIBs indicate a number of channels for frequency hopping in the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band. In some aspects, the number of channels is cell-specific.

In some aspects, the MIB or the one or more SIBs are obtained based at least in part on: performing a radio resource control (RRC) configuration procedure, receiving an indication, in a common physical downlink control channel, that the list of channels has changed or will change, expiration of a modification period associated with the list of channels, or some combination thereof. In some aspects, the UE may search for one or more pages on a plurality of fixed channels using a paging window defined over a combination of discontinuous time intervals determined based at least in part on a frequency hopping pattern associated with the plurality of fixed channels.

In some aspects, the UE reports a channel condition for at least one of: at least one channel included in the list of channels permitted to be used by the UE for frequency hopping in the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, one or more channels not included in the list, or some combination thereof. In some aspects, reporting the channel condition triggers a change in the list of channels.

Although <FIG> shows example blocks of a method <NUM> of wireless communication, in some aspects, the method <NUM> may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than those shown in <FIG>. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more blocks shown in <FIG> may be performed in parallel.

<FIG> is a flow chart of a method <NUM> of wireless communication. The method <NUM> may be performed by a base station (e.g., the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>', and/or the like).

At <NUM>, the base station may transmit a MIB that indicates a location of one or more SIBs. For example, the base station may transmit a MIB, which may indicate one or more locations corresponding to one or more SIBs, as described above in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the base station may transmit the one or more SIBs. For example, the base station may transmit the one or more SIBs based at least in part on the MIB. As described above in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>, the one or more SIBs may indicate a list of channels permitted for use by a UE for frequency hopping in an unlicensed RF spectrum band.

At <NUM>, the base station may communicate with the UE using a plurality of channels included in the list of channels. For example, the base station may communicate with the UE by frequency hopping on a plurality of channels included in the list, as described above in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>.

In some aspects, an indication that the list of channels has changed is transmitted (e.g., by the base station) based at least in part on a determination that the list of channels has changed. In some aspects, an indication of the list of channels is transmitted based at least in part on a change to the list of channels. In some aspects, the list of channels corresponds to the base station and is indicated to one or more neighbor base stations. In some aspects, the base station may modify the list of channels based at least in part on: one or more measurements or reports associated with one or more channels included in the list of channels, one or more measurements or reports associated with one or more channels not included in the list of channels, or some combination thereof. In some aspects, the base station may modify the list of channels by adding to the list, removing from the list, or adding and removing from the list. In some aspects, a number of channels, included in the list of channels, is fixed and a first channel is added to the list of channels when a second channel is removed from the list of channels.

<FIG> is a conceptual data flow diagram <NUM> illustrating the data flow between different modules/means/components in an example apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> may be a UE, such as one or more UEs described elsewhere herein. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception module <NUM>, a list management module <NUM>, a reporting module <NUM>, and/or a transmission module <NUM>.

The reception module <NUM> may receive data <NUM> from a base station <NUM>. In some aspects, the data <NUM> may include a MIB, one or more SIBs, an indication of a list of channels to be used for frequency hopping in the unlicensed RF spectrum, and/or the like. The reception module <NUM> may provide the list to the list management module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The list management module <NUM> may store the list, update the list when a new list is received, manage use of the list, and/or the like. In some aspects, the list management module <NUM> may indicate channels to be used for frequency hopping to the transmission module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The transmission module <NUM> may transmit information to the base station <NUM>, as data <NUM>, by frequency hopping on the channels indicated by the list management module <NUM>.

In some aspects, the data <NUM> may indicate a change to the list, and the reception module <NUM> may indicate the change to the list management module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The list management module <NUM> may update a stored list, may indicate the new channels to the transmission module <NUM> as data <NUM>, and/or the like.

In some aspects, the reception module <NUM> may measure one or more signals received on one or more channels as data <NUM>. The reception module <NUM> may provide the signals to the reporting module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The reporting module <NUM> may determine one or more channel parameters using the signals, and may provide the channel parameters to the transmission module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The transmission module <NUM> may report the channel parameters to the base station <NUM> as data <NUM>. The base station <NUM> may modify the list of channels based at least in part on the report.

The apparatus may include additional modules that perform each of the blocks of the algorithm in the aforementioned flow chart of <FIG>. As such, each block in the aforementioned flow chart of <FIG> may be performed by a module and the apparatus may include one or more of those modules. The modules may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to carry out the stated processes/algorithm, implemented by a processor configured to perform the stated processes/algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium for implementation by a processor, or some combination thereof.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus <NUM>' employing a processing system <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM>' may be a UE, such as one or more UEs described elsewhere herein.

The processing system <NUM> may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system <NUM> and the overall design constraints. The bus <NUM> links together various circuits including one or more processors and/or hardware modules, represented by the processor <NUM>, the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>, and the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further.

The processing system <NUM> may be coupled to a transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is coupled to one or more antennas <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> provides a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The transceiver <NUM> receives a signal from the one or more antennas <NUM>, extracts information from the received signal, and provides the extracted information to the processing system <NUM>, specifically the reception module <NUM>. In addition, the transceiver <NUM> receives information from the processing system <NUM>, specifically the transmission module <NUM>, and based at least in part on the received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one or more antennas <NUM>. The processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The software, when executed by the processor <NUM>, causes the processing system <NUM> to perform the various functions described supra for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium / memory <NUM> may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor <NUM> when executing software. The processing system further includes at least one of the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>. The modules may be software modules running in the processor <NUM>, resident/stored in the computer readable medium / memory <NUM>, one or more hardware modules coupled to the processor <NUM>, or some combination thereof. The processing system <NUM> may be a component of the UE <NUM> and may include the memory <NUM> and/or at least one of the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>.

In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' for wireless communication includes means for receiving a MIB, means for receiving one or more SIBs, means for communicating by frequency hopping on a plurality of channels, means for reporting a channel condition, and/or the like. The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementioned modules of the apparatus <NUM> and/or the processing system <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means. As described supra, the processing system <NUM> may include the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>. As such, in one configuration, the aforementioned means may be the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM> configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means.

Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described in connection with <FIG>.

<FIG> is a conceptual data flow diagram <NUM> illustrating the data flow between different modules/means/components in an example apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> may be a base station, such as one or more base stations described elsewhere herein. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception module <NUM>, a modification module <NUM>, and/or a transmission module <NUM>.

The transmission module <NUM> may transmit, as data <NUM>, a MIB, one or more SIBs, an indication of a list of channels to be used for frequency hopping in the unlicensed RF spectrum, and/or the like. For example, the transmission module <NUM> may transmit such data <NUM> to a UE <NUM>. The reception module <NUM> may receive one or more communications from the UE <NUM> as data <NUM>. For example, the reception module <NUM> may communicate with the UE <NUM> using a plurality of channels included in the list of channels.

In some aspects, the reception module <NUM> may receive one or more reports from the UE <NUM>, and may provide the one or more reports to the modification module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The modification module <NUM> may modify the list of channels based at least in part on the one or more reports and/or one or more measurements taken by the apparatus <NUM> (e.g., via the reception module <NUM>), and may indicate the modified list of channels to the transmission module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The transmission module <NUM> may transmit an indication of the modified list to the UE <NUM> as data <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus <NUM>' employing a processing system <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM>' may be a base station, such as one or more base stations described elsewhere herein.

The processing system <NUM> may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system <NUM> and the overall design constraints. The bus <NUM> links together various circuits including one or more processors and/or hardware modules, represented by the processor <NUM>, the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>, and the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further.

The processing system <NUM> may be coupled to a transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is coupled to one or more antennas <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> provides a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The transceiver <NUM> receives a signal from the one or more antennas <NUM>, extracts information from the received signal, and provides the extracted information to the processing system <NUM>, specifically the reception module <NUM>. In addition, the transceiver <NUM> receives information from the processing system <NUM>, specifically the transmission module <NUM>, and based at least in part on the received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one or more antennas <NUM>. The processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The software, when executed by the processor <NUM>, causes the processing system <NUM> to perform the various functions described supra for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium / memory <NUM> may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor <NUM> when executing software. The processing system further includes at least one of the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>. The modules may be software modules running in the processor <NUM>, resident/stored in the computer readable medium / memory <NUM>, one or more hardware modules coupled to the processor <NUM>, or some combination thereof. The processing system <NUM> may be a component of the base station <NUM> and may include the memory <NUM> and/or at least one of the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>.

In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' for wireless communication includes means for transmitting a MIB, means for transmitting one or more SIBs, means for communicating with a UE using a plurality of channels included in a list of channels, means for transmitting an indication that the list of channels has changed, means for modifying the list of channels, and/or the like. The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementioned modules of the apparatus <NUM> and/or the processing system <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means. As described supra, the processing system <NUM> may include the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the receive processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>. As such, in one configuration, the aforementioned means may be the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the receive processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM> configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes / flow charts disclosed is an illustration of example approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes / flow charts may be rearranged.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) of wireless communication, comprising:
receiving (<NUM>), by a user equipment, UE (<NUM>), a master information block, MIB, that indicates a location of one or more system information blocks, SIBs;
receiving (<NUM>), by the UE, the one or more SIBs based at least in part on the MIB, wherein the one or more SIBs indicate a list of channels for frequency hopping in an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band; and
communicating (<NUM>), by the UE, by frequency hopping on a plurality of channels, included in the list of channels, based at least in part on the indication in the one or more SIBs, wherein the MIB further indicates whether the list of channels has changed from a previously indicated list.