PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11564283-B2
Application Number: US-202016831414-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Discontinuous reception alignment in dual connectivity networks

Abstract:
A 3GPP LTE protocol enhancement realizes the full benefit of discontinuous reception (DRX) in Long Term Evolution networks by coordinating and aligning DRX operations for conserving power and timing overhead. A dual connectivity enabled User Equipment (UE) comprising a processor and transceiver is configured to align DRX configuration between counterpart Evolved Node Bs (eNB)s, wherein counterpart eNBs are a Master eNB (MeNB) and a Secondary eNB (SeNB) simultaneously connected to the UE, communicate system frame timing and system frame number (SFN) information between the counterpart eNBs, align DRX start offset (drxStartOffset) values for the counterpart eNBs according to the communicated system frame timing and SFN information to compensate for offsets in system frame timing, and allow the start of a DRX ON duration at specific frame or sub-frame times determined by the drxStartOffset values, after the expiration of a DRX inactivity timer.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor, configured to cause a user equipment (UE) to:
 connect to a master base station associated with a master cell group (MCG), and a secondary cell group (SCG) for dual connectivity, the SCG associated with a secondary base station; 
 transmit, to the master base station, system frame timing and system frame number (SFN) information, the system frame timing and SFN information associated with the secondary base station; 
 decode a first configuration for the MCG and a second configuration for the SCG, wherein the first configuration includes discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration information for the MCG, wherein the second configuration includes DRX configuration information for the SCG, wherein the first configuration and the second configuration are aligned based on the system frame timing and SFN information; and 
 utilize radio resources of both the master base station and the secondary base station. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to:
 perform DRX operations for the SCG based on the DRX configuration information for the SCG; and 
 perform DRX operations for the MCG based on the DRX configuration information for the MCG. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the DRX configuration information for the SCG and the DRX configuration information for the MCG configure the UE to have aligned DRX-on duration times. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein to perform DRX operations for the MCG, the processor is further configure to cause the UE to monitor a channel of the MCG based on the DRX configuration information for the MCG, wherein to perform DRX operations for the SCG, the processor is to configure the UE to monitor a channel of the SCG based on the DRX configuration information for the SCG, and wherein the channels of the MCG and the SCG are monitored during the aligned DRX-on duration times. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein to transmit the system frame timing and SFN information to the master base station, the processor is further configured to cause the UE to encode an uplink information element (IE) to include the system frame timing and SFN information for transmission within a radio resource control (RRC) message to the master base station. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to:
 decode RRC signaling from the master base station that includes a downlink IE requesting the SFN and subframe offset associated with the secondary base station. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the DRX operations for the MCG and the SCG are performed concurrently. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus further comprises transceiver circuitry configured to receive radio resource control (RRC) signaling from the master base station, the RRC signaling comprising configuration for the MCG and the SCG. 
     
     
       9. A user equipment device (UE) configurable for dual connectivity, the UE comprising:
 a radio; and 
 a processor operably connected to the radio and configured to cause the UE to:
 connect to a master base station associated with a master cell group (MCG), and a secondary cell group (SCG) for dual connectivity, the SCG associated with a secondary base station; 
 transmit, to the master base station, system frame timing and system frame number (SFN) information, the system frame timing and SFN information associated with the secondary base station; 
 decode a first configuration for the MCG and a second configuration for the SCG, wherein the first configuration includes discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration information for the MCG, wherein the second configuration includes DRX configuration information for the SCG, wherein the first configuration and the second configuration are aligned based on the system frame timing and SFN information; and 
 utilize radio resources of both the master base station and the secondary base station. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The UE of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to:
 perform DRX operations for the SCG based on the DRX configuration information for the SCG; and 
 perform DRX operations for the MCG based on the DRX configuration information for the MCG. 
 
     
     
       11. The UE of  claim 10 , wherein the DRX configuration information for the SCG and the DRX configuration information for the MCG configure the UE to have aligned DRX-on duration times. 
     
     
       12. The UE of  claim 11 , wherein to perform DRX operations for the MCG, the processor is further configure to cause the UE to monitor a channel of the MCG based on the DRX configuration information for the MCG, wherein to perform DRX operations for the SCG, the processor is to configure the UE to monitor a channel of the SCG based on the DRX configuration information for the SCG, and wherein the channels of the MCG and the SCG are monitored during the aligned DRX-on duration times. 
     
     
       13. The UE of  claim 10 , wherein to transmit the system frame timing and SFN information to the master base station, the processor is further configured to cause the UE to encode an uplink information element (IE) to include the system frame timing and SFN information for transmission within a radio resource control (RRC) message to the master base station. 
     
     
       14. The UE of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to:
 decode RRC signaling from the master base station that includes a downlink IE requesting the SFN and subframe offset associated with the secondary base station. 
 
     
     
       15. The UE of  claim 10 , wherein the DRX operations for the MCG and the SCG are performed concurrently. 
     
     
       16. The UE of  claim 10 , wherein the UE further comprises transceiver circuitry configured to receive radio resource control (RRC) signaling from the master base station, the RRC signaling comprising configuration for the MCG and the SCG. 
     
     
       17. A method, comprising:
 at a user equipment device (UE):
 connecting to a master base station associated with a master cell group (MCG), and a secondary cell group (SCG) for dual connectivity, the SCG associated with a secondary base station; 
 transmitting, to the master base station, system frame timing and system frame number (SFN) information, the system frame timing and SFN information associated with the secondary base station; 
 decoding a first configuration for the MCG and a second configuration for the SCG, wherein the first configuration includes discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration information for the MCG, wherein the second configuration includes DRX configuration information for the SCG, wherein the first configuration and the second configuration are aligned based on the system frame timing and SFN information; and 
 utilizing radio resources of both the master base station and the secondary base station. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 performing DRX operations for the SCG based on the DRX configuration information for the SCG; and 
 performing DRX operations for the MCG based on the DRX configuration information for the MCG. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the DRX configuration information for the SCG and the DRX configuration information for the MCG configure the UE to have aligned DRX-on duration times. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said transmitting the system frame timing and SFN information to the master base station, comprises encoding an uplink information element (IE) to include the system frame timing and SFN information for transmission within a radio resource control (RRC) message to the master base station.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     The present application for Patent is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/988,280, filed May 24, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/332,754, filed Oct. 24, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/528,755, filed Oct. 30, 2014, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,872,334, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/933,862, entitled “UE ASSISTED TIME SYNCHRONIZATION BETWEEN SENB AND MENB DUE TO SFN OFFSET TO ACHIEVE DRX ALIGNMENT IN LTE DUAL CONNECTIVITY ARCHITECTURE,” filed Jan. 30, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     The claims in the instant application are different than those of the parent application or other related applications. The Applicant therefore rescinds any disclaimer of claim scope made in the parent application or any predecessor application in relation to the instant application. The Examiner is therefore advised that any such previous disclaimer and the cited references that it was made to avoid, may need to be revisited. Further, any disclaimer made in the instant application should not be read into or against the parent application or other related applications. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Examples generally relate to Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks. One or more examples relate to the implementation of Discontinuous Reception (DRX) alignment in LTE dual connectivity network architecture(s). 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, data, and other media. These systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., bandwidth and transmit power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, and orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems. 
     Dual connectivity is a new innovative network architecture that allows a User Equipment (UE) to connect with more than one base station and/or network cell simultaneously. The UE can connect with a Master Cell Group (MCG) and as Secondary Cell Group (SCG) at the same time by connecting to a Master Evolved Node B (MeNB) and a Secondary Evolved Node B (SeNB) at the MCG and SCG respectively. The simultaneously connected MeNB and the SeNB are counterparts in DRX operations. Because the MeNB and SeNB have separate and independent DRX operations for Dual Connectivity enabled UEs, the UE may remain active (i.e., wasting power and signaling resources) longer than necessary if these DRX operations are not aligned. Thus, in order to realize the full benefit of proposed dual connectivity networks, there is now a need for enhancements in current 3GPP LTE standards to coordinate and align DRX operations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document. 
         FIG.  1    shows a high level block diagram illustrating an example of dual connectivity in a cellular network, according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates the effect of unaligned DRX at a UE, according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates DRX alignment at a UE, according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a Medium Access Control (MAC) Element for DRX alignment between a MeNB and a SeNB, according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  5    is a high level overview flowchart of DRX Alignment in Dual Connectivity Networks, according to some embodiments: 
         FIG.  6    shows a functional diagram of an exemplary communication station in accordance with some embodiments; and 
         FIG.  7    shows a block diagram of an example of a machine upon which, any of one or more techniques (e.g., methods) discussed herein may be performed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustrate specific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical, process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments. Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass all available equivalents of those claims. 
     The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. 
     The terms “communication station”, “station”, “handheld device”, “mobile device”, “wireless device” and “User Equipment” (UE) as used herein refer to a wireless communication device such as a cellular telephone, smartphone, tablet, netbook, wireless terminal, laptop computer, femtocell, High Data Rate (HDR) subscriber station, access point, access terminal, or other personal communication system (PCS) device. The device may be either mobile or stationary. 
     The term “access point” as used herein may be a fixed station. An access point may also be referred to as an access node, a base station or some other similar terminology known in the art. An access terminal may also be called a mobile station, a User Equipment (UE), a wireless communication device or some other similar terminology known in the art. Dual Connectivity in wireless cellular networks has been approved by standards bodies for 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) LTE advanced releases. Dual connectivity allows a UE to simultaneously connect with more than one cell or eNB. A UE may simultaneously connect to a MeNB and a SeNB. 
     The 3GPPP standards body has agreed that the MeNB and SeNB support separate and independent DRX operations for a Dual Connectivity UE. However, independent DRX operations may result in the UE over consuming resources such as the UE&#39;s battery power by causing the UE to unnecessarily maintain an active state when dual DRX operations are not aligned. 
     Dual connectivity MeNBs and SeNBs are not co-located. Therefore, their System Frame Numbers (SFNs) (i.e., system frame timings) are not synchronized or aligned. As a result, even if a MeNB and a SeNB have identical DRX configuration parameters, alignment (i.e., a simultaneous start of their DRX ON Durations) is not guaranteed. Unfortunately, current 3GPP LTE specifications do not provide signaling and protocol support for power saving DRX alignment or eNB coordination of DRX configurations. 
     A method and apparatus for DRX alignment are disclosed in  FIGS.  1 - 7   . Coordinated DRX start offsets (drxStartOffsets) are determined to compensate for the offset between SFNs of the SeNB and the MeNB. A mechanism for informing the counterpart MeNB and the SeNB of each other&#39;s system frame timings at least at the sub-frame level of granularity, or SFNs, is provided for determining the offset, as well as befitting other LTE dual connectivity operations. DRX configuration parameters are negotiated between the counterpart MeNB and the SeNB over their X2 interfaces to align the DRX configuration. For example, the MeNB and the SeNB may select equal DRX ON Durations and equal (or integer multiple) DRX Long cycles. The start of DRX ON Duration is determined by the drxStartOffset, which allows the start of DRX On duration only at specific frames and/or sub-frames after expiration of a DRX inactivity timer. 
       FIG.  1    shows a high level block diagram illustrating an example of dual connectivity in a cellular network  100 . Cell  102   a , belonging to a MCG, comprises MeNB  104 . Cell  102   b , belonging to a SCG, comprises SeNB  106 . UE  108  is simultaneously connected to MeNB  104  and SeNB  106 . MeNB  104  and SeNB  106  may communicate via an X2 interface protocol. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates the effect of unaligned DRX at a UE  200 . Independent and unaligned DRX operations performed by MeNB  104  and SeNB  106  may increase the UE&#39;s  108  overall active state durations and concomitant UE  108  power consumption. As shown, UE  108  supports operational states for DRX communications from a MeNB  202  and a SeNB  204 , resulting in overall combined DRX communication states  206 . 
     Active state periods of the UE  108  operation are determined by the expiration of an inactivity timer, the value of DRX cycle and the value of a DRX start offset value “drxStartOffset”. The inactivity timer expires after a predetermined amount of time since the last packet activity from the same eNB (i.e., the MeNB  104  and the SeNB  106  each has its own independent packet activity timer). The UE&#39;s  108  DRX logic continues to consume signaling and power resources as long as the inactivity timer has not expired. The UE  108  operates in an active state having duration  212   a , starting at time T 1  and ending at time T 3 , with respect to the MeNB  104 . The UE  108  simultaneously operates in an active state, also having duration  212   a , starting at time T 2  and ending at time T 4 , with respect to the SeNB  106 . 
     Following the end of each active state period  212 , the UE  108  alternates between ON states  214  where the UE  108  wakes up and looks for packet activity, and a DRX sleep state  216  where the UE  108  sleeps to conserve the UE&#39;s  108  battery power. Because the DRX active states from the MeNB  202  and the SeNB  204  are unaligned, the combined active state period for both MeNB  104  and SeNB  106  signals ( 202  and  204  respectively) has a longer duration  212   b , than either of the uncombined active state period durations  212   a . The combined ON state period  218  also has a longer duration than either of the uncombined ON state period durations  214 . The extended operation of the UE  108  in the combined active state  212   b  and ON  218  state periods generates wasteful power consumption by the UE  108 . 
     To help prevent unnecessary power consumption by the UE  108 , values of drxStartOffset  208  for the MeNB  104  and/or the SeNB  106  need to be aligned to compensate for inherent SFN offsets of the MeNB  104  and the SeNB  106 . Without adjusting the drxStartOffsets  208 , DRX alignment may not be able to be achieved even when the MeNB  104  and SeNB  106  DRX were identically configured. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates Dual Connection DRX alignment  300  at a UE. The UE  108  supports operational states for DRX communications from a MeNB  302  and a SeNB  304 , resulting in overall combined DRX communication states  306 . 
     DRX alignment decreases a UE&#39;s  108  overall active state  312  and ON state  314  durations as shown in  FIG.  3   . To maximize user power savings during DRX operations in Dual Connection network architectures where a UE  108  may have separate and independent DRX operations for a MeNB  104  and a SeNB  106 , the total combined active state  316  and ON state  314  state durations of the UE  108  may be minimized. The total combined active state  316  and ON  314  state durations are minimized when UE  108  DRX ON state durations  314  are aligned with respect to the MeNB  104  and the SeNB  106 . 
     MeNB  104  and SeNB  106  DRX activity state  312  and ON  314  state durations are aligned to time T 1  using correctly calculated drxStartOffsets. The correct drxStartOffsets ensure that all following combined ON state durations  314  occur simultaneously in time  306 . The combined activity and ON states  306  cannot overlap or have the extended durations seen in  FIG.  2   . 
     To align the DRX ON state durations  314 , drxStartOffsets for the MeNB  104  and the SeNB  106  are calculated to compensate for SFN timing offsets between the SeNB  106  and the MeNB  104 . However, for calculating the drxStartOffsets, the MeNB  104  and the SeNB  106  should have knowledge of each other&#39;s SFN timings. 
     A dual connected UE  108  is aware of system frame timings and SFNs of both connected eNBs (i.e., the MeNB  104  and the SeNB  106 ). In one UE  108  assisted embodiment, an eNB ( 104  or  106 ) can instruct the UE  108  to transmit the system frame timing and SFN information of its counterpart dual connected eNB ( 104  or  106 ) for calculating drxStartOffsets. In another UE  108  unassisted embodiment, signaling messages having system frame timing and SFN information are exchanged over an X2 interface directly between the MeNB  104  and the SeNB  106  for calculating drxStartOffsets.  FIG.  4    details novel MAC Control Element (CE) data structures for UE  108  assisted alignment.  FIG.  5    details a messaging mechanism for acquiring system frame timing and SFN information of a counterpart eNB in Dual Connectivity over the X2 interface. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates MAC Control Element components  400  for UE  108  assisted DRX alignment between a MeNB  104  and a SeNB  106 . The MeNB  104  and/or SeNB  106  should have knowledge of the system frame timing and SFN of its counterpart eNB to align the DRX operations for a Dual Connection capable UE  108 . LTE network architectures comprise a SFN, between 0 and 1023, that is updated every 10 milliseconds (ms), and a sub-frame number (SF) between 0 and 9 that is updated every 1 ms. 
     In a UE  108  assisted embodiment, a SFN used to calculate a drxStartOffset value for starting DRX operations is broadcast to a UE  108  by an eNB in a Master Information Block (MIB) message, which the UE  108  can forward to the counterpart eNB. Because a dual connected UE  108  is synchronized to, and aware of, the system frame timing and SFN of both of the MeNB  104  and SeNB  106 , the MeNB  104  (or the SeNB  106 ) can ask the UE  108  to send the system frame timing and SFN information of its counterpart eNB over the air interface for the purpose of DRX alignment as well as other dual connectivity needs. Either the MeNB  104  or the SeNB  106  can initiate this approach to obtain the system frame timing and SFN information of the other eNB. 
     For example, the MeNB  104  can transmit a novel downlink (DL) MAC Control Element (CE) to a dual connectivity UE  108  for requesting the system frame timing and SFN information of its counterpart SeNB  106 . The UE  108  may reply by returning a novel Uplink (UL) MAC CE containing the requested system frame timing and SFN information. Novel CE data structures for exchanging system frame timing and SFN information of counterpart eNBs via UL and DL are detailed below. 
     In various embodiments, novel Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages, or a novel Information Element (IE) included in the existing RRC message structure, are defined to enable the UE  108  assisted embodiments to acquire system frame timing and SFN information of a counterpart eNB in Dual Connectivity network architectures. In one embodiment, a novel DL MAC CE is used by an eNB to request a Dual Connectivity enabled UE  108  to transmit system frame timing and SFN information of its counterpart eNB. The DL MAC CE comprises a DL MAC CE sub-header  402  having a Logical Channel Identifier (LCID)  408  selected from the reserved LCID pool for Downlink Shared Channel (DL-SCH) used to identify the DL MAC CE for requesting counterpart system frame information. The DL MAC CE header  102  has no (or zero byte) data field. 
     Likewise, a novel UL MAC CE is used by a Dual Connectivity enabled UE  108  to respond to the request for counterpart eNB system frame timing and SFN information. The UL MAC CE comprises a UL MAC CE sub-header  404  having a Logical Channel Identifier (LCID)  410  selected from the reserved LCID pool for UL Shared Channel (UL-SCH) used to identify the UL MAC CE for responding to requests for counterpart system frame information and a MAC CE data field  406 . 
     The MAC CE data field  406  carries the system frame timing information  412  of the counterpart eNB. The system frame timing information  412  comprises a SFN value  414 , as well as sub-frame number value  416  of the counterpart eNB. 
     In other direct embodiments, messages having system frame timing and SFN information are exchanged over an X2 interface directly between the MeNB  104  and the SeNB  106  for calculating drxStartOffsets. Either eNB may ask its counterpart eNB to reply with system frame timing and SFN information. In reply, the counterpart eNB responds with system frame timing and SFN information with the absolute system time stamp. An absolute system time stamp compensates for non-ideal backhaul delays of up to several ms. 
     In dual connectivity, RRC messages carrying DRX configuration IEs for the MeNB  104  and the SeNB  106  are transmitted by the MeNB  104 . The SeNB  106  sends its DRX configuration IE to its counterpart MeNB  104  over the X2 interface, such that it can be forwarded to the UE  108 . A new system timing IE may be added to the existing SeNB  106  DRX configuration IE comprising system frame timing and SFN information stamped with absolute system time. This system timing IE is not forwarded to the UE  108  by the MeNB  104  because it is primarily used by the MeNB  104  to adjust the MeNB  104  drxStartOffset in order to align its DRX Configuration with that of the SeNB  106  and to ensure correct alignment of DRX operations of dual connectivity UEs  108 . 
       FIG.  5    is a high level overview flowchart of DRX Alignment in Dual Connectivity Networks  500 . Beginning in operation  502 , system timing information is exchanged between the MeNB  104  and the SeNB  106 . DRX configuration parameters are negotiated between the MeNB  104  and the SeNB  106 , either over their X2 interfaces or relayed by the UE  108 , for aligning the DRX configuration. System frame timing and SFN information is communicated between the counterpart eNBs. The information may be requested by either the MeNB  104  or the SeNB  106  and relayed through the UE  108  by the counterpart eNB, or either eNB may request the information directly from its counterpart eNB via their X2 interface. 
     Thus, system frame timing and SFN information is communicated between counterpart eNBs, wherein the counterpart eNBs are a MeNB and a Secondary SeNB simultaneously connected to the UE. Control proceeds to operation  504   
     In operation  504 , DRX timing is aligned. DRX start offset (drxStartOffset) values for the counterpart eNBs are aligned according to the communicated system frame timing and SFN information in order to compensate for offsets in the system frame timing. The start of DRX ON Duration periods is determined by the drxStartOffset value. For example, the MeNB  104  and the SeNB  106  may select equal DRX ON durations and equal (or integer multiple) DRX Long cycles. Control proceeds to operation  506 . 
     After DRX configuration and alignment, the start of DRX On durations are allowed at specific frame and/or sub-frame times, after expiration of a DRX inactivity timer in operation  506 . 
       FIG.  6    shows a functional diagram of an exemplary communication station  600  in accordance with some embodiments. In one embodiment,  FIG.  6    illustrates a functional block diagram of a communication station that may be suitable for use as a MeNB  104  ( FIG.  1   ) or SeNB  106  ( FIG.  1   ) in accordance with some embodiments. The communication station  600  may also be suitable for use as a handheld device, mobile device, cellular telephone, smartphone, tablet, netbook, wireless terminal, laptop computer, femtocell, HDR subscriber station, access point, access terminal, or other PCS device. 
     The communication station  600  may include physical layer circuitry  602  having a transceiver  610  for transmitting and receiving signals to and from other communication stations using one or more antennas  601 . The communication station  600  may also comprise MAC circuitry  604  for controlling access to the wireless medium. The communication station  600  may also include processing circuitry  606  and memory  608  arranged to perform the operations described herein. In some embodiments, the physical layer circuitry  602  and the processing circuitry  606  may be configured to perform operations detailed in  FIG.  5   . 
     In accordance with some embodiments, the MAC circuitry  604  may be arranged to contend for a wireless medium, and configure frames or packets for communicating over the wireless medium and the physical layer circuitry  602  may be arranged to transmit and receive signals. The physical layer circuitry  602  may include circuitry for modulation/demodulation, up-conversion/down-conversion, filtering, amplification, etc. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry  606  of the communication station  600  may include one or more processors. In some embodiments, two or more antennas  601  may be coupled to the physical layer circuitry  602  arranged for sending and receiving signals. The memory  608  may store information for configuring the processing circuitry  606  to perform operations for configuring and transmitting message frames and performing the various operations described herein. The memory  608  may comprise any type of memory, including non-transitory memory, for storing information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, the memory  608  may comprise a computer-readable storage device, read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash-memory devices, and other storage devices and media. 
     In some embodiments, the communication station  600  may be part of a portable wireless communication device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop or portable computer with wireless communication capability, a web tablet, a wireless telephone, a smartphone, a wireless headset, a pager, an instant messaging device, a digital camera, an access point, a television, a medical device (e.g., a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, etc.), or another device that may receive and/or transmit information wirelessly. 
     In some embodiments, the communication station  600  may include one or more antennas  601 . The antennas  601  may comprise one or more directional or omnidirectional antennas, including, for example, dipole antennas, monopole antennas, patch antennas, loop antennas, micro-strip antennas, or other types of antennas suitable for transmission of RF signals. In some embodiments, instead of two or more antennas, a single antenna with multiple apertures may be used. In these embodiments, each aperture may be considered a separate antenna. In some multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) embodiments, the antennas  601  may be effectively separated for spatial diversity and the different channel characteristics that may result between each of the antennas  601  and the antennas of a transmitting station. 
     In some embodiments, the communication station  600  may include one or more of a keyboard, a display, a non-volatile memory port, multiple antennas, a graphics processor, an application processor, speakers, and other mobile device elements. The display may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen including a touch screen. 
     Although the communication station  600  is illustrated as having several separate functional elements, two or more of the functional elements may be combined and may be implemented by combinations of software-configured elements, such as processing elements including digital signal processors (DSPs), and/or other hardware elements. For example, some elements may comprise one or more microprocessors, DSPs, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs), and combinations of various hardware and logic circuitry for performing at least the functions described herein. In some embodiments, the functional elements of the communication station  600  may refer to one or more processes operating on one or more processing elements. 
     Embodiments may be implemented in one or a combination of hardware, firmware and software. Embodiments may also be implemented as instructions stored on a computer-readable storage device, which may be read and executed by at least one processor to perform the operations described herein. A computer-readable storage device may include any non-transitory memory mechanism for storing information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a computer-readable storage device may include Read-Only-Memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash-memory devices, and other storage devices and media. In some embodiments, the communication station  600  may include one or more processors and may be configured with instructions stored on a computer-readable storage device memory  608 . 
       FIG.  7    illustrates a block diagram of an example of a machine  700  upon which any one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein may be performed. In one embodiment, the machine  700  may be a UE  108 . In alternative embodiments, the machine  700  may operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine  700  may operate in the capacity of a server machine, a client machine, or both in server-client network environments. In an example, the machine  700  may act as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (P2P) (or other distributed) network environment. The machine  700  may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine, such as a base station. Further, while a single machine  700  is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, such as cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), or other computer cluster configurations. 
     Examples, as described herein, may include, or may operate on, logic or a number of components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules are tangible entities (e.g., hardware) capable of performing specified operations when operating. A module includes hardware. In an example, the hardware may be specifically configured to carry out a specific operation (e.g., hardwired). In another example, the hardware may include configurable execution units (e.g., transistors, circuits, etc.) and a computer readable medium containing instructions, where the instructions configure the execution units to carry out a specific operation when in operation. The configuring may occur under the direction of the executions units or a loading mechanism. Accordingly, the execution units are communicatively coupled to the computer readable medium when the device is operating. In this example, the execution units may be a member of more than one module. For example, under operation, the execution units may be configured by a first set of instructions to implement a first module at one point in time and reconfigured by a second set of instructions to implement a second module at a second point in time. 
     The machine (e.g., computer system)  700  may include a hardware processor  702  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a main memory  704  and a static memory  706 , some or all of which may communicate with each other via an interlink (e.g., bus)  708 . The machine  700  may further include a power management device  732 , a graphics display device  710 , an alphanumeric input device  712  (e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI) navigation device  714  (e.g., a mouse). In an example, the graphics display device  710 , alphanumeric input device  712 , and UI navigation device  714  may be a touch screen display. The machine  700  may additionally include a storage device (i.e., drive unit)  716 , a signal generation device  718  (e.g., a speaker), a network interface device/transceiver  720  coupled to antenna(s)  730 , and one or more sensors  728 , such as a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, compass, accelerometer, or other sensor. The machine  700  may include an output controller  734 , such as a serial (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), parallel, or other wired or wireless (e.g., infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC), etc.) connection to communicate with or control one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a printer, card reader, etc.) 
     The storage device  716  may include a machine readable medium  722  on which is stored one or more sets of data structures or instructions  724  (e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the techniques or functions described herein. The instructions  724  may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  704 , within the static memory  706 , or within the hardware processor  702  during execution thereof by the machine  700 . In an example, one or any combination of the hardware processor  702 , the main memory  704 , the static memory  706 , or the storage device  716  may constitute machine readable media. 
     While the machine readable medium  722  is illustrated as a single medium, the term “machine readable medium” may include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) configured to store the one or more instructions  724 . 
     The term “machine readable medium” may include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the machine  700 ) and that cause the machine  700  to perform any one or more of the techniques of the present disclosure, or that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying data structures used by or associated with such instructions  724 . Non-limiting machine readable medium  722  examples may include solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media. In an example, a massed machine readable medium comprises a machine readable medium  722  with a plurality of particles having resting mass. Specific examples of massed machine readable media may include: non-volatile memory, such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., Electrically Programmable Read-Only-Memory (EPROM), or Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only-Memory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. 
     The instructions  724  may further be transmitted or received over a communications network  726  using a transmission medium via the network interface device/transceiver  720  utilizing any one of a number of transfer protocols (e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP), transmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), etc.). Example communications networks  726  may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a packet data network (e.g., the Internet), mobile telephone networks (e.g., cellular networks), Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) networks, wireless data networks (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards known as Wi-Fi®, IEEE 802.16 family of standards known as WiMax®), IEEE 802.15.4 family of standards, and peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, among others. In an example, the network interface device/transceiver  720  may include one or more physical jacks (e.g., Ethernet, coaxial, or phone jacks) or one or more antennas  730  to connect to the communications network  726 . In an example, the network interface device/transceiver  720  may include a plurality of antennas  730  to wirelessly communicate using at least one of single-input multiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), or multiple-input single-output (MISO) techniques. The term “transmission medium” shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying instructions  724  for execution by the machine  700 , and includes digital or analog communications signals or other intangible media to facilitate communication of such software.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20200326
Publication Date: 20230124
Grant Date: 20230124
Priority Date: 20140130
Inventors: JHA, SATISH CHANDRA
KOC, ALI T.
SIVANESAN, KATHIRAVETPILLAI
VANNITHAMBY, RATH
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04W88/06", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02D30/70", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/28", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L5/0091", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02B70/30", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/0212", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/0216", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/0212", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/0212", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/0216", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02D30/70", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/0216", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/28", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W88/06", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02B70/30", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/28", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L5/0091", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02D30/70", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 53680428