This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201510303393.8,
5 entitled "DEVICE, SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND USER EQUIPMENT
USED FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION", filed with the Chinese State Intellectual
Propetiy Office on June 4, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
10 [0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the technical field of
wireless communications, patiicularly to the determination of spectrum time validity on
spectrum resources of an unlicensed frequency band in wireless COII11l1UIUcations, and in more
patiicular to an apparatus, a spectrum management apparatus, and a user equipment for
wireless communications.
15
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] With the development and evolution of wireless networks, more and more services
are carried by the wireless networks. In this case, additional spectrum resources are required
to support the transmission of a large amount of data. Cellular wireless network operators start
20 discussing how to use unlicensed spectrum resources such as the 5 GHz ISM frequency band,
while operating the existing LTE networks. On the other hand, more WiFi systems are being
deployed in the unlicensed spectrum in the WiFi wireless industry. Since communication
systems of different operators and communication systems under different conmmnication
protocols have the equal right to use the unlicensed frequency band, it is desired to solve a
25 problem in the industry that how to use the same unlicensed frequency band fairly and
effectively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the following, an overview of the present invention is given simply to provide
30 basic understanding to some aspects of the present invention. It should be understood that this
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overview IS not an exhaustive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to
determine a critical pmt or an important patt of the present invention, nor to limit the scope of
the present invention. An object of the overview is only to give some concepts in a simplified
manner, which serves as a preface of a more detailed description described later.
5 [0004] According to an aspect of the present application, a spectrum management apparatus
for wireless communications is provided, which includes: a determining unit, configured to
determine in different manners, based on a spectrum sensing result with respect to an
unlicensed frequency band by an LTE system in a management range of the spectrum
management apparatus, spectmm time validity for the LTE system to use the unlicensed
I 0 frequency band.
[0005] According to another aspect of the present application, a spectrum management
apparatus for wireless communications is provided, which includes: a transceiving unit,
configured to receive, from a user equipment, cell IDs and information on corresponding
signal quality, of LTE systems detected over an unlicensed frequency band by the user
15 equipment; and a determining unit, configured to determine spectnun time validity
corresponding to each LTE system based on the cell ID of the LTE system, and select, based
on the determined spec!Ium time validity, one of the detected LTE systems for the user
equipment to access in.
[0006] According to another aspect of the present application, an apparatus for wireless
20 communications is provided, which includes: a first sensing unit, configured to perform
energy sensing with respect to an unlicensed frequency band to determine whether there is a
signal transmitting over the unlicensed frequency band; and a second sensing unit, configured
to detect, in the case that the first sensing unit determines that there is a signal transmitting
over the unlicensed frequency band, whether the signal is an LTE signal.
25 [0007] According to another aspect of the present application, a user equipment for wireless
communications is provided, which includes: a receiving unit, configured to receive
information on spectrum time validity for an LTE system to be accessed by the user
equipment, based on which the LTE system is allowed to use an unlicensed frequency band.
[0008] According to another aspect of the present application, a spectrum management
30 method for wireless communications is further provided, which includes: determining, based
on a spectrum sensing result with respect to an unlicensed frequency band by an I.:fE system
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in a management range, spectrum time validity for the LTE system to use the unlicensed
frequency band in different manners.
[0009] According to another aspect of the present application, a spectrum management
method for wireless communication is further provided, which includes: receiving, from a
5 user equipment, cell IDs and information on corresponding signal quality, of LTE systems
detected over an unlicensed fi"equency band by the user equipment; and determining spectrum
time validity corresponding to each LTE system based on the cell ID of the LTE system, and
select, based on the determined spectrum time validity, one of the detected LTE systems for
the user equipment to access in.
I 0 [001 0] According to another aspect of the present application, a method for wireless
conmmnications is further provided, which includes: performing energy sensing with respect
to an unlicensed frequency band to determine whether there is a signal transmitting over the
unlicensed frequency band; and detecting, in the case of determining that there is a signal
transmitting over the unlicensed frequency band, whether the signal is an LTE signal.
15 [00 11] According to another aspect of the present application, a method for a user
equipment side in wireless communications is provided, which includes: receiving
information on spectrum time validity for an LTE system to be accessed by the user
equipment, based on which the LTE system is allowed to use an unlicensed frequency band.
[0012] According to other aspects of the present disclosure, there are provided computer
20 program codes and computer program products for realizing the above method, spectr1.1m
management method, and method on a user equipment side for wireless communications, and
a computer readable storage medium in which computer program codes for implementing the
above methods are recorded.
[0013] With the apparatus and method according to the present disclosure, the spectrum
25 time validity for the LTE system to use the unlicensed frequency band is determined based on
the spectrum sensing result on the unlicensed fi·equency band. In this case, for example, LTE
systems operated by different operators can stop using the unlicensed frequency band at the
same time, thereby achieving an impartial usage of the unlicensed frequency band. In addition,
repeated detection or operation can be reduced by referring to a spectrum using schedule of a
30 system already occupied the unlicensed frequency band.
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[0014] These and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent by
illustrating in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with
accompanying drawings below.
5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] To futiher set forth the above and other advantages and features of the present
invention, detailed description will be made in the following taken in conjunction with
accompanying drawings in which identical or like reference signs designate identical or like
components. The accompanying drawings, together with the detailed description below, are
I 0 incorporated into and form a part of the specification. It should be noted that the
accompanying drawings only illustrate, by way of example, typical embodiments of the
present invention and should not be consttued as a limitation to the scope of the invention. In
the accompanying drawings:
[0016] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a structure of a spectrum management
15 apparatus for wireless communications according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0017] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of an example where a WiFi system and LTE
systems of different operators use spectrum resources of the unlicensed frequency band;
[0018] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram where an LTE system operates based on a
determined spectrum time validity;
20 [0019] Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of four application scenarios;
[0020] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing a structure of a spectrum management
apparatus for wireless connnunications according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0021] Figure 6 is a block diagram showing a structure of an apparatt1s for wireless
25 communications according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0022] Figure 7 is a block diagram showing a structure of a user equipment for wireless
communications according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0023] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing a spectrum management method for wireless
communications according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
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[0024] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing a spectrum management method for wireless
communications according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0025] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing a method for wireless communications according
to another embodiment of the present disclosure;
5 [0026] Figure 11 is a flowchmt showing a method for wireless communications according
to another embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0027] Figure 12 is a flowchart showing a method for a user equipment m wireless
communications according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0028] Figure 13 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating the structure of a general
10 purpose personal computer capable of realizing the method and/or device and/or system
according to the embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0029] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter in
15 conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of conciseness and clarity, not
all features of an embodiment are described in this specification. However, it should be
understood that multiple decisions specific to the embodiment have to be made in a process of
developing any such embodiment to realize a particular object of a developer, for example,
conforming to those constraints related to a system and a business, and these constraints may
20 change as the embodiments differs. Furthermore, it should also be understood that although
the development work may be very complicated and time-consuming, for those skilled in the
art benefiting from the present disclosure, such development work is only a routine task.
[0030] Here, it should also be noted that in order to avoid obscuring the present invention
due to unnecessary details, only a device structure and/or processing steps closely related to
25 the solution according to the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing,
and other details having little relationship to the present invention are omitted.

[0031] Figure I is a block diagram showing a structure of a spectrum management
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apparatus I 00 for wireless conununications according to an embodiment of the present
application. The spectrum management apparatus 100 includes: a determining unit 101,
configured to determine in different mmmers, based on a spectrum sensing result with respect
to an unlicensed frequency bandby an LTE system in a management range of the spectrum
5 management apparatus I 00, spectmm time validity for the LTE system to use the unlicensed
frequency band.
[0032] As described above, with the development of data services, it is desired by different
operators and even different types of wireless communication systems such as WiFi systems
and LTE systems to share an unlicensed frequency band. Time division may be adopted as an
10 approach to achieve the above object, that is, different spectrum usage time periods are
allocated to different communication systems. In this approach, LTE cells using the
unlicensed frequency band belong to different operators are required to be synchronized. In
addition, the LTE system may be required to transmit WiFi signals to make the WiFi system
and the LTE system cooperate with each other, which may cause a great change to existing
15 standards and chips. In addition, it can be understood that the time-division approach has a
low efficiency in the case of unbalanced network load.
[0033] For ease of understanding, Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of an example
where LTE systems of different operators and WiFi systems share spectrum resources of an
unlicensed frequency band.
20 [0034] In this example, different operators provide wireless network coverage with their
licensed frequency bands. In order to provide additional spectrum resources to users for
transmitting more data, the operators may deploy, for example, small base stations providing
small cell coverage, in an unlicensed frequency band. In this case, a user terminal can access
in a network of the unlicensed frequency band while accessing in the licensed frequency band.
25 For example, dmmlink data transmission is performed via a network of the unlicensed
fiequency band in a carrier aggregation mam1er to supplement a downlink data transmission
capacity of a network of the licensed frequency band. Here, instead of being particularly
limited, the unlicensed frequency band may be fi·equency bands of 2.4G and 5G which are
used in industry, scientific research and medical fields, a television frequency band, or an
30 unlicensed frequency band specified according to national regulations such as US 3.5GHz.
The teclmology according to the present disclosure can be adapted to any of the above
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[0035] In addition, Figure 2 shows a combination manner in which a macro base station
operates on the licensed frequency band and a small base station operates on the unlicensed
frequency band. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Alternatively, a
5 network of the licensed frequency band may be provided by a small base station, a network of
the unlicensed frequency band may be provided by a macro base station, or both the network
of the licensed frequency band and the network of the unlicensed frequency band may be
provided by a multi-band base station. The spectrum management apparatus shown in Figure
2, for example, may be the spectrum management apparatus I 00 for managing the use of the
10 unlicensed frequency band. Besides, spectrum management apparatus of different operators
may exchange information with one another for coordination.
[0036] The spectrum management apparatus I 00 determines in different mallllers, based on
the spectmm sensing result on the unlicensed frequency band, i.e., the spectmm resource
usage conditions of the unlicensed frequency band, spectrum time validity for the LTE system
15 to use the unlicensed fi'equency band. In other words, the spectrum time validity for the LTE
system is determined by the spectrum management apparatus I 00 based on the spectrum
sensing result of the LTE system correspondingly, instead of being determined in a
time-division manner in advance. It should be noted that, in some examples of the present
application, the LTE system may be understood as a cell-level system in an LTE
20 communication system, for example, including a base station (macro base station or small
base station) and one or more user equipments. In other examples, the LTE system may be
understood as multiple base stations and one or more user equipments. In still other examples,
for example, in device-to-device communication scenarios, the LTE system may be
understood as a device cluster formed by multiple user equipments.
25 [0037] The spectrum management apparatus I 00 may be arranged at a base station side, for
example, implemented by a macro base station or a small base station, or may be arranged in
a core network, for example, implemented by Evolved Packet Core (Evolved Packet Core,
EPC) under the LTE protocol.
[0038] In an example, the determining unit I 0 I may be configured to, in the case that the
30 spectrum sensing result indicates that there is no signal transmitting over the unlicensed
frequency band, determine a predetermined period of time starting from a current time as the
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spectrum time validity for an LTE system performing the spectrum sensing.
[0039] The spectrum sensing can be performed, for example, by a small base station and/or
a user equipment. For example, in the case that the spectrum sensing result indicates that there
is no signal of a primmy system authorized to use the unlicensed frequency band such as a
5 radar and a television or that of a secondary system such as an LTE system or a WiFi system,
transmitting over the unlicensed frequency band, the spectrum management apparatus I 00
determines that the LTE system currently performing the spectrum sensing can immediately
use the unlicensed frequency band and sets a predetermined period of time starting from a
current time instant (such as a time instant at which the spectrum sensing is performed) as the
10 spectrum time validity for the LTE system. In the example of Figure 2, for example, a small
base station of operator II operating on the unlicensed frequency band performs the spectrum
sensing. When the spectrum sensing result indicates that there is no signal transmitting on the
unlicensed frequency band, the determining unit I 0 I determines that the small base station
can immediately use the unlicensed frequency band and determines the spectnun usage time
15 validity as, for example, !Oms.
[0040] In an example, the determining unit 101 is further configured to determine the
predetermined period of time based on a usage duration in which a WiFi system and an LTE
system within a predetermined range of a location of the LTE system performing the spectrum
sensing use the unlicensed frequency band, the amount of data transmitted by the WiFi system
20 and the LTE system, a network load of the WiFi system and LTE system and the number of
users of the WiFi system and LTE system. The determination may be performed in advance
and statically, or may be performed dynamically. For example, if the usage duration of the
WiFi system is generally long, then a shmt spectrum time validity may be set for the LTE
system. Or, for example, if the amount of data transmitted by the LTE system, the network
25 load of the LTE system and the number of users of the LTE system is large, a long spectrum
time validity may be set for the LTE system. In addition, the determining unit I 0 I may further
divide the management range into multiple sub-regions and set different predetermined
periods of time for the respective sub-regions. In this case, the corresponding predetermined
period of time, i.e., the spectrum time validity, may be determined based on a geographical
30 location of the LTE system performing the spectrum sensing.
[0041] On the other hand, the determining unit 101 may be configured to, in the case that
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the spectrum sensing result indicates that there exists another LTE system using spectrum
resources of the unlicensed frequency band, determine spectmm time validity for the LTE
system performing the spectrum sensing based on spectrum time validity of the existing
another LTE system. For example, the spectrum time validity may include a spectmm usage
5 expiration time for using the spectrum resources of the unlicensed frequency band. In this
case, LTE communication protocol-based communication systems operated by different
operators may stop using the unlicensed frequency band at the same time, thereby ensuring a
WiFi communication system to impmiially use the unlicensed fi·equency band. In addition, a
subsequent LTE system can refer directly to a spectrum usage schedule on the unlicensed
I 0 frequency band of the LTE system already occupied the unlicensed fi·equency band previously,
instead of acquiring again, for example, the above predetermined period of time or calculating
the expiration time based on the predetermined period of time.
[0042] Specifically, for example, the determining unit 101 may set the spectrum time
validity for the LTE system performing the spectrum sensing to be the same as the spectrum
15 time validity for the existing another LTE system. In some examples, the spectrum sensing
may be performed on one or more different unlicensed frequency bands. In the case that the
spectrum sensing result indicates that there are multiple other LTE systems that may be over
the same unlicensed fi·equency band or over different unlicensed frequency bands, one of the
LTE systems may be selected, for example, based on the intensity of signals detected over the
20 corresponding unlicensed frequency band and/or the spectrum time validity for the existing
LTE system. For example, an LTE system with large signal intensity may cause large
interference to a new LTE system. However, the LTE system can still be selected if its
available spechum time validity is long (and an unlicensed frequency band on which the LTE
system operates is determined to be used meanwhile). In addition, the spectrum time validity
25 of the current LTE system is determined based on the spectrum time validity of the selected
LTEsystem.
[0043] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram in which an LTE system operates based on the
spectrum time validity determined by the determining unit lO I. Still taking the scenario
shown in Figure 2 as an example, after determining the available spectrum resources and the
30 spectrum time validity, the small base station can provide a network on the determined
available unlicensed frequency band and start sending a synchronization signal for access by
the user equipment. Lengths of spectrum available time durations for available spectrum
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resources obtained in different manners may vary, as shown in Figure 3. No signal is detected
by small base station I in the energy detection, and hence spectrum time validity with a
constant length is determined for the small base station I. After detecting a synclll'onization
signal of the small base station 1 in the energy detection, a small base station 2 acquires the
5 spectmm time validity of the small base station 1, and then sends its own synclu·onization
signal and takes the spectrum time validity of the small base station I as its own spectrum
time validity. The small base station 3 obtains available spectrum resources and sends a
synchronization signal in the same manner. In an example, the user equipment may access to
one of the small base stations as needed. For example, the user equipment may select a small
I 0 base station with large signal intensity and a long remaining spectrum available time duration,
to perform a random access operation. In another example, a serving base station
corresponding to a primary carrier of the user equipment, such as a macro base station, may
add a small base station for the user equipment as its slave base station (Slave Base Station),
based on spectrum time validity, signal intensity and the like of respective small base stations.
15 For example, the user equipment may establish a dual connectivity (Dual Connectivity) with
the macro base station and the small base station.
[0044] In addition, in the example shown in Figure 2, spectmm management apparatus of
different operators may share, by interacting with each othet~ an identifier of an LTE system
using the unlicensed frequency band, such as a cell ID and information on corresponding
20 spectrum time validity.
[0045] In this way, the same occupied unlicensed frequency band can be released
simultaneously by different LTE operators, to ensure systems under other communication
protocols such as WiFi to use the unlicensed frequency band impartially.
[0046] Furthermore, as shown by a dashed line block in Figure I, the spectrum
25 management apparatus 100 may further include a storage unit 103, configured to store a list of
cell IDs and corresponding spectrum time validity of LTE systems using the unlicensed
frequency band. In this case, the determining unit 101 may determine the relevant spectrum
time validity by referring to the list.
[0047] The list may futiher include at least one of: an identifier of an operator the LTE
30 system belongs to, a geographical location where the LTE system is located, and an identifier
of an unlicensed frequency band that the LTE system occupies. The list may be shared among
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different operators. Also, the spectrum management apparatus 100 may also be shared by
different operators, for example, may manage cells of multiple operators the geographical
locations of which are close to each other.
[0048] As shown by another dashed line block m Figure 1, the spectrum management
5 apparah1s 100 may further include a transceiving unit 102, configured to receive a spectrum
sensing result from a base station and/or a user equipment of an LTE system performing
spectrum sensing, and transmit information on the determined spectrum time validity to the
base station and/or the user equipment of the LTE system.
[0049] For example, the transceiving unit 102 may receive the spectrum sensing result and
I 0 transmit the information on the spectrum time validity over a licensed frequency band. The
spectrum sensing result may include cell IDs and information on signal quality of the detected
other LTE systems using spechum resources of the unlicensed frequency band. It will be
understood that, it is not necessary to receive the spectrum sensing result over the licensed
frequency band in the case that the spectrum management apparatus I 00 is cmmected to a
15 base station in a wired ideal backhaul manner. In addition, in an example where the spectrum
management apparah1s I 00 is located in a core network, the spectrum sensing result and the
information on the spectrum time validity are carried in S I signaling under the LTE
communication protocol and are transmitted between the base station and the spectrum
management apparah1s 100 tln·ough an S 1 interface. In an example where the spectrum
20 management apparatus 100 is located in a macro base station, the spectrum sensing result and
the information on the spectrum time validity are carried in X2 signaling under the LTE
communication protocol and are transmitted between a small base station and the macro base
station through an X2 interface. In yet another example where the spectrum management
apparatus 100 is located in a macro base station, the spectrum sensing result and the
25 information on the spectrum time validity are carried in RRC signaling under the LTE
communication protocol and transmitted between a user equipment and the macro base
station.
(0050] The determining unit I01 acquires, based on a cell ID of another LTE system, its
corresponding spectrum time validity, and determines the acquired spectrum time validity as
30 spectrum time validity for the LTE system performing the spectrum sensing. After receiving
information on spectrum time validity transmitted from the transceiving unit 102, the LTE
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system performing the spectrum sensing uses spectrum resources of the unlicensed frequency
band based on the information on the spectrum time validity.
[0051] In the example shown in Figure 2, for example, the spectrum sensing result of a
small base station and/or a user equipment is transmitted to a corresponding spectrum
5 management apparatus via a macro base station. Then, the spectrum time validity is
determined by the spectrum management apparatus based on the spectrum sensing result and
transmitted to the above mentioned small base station and/or the user equipment via the
macro base station.
[0052] Figure 4 shows four scenarios defined by 3GPP TR36.889 VO.l.l (2014-11). In
10 scenano I, carrier aggregation is performed between a macro cell using a licensed carrier Fl
and a small cell using an unlicensed carrier F3. In scenario 2, carrier aggregation is performed
between a small cell using a licensed carrier F2 and a small cell using the unlicensed carrier
F3, with no macro cell coverage. In scenario 3, carrier aggregation is performed between a
small cell using the licensed carrier Fl and a small cell using the unlicensed canier F3, and
15 there is coverage of a macro cell using the licensed carrier Fl. In scenario 4, carrier
aggregation is performed between a small cell using the licensed carrier F2 and a small cell
using the unlicensed carrier F3, and there is coverage of a macro cell using the licensed carrier
Fl.
[0053] As a specific embodiment, in the scenarios 1, 3 and 4, the spectrum management
20 apparatus 1 00 may be provided in the macro base station. In the scenario 2, 'the spectnun
management apparatus 1 00 may be provided in the core network.

[0054] Figure 5 shows a block diagram of a stmcture of a spectrum management apparatus
25 200 for wireless communications according to another embodiment of the present application.
The spectrum management apparatus 200 includes: a transceiving unit 201, configured to
receive, from a user equipment, cell IDs and information on corresponding signal quality, of
LTE systems detected by the user equipment on an unlicensed frequency band; and a
determining unit 202, configured to determine spectrum time validity corresponding to the
30 LTE systems based on the cell IDs of the LTE systems and select one of the detected LTE
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systems based on the determined spectrum time validity for the user equipment to access in.
In the second embodiment, the LTE systems belong to the same operator, and thus the
spectrum management apparatus 200 can select an appropriate cell for the user equipment to
access in. In the embodiment, the spectrum management apparatus 200 is preferably arranged
5 on a base station side, for example, implemented by a macro base station.
[0055] As shown in Figure 3, multiple small base stations operating on the unlicensed
frequency band may exist around the user equipment, and different small base stations may
have different spectnun time validity on the unlicensed frequency band. A user equipment
performs signal detection to obtain cell IDs and information on corresponding signal quality
I 0 of LTE systems already using the unlicensed frequency band. For example, RSRP or RSRQ of
a cell specific reference signal (CRS) transmitted by the respective small base stations on the
unlicensed frequency band may be measured. After the above information is obtained by the
transceiving unit 20 I, the determining unit 202 firstly obtains the spectmm time validity of
the LTE systems based on the obtained IDs and selects an appropriate LTE system based on
15 the spectrum time validity, for the user equipment to access in. The user equipment may be
triggered by the spectrum management apparatus 200 to detect the unlicensed frequency band
and repmt. For example, the spectrum management apparatus 200 determines, based on a
current network load, that a pmtion of the service for the user equipment needs to be
distributed from the current serving base station of the user equipment to a small base station
20 operating on the unlicensed fi·equency band, thereby triggering the above detection and report.
[0056] In an example, the determining unit 202 may be fmther configured to perform the
selection based on a service requirement of the user equipment and/or the information on
signal quality. For example, if the user equipment requires performing a quick download, an
LTE cell which has short time validity but has good channel quality may be selected to be
25 accessed. Yet, if the user equipment requires performing an application with a low time-delay
requirement, an LTE cell which has long time validity but has poor channel quality may be
selected to be accessed. The above service is, for example, a service that is determined to be
distributed to a small base station.
[0057] h1 addition, the transceiving unit 201 may fmther be configured to transmit the cell
30 ID and information on the spectrum time validity of the selected LTE system to the user
equipment. As an example, the transceiving unit 20 I may be configured to transmit the
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information on the spectmm time validity and the cell ID of the selected LTE system to the
user equipment via one of: a broadcast channel (BCH), a physical downlink control channel
(PDCCI-I), or a physical downlink shared chamtel (POSCH). For example, the transceiving
unit 201 may transmit system information (MIB, SIB) including the cell ID and the
5 information on the spectrum time validity to the user equipment over a licensed frequency
band on which the user equipment is in connection. The above system information on a small
base station operating on an unlicensed frequency band may be included in broadcast
signaling or may be included in dedicated signaling to the user equipment such as RRC
signaling. In this case, the transceiving unit 201 may transmit the cell ID of the selected LTE
I 0 system and the information on its spectrum time validity by RRC signaling.
(0058] For example, in the scenarios 1 and 3 shown in Figure 4, the network of the licensed
fi·equency band and the network of the unlicensed frequency band are formed by different
LTE cells. The spectmm management apparatus 200 can select an LTE cell operating on the
unlicensed fi·equency band which is to be accessed by the user equipment.
15 [0059] In an example, the transceiving unit 201 is further configured to interchange, among
spectrum management apparatus, cell IDs and information on spechum time validity of LTE
systems in respective management ranges of the spectrum management apparatus.
[0060] The transceiving unit 201 may be further configured to transmit cell IDs and
information on spectrum time validity of LTE systems having obtained spectmm resources of
20 the unlicensed frequency band by transmitting a MBSFN sub frame on a licensed fi·equency
band. Patiicularly, especially for stand-alone (stand-alone) small base stations of the
unlicensed frequency band, different small base stations may transmit their cell IDs and
information on their spectrum time validity with the MBSFN sub frame on the licensed
frequency band. After acquiring an ID of a cell of the unlicensed frequency band to be
25 accessed via the transceiving unit 201, the user equipment listens for information on spectrum
time validity corresponding to the cell on the licensed frequency band.

(0061] Figure 6 shows a block diagram of a structure of an apparatus 300 for wireless
30 communications according to an embodiment of the present application. The apparatus 300
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Unitalen Ref.: OPI715-06-1036
includes: a first sensing unit 30 I, configured to perform energy sensing with respect to an
unlicensed frequency band to determine whether there is a signal transmitting over the
unlicensed frequency band; and a second sensing unit 302, configured to detect, in the case
that the first sensing unit 30 I determines that there is a signal transmitting over the unlicensed
5 frequency band, whether the signal is an LTE signal.
[0062) The apparatus 300 may be provided, for example, on a small base station side, but is
not limited thereto. It may also be provided on a macro base station side or a user equipment
side. The first sensing unit 30 l and the second sensing unit 302 perform two steps of spectrum
sensing. The first sensing unit 30 I determines, based on signal energy, whether there is a
10 signal transmitting. The signal here includes but is not limited to a signal of a primary system
and a signal of a secondary system such as a WiFi system or an LTE system. If it is
determined that there is a signal which is transmitting, the second sensing unit 302 fi.niher
detects whether the signal is an LTE signal, in order to determine whether the unlicensed
frequency band is being occupied by another LTE system. As an example, the second sensing
15 unit 302 may detect whether the signal is the LTE signal by detecting a synclu·onization signal
PSS of the LTE system. A transmission cycle of the synchronization signal is always Sms,
regardless of a FDD scheme or a TDD scheme of the LTE. The presence of the
synclu·onization signal indicates that another LTE cell already acquires the available spectrum
resources of the unlicensed frequency band.
20 [0063) The spectrum sensing result may be used to determine the spectnun time validity for
the LTE cell where the apparatus 300 is located to use the spectrum resources of the
unlicensed fi·equency band.
[0064] As shown by a dashed line block in Figure 6, in an example, the apparatus 300 may
further include a transmitting unit 303 configured to transmit spectmm sensing results of the
25 first sensing unit 301 and the second sensing unit 302 to a spectrum management apparatus
corresponding to the apparatus; and a receiving unit 304 configured to receive information on
the determined spectrum time validity from the spectrum management apparatus.
[0065) If it is determined by the second sensing unit 302 that the signal is an LTE signal,
the spectrum sensing result include a cell ID and information on signal quality of an LTE
30 system corresponding to the LTE signal.
[0066) In this case, the spectrum management apparatus is arranged, for example, on a
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Sony CN Ref.: CNPAI4050INOO
Unitalen Ref.: OP1715-06-1036
macro base station side or in a core network. The spectrum management apparatus determines
the spectrum time validity for the cell in which the apparatus 300 is located based on the
spectrum sensing result. The spectrum management apparatus may be the spectrum
management apparatus 100 or 200 described in the foregoing embodiments, alternatively, may
5 be other apparatus that determines the spectrum time validity based on the spectrum sensing
result.
[0067] As another example, as shown by another dashed line block in Figure 6, the
apparatus 300 may further include a determining unit 305 configured to determine in different
manners, based on the spectrum sensing results of the first sensing unit 30 I and the second
10 sensing unit 302, spectmm time validity for the LTE system where the apparatus is located to
use the unlicensed frequency band.
[0068] In this example, no spectrum management apparatus is provided, and the functions
of the spectrum management apparatus are executed by the determining unit 305. For
example, the determining unit 305 may be configured to determine, in the case that the first
15 sensing unit 301 determines that there is no signal transmitting on the unlicensed frequency
band, a predetermined period of time statiing from a cunent time instant as the spectrum time
validity for the LTE system where the apparatus is located.
[0069] In addition, the first sensing unit 30 I may be further configured to sense a WiFi
signal, and the predetermined period of time is determined based on prior knowledge of the
20 usage of the unlicensed frequency band by a WiFi system and an LTE system and a sensing
result on the WiFi signal. For example, in the case oflarge communication traffic for the WiFi
system, a short predetermined period of time may be set for the LTE system, otherwise a long
predetermined period of time may be set. Further, the setting of the predetermined period of
time may be dynamically adjusted based on a current sensing result on the WiFi signal. In this
25 way, the spectrum resources of the unlicensed frequency band may be occupied impmiially by
the WiFi system and the LTE system as needed.
[0070] In this example, the transmitting unit 303 is configured to transmit information
including a cell ID and the spechum time validity of the LTE system, after the LTE system in
which the apparatus 300 is located acquires the spectrum resources of the unlicensed
30 frequency band. For example, the transmitting unit 303 may transmit the information via
system information on the unlicensed frequency band. In this way, if the synchronization
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signal of the LTE system is detected by an apparatus 300 in another LTE system, the
apparatus 300 in the another LTE can continue receiving its downlink reference signal such as
CRS, performing channel estimation, and further acquiring a system information block SIB
from a PDSCH, to acquire information on the spectrum time validity therein. In addition, the
5 transmitting unit 303 may transmit the information via a MBSFN sub frame over the licensed
frequency band. In this way, other LTE systems may determine their own spectmm time
validity based on the spectmm time validity information in the MBSFN sub frame. Fmiher,
the user equipment may also select an I;fE cell to access by listening to the spectmm time
validity information in the MBSFN sub frame, for example, in an application scenario without
I 0 an assistance of the licensed frequency band, the user equipment in a RRC idle state listens to
the spectmm time validity information in the MBSFN sub frame and selects a cell based on
the spectrum time validity information in combination with the intensity of a measured signal,
and may access the selected cell via a random access process.
[0071] In addition, the receiving unit 304 may be configured to receive, in the case that the
15 second sensing unit 302 detects that the signal is an LTE signal, system information
transmitted from an LTE system corresponding to the LTE signal. The system information
includes information on spectrum time validity of the LTE system. The determining unit 305
is configured to determine the spectrum time validity in the system infommtion as the
spectrum time validity for the LTE system where the apparatus is located to use the
20 unlicensed frequency band.
[0072] As described above, the apparatus 300 may perform two steps of spectmm sensing,
so as to determine the spectrum time validity for the cell where the apparatus 300 is located to
use the spectrum resources of the unlicensed frequency band based on the spectrum sensing
results. In this case, the spectrum resources of the unlicensed frequency band can be used
25 more flexibly.

[0073] Figure 7 shows a block diagram of a shucture of a user equipment 400 for wireless
communications according to an embodiment of the present application. The user equipment
30 400 includes a receiving unit 401 configured to receive information on spectrum time validity
for an LTE system to be accessed by the user equipment, based on which the LTE system is
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allowed to use an unlicensed frequency band.
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Sony CN Ref.: CNPA14050INOO
Unitalen Ref.: OP1715-06-1 036
[0074) For example, the user equipment 400 may acquire the information on the spectrum
time validity of the LTE system to be accessed by itself from a spectrum management
apparatus or a macro base station, alternatively, may acquire the above information on the
5 spectrum time validity by receiving system information broadcasted on the unlicensed
frequency band by an LTE system already using the unlicensed frequency band.
[0075) In an example, the receiving unit 401 may be fmiher configured to receive a cell ID
of the LTE system to be accessed by the user equipment. For example, in the case that there
are multiple accessible LTE systems, the receiving unit 401 determines a cell to be accessed
10 by the user equipment by receiving the cell !D. The receiving unit 401 may receive the
information on spectrum time validity and the cell ID of the I:fE system to be accessed via
one of: a broadcast challtlel (BCH), a physical downlink control challllel (PDCCH), or a
physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Alternatively, the receiving unit 402 may receive
the information on the spectrum time validity and the cell ID of the LTE system to be
15 accessed by receiving RRC signaling. In a more specific example, the receiving unit 401
receives the above information from a primary cell (such as a macro cell) via a primary carrier
over the licensed frequency band to obtain the assistance of the licensed frequency band, to
perform a licensed assisted access (LAA). In addition, the receiving unit may receive SIB
information on the unlicensed fi·equency band, which is transmitted from a cell of an LTE
20 system using the unlicensed frequency band, so as to extract information on spectrum time
validity.
[0076) As shown by a dashed line block in Figure 7, the user equipment 400 further
includes: a measuring unit 402, configured to measure signal quality of LTE systems on the
unlicensed frequency band; and a transmitting unit 403, configured to transmit the measuring
25 result and a cell ID of a corresponding LTE system to a spectrum management apparatus
corresponding to the user equipment, to be used by the spectrum management apparatus to
determine an LTE system to be accessed by the user equipment.
[0077] For example, the spectrum management apparatus determines spectrum time validity
of the LTE systems based on the received cell IDs and selects an appropriate LTE system for
30 the user equipment to access, based on a service requirement of the user equipment in
combination with information on signal quality of the LTE systems and the spectrum time
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Unitalen Ref.: OPI715-06-1036
validity of the LTE systems. The signal quality is represented, for example, by RSRP/RSRQ
and is included in, for example, an RRM measurement repmt by the user equipment 400.
[0078] In addition, as shown by a dashed line block in Figure 7, the user equipment 400
may further include: a first sensing unit 404, configured to perform energy sensing on the
5 unlicensed frequency band to determine whether there is a signal transmitting over the
unlicensed frequency band; and a second sensing unit 405, configured to detect, in the case
that the first sensing unit 404 determines that there is a signal transmitting over the unlicensed
frequency band, whether the signal is an LTE signal.
(0079] In other words, the user equipment 400 itself can perform two steps of spectrum
I 0 sensing, which can provide a more accurate spectrum sensing result. The first sensing unit
404 and the second sensing unit 405 have the same structures and functions as the first
sensing unit 30 I and the second sensing unit 302 in the third embodiment, and are not be
repeated herein.
15
[0080] In the process of describing the apparatus, the spectrum management apparatus and
the user equipment for wireless connnunications in the embodiments described above,
obviously, some processing and methods are also disclosed. Hereinafter, an overview of the
methods is given without repeating some details disclosed above. However, it should be noted
20 that, although the methods are disclosed in a process of describing the apparatus, the spectrum
management apparatus and the user equipment for wireless communications, the methods do
not certainly employ or are not cettainly executed by the aforementioned components. For
example, the embodiments of the apparatus, the spectrum management apparatus and the user
equipment for wireless communications may be pmtially or completely implemented with
25 hardware and/or firmware, the methods described below may be executed by a
computer-executable program completely, although the hardware and/or firmware of the
apparatus, the spectrum management apparatus and the user equipment for wireless
connnunications can also be used in the methods.
[0081] Figure 8 shows a flowchmt of a spectrum management method for wireless
30 communications according to an embodiment of the present application. The method includes:
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Sony CN Ref.: CNPA 14050INOO
Unitalen Ref.: OP1715-06-1036
determining in different manners, based on a spectrum sensing result with respect to an
unlicensed frequency band by an LTE system in a management range, spectrum time validity
for the LTE system to use the unlicensed frequency band (S 12).
[0082) For example, in step Sl2, in the case that the spectmm sensing result indicates that
5 there exists another LTE system using spectrum resources of the unlicensed frequency band,
spectrum time validity for the LTE system performing the spectrum sensing is determined
based on the spectmm time validity for the existing another LTE system using the unlicensed
frequency band. The spectrum time validity may include a spectrum usage expiration time to
use the spectnun resources of an unlicensed frequency band.
10 [0083) In another aspect, in step S12, in the case that the spectrum sensing result indicates
that there is no signal transmitting on the unlicensed Jl'equency band, a predetermined period
of time starting fi·om a current time instant is determined as the spectrum time validity for the
LTE system performing the spectrum sensing. For example, the predetermined period of time
may be determined based on a usage duration in which a WiFi system and an LTE system
15 within a predetermined range of a location of the LTE system performing the spectrum
sensing use the unlicensed frequency band.
[0084] As shown by a dashed line block in Figure 8, the method may further include a step
S 13: storing a list of cell IDs of the LTE systems using the unlicensed frequency band and
conesponding spectmm time validity. As an example, the list may fmiher include at least one
20 of: an identifier of an operator operating an LTE system, a geographic location of the LTE
system, and an identifier of an unlicensed frequency band occupied by the LTE system.
[0085) In another example, the method further includes: receiving a spectrum sensing result
from a base station and/or a user equipment of the LTE system performing the spectrum
sensing (S 11 ), and transmitting information on determined spectrum time validity to the base
25 station and/or user equipment of the LTE system (S 14). In steps S 11 and S 14, the spectrum
sensing result may be received and the information on the spectmm time validity may be
transmitted, on a licensed frequency band. For example, the spectrum sensing result includes
the cell IDs and information on signal quality of the detected other LTE systems using the
spectrum resources of the unlicensed frequency band.
30 [0086) In step S 12, based on the cell ID of the other LTE system using the unlicensed
spectrum band, the spechum time validity corresponding to the cell ID can be obtained. The
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English translation ofPCT/CN2016/084485
Sony CN Ref.: CNPA 14050INOO
Unitalen Ref.: OP1715-06-1036
acquired spectrum time validity is determined as the spectrum time validity of the LTE system
performing the spectrum sensing.
[0087] Figure 9 shows a flowchati of a spectrum management method for wireless
communications according to another embodiment of the present application. The method
5 includes: receiving, from a user equipment, cell IDs and information on signal quality of LTE
systems detected on an unlicensed frequency band (S21); and determining spectrum time
validity corresponding to the LTE systems based on the cell IDs of the LTE systems and
selecting, based on the determined spectrum time validity, one of the detected LTE systems
for the user equipment to access in (S22).
10 [0088] In step S22, the selection may be performed fmiher based on a service requirement
of the user equipment and/or information on the signal quality.
[0089] As shown by a dashed box in Figure 9, the method fi.niher includes: transmitting the
cell ID and information on the spectrum time validity of the selected LTE system to the user
equipment (S23). For example, in step S23, the information on the spectrum time validity and
15 the cell ID of the selected LTE system may be transmitted to the user equipment via one of: a
broadcast channel (BCH), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), or a physical
downlink shared channel (PDSCH).
[0090] Although not shown in Figure 9, the above method may include at least one of the
following steps: interchanging the cell IDs and the information on the spectrum time validity
20 of the LTE systems in respective management ranges among the spectmm management
apparatuses; transmitting the cell IDs and the information on the spectrum time validity of the
LTE systems that have obtained the spectrum resources of the unlicensed frequency band by
transmitting a MBSFN sub fi·ame on the licensed frequency band.
[0091] Figure 10 shows a flowchart of a method for wireless communications according to
25 an embodiment of the present application. The method includes: performing an energy
sensing on an unlicensed frequency band to determine whether there is a signal transmitting
on the unlicensed frequency band (S31 ); and if it is determined that there is a signal
transmitted over the unlicensed frequency band, detecting whether the signal is an LTE signal
(S32).
30 [0092] In step S32, it may be detected whether the signal is an LTE signal by detecting a
- 21 -
synchronization signal PSS of the LTE system.
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Sony CN Ref.: CNPA 14050INOO
Unitalen Ref.: OPI715-06-1036
(0093] As shown by a dashed line block in Figure 10, the method may fmther include:
transmitting a spectrum sensing result to a corresponding spectrum management apparatus
(S33); and receiving information on determined spectrum time validity from the spectrum
5 management apparatus (S34). For example, if it is determined in step S32 that the signal is an
LTE signal, the spectrum sensing result includes a cell ID and information on its signal quality,
of an LTE system corresponding to the LTE signal.
[0094] Figure 11 shows a flowchatt of another example of the above method for wireless
communications. In addition to steps S31 and S32, the method further includes step S41:
10 determining in different manners, based on the spectrum sensing result in steps S31 and S32,
spectrum time validity for a current LTE system to usc the unlicensed frequency band. For
example, if it is determined in step S31 that there is no signal transmitting over the unlicensed
frequency band, a predetermined period of time starting from a current time instant is
determined as the spectrum time validity for the current LTE system in step S41.
15 [0095] In an example, a WiFi signal is also sensed in step S31 and the predetermined period
of time is determined based on prior knowledge during the using of the unlicensed frequency
band by a WiFi system and an LTE system and a sensing result on the WiFi signal.
[0096] As shown by a dashed line block in Figure 11, the method may fmther include step
S42: after the current LTE system acquires spectrum resources of the unlicensed frequency
20 band, transmitting information including a cell ID and the specttum time validity of the LTE
system. For example, the above information may be transmitted via system information on the
unlicensed frequency band. The information may also be transmitted via a MBSFN sub fi·ame
on the licensed fi·equcncy band.
[0097] As an example, in step S4 I, if it is detected that the signal is the LTE signal, system
25 information transmitted from an LTE system corresponding to the LTE signal is received,
with the system information including information on spectrum time validity of the LTE
system. The spectmm time validity in the system information is determined as the spectrum
time validity for the current LTE system to use the unlicensed frequency band.
[0098] Figure 12 shows a method for a user equipment in wireless communications
30 according to an embodiment of the present application. The method includes: receiving
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information on spectrum time validity for an LTE system to be accessed by the user
equipment, based on which the LTE system is allowed to use an unlicensed frequency band
(S55). In an example, in step S55, a cell ID of the LTE system to be accessed by the user
equipment is also received.
5 (0099] The cell ID and the information on the spectrum time validity of the LTE system to
be accessed may be received via one of: a broadcast channel (BCH), a physical downlink
control channel (PDCCH) or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Alternatively,
The cell ID and the information on the spectrum time validity of the LTE system to be
accessed may also be received by receiving RRC signaling.
10 (0100] As shown by a dashed line block in Figure 12, the method may futihcr include:
performing energy sensing on the unlicensed frequency band to determine whether there is a
signal transmitted over the unlicensed frequency band (S51 ); and if it is determined that there
is a signal transmitting over the unlicensed fi·equency band, detecting whether the signal is an
LTE signal (S52). In other words, two spectrum sensing steps are performed on a user
15 equipment side.
[0101] Further, the method may further include: measuring signal quality of LTE systems
over the unlicensed frequency band (S53); and transmitting the measuring result and cell IDs
of the I:fE systems to a spectrum management apparatus corresponding to the user equipment,
for the spectium management apparatus to determine an LTE system to be accessed by the
20 user equipment (S54).
(0102] It should be noted that the above methods may be used in combination or separately,
the details thereof have been described in detail in the first to fourth embodiments, which are
not repeated herein.
25 (0103] The basic principle of the present invention has been described above in conjunction
with patiicular embodiments. However, as can be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in
the art, all or any of the steps or components of the method and device according to the
invention can be implemented in hardware, firmware, software or a combination thereof in
any computing device (including a processor, a storage medium, etc.) or a network of
30 computing devices by those ordinarily skilled in the art in light of the disclosure of the
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Unitalen Ref.: OP1715-06-1036
invention and making use of their general circuit designing knowledge or general
programming skills.
[0104] Those skilled in the at1 can understand that, for example, the determining unit, the
storage unit, the first sensing unit, the second sensing unit, the measuring unit and the like in
5 the apparatus described above, may be implemented by one or more processors. And, for
example, the transceiving unit, the transmitting unit, the receiving unit and the like may be
implemented by circuit components such as antennas, filters, modems, and codecs.
[0105] Accordingly, an electronic device (I) is further provided according to the present
disclosure. The electronic device (I) includes a circuit configured to determine in different
I 0 manners, based on a spectrum sensing result with respect to an unlicensed fi·equency band by
an LTE system in a management range, spectrum time validity for the LTE system to use the
unlicensed frequency band.
[0106] An electronic device (2) is futther provided according to the present disclosure. The
electronic device (2) includes a circuit configured to receive, from a user equipment, cell IDs
15 and infmmation on corresponding signal quality, of LTE systems detected over an unlicensed
fi·equency band by the user equipment; and determine spectrum time validity corresponding to
each LTE system based on the cell ID of the LTE system, and select, based on the determined
spectrum time validity, one of the detected LTE systems for the user equipment to access in.
[0107] An electronic device (3) is fmther provided according to the present disclosure. The
20 electronic device (3) includes a circuit configured to: perform energy sensing with respect to
an unlicensed frequency band to determine whether there is a signal transmitting over the
unlicensed frequency band; and detect, in the case that it is determined that there is a signal
transmitting over the unlicensed frequency band, whether the signal is an LTE signal.
[0108] An electronic device (4) is further provided according to the present disclosure. The
25 electronic device ( 4) includes a circuit configured to receive information on spectrum time
validity for an LTE system to be accessed by the user equipment, based on which the LTE
system is allowed to use an unlicensed frequency band.
[00100] Moreover, the present invention futther discloses a program product in which
machine-readable instruction codes are stored. The aforementioned methods according to the
30 embodiments can be implemented when the instruction codes are read and executed by a
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machine.
English translation of PCT/CN20 16/084485
Sony CN Ref.: CNPAI4050INOO
Unitalen Ref.: OP1715-06-1036
[00101] Accordingly, a memory medium for carrying the program product in which
machine-readable instruction codes are stored is also covered in the present invention. The
memory medium includes but is not limited to soft disc, optical disc, magnetic optical disc,
5 memory card, memory stick and the like.
(0109] In the case where the present application is realized by software or firmware, a
program constituting the software is installed in a computer with a dedicated hardware
structure (e.g. the general computer 1300 shown in Figure 13) from a storage medium or
network, wherein the computer is capable of implementing various fi.mctions when installed
10 with various programs.
[00102] In Figure 13, a central processing unit (CPU) 1301 executes various processing
according to a program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 1302 or a program loaded to a
random access memory (RAM) 1303 from a memory section 1308. The data needed for the
various processing of the CPU 1301 may be stored in the RAM 1303 as needed. The CPU
15 1301, the ROM 1302 and the RAM 1303 are linked with each other via a bus 1304. An
input/output interface 1305 is also linked to the bus 1304.
[00103] The following components are linked to the input/output interface 1305: an input
section 1306 (including keyboard, mouse and the like), an output section 1307 (including
displays such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid cry~tal display (LCD), a loudspeaker and
20 the like), a memory section 1308 (including hard disc and the like), and a communication
section 1309 (including a network interface card such as a LAN card, modem and the like).
The communication section 1309 performs communication processing via a network such as
the Internet. A driver 1310 may also be linked to the input/output interface 1305. If needed, a
removable medium 1311, for example, a magnetic disc, an optical disc, a magnetic optical
25 disc, a semiconductor memmy and the like, may be installed in the driver 1310, so that the
computer program read therefrom is installed in the memory section 1308 as appropriate.
[00104] In the case where the foregoing series of processing is achieved by software,
programs forming the software are installed from a network such as the Internet or a memory
medium such as the removable medium 1311.
30 [0110] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the ati that the memory medium is not
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Unitalen Ref.: OPI715-06-I 036
limited to the removable medium 1311 shown in Figure 13, which has program stored therein
and is distributed separately from the apparatus so as to provide the programs to users. The
removable medium 1311 may be, for example, a magnetic disc (including floppy disc
(registered trademark)), a compact disc (including compact disc read-only memory
5 (CD-ROM) and digital versatile disc (DVD), a magneto optical disc (including mini disc
(MD)(registered trademark)), and a semiconductor memmy. Alternatively, the memory
medium may be the hard discs included in ROM 1302 and the memory section 1308 in which
programs are stored, and can be distributed to users along with the device in which they are
incorporated.
10 < 4. Application example>
[0111] The technology of the present disclosure is applicable to vanous products. For
example, the spectrum management apparatus 100 and 200 each may be realized as any type
of server such as a tower server, a rack server, and a blade server. The spectrum management
apparatus 100 and 200 may be a control module (such as an integrated circuit module
15 including a single die, and a card or a blade that is inserted into a slot of a blade server)
mounted on a server.
(0112] In addition, the above base station may be implemented as any type of evolved Node
B (eN B) such as a macro eNB and a small eN B. The small eNB may be an eNB such as a
pi co eNB, a micro eNB, and a home (femto) eNB that covers a cell smaller than a macro cell.
20 Instead, the base station may be realized as any other types of base stations such as a NodeB
and a base transceiver station (BTS). The base station may include a main body (that is also
referred to as a base stationapparatus) configured to control radio communication, and one or
more remote radio heads (RRH) disposed in a different place from the main body. In addition,
various types of use equipments, which will be described below, may each operate as the base
25 station by temporarily or semi-persistently executing a base station function.
[0113] For example, the user equipment 400 may be realized as a mobile terminal such as a
smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a notebook PC, a pmiable game terminal, a
portable/dongle type mobile router, and a digital camera, or an in-vehicle terminal such as a
car navigation apparatus. The user equipment 400 may also be realized as a terminal (that is
30 also referred to as a machine type communication (MTC) terminal) that performs
machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. Furthermore, the user equipment 400 may be a
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Unitalen Ref.: OPI715-06-1036
radio conmnmication module (such as an integrated circuit module including a single die)
mounted on each of the terminals.
[00105] To be further noted, in the apparatus, method and system according to the invention,
the respective components or steps can be decomposed and/or recombined. These
5 decompositions and/or recombinations shall be regarded as equivalent schemes of the
invention. Moreover, the above series of processing steps can naturally be performed
temporally in the sequence as described above but will not be limited thereto, and some of the
steps can be performed in parallel or independently fi·om each other.
[00106] Finally, to be further noted, the term "include", "comprise" or any variant thereof is
lO intended to encompass nonexclusive inclusion so that a process, method, article or device
including a series of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements which
have been not listed definitely or an element( s) inherent to the process, method, mticle or
device. Moreover, the expression "comprising a(n) ...... " in which an element is defined will
not preclude presence of an additional identical element(s) in a process, method, mticle or
15 device comprising the defined element(s)" unless further defined.
[0114] Although the embodiments of the invention have been described above in detail in
connection with the drawings, it shall be appreciated that the embodiments as described above
are merely illustrative but not limitative of the invention. Those skilled in the art can make
various modifications and variations to the above embodiments without departing from the
20 spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined merely by
the appended claims and their equivalents.

CLAIMS
English translation ofPCT/CN2016/084485
Sony CN Ref.: CNPAI4050INOO
Unital en Ref.: OPI715-06-1036
1. A spectrum management apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
a determining unit, configured to determine in different manners, based on a spectrum
5 sensing result with respect to an unlicensed frequency band by an LTE system in a
management range of the spectrum management apparatus, spectrum time validity for the
LTE system to use the unlicensed frequency band.
2. The spectrum management apparatus according to claim I, wherein the determining
unit is configured to, in the case that the spectrum sensing result indicates there exists another
10 LTE system using spectrum resources of the unlicensed fi'equency band, determine spectrum
time validity for the LTE system performing the spectrum sensing based on the spectrum time
validity for the existing another LTE system.
3. The spectrum management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spectrum time
validity comprises a spectrum usage expiration time to make use of the spectrum resources of
15 the unlicensed frequency band.
4. The spectrum management apparatus according to claim l, wherein the determining
unit is configured to, in the case that the spectrum sensing result indicates that there is no
signal transmitting over the unlicensed frequency band, determine a predetermined period of
time starting from a current time instant as the spectrum time validity for the LTE system
20 performing the spectrum sensing.
5. The spechum management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the determining
unit is further configured to determine the predetermined period of time based on a usage
duration in which a WiFi system and an LTE system within a predetermined range of a
location of the LTE system performing the spectrum sensing use the unlicensed frequency
25 band.
6. The spectrum management apparah1s according to claim 2, futiher comprising:
a storage unit, configured to store a list of a cell ID of the existing LTE system using the
unlicensed frequency band and a corresponding spectrum time validity.
7. The spectrum management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the list further
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English translation of PCT/CN2016/084485
Sony CN Ref.: CNPA 14050INOO
Unitalen Ref.: OP1715-06-l 036
comprises at least one of: an identifier of an operator which the LTE system belongs to, a
geographical location where the LTE system is located, and an identifier of an unlicensed
frequency band occupied by the LTE system.
8. The spec hum management apparatus according to claim I, fmiher comprising:
5 a transceiving unit, configured to receive the spectrum sensing result from a base station
and/or a user equipment of the LTE system performing the spectrum sensing, and transmit
information on the determined spectrum time validity to the base station and/or user
equipment ofthe LTE system.
9. The spectrum management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the transceiving
10 unit is configured to receive the spectrum sensing result and transmit the information on the
spectrum time validity over a licensed frequency band.
10. The spectrum management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the spectrum
sensing result comprises a cell ID and information on signal quality, of the detected another
LTE system using the spectrum resources of the unlicensed :fi·equency band.
15 II. The spectrum management apparatus according to claim!O, wherein the detennining
unit acquires a corresponding spectrum time validity based on the cell ID of the another LTE
system, and determines the acquired spectrum time validity as the spectrum time validity of
the LTE system performing the spectrum sensing.
12. A spectrum management apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
20 a transceiving unit, configured to receive, from a user equipment, cell IDs and
information on corresponding signal quality, of LTE systems detected over an unlicensed
frequency band by the user equipment; and
a determining unit, configured to determine spectrum time validity corresponding to each
LTE system based on the cell ID of the LTE system, and select, based on the determined
25 spectrum time validity, one of the detected LTE systems for the user equipment to access in.
13. The spectrum management apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the determining
unit is futiher configured to perform the selection based on a service requirement of the user
equipment and/or the information on the signal quality.
14. The spectrum management apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the transceiving
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English translation of PCT/CN20 16/084485
Sony CN Ref.: CNPA14050INOO
Unitalen Ref.: OP1715-06-1 036
unit is further configured to transmit the cell ID and the information on the spectrum time
validity of the selected LTE system to the user equipment.
15. The spectrum management apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the transceiving
unit is configured to transmit the information on the spectrum time validity and the cell ID of
5 the selected LTE system to the user equipment via one of: a broadcast channel (BCH), a
physical downlink control channel (PDCCI-I) or a physical downlink shared chmmel
(PDSCH).
16. The spectrum management apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the transceiving
unit is futiher configured to interchange, among spectnun management apparatus, cell IDs
I 0 and information on spectrum time validity of LTE systems in respective management ranges
of the spectrum management apparatus.
17. The spectrum management apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the transceiving
unit is further configured to transmit cell IDs and information on spectrum time validity of the
LTE systems which already acquire spectrum resources of the unlicensed fi·equency band by
15 transmitting a MBSFN sub frame over a licensed fi·equency band.
18. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
a first sensing unit, configured to perform energy sensing with respect to an unlicensed
frequency band to determine whether there is a signal transmitting over the unlicensed
frequency band; and
20 a second sensing unit, configured to detect, in the case that the first sensmg unit
determines that there is a signal transmitting over the unlicensed frequency band, whether the
signal is an LTE signal.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18, fmiher comprising:
a transmitting unit, configured to transmit a spectrum sensing result of the first sensing
25 unit and a spectrum sensing result of the second sensing unit to a spectrum management
apparatus corresponding to the apparatus; and
a receiving unit, configured to receive information on a determined spectrum time
validity fi·om the spectrum management apparatus.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein in the case that the second sensing unit
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fl
II
~
English translation ofPCT/CN20!6/084485
Sony CN Ref.: CNPAl4050lNOO
Unitalen Ref.: 0Pl7!5-06- I 036
determines that the signal is an LTE signal, the spectrum sensing result comprises a cell ID
and information on signal quality of the LTE system corresponding to the LTE signal.
21. The apparatus according to claim 18, fmiher comprising:
a determining unit, configured to determine in different manners, based on the spectrum
5 sensing results of the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit, spectrum time validity for
an LTE system where the apparatus is located to use the unlicensed frequency band.
22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the determining unit is configured to,
in the case that the first sensing unit determines that there is no signal transmitting over the
unlicensed frequency band, determine a predetermined period of time starting from a current
I 0 time instant as the spectrum time validity for the LTE system where the apparatus is located.
23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the first sensing unit is fmiher
configured to sense a WiFi signal, and the predetermined period of time is determined based
on prior knowledge of the usage of the unlicensed frequency band by a WiFi system and an
LTE system and a sensing result on the WiFi signal.
15 24. The apparatus according to claim 21, futiher comprising:
a receiving unit, configured to, in the case that the second sensing unit detects that the
signal is an LTE signal, receive system information transmitted by an LTE system
cmTesponding to the LTE signal, the system information containing information on spectrum
time validity of the LTE system,
20 wherein the determining unit is configured to determine the spectrum time validity in the
system information as the spectrum time validity for the LTE system where the apparatus is
located to use the unlicensed fi·equency band.
25. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:
a transmitting unit, configured to transmit information containing a cell ID of the LTE
25 system where the apparatus is located and spectrum time validity of the LTE system, upon the
LTE system acquires the spectrum resources of the unlicensed frequency band.
26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the transmitting unit is configured to
transmit the information via system information over the unlicensed frequency band.
27. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the transmitting unit is configured to
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English translation ofPCT/CN2016/084485
Sony CN Ref.: CNPAI40501NOO
Unitalen Ref.: OPI715-06-I 036
transmit the information via a MBSFN sub frame over a licensed frequency band.
28. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the second sensing unit is configured
to detect whether the signal is an LTE signal by detecting a synchronization signal PSS of an
LTE system.
5 29. A user equipment for wireless communications, comprising:
a receiving unit, configured to receive information on spectrum time validity for an LTE
system to be accessed by the user equipment, based on which the LTE system is allowed to
use an unlicensed frequency band.
30. The user equipment according to claim 29, wherein the receiving unit is finther
10 configured to receive a cell ill of the LTE system to be accessed by the user equipment.
31. The user equipment according to claim 30, wherein the receiving unit is configured
to receive the information on the spectrum time validity and the cell ID of the LTE system to
be accessed via one of: a broadcast channel (BCH), a physical downlink control channel
(PDCCH) or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).
15 32. The user equipment according to claim 30, wherein the receiving unit is configured
to receive the information on the spectrum time validity and the cell ID of the LTE system to
be accessed by receiving RRC signaling.
33. The user equipment according to claim 30, further comprising:
a measuring unit, configured to measure signal quality of each LTE system over the
20 unlicensed fi·equency band; and
a transmitting unit, configured to transmit the measuring result and a cell ID of the
corresponding LTE system to a spectrum management apparatus corresponding to the user
equipment, to be used by the spectrum management apparatus to determine an LTE system to
be accessed by the user equipment.
25 34. The user equipment according to claim 29, further comprising:
a first sensing unit, configured to perform energy sensing on the unlicensed frequency
band to determine whether there is a signal transmitting over the unlicensed fi·equency band;
and
a second sensing unit, configured to detect, m the case that the first sensing unit
. 32.
English translation of PCT/CN20 16/084485
Sony CN Ref.: CNPA14050INOO
Unitalen Ref.: OPI715-06-1036
determines that there is a signal transmitting over the unlicensed frequency band, whether the
signal is an LTE signal.