Virtual carrier sensing mechanism for long term evolution (lte)

Abstract

Embodiments for providing virtual carrier sensing for LTE are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a first evolved Node B (eNB) sends a notification of subsequent DL transmission to a first UE in a downlink. In the uplink, the first UE sends a confirmation of the received DL notification. A second eNB overhears the confirmation, decodes it and extracts the information of the DL resources that the first eNB is planning to use. If the second eNB is not already transmitting in the indicated DL resources, the second eNB marks the indicated DL resources as busy and refrains from transmitting in those resources. The second eNB may then reschedule its transmission using alternative resources so that interference from the second eNB1 may be avoided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing virtual carrier sensing for long term evolution (LTE), comprising:
 receiving in a first downlink transmission from an evolved Node B (eNB) a notification of a subsequent downlink (DL) transmission, the notification including information identifying DL frame resources the eNB plans to use in a subsequent DL transmission; and   sending a confirmation of the received DL notification in an uplink, wherein the confirmation includes the information identifying DL frame resources the eNB plans to use in the subsequent DL transmission.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving the notification including information identifying DL frame resources the eNB plans to use in the subsequent DL transmission comprises receiving the notification including information identifying how many subframes will be used by the subsequent transmission, and which frequency associated with physical resource blocks (PRBs) will be used; and 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the notification further comprises receiving the notification in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) field. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the receiving the notification in the Downlink Control Information (DCI) field comprises receiving the notification using a same time-frequency resource. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sending the confirmation in the uplink comprises sending the confirmation in an uplink received by at least a second eNB for allowing the at least second eNB to reschedule its transmissions using a time-frequency resources different than time-frequency resources used in the subsequent transmission of the eNB. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises operating in accordance with a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) LTE/LTE-A (Long Term Evolution/Long Term Evolution-Advanced). 
     
     
         7 . A method for providing virtual carrier sensing for long term evolution (LTE), comprising:
 monitoring an uplink for an uplink transmission from a user equipment (UE);   receiving a confirmation of a DL notification in an uplink transmission; and   processing the confirmation in the uplink transmission to identify DL frame resources at least a second eNB plans to use in a subsequent DL transmission by the at least second eNB.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the receiving the confirmation further comprises receiving a confirmation from the UE in response to the UE receiving a notification including information identifying how many subframes will be used by the subsequent transmission, and which frequency associated with physical resource blocks (PRBs) will be used. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprises decoding the confirmation, extracting information from the decoded confirmation associated with the information identifying how many subframes will be used by the subsequent transmission, and which frequency associated with physical resource blocks (PRBs) will be used. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising rescheduling transmissions based on the extracted information to uses a time-frequency resources different than time-frequency resources used in the subsequent transmission of the at least second eNB. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising marking DL frame resources the at least second eNB plans to use in a subsequent DL transmission as busy and refraining from using the marked DL frame resources. 
     
     
         12 . An evolved Node B (eNB), comprising:
 a transceiver for receiving and transmitting signals; and   a controller, coupled to the transceivers, the controller arranged to provide virtual carrier sensing for long term evolution (LTE) by:
 receiving in a first downlink transmission from an evolved Node B (eNB) a notification of a subsequent downlink (DL) transmission, the notification including information identifying DL frame resources the eNB plans to use in a subsequent DL transmission; and 
 sending a confirmation of the received DL notification in an uplink, wherein the confirmation includes the information identifying DL frame resources the eNB plans to use in the subsequent DL transmission. 
   
     
     
         13 . The eNB of  claim 12 , wherein the controller further receives the notification including information identifying how many subframes will be used by the subsequent transmission, and which frequency associated with physical resource blocks (PRBs) will be used. 
     
     
         14 . The eNB of  claim 12 , wherein the controller further receives the notification in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) field. 
     
     
         15 . The eNB of  claim 14 , wherein the controller further receives the notification in the Downlink Control Information (DCI) field using a same time-frequency resource. 
     
     
         16 . The eNB of  claim 12 , wherein the controller further sends the confirmation in an uplink received by at least a second eNB for allowing the at least second eNB to reschedule its transmissions using a time-frequency resources different than time-frequency resources used in the subsequent transmission of the eNB. 
     
     
         17 . The eNB of  claim 12 , wherein the controller further operates in accordance with a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) LTE/LTE-A (Long Term Evolution/Long Term Evolution-Advanced). 
     
     
         18 . An evolved Node B (eNB) for providing virtual carrier sensing for long term evolution (LTE), comprising:
 a transceiver for receiving and transmitting signals; and   a controller, coupled to the transceivers, the controller arranged to provide virtual carrier sensing for long term evolution (LTE) by:
 monitoring an uplink for an uplink transmission from a user equipment (UE); 
 receiving a confirmation of a DL notification in an uplink transmission; and 
 processing the confirmation in the uplink transmission to identify DL frame resources at least a second eNB plans to use in a subsequent DL transmission by the at least second eNB. 
   
     
     
         19 . The eNB of  claim 18 , wherein the controller further receives a confirmation from the UE in response to the UE receiving a notification including information identifying how many subframes will be used by the subsequent transmission, and which frequency associated with physical resource blocks (PRBs) will be used. 
     
     
         20 . The eNB of  claim 18 , wherein the controller further decodes the confirmation and extracts information from the decoded confirmation associated with the information identifying how many subframes will be used by the subsequent transmission, and which frequency associated with physical resource blocks (PRBs) will be used. 
     
     
         21 . The eNB of  claim 20 , wherein the controller further reschedules transmissions based on the extracted information to uses a time-frequency resources different than time-frequency resources used in the subsequent transmission of the at least second eNB. 
     
     
         22 . The eNB of  claim 18 , wherein the controller further marks DL frame resources the at least second eNB plans to use in a subsequent DL transmission as busy and refrains from using the marked DL frame resources.