Dynamic spectrum partitioning between a first radio access technology and a second radio access technology

Abstract

An eNodeB uses a first portion of a frequency spectrum as a primary cell and uses a second portion of the frequency spectrum as a secondary cell that is dynamically shared with a 5G base station. The eNodeB and the 5G base station communicate to dynamically share the second portion of the frequency spectrum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a first base station utilizing a first radio access technology to communicate with first user equipment, wherein the first base station uses a frequency spectrum during a first time period; and   a second base station utilizing a second radio access technology to communicate with second user equipment, wherein the second base station uses a portion of the frequency spectrum during a second time period,   wherein the second base station is configured to send to the first base station a request that the first base station make the portion of the frequency spectrum available for use during the first time period by the second base station,   wherein the second user equipment is configured to determine that the portion of the frequency spectrum is unavailable during the first time period responsive to a detected absence of one or more pilot tones in the portion of the frequency spectrum in the first time period.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the frequency spectrum comprises a second portion of the frequency spectrum, wherein the first base station uses a first portion of the frequency spectrum as a primary cell and uses the second portion of the frequency spectrum as a secondary cell aggregated with the primary cell during the first time period. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first base station and the second base station communicate regarding availability of the second portion of the frequency spectrum via an interface between the first base station and the second base station. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second user equipment does not perform measurement procedures on the portion of the frequency spectrum responsive to the detected absence of the one or more pilot tones in the portion of the frequency spectrum, wherein the absence of the one or more pilot tones is detected by the second user equipment after having detected a presence of pilot tones in the portion of the frequency spectrum. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the second user equipment periodically performs checking for the presence of pilot tones after detecting the absence of the one or more pilot tones. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second user equipment resumes performing the measurement procedures on the portion of the frequency spectrum responsive to detecting the presence of pilot tones while performing the checking. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first base station performs deactivating of the portion of the frequency spectrum responsive to the request, and wherein the first base station signals the second base station regarding the deactivating. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second base station signals the first base station regarding an availability of the portion of the frequency spectrum for utilization by the first base station. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the second base station deactivates subcarriers in a primary cell of the second base station in the portion of the frequency spectrum to make the portion of the frequency spectrum available for use by the first base station. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 dynamically sharing, by a processing system including a processor and utilizing a first radio access technology, a frequency spectrum with a second radio access technology,   wherein a first base station utilizes the first radio access technology to communicate with first user equipment, the first base station using the frequency spectrum during a first time period; and   wherein a second base station utilizes a second radio access technology to communicate with second user equipment, the second base station using a portion of the frequency spectrum during a second time period,   wherein the second base station is configured to send to the first base station a request that the first base station make the portion of the frequency spectrum available for use during the first time period by the second base station,   wherein the second user equipment is configured to determine that the portion of the frequency spectrum is unavailable during the first time period responsive to a detected absence of one or more pilot tones in the portion of the frequency spectrum in the first time period.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the portion of the frequency spectrum comprises a second portion of the frequency spectrum, wherein the first base station uses a first portion of the frequency spectrum as a primary cell and uses the second portion of the frequency spectrum as a secondary cell aggregated with the primary cell during the first time period. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first base station and the second base station communicate regarding availability of the second portion of the frequency spectrum via an interface between the first base station and the second base station. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second user equipment does not perform measurement procedures on the portion of the frequency spectrum responsive to the detected absence of the one or more pilot tones in the portion of the frequency spectrum, wherein the absence of the one or more pilot tones is detected by the second user equipment after having detected a presence of pilot tones in the portion of the frequency spectrum. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first base station performs deactivating of the portion of the frequency spectrum responsive to the request, and wherein the first base station signals the second base station regarding the deactivating. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second base station signals the first base station regarding an availability of the portion of the frequency spectrum for utilization by the first base station. 
     
     
         16 . A device comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising:   dynamically sharing, by a first radio access technology, a frequency spectrum with a second radio access technology,   wherein a first base station utilizes the first radio access technology to communicate with first user equipment, the first base station using the frequency spectrum during a first time period; and   wherein a second base station utilizes the second radio access technology to communicate with second user equipment, the second base station using a portion of the frequency spectrum during a second time period,   wherein the second base station is configured to send to the first base station a request that the first base station make the portion of the frequency spectrum available for use during the first time period by the second base station,   wherein the second user equipment is configured to determine that the portion of the frequency spectrum is unavailable during the first time period responsive to a detected absence of one or more pilot tones in the portion of the frequency spectrum in the first time period.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the portion of the frequency spectrum comprises a second portion of the frequency spectrum, wherein the first base station uses a first portion of the frequency spectrum as a primary cell and uses the second portion of the frequency spectrum as a secondary cell aggregated with the primary cell during the first time period. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the first base station and the second base station communicate regarding availability of the second portion of the frequency spectrum via an interface between the first base station and the second base station. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the second user equipment does not perform measurement procedures on the portion of the frequency spectrum responsive to the detected absence of the one or more pilot tones in the portion of the frequency spectrum, wherein the absence of the one or more pilot tones is detected by the second user equipment after having detected a presence of pilot tones in the portion of the frequency spectrum. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the second user equipment periodically performs checking for the presence of pilot tones after detecting the absence of the one or more pilot tones, and wherein the second user equipment resumes performing the measurement procedures on the portion of the frequency spectrum responsive to detecting the presence of pilot tones while performing the checking.