US 20120282942A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2012/0282942 A1 Uusitalo et al. (43) Pub. Date: Nov. 8, 2012

(54) METHODS, APPARATUSES AND COMPUTER Publication Classi?cation PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR CONFIGURING (51) Int. Cl. FREQUENCY AGGREGATION H04W 72/00 (2009.01) (52) Us. or...... 455/452.2 (75) Inventors: Mikko Aleksi Uusitalo, Helsinki (57) ABSTRACT (Fl); Mika Petri Olavi Rinne, An apparatus for determining Whether to deactivate a second Espoo (Fl); Antti Sakari Sorri, ary cell includes a processor and memory storing executable Helsinki (Fl); Carl Simon Wijting, computer program code that cause the apparatus to at least Espoo (Fl); Claudio Rosa, Randers perform operations including determining that a secondary (DK) cell should be deactivated based on a measurement(s) of the secondary cell or received information associated With fre quency spectrum of the secondary cell. The computer pro (73) Assignees: Nokia Siemens Networks Oy; gram code may cause the apparatus to generate a deactivation Nokia Corporation message responsive to the measurement(s) indicating sec ondary cell interference or the received information indicat ing that the apparatus should no longer use the frequency (21) Appl. No.: 13/099,019 spectrum. The computer program code may cause the appa ratus to provide the deactivation message to a netWork device. Corresponding methods and computer program products are (22) Filed: May 2, 2011 also provided.

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METHODS, APPARATUSES AND COMPUTER turbance or interference within the secondary cell. The mea PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR CONFIGURING surements may be performed by the . FREQUENCY AGGREGATION [0007] Additionally or alternatively, the triggering of the determination, by the mobile device, as to whether the sec TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD ondary cell(s) should be deactivated may be based in part on [0001] An example embodiment of the invention relates to information received from one or more devices (e.g., white the ?eld of wireless communications and, more particularly space databases, co-existence managers, etc.). The informa relates to a method, apparatus and computer program product tion received from one or more devices may specify instances for con?guring frequency aggregation in a cellular commu or times that the mobile device may utiliZe the frequency nication system. spectrum of the secondary cell. In addition, the information received from the devices may include data specifying that BACKGROUND the mobile device is prohibited from using the frequency spectrum of the secondary cell(s) due to a right of priority to [0002] Modern wireless telecommunication systems aim to utiliZe the frequency spectrum of the secondary cell(s) by one provide e?icient utiliZation of the available frequency spec or more primary users (e.g., a TV broadcaster, a wireless trum so as to maximize capacity and throughput. Multiple microphone(s), etc.). systems or sub-systems may even be allocated to share a [0008] Based on receipt of information from one of the common frequency band which may be shared in a dynamic devices indicating that frequency spectrum is being allocated manner between the systems. Such dynamic spectrum utili for usage to a primary user, the mobile device may initiate a Zation typically requires capability of detecting free radio determination that the secondary cell should be deactivated. resources and taking them into use ef?ciently so as to ensure In this regard, the mobile device may generate a message e?icient operation and/ or reduced interference towards other (e.g., a deactivation message) that may be sent to a network systems, for example. device (e. g., a base station (e. g., an e-Node B (eNB)) suggest [0003] At present, communication devices may utiliZe ing or instructing the network device to deactivate the sec aggregated frequencies such as primary frequency spectrum ondary cell. as well as a secondary frequency spectrum for capacity, band [0009] In one example embodiment, a method for generat width and throughput. In some instances, local conditions of ing a determination to deactivate a secondary cell is provided. a secondary cell associated with the secondary frequency The method may include determining that at least one sec spectrum may suggest that the secondary frequency spectrum ondary cell is to be deactivated based at least in part on a should no longer be utiliZed and that the secondary cell should measurement(s) of the secondary cell or receipt of informa be deactivated. tion associated with a frequency spectrum of the secondary [0004] Currently, a network entity typically initiates the cell. The method may further include generating a deactiva decision to deactivate a secondary cell. However, in some tion message in response to the measurement indicating an cases, the network entity may not have ?rst hand knowledge interference with the secondary cell or the received informa about the local conditions of the secondary cell. In this regard, tion indicating that the frequency spectrum should no longer the network entity may not always be capable of making the be used by a ?rst device. The method may further include best or most reliable determination as to whether to initiate enabling provision of the deactivation message to a network deactivation of a secondary cell. device. BRIEF SUMMARY [0010] In another example embodiment, an apparatus for generating a determination to deactivate a secondary cell is [0005] A method, apparatus, and computer program prod provided. The apparatus may include a processor and a uct are therefore provided for enabling a mobile device to memory including computer program code. The memory and e?iciently and reliably, for example, determine whether to the computer program code are con?gured to, with the pro initiate deactivation of a secondary cell. In response to facili cessor, cause the apparatus to determine that at least one tating deactivation of the secondary cell, Carrier Aggregated secondary cell is to be deactivated based at least in part on a frequency associated with the secondary cell may no longer measurement(s) of the secondary cell or receipt of informa be utiliZed by the mobile device. In this regard, one or more tion associated with a frequency spectrum of the secondary non-cellular frequencies (e.g., a white space frequency, an cell. The memory and computer program code may further unlicensed frequency, etc.) provided by the secondary cell cause the apparatus to generate a deactivation message in may be released such that the mobile device (e. g., user equip response to the measurement indicating an interference with ment (UE)) does not currently use the non-cellular frequen the secondary cell or the received information indicating that cies or does not use the non-cellular frequencies until some the frequency spectrum should no longer be used by the time in the future. apparatus. The memory and computer program code may [0006] As such, an example embodiment of the invention further cause the apparatus to enable provision of the deacti may enable a mobile device to initiate deactivation of one or vation message to a network device. more secondary cells utiliZing Carrier Aggregation. In an [0011] In another example embodiment, an apparatus for example embodiment, Carrier Aggregation may, but need generating a determination to deactivate a secondary cell is not, be associated with aggregated frequencies in white space provided. The apparatus may include a processor and a frequency spectrum, unlicensed frequency spectrum, cellular memory including computer program code. The memory and frequency spectrum and any other suitable frequency spec the computer program code are con?gured to, with the pro trum. The triggering of the determination, by the mobile cessor, cause the apparatus to receive a deactivation message device, as to whether the secondary cell(s) should be deacti from a device. The deactivation message is generated in vated may be based in part on one or more measurements response to at least one measurement indicating an interfer associated with the secondary cell which may indicate a dis ence with a secondary cell or receipt of information indicat US 2012/0282942 A1 Nov. 8, 2012

ing that a frequency spectrum of the secondary cell should no vided. The method may include receiving a deactivation mes longer be used by the device. The memory and computer sage from a device. The deactivation message is generated in program code may further cause the apparatus to determine response to at least one measurement indicating an interfer Whether to deactivate the secondary cell based in part on the ence With a secondary cell or receipt of information indicat received deactivation message. ing that a frequency spectrum of the secondary cell should no [0012] In another example embodiment, a computer pro longer be used by the device. The method may also be con gram product for generating a determination to deactivate a ?gured to determine Whether to deactivate the secondary cell secondary cell is provided. The computer program product based in part on the received deactivation message. includes at least one computer-readable storage medium hav [0017] An embodiment of the invention may provide a ing computer executable program code instructions stored more e?icient manner in Which to deactivate a secondary cell therein. The computer executable program code instructions in an instance in Which a communication device may be may include program code instructions con?gured to deter utiliZing Carrier Aggregation. As such, a communications mine that at least one secondary cell is to be deactivated based netWork may operate more ef?ciently. Additionally, commu at least in part on a measurement(s) of the secondary cell or nication devices utiliZing the communications netWork may receipt of information associated With a frequency spectrum operate more e?iciently and reliably resulting in a better user of the secondary cell. The program code instructions may also experience. be con?gured to generate a deactivation message in response to the measurement indicating an interference With the sec BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL ondary cell or the received information indicating that the VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS frequency spectrum should no longer be used by a ?rst device. [0018] Having thus described the invention in general The program code instructions may also be con?gured to terms, reference Will noW be made to the accompanying enable provision of the deactivation message to a netWork draWings, Which are not necessarily draWn to scale, and device. Wherein: [0013] In another example embodiment, an apparatus for [0019] FIG. 1A illustrates communication betWeen a ter generating a determination to deactivate a secondary cell is minal device and a cellular communication system; provided. The apparatus may include means for determining [0020] FIG. 1B illustrates an example of irregular utiliZa that at least one secondary cell is to be deactivated based at tion of frequency resources on an unlicensed spectrum; least in part on a measurement(s) of the secondary cell or [0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a How diagram of a process for receipt of information associated With a frequency spectrum initiating frequency aggregation according to an example of the secondary cell. The apparatus may also include means embodiment of the invention; for generating a deactivation message in response to the mea [0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a signaling diagram of initiating surement indicating an interference With the secondary cell or and con?guring the frequency aggregation according to an the received information indicating that the frequency spec example embodiment of the invention; trum should no longer be used by the apparatus. The appara [0023] FIG. 4 illustrates operation in a terminal device for tus may also include means for enabling provision of the autonomously deciding to propose frequency aggregation deactivation message to a netWork device. according to an example embodiment of the invention; [0014] In another example embodiment, a computer pro [0024] FIG. 5 illustrates operation in a netWork element gram product for generating a determination to deactivate a upon receiving a proposal for frequency aggregation accord secondary cell is provided. The computer program product ing to an example embodiment of the invention; includes at least one computer-readable storage medium hav [0025] FIG. 6 illustrates utiliZation of a secondary cell in ing computer executable program code instructions stored connection With frequency aggregation according to an therein. The computer executable program code instructions example embodiment of the invention; may include program code instructions con?gured to facili [0026] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate block diagrams of appara tate receipt of a deactivation message from a device. The tuses according to some example embodiments of the inven deactivation message is generated in response to at least one tion; measurement indicating an interference With a secondary cell [0027] FIG. 9 illustrates a How diagram for How transfer or receipt of information indicating that a frequency spectrum upon establishing a secondary cell according to an example of the secondary cell should no longer be used by the device. embodiment of the invention; The program code instructions may also be con?gured to [0028] FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a system determine Whether to deactivate the secondary cell based in according to an example embodiment of the invention; part on the received deactivation message. [0029] FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of an appara [0015] In another example embodiment, an apparatus for tus for initiating a determination regarding Whether a second generating a determination to deactivate a secondary cell is ary cell should be deactivated according to an example provided. The apparatus may include means for receiving a embodiment of the invention; deactivation message from a device. The deactivation mes [0030] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating frequency spectrum sage is generated in response to at least one measurement allocations that may be aggregated according to an example indicating an interference With a secondary cell or receipt of embodiment of the invention; information indicating that a frequency spectrum of the sec [0031] FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a netWork ondary cell should no longer be used by the device. The entity according to an example embodiment of the invention; apparatus may also include means for determining Whether to [0032] FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of a system deactivate the secondary cell based in part on the received according to an example embodiment of the invention; deactivation message. [0033] FIG. 15 is a signal ?oW diagram for generating a [0016] In another example embodiment, a method for gen determination to deactivate a secondary cell according to an erating a determination to deactivate a secondary cell is pro example embodiment of the invention; and US 2012/0282942 A1 Nov. 8, 2012

[0034] FIG. 16 illustrates a ?owchart for generating a deter partly and that they may be con?gured to operate on a com mination to deactivate a secondary cell according to an mon frequency band. For example, a ?rst system may be a example embodiment of the invention. television (TV) broadcast system comprising a broadcast toWer 100 broadcasting television channels on some channels DETAILED DESCRIPTION of the common frequency band. The ?rst system may, hoW [0035] Some embodiments of the present invention Will ever, be any other radio system. A second system may be, for noW be described more fully hereinafter With reference to the example, a cellular system comprising a netWork element 102 accompanying draWings, in Which some, but not all embodi as an access point or a base station (BS, also called Node B or ments of the invention are shoWn. Indeed, various embodi evolved node B, eNB) providing a client station (also called a ments of the invention may be embodied in many different terminal device or user equipment, UE) 104 With bidirec forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodi tional Wireless communication services. The cellular system ments set forth herein. Like reference numerals refer to like may also utiliZe frequency channels on the common fre elements throughout. As used herein, the terms “data, con quency band. tent,” “information” and similar terms may be used inter [0040] For example, the Federal Communications Com changeably to refer to data capable of being transmitted, mission (FCC) in the United States has issued a report and received and/or stored in accordance With embodiments of order (R&O) Which permits the use of TV White space (TV the invention. Moreover, the term “exemplary”, as used WS) spectrum. White space is the term used by the FCC for a herein, is not provided to convey any qualitative assessment, TV spectrum Which is not being occupied for primary usage but instead merely to convey an illustration of an example. eg by the TV or Wireless microphone transmitters. The cel Thus, use of any such terms should not be taken to limit the lular system comprising the netWork element 102 may be spirit and scope of embodiments of the invention. con?gured to utiliZe available frequency bands of such a [0036] Additionally, as used herein, the term ‘circuitry’ spectrum having a frequency band on a very high frequency refers to (a) hardWare-only circuit implementations (e.g., band (VHF, 30 to 300 MHZ), ultra-high frequency band implementations in analog circuitry and/ or digital circuitry); (UHF, 300 to 3000 MHZ), and/ or other frequency bands. With (b) combinations of circuits and computer program product respect to the second system, the cellular system may be (s) comprising and/or ?rmware instructions stored based on the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System on one or more computer readable memories that Work (U MTS) or any one of its evolution versions (e. g., long-term together to cause an apparatus to perform one or more func evolution, LTE, or LTE-Advanced), a system based on Inter tions described herein; and (c) circuits, such as, for example, national Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) standard or any a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that one of its evolution versions (e.g. IMT-Advanced), World require softWare or ?rmWare for operation even if the soft Wide Interoperability for Access (WiMAX), Ware or ?rmWare is not physically present. This de?nition of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802. ‘circuitry’ applies to all uses of this term herein, including in 11-based netWork (e.g. IEEE 802.11n, 802.11af, or any claims. As a further example, as used herein, the term 802 .1 1ac). HoWever, the cellular system is not limited to these ‘circuitry’ also includes an implementation comprising one or examples and it may be any other Wireless netWork. The ?rst more processors and/ or portion(s) thereof and accompanying (primary) system also need not be a TV broadcast or a Wire softWare and/ or ?rmWare. As another example, the term ‘cir less microphone transmitter system, and it may be any other cuitry’ as used herein also includes, for example, a baseband system having a frequency band that may be shared With the integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit cellular system and that may become fragmented through the for a or a similar integrated circuit in a server, frequency utiliZation of the ?rst system. The frequencies may a device, other netWork device, and/or other also be available Without any assigned primary user, e. g. their computing device. utiliZation may be based on cognitive radio access schemes. [0037] As de?ned herein a “computer-readable storage In a broad sense, the ?rst system may be any system operating medium,” Which refers to a non-transitory, physical or tan on an unlicensed or license-exempt frequency band, e. g. the gible storage medium (e.g., volatile or non-volatile memory Industrial, Scienti?c, and Medical (ISM) band. device), may be differentiated from a “computer-readable [0041] In some embodiments, the ?rst system is a primary transmission medium,” Which refers to an electromagnetic system having a priority over the frequency bands. The cel signal. lular system may then be con?gured to dynamically adapt to [0038] The folloWing described embodiments are exem the spectrum utiliZation of the primary system and occupy a plary. Although the speci?cation may refer to “an”, “one”, or frequency band not used by the primary system in a given “some” embodiment(s) in several locations, this does not geographical area. In the folloWing description, let us refer to necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same the ?rst system as the primary system and to the cellular embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single system as the secondary system. In such embodiments, there embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may may be rules for the secondary system to ensure minimiZa also be combined to provide other embodiments. Further tion/ lack of interference toWards the primary system, and more, Words “comprising” and “including” should be under these rules may require access to information on free fre stood as not limiting the described embodiments to consist of quency bands in each geographical area and/ or sensing and only those features that have been mentioned and such use of speci?ed maximum transmit poWer levels. Such infor embodiments may contain also features/ structures that have mation on the free frequency bands may be stored in a data not been speci?cally mentioned. base 106 to Which the netWork element 102 and/ or the client [0039] A general communication scenario to Which station 104 has access. The database 106 may store the maxi embodiments of the present invention may be applied is illus mum transmit poWer limits that the netWork element and/or trated in FIG. 1A. Referring to FIG. 1A, at least tWo systems client stations may not exceed so as not to interfere With the are located such that their coverage areas overlap at least users of the primary system. The netWork element 102 and/or US 2012/0282942 Al Nov. 8, 2012

the client station 104 may obtain the information on the free proposing provision of aggregation of at least some of fre frequency channels either directly or indirectly through any quency resources outside dedicated frequency resources of other node that has access to the database 106. For example, the cellular communication system. Inblock 208, the netWork a client station may have a direct access to the database 106 to element may determine operational parameters of the aggre retrieve the current channel allocation in the area of the client gation on the basis of the received message. In block 210, the station, or it may request a serving base station or another netWork element may con?gure aggregation of at least some netWork element to retrieve the contents of the database 106. of the proposed frequency resources With the determined The serving base station or the other netWork element may operational parameters. The aggregation may be referred to retrieve the contents of the database 106 through a mobility as a carrier aggregation, Wherein the netWork element con management entity (MME) of the cellular system, for ?gures establishment of neW carriers on the frequencies out example. side the cellular frequencies. Carrier aggregation may be [0042] An operator of the primary system or an authority understood as aggregating White spaces, unlicensed frequen like a regulator may update the database 106 as the channel cies or other free frequency resources to the frequencies on allocation of the primary system changes, and the netWork licensed bands of the cellular system. The carrier aggregation element 102 and/or the client station may periodically (or may be carried out in a base station, or generally the carrier constantly or upon noti?cation of a change in the contents of aggregation may be realiZed by combined operation of a the database) monitor the database 106 for an updated chan plurality of remote radio heads of a base station or non co nel allocation and take measures to adjust its oWn frequency located base stations. Accordingly, the establishment of neW allocation accordingly. carriers may be realiZed in the serving base station, in a [0043] In addition to the information about the primary of the serving base station, or in another system, the database may include identi?cations and rules for base station, e.g., a femtocell base station. The base stations coexistence among the possible secondary systems operating realiZing the aggregation may have different cell siZe hierar in the spectrum of a primary system. Secondary use may be chies or even different access technologies. Aggregation may based on carrier sensing, listen-before-talk, competition, ran further mean aggregation of connections or netWork (e.g., dom access or any other such coexistence techniques. Internet Protocol, IP, interfaces) for the traf?c ?oWs of a [0044] As shoWn in FIG. 1B, spectrum utiliZation of the terminal device. White spaces or unlicensed bands, e. g., the ISM band, may be [0047] The remote radio head is by de?nition a spatially fragmented in both time and frequency. The irregular spec remote circuitry of the base station extending the coverage trum occupation is illustrated by the boxes in FIG. 1B. The area of the base station, e.g., in tunnels and rural areas. The primary system may occupy different frequencies based on remote radio head may be a logic entity of the base station time and location, While numerous Wireless communication similar to radio components located at the base station site, systems may occupy and release arbitrary frequencies on the and the remote radio head may comprise a unlicensed bands. These spectral spaces may hence lack a circuitry of the base station and, additionally analog-to-digi clear raster of center frequencies and bandWidths. Therefore, tal and digital-to-analog converter to convert signals trans available frequencies may be scanned in various manners ferred in a digital form betWeen the remote radio head and the before taking them into use. FIG. 2 illustrates a general con base station. The femtocell is a common term used in the cept according to some embodiments of the invention, and modern communication systems to describe a small cellular further embodiments are described in greater detail thereaf base station typically designed for use in a home or small ter. FIG. 2 illustrates a How diagram of processes for aggre business, for example. The femtocell base station may be gating frequencies outside the frequencies dedicated, e.g. con?gured by the netWork element of the cellular netWork. licensed, to the cellular communication system to the cellular [0048] With reference to a signaling diagram of FIG. 3, let frequencies. FIG. 2 illustrates a process carried out in a ter us describe the initialiZation of the aggregation according to minal device, and a process carried out in a serving base an example embodiment is provided. In S1, the terminal station or another netWork element of a cellular netWork. device may make the decision to start scanning for available [0045] Referring to FIG. 2, the terminal device is caused to frequencies outside the cellular frequencies. The decision initiate detection of available frequency resources outside may be made autonomously and in response to at least one of dedicated frequency resources of the cellular communication the folloWing: detecting a need for additional data transfer system in block 202. This detection may be autonomous by capacity, degradation of link quality of at least one existing the UE or may be initiated by the UE after assistance received link With the cellular netWork, time, and/or location of the from a netWork node, say a server. Some embodiments of terminal device. Examples of the need for the additional data events triggering the detection are described beloW. The transfer capacity comprise establishment of a neW data How, detection may comprise scanning the frequency components, e.g., a neW connection to the Internet, or increased data trans as described beloW, or determining their availability from the fer requirements of an existing data How. Parameter “time” database 106 or from information received from locally refers to that the triggering event for the scanning is the time, authoriZed nodes, eg a coexistence manager used in IEEE e.g., the scanning is carried out during the of?ce hours, or 802.19 netWorks. In response to detection of available fre another period(s) of time. The location as the triggering event quency resources as a result of the scanning, the terminal may refer to the availability of location-based services, for device may be caused to transmit to the serving base station in Which the scanning is triggered. In other example embodi block 204 a message proposing provision of aggregation of at ments, the location may trigger the scanning regardless of least some of scanned frequency resources detected to be Whether or not such location-based services are available. The available to the cellular frequencies. database 106 may, for example, de?ne locations Where the [0046] In block 206, the netWork element of a netWork White space frequencies are available, and arriving at such a infrastructure receives from the terminal device, through a location may trigger the scanning In other example embodi serving base station, the autonomously transmitted message ments, history data may be used as the triggering event. For US 2012/0282942 A1 Nov. 8, 2012

example, prior timings and/or locations When the utilization existing system(s) on the scanned frequencies. The terminal of the frequencies outside the cellular frequencies has been device may be con?gured to ?lter the list of frequencies successful may be as an input in S1. For example, such a according to a determined criterion, e.g., prefer free frequen timing and/or arriving at the same location/ area may trigger cies over occupied frequencies even though coexistence With the scanning In general, the terminal device may be con?g another system Was possible, to remove from the list frequen ured to make the decision of When, Where, and hoW to carry cies previously discovered as problematic on the basis of out the scanning Without reception of a speci?c command history data, for example, and/ or ?ltering rules derived from from the netWork infrastructure. the database 106. The ?ltering may also take into account [0049] The actual scanning may comprise detection of free Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements of a data How for frequencies (or channels) by estimating presence of an arbi Which the terminal device intends to propose the aggregation. trary radio signal on the frequencies. In such embodiments, In such a case, frequencies providing a continuous bandWidth the terminal device may blindly attempt to detect of presence satisfying the QoS requirements may be selected over fre of radio energy on the frequencies and omit attempting to quencies providing a fragmented spectrum, and bandWidth derive any information from the contents or signal structure smaller than the minimum bandWidth of the QoS require of the (possible) radio signals. Such embodiments may com ments may be discarded. In a situation Where QoS require prise determining a radio signal poWer or energy on a given ments are not given or are not clear or strict, the target of the frequency band. The determined metric proportional to the aggregation may be to maximiZe the available bandWidth, poWer or energy may then also be considered as a measure of minimiZe the consumed transmission poWer, or to minimiZe interference, and upon determining that the interference level experienced or generated interference. or spectral density of the interference is higher than a deter [0051] Then, the terminal device may transmit in S2 the mined threshold, the frequency band may be determined to be proposal message to the serving base station Which may be unavailable. On the other hand, upon determining that the the netWork element processing the proposal and making the interference level is loWer than the threshold, the frequency decision on Whether or not to carry out the frequency aggre band may be determined to be available. In other embodi gation. It should be noted that the netWork element may be ments, the scanning comprises detecting beacon signals or another element of the netWork infrastructure as Well. If the other knoWn signals having a structure and/or contents that list is ?ltered by discarding at least some of the parameters, the terminal device is capable of analyZing. Such signals may the terminal device may include in the message an informa be used for detecting Whether or not it is possible to coexist tion element indicating that in case the netWork element ?nds With a system transmitting such signals by using at least no suitable parameters for the aggregation from the proposed partially overlapping resources. An access netWork discovery list, the terminal device is prepared to transmit another list and selection function (ANDSF) of the cellular netWork may With further parameters for proposal. The other list may then be used as assistance When discovering other access net comprise at least some of the parameters discarded in the Works, e.g., the IEEE 802.11 or WiMAX netWorks. The ter ?ltering procedure. The message transmitted by the terminal minal device may be con?gured to carry out the scanning by device may be a message or a higher using multiple variable carrier frequencies and multiple vari layer message. able bandWidths in the scanning to improve the scanning and [0052] Upon reception of the list of supported parameters the probability of success of the scanning. The terminal in S2, the base station analyZes the proposal and determines device may also use history data to obtain initial parameters Whether or not the list contains a subset of parameters that for the scanning, e.g., ?rst scan for those frequencies and may be con?gured for the aggregation. The base station may bandWidths that have previously provided a successful aggre store a database de?ning alloWed frequencies and frequency gation, provided that they are alloWed by the database 106 (if aggregation options, e.g., list of frequencies that may be applicable). The history data may be analyZed by using state aggregated to the cellular frequencies, and the frequency (or of-the-art machine learning algorithms, for example. The ter frequencies) for the aggregation may be selected as alloWed minal device may restrict the scanning to cover only those by such restrictions. Furthermore, the base station may com frequencies that are supported by the terminal device, and pare bandWidth requirement for the aggregation With the set those frequencies on Which the terminal device cannot com of proposed frequencies, and select the frequencies such that municate because of implementational reasons, for example, the number of separate (disjoint) frequency proportions or may be excluded from the scanning. It should be noted that frequency bands required is minimiZed, and the number of the scanning may comprise operations that are different from adjacent (contiguous) frequencies in use are maximiZed. The those used in the cellular netWork, as mentioned above, e.g., base station may also make a decision as to Whether to realiZe the detection of presence of radio energy. These detection the aggregation in the base station site, in a remote radio head, operations may apply any mathematical sampling, ?ltering, or in a femto base station. The femtocell base station may be averaging, WindoWing or Weighting functions to create the under the control of the aggregating base station. For such a actual measurement result. purpose, the base station may determine the location of the [0050] Upon detection of a set of available frequencies, terminal device in the cell of the base station. The location each identi?ed by the explicit frequency, a channel index, may be determined on the basis of path loss estimations and/ or any other channel identi?er, the terminal device con and/or timing advance of the terminal device. The timing structs the message proposing the aggregation, Wherein the advance is a parameter proportional to the distance betWeen message comprises a list of detected frequencies that are the terminal device and the base station. Additionally, beam proposed candidates for the aggregation. The message may forming and other spatial estimation algorithms may be used comprise other parameters proposed by the terminal device in to determine the distance and the direction of the terminal additional to the frequency indices, e. g., bandWidth and qual device With respect to the base station on the basis of angle of ity-of-service related parameters, parameters acquired as a reception of a signal from the terminal device, for example. If result of scanning such as operational parameters de?ned by the terminal device is in a coverage area of a femtocell base US 2012/0282942 A1 Nov. 8, 2012

station or a remote radio head, the base station may select of center frequencies and one bandWidth or a plurality of spatially distributed aggregation in Which the remote radio bandWidths for each center frequency. As mentioned above, head or the femtocell base station is con?gured to apply the the terminal device may determine a frequency to be free if no aggregation. On the other hand, if the spatially distributed is radio energy is detected on the frequency, the detected spec not possible or feasible on the basis of the location of the tral density of received energy is beloW a tolerable threshold, terminal device or for other reasons, the base station may be and/or if the frequency is occupied by another system With con?gured to select co-located aggregation in Which the base Which coexistence is possible. Such a system may be an IEEE station expands the frequency range on the base station site to 802.11 netWork, for example. In such a case, the terminal cover at least some of the proposed frequencies outside the device may scan for a beacon frame broadcasted by the IEEE cellular frequencies. The base station may use as an addi 802.1 1 netWork. In block 402, the terminal device determines tional criterion for selecting the parameters to be applied Whether or not a su?icient number of available frequencies similar proposals received from other terminal devices. For have been detected. If it is determined as negative, the process example, if a determined number (a plurality) of terminal returns to block 202 and the scanning is continued (optionally devices proposes a given frequency band, the base station after a pause to reduce the poWer consumption). On the other may prefer that frequency band over one proposed only by a hand, if the result in block 402 is af?rmative, the process single or feW terminal devices. As a consequence, the base proceeds to block 404 in Which the terminal device deter station may attempt to carry out the aggregation With param mines the parameters to be proposed for the aggregation and eters that meet the demands of as many terminal devices as transmits list of proposed parameters to the base station. In possible. Another criterion may be the cost of additional block 406, the terminal device receives from the serving base frequencies. The aggregation may be applied to frequencies station the parameters con?gured for the aggregation. In that are charged on the basis of their utiliZation, and the base block 408, the terminal device applies the neW frequencies. station may be con?gured to prefer frequencies that are free of Block 408 may comprise negotiation of a neW (secondary) charge over frequencies that are charged. radio bearer to realiZe the aggregation. The primary cellular [0053] As a consequence, the base station selects a subset connection may be maintained, as Will be discussed beloW. or even a full set of proposed parameters and con?gures the The frequency aggregation may be applied to the existing aggregation in S3 and S4. In S4, the base station applies the radio connection, as mentioned above. aggregation or activates a remote radio head or a femtocell [0055] FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of the base station base station to apply the aggregation. The base station may controlling the aggregation according to some embodiments also inform the terminal device about the aggregation and the of the invention. In block 206, the base station receives the selected parameters. Then, the neW resources may be applied proposal for the aggregation and the list of proposed param to the communication by expanding resources of active links eters. In block 502, the base station determines constraints to the neW frequencies and/ or by providing neW radio bearer related to the aggregation. Some of the constraints related to services, eg a neW carrier, on the neW frequencies. During the selection of the aggregation frequencies and bandWidths the operation of the aggregation, the terminal device may have been discussed above. Other restrictions may include continue carrying out the measurements autonomously in S5, transmission poWer. For example, the database 106 may set report the measurement results to the network, and the base the restrictions to the transmit poWers on the White space station may apply neW frequencies and/or discard current frequencies. In block 502, the base station may determine the frequencies and change other operational parameters on the frequencies the base station is able to aggregate to the current basis of the measurement results in S6. This may include cellular frequencies such that the poWer constraints of the temporary suspension or deactivation of the aggregation and White space frequencies as set in the database are satis?ed. reestablishment With neW parameter, or the changes may be This may rule out at least some of the proposed frequencies. applied on the ?y during the operation. As a consequence, the The transmit poWer needed may be determined by estimating system is able to adapt to a changing radio environment Which the channel betWeen the base station and the terminal device, may be abrupt on the non-licensed frequencies. When the e.g., a path loss. In block 504, the base station selects the additional frequencies utiliZed as a result of the aggregation parameters for the aggregation (e.g. frequencies, bandWidth, are noW longer needed or When the additional frequencies co-located or spatially distributed aggregation, etc.). In block become unavailable, the base station suspends or deactivates 506, the base station carries out the aggregation by activating the utiliZation of the additional frequencies in S7. This may a secondary cell With the selected frequencies and parameters include controlled release of the frequency resources Which that are a sub set of tho se proposed by the terminal device. The may include release of at least one radio link allocated to the secondary cell may be understood as the femtocell base sta additional frequency resources. tion or another entity Which forms a cell Which is different [0054] FIG. 4 illustrates a procedure of the terminal device from the cell of the serving base station. HoWever, it may be for proposing the aggregation according to some embodi understood as a creation of a neW carrier in the serving base ments of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the autonomous station, e. g., in a remote radio head. The serving base station scanning of the frequency resources outside the cellular fre may in some embodiments con?gure the operation and quencies is triggered in 202. The triggering event may be any resource scheduling in the secondary cell, e.g., in the case of one of those listed above. The terminal device may select remote radio head. HoWever, in other embodiments, the sec scanning parameters from the list of free White space frequen ondary cell is independent to carry out the resource schedul cies derived from the database 106, for example. In one ing autonomously, e.g., in a case Where the secondary cell in embodiment, the terminal device is con?gured to use a default coexistence With another system, e. g., an IEEE 802.1 1 (WiFi) bandWidth in the scanning, While in another embodiment, the netWork or IEEE 802.19 netWork. In such an example, the terminal device applies a plurality of bandWidths for a given secondary cell may carry out the communication according to (or each) center frequency. As a consequence, the terminal the speci?cations of the other system. For example, When the device scans for the available frequencies by using a plurality other system is the WiFi netWork, the communication in the US 2012/0282942 A1 Nov. 8, 2012

secondary cell may be con?gured to comply With the channel of the data of the ?rst data How may still be routed through the contention and other communication rules of the IEEE 802. primary cell connection. Additionally, a second data How may 11 networks. be created for the secondary cell connection. The data How in [0056] With respect to activating a secondary cell operating this context may refer to a higher layer data How, eg a only on the unlicensed frequencies, While it can be construed netWork layer or even a higher layer data How. The data How that the secondary cell carries out no frequency aggregation, distributed to the primary and secondary cell connection may the frequency aggregation betWeen the cellular and non-cel be aggregated on some layer (e.g., Internet protocol layer) in lular frequencies is nevertheless affected on the system level the cellular netWork and also in the terminal device. and from the vieWpoint of the terminal device. [0059] Consider a situation Where the secondary cell is [0057] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of utiliZation of the activated, and the terminal device operates both the primary aggregation. The terminal device 104 may have the primary cell connection and the secondary cell connection. Upon cellular connection With the serving base station 102 (asso deciding to deactivate the secondary cell in block 902, the ciated With a primary cell 130) before and after the aggrega netWork element may trigger the transfer of the data ?oWs tion. In other Words, the primary cellular connection may be from the secondary cell connection to the primary cell con maintained, and the aggregated extra frequencies may be nection 908. Block 908 may also comprise terminating at used as supplementing the primary cellular connection. The least one data How. Upon completing the data How transfer, primary cellular connection may provide the terminal device the netWork element may con?gure the deactivation of the 104 With the connection to the Internet through a core net secondary cell in block 910 and release its frequency Work of the cellular communication system, for example. In resources. case the secondary cell is utiliZed through a remote radio head [0060] The How transfer may be proposed by the terminal or through a relay base station or a repeater, the aggregated device in its proposal for carrying out the aggregation. The extra frequencies also provide the connection through the proposal message may comprise an information element core netWork. HoWever, When the extra frequencies are del Which indicates Whether the neW frequency resources should egated to another base station, e.g., a femtocell base station be used for the provision of at least one neW data How or for 120 (PBS in FIG. 6) or an IEEE 802.11 access point control additional capacity to at least one existing active data How. ling a secondary cell 132, the extra frequencies may be used HoWever, the terminal device may make such a How transfer to provide the terminal device 104 With a second connection proposal in connection With negotiating the secondary cell to the Internet through the femtocell base station or the IEEE connection. The How transfer may be triggered during the 802.11 access point and through netWork other than the net operation on the basis of qualities of the connections, e.g., Work of the cellular communication system. The femtocell more data may be routed to a connection having a better base station may utiliZe, for example, a Digital Subscriber quality. Line or Ethernet netWork for the Wired connection to the [0061] It shouldbe noted that upon expanding the operation intranet/ Internet. These transport netWork links may also to the unlicensed frequencies and upon creating the SCELL comprise Wireless links, like microWave links or WiMax connection for the terminal device, the PCELL connection links, that could be used for transport. may even be released or temporarily discontinued, While all [0058] According to an embodiment, ?oW routing transfer the data routing is carried out over the SCELL connection. betWeen the primary cell (PCELL) connection and the sec The discontinuation of PCELL connection may happen ondary cell (SCELL) connection is carried upon activation according to a negotiated discontinuity pattern, Where the and/ or deactivation of the secondary cell and, optionally dur radio transmission is periodically OFF, While still maintain ing the operation of the primary and secondary cell connec ing the logical association betWeen the terminal and the serv tions. The transfer of data ?oWs betWeen the tWo connections ing PCELL base station. may also be called How mobility. Furthermore, having the [0062] With respect to charging for the utiliZation of the SCELL activated may impact the selection of the PCELL or extra frequencies additional to the cellular frequencies, an the SCELL for the use of routing neWly established ?oWs. operator may add the additional costs incurred by the utiliZa Similarly, deactivation of the SCELL may impact termination tion of the secondary cell directly to the communication bills of a How or parameteriZation of a How respectively. Referring of the subscriber on the basis of the utiliZation of the extra to FIG. 9, consider a process for How mobility. The process frequencies. The costs may be tracked by a packet data net may be carried out in the netWork element making the deci Work (PDN) gateWay node of the UMTS LTE netWork (or a sion about the aggregation. Assume that initially a terminal similar element in other systems) that tracks costs of traf?c. device has a primary cell connection With the cellular net The serving base station may acquire accurate statistics about Work, Wherein at least a ?rst data How is routed through the the amount of tra?ic delivered via the primary cell connec primary cell connection. In block 902, the netWork element tions and the secondary cell connections, and the duration a makes a decision about activating or deactivating a secondary secondary cell connection on a given frequency band has cell. When the decision in block 902 is the activation of the been active for a given terminal device. secondary cell, the netWork element con?gures the activation [0063] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus of the secondary cell in block 904 and allocates frequency comprising means for carrying out the above-mentioned band and other parameters for the secondary cell. From the functionalities of the netWork element. The apparatus may be vieWpoint of the terminal device, block 904 comprises estab applicable to a cellular communication system described lishment of a secondary cell connection, and the terminal above and it may form part of a base station or another device noW operates both the primary cell connection and the netWork element of such a system. In an embodiment, the secondary cell connection similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6. apparatus is the base station. In another embodiment, the Upon establishment of the secondary cell connection, the apparatus is comprised in such a netWork element, e.g., the netWork element transfers at least some of the data of the ?rst apparatus may comprise a circuitry, e.g., a chip, a processor, data How to the secondary cell connection in block 906. Some a micro controller, or a combination of such circuitries in the US 2012/0282942 A1 Nov. 8, 2012

network element and cause the network element to carry out modulator, and encoder/decoder circuitries and one or more the above-described functionalities. antennas. The apparatus may further comprise wired inter [0064] The apparatus may comprise a communication con face components 710 that may be con?gured to provide the troller circuitry 700 con?gured to control the communica apparatus with a wired connection to other elements of the tions in the apparatus. The communication controller cir cellular system, e.g., the core network. The wired interface cuitry 700 may comprise a control part 704 handling control components may realiZe an IP connection or an S1 connec plane signaling in a cell. For example, the control part may tion used in the UMTS LTE networks, for example. control establishment, operation, and termination of cellular [0068] In an embodiment, the apparatus carrying out the connections with terminal devices and carry out radio embodiments of the invention for controlling the aggregation resource control procedures in a cell. The communication comprises at least one processor and at least one memory controller circuitry 700 may further comprise a data part 705 including a computer program code, wherein the at least one that handles transmission and reception of payload data with memory and the computer program code are con?gured, with the terminal devices. The data part 705 may forward data the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to carry out received from the terminal devices towards the core network the steps of the network element in any one of the processes of and data received from the core network to the terminal FIGS. 2, 3, and 5. Accordingly, the at least one processor, the devices. memory, and the computer program code form processing [0065] The apparatus may further comprise a aggregation means for carrying out embodiments of the present invention controller circuitry 702 con?gured to receive from at least one in the network element. terminal device through the control part 704 a proposal for [0069] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus aggregation of frequencies outside the frequencies dedicated comprising means for carrying out the above-mentioned to the cellular system, e. g. the white space frequencies and/or functionalities of the terminal device. The apparatus may be a the ISM band. The proposal may identify proposed frequen terminal device of a cellular communication system, eg a cies and/or other operation parameters for the aggregation. computer (PC), a laptop, a tabloid computer, a cellular phone, The aggregation controller circuitry 702 may process the a communicator, a smart phone, a palm computer, or any proposal by determining whether or not the proposal com other communication apparatus. In another embodiment, the prises a subset of parameters that are applicable to and com apparatus is applicable to such a terminal device, eg the patible with current operational parameters in the cell and/or apparatus may comprise a circuitry, eg a chip, a processor, a in the cellular system. The aggregation controller circuitry micro controller, or a combination of such circuitries in the 702 may also determine how to implement the aggregation, terminal device. e.g., whether to activate and con?gure a femtocell base station [0070] The apparatus may comprise a communication con to the proposed frequencies or whether to establish at least troller circuitry 800 con?gured to control the communica one new carrier in a currently operational base station. If a tions in the apparatus. The communication controller cir subset of parameters is detected and the aggregation is found cuitry 800 may comprise a control part 804 handling control to be feasible, the aggregation controller circuitry 702 con plane signaling with a serving base station and, optionally, ?gures the aggregation of such unlicensed frequencies by with other base stations or communication devices including con?guring the control part to carry out the aggregation or to other terminal devices in direct device-to -device connections. command a femtocell base station to execute the aggregation. For example, the control part 804 may control establishment, During the operation of the aggregation, the aggregation con operation, and termination of cellular connections with the troller circuitry 702 may control recon?guration of the opera cellular network and carry out radio resource control proce tional parameters for the aggregation and deactivation of the dures in the terminal device under the control of the cellular aggregation, as described above. network. The communication controller circuitry 800 may [0066] The circuitries 702 to 705 of the communication further comprise a data part 805 that handles transmission and controller circuitry 700 may be carried out by the one or more reception of payload data with the cellular network and/or physical circuitries or processors. In practice, the different with other base stations or terminal devices. The data part 805 circuitries may be realiZed by different computer program may forward data received from an application executed in modules. Depending on the speci?cations and the design of the terminal device towards the cellular network and data the apparatus, the apparatus may comprise some of the cir received from the cellular network to the application. The cuitries 702 to 705 or all of them. apparatus may further include an aggregation function 803 [0067] The apparatus may further comprise one or more con?gured to operate on proposed frequencies and/ or other memories 712 that stores computer programs (software) con operation parameters for the aggregation, de?ned for ?guring the apparatus to perform the above-described func example by the aggregation controller of FIG. 7. The aggre tionalities of the communication device. The memory 712 gation function may implement the aggregation, e. g., whether may also store communication parameters and other infor to activate or deactivate the frequencies or whether to transmit mation needed for the wireless communications and/or to or receive data on a new carrier. In other words, the aggrega carry out the aggregation. For example, the memory 712 may tion function 803 may execute the aggregation. store a list of allowed frequencies on the unlicensed bands [0071] The apparatus may further comprise a scanning con and/ or a list of preferred frequencies or frequency band com troller circuitry 802 con?gured to operate autonomously and binations for use by the aggregation controller circuitry 702. independent of the cellular network when determining to The apparatus may further comprise radio interface compo trigger scanning of free frequencies outside the frequency nents 708 providing the apparatus with radio communication band(s) of the cellular network. The scanning controller cir capabilities with the terminal devices and/or other network cuitry 802 may be con?gured to determine at least some of the nodes, e.g., with femtocell base stations. The radio interface scanned frequencies from information on free white space components 708 may comprise standard well-known compo frequencies retrieved from the database 106, thereby limiting nents such as ampli?er, ?lter, frequency-converter, (de) the frequency range to be scanned. The scanning controller