Abstract: Embodiments of methods in a base station and a UE are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method implemented in a network node includes any one or more of: selectively puncturing transmission of LTE CRS symbols that overlap NR DMRS symbols in a downlink transmission time interval; selectively puncturing transmission of NR DMRS symbols that overlap LTE CRS symbols in the downlink transmission time interval; and selectively reducing a number of NR DMRS symbols transmitted to the UE in the downlink transmission time interval. In some embodiments, a method implemented in a UE includes identifying, in a downlink channel, subchannels containing NR DMRS symbols that are corrupted due to collision with LTE CRS symbols. For each identified subchannel: a respective time averaged channel estimate is determined based on NR DMRS symbols that are not corrupted due to collision with the LTE CRS symbols; and a respective MMSE weight is determined using the time averaged channel estimate.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. According to one aspect, a network node configured to communicate with a wireless device (WD), includes processing circuitry configured to perform downlink wireless network virtualization by minimizing an expected deviation of received signals at WDs subject to network node power constraints.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for transmission of NR control information in an LTE downlink subframe. At least two symbols in the subframe are allocatable for LTE control information. A method is performed by a network node. The method comprises configuring resource elements for LTE transmission and resource elements for NR transmission within the subframe such that NR control information is allocated to resource elements of at least one symbol within the at least two symbols allocatable for the LTE control information in the subframe. The method comprises initiating transmission of the subframe from co-sited antennas, such that the resource elements for LTE transmission and the resource elements for NR transmission are transmitted from the co-sited antennas.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a user equipment (UE) and a method in the UE are disclosed. The UE is served by a cell managed or served by a network node. The UE comprises processing circuitry, a transceiver coupled to the processing circuitry, and memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry. The UE is operative to determine that a center frequency of a radio frequency (RF) reception bandwidth of the UE is different than a center frequency of a RF transmission bandwidth of the cell serving the UE. The UE is further operative to receive a signal from the cell serving the UE over a center subcarrier within the RF reception bandwidth of the UE, and puncture a portion of the signal received over the center subcarrier within the RF reception bandwidth of the UE.

Abstract: A network node of a communications network configured to provide Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) to at least one end user device (EUD) in a coverage area of the network node. The network node comprises: at least one processor; and a memory storing software instructions configured to control the at least one processor to perform steps of: causing the at least one EUD to report information indicative of a respective reference signal downlink power detected by the at least one EUD; and determine a respective coverage threshold for the network node based on the information reported by the at least one EUD.

Abstract: A network node of a communications network configured to provide Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) to at least one end user device (EUD) in a coverage area of the network node. The network node comprises: at least one processor; and a memory storing software instructions configured to control at least one processor to perform steps of: detecting interference from at least one aggressor device in the network; and reporting the detected interference to at least one of a Spectrum Access System (SAS) and a co-existence manager (CxM) of the communications network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for protecting a dynamic protection area (DPA). In one embodiment, an electronic device detects that the DPA is activated in the vicinity of a location recorded within a geolocation database. The electronic device compares a threshold representing acceptable interference and an estimated aggregate interference by the set of CBSDs to a set of points within the DPA. The electronic device moderates transmission by one or more CBSDs within the set of CBSDs when the estimated aggregate interference is higher than what is acceptable to the DPA.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for transmission of NR control information in an LTE downlink subframe. At least two symbols in the subframe are allocatable for LTE control information. A method is performed by a network node. The method comprises configuring resource elements for LTE transmission and resource elements for NR transmission within the subframe such that NR control information is allocated to resource elements of at least one symbol within the at least two symbols allocatable for the LTE control information in the subframe. The method comprises initiating transmission of the subframe from co-sited antennas, such that the resource elements for LTE transmission and the resource elements for NR transmission are transmitted from the co-sited antennas.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. A network node is configured to communicate with a wireless device, WD, where the network node configured to, and/or comprising a radio interface and/or comprising processing circuitry configured to: receive an indication whether the WD is to cache at least one file based on spatial statistics of a cache-enabled device-to-device, D2D, network collected by the WD, and perform spectrum allocation based on the received indication.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals in a frequency band in a wireless communications network. The method comprises determining a frequency separation between a frequency of a transmit signal and a frequency of a receive signal within the frequency band based on at least one of a power of the transmit signal, a number of physical channels associated with the transmit signal, and a number of physical channels associated with the receive signal. The method further comprises transmitting and receiving signals in the frequency band in accordance with the determined frequency separation. The method may be performed by a User Equipment of a Network Node.

Abstract: A network node, method and wireless device for channel assignment in a Citizens Broadband Radio Service, CBRS, band is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry configured to: map one of a plurality of channels in the CBRS band to a wireless device, the mapping of one of the plurality of channels in the CBRS band to the wireless device including: ranking the plurality of channels in the CBRS band based on a predefined maximum power per channel and a predefined maximum transmission power of a wireless device.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals in a frequency band in a wireless communications network. The method includes determining a frequency separation between a frequency of a transmit signal and a frequency of a receive signal within the frequency band based on at least one of a power of the transmit signal, a number of physical channels associated with the transmit signal, and a number of physical channels associated with the receive signal. The method further includes transmitting and receiving signals in the frequency band in accordance with the determined frequency separation. The method may be performed by a User Equipment of a Network Node.

Abstract: Methods and systems for multi-protocol transmissions in shared spectrum are disclosed where an OFDM transmitter is configured to generate transmissions associated with one OFDM technology or protocol using subcarriers of another OFDM technology. Generally, an OFDM transmitter may be configured to map or assign the different OFDM signals to different subsets of the available OFDM subcarriers such that the data contained therein can be transmitted at the same or during an overlapping time interval. In one application, an LTE transmitter is configured to generate and/or transmit LTE information using LTE subcarriers located in unused portion(s) of the Wi-Fi system bandwidth independently of or in addition to transmitting Wi-Fi or LTE information using LTE subcarriers located in portions of the Wi-Fi system bandwidth normally occupied by Wi-Fi subcarriers.

Abstract: Methods and systems for multi-protocol beacon operation in shared spectrum (unlicensed band) are disclosed where an OFDM transmitter is configured to generate transmissions associated with one OFDM technology or protocol using subcarriers of another OFDM technology. In one application, an LTE transmitter (LTE-U) uses LTE subcarriers to generate an interpolated 802.11 (e.g. Wi-Fi) beacon transmission that can be understood by Wi-Fi receivers, for example to reserve the channel for a subsequent LTE transmission. For instance a W-LAN preamble is generated where STF and LTF fields consist in respectively 12 and 52 subcarriers mapped at their respective frequency locations among the 2048 LTE subcarriers with the remaining subcarriers set to 0. In some implementations, the use of beacons can be useful in implementations where it is desirable to gain prioritized access to reserve the channel.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for transmission of NR control information in an LTE downlink subframe. At least two symbols in the subframe are allocatable for LTE control information. A method is performed by a network node. The method comprises configuring resource elements for LTE transmission and resource elements for NR transmission within the subframe such that NR control information is allocated to resource elements of at least one symbol within the at least two symbols allocatable for the LTE control information in the subframe. The method comprises initiating transmission of the subframe from co-sited antennas, such that the resource elements for LTE transmission and the resource elements for NR transmission are transmitted from the co-sited antennas.

Abstract: Methods and systems for multi-protocol transmissions in shared spectrum are disclosed where an OFDM transmitter is configured to generate transmissions associated with one OFDM technology or protocol using subcarriers of another OFDM technology. Generally, multi-protocol transmissions as described herein may be performed sequentially (e.g. in a time division multiplexing fashion) or concurrently (e.g. during the same or an overlapping time interval). For concurrent transmissions, an OFDM transmitter may be configured to map or assign the different OFDM signals to different subsets of the available OFDM subcarriers such that the data contained therein can be transmitted at the same or during an overlapping time interval. In one application, an LTE transmitter is configured to use different subsets of the LTE subcarriers for concurrent LTE and 802.11 transmissions that can respectively be decoded by LTE and 802.11 receivers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for protecting a dynamic protection area (DPA). In one embodiment, an electronic device detects that the DPA is activated in the vicinity of a location recorded within a geolocation database. The electronic device compares a threshold representing acceptable interference and an estimated aggregate interference by the set of CBSDs to a set of points within the DPA. The electronic device moderates transmission by one or more CBSDs within the set of CBSDs when the estimated aggregate interference is higher than what is acceptable to the DPA.

Abstract: A method and network device for configuring a D2D pair and a cellular wireless device. The method includes receiving a subset of complete CSI parameters for the D2D pair, the cellular wireless device, and at least one neighbor interference level, determining feasibility conditions for pairing the D2D pair and the cellular wireless device transmissions based at least on the received subset of CSI parameters, determining a power allocation for the pairing of the D2D pair the cellular wireless device transmissions, the power allocation being based on a sum rate of the D2D pair and cellular wireless device transmissions, and configuring the D2D pair and cellular wireless device based at least in part on the determined power allocation while limiting an inter-cell interference (ICI) generated in a plurality of neighboring cells. In one embodiment, the complete set of CSI parameters is received, rather than a subset.

Abstract: A controlling node and a method in a controlling node for distribution of an interference quota (IQ) among a plurality of network nodes are provided. The method includes identifying a number of network node clusters, a network node cluster defined as a group out of the plurality of network nodes being located within a predetermined distance of each other; dividing the IQ by the number of network node clusters to provide a cluster quota; and distributing the cluster quota among each network node within each identified network node cluster.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a user equipment (UE) and a method in the UE are disclosed. The UE is served by a cell managed or served by a network node. The UE comprises processing circuitry, a transceiver coupled to the processing circuitry, and memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry. The UE is operative to determine that a center frequency of a radio frequency (RF) reception bandwidth of the UE is different than a center frequency of a RF transmission bandwidth of the cell serving the UE. The UE is further operative to receive a signal from the cell serving the UE over a center subcarrier within the RF reception bandwidth of the UE, and puncture a portion of the signal received over the center subcarrier within the RF reception bandwidth of the UE.