Abstract: There is transmitted to a user equipment UE in a first subframe of a radio frame a downlink shared channel DSCH according to a first relay-transmission mode (e.g., mode A or A? in the examples); then switch to a second relay-transmission mode (e.g., mode C or C? in the examples) within the radio frame based on a channel quality of the DSCH. After switching, then transmit to the UE, in a subsequent subframe of the radio frame, the DSCH according to the second relay-transmission mode. In this embodiment the HARQ process is synchronous and non-adaptive for mode C: the eNB re-transmits packets to the UE in a predetermined fashion to be concurrent with transmission of those same packets from the relay node, as scheduled by the eNB. In this embodiment the eNB receives the UE's NACK for the data that is to be retransmitted via relay through the relay node.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, devices and computer programs arranged to control access to a Secondary Cell Carrier (SCC) by a user terminal. The user terminal having a first functional state in which the user terminal is arranged to monitor for a broadcast channel associated with the SCC, and a second functional state, different to said first functional state. One embodiment comprises an apparatus comprising a processing system arranged to cause the apparatus to: receive data indicative of a plurality of operational modes assigned to the SCC; and transmit a signalling message comprising data indicative of said plurality of operational modes for receipt by the user terminal, whereby to configure the user terminal into the first functional state, wherein the user terminal is arranged to selectively request access to resources of the SCC on the basis of a comparison between data contained in said signalling message and data contained in a transmission received on the broadcast channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing network assisted local communication offloading to unlicensed bands may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least receiving, via signaling associated with licensed band resources, information indicative of unlicensed band resources available in a particular area, and providing resource availability data, via signaling associated with the licensed band resources, to one or more devices within the particular area. The resource availability data may enable unlicensed band resource usage by at least one of the one or more devices. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are therefore provided according to an example embodiment to provide a cellular based ITS environment. In this regard, a method includes causing a secondary cell carrier (SCC) to be configured for a mobile terminal located in a vehicular target area. The method of this embodiment may also include causing the SCC to be activated by signaling a vehicular fast activation block (VFAB). The method of this embodiment may also include causing the SCC to deactivate based on a signal strength measurement, received from a road side unit (RSU), in an instance in which the signal strength measurement does not satisfy a predetermined threshold over a measurement period based on a timer.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided facilitating flexible time sharing among systems. A method and apparatus may generate a secondary component carrier transmission plan including planned on and off durations. The planned on durations correspond to a time period for an apparatus and devices to communicate via an unlicensed band of the secondary component carrier. The planned off durations correspond to a time interval in which the devices may deactivate from the unlicensed band or remain disconnected from the unlicensed band. The method and apparatus may also enable provision of the plan to the devices via a licensed band of a primary component carrier and detecting a medium of the unlicensed band prior to the expiration of the time period to determine whether the medium is available in order to decide whether to turn on transmissions to the unlicensed band after one of the planned off durations.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program can provide scheduling of direct to direct communication by a high speed packet access base station. The method, for example, can include obtaining a direct user equipment communication toggling message. The method can also include interpreting physical layer signaling on a first frequency of a first radio system based on the toggling message. The method can further include scheduling a direct user equipment pair on a second frequency of a second system based on the interpreting. The toggling message can include a triggering message to initiate direct user equipment communication or an exit message to terminate direct user equipment communication.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing channels on unlicensed bands is described. The method includes determining whether a SCC channel has started to be used by a first network. The SCC channel is a CA channel shared with at least one other network. In response to determining that the SCC channel has been started to be used by the first network, the UE determines an off duration describing a period since a previous SCC channel ON period. A given channel ON period is a continuous period of use of the given channel by the first network, The method also includes, in response to determining that the off duration is less than a minimum threshold duration, performing fine synchronization based on CRS tracking on the SCC channel using course synchronization parameters of the previous SCC channel ON period. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described.

Abstract: Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to one example embodiment, a method may include synchronizing, by an access node in a wireless network, with a first mobile station, synchronizing with a second mobile station, compiling a device-to-device group, the device-to-device group including at least the first mobile station and the second mobile station, sending a first connection message to the first mobile station, the first connection message including timing advance parameters of both the first mobile station and the second mobile station, and sending a second connection message to the second mobile station.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are therefore provided according to an example embodiment to provide a cellular based ITS environment. The cellular based ITS environment may be configured based on LTE based interfaces. In this regard, a method includes receiving configuration information from a first access point, wherein the configuration information defines an ITS target area comprising at least the first access point and a first RSU. A method also includes receiving an ITS paging message from the first access point. A method also includes causing a reselection of the first RSU while in the communications range of the first access point in the ITS target area and in response to the received ITS paging message.

Abstract: A network access node selects one chunk of spectrum from a plurality of chunks of spectrum to be a primary chunk for a particular cell; transmits in the primary chunk from a broadcast channel BCH that contains information needed by a terminal to at least perform initial cell access; and uses a synchronization channel SCH to indicate which chunk of the plurality of chunks is the primary chunk. A user equipment receives a SCH in a particular chunk of spectrum; determines from it that one chunk is a primary chunk for a particular cell; tunes its receiver to a BCH in the primary chunk and uses information received on the BCH to obtain initial access to the particular cell. In various embodiments the SCH is only in the primary chunk or the SCH has some indication (e.g., cell ID or relative position of primary chunk) telling which chunk is primary.

Abstract: A method for distributed carrier aggregation on unlicensed bands is described. The method includes tuning an antenna of a user equipment to a first carrier. The method includes transmitting, from an access point on a first carrier, information regarding a second carrier. The method also includes receiving, on the first carrier via the antenna, the information regarding the second carrier. The first carrier and the second carrier are in an unlicensed band. The method includes retuning the antenna to the second carrier and communicating data on the second carrier via the antenna. A maximum transmission power for the second carrier is based at least in part on a bandwidth of the second carrier. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method includes: sending, within at least one of a first and a second symbol time, a first transmission having first downlink control information from a network access node to a first mobile node located within a first cell serviced by the network access node; and sending, within at least a third symbol time, a second transmission having second downlink control information from the network access node to a relay node over a wireless communication link that is a backhaul link, where the second transmission is configured to enable the relay node to send, within the first symbol time, a third transmission having third downlink control information from the relay node to a second mobile node located within a second cell serviced by the relay node, where the second cell is different from the first cell.

Abstract: According to one example, a method may comprise receiving, by an advertising mobile station in a wireless network, a master profile message from an access node, the master profile message comprising, for each of a plurality of mobile stations in the wireless network, a timing parameter and at least one profile element; selecting at least one receiving mobile station from the plurality of mobile stations based, at least in part, on comparing the timing parameter of the receiving mobile station to the timing parameter of the advertising mobile station and checking the at least one profile element of the receiving mobile station against a proposed advertisement; sending a location request message to the at least one receiving mobile station; receiving the location message from the at least one receiving mobile station, the location message indicating a location of the at least one receiving mobile station.

Abstract: Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to one example embodiment, a method may include synchronizing, by an access node in a wireless network, with a first mobile station, synchronizing with a second mobile station, compiling a device-to-device group, the device-to-device group including at least the first mobile station and the second mobile station, sending a first connection message to the first mobile station, the first connection message including timing advance parameters of both the first mobile station and the second mobile station, and sending a second connection message to the second mobile station.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products provide channel state information (CS1) measurement and reporting for a segment carrier in certain situations. An apparatus such as a base station may determine whether CSI is needed for a channel of a segment carrier comprising a segment portion and a contiguous bandwidth extension of a backward compatible carrier utilized by a base station for wireless communications with a mobile terminal. In response to determining that CSI is needed, the apparatus configures the mobile terminal to communicate channel state information from the mobile terminal to the base station. In other embodiments, an apparatus such as a mobile terminal is configured to receive configuration data indicating whether CSI is to be measured by the mobile terminal, and measuring the CSI and communicating the CSI to the base station in response to the configuration data.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for establishing a time-frequency reference signal pattern configuration in a carrier extension or a carrier segment, such as for cell-specific reference signals (CRS) and/or demodulation reference signals (DM RS). One method includes receiving information regarding a time-frequency reference signal pattern configuration in a carrier extension or carrier segment. The time-frequency reference signal pattern configuration defines a subframe to include a reference signal based upon a time density parameter and defines a resource element to be utilized within the subframe based upon a frequency density parameter.

Abstract: A method for a wireless network node to support an extended control signaling is provided. The method comprises configuring a control signaling message over extended control symbols on a layer 1 (L1) downlink control channel, the control signaling message encoded over an increased aggregation of control channel elements (CCEs) in a time domain; placing the controlling signaling message in a designated set of subframes on the L1 downlink control channel; indicating a support for the extended control signaling to one or more UEs; indicating to the one or more UEs a position of the designated set of the subframes in a spare field of the Master Information Block (MIB); and transmitting the control signaling message to the one or more UEs over the L1 downlink control channel.

Abstract: In some examples, the method, apparatus and computer program product as described herein is configured for cell Discontinuous Transmission. In this regard, a method is provided that includes receiving an indication of a discovery of a cell by a communications device. The method of this embodiment may also include determining the cell based on the indication. The method of this embodiment may also include causing the cell to transition to an activated state from a dormant state.

Abstract: An approach is provided for scheduling resources for device-to-device communications. A resource of a network is granted to a group designated for device-to-device communications. The group then determines how the resource allocation is utilized to support the communication session and allocates the resource among the user equipment within the group independently of the base station. Further, a user equipment pair in the group determines transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) timeslot configuration to allow TDD mode operations, and further configure the modulation and coding for the device-to-device connection, and error control scheme for the pair via control signaling independently from the group.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus, a method and a computer program for mapping and allocating available television white space channels for a terminal requesting resources. The mapping is based on the data of available overlapping TV white space channels within a geographical tracking area and coexistence with other cellular secondary systems within the area. Furthermore, a location for a moving mode II device may be tracked periodically. The geo-location accuracy of the mode II device affects the TV white space resources which can be allocated to the device.