Operating a wireless system in an unlicensed band

Abstract

A network access node identifies a component carrier within an unlicensed radio spectrum, determines whether or not to configure the component carrier for use as a secondary component carrier, and based on the determining configures the component carrier for use as a secondary component carrier companion to a primary component carrier within a licensed radio spectrum. In various non-limiting embodiments the network node senses the component carrier within the unlicensed radio spectrum, and as more data is needed to make the determination employs a mobile device to also sense and further to measure the component carrier within the unlicensed radio spectrum. Specific procedures are detailed for both the network node and the mobile device.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one computer-readable memory storing at least one computer program; in which the at least one memory with the at least one computer program is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to at least:   identify a component carrier within an unlicensed radio spectrum;   based on the identifying, determine whether or not to configure the component carrier for use as a secondary component carrier; and   based on the determining, configure the component carrier for use as a secondary component carrier companion to a primary component carrier within a licensed radio spectrum.