Methods and apparatus for subframe configuration for wireless networks

Abstract

Certain aspects generally relate to methods and apparatus for subframe configuration for wireless networks. For example, certain aspects provide methods and apparatus for dynamically and/or reliably indicating at least one of a downlink or uplink subframe configuration. One method includes broadcasting an information block message including a first subframe configuration indicating at least one of which subframes of a set of subframes are for uplink transmissions or which subframes of the set of subframes are for downlink transmissions, determining a second subframe configuration suitable for handling communications with one or more user equipment (UEs), and signaling an indication of the second subframe configuration to the one or more UEs. Other methods includes receiving such a broadcast information block message, receiving signaling indicating a second subframe configuration suitable for handling communications with a base station, and communicating with the base station in accordance with the second subframe configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for wireless communications, comprising:
 broadcasting an information block message including a first time period configuration indicating at least one of which time periods of a set of time periods are for uplink transmissions or which time periods of the set of time periods are for downlink transmissions;   determining a second time period configuration suitable for handling communications with one or more user equipment (UEs); and   signaling an indication of the second time period configuration to the one or more UEs.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the communications with one or more UEs comprise a burst of downlink data for a UE; and   the second time period configuration comprises more time periods for downlink transmissions than the first time period configuration.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the communications with one or more UEs comprise a burst of uplink data from a UE; and   the second time period configuration comprises more time periods for uplink transmissions than the first time period configuration.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second time period configuration is signaled before broadcasting another information block message including a time period configuration.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second time period configuration is signaled via dedicated signaling to one or more individual UEs.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second time period configuration is signaled via at least one of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second time period configuration is signaled via an information field in at least one of the PDCCH or the ePDCCH. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signaling also provides an indication of a duration for utilizing the second time period configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signaling also provides an indication of when the second time period configuration is to be employed. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second time period configuration is signaled via a control channel transmission; and   at least one physical layer characteristic of the control channel transmission for indicating the second time period configuration is based on the second time period configuration.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the control channel transmission comprises a set of control channel decoding candidates, wherein at least one physical layer characteristic of a first subset of the decoding candidates is based on the second time period configuration while physical layer characteristics of a second subset of the decoding candidates are not based on the second time period configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second time period configuration is signaled via at least one of multicast or broadcast signaling. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one physical layer characteristic of one or more portions of at least one of data channel transmission or control channel transmission is based on the second time period configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a location of one or more resource elements (REs) for a control channel transmission is dependent on the second time period configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signaling is repeated based on a predetermined number, a broadcast signal, or a radio resource control signal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising signaling an indication of an uplink time period for a hybrid automatic retransmission request (HARQ) response in response to a downlink data transmission, wherein the indication is signaled via an information field in at least one of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising signaling an indication of an uplink time period for an uplink data transmission, wherein the indication is signaled via an information field in at least one of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising signaling an indication of a downlink time period for a hybrid automatic retransmission request (HARQ) response or a control channel in response to an uplink data transmission, wherein the indication is signaled via an information field in at least one of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH).