Apparatus and method for inter-band pairing of carriers for time division duplex transmit- and receive-switching and its application to multiplexing of different transmission time intervals

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure provide for the pairing of an inter-band carrier with a time division duplex (TDD) carrier. If the paired band is a frequency division duplex (FDD) band, then base stations and mobile devices may transmit and receive additional thin control channels on FDD carriers to enable full duplex operations. If the paired band is a TDD band, then a conjugate or inverse carrier may be used such that full duplex, or a close approximation thereto, is achieved. With the introduction of a paired channel and fast control channels, rapid uplink/downlink switching may be achieved for TDD carriers efficiently and effectively. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of simultaneous wireless communications operable at a scheduling entity configured to communication with one or more subordinate entities, the method comprising:
 transmitting downlink messaging over a first TDD carrier at a first frequency in a first frequency band to one or more subordinate entities; and   receiving uplink messaging from one or more subordinate entities over the first TDD carrier at a second frequency in a second frequency band simultaneous to transmission of the downlink messaging, wherein the first and second frequency bands are spaced apart.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the downlink messaging via a thin control channel to communicate control information to the one or more subordinate entities. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the uplink messaging from the one or more subordinate entities via a thin control channel, wherein the one or more subordinate entities transmit uplink control information in the thin control channel. 
     
     
         4 . A method of wireless communication operable at a scheduling entity configured for duplex uplink and downlink transmissions simultaneous in time at varied frequency bands to communicate with one or more other wireless communication devices, the method comprising:
 receiving uplink data on a first TDD component carrier in a first frequency band, said uplink data transmitted at a first frequency; and   transmitting downlink data on the first TDD component carrier at a second frequency in a second frequency band at the same time as receiving said uplink data on the first TDD component carrier.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising transmitting the downlink data via a thin control channel to communicate control information to the one or more other wireless communication devices. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising receiving the uplink data from the one or more other wireless communication devices via a thin control channel, wherein the one or more other wireless communication devices transmit uplink control information in the thin control channel. 
     
     
         7 . A wireless communication entity configured for simultaneous wireless communications with one or more other wireless communication devices, the wireless communication entity comprising:
 a communications interface configured to receive and transmit multiple wireless communications at the same time over a TDD carrier via multiple frequency bands,   wherein the communications interface is coupled to a processor, the processor configured to receive wireless communications from a first subordinate entity at a first frequency band via the TDD carrier and configured to transmit wireless communications to a second subordinate entity over the TDD carrier at a second frequency band, different from the first frequency band such that the first and second frequency bands are arranged at spaced apart frequencies.   
     
     
         8 . The wireless communication entity of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the wireless communications via a thin control channel to communicate control information to the second subordinate entity. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless communication entity of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive the wireless communications from the first subordinate entity via a thin control channel, wherein the first subordinate entity transmits uplink control information in the thin control channel. 
     
     
         10 . A method of wireless communication operable at a subordinate entity configured to communicate with one or more scheduling entities, the method comprising:
 receiving a resource assignment comprising a grant of time-frequency resources for transmitting wireless messaging on an uplink channel; and   transmitting, over a first TDD carrier at a first frequency in a first frequency band, the wireless messaging on the uplink channel according to the resource assignment,   wherein the wireless messaging on the uplink channel occurs at the same time with a transmission from a scheduling entity to one or more other subordinate entities over the first TDD carrier via a second frequency.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first TDD carrier is a primary TDD component carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 transmitting a scheduling request on a secondary TDD component carrier prior to receiving the resource assignment.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 ignoring information received from transmissions of one or more other subordinate entities received over the first TDD carrier via a second frequency occurring at the same time as transmissions occur over the first TDD carrier at the first frequency.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a grant modification indication comprising information indicating that the grant of time-frequency resources is modified and changing communications based on the grant modification indication.   
     
     
         15 . A method of wireless communication operable at a subordinate entity, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a scheduling entity, a resource assignment comprising a grant of time-frequency resources configured to indicate resources for transmitting wireless messaging on an uplink data channel;   transmitting, over a first TDD carrier in a first frequency band, the wireless messaging on the uplink data channel according to indicated resources associated with the resource assignment; and   receiving a transmission from the scheduling entity to one or more other subordinate entities over the first TDD carrier via a second frequency at the same time as transmitting the wireless messaging on the uplink data channel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first TDD carrier is a primary TDD component carrier. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 transmitting a scheduling request on a secondary TDD component carrier prior to receiving the resource assignment.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 ignoring information received from transmissions of one or more other subordinate entities received over the first TDD carrier via a second frequency occurring at the same time as transmissions occur over the first TDD carrier at the first frequency band.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving a grant modification indication comprising information indicating that the grant of time-frequency resources is modified and changing communications based on the grant modification indication.