Method and apparatus for radio access technology identifiers

Abstract

Techniques and apparatus for radio access technology identifiers are described. In some aspects, a base station receives (705) air interface resource expected usage information associated with communications over a first radio link of at least two radio links using different radio access technologies (RATs). The base station then allocates (710) sharable air interface resources between the at least two radio links by analyzing the air interface resource expected usage information. In various aspects, the base station transmits (720) a RAT identifier presence indicator conveying the presence of a RAT identifier by indicating one or more downlink air interface resources for transmitting the RAT identifier, wherein the RAT identifier indicates an allocation of sharable air interface resources between the at least two radio links. The base station then transmits (730) the RAT identifier using the one or more downlink air interface resources indicated by the RAT identifier presence indicator.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Evolving wireless communication systems, such as fifth-generation (5G) and sixth-generation (6G) technologies, use various technologies to increase data capacity relative to previous wireless networks. As an example, some evolved user equipment (UE) supports simultaneous wireless links to multiple radio access technologies (RATs) to increase data capacity.

[0002] Typically, different RATs utilize different frequency bands, timing relationships, modulation schemes, coding schemes, etc. This can adversely increase the cost and size of a UE supporting multiple RATs. For illustration, a UE supporting two RATs includes a first radio supporting a first RAT and a second radio supporting a second RAT. As wireless technology evolves, opportunities arise to support multiple RATs to gain performance benefits (e.g., increased data capacity) while maintaining the cost or size of the corresponding UE. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This document describes techniques and apparatus for radio access technology identifiers. In various aspects, a base station receives, from a second base station, air interface resource expected usage information associated with communications over a first radio link using at least two radio links using different radio access technologies (RATs). The base station then allocates sharable air interface resources between the at least two radio links by analyzing the air interface resource expected usage information. In various aspects, the base station transmits a RAT identifier presence indicator that conveys the presence of a RAT identifier by indicating one or more downlink air interface resources for transmitting the RAT identifier, wherein the RAT identifier indicates an allocation of sharable air interface resources between the at least two radio links. The base station then transmits the RAT identifier using the one or more downlink air interface resources indicated by the RAT identifier presence indicator.

[0004] In one or more aspects, a UE receives a radio access technology identifier presence indicator (RAT identifier presence indicator) from a base station, the RAT identifier presence indicator indicating the presence of a radio access technology identifier (RAT identifier) by indicating one or more downlink air interface resources used to transmit the RAT identifier. The RAT identifier indicates an allocation of sharable air interface resources between at least two radio links implementing different radio access technologies (RATs). The UE then receives the RAT identifier based on the indicated one or more downlink air interface resources and identifies the allocation of sharable air interface resources based on the RAT identifier. In various aspects, the UE processes the sharable air interface resources based on the allocation.

[0005] Details of one or more implementations of the radio access technology identifier are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the following description. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. This summary is provided to introduce subject matter that is further described in the description and drawings. Therefore, this summary should not be construed as describing essential features, nor should it be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The following describes details of one or more aspects of the radio access technology identifier. The same reference numerals are used in different instances in the specification and drawings to represent similar elements:

[0007] Figure 1 Illustrated are example operating environments in which various aspects of radio access technology identifiers may be implemented.

[0008] Figure 2 An example device diagram illustrating network entities that may implement various aspects of a radio access technology identifier.

[0009] Figure 3 An example device diagram illustrating a network in which various aspects of radio access technology identifiers may be implemented.

[0010] Figure 4 An example environment according to various implementations of radio access technology identifiers is illustrated.

[0011] Figure 5 An example environment according to various implementations of radio access technology identifiers is illustrated.

[0012] Figure 6 An example environment according to various implementations of radio access technology identifiers is illustrated.

[0013] Figure 7 A diagram illustrating signaling and control transactions between various network devices according to one or more aspects of a radio access technology identifier is illustrated.

[0014] Figure 8

[0014] Example methodologies for radio access technology identifiers in accordance with one or more aspects are illustrated.

[0015] Figure 9

[0014] Example methodologies for radio access technology identifiers in accordance with one or more aspects are illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Evolved wireless communication systems use various technologies to meet usage requirements that put pressure on or exceed the capabilities of existing wireless communication systems. As an example, some evolved user equipment (UE) uses multiple radio access technologies (RATs) to support simultaneous and / or concurrent radio links to increase data capacity. For illustration, a UE operating in a 5G non-standalone mode (also known as a multi-RAT dual connectivity MR-DC) increases data capacity by receiving user plane data on a first radio link using a first 4G RAT and a second radio link using a second 5G RAT. Typically, different radio links implementing different RATs divide air interface resources (e.g., frequency bands, timing relationships) and / or use different signal configurations (e.g., modulation schemes, coding schemes) differently. This disadvantageously increases the cost and size of UEs supporting multiple RATs, such as by including multiple dedicated transceivers in the UE for processing different air interface resources and / or signal configurations utilized by the radio links. Sometimes, the use of different radio links with different air interface resources leads to spectrum inefficiency. For example, when there are no active transmissions using a frequency band for a first wireless link, the associated radio wastes opportunities to exchange user plane data and / or control plane information between devices on that frequency band during those unused time periods.

[0017] An alternative to different wireless links utilizing different air interface resources involves allocating common (shareable) air interface resources (e.g., duration of a specific start time, carrier frequency, frequency partition) between the different wireless links. To illustrate, both Wi-Fi 6E and 5G Unlicensed (5G-U) will share the 6 GHz spectrum in the United States. Allocating air interface resources between the two types of wireless links allows the UE to use a single transceiver for the 6 GHz band to support simultaneous and / or contemporaneous wireless links, which reduces the cost and size of the UE. This also improves spectral efficiency by increasing the utilization of air interface resources. In other words, even when the RATs use different frequencies and / or timing partitions, unused air interface resources allocated to a first wireless link implementing a first RAT can be used by a second wireless link implementing a second RAT.

[0018] In embodiments, a UE processing a signal received using (assigned) sharable air interface resources may have difficulty identifying which RAT was used to transmit a signal in the (assigned) sharable air interface resources at which time, resulting in recovery errors when the UE mistakenly processes a signal from a first RAT as a signal from a second RAT. Various embodiments transmit a RAT identifier to the UE indicating which RAT signals occupied the (assigned) sharable air interface resources and when. The RAT identifier enables the UE to properly retrieve (or transmit) information using multiple RATs using a single transceiver, which not only reduces the cost and size of the UE but also improves the efficiency of communications using the (assigned) sharable air interface resources.

[0019] In various aspects, a base station receives, from a second base station, air interface resource expected usage information associated with communication over a first radio link using at least two radio links using different radio access technologies (RATs). The base station then allocates sharable air interface resources between the at least two radio links by analyzing the air interface resource expected usage information. In various aspects, the base station transmits a RAT identifier presence indicator that conveys the presence of a RAT identifier by indicating one or more downlink air interface resources for transmitting the RAT identifier, wherein the RAT identifier indicates an allocation of sharable air interface resources between the at least two radio links. The base station then transmits the RAT identifier using the one or more downlink air interface resources indicated by the RAT identifier presence indicator.

[0020] In one or more aspects, a UE receives a radio access technology identifier presence indicator (RAT identifier presence indicator) from a base station, the RAT identifier presence indicator indicating the presence of a radio access technology identifier (RAT identifier) at one or more downlink air interface resources used to transmit the RAT identifier. The RAT identifier indicates an allocation of sharable air interface resources between at least two wireless links implementing different radio access technologies (RATs). The UE then receives the RAT identifier based on the indicated one or more downlink air interface resources and identifies an allocation of sharable air interface resources for each RAT based on the RAT identifier. In various aspects, the UE processes the sharable air interface resources based on the allocation.

[0021] Sample Environment

[0022] Figure 1An example environment 100 is illustrated, which includes a user equipment 110 (UE 110). UE 110 can communicate with base station 120 via a wireless communication link 130. For simplicity, UE 110 is implemented as a smartphone, but can be implemented as any suitable computing or electronic device, such as a mobile communication device, a modem, a cellular phone, a gaming device, a navigation device, a media device, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a smart appliance, a vehicle-based communication system, or an Internet of Things (IoT) device (such as a sensor or actuator). Base station 120 (e.g., an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network Node B, E-UTRAN Node B, evolved Node B, eNodeB, eNB, next generation Node B, gNode B, gNB, ng-eNB, WLAN access point, etc.) can be implemented in a macrocell, microcell, small cell, picocell, distributed base station, etc., or any combination or future evolution thereof.

[0023] Base station 120 communicates with UE 110 using wireless link 130, which can be implemented as any suitable type of wireless link. Wireless link 130 includes control and data communications, such as downlink of data and control information transmitted from base station 120 to UE 110, uplink of other data and control information transmitted from UE 110 to base station 120, or both. Wireless link 130 may include one or more wireless links (e.g., radio links) or bearers implemented using any suitable communication protocol or standard or combination of communication protocols or standards, such as Third Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP LTE), Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR), Wi-Fi 6E, etc. Multiple wireless links 130 can be aggregated in carrier aggregation or multi-connectivity to provide higher data rates for UE 110. Multiple wireless links 130 from multiple base stations 120 can be configured for coordinated multi-point (CoMP) communication with UE 110.

[0024] The base station 120 is included in a radio access network 140 (e.g., a RAN, a 5G NR RAN, or an NR RAN). In the environment 100, the base station 120 is connected to the core network 150 at 102, such as via an NG2 interface for control plane signaling and an NG3 interface for user plane data communication. In other aspects, the base station 120 is connected to the core network 150 at 102 using an S1 interface for control plane signaling and user plane data communication. The base station 120 also implements one or more RATs, such as Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Technology (E-UTRA, 4G RAT), New Radio-Radio Access Technology (NRRAT, 5G RAT), and / or Sixth Generation (6G) RAT.

[0025] In various aspects, a base station implementing a RAT includes support for authorized and / or unlicensed spectrum access defined by the RAT. For example, 5G RAT authorized access utilizes a first spectrum allocated for 5G communications. Alternatively or additionally, the 5G RAT supports unlicensed access (e.g., 5G-U) utilizing a second spectrum allocated for unlicensed / unlicensed access. In various aspects, authorized access and unlicensed access have variations in channel access requirements between each other as defined by the RAT (e.g., variations in message handshakes or signaling handshakes). Thus, a base station supporting a RAT may include support for both authorized and unlicensed frequency access.

[0026] The core network 150 is connected to the Internet 180 at 107 and includes entities and / or functions that support access and mobility for UE 110. The core network 150 also includes entities, functions and / or gateways that support connectivity to the Internet 180 and remote service(s) 190.

[0027] UE 110 may also maintain a second connection, labeled as a wireless local area network (WLAN) wireless link 106, to a second base station, labeled as a WLAN access point (AP) 160. WLAN AP 160 is connected to the Internet 180 via one or more network interfaces 103. In various aspects, WLAN AP 160 corresponds to a Wi-Fi 6E AP that implements WLAN wireless link 106 using a different RAT than the RAT implemented by base station 120 to maintain wireless link 130. WLAN AP 160 may be located in a user's home, office, airport, coffee shop, etc. In various aspects, WLAN AP 160 may operate independently (such as in a user's home) or may be part of a WLAN network 170. For example, WLAN network 170 may be an enterprise network or a public network of WLAN AP 160 operated by a wireless network operator. The WLAN wireless network operator may be the same as or different from the operator of RAN 140. The WLAN AP 160 base station implementation may be replaced by a second cellular base station implementing a different cellular RAT than the first base station 120 and indirectly connected to the Internet 180. These teachings apply regardless of the type of wireless access device using the second RAT, as will be shown in future figures.

[0028] Base station 120 and WLAN AP 160 communicate with UE 110 via wireless link 130 and wireless link 106, respectively, using one or more sharable air interface resources. As an example, base station 120 and WLAN AP 160 allocate carrier frequencies between each other. To indicate to UE 110 which RAT transmissions occupy which portions of the carrier frequencies (and when), base station 120 and / or WLAN AP 160 indicate a RAT identifier to UE 110, wherein the RAT identifier indicates various types of information to the UE, such as the assigned RAT, the assigned RAT start time, the assigned RAT duration, the assigned RAT frequency partition, or the assigned RAT carrier frequency. As a simplified example, the RAT identifier(s) indicate when a first RAT transmission (e.g., a 5G RAT as supported by base station 120) utilizes the carrier frequency and when a second RAT transmission (e.g., Wi-Fi 6E supported by WLAN AP 160) utilizes the carrier frequency. The UE 110 then extracts information from the RAT identifier and uses the information to determine how to use the corresponding RAT to process the signal transmitted using the carrier frequency.

[0029] In various aspects, base station 120 and / or WLAN AP 160 transmits a RAT identifier presence indicator to communicate the presence of a RAT identifier (e.g., when and where the RAT identifier is located). For illustration, assume that a first RAT implemented by base station 120 uses a different timing partition than a second RAT implemented by WLAN AP 160. Asynchronous timing partitioning between the RATs makes it difficult for UE 110 to recover the transmitted RAT identifier because the different RAT transmissions are not time-aligned. To indicate the presence of the RAT identifier to UE 110, base station 120 and / or WLAN AP 160 transmits a RAT identifier presence indicator that indicates the downlink air interface resources used to transmit the RAT identifier. For illustration, base station 120 and / or WLAN AP 160 broadcasts the RAT identifier presence indicator to UEs within range so that the UEs successfully receive and process the RAT identifier presence indicator and can subsequently determine how to receive and process the RAT identifier. In other embodiments, base station 120 transmits the RAT identifier presence indicator using a radio resource control (RRC) message targeted to a specific UE.

[0030] Example device

[0031] Figure 2 An example device diagram 200 is illustrated of a UE 110 and a base station 120. Generally, the device diagram 200 illustrates network entities that may implement various aspects of a radio access technology identifier. Figure 21 and 2. The UE 110 and the base station 120 are shown in FIG. 1. The UE 110 or the base station 120 may include a plurality of base stations, each of which is shown in FIG. Figure 2 106. The UE 110 includes an antenna 202, a radio frequency front end 204 (RF front end 204), and a radio frequency transceiver 206, such as an LTE transceiver, a 5G NR transceiver, a Wi-Fi 6E transceiver, and / or a 6G transceiver, for communicating with the base station 120 in the RAN 140 and / or the WLAN AP 160. In various aspects, the UE 110 uses a single transceiver to maintain the wireless link 130 and the wireless link 106 by using one or more shareable air interface resources as further described. The RF front end 204 of the UE 110 can couple or connect the transceiver(s) 206 to the antenna 202 to facilitate various types of wireless communications.

[0032] The antenna 202 of the UE 110 may include an array of multiple antennas configured similarly or differently to each other. The antenna 202 and the RF front end 204 may be tuned and / or tunable to one or more frequency bands defined by the 3GPP LTE, 5G NR communication standards, and / or the Wi-Fi 6E communication standards implemented by the transceiver(s) 206. In addition, the antenna 202, the RF front end 204, the transceiver(s) 206 may be configured to support beamforming for transmission and reception of communications with the base station 120 and the WLAN AP 160. By way of example and not limitation, the antenna 202 and the RF front end 204 may be implemented to operate in sub-gigahertz bands defined by the 3GPP LTE, 5G NR communication standards (e.g., 57-64 GHz, 28 GHz, 38 GHz, 71 GHz, 81 GHz, or 92 GHz bands), sub-6 GHz bands, Wi-Fi 6E operating frequencies (e.g., 6 GHz bands), and / or bands above 6 GHz.

[0033] The UE 110 includes sensors 212 that may be implemented to detect various properties, such as temperature, orientation, acceleration, proximity, distance, supplied power, power usage, battery status, etc. Thus, the sensors of the UE 110 may include any one or a combination of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a depth sensor, a distance sensor, a temperature sensor, a thermistor, a battery sensor, and a power usage sensor.

[0034] UE 110 also includes (one or more) processors 214 and a computer-readable storage medium 216 (CRM 216). Processor 214 can be a single-core processor or a multi-core processor implemented with a homogeneous or heterogeneous core architecture. The computer-readable storage media described herein do not include propagating signals. CRM 216 can include any suitable memory or storage device that can be used to store device data 218 of UE 110, such as random access memory (RAM), static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), read-only memory (ROM), or flash memory. Device data 218 includes any combination of user data, multimedia data, (one or more) codebooks, applications, and / or an operating system of UE 110. In an embodiment, device data 218 stores processor-executable instructions that can be executed by processor(s) 214 to implement user plane communications, control plane signaling, and user interaction with UE 110.

[0035] The CRM 216 of the UE 110 includes a user equipment-radio access technology-identifier manager (UE RAT identifier manager 220). Alternatively or additionally, the UE RAT identifier manager 220 may be implemented in whole or in part as hardware logic or circuitry that is integrated or separate from other components of the UE 110. In response to the UE 110 receiving the RAT identifier presence indicator, the UE RAT identifier manager 220 analyzes the RAT identifier presence indicator to determine where to locate the RAT identifier, such as by using the downlink air interface resources (e.g., beam direction, bandwidth portion, carrier frequency, duration) indicated by the RAT identifier presence indicator to determine the presence of the RAT identifier. Sometimes, the UE RAT identifier manager 220 determines or requests a transceiver configuration for the UE 110 to receive the RAT identifier based on the RAT identifier presence indicator. The UE RAT identifier manager 220 may alternatively or additionally analyze the received RAT identifier and process shareable air interface resources (e.g., frequency band, carrier frequency, duration) based on the information indicated by the RAT identifier.

[0036] Figure 2The device diagram of the base station 120 shown in FIG includes a single network node (e.g., a gNode B). The functionality of the base station 120 may be distributed across multiple network nodes or devices and may be distributed in any manner suitable for performing the functionality described herein. The base station 120 includes an antenna 252 for communicating with the UE 110, a radio frequency front end 254 (RF front end 254), one or more LTE transceivers 256, and / or one or more 5G NR transceivers 258. The RF front end 254 of the base station 120 may couple or connect the LTE transceiver 256 and the 5G NR transceiver 258 to the antenna 252 to facilitate various types of wireless communications. The antenna 252 of the base station 120 may include an array of multiple antennas configured similarly or differently to each other. The antenna 252 and the RF front end 254 may be tuned and / or tunable to one or more frequency bands defined by the 3GPP LTE and 5G NR communication standards and implemented by the LTE transceiver 256 and / or the 5G NR transceiver 258. Additionally, the antenna 252 , the RF front end 254 , the LTE transceiver 256 , and / or the 5G NR transceiver 258 may be configured to support beamforming (such as massive MIMO) for transmission and reception of communications with the UE 110 .

[0037] The base station 120 also includes a processor(s) 262 and a computer-readable storage medium 264 (CRM 264). The processor 262 may be a single-core processor or a multi-core processor composed of various materials, such as silicon, polysilicon, high-k dielectrics, copper, etc. The CRM 264 may include any suitable memory or storage device, such as random access memory (RAM), static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), read-only memory (ROM), or flash memory, that may be used to store device data 266 for the base station 120. The device data 266 includes network scheduling data, radio resource management data, applications, codebook(s), and / or an operating system for the base station 120, which may be executed by the processor(s) 262 to enable communication with the UE 110.

[0038] In various aspects, the CRM 264 of the base station 120 includes a base station-radio access technology-identifier manager 270 (BS RAT identifier manager 270). Alternatively or additionally, the BS RAT identifier manager 270 can be implemented in whole or in part as hardware logic or circuitry that is integrated or separate from other components of the base station 120. The BS RAT identifier manager 270 allocates or distributes sharable air interface resources between multiple RATs, such as by allocating and / or assigning carrier frequencies between a first RAT implemented by the base station 120 and a second RAT implemented by the WLAN AP 160 and / or other base stations during a specific time period. The BS RAT identifier manager 270 then communicates a schedule by instructing the base station 120 to broadcast a RAT identifier presence indicator to multiple UEs and / or transmit the RAT identifier presence indicator using UE-specific messaging. In some aspects, the BS RAT identifier manager 270 communicates air interface resource expected usage information (e.g., expected transmission period and / or transmission priority information) to other base stations.

[0039] The CRM 264 includes a base station manager 272. Alternatively or additionally, the base station manager 272 can be implemented in whole or in part as hardware logic or circuitry that is integrated or separate from other components of the base station 120. In at least some aspects, the base station manager 272 configures the LTE transceiver 256, the 5G NR transceiver 258, and the 6G transceiver(s) 260 for communication with the UE 110 and / or with the core network. The base station 120 includes an inter-base station interface 274, such as an Xn and / or X2 interface (wired or wireless), which the base station manager 272 configures to exchange user plane and control plane data between another base station 120 to manage communications between the base station 120 and the UE 110. The base station 120 includes a core network interface 276, which the base station manager 272 configures to exchange user plane data and control plane information with core network functions and / or entities.

[0040] Figure 3 An example device diagram 300 of a WLAN AP 160 base station implementation is illustrated. The WLAN AP 160 may include Figure 3 Additional functions and interfaces omitted in .

[0041] WLAN AP 160 includes an antenna 302, a radio frequency front end 304 (RF front end 304), and one or more transceivers 306 configured for WLAN communication with UE 110. RF front end 304 can couple or connect transceiver 306 to antenna 302 to facilitate various types of wireless communications, such as Wi-Fi 6E communication. Antenna 302 of WLAN AP 160 may include an array of multiple antennas configured similarly or differently to each other. Antenna 302 and RF front end 304 may be tuned and / or tunable to one or more frequency bands defined by IEEE 802.11 (e.g., including IEEE 802.11ax) communication standards and implemented by transceiver 306. In addition, antenna 302, RF front end 304, and / or transceiver 306 may be configured to support beamforming for transmission and reception of communications with UE 110.

[0042] WLAN AP 160 also includes processor(s) 308 and computer-readable storage media 310 (CRM 310). Processor 308 can be a single-core processor or a multi-core processor composed of various materials (such as silicon, polysilicon, high-k dielectrics, copper, etc.). CRM 310 can include any suitable memory or storage device that can be used to store device data 312 for WLAN AP 160, such as random access memory (RAM), static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), read-only memory (ROM), or flash memory. Device data 312 includes network scheduling data, radio resource management data, applications, and / or an operating system for WLAN AP 160, which can be executed by processor(s) 608 to enable communication with UE 110.

[0043] The CRM 310 also includes an access point manager 314, which, in one embodiment, is embodied on the CRM 310 (as shown). Alternatively or additionally, the access point manager 314 can be implemented in whole or in part as hardware logic or circuitry that is integrated or separate from other components of the WLAN AP 160. In at least some aspects, the access point manager 314 configures the transceiver 306 for communication with the UE 110 and for communication of user plane and control plane data with the core network 150 via the network interface 318.

[0044] The CRM 310 includes an access point RAT identifier manager 316 (AP RAT identifier manager 316). Alternatively or additionally, the AP RAT identifier manager 316 may be implemented in whole or in part as hardware logic or circuitry that is integrated or separate from other components of the base station 120. Figure 218. In some aspects, the AP RAT identifier manager 316 allocates or distributes the sharable air interface resources among the multiple RATs, such as by allocating and / or assigning carrier frequencies between a first RAT implemented by the base station 120 and a second RAT implemented by the WLAN AP 160. This may include communicating and / or coordinating with another RAT identifier manager (e.g., the BS RAT identifier manager 270) to determine the proportions of the sharable air interface resources. In some aspects, the AP RAT identifier manager 316 receives an indication of the proportions from the base station 120, while in other aspects, the AP RAT identifier manager 316 communicates the proportions to the base station 120, such as via the Internet 180 and / or the core network 150. In some aspects, the AP RAT identifier manager 316 communicates the expected usage of the air interface resources (e.g., expected transmission period and / or transmission priority information) to the other base stations.

[0045] Radio Access Technology Identifier

[0046] Figure 4 An example environment 400 is illustrated that implements a radio access technology identifier according to various aspects. The environment 400 includes Figure 1 The base station 120 supports the first RAT, and the second base station 402 supports the second RAT. In other words, the wireless device implementing the second RAT is the base station 402 instead of the WLAN AP 160 (e.g., Figure 1 4 ). In environment 400, base stations maintain various radio links to different UEs. As a first example, base station 120 maintains a single connectivity radio link with UE 404. As a second example, base station 402 maintains a single connectivity radio link with UE 406. As yet another third example, base station 120 and a third base station (not shown) both maintain a radio link to UE 408, such as through dual connectivity using separate radios and / or carrier aggregation using two carrier frequencies.

[0047] Environment 400 also includes Figure 1UE 110, wherein base station 120 communicates with UE 110 via wireless link 130 using a first RAT, and base station 402 communicates with UE 110 via wireless link 410 using a second RAT, wherein first wireless link 130 and wireless link 410 correspond to contemporaneous wireless links that use (shareable) air interface resources allocated between each other. In other words, even though wireless link 130 and wireless link 410 utilize different RATs with different space-time-frequency partitioning schemes and / or different modulation and coding schemes (MCS), the links occupy overlapping air interface resources, such as common carrier frequencies, common durations, common frequency ranges, etc., on an allocated basis. The partitioning of shareable air interface resources can include any combination of RATs, such as 5G-U implemented by a cellular base station and Wi-Fi 6E implemented by a WLAN AP base station (e.g., WLAN AP 160).

[0048] For illustration, base station 120 implements a first RAT using a first air interface resource partitioning scheme 412, while base station 402 implements a second RAT using a second air interface resource partitioning scheme 414. Base station 120 communicates, for example, using a first frequency range 416 for a first duration 418 defined by the first air interface resource partitioning scheme 412 of the first RAT. Similarly, base station 402 communicates using a second frequency range 420 for a second duration 422 defined by the second air interface resource partitioning scheme 414 of the second RAT. While schemes 412 and 414 illustrate time and frequency partitioning, base stations may use alternative or additional schemes, including spatial partitioning, e.g., by beams, coding schemes, modulation schemes, etc. In various aspects, first frequency range 416 has a different size than second frequency range 420, but at least portions of the two frequency ranges overlap. Alternatively or additionally, duration 418 has a different length than duration 422, but at least portions of the durations overlap.

[0049] For clarity, the first air interface resource partitioning scheme 412 and the second air interface resource partitioning scheme 414 illustrate portions of respective partitioning schemes defined by the RAT and may include additional resource allocations not shown in environment 400. For example, schemes 412 and 414 may correspond to a grid or matrix of multiple frequency ranges over time. Schemes 412 and / or 414 may span any suitable frequency range and / or may be divided into intervals of any specified duration. The first frequency range defined by scheme 412 may be different from the second frequency range defined by scheme 414. The time increment may correspond to, for example, milliseconds (mSec.) and may correspond to RAT-specific frame, subframe, time slot, or symbol length. The frequency increment may correspond to, for example, kilohertz (kHz) or megahertz (MHz). Alternatively or additionally, one or both of schemes 412 and 414 may include multiple subcarriers or frequency subbands. In various aspects, the frequency ranges and / or durations between schemes 412 and 414, while different, overlap. For example, frequency band 416 of scheme 412 may span a smaller frequency range than frequency band 420, but have overlapping portions. To illustrate, when the first transmission and the second transmission use the same carrier frequency (e.g., may share carrier frequency 424), the first transmission having frequency band 416 may overlap with the second transmission having frequency band 420. Alternatively, the carrier frequencies may be different, or the channel bandwidths of the different RATs may overlap in another different manner, as illustrated by transmissions 430 and 436.

[0050] Base station 120 and base station 402 each include Figure 24. In various aspects, base station 120 and base station 402 (via respective BS RAT identifier managers) allocate sharable air interface resources between radio links 130 and 410. For example, one or both of the respective BS RAT identifier managers determine the allocation of shared air interface resources between radio links 130 and 410. Carrier frequency 424 corresponds to an example sharable air interface resource allocated between first radio link 130 (implemented by base station 120 using a first RAT and / or scheme 412) and second radio link 410 (implemented by base station 402 using a second RAT and / or scheme 414). Transmissions for the first RAT on the first radio link and transmissions for the second RAT on the second radio link each occupy carrier frequency 424 (or otherwise overlap frequency channels) to communicate with UE 110. However, to avoid conflicts and / or contention, base stations 120 and 402 occasionally interrupt respective RAT communications (e.g., downlink or uplink) with varying recursions. Transmissions 426 and 428, for example, correspond to first and second transmissions by base station 402 using the second RAT, wherein transmissions 426 and 428 use the assigned carrier frequency (e.g., carrier frequency 424) for a specific duration (e.g., duration 422). Base stations 120 and 402 then switch which base station (and corresponding radio link) uses the assigned carrier frequency, and base station 120 using the first RAT (e.g., RAT 1) communicates with UE 110 using transmissions 430, 432, 434, and 436 for a (different) specific duration (e.g., duration 418), wherein transmissions 430, 432, and 434 use the assigned carrier frequency. Base station 120 also communicates with UE 110 using transmission 436, wherein transmission 436 occupies a different carrier frequency than the assigned carrier frequency (e.g., carrier frequency 424), but shares the same duration as transmission 430. The base station again switches which base station (and corresponding wireless link) uses the assigned carrier frequency, and base station 402 communicates with UE 110 using the assigned carrier frequency for transmission 438 and using transmission 440 with a different carrier frequency.

[0051] While the shareable air interface resources correspond to overlapping frequency channels (e.g., carrier frequency 424), in alternative or additional embodiments, the shareable air interface resources correspond to durations. To illustrate, consider transmission 434 from base station 402 and transmission 440 from base station 120. In an embodiment, instead of allocating carrier frequencies between the transmissions, base station 120 (and / or base station 402) allocates specific durations between the transmissions by assigning different carrier frequencies to the transmissions such that the two frequency channels do not overlap. For example, transmission 434 and transmission 440 occupy duration 442 simultaneously by using different carrier frequencies. In other words, transmission 434 and transmission 440 overlap and / or share duration 442, where transmission 434 uses the assigned carrier frequency f. c , and transmission 440 uses a different carrier frequency.

[0052] In various embodiments, base station 120 and base station 402 communicate with each other, such as using inter-base station interface 274 and / or network interface 318 (not shown), to coordinate the assignment of carrier frequencies 424 and / or other air interface resources. As an example, BS RAT identifier manager 270 of base station 120 communicates with BS RAT identifier manager 270 at base station 402 to request a larger allocation (e.g., 60%, 80%, 90%) of the (assigned) sharable air interface resource(s), such as in response to a large amount of user plane data being assigned to first RAT / base station 120 to be transmitted to UE 110. As another example, BS RAT identifier manager 270 of base station 402 communicates with BS RAT identifier manager 270 of base station 120 to request immediate access to the sharable air interface resources (e.g., exceptional or high priority access different from the set schedule) based on a need to transmit high priority commands and / or data to UE 110. In various aspects, one or both of the BS RAT identifier managers use priority information to determine allocation of (one or more) sharable air interface resources. To illustrate that a first RAT transmission can be given higher priority than a second RAT transmission based on RAT prioritization over each other, the second RAT transmission can have a higher priority quality of service (QoS) requirement (e.g., low latency) relative to the first RAT transmission, etc. Alternatively or additionally, the priority information indicates a priority of limited duration, such as a session-based priority (e.g., over the duration of the session), a frame-based priority (e.g., over the duration of a frame), or a slot-based priority (e.g., over the duration of a slot). In some instances, the priority indicates a RAT priority (e.g., prioritizing all transmissions of the first RAT over all transmissions of the second RAT).

[0053] In environment 400, the respective BS RAT identifier managers of base station 120 and base station 402 collaborate to determine an allocation of sharable air interface resources. This can include one of the BS RAT identifier managers acting as a primary BS RAT identifier manager instructing a secondary BS RAT identifier manager at another base station on an allocation of sharable air interface resources. As another example, the secondary BS RAT identifier manager requests a specific allocation and / or a specific proportion of sharable air interface resources from the primary BS RAT identifier manager. In other words, the secondary BS RAT identifier manager determines and requests a specific allocation from the primary BS RAT identifier manager.

[0054] In other aspects, a single BS RAT identifier manager determines the allocation and communicates the allocation to the other base station (and / or AP) RAT identifier managers. As an example, RAT identifier manager 270 implemented by base station 120 determines and allocates sharable air interface resources and communicates the allocation to a second BS (and / or AP) RAT identifier manager. As another example, a single base station implements a first radio link (e.g., radio link 130) using a first RAT and a second radio link (e.g., radio link 132) using a second RAT. The BS RAT identifier manager of the single base station (individually) manages the allocation of sharable air interface resources used by simultaneous radio links with UE 110.

[0055] In various aspects, the first and second radio links, whether implemented by different base stations or the same base station, share air interface resources by synchronizing with each other in time and frequency. As an example, at the physical layer, each base station receives a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal and derives a common time timing table from the GNSS signal. Alternatively or additionally, the base station(s) utilize synchronous Ethernet and / or E1 / T1 signals to synchronize frequency and time. This enables base stations implementing RAT(s) to align time and frequency with each other, even if the RATs utilize different timing structures (e.g., different slot durations, different frame durations). Because the base stations synchronize time and frequency, the base stations share a common timing reference, enabling the base station(s) to allocate air resources between different RAT transmissions. To coordinate UE 110 communications with varying RATs via the shareable air interface resources, embodiments first transmit a RAT identifier presence schedule for downlink air interface resources indicating the RAT identifier, and then transmit the RAT identifier at the indicated downlink air interface resource to convey the assigned RAT for the common (shareable) air interface resource(s).

[0056] Figure 5An example environment 500 is illustrated for implementing a radio access technology identifier according to various aspects. The environment 500 includes a base station 120 and Figure 1 Various instances of UE 110 are labeled UE 502, UE 504, UE 506, and UE 508, respectively.

[0057] At 510, the base station 120 transmits a RAT identifier presence indicator 512 to indicate the presence of the RAT identifier at various downlink air interface resources (e.g., beam direction, bandwidth portion, carrier frequency, duration). As an example, the base station 120 transmits a broadcast message including the RAT identifier presence indicator 512, wherein the RAT identifier presence indicator 512 indicates the presence of the RAT identifier at a particular air interface resource by directly indicating the various downlink air interface resource(s) on which the RAT identifier is transmitted or indirectly indicating (e.g., by using an index table). As another example, the base station 120 transmits the RAT identifier presence indicator 512 to a particular UE (e.g., UE 502) in a radio resource control (RRC) message. The base station 120 may transmit the RAT identifier presence indicator 512 at any suitable time frame. In one or more embodiments, the base station 120 periodically transmits the RAT identifier presence indicator 512, such as by using a timing period similar to that used for system information block(s) (SIBs). Alternatively or additionally, the base station 120 asynchronously transmits the RAT identifier presence indicator 512, such as in response to determining a new allocation and / or proportion for sharable air interface resources. In aspects, the RAT identifier presence indicator 512 communicates the presence of a RAT identifier over downlink air interface resources.

[0058] As an example, the RAT identifier presence indicator 512 includes an indication of a RAT identifier beam direction 514 to specify a particular beam and / or beam direction used to transmit the RAT identifier. This can include indicating an absolute beam and / or beam direction (e.g., a particular beam with a particular direction) or a relative beam direction (e.g., a beam direction that is offset by 5 degrees relative to a received beam). As another example, the RAT identifier presence indicator optionally includes an indication of a RAT identifier bandwidth portion 516, which specifies a portion of the frequency band used to transmit the RAT identifier. In some aspects, the RAT identifier presence indicator includes an indication of a carrier frequency used to transmit the RAT identifier, which is labeled RAT identifier carrier frequency 518 in the environment 500. The RAT identifier carrier frequency 518 enables the base station 120 to indicate the cross-carrier location of the RAT identifier. For illustration, the base station 120 transmits the RAT identifier presence indicator 512 using a first carrier frequency and uses the RAT identifier carrier frequency 518 to indicate a second carrier frequency used for the RAT identifier. In an embodiment, the RAT identifier carrier frequency 518 indicates an index value that maps to a specific carrier frequency. In various aspects, the RAT identifier indicates an absolute carrier frequency (eg, 6.1 GHz) or a relative carrier frequency (eg, 100 MHz from the received carrier frequency).

[0059] The RAT identifier presence indicator 512 includes an indication of a RAT identifier start time 520 and / or a RAT identifier duration 522 to convey timing information that can be used to locate the RAT identifier transmission. For example, the RAT identifier start time 520 indicates an absolute time (e.g., based on GNSS timing, based on Ethernet timing) or a relative time (e.g., based on transmission / reception time) that conveys the point in time at which the transmission and subsequent RAT identifier transmission begins. For illustration, the RAT identifier start time 520 may indicate a relative time based on the transmission time of the RAT identifier presence indicator 512. The RAT identifier duration 522 indicates a duration for the RAT identifier (e.g., 10 microseconds, 12.5 microseconds, 25 microseconds). In some aspects, the RAT identifier has a variable configuration and / or length based on a variable RAT identifier configuration, which modifies what information is included in and / or excluded from the RAT identifier. The RAT identifier duration 522 may implicitly indicate the RAT identifier configuration. For example, a first duration indicates a first configuration of the RAT identifier, while a second, longer duration indicates a second configuration of the RAT identifier that includes more information than the first configuration.

[0060] In an embodiment, the base station 120 updates the RAT identifier presence indicator. For example, assume that the base station 120 reallocates the sharable air interface resources based on communications received from another base station requesting (assigned) sharable air interface resources with increased regularity, a greater duration (e.g., a time slot length), and / or a greater channel bandwidth than the current allocation. The base station 120 reallocates the sharable air interface resources based on the communications and updates the RAT identifier to indicate the reallocation. When reallocating the sharable air interface resources, the base station 120 sometimes allocates different air interface resources between the radio links. For example, assume that the base station 120 allocates a first air interface resource between two radio links. When determining the reallocation, the base station 120 identifies a second air interface resource that is different from the first air interface resource and uses the second air interface resource for the reallocation. The base station 120 then updates the RAT identifier to indicate that the second allocation uses the second air interface resource.

[0061] In some examples, base station 120 generates an updated RAT identifier presence indicator. For example, assume that the RAT identifier presence indicator indicates a first downlink air interface resource for RAT identifier transmission. In some aspects, base station 120 identifies a second downlink air interface resource that is different from the first downlink air interface resource and updates the RAT identifier presence indicator to replace the first downlink air interface resource with the second downlink air interface resource. Base station 120 then transmits the updated RAT identifier presence indicator to indicate the second downlink air interface resource and also transmits the RAT identifier using the second downlink air interface resource indicated by the updated RAT identifier presence indicator.

[0062] Figure 6 An example environment 600 is illustrated that implements radio access technology identifiers according to various aspects. The environment 600 includes Figure 1 1 , and UE 110, wherein base station 120 and WLAN AP 160 communicate with UE 110 over wireless links 130 and 106 using sharable air interface resource(s) 602 for communicating with UE 110. Although environment 600 illustrates sharable air interface resources 602 as carrier frequencies, sharable air interface resources 602 may include alternative or additional air interface resources in space-time-frequency (e.g., any combination of frequency bands, carrier frequencies, time durations, frequency partitions).

[0063] Multiple RAT transmissions are for example achieved by using Figure 44 and 5. The sharable air interface resources 602 may be occupied on an assigned basis using schemes 412 and 416. For example, downlink transmission 604, downlink transmission 606, and downlink transmission 608 correspond to downlink transmissions generated by base station 120 using RAT 1, while downlink transmission 610 corresponds to a downlink transmission generated by WLAN AP 160 using RAT 2. Each of downlink transmissions 604, 606, 608, and 610 occupies sharable air interface resources 602 at a different point in time. In various aspects, the timing duration for the downlink transmissions corresponds to any suitable duration, such as a RAT frame, a RAT subframe, a plurality of RAT symbols, etc.

[0064] A base station utilizing the sharable air interface resource(s) (e.g., base station 120, WLAN AP 160) transmits a RAT identifier, such as RAT identifier 612, to indicate the assigned RAT to the sharable air interface resource 602. This indicates to the UE 110 receiving the downlink transmission which RAT (and corresponding scheme) to use when processing the sharable air interface resource. For example, the base station 120 transmits the RAT identifier 612 before the downlink transmission 610 begins to indicate to the UE 110 that the assigned RAT 614 is allocated and / or assigned to the sharable air interface resource 602. The UE 110 uses this indication to determine how to process signals received using the sharable air interface resource 602 (e.g., as RAT 1 communications or RAT 2 communications). For example, the base station 120 transmits a RAT identifier indicating the assigned RAT implemented by the WLAN AP 160. For clarity, in this example, the RAT identifier 612 occupies the same carrier frequency as the transmissions 604, 606, 608, and 610, but other frequencies and / or air interface resources may be used in place of the sharable air interface resources to transmit the RAT identifier 612. Furthermore, while the sharable air interface resources 602 illustrate carrier frequencies allocated between the wireless links, the allocated sharable air interface resources may include multiple and / or alternative air interface resources (e.g., durations, frequency partitions, carrier frequencies). In various aspects, the RAT identifier 612 implicitly indicates a proportional time allocation (e.g., a start time) for the sharable air interface resources 602 based on being at the beginning of the assigned duration.

[0065] The base station 120 includes in the RAT identifier 612 additional indications of characteristics of the (allocated and / or assigned) sharable air interface resources, such as an indication of an assigned RAT start time 616 that specifies the start time for the assigned RAT and / or an indication of an assigned RAT duration 618. In some aspects, the indication of the assigned RAT start time 616 explicitly identifies the exact start time, while in other aspects, the indication of the assigned RAT start time 616 uses relative information (e.g., a duration that is not directly after the RAT identifier transmission) to identify the start time. The indication of the assigned RAT duration 618 specifies a portion or length of the allocation. For example, the RAT identifier indicates that the designation of the sharable air interface resources 602 for transmission 610 spans only a portion of the duration defined by the RAT 2 air interface resource scheme.

[0066] Sometimes, the base station 120 explicitly indicates that the sharable air interface resources are allocated to the first RAT transmission and / or implicitly indicates that the sharable air interface resources are allocated to the second RAT transmission. For illustration, the RAT identifier 612 explicitly identifies the first RAT allocated to the sharable air interface resources (e.g., the assigned RAT 614) and the duration of the allocation (e.g., the assigned RAT start time 616, the assigned RAT duration 618). In various aspects, the RAT identifier implicitly indicates timing information based on the assigned RAT (e.g., based on the assigned RAT air interface resource scheme). The UE 110 processing the RAT identifier 612 not only identifies the explicit resource allocation indicated by the RAT identifier 612 (e.g., the first RAT and the duration for the assignment), but also identifies the implicit resource allocation indicated by the RAT identifier 612. For example, the UE 110 implicitly determines to use the second RAT to process the sharable air interface resources after the indicated duration expires.

[0067] In various aspects, the RAT identifier 612 includes an indication of an assigned RAT frequency partition 620 that specifies a frequency partition. To illustrate, in some embodiments, a first RAT transmission and a second RAT transmission share a common (or the same) duration with a common (or the same) start time but with different frequency partitions. The RAT identifier 612 indicates the frequency domain space and / or partition (e.g., frequency bandwidth portion) used for communications using the assigned RAT frequency partition 620. To illustrate, consider the start of a transmission 608. Assume that the transmission 608 occupies a first frequency partition of a sharable frequency band. By occupying a second frequency partition of the sharable frequency band specified by the assigned RAT frequency partition 620, the second RAT transmission can be transmitted at the same start time and / or for the same duration as the transmission time of the transmission 608.

[0068] Sometimes, the RAT identifier 612 includes an indication of an assigned RAT carrier frequency 622, which allows a base station (e.g., base station 120) to indicate cross-carrier information (e.g., using a first carrier frequency to transmit an indication of a (second) assigned carrier frequency). For example, in environment 600, base station 120 uses a carrier frequency denoted as f c In some aspects, the base station indicates a different second carrier frequency in the RAT identifier 612 to indicate a different second carrier frequency (e.g., not f c ) has been assigned to the assigned RAT. For example, the base station 120 indicates an index value corresponding to the assigned carrier frequency as the assigned RAT carrier frequency 622, where the index value maps to a carrier frequency in a table and / or codebook. Thus, the assigned RAT carrier frequency 622 allows the base station 120 to explicitly indicate the assigned carrier frequency, which may be different from the carrier frequency used to transmit the indication. Alternatively or additionally, the RAT identifier 612 uses the assigned RAT start time 616, the assigned RAT duration 618 to indicate a specific start time and / or duration (or partition), and / or uses the assigned RAT frequency partition 620 to indicate a specific frequency partition. Thus, the RAT identifier 612 can explicitly indicate a specific carrier frequency and / or a specific duration, rather than implicitly indicating the carrier frequency and / or duration, such as based on the space-time-frequency characteristics of the signal used to transmit the RAT identifier.

[0069] The RAT identifier 612 sometimes includes an assigned RAT timing value 624. For example, the assigned RAT timing value 624 corresponds to a timing offset relative to the RAT identifier 612 or a timing periodicity value indicating a periodic assignment of sharable air interface resources for the assigned RAT. This may include a slot offset and / or slot periodicity indicating a RAT assignment of sharable air interface resources. Thus, sometimes, the RAT identifier 612 includes an assigned RAT timing value 624 to indicate a timing relationship between the RAT identifier and an upcoming RAT assignment for sharable air interface resource(s).

[0070] In various aspects, the base station 120 (and / or the WLAN AP 160) transmits the RAT identifier 612 using a waveform recognizable to multiple RATs implemented at the UE 110. For illustration, the base station 120 transmits the RAT identifier 612 using a fixed modulation (e.g., quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK)) and / or coding scheme, such that the UE 110 detects the RAT identifier 612 to process the received signal based on the first RAT or the second RAT. In other words, the UE 110 identifies the RAT identifier 612 and the information indicated by the RAT identifier to process the received signal as a 5G RAT signal or another RAT signal (e.g., 6G RAT, Wi-Fi 6E, etc.). For illustration, the UE 110 identifies the downlink air interface resources used to transmit the RAT identifier 612 based on detecting and / or decoding the RAT identifier presence indicator (e.g., the RAT identifier presence indicator 512). UE 110 then receives and decodes the RAT identifier using blind decoding on the indicated downlink air interface resources.

[0071] In environment 600, base station 120 transmits a RAT identifier 612 at the beginning of a duration to indicate the assigned RAT for at least a portion of the duration following the RAT identifier transmission. However, base station 120 sometimes uses alternative or additional downlink air interface resources (e.g., carrier frequency, at the end of a time slot) to transmit RAT identifier 612. In various aspects, base station 120 transmits a RAT identifier presence indicator that implicitly indicates the presence of a RAT identifier by indicating the RAT identifier downlink air interface resource(s) to UE 110. Using the RAT identifier presence indicator, base station 120 can modify the allocation of sharable air interface resources (e.g., reallocate the sharable air interface resources) and update the RAT identifier to indicate the allocation. The RAT identifier presence indicator enables base station 120 to update the frequency at which the RAT identifier is transmitted to indicate the modified allocation (e.g., increase the frequency of RAT identifier transmissions, decrease the frequency of RAT identifier transmissions).

[0072] The RAT identifier presence indicator indicates to the receiving UE the downlink air interface resources used to transmit the RAT identifier. The UE then locates and processes the RAT identifier to determine how to handle sharable air interface resources, such as carrier frequencies allocated between multiple RATs. This enables the UE to use a single transceiver to handle multiple radio links, thereby reducing the cost and size of the UE while increasing data capacity by utilizing simultaneous and / or concurrent radio links enabled by multiple RATs that allocate common air interface resources. The RAT identifier also enables reuse of air interface resources, such as by utilizing air interface resources during unused time periods of a first radio link for communications on a second radio link, which improves the efficiency and use of air interface resources by converting unused time periods of the first radio link into transmission opportunities on the second radio link.

[0073] Signaling and control transactions for RAT identifiers

[0074] Figure 7 Illustrated are various network entities (such as Figure 1 Base station 120 and UE 110, Figure 4 Figure 700 shows an example signaling and control transaction diagram between base station 402 of FIG. 120, base station 402 and UE 110. Figure 1-6 Alternatively or additionally, diagram 700 includes Figure 1 Signaling and control transactions of the WLANAP 160.

[0075] At 705, base station 402 optionally transmits air interface resource intended usage information to base station 120 for simultaneous and / or contemporaneous radio links with a UE (e.g., UE 110). As a first example, assume that base station 120 currently maintains a first radio link (e.g., radio link 130) to UE 110 using a first RAT, and base station 402 determines to establish a second simultaneous radio link (e.g., radio link 410, radio link 106) to UE 110 using a second RAT. For illustration, base station 402 determines to establish the second simultaneous radio link in response to UE 110 requesting the second radio link and / or base station 120 instructing base station 402 to initiate the second radio link to UE 110. In various aspects, the first radio link implemented (by base station 120) using the first RAT and the second radio link implemented (by base station 402) using the second RAT share air interface resources in time, frequency, or space. Base station 402 transmits expected usage information, which base station 120 analyzes to determine an allocation of sharable air interface resources between the two radio links. For illustration, base station 402 transmits expected user plane data volume, expected transmission period, and / or transmission priority information. As another example, assume that base station 120 and base station 402 currently maintain a radio link to UE 110, and base station 402 identifies a high-priority communication to UE 110. In an embodiment, base station 402 transmits the expected usage information (e.g., high-priority communication) to base station 120, such as via an Xn interface.

[0076] At 710, the base station 120 determines an allocation of sharable air interface resources between at least two radio links (e.g., a first radio link implemented by the base station 120 using a first RAT and a second radio link implemented by the base station 402 using a second RAT). In an embodiment, the base station determines the allocation using information received from the base station 402 at 705. Alternatively or additionally, the base station 120 determines the allocation based on expected usage information associated with the base station 120. As an example of determining the allocation, and with reference to Figure 5, the base station 120 determines to allocate a shareable carrier frequency to the second radio link (implemented using the second RAT) for a particular duration. The base station 120 also allocates the shareable carrier frequency to the first radio link (implemented using the first RAT), such as by allocating the shareable carrier frequency to the first radio link during a first duration (e.g., a first time slot defined by the first RAT air interface resource scheme), and allocating the shareable carrier frequency to the second radio link during a second duration (e.g., a second time slot defined by the second RAT air interface resource scheme). In some embodiments, the base station 120 acts as a master base station and / or primary base station that coordinates the allocation of shareable air interface resources, while in alternative or additional embodiments, the base station 402 determines and requests the allocation of shareable air interface resources from the base station 120. In other embodiments, the base station 120 and the base station 402 negotiate with each other to determine the allocation (not shown). In various aspects, the base station 120 explicitly and / or implicitly indicates the allocation of shareable air interface resources, such as with reference to Figure 6 As another example, the base station 120 determines an allocation that assigns the first and second radio links (implemented using RAT 1 and RAT 2, respectively) to a common duration, wherein each RAT transmission occupies a different portion of a common frequency band during the common duration. In response to determining the allocation, the base station 120 transmits the allocation to the base station 402 via the Xn interface at 715.

[0077] refer to Figure 6 At 720, the base station 120 transmits a RAT identifier presence indicator. Similarly, at 725, the UE 110 receives the RAT identifier presence indicator. When transmitting the RAT identifier presence indicator, the base station 120 indicates downlink air interface resources used to transmit the RAT identifier, such as any combination of space-time-frequency resources (e.g., beam direction, bandwidth portion, carrier frequency, duration). The UE 110 then uses the indicated downlink air interface resources to locate the RAT identifier. In an embodiment, the base station 120 indicates cross-carrier information used to locate the RAT identifier. In various aspects, the base station 120 transmits the RAT identifier presence indicator as a broadcast message or an RRC message, as further described.

[0078] refer to Figure 6At 730, the base station 120 transmits a RAT identifier indicating an allocation of sharable air interface resources, wherein the base station 120 transmits the RAT identifier consistent with the RAT identifier presence indicator transmitted at 720. For illustration, the base station 120 transmits the RAT identifier using (and at) the downlink air interface resources indicated by the RAT identifier presence indicator. Alternatively or additionally, the base station 402 transmits the RAT identifier (not shown). Similarly, at 735, the UE 110 receives the RAT identifier consistent with the RAT identifier presence indicator received at (e.g., using the indicated downlink air interface resources). The base station 120 uses the RAT identifier to indicate the allocation determined at 710, such as the assigned RAT, duration, carrier frequency, etc. for the allocation. In various aspects, the base station 120 implicitly and / or explicitly indicates the allocation, as further described. Alternatively or additionally, the base station 120 transmits the RAT identifier using a common waveform identifiable by multiple RATs (such as by using a fixed modulation and / or a fixed coding scheme), and the UE blindly decodes the RAT identifier.

[0079] At 740, base station 120, base station 402, and UE 110 process the sharable air interface resources according to the time and frequency air interface allocations assigned in the RAT identifier. For example, at a first point in time, base station 120 communicates (e.g., transmits or receives signals) with UE 110 using a sharable carrier frequency (e.g., sharable air interface resources 602). At a second point in time, base station 402 communicates with UE 110 using the sharable carrier frequency. In other words, base station 120 stops using the sharable carrier frequency at the second point in time to avoid collisions and / or contention with transmissions between second base station 402 and UE 110.

[0080] In some embodiments, the process repeats iteratively, as indicated by the dashed line at 745, returning to diagram 700 at 705 and / or at 710. To illustrate, consider an example in which base station 402 transmits a request to base station 120 to reallocate and / or change the allocation of sharable air interface resources, such as in response to identifying a high-priority communication and / or determining that a large amount of user-plane data is to be sent to UE 110. In response to receiving the communication at 705, base station 120 reallocates the sharable air interface resources and updates the RAT identifier and / or RAT identifier presence indicator. As another example, at 710, base station 120 determines to send a high-priority communication and reallocates the sharable air interface resources, as further described. In some aspects, in response to base station 120 (or base station 402) completing the session with UE 110, base station 120 reallocates all sharable air interface resources to base station 402 (or base station 120, respectively).

[0081] Example Methods for RAT Identifiers

[0082] According to one or more aspects of the radio access technology identifier, reference Figure 8 and 9 Example methods 800 and 900 are described. The order in which the method blocks are described is not intended to be construed as limiting, and any number of the described method blocks may be skipped or combined in any order to implement a method or an alternative method. Generally, any components, modules, methods, and operations described herein may be implemented using software, firmware, hardware (e.g., fixed logic circuitry), manual processing, or any combination thereof. Some operations of the example methods may be described in the general context of executable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage memory local and / or remote to a computer processing system, and implementations may include software applications, programs, functions, and the like. Alternatively or additionally, any functionality described herein may be performed, at least in part, by one or more hardware logic components, such as, but not limited to, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an application specific standard product (ASSP), a system on a chip (SOC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and the like.

[0083] Figure 8 An example method 800 for a radio access technology identifier is illustrated. In some embodiments, the operations of the method 800 are performed by a base station such as Figure 1-7 120, WLAN AP 160 and / or base station 402) shown in FIG.

[0084] At 805, the base station receives, from a second base station, air interface resource expected usage information associated with communications on a first radio link of at least two radio links implemented using different RATs. Figure 7 As described at 705, the base station (e.g., base station 120) receives expected usage information of air interface resources from a second base station (e.g., WLAN AP 160, base station 402), such as expected user plane data volume, expected transmission cycle and / or transmission priority information.

[0085] At 810, a base station allocates sharable air interface resources between at least two wireless links. For example, a base station (e.g., base station 120) determines an allocation of sharable air interface resources (e.g., carrier frequency 424) between at least two wireless links (e.g., wireless link 130, wireless link 106, wireless link 410). For illustration, and as shown in FIG. Figure 7As described at 710 of , the base station determines an allocation of a shareable carrier frequency, a portion of a shareable frequency band, a specific start time having a specific duration, a portion of a specific duration, etc., between a first radio link using a first RAT implemented by the base station 120 and a second radio link using a second RAT implemented by the base station 402 and / or the WLAN AP 160. In various aspects, the base station 120 allocates the shareable carrier frequency to the first radio link using the first RAT, such as by allocating the shareable carrier frequency to the first radio link during a first duration having a first start time, and additionally allocating the shareable carrier frequency to the second radio link implemented by the second RAT during a second duration having a second start time.

[0086] At 815, the base station transmits a RAT identifier presence indicator that conveys the presence of the RAT identifier by indicating one or more downlink air interface resources for transmitting the RAT identifier. For example, a base station (e.g., base station 120) transmits a RAT identifier presence indicator (e.g., RAT identifier presence indicator 512) to indicate the presence of a RAT identifier (e.g., RAT identifier 612), as shown in FIG. Figure 7 720. The base station sends the RAT identifier presence indicator by broadcasting a schedule in a broadcast message and / or by sending the schedule in an RRC message. The RAT identifier indicates an allocation of sharable air interface resources, and the RAT identifier presence indicator provides one or more downlink air interface resources (e.g., RAT identifier beam direction 514, RAT identifier bandwidth portion 516, RAT identifier carrier frequency 518, RAT identifier start time 520, RAT identifier duration 522) used by a UE (e.g., UE 110) to locate the RAT identifier, as further described. Thus, in some aspects, the base station 120 uses the RAT identifier presence indicator to indicate the presence of the RAT identifier by including at least one of the following: an indication of the RAT identifier beam direction; an indication of the RAT identifier bandwidth portion; an indication of the RAT identifier carrier frequency; an indication of the RAT identifier start time; or an indication of the RAT identifier duration.

[0087] At 820, the base station transmits the RAT identifier using one or more downlink air interface resources indicated by the RAT identifier presence indicator. Figure 7As described at 730 of , a base station (e.g., base station 120) transmits a RAT identifier (e.g., RAT identifier 612) using a RAT identifier presence indicator (e.g., RAT identifier presence indicator 512). In various aspects, the base station transmits the RAT identifier using a waveform having a fixed coding scheme and a fixed modulation scheme, wherein each of the at least two RATs supports the waveform.

[0088] When transmitting the RAT identifier, the base station indicates one or more characteristics of the shareable air interface resources, such as by including in the RAT identifier an indication of an assigned RAT start time, an indication of an assigned RAT duration, an indication of an assigned RAT frequency partition, an indication of an assigned RAT carrier frequency, or an indication of a timing relationship, as referred to in the RAT identifier. Figure 6 Alternatively or additionally, the base station transmits a second indication of a content configuration conveying a RAT identifier (such as a first content configuration including an assigned RAT start time indication and an assigned RAT duration indication, a second content configuration including an assigned RAT carrier frequency, etc.). In some embodiments, the base station indicates cross-carrier information, such as by transmitting the RAT identifier using a second carrier frequency that is different from the assigned RAT carrier frequency indicated by the RAT identifier. Sometimes, when the sharable air interface resource includes a specific start time with a specific duration, the base station sends the RAT identifier at the beginning of the duration (e.g., at the start time) to implicitly indicate the start time of the allocation to the assigned RAT.

[0089] At 825, the base station communicates via a second wireless link of the at least two wireless links using the sharable air interface resources according to the allocation. Figure 7 740, using the sharable air interface resources (e.g., carrier frequency 424) to communicate with the UE via a second radio link of at least two radio links (e.g., radio link 130, radio link 106, and radio link 410). To illustrate, at a first point in time, base station 120 communicates (e.g., transmits or receives signals) with UE 110 using the sharable air interface resources and stops using the sharable air interface resources at a second point in time when the sharable air interface resources are allocated to a second RAT implemented by another base station (e.g., base station 402, WLAN AP 160).

[0090] In various embodiments, the method is repeated as shown in 830. For example, such as based on Figure 7In the communication between the plurality of base stations described at 705 of the present invention, the base station 120 sometimes reallocates the sharable air interface resources between at least two RATs. For illustration, the base station receives a request from a second base station to reallocate the sharable air interface resources. The base station 120 updates the RAT identifier to indicate the reallocation of the sharable air interface resources and sends the updated RAT identifier based on the RAT identifier presence indicator sent at 810 and / or uses the updated RAT identifier presence indicator to send the updated RAT identifier, as described with reference to FIG. Figure 6 For example, assume that base station 120 utilizes a first downlink air interface resource to transmit a RAT identifier and indicates the first downlink air interface resource in a RAT identifier presence indicator. In some aspects, base station 120 identifies a second downlink air interface resource that is different from the first downlink air interface resource and updates the RAT identifier presence indicator to replace the first downlink air interface resource with the second downlink air interface resource. Base station 120 then transmits the updated RAT identifier presence indicator to indicate the second downlink air interface resource and further transmits the RAT identifier using the second downlink air interface resource indicated by the updated RAT identifier presence indicator.

[0091] When reallocating the sharable air interface resources, the base station sometimes determines a second allocation that allocates at least a second sharable air interface resource between the at least two wireless links that is different from the first sharable air interface resource allocated at 810. The base station then updates the RAT identifier to indicate the second allocation.

[0092] Figure 9 An example method 900 for a radio access technology identifier is illustrated. In some embodiments, the operations of the method 900 are performed by a user equipment such as Figure 1 UE 110) executes.

[0093] At 905, the UE receives a radio access technology identifier presence indicator (RAT identifier presence indicator) from a base station, which indicates the presence of a RAT identifier by indicating one or more downlink air interface resources for transmitting the RAT identifier. For example, a UE (e.g., UE 110) receives a RAT identifier presence indicator (e.g., RAT identifier presence indicator 512) from a base station (e.g., base station 120) that implements a first RAT, such as Figure 7In some aspects, the UE 110 receives the RAT identifier presence indicator in a broadcast message, while in other aspects, the UE receives the RAT identifier presence indicator in a layer 3 radio resource control (RRC) message. In some aspects, the RAT identifier indicates an allocation of sharable air interface resources between the first RAT and a second RAT implemented by a second base station (e.g., base station 402).

[0094] At 910, the UE receives a RAT identifier based on one or more downlink air interface resources indicated by the RAT identifier presence indicator. For example, a UE (e.g., UE 110) receives a RAT identifier (e.g., RAT identifier 612) using downlink air interface resources (e.g., RAT identifier beam direction 514, RAT identifier bandwidth portion 516, RAT identifier carrier frequency 518, RAT identifier start time 520, RAT identifier duration 522) indicated by the RAT identifier presence indicator (e.g., RAT identifier presence indicator 512). Figure 7 As described at 735 of . In various aspects, UE 110 blindly decodes the RAT identifier using a waveform having a fixed coding scheme and a fixed modulation scheme. Alternatively or additionally, the UE receives an indication conveying a configuration of the content of the RAT identifier. Sometimes, such as when the shareable air interface resources include a specific duration at a specific start time, UE 110 receives the RAT at the beginning of the duration and implicitly identifies the duration as the allocated air interface resources.

[0095] At 915, the UE identifies an allocation of sharable air interface resources based on the RAT identifier, wherein the allocation of sharable air interface resources allocates the sharable air interface between at least two radio links. Figure 5 Said and Figure 7 At 735 , a UE (e.g., UE 110) determines one or more characteristics of the sharable air interface resources based on the RAT identifier, such as an assigned RAT start time, an assigned RAT duration, an assigned RAT frequency partition, an assigned RAT carrier frequency, or a timing relationship. In some embodiments, the UE identifies the cross-carrier allocation based on the RAT identifier. For illustration, UE 110 receives the RAT identifier using a second carrier frequency that is different from the assigned RAT carrier frequency indicated by the RAT identifier. In various aspects, the UE uses explicit and / or implicit information from the RAT identifier to identify the allocation.

[0096] At 920, the UE communicates on at least two wireless links by processing the sharable air interface resources according to the allocation. For example, the UE (e.g., UE 110) may share the air interface resources according to the allocation. Figure 7The allocation described at 740 is to communicate on a first wireless link using a first RAT and sharable air interface resources (e.g., carrier frequency 424) and to communicate on a second wireless link using a second RAT and sharable air interface resources.

[0097] In various embodiments, the method repeats as shown in 925. For example, the base station 120 may sometimes reallocate the sharable air interface resources and update the RAT identifier to indicate the reallocation and / or send the updated RAT identifier presence indicator. The UE 110 receives the updated RAT identifier (and / or the updated RAT identifier presence indicator) indicating the reallocation of the sharable air interface resources and processes the sharable air interface resources according to the reallocation indicated by the updated RAT identifier.

[0098] Although aspects of the radio access technology identifier have been described using language specific to features and / or methods, the subject matter of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as example implementations of the radio access technology identifier, and other equivalent features and methods are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, various different aspects have been described, and it should be appreciated that each described aspect can be implemented independently or in combination with one or more other described aspects.

[0099] In the following, several examples are described:

[0100] Example 1: A method performed by a first base station for transmitting the allocation of sharable air interface resources between at least two wireless links using different radio access technologies (RATs), the method comprising: receiving air interface resource expected usage information associated with communication through a first wireless link of the at least two wireless links from a second base station; allocating the sharable air interface resources between at least two wireless links using different RATs by analyzing the air interface resource expected usage information; sending a RAT identifier presence indicator, the RAT identifier presence indicator transmitting the presence of the RAT identifier by indicating one or more downlink air interface resources for sending the RAT identifier, the RAT identifier indicating the allocation of the sharable air interface resources between the at least two wireless links; and sending the RAT identifier using one or more downlink air interface resources indicated by the RAT identifier presence indicator.

[0101] Example 2: The method of Example 1, wherein sending the RAT identifier presence indicator further comprises: broadcasting the RAT identifier presence indicator in a broadcast message; or sending at least a portion of the RAT identifier presence indicator in a radio resource control, RRC message.

[0102] Example 3: A method as described in Example 1 or Example 2, wherein indicating one or more downlink air interface resources used to send the RAT identifier further includes indicating one or more of the following: a RAT identifier beam direction; a RAT identifier bandwidth portion; a RAT identifier carrier frequency; a RAT identifier start time; or a RAT identifier duration.

[0103] Example 4: The method of any preceding example, wherein transmitting the RAT identifier further comprises transmitting the RAT identifier using a waveform having a fixed coding scheme and a fixed modulation scheme supported by each of the at least two RATs.

[0104] Example 5: The method as described in any of the preceding examples further includes: using the RAT identifier to indicate one or more characteristics of the shareable air interface resources, the one or more characteristics including at least one of the following: the assigned RAT start time; the assigned RAT duration; the assigned RAT frequency partition; or the assigned RAT carrier frequency.

[0105] Example 6: The method of Example 5, wherein transmitting the RAT identifier further comprises transmitting the RAT identifier using a second carrier frequency different from the assigned RAT carrier frequency.

[0106] Example 7: The method of any preceding example, further comprising sending a second indication conveying a content configuration of the RAT identifier.

[0107] Example 8: A method as described in any of the preceding examples, wherein the shareable air interface resources include a duration defined by an air interface resource partitioning scheme of a first RAT among the different RATs, and wherein sending the RAT identifier further includes: sending the RAT identifier at the beginning of the duration defined by the air interface resource partitioning scheme.

[0108] Example 9: The method as described in any of the preceding examples further includes: reallocating the sharable air interface resources between the at least two RATs; updating the RAT identifier to indicate the reallocation of the sharable air interface resources; and sending the updated RAT identifier to indicate the reallocated sharable air interface resources.

[0109] Example 10: A method as described in Example 9, wherein the allocation is a first allocation, the shareable air interface resource is a first shareable air interface resource, and updating the RAT identifier to indicate the reallocation of the shareable air interface resource includes: determining a second allocation, the second allocation allocating at least a second shareable air interface resource different from the first shareable air interface resource between the at least two wireless links; and updating the RAT identifier to indicate the second allocation.

[0110] Example 11: The method of Example 9 or Example 10, further comprising: receiving a request from the second base station to reallocate the sharable air interface resources.

[0111] Example 12: A method as described in any one of Examples 9 to 11, wherein the one or more downlink air interface resources include a first downlink air interface resource, and the method further includes: determining a second downlink air interface resource that is different from the first downlink air interface resource; updating the RAT identifier existence indicator to replace the first downlink air interface resource with the second downlink air interface resource; sending the updated RAT identifier existence indicator; and using the second downlink air interface resource indicated by the updated RAT identifier existence indicator to send the updated RAT identifier.

[0112] Example 13: A method as described in any one of Examples 1 to 8, wherein the one or more downlink air interface resources include a first downlink air interface resource, and the method further includes: determining a second downlink air interface resource that is different from the first downlink air interface resource; updating the RAT identifier existence indicator to replace the first downlink air interface resource with the second downlink air interface resource; sending the updated RAT identifier existence indicator; and sending the RAT identifier using the second downlink air interface resource indicated by the updated RAT identifier existence indicator.

[0113] Example 14: The method of any preceding example, further comprising: communicating with a user equipment (UE) via a second radio link of the at least two radio links using the sharable air interface resources according to the allocation.

[0114] Example 15: A method performed by a user equipment (UE) for identifying the allocation of shareable air interface resources between at least two wireless links implemented by different radio access technologies (RATs), the method comprising: receiving a radio access technology identifier presence indicator (RAT identifier presence indicator) from a base station, the RAT identifier presence indicator indicating the presence of a RAT identifier by indicating one or more downlink air interface resources for sending the RAT identifier, the RAT identifier indicating the allocation of shareable air interface resources between the at least two wireless links; receiving the RAT identifier based on the one or more downlink air interface resources indicated by the RAT identifier presence indicator; identifying the allocation of the shareable air interface resources based on the RAT identifier; and communicating on the at least two wireless links by processing the shareable air interface resources based on the allocation.

[0115] Example 16: The method of Example 15, wherein receiving the RAT identifier presence indicator further comprises: receiving the RAT identifier presence indicator in a broadcast message; or receiving at least a portion of the RAT identifier presence indicator in a layer 3 radio resource control, RRC message.

[0116] Example 17: The method as described in Example 15 or Example 16 further includes: determining at least one of the following as the one or more downlink air interface resources based on the RAT identifier presence indicator: RAT identifier beam direction; RAT identifier bandwidth portion; RAT identifier carrier frequency; RAT identifier start time; or RAT identifier duration.

[0117] Example 18: The method of any one of Examples 15 to 17, wherein receiving the RAT identifier further comprises blindly decoding the RAT identifier using a waveform having a fixed coding scheme and a fixed modulation scheme supported by each of the at least two RATs.

[0118] Example 19: The method of any one of Examples 15 to 18, further comprising determining one or more characteristics of the shareable air interface resource based on the RAT identifier, the one or more characteristics comprising at least one of: an assigned RAT start time; an assigned RAT duration; an assigned RAT frequency partition; or an assigned RAT carrier frequency.

[0119] Example 20: The method of Example 19, wherein receiving the RAT identifier further comprises receiving the RAT identifier using a second carrier frequency different from the assigned RAT carrier frequency.

[0120] Example 21: The method of any one of Examples 15 to 20, further comprising receiving a second indication conveying a content configuration of the RAT identifier.

[0121] Example 22: A method as described in any of Examples 15 to 21, wherein the shareable air interface resources include a duration defined by an air interface resource partitioning scheme of a first RAT among the different RATs, and wherein receiving the RAT identifier further includes: receiving the RAT identifier at the beginning of the duration defined by the air interface resource partitioning scheme.

[0122] Example 23: The method of any one of Examples 15 to 22 further comprises: receiving an updated RAT identifier indicating a reallocation of the sharable air interface resources; and processing the sharable air interface resources according to the reallocation indicated by the updated RAT identifier.

[0123] Example 24: The method as described in Example 23 further includes: receiving an updated RAT identifier presence indicator, wherein the updated RAT identifier presence indicator indicates a second downlink air interface resource different from the one or more downlink air interface resources; and using the second downlink air interface resource to receive the updated RAT identifier.

[0124] Example 25: The method as described in any one of Examples 15 to 22 further includes: receiving an updated RAT identifier presence indicator, wherein the updated RAT identifier presence indicator indicates a second downlink air interface resource different from the one or more downlink air interface resources; and using the second downlink air interface resource to receive the RAT identifier.

[0125] Example 26: The method of any one of Examples 15 to 25, further comprising communicating over the at least two wireless links by processing the sharable air interface resources according to the allocation.

[0126] Example 27: A base station device comprising: at least one wireless transceiver; a processor; and a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, the instructions being responsive to execution by the processor for instructing the base station device to use the at least one wireless transceiver to perform a method as described in any one of Examples 1 to 14.

[0127] Example 28: A user device comprising: at least one wireless transceiver; a processor; and a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, the instructions being responsive to being executed by the processor for instructing the user device to perform a method as described in any one of Examples 15 to 26.

[0128] Example 29: A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, in response to being executed by a processor, cause the method of any one of Examples 1 to 26 to be performed.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a user equipment (UE), for identifying an allocation of sharable air interface resources between at least two radio links implemented by at least two different radio access technologies (RATs), the method comprising: receiving a radio access technology identifier presence indicator, a RAT identifier presence indicator, from a base station, the RAT identifier presence indicator indicating presence of a RAT identifier by indicating one or more downlink air interface resources for transmitting the RAT identifier, the RAT identifier indicating an allocation of sharable air interface resources between the at least two different RATs; receiving the RAT identifier based on one or more downlink air interface resources indicated by the RAT identifier presence indicator; identifying an allocation of the sharable air interface resources between the at least two different RATs based on the RAT identifiers; and Communicating over the at least two wireless links is performed by processing the sharable air interface resources using the at least two different RATs in accordance with the allocation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein Receiving the RAT identifier presence indicator further comprises: receiving the RAT identifier presence indicator in a broadcast message; or At least a portion of the RAT identifier presence indicator is received in a layer 3 radio resource control (RRC) message.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein Receiving the RAT identifier further includes: The RAT identifier is blindly decoded using a waveform having a fixed coding scheme and a fixed modulation scheme supported by each of the at least two different RATs.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein The one or more characteristics of the sharable air interface resource include at least one of the following: The assigned RAT start time; The assigned RAT duration; the assigned RAT frequency partition; and The assigned RAT carrier frequency.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein The sharable air interface resources comprise a duration defined by an air interface resource partitioning scheme of a first one of the different RATs, and Receiving the RAT identifier further includes: The RAT identifier is received at the beginning of a time duration defined by an air interface resource partitioning scheme of the first RAT.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: receiving an updated RAT identifier indicating a reallocation of sharable air interface resources from a first RAT of the at least two different RATs to a second RAT of the at least two different RATs; as well as The sharable air interface resources are processed according to the reallocation indicated by the updated RAT identifier.

7. A method, performed by a first base station, for communicating an allocation of sharable air interface resources between at least two wireless links using at least two different radio access technologies (RATs), the method comprising: receiving, from a second base station, air interface resource expected usage information associated with communications on a first wireless link of the at least two wireless links; Allocating the sharable air interface resources between the at least two wireless links and the at least two different RATs by analyzing the expected usage information of the air interface resources; transmitting a RAT identifier presence indicator, the RAT identifier presence indicator conveying the presence of the RAT identifier by indicating one or more downlink air interface resources for transmitting the RAT identifier, the RAT identifier indicating an allocation of the sharable air interface resources between the at least two different RATs; as well as The RAT identifier is sent using one or more downlink air interface resources indicated by the RAT identifier presence indicator.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein: Sending the RAT identifier presence indicator further includes: broadcasting the RAT identifier presence indicator in a broadcast message; or At least a portion of the RAT identifier presence indicator is sent in a radio resource control (RRC) message.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein: Sending the RAT identifier further includes: The RAT identifier is transmitted using a waveform having a fixed coding scheme and a fixed modulation scheme supported by each of the at least two different RATs.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising: Indicating, using the RAT identifier, one or more characteristics of the sharable air interface resource, the one or more characteristics comprising at least one of the following: The assigned RAT start time; The assigned RAT duration; the assigned RAT frequency partition; and The assigned RAT carrier frequency.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein: Indicating one or more downlink air interface resources for transmitting the RAT identifier further comprises indicating one or more of: RAT identifier beam direction; RAT identifier bandwidth part; RAT identifier carrier frequency; RAT identifier start time; and RAT identifier duration.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein: The sharable air interface resources comprise a duration defined by an air interface resource partitioning scheme of a first RAT of the at least two different RATs, and The sending of the RAT identifier further includes: The RAT identifier is sent at the beginning of a time duration defined by an air interface resource partitioning scheme of the first RAT.

13. The method of any one of claims 7 to 12, further comprising: reallocating the sharable air interface resources from a first RAT of the at least two different RATs to a second RAT of the at least two different RATs; updating the RAT identifier to indicate reallocation of the sharable air interface resources from the first RAT to the second RAT; and An updated RAT identifier is sent to indicate the reallocated sharable air interface resources.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein: Reallocating the sharable air interface resources from a first RAT among the at least two different RATs to a second RAT among the at least two different RATs further comprises: receiving a request from the second base station to reallocate the sharable air interface resources from the first RAT to the second RAT; and The reallocation is performed based on receiving the request.

15. An apparatus for a radio access technology identifier, comprising: at least one wireless transceiver; processor; as well as A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, in response to being executed by the processor, direct the apparatus to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 14 using the at least one wireless transceiver.

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