WO2021165567A1

WO2021165567A1 - Co-existence of wireless local area networks and cellular networks

Info

Publication number: WO2021165567A1
Application number: PCT/FI2021/050075
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karsten A. PETERSEN; Lars Holst Christensen; Jan HVIID; Nuno KIILERICH PRATAS; Erika PORTELA LOPES DE ALMEIDA; Stig BLÜCHER BRINK
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2020-02-21
Filing date: 2021-02-04
Publication date: 2021-08-26

Abstract

According to an aspect, there is provided a server for controlling one or more wireless local area networks co-existing with a cellular network. The server comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processor, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the server at least to perform the following. The server receives, from one of an access node of the cellular network and a server for controlling dataflow of the access node, a first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window. In response to said receiving, the server transmits, to each access point of the one or more wireless local area networks, a second request for blocking transmissions as requested in a respective wireless local area network.

Description

CO-EXISTENCE OF WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORKS AND CELLULAR NETWORKS

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various example embodiments relate to wireless communications. BACKGROUND

In industrial setups, it is sometimes required that Wi-Fi and a cellular network (e.g., NR-U, LTE-LAA or eLAA) co-exist on the same unlicensed frequency bands. Due to the nature of how the frequency bands are shared between the two technologies, it may not be possible, in such a scenario, to secure high priority communications for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications as Wi-Fi used in said applications may interfere with the co-existing cellular network. Therefore, there is a need for a setup where the access of the cellular network is secured in a way which will enable maintaining the requirements for the high priority communication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

According to an aspect, there is provided the subject matter of the in-depend- ent claims. Embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the invention is set out by the independent claims.

The embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the following, example embodiments will be described in greater detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate exemplified wireless communication systems; Figures 3, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C, 7A, 7B and 7C illustrate exemplary pro cesses according to embodiments; and

Figure 8 to 10 illustrate apparatuses according to embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

In the following, different exemplifying embodiments will be described using, as an example of an access architecture to which the embodiments may be applied, a radio access architecture based on long term evolution advanced (LTE Advanced, LTE-A), long term evolution license assisted access (LTE-LAA), enhanced licensed assisted access (eLAA), new radio (NR, 5G) or unlicensed new radio (NR-U, 5G), without restricting the embodiments to such an architecture, however. It is obvious for a person skilled in the art that the embodiments may also be applied to other kinds of communications networks having suitable means by adjusting parameters and procedures appropriately. Some ex amples of other options for suitable systems are the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) radio access network (UTRAN or E-UTRAN), long term evolution (LTE, the same as E-UTRA), wireless local area network (WLAN or WiFi), worldwide interoper ability for microwave access (WiMAX), Bluetooth®, personal communications services (PCS), ZigBee®, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), systems using ultra- wideband (UWB) technology, sensor networks, mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) and Internet Protocol multimedia subsystems (IMS) or any combination thereof.

Figure 1 depicts examples of simplified system architectures only showing some elements and functional entities, all being logical units, whose implementation may differ from what is shown. The connections shown in Figure 1 are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the system typically comprises also other functions and structures than those shown in Figure 1.

The embodiments are not, however, restricted to the system given as an exam ple but a person skilled in the art may apply the solution to other communication systems provided with necessary properties.

The example of Figure 1 shows a part of an exemplifying radio access network.

Figure 1 shows user devices 100 and 102 (equally called terminal devices) configured to be in a wireless connection on one or more communication channels in a cell with an access node (such as (e/g)NodeB) 104 providing the cell. The physical link from a user device to a (e/g)NodeB is called uplink or reverse link and the physical link from the (e/g)NodeB to the user device is called downlink or forward link. It should be appreciated that (e/g)NodeBs or their functionalities may be implemented by using any node, host, server or access point etc. entity suitable for such a usage.

A communications system typically comprises more than one (e/g)NodeB in which case the (e/g)NodeBs may also be configured to communicate with one another over links, wired or wireless, designed for the purpose. These links may be used for sig nalling purposes. The (e/g)NodeB is a computing device configured to control the radio resources of communication system it is coupled to. The NodeB may also be referred to as a base station, an access point or any other type of interfacing device including a relay station capable of operating in a wireless environment. The (e/g)NodeB includes or is coupled to transceivers. From the transceivers of the (e/g)NodeB, a connection is pro vided to an antenna unit that establishes bi-directional radio links to user devices. The antenna unit may comprise a plurality of antennas or antenna elements. The (e/g)NodeB is further connected to core network 110 (CN or next generation core NGC). Depending on the system, the counterpart on the CN side can be a serving gateway (S-GW, routing and forwarding user data packets), packet data network gateway (P-GW), for providing connectivity of user devices (UEs) to external packet data networks, or mobile manage ment entity (MME), etc. The user device (also called UE, user equipment, user terminal or terminal de vice) illustrates one type of an apparatus to which resources on the air interface are allo cated and assigned, and thus any feature described herein with a user device may be im plemented with a corresponding apparatus, such as a relay node. An example of such a relay node is a layer 3 relay (self-backhauling relay) towards the base station.

The user device typically refers to a portable computing device that includes wireless mobile communication devices operating with or without a subscriber identifi cation module (SIM), including, but not limited to, the following types of devices: a mobile station (mobile phone), smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), handset, device us ing a wireless modem (alarm or measurement device, etc.), laptop and/or touch screen computer, tablet, game console, notebook, and multimedia device. It should be appreci ated that a user device may also be a nearly exclusive uplink only device, of which an ex ample is a camera or video camera loading images or video clips to a network. A user device may also be a device having capability to operate in Internet of Things (loT) net work which is a scenario in which objects are provided with the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. The user device (or in some embodiments a layer 3 relay node) is configured to perform one or more of user equipment functionalities. The user device may also be called a sub scriber unit, mobile station, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal or user equip ment (UE) just to mention but a few names or apparatuses.

Various techniques described herein may also be applied to a cyber-physical system (CPS) (a system of collaborating computational elements controlling physical en tities). CPS may enable the implementation and exploitation of massive amounts of inter connected 1CT devices (sensors, actuators, processors microcontrollers, etc.) embedded in physical objects at different locations. Mobile cyber physical systems, in which the physical system in question has inherent mobility, are a subcategory of cyber-physical systems. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robotics and electronics transported by humans or animals.

It should be understood that, in Figure 1, user devices are depicted to include 2 antennas only for the sake of clarity. The number of reception and/or transmission an tennas may naturally vary according to a current implementation.

Additionally, although the apparatuses have been depicted as single entities, different units, processors and/or memory units (not all shown in Figure 1) may be im plemented.

5G enables using multiple input - multiple output (M1MO) antennas, many more base stations or nodes than the LTE (a so-called small cell concept), including macro sites operating in co-operation with smaller stations and employing a variety of radio technologies depending on service needs, use cases and/or spectrum available. 5G mobile communications supports a wide range of use cases and related applications including video streaming, augmented reality, different ways of data sharing and various forms of machine type applications, including vehicular safety, different sensors and real-time con trol. 5G is expected to have multiple radio interfaces, for example below 6GHz, cmWave and mmWave, and also being integradable with existing legacy radio access technologies, such as the LTE. Integration with the LTE may be implemented, at least in the early phase, as a system, where macro coverage is provided by the LTE and 5G radio interface access comes from small cells by aggregation to the LTE. In other words, 5G is planned to support both inter-RAT operability (such as LTE-5G) and inter-Rl operability (inter-radio inter face operability, such as below 6GHz - cmWave, below 6GHz - cmWave - mmWave). One of the concepts considered to be used in 5G networks is network slicing in which multiple independent and dedicated virtual sub-networks (network instances) may be created within the same infrastructure to run services that have different requirements on la tency, reliability, throughput and mobility.

The current architecture in LTE networks is fully distributed in the radio and fully centralized in the core network. The low latency applications and services in 5G re quire to bring the content close to the radio which leads to local break out and multi-ac cess edge computing (MEC). 5G enables analytics and knowledge generation to occur at the source of the data. This approach requires leveraging resources that may not be con tinuously connected to a network such as laptops, smartphones, tablets and sensors. MEC provides a distributed computing environment for application and service hosting. It also has the ability to store and process content in close proximity to cellular subscribers for faster response time. Edge computing covers a wide range of technologies such as wire less sensor networks, mobile data acquisition, mobile signature analysis, cooperative dis tributed peer-to-peer ad hoc networking and processing also classifiable as local cloud/fog computing and grid/mesh computing, dew computing, mobile edge computing, cloudlet, distributed data storage and retrieval, autonomic self-healing networks, remote cloud services, augmented and virtual reality, data caching, Internet of Things (massive connectivity and/or latency critical), critical communications (autonomous vehicles, traf fic safety, real-time analytics, time-critical control, healthcare applications).

The communication system is also able to communicate with other networks, such as a public switched telephone network or the Internet 112, or utilize services pro vided by them. The communication network may also be able to support the usage of cloud services, for example at least part of core network operations may be carried out as a cloud service (this is depicted in Figure 1 by "cloud" 114). The communication system may also comprise a central control entity, or a like, providing facilities for networks of different operators to cooperate for example in spectrum sharing.

Edge cloud may be brought into radio access network (RAN) by utilizing net work function virtualization (NVF) and software defined networking (SDN). Using edge cloud may mean access node operations to be carried out, at least partly, in a server, host or node operationally coupled to a remote radio head or base station comprising radio parts. It is also possible that node operations will be distributed among a plurality of serv ers, nodes or hosts. Application of cloudRAN architecture enables RAN real time functions being carried out at the RAN side (in a distributed unit, DU 104) and non-real time func tions being carried out in a centralized manner (in a centralized unit, CU 108).

It should also be understood that the distribution of labor between core net work operations and base station operations may differ from that of the LTE or even be non-existent. Some other technology advancements probably to be used are Big Data and all-IP, which may change the way networks are being constructed and managed. 5G (or new radio, NR) networks are being designed to support multiple hierarchies, where MEC servers can be placed between the core and the base station or nodeB (gNB). It should be appreciated that MEC can be applied in 4G networks as well.

5G may also utilize satellite communication to enhance or complement the coverage of 5G service, for example by providing backhauling. Possible use cases are providing service continuity for machine-to-machine (M2M) or Internet of Things (IoT) devices or for passengers on board of vehicles, or ensuring service availability for critical communications, and future railway/maritime/aeronautical communications. Satellite communication may utilise geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite systems, but also low earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems, in particular mega-constellations (systems in which hundreds of (nano) satellites are deployed). Each satellite 106 in the mega-constellation may cover several satellite-enabled network entities that create on-ground cells. The on ground cells may be created through an on-ground relay node 104 or by a gNB located on ground or in a satellite.

It is obvious for a person skilled in the art that the depicted system is only an example of a part of a radio access system and in practice, the system may comprise a plurality of (e/g)NodeBs, the user device may have an access to a plurality of radio cells and the system may comprise also other apparatuses, such as physical layer relay nodes or other network elements, etc. At least one of the (e/g)NodeBs or may be a Home(e/g)nodeB. Additionally, in a geographical area of a radio communication system a plurality of different kinds of radio cells as well as a plurality of radio cells may be pro vided. Radio cells may be macro cells (or umbrella cells) which are large cells, usually having a diameter of up to tens of kilometers, or smaller cells such as micro-, femto- or picocells. The (e/g)NodeBs of Figure 1 may provide any kind of these cells. Acellular radio system may be implemented as a multilayer network including several kinds of cells. Typ ically, in multilayer networks, one access node provides one kind of a cell or cells, and thus a plurality of (e/g)NodeBs are required to provide such a network structure.

For fulfilling the need for improving the deployment and performance of com munication systems, the concept of "plug-and-play" (e/g)NodeBs has been introduced. Typically, a network which is able to use "plug-and-play" (e/g)Node Bs, includes, in addi tion to Home (e/g)NodeBs (H(e/g)nodeBs), a home node B gateway, or HNB-GW (not shown in Figure 1). A HNB Gateway (HNB-GW), which is typically installed within an op erator’s network may aggregate traffic from a large number of HNBs back to a core net work.

In the embodiments, the term "high priority" or "high priority communica tion/data" is referring to data which has a certain level of priority to be sent inside a given window using managed scheduling. It does not necessarily imply that the data is required to be sent with low latency.

In some communications scenarios (especially in industrial ones), it may sometimes be required that wireless local area network (e.g., a WiFi network) and a cel lular network (e.g., NR-U, LTE-LAA or eLAA network) co-exist on the same unlicensed fre quency bands. Coexistence in communications may be defined, in general, as functioning of different wireless devices and/or standards in the same frequency band. Due to the nature of how the frequency bands are shared between the two technologies, it may not be possible, in such a scenario, to secure high priority communications for Industrial In ternet of Things (lloT) applications as WiFi commonly used in said applications may in terfere with the co-existing cellular network. Therefore, there is a need for a setup where the access of the cellular network is secured in a way which will enable maintaining the requirements for the high priority communication. The embodiments seek to provide a setup where the access of the cellular network is secured in a way which enables main taining the requirements for the high priority communication by use of managed sched uling.

Figure 2 illustrates another example of a communications system 200 to which some embodiments may be applied. The communications system 200 may corre spond the communication system as discussed in relation to Figure 1 or a part thereof. Therefore, any of the terminal devices 210, 212, 213, 214 may correspond to either of elements 100, 102 of Figure 1 and any of the access points 201, 202, 203 and the access node 204 may correspond to the element 104 of Figure 1. The communications system 200 may specifically correspond to a communications system in an office environment, a factory environment or in smart home.

Referring to Figure 2, the communications system 200 comprises three ac cess points 201, 202, 203 of wireless local area networks (WLANs), e.g., WiFi networks, providing three corresponding cells (or equally coverage areas) 205, 206, 207 and an ac cess node 204 of a cellular network providing a cell 208. Said cellular network may be specifically an unlicensed cellular network (e.g., a NR-U, LTE-LAA or eLAA network). It is assumed, here, that the WLANs and a cellular network co-exist on the same (unlicensed) frequency bands, at least in part. Each access point 201, 202, 203 is serving one or more terminal devices 210, 212, 213, 214 located within a corresponding coverage area 205, 206, 207. The access node is serving a terminal device 215 which may be specifically an (l)loT device. The connections between the terminal devices 210, 212, 213, 214 and the access points 201, 202, 203 and between the terminal device 215 of the cellular network and the access node 204 (illustrated with double-headed dashed arrows) may be wire less connections.

In the illustrated exemplary communication scenario, an (l)loT device 215, assumed to have high priority communication requirements, is connected to the access node 204 as well as being in the coverage area 206 of the second access point 202. Con sequently, the second access point 202 may cause degradation of the high priority com munication capabilities of the cellular network for the (l)loT device 215.

On the other hand, the first access point 201 does not interfere with the com munication of the access node 204. However, the terminal device 211 connected to the first access point 201 is assumed to be a hidden node which may possibly interfere with the access node 204. A hidden node is defined, in general, as a node (e.g., a terminal de vice) which is able to communicate with an access point, but cannot directly communi cate with other nodes that are communicating with said access point. This leads to diffi culties in medium access control sublayer since multiple nodes are able to send data packets to the access point simultaneously which, in turn, creates interference at the ac cess point resulting in loss of data packets.

Finally, the third access point 203 directly interferes with the access node 204 as the access node 204 is located within the coverage area 207 of the third access point 203.

As discussed above, all the access points 201, 202, 203 themselves or some of their connected devices may interfere with the transmissions between the access node 204 and the terminal device 215 of the cellular network in the illustrated communica tion scenario. To overcome these potential interference issues, a server 220 (or equally a control server) is introduced for managing the communication in the wireless local area networks and the cellular network. The server 220 is used for ensuring that high prior ity communication over the (unlicensed) cellular network will be prioritized when needed. Specifically, this is achieved by blocking the potentially interfering transmis sions in the wireless local area networks (even transmissions by hidden nodes) when a high priority transmission is scheduled in the cellular network. Both transmissions by access points and terminal devices may be blocked using the server 220. The server 220 may be connected electrically to each access point 201, 202, 203 as well as to the access node 204, preferably via wired communication links so as to ensure stable connections between said devices (illustrated with double-headed solid arrows). The server 220 may have at least the following functionalities:

• making sure all access nodes and access points are synchronized so that a particular frequency band will be blocked at the same time for all devices,

• keeping track of the blocking sequence, i.e., being responsible for handling the time slicing making sure that all the devices connected to the server know when a blocking is requested and confirmed and

• getting information from the access node (or nodes) about the required bandwidth. The operation of the server 220 is discussed in more detail in relation to be low embodiments.

It should be noted that while the exemplary communication scenario of Fig ure 2 illustrates three wireless local area networks coexisting with a cellular network so as to demonstrate different potential issues resulting from co-existence (to be solved or alleviated by embodiments discussed below), in a more general embodiment of a system according to embodiments, one or more wireless local area networks co-existing, at least partly, with one or more cellular networks may be provided.

Figure 3 shows a signaling diagram illustrating signaling between an access node of a cellular network (e.g., a NR-U network or other unlicensed cellular network), a server and an access point of a wireless local area network (e.g., a WiFi network) for pri oritizing certain (high priority) communications in the cellular network over communi cations in the wireless local area network according to embodiments. While Figure 3 il lustrates only a single access point of a wireless local area network co-existing with a cellular network provided by an access node for simplicity of discussion, the processes to be discussed below are applicable in an equivalent manner also in a scenario where a plurality of such access points exist. Figure 3 may correspond to a part of the communi cations system of Figure 2 (namely, comprising at least elements 204, 220 and at least one of 201, 202, 203). Specifically, the access node may correspond to access node 204 of Figure 2, the server may correspond to the server 220 of Figure 2 and the access point may correspond to the access point 201, 202 or 203 of Figure 2. In the embodiments dis cussed in relation to Figure 3, it may be assumed that the access node, the server system and the access point are synchronized with each other (as will be described in more de tail in relation to further embodiments).

Referring to Figure 3, an access node for a cellular network, initially, trans mits, in message 301, to a server for controlling one or more wireless local area net works at least partly co-existing with the cellular network, a first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window (or at least one pre-defined time slot). As mentioned above, the cellular network may be specifically an unlicensed cellular network (i.e., a cellular network oper ating using at least one unlicensed frequency band). The cellular network may comprise one or more access nodes which comprise at least the access node operation of which is illustrated in Figure 3. The communication between the access node and the server may be arranged via a wired communications link. The pre-defined frequency resources de fined in the first request may comprise at least one or more frequency bands (or equally one or more frequency channels). Said at least one pre-defined time window may corre spond to a single time window so that the first request corresponds to a one-time reser vation of said pre-defined frequency resources (i.e., of the associated channel). Alterna tively, said at least one pre-defined time window may correspond to a plurality of time windows or specifically to a continuous periodic reservation of time windows. Said con tinuous periodic reservation of time windows (or semi-persistent scheduling) may be defined for a pre-defined number of subsequent time windows or as indefinite (i.e., be ing effectively for an infinite number of time windows). The continuous periodic reser vation may be employed, for example, (l)loT applications where many transmissions are periodic and predictable in time. In some embodiments, the access node may request, in the first request, a certain percentage of the resources for a certain duration of time.

Said at least one pre-defined time window may correspond to at least one time window when high priority communications in the cellular network (i.e., high pri ority transmission by the access node and/or high priority transmission by a terminal device of the cellular network to the access node) are expected. Said transmission in block 301 may be specifically triggered by the access node detecting that such high pri ority communications at said at least one pre-defined time window are expected. A high priority communication may be defined, here and in the following, as a communication (i.e., a transmission by the access node or by a terminal device of the cellular network to the access node) where acceptable latency for the communication is below a pre-defined limit.

In some embodiments, the first request may comprise information on the re quirements of the cellular network in regards to required bandwidth for high priority data.

In some embodiments, the first request may be transmitted, instead of the ac cess node, by a server for controlling dataflow of the access node. Said server may also be configured to control dataflow of one or more other access nodes of the cellular net work (if any exist). According to a more general definition, said server may control data flow in said cellular network.

The server receives, in block 302, the first request from the access node. In response to the receiving in block 302, the server transmits, in message 303, to each of one or more access points (of only one is illustrated in Figure 3) of the one or more wire less local area networks, a second request for blocking transmissions using said pre-de fined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time win dow in a respective wireless local area network. The second request may correspond, fully or partly, to the first request. The first request may be a more generic request com pared to the second request. For example, some of the information comprised in the first request (e.g., bandwidth requirements) may be omitted from the second request. The second request may be generated, by the server, based on the first request.

If said at least one pre-defined time window defined in the first request com prises a plurality of pre-defined time windows, the second request may be a request for blocking transmissions using said pre-defined frequency resources during all of said plu rality of pre-defined time windows, at least one of said plurality of pre-defined time win dows or only one of said plurality of pre-defined time windows. In other words, each second request may configure an access point for performing blocking of transmissions during one pre-defined time window or multiple pre-defined time windows.

In some embodiments, the server may transmit, in response to the receiving of the first request in block 302, a positive acknowledgment (ACK) back to the access node. Said ACK may be transmitted before (or in some cases after) the transmission of second request in block 302.

The access point receives, in block 304, from the server for controlling at least said wireless local area network, the second request. Subsequently, the access point causes, in block 305, blocking of transmissions in the wireless local area network using said pre-defined frequency resources during said at least one pre-defined time window (or at least one of said at least one pre-defined time window). Specifically, the access point blocks, in block 305, both transmissions by the access point itself and trans missions by any terminal devices of the wireless local area network by communicating with said terminal devices.

In some embodiments, the access point may transmit, in response to the re ceiving of the second request in block 304, a positive acknowledgment (ACK) back to the server. Said ACK may be transmitted before (or in some cases after) the causing blocking of transmissions in block 305.

The blocking of transmissions (in block 305) by the terminal devices in the wireless local area network may be specifically achieved by sending out a Clear To Send -to-self (CTS-to-self) frame with a duration setting corresponding to one of said at least one pre-defined time window (or at least comprising one of said at least one pre-defined time window). Receiving, by a terminal device of wireless local area network, a CTS-to- self frame causes said terminal device to defer from accessing said pre-defined fre quency resources during a corresponding one of said at least one pre-defined time win dow. Normally in order to reserve certain frequency resources (i.e., a certain channel) for a pre-defined time period, the access point of the WLAN and one or more terminal device of the WLAN will run a Ready To Send (RTS) - Clear To Send (CTS) sequence. If a CTS frame is transmitted by the access point, all terminal devices not involved in the cor responding transfer will sleep for the period indicated in the CTS frame, hence try not to access the channel. The CTS-to-self frame was, originally, created to be used in cases where an access point wants to reserve the channel without first having to send a RTS frame. Functionalities related to RTS, CTS and CTS-to-self frames are discussed in fur ther detail in embodiments below. A separate CTS-to-self frame may be transmitted for each of said at least one pre-defined time window to be blocked.

The access node performs, in block 306, at least one of transmitting and re ceiving data in the cellular network using said pre-defined frequency resources during said at least one of said at least one pre-defined time window (i.e., during one or more blocking periods defined in the second request). High priority data may, specifically, be prioritized in said transmitting/receiving in block 306. However, other (non-high prior ity) data may also be transmitted/received if there is enough bandwidth available dur ing the said at least one pre-defined time window. The actual contents or use of the data which is transmitted/received is not of importance in view of the embodiments.

If multiple time windows are defined in the second request (i.e., in message 303), blocks 305, 306 may be carried out in parallel. In such a case, blocks 305, 306 may correspond to periodical or semi-persistent operation.

Figures 4A, 4B and 4C illustrates processes according to embodiments for prioritizing certain (high priority) communications in the cellular network over commu nications in the wireless local area network. The processes illustrated by Figures 4A, 4B and 4C may be carried out by an access node of a cellular network, a server and an ac cess point of a wireless local area network coexisting with said cellular network, respec tively. Specifically, said access node may correspond to the access node 204 of Figure 2, said server may correspond to the server 220 of Figure 2 and said access point may cor respond to any of the access points 201 to 203 of Figure 2. As the processes illustrated in Figures 4A, 4B and 4C may be carried out parallel to each other, said Figures are dis cussed in the following jointly in a (roughly) chronological order.

Referring first to Figure 4B, a server causes, initially, synchronizing, in block 411, a cellular network and one or more wireless local area networks. In other words, the server causes synchronizing at least the access node of the cellular network (and op tionally any other access nodes of the cellular network) and the one or more access points of the one or more (co-existing) wireless local area networks. Specifically, the synchronization may be achieved by communicating between the server and the afore mentioned access nodes/points (preferably, via corresponding wired communication links) for establishing a common clock. In practice, the synchronization may comprise transmitting, by the server, at least one clock signal message (e.g., comprising infor mation on current time or past time such as time of transmission of previous message) to the access node/point(s) and receiving, by the access node, one or more responses from the access node/point(s) (e.g., an acknowledgment). As mentioned in relation to above embodiments, the server is preferably connected to the one or more access nodes and the one or more access points via wired connections. The server acts as a master source of time in this synchronization process since it also is responsible for informing the access point(s) regarding when the actual time window to be blocked occurs. The synchronization may be carried out, for example, by using standard ethernet IP connec tions which may include specifically the IEEE 1588 precision time synchronization pro tocol. The IEEE 1588 precision time synchronization protocol provides synchronization precision of less than 1 gs which may be considered sufficient for carrying out the em bodiments. The synchronization process is further illustrated in block 401 of Figure 4A, where a particular access node is synchronized with the server, and in block 421 of Fig ure 4C, where a particular access point is synchronized with the server. As mentioned above, the synchronization process may be initiated by the server.

After the synchronization in block 401, 411, 421 of Figures 4A, 4B and 4C, the access node transmits, in block 402, a first request for blocking transmission using pre defined frequency resources (e.g., one or more frequency bands) during at least one pre defined time window, similar to as discussed in relation to the element 301 of Figure 3. Said pre-defined frequency resources may correspond to current frequency require ments for the access node (e.g., required bandwidth to secure transmission/reception of high priority data).

As discussed in relation to element 302 of Figure 3, the server receives, in block 412, the first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency re sources during at least one pre-defined time window from one of the access node of the cellular network and a server for controlling dataflow of (at least) the access node. The server evaluates, in block 413, the first request against the current network conditions in the one or more wireless local area networks. The information on the current network conditions may be maintained in a memory of the server. For example, the server may evaluate, in block 413, the first request (or the information comprised therein) against one or more of the following: resource availability in the one or more wireless local area networks, frequency bands supported by access points of the one or more wireless local area networks, expiration of the at least one pre-defined time window (e.g., have the at least one pre-defined time window already passed), failures in the one or more wireless local area networks and other (first) requests received by the server (e.g., whether the first request is in conflict with an earlier request for blocking transmissions). In some em bodiments, the server may evaluate, in block 413, the amount of frequency resources or bandwidth requested in the first request (possibly taking into account also the timing and/or duration of said at least one pre-defined time window) against said current net work conditions. In response to the evaluating indicating that satisfying the first request does not (seriously) compromise the operation of the one or more wireless local area net works in block 414, the server transmits, in block 415, a second request for blocking transmissions to the one or more access points of the one or more wireless local area networks coexisting with the cellular network (similar to as discussed in relation to ele ment 303 of Figure 3). In response to the evaluating indicating that satisfying the first request compromises the operation of the one or more wireless local area networks in block 414, the server transmits, in block 418, a rejection message indicating a rejection of the second request back to the access node. The rejection message may comprise infor mation on why the request was rejected.

Each of the one or more access points to which the second request was trans mitted receives, in block 422, the second request from the server. In response to the re ceiving in block 422, each of the one or more access points transmits, in block 423, a positive acknowledgment (ACK) back to the server (before moving forward with satisfy ing said second request). If the server receives a positive acknowledgment from each access point to which the second request was transmitted in block 416, the blocking of transmissions in the one or more wireless local area networks using said pre-defined frequency re sources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time window (i.e., blocking as defined in the second request) is expected to be successful and thus no further actions are required from the server. On the other hand, if no positive acknowledgment is re ceived from at least one access point, it is expected that the transmissions in the one or more wireless local area networks using said pre-defined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time window cannot be fully blocked and thus the server transmits, in block 417, information on a failure to block transmissions (i.e., a failure to satisfy the first request) to said one of the access node and the server for con trolling dataflow of the access node (i.e., to the entity from which the first request was received). Block 417 may be triggered also in response to receiving a negative acknowl edgment (NACK) from an access point of the one or more access points (the reception of a NACK indicating that ACKs will not be received from all access points).

In response to receiving either a rejection or failure message in block 403, the access node may cancel (or postpone) the planned transmission of high priority data in the cellular network. The process of Figure 4A (or at least the process starting from block 402) may be repeated in the hope of a better outcome.

After an access point has transmitted a positive acknowledgment in block 423, it causes blocking of transmissions in a wireless local area network of the access point. Namely, the access point performs (at least) the following two steps for each of said at least one time window defined in the second request.

First, the access point transmits, in block 424, before a (next) pre-defined time window defined in the second request, a command to defer using said pre-defined fre quency resources during said pre-defined time window to one or more terminal devices of the wireless local area network. Specifically, said command may be a Clear To Send -to- self (CTS-to-self) frame with a duration setting corresponding to said at least one pre defined time window. This type of message has exactly the desired effect, that is, receiving a CTS-to-self frame triggers any receiving terminal device to defer from accessing the channel for the duration indicated in said CTS-to-self frame. To ensure that the CTS-to- self frame is given priority above other messages transmitted by other devices, said com mand may be transmitted using a wait interval of a Point Coordination Function (PCF) interframe space (i.e., a wait interval of PIFS). This way said command takes precedence over any messages transmitted using Distributed Coordination Function Interframe Space (DCF Interframe Space or DIFS for short) which is longer than PIFS. DIFS is typically used by any devices wanting to use certain channel (i.e., certain frequency resources). An example of how the command is transmitted is discussed below in relation to Figure 5.

Second, In addition to triggering blocking of transmissions by the terminal devices (e.g., IIoT devices) in the wireless local area network (as discussed above), the access point must obviously block also its own transmissions. To that end, the access point blocks, in block 425, transmissions of the access point using said pre-defined fre quency resources during said pre-defined time window (as defined in the second re quest).

As mentioned above, the aforementioned two steps are performed separately for each time window defined in the second request. Thus, blocks 424, 425 may be con sidered to performed in parallel, assuming multiple time windows are defined in the second request.

In embodiments where the first request is received in block 412 from a server of the cellular network, instead of the access node, the rejection and failure mes sage may be transmitted, in blocks 417, 418, also to said server of the cellular network.

Figure 5 shows, using a timeline of allocated time slots of an access point of a wireless local area network, an example of how a command to defer using said pre-de fined frequency resources during one of said at least one pre-defined time window is transmitted from said access point to a terminal device of the wireless local area network (as previously discussed in relation to block 424 of Figure 4C). In the illustrated example, said wireless local area network is assumed to correspond to a WiFi network. In Figure 5, P1FS 502 (being notably shorter than DIFS 505) is used between the previous WiFi frame 501 and the transmission of the CTS-to-self frame 503. The element 505 may include, in addition to DIFS, a random backoff which may depend on the channel congestion per ceived by the corresponding access point. Following the blocked period 504 reserved for transmissions to/from an access node of a cellular network, normal WiFi operation is re sumed, that is, after a DIFS 505, another WiFi frame 506 is received by the access point. Both of the illustrated WiFi frames 501, 506 may include also a Short InterFrame Space (S1FS) and an ACK.

The format of the duration field in a CTS frame for WiFi is shown in the fol lowing table:

If all devices support full duration handling, then the system will be able to block the channel for up to approximately 32 milliseconds, assuming some guard time is required before and after the blocked time window. However, regardless of the range of the duration field, Listen Before Talk (LBT) may be defined such that the maximum Channel Occupancy Time (COT) is 10 ms.

To ensure the pre-defined frequency resources (i.e., the channel comprising one or more frequency bands) are blocked during a particular time window of at least one time window defined in the first/second request, the channel must be free at the time of the transmission of the CTS-to-self frame. This introduces the following two po tential problems:

1. If the channel is free at the time of the transmission of the CTS-to-self frame, any terminal device of the wireless local area network (e.g., a WiFi network) is able to start a transmission which prevents the server from transmitting a CTS-to-self frame.

2. The length of an ongoing transmission may potentially exceed into a pre defined time window preventing the transmission of a CTS-to-self frame.

Figures 6A, 6B and 6C illustrates processes according to embodiments for prioritizing certain (high priority) communications in the cellular network over commu nications in the wireless local area network while also solving the aforementioned two problems. Specifically, Figure 6A illustrates, as a flowchart, a process to be carried out by an access point of a wireless local area network (e.g., a WiFi network) while Figures 6B and 6C illustrate exemplary timelines of allocated time slots of the access point and a terminal device of the wireless local area network (Figure 6B) and of only the access point (Figure 6C). Figures 6B and 6C relate specifically to solving the first and second problems mentioned above, respectively. The processes illustrated by Figures 6A, 6B and 6C may be carried out by any access point of a wireless local area network co-exist- ing with a cellular network. Specifically, said access point may correspond to any of the access points 201 to 203 of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 6A, the access point may initially carry out processes de scribed in relation to block 411 to 414 of Figure 4 or at least in relation to block 304 of Figure 3. In other words, the access point at least receives, from a server, a second re quest for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window in the wireless local area network in block 601. Similar to as discussed in relation to above embodiments, said at least one pre-defined time win dow defined in the second request may correspond to at least one pre-defined time win dow defined in a first request received by the server from an access node or to a subset thereof. Then, the access point starts, in block 602, a timer, where the expiration of the timer indicates a time for transmitting, to one or more terminal devices, a command to defer transmissions so as to block transmissions during a (first) pre-defined time win dow of said at least one pre-defined time window.

During the running of the timer, two different checks (blocks 603, 604) are performed periodically or continuously. The order of blocks 603, 604 may be arbitrary. Firstly, it is checked, in block 603, whether the timer has expired, that is, whether it is time to transmit a command (e.g., CTS-to-self frame) to one or more terminal devices of the wireless local area network. If the timer has not yet expired in block 603, it is deter mined, in block 604, whether a Ready To Send (RTS) frame requesting use of said pre defined frequency resources for a period of time from a terminal device of the wireless local area network has been received.

In response to receiving, in block 604, a Ready-To-Send (RTS) message re questing use of said pre-defined frequency resources for a period of time from a termi nal device of the wireless local area network, the access point evaluates, in block 605, the received RTS frame against the current state of the timer. In other words, the access point determines, in block 605, whether a requested period of time for using said pre defined frequency resources overlaps with the expiration of the timer (that is, at least with the planned CTS-to-self frame). In response to the requested period of time failing to overlap with the expiration of the timer (i.e., there is enough time to handle the RTS frame), the access point transmits, in block 607, a Clear To Send (CTS) frame to the ter minal device. The CTS frame indicates to the terminal device that it may start transmis sion as indicated in the RTS frame. Correspondingly, the access point receives, in block 608, data from the terminal device. The nature or purpose of this data is irrelevant for the present embodiments.

In response to the requested period of time overlapping with the expiration of the timer (i.e., with at least the planned CTS-to-self frame) in block 606 (i.e., there is not enough time to handle the RTS frame), the access point simply ignores the RTS frame and continues monitoring for the expiry of the timer and reception of other RTS frames in block 603, 604.

The process of blocks 604 to 607 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 6B. In the illustrated example, a terminal device transmits, to an access point, a RTS frame 621 requesting use of pre-defined frequency resources for a period of time from a terminal device of the wireless local area network. The requested time window is indicated as el ement 622. As the requested time window 622 overlaps with both the CTS-to-self frame and a pre-defined time window for blocking transmissions 624, it is rejected by the ac cess point (i.e., the corresponding data is not sent).

In response to the expiration of the timer in block 603, the access point trans mits, in block 609, a command to defer using said pre-defined frequency resources dur ing said pre-defined time window to one or more terminal devices of the wireless local area network. Specifically, the access point performs the transmitting of the command in block 609 so that a first pre-defined guard time period is provided between the trans mitting of the command and said pre-defined time window. Said first pre-defined guard time period is preferably longer than any period between a start of a transmission of a frame by a terminal device to the access point and a transmission of a positive acknowl edgment (ACK) for said frame by the access point to the terminal device. Said command may correspond to a CTS-to-self frame. The length of the first pre-defined guard time pe riod may be determined based on the configuration of the access point (e.g., whether RTS/CTS is used and if it is, whether it is used for all packets or only for packets having a size larger than a pre-defined limit). The length of the first pre-defined guard time pe riod may be adjustable based on current state of the access point (i.e. if the configuration of the access point changes during run-time).

The process of block 609 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 6C. In the illus trated example, to counter other devices occupying the channel (i.e., a set of frequency resources) to be blocked, a first pre-defined guard time period 632 is included between the period for transmitting the CTS-to-self frame and the actual blocking period 633 (that is, the period during which the access node of the cellular network is using the channel). Thus, the channel is secured in ample time before it is needed by the access node of the cellular network.

The access point monitors, in block 610, during the blocking of transmission (i.e., during said pre-defined time window), transmissions using said pre-defined fre quency resources. In response to detecting any transmission during said monitoring (i.e., detecting a collision) in block 611, the access point transmits, in block 613, to the server, information on said transmission which violates the second request for blocking transmissions. In general, the server monitors feedback from all devices connected to it with relation to any detected collisions which might have impacted the (high priority) data transmitted during the blocked period. When such collisions are detected, the server may try to locate the problem and if possible, rectify the issue. In industrial appli cations, if the issue cannot be rectified by the server, the server may forward the infor mation about the collision (provided, at least in part, by an access point which detected the collision according to block 613) to a factory controller. The factory controller may, then, perform further investigations into which device is causing the issue. Possible is sues which could be detected comprise:

• un-sanctioned use of CTS-to-self frames,

• a terminal device (of a wireless local area network) which has not detected a CTS-to-self frame and is consequently transmitting during the blocked period and

• a new terminal device is trying to access the wireless local area network af ter a beacon has been transmitted from an access point (see below discussion in relation to Figures 7A, 7B and 7C).

Once said pre-defined time window (i.e., a blocking period) comes to an end in block 612, the access point may start handling the next pre-defined time window, if multiple time window were configured in the second request, that is, the process may revert back to block 603 (not shown in Figure 7 A), or the access point may resume nor mal operation.

Three different additional features were introduced and discussed in detail in connection with Figures 6A, 6B and 6C, namely features discussed in relation to blocks 602 to 608 (RTS frame handling), block 609 (guard time) and blocks 610 to 613 (colli sion detection). In other embodiments, any combination of one, two or three of said ad ditional features may be implemented.

Commonly in a wireless local area network such as a WiFi network, access points regularly transmit beacon messages which are used by non-connected terminal devices to identify wireless local area networks available to them (or service set identifi ers, SSIDs, of said wireless local area networks). No specific period is defined for when a beacon message should be transmitted though most devices use 100 ms as a default set ting for the period of beacon transmissions. When a terminal device detects a beacon mes sage, it will try to attach to the access point which is transmitting the beacon message. It is typically assumed that this access will occur shortly after the beacon message has been sent out. Since non-attached terminal device will not receive a CTS-to-self frame as trans mitted according to embodiments discussed above, they may try to access the associated frequency band during the CTS-to-self transmission periods. Thus, it would be beneficial for the access point to try and place the beacon message right after a blocking period (i.e., the access point will know in advance when the next blocking period is to occur and can plan to transmit the beacon message right after said blocking period). This will improve the situation as the non-connected terminal devices will not try to connect during the blocking period.

Figures 7A, 7B and 7C illustrate how transmission of a beacon message may be arranged according to embodiments. Specifically, Figure 7A illustrates, as a flowchart, a process to be carried out by an access point of a wireless local area network (e.g., a WiFi network) while Figures 6B and 6C illustrate exemplary timelines of allocated time slots of the access point. The processes illustrated by Figures 6A, 6B and 6C may be carried out by any access point of a wireless local area network coexisting with a cellular network. Specifically, said access point may correspond to any of the access points 201 to 203 of Figure 2.

The process illustrated in Figure 7A correspond to a significant extent to the earlier illustrated embodiments. Namely, the actions corresponding to blocks 701, 702, 706/708, 707/709 may correspond to actions discussed in relation to blocks 421, 422, 424, 425 of Figure 4C, respectively. However, it should be noted that a slight difference in presentation exists between Figure 4C and Figure 7A. Here the processes relating to blocks 706/708, 707/709 correspond to performing the corresponding blocking func tionalities for a single pre-defined time window defined in the second request (said blocks being repeated for each pre-defined time window) while blocks 424, 425 encompass ac tions performed for all of at least one pre-defined time window defined in the second re quest (for simplicity of presentation). Nevertheless, said blocks 706/708, 707/709 are not discussed here in detail for brevity.

Referring to Figure 7A, in response to detecting that a beacon message is scheduled to be transmitted by the access point, before the start of a blocking period (i.e., a pre-defined time window), in block 703, the access point determines whether a time period between an expected start time of a transmission of the beacon message and a start of the transmission of a command (e.g., a CTS-to-self frame) to defer transmis sions is larger than or equal to a second pre-defined guard time period in block 704. If this is true (i.e., there is enough time to safely transmit a beacon message), the access point transmits, in block 705, the beacon message without delay (before the transmis sion of said command to defer transmissions). On the other hand, if this is not the case (i.e., there is not enough time to safely transmit a beacon message), the access point postpones or delays the transmission of the beacon message till the end of the blocking period (i.e., the end of the upcoming pre-defined time window). In other words, in the latter case, the access points transmits, in block 708, said command to defer using said pre-defined frequency resources during a pre-defined time window to one or more ter minal devices of the one or more wireless local area networks and blocks, in block 709, its own transmission during the pre-defined time window and only thereafter (and after the pre-defined time window) transmits, in block 710, the beacon message.

In response to detecting that a beacon message is not scheduled to be trans mitted by the access point, before the start of a blocking period (i.e., a pre-defined time window), in block 706, the access point performs the transmitting of the command to defer using said pre-defined frequency resources during a pre-defined time window to one or more terminal devices of the one or more wireless local area networks in block 706 and blocking of its own transmission during the pre-defined time window in block 707, similar to as discussed in relation to above embodiments.

After the transmission of the command to defer using said pre-defined re sources during a pre-defined time window in block 706 or 708 and the causing blocking of transmission of the access point in block 707 or 709, the access point may determine whether all of said at least one pre-defined time window defined in the second request have passed (i.e., have been handled by the access point) in block 700. If this is not the case, the process is repeated starting from block 703 for the next pre-defined time win dow. If this is the case, the access point may revert to its normal operation. The blocking operation may be initiated again once another second request is received in block 702.

The two different ways of handling beacon transmissions are further illus trated in Figures 6B and 6C. In Figure 6B, a beacon 711 is transmitted before the trans mission of a CTS-to-self frame 712 and before the blocking period 713 as there is not enough time between the end of the beacon transmission and transmission of the CTS-to- self frame. In Figure 6C, if a beacon were to be transmitted before the transmission of a CTS-to-self frame 722 and before the blocking period 723 (indicated with a dotted-line element 721), there would not be enough time between the end of the beacon transmis sion and transmission of the CTS-to-self frame. Consequently, the transmission of the bea con frame is delayed in this case so that the beacon 724 is transmitted only after the block ing period has ended.

In any of the embodiments discussed above or to be discussed below, any wire less local area networks may be WiFi networks, any terminal devices of any wireless local area networks may be WiFi-enabled terminal devices, any cellular networks may be NR- U networks and/or any terminal devices of any cellular networks may be IoT and/or IIoT devices.

The blocks, related functions, and information exchanges described above by means of Figures 3, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C 7A, 7B and 7C in no absolute chronological order, and some of them may be performed simultaneously or in an order differing from the given one. Other functions can also be executed between them or within them, and other information may be sent and/or received, and/or other mapping rules applied. Some of the blocks or part of the blocks or one or more pieces of information can also be left out or replaced by a corresponding block or part of the block or one or more pieces of information.

Figure 8 provides an access node according to some embodiments. Figure 8 may illustrate an access node configured to carry out at least the functions described above in connection with requesting blocking of transmission in wireless local area net works co-existing with a cellular network of the access node. The access node may corre spond to element 104 of Figure 1 and/or element 204 of Figure 2. The access node 801 may comprise one or more communication control circuitry 820, such as at least one pro cessor, and at least one memory 830, including one or more algorithms 831, such as a computer program code (software) wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code (software) are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause, respec tively, the access node to carry out any one of the exemplified functionalities of the access node described above.

Referring to Figure 8, the communication control circuitry 820 of the access node 801 comprises at least high priority data transmission circuitry 821. The high prior ity data transmission circuitry 821 may be configured to carry out requesting of blocking transmissions in co-existing wireless local area networks and transmitting of data priori tizing high priority data according to embodiments and, to this end, to carry out at least some of the functionalities described above by means of any of blocks 301, 306 of Figure 3 and Figure 4B using one or more individual circuitries.

Referring to Figure 8, the access node 801 may further comprise different in terfaces 810 such as one or more communication interfaces (TX/RX) comprising hard- ware and/or software for realizing communication connectivity over the medium accord ing to one or more communication protocols. Specifically, the communication interface 810 may provide the access node 801 with communication capabilities to communicate in a cellular network and enable communication with a server for controlling one or more wireless local area networks at least partly co-existing with the cellular network accord ing to embodiments, a plurality of access nodes, a plurality of terminal device and to one or more other network nodes or elements (e.g., to one or more core network elements). Preferably, communication with said server is provided via a wired communication link. In some embodiments, the communication interface 810 may enable communication with a server for controlling dataflow of the access node. The communication interfaces 810 may comprise standard well-known components such as an amplifier, filter, frequency- converter, (de) modulator, and encoder/decoder circuitries, controlled by the corre sponding controlling units, and one or more antennas.

Figure 9 provides a server according to some embodiments. Figure 9 may illustrate a server 901 configured to carry out at least the functions described above in connection with receiving request from an access node of a cellular network and request ing blocking of transmission in wireless local area networks co-existing with a cellular network of the access node. The server 901 may correspond to element 104 of Figure 1 and/or element 220 of Figure 2. The server 901 may comprise one or more communica tion control circuitry 920, such as at least one processor, and at least one memory 930, including one or more algorithms 931, such as a computer program code (software) wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code (software) are config ured, with the at least one processor, to cause, respectively, the server to carry out any one of the exemplified functionalities of the server described above.

Referring to Figure 9, the communication control circuitry 920 of the server 901 comprises at least blocking control circuitry 921. The blocking control circuitry 921 may be configured to carry out requesting of blocking transmissions in wireless local area networks co-existing with a cellular network from one or more access points of the wire less local area networks according to embodiments and, to this end, to carry out at least some of the functionalities described above by means of any of blocks 302, 303 of Figure 3 and Figure 4B using one or more individual circuitries.

Referring to Figure 9, the server 901 may further comprise different interfaces 910 such as one or more communication interfaces (TX/RX) comprising hardware and/or software for realizing communication connectivity over the medium according to one or more communication protocols. Specifically, the communication interface 910 may pro vide the server 901 with communication capabilities to enable communication, preferably via wired communication links, with one or more access nodes of one or more cellular networks and one or more access points of one or more wireless local area networks at least partly co-existing with the one or more cellular networks according to embodiments. The communication interfaces 910 may comprise standard well-known components such as an amplifier, filter, frequency-converter, (de) modulator, and encoder/decoder circuit ries, controlled by the corresponding controlling units, and one or more antennas.

Figure 10 provides an access point 1001 according to some embodiments. Fig ure 10 may illustrate an access point 1001 configured to carry out at least the functions described above in connection with causing blocking of transmission in a wireless local area network co-existing with a cellular network of the access node. The access point 1001 may correspond to element 104 of Figure 1 and/or any of elements 201, 202, 203 of Figure 2. The access point 1001 may comprise one or more communication control cir cuitry 1020, such as at least one processor, and at least one memory 1030, including one or more algorithms 1031, such as a computer program code (software) wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code (software) are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause, respectively, the access point to carry out any one of the exemplified functionalities of the access point described above.

Referring to Figure 10, the communication control circuitry 1020 of the access point 1001 comprises at least blocking circuitry 1021. The blocking circuitry 1021 may be configured to carry out causing blocking of any transmissions in a manner specified in a request received from a server and, to this end, to carry out at least some of the func tionalities described above by means of any of blocks 304, 305 of Figure 3 and Figures 4C, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C, 7A, 7B and 7C using one or more individual circuitries.

Referring to Figure 10, the access point 1001 may further comprise different interfaces 1010 such as one or more communication interfaces (TX/RX) comprising hard ware and/or software for realizing communication connectivity over the medium accord ing to one or more communication protocols. Specifically, the communication interface 1010 may provide the access point 1001 with communication capabilities to communi cate in a wireless local area network and to enable communication with one or more ter minal device of the wireless local area network and a server for controlling one or more wireless local area networks at least partly co-existing with a cellular network according to embodiments. Preferably, communication with said server is provided via a wired com munication link. The communication interfaces 1010 may comprise standard well-known components such as an amplifier, filter, frequency-converter, (de) modulator, and en coder/decoder circuitries, controlled by the corresponding controlling units, and one or more antennas.

Each memory 830, 930, 1030 may comprise a database 832, 932, 1032 which may comprise at least information on data traffic in the plurality of cells, as described in previous embodiments. Each memory 830, 930, 1030 may also comprise other data bases which may not be related to the functionalities of the computing device according to any of presented embodiments. Each memory 830, 930, 1030 maybe implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory de vices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. As used in this application, the term 'circuitry' may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and soft ware (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of analog and/or digi tal hardware circuit(s) with software/firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware proces sor^) with software, including digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a terminal device or an access node, to perform various functions, and (c) hardware circuit(s) and processor(s), such as a micro- processor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g. firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation. This definition of 'circuitry' applies to all uses of this term in this application, including any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term 'circuitry' also co vers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple proces sors) or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying soft ware and/or firmware. The term 'circuitry' also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit for an access node or a termi nal device or other computing or network device.

In embodiments, the at least one processor, the memory, and the computer program code form processing means or comprises one or more computer program code portions for carrying out one or more operations according to any one of the embodi ments of Figures 3, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C 7A, 7B and 7C or operations thereof.

In an embodiment, at least some of the processes described in connection with Figures 3, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C 7A, 7B and 7C may be carried out by an appa ratus comprising corresponding means for carrying out at least some of the described processes. Some example means for carrying out the processes may include at least one of the following: detector, processor (including dual-core and multiple-core processors), digital signal processor, controller, receiver, transmitter, encoder, decoder, memory, RAM, ROM, software, firmware, display, user interface, display circuitry, user interface circuitry, user interface software, display software, circuit, antenna, antenna circuitry, and circuitry. In an embodiment, the at least one processor, the memory, and the com puter program code form processing means or comprises one or more computer pro gram code portions for carrying out one or more operations according to any one of the embodiments of Figures 3, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C 7A, 7B and 7C or operations thereof.

The techniques and methods described herein may be implemented by vari ous means. For example, these techniques may be implemented in hardware (one or more devices), firmware (one or more devices), software (one or more modules), or combinations thereof. For a hardware implementation, the apparatus (es) of embodi ments may be implemented within one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), pro grammable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to per form the functions described herein, or a combination thereof. For firmware or software, the implementation can be carried out through modules of at least one chipset (proce dures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. The software codes may be stored in a memory unit and executed by processors. The memory unit may be implemented within the processor or externally to the processor. In the latter case, it can be communicatively coupled to the processor via various means, as is known in the art. Additionally, the components of the systems described herein may be rear ranged and/or complemented by additional components in order to facilitate the achievements of the various aspects, etc., described with regard thereto, and they are not limited to the precise configurations set forth in the given figures, as will be appreci ated by one skilled in the art.

Embodiments as described may also be carried out in the form of a computer process defined by a computer program or portions thereof. Embodiments of the methods described in connection with Figures 3, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C 7A, 7B and 7C may be carried out by executing at least one portion of a computer program comprising corre sponding instructions. The computer program may be provided as a computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon or as a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon. The computer pro gram may be in source code form, object code form, or in some intermediate form, and it may be stored in some sort of carrier, which may be any entity or device capable of carry ing the program. For example, the computer program may be stored on a computer pro gram distribution medium readable by a computer or a processor. The computer program medium may be, for example but not limited to, a record medium, computer memory, read-only memory, electrical carrier signal, telecommunications signal, and software dis tribution package, for example. The computer program medium may be a non-transitory medium. Coding of software for carrying out the embodiments as shown and described is well within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the follow ing: receiving, from one of an access node of a cellular network and a server for controlling dataflow of the access node, a first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window; and in response to the receiving of the first request, transmitting, to each of one or more access points of one or more wireless local area networks co-existing at least partly with the cellular network, a second request for blocking transmissions using said pre-defined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time window in a respective wireless local area network. According to an embodiment, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the follow ing: transmitting, to a server for controlling one or more wireless local area networks at least partly co-existing with the cellular network, a first request for blocking transmis sions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time win dow; and performing at least one of transmitting and receiving data using said pre-de fined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time win dow, wherein high priority data is prioritized in said performing.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the follow ing: receiving, from a server for controlling at least a wireless local area network, a second request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window; and causing blocking of transmissions in the wireless local area network using said pre-defined frequency resources during said at least one pre defined time window.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving, from one of an access node of a cellular network and a server for controlling dataflow of the access node, a first request for blocking transmis sions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time win dow; and in response to the receiving of the first request, transmitting, to each of one or more access points of one or more wireless local area networks co-existing at least partly with the cellular network, a second request for blocking transmissions using said pre-defined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time window in a respective wireless local area network.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: transmitting, to a server for controlling one or more wireless local area networks at least partly co-existing with the cellular network, a first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-de fined time window; and performing at least one of transmitting and receiving data using said pre-defined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time window, wherein high priority data is prioritized in said performing.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving, from a server for controlling at least a wireless local area network, a second request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency re sources during at least one pre-defined time window; and causing blocking of transmis sions in the wireless local area network using said pre-defined frequency resources dur ing said at least one pre-defined time window. Even though the invention has been described above with reference to exam ples according to the accompanying drawings, it is clear that the invention is not re stricted thereto but can be modified in several ways within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, all words and expressions should be interpreted broadly and they are intended to illustrate, not to restrict, the embodiment. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in var ious ways. Further, it is clear to a person skilled in the art that the described embodiments may, but are not required to, be combined with other embodiments in various ways.

Claims

1. A server for controlling one or more wireless local area networks at least partly co-existing with a cellular network, the server comprising: at least one processor, and at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processor, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the server at least to perform: receiving, from one of an access node of the cellular network and a server for controlling dataflow of the access node, a first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window; and in response to the receiving of the first request, transmitting, to each of one or more access points of the one or more wireless local area networks, a second request for blocking transmissions using said pre-defined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time window in a respective wireless local area net work.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the instruc tions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the server further to per form: causing synchronizing, before the transmitting, at least the access node of the cellular network and the one or more access points of the one or more wireless local area networks.

3. The server according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the server further to perform: maintaining, in a memory, information on current network conditions in the one or more wireless local area networks; evaluating, in response to the receiving of the first request, the first request against current network conditions in the one or more wireless local area networks; in response to the evaluating indicating that satisfying the first request com promises the operation of the one or more wireless local area networks, transmitting in formation on a rejection of the first request to the access node; and performing the transmitting of the second request to the one or more access points of the one or more wireless local area networks only in response to results of the evaluating indicating that satisfying the first request does not compromise the operation of the cellular network and the one or more wireless local area networks.

4. The server according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the server further to perform, in response to failing to receive a positive acknowledg ment of the second request from each of the one or more access points following the transmitting of the second request or in response to receiving a negative acknowledg ment from an access point of the one or more access points: transmitting information on a failure to block transmissions to said one of the access node and the server for controlling dataflow of the access node.

5. The server according to any preceding claim, wherein communication be tween the server and the one or more access nodes and between the server and the one or more access points is arranged via wired communications links.

6. An access node for a cellular network, the access node comprising: at least one processor, and at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processor, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the access node at least to perform: transmitting, to a server for controlling one or more wireless local area net works at least partly co-existing with the cellular network, a first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window in said one or more wireless local area networks; and performing at least one of transmitting and receiving data in the cellular net work using said pre-defined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time window, wherein high priority data is prioritized in said performing.

7. An access point for a wireless local area network at least partly co-existing with a cellular network, the access point comprising: at least one processor, and at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processor, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the access point at least to perform: receiving, from a server for controlling at least the wireless local area net work, a second request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency re sources during at least one pre-defined time window; and causing blocking of transmissions in the wireless local area network using said pre-defined frequency resources during said at least one pre-defined time window.

8. The access point of claim 7, wherein the causing blocking of the transmis sions in the wireless local area network comprises, for each of said at least one pre-de fined time window: transmitting, before a pre-defined time window, a command to defer using said pre-defined frequency resources during said pre-defined time window to one or more terminal devices of the wireless local area network; and blocking transmissions of the access point using said pre-defined frequency resources during said pre-defined time window.

9. The access point of claim 8, wherein said command is a Clear To Send -to- self, CTS-to-self, frame with a duration setting corresponding to said pre-defined time window, said command being transmitted using a wait interval of a Point Coordination Function, PCF, interframe space.

10. The access point of claim 9, wherein the at least one memory and the in structions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the access point fur ther to perform, for each of said at least one pre-defined time window: starting a timer, wherein an expiration of the timer indicates a time for trans mitting said command so as to block transmissions during a pre-defined time window; in response to receiving, before the expiration of the timer, a Ready To Send, RTS, frame requesting use of said pre-defined frequency resources for a period of time from a terminal device of the wireless local area network: determining whether the requested period of time for using said pre-defined frequency resources overlaps with the expiration of the timer; and in response to the requested period of time failing to overlap with the expira tion of the timer, transmitting a Clear To Send, CTS, frame to the terminal device; in response to the requested period of time overlapping with the expiration of the timer, ignoring the RTS frame; and performing the transmitting of the command in response to the expiration of the timer.

11. The access point according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the access point further to perform, for each of said at least one pre-defined time window: performing the transmitting of the command so that a first pre-defined guard time period is provided between the transmitting of the command and said pre-defined time window, wherein said first pre-defined guard time period is longer than any period between a start of a transmission of a frame by a terminal device to the access point and a transmission of a positive acknowledgment, ACK, for said frame by the access point to the terminal device.

12. The access point according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the access point further to perform, in response to detecting that a beacon mes sage is scheduled to be transmitted before the transmitting of said command: in response to a time period between an expected start time of a transmis sion of the beacon message and a subsequent start of the transmitting of said command being larger than or equal to a second pre-defined guard time period, transmitting the beacon message without delay; and in response to the time period between the expected start time of the trans mission of the beacon message and the subsequent start of the transmitting of said com mand being smaller than a second pre-defined guard time period, transmitting the bea con message after an end of a subsequent pre-defined time window.

13. The access point according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the access point further to perform: transmitting, in response to the receiving of the second request, a positive ac knowledgment to the server.

14. The access point according to any of claims 7 to 13, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the access point further to perform: monitoring, during said at least one pre-defined time window, transmissions using said pre-defined frequency resources; and in response to detecting a transmission associated with any wireless local area network during the monitoring, transmitting, to the server, information on said transmission violating the second request for blocking transmissions.

15. A method comprising: receiving, from one of an access node of a cellular network and a server for controlling dataflow of the access node, a first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window; and in response to the receiving of the first request, transmitting, to each of one or more access points of one or more wireless local area networks co-existing at least partly with the cellular network, a second request for blocking transmissions using said pre-defined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time window in a respective wireless local area network.

16. A method comprising: transmitting, to a server for controlling one or more wireless local area net works at least partly co-existing with the cellular network, a first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window; and performing at least one of transmitting and receiving data using said pre-de fined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time win dow, wherein high priority data is prioritized in said performing.

17. A method comprising: receiving, from a server for controlling at least a wireless local area network, a second request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources dur ing at least one pre-defined time window; and causing blocking of transmissions in the wireless local area network using said pre-defined frequency resources during said at least one pre-defined time window.

18. A computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving, from one of an access node of a cellular network and a server for controlling dataflow of the access node, a first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window; and in response to the receiving of the first request, transmitting, to each of one or more access points of one or more wireless local area networks co-existing at least partly with the cellular network, a second request for blocking transmissions using said pre-defined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time window in a respective wireless local area network.

19. A computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: transmitting, to a server for controlling one or more wireless local area net works at least partly co-existing with the cellular network, a first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window; and performing at least one of transmitting and receiving data using said pre-de fined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window of said at least one pre-defined time window, wherein high priority data is prioritized in said perform ing.

20. A computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving, from a server for controlling at least a wireless local area network, a second request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources dur ing a pre-defined time window; and causing blocking of transmissions in the wireless local area network using said pre-defined frequency resources during said at least one pre-defined time window.

21. A server for controlling one or more wireless local area networks at least partly co-existing with a cellular network, the server comprising means for performing: receiving, from one of an access node of a cellular network and a server for controlling dataflow of the access node, a first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window; and in response to the receiving of the first request, transmitting, to each of one or more access points of one or more wireless local area networks co-existing at least partly with the cellular network, a second request for blocking transmissions using said pre-defined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time window in a respective wireless local area network.

22. An access node for a cellular network, the access node comprising means for performing: transmitting, to a server for controlling one or more wireless local area net works at least partly co-existing with the cellular network, a first request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources during at least one pre-defined time window; and performing at least one of transmitting and receiving data using said pre-de fined frequency resources during at least one of said at least one pre-defined time win dow, wherein high priority data is prioritized in said performing.

23. An access point for a wireless local area network, the access point com prising means for performing: receiving, from a server for controlling at least a wireless local area network, a second request for blocking transmissions using pre-defined frequency resources dur ing at least one pre-defined time window; and causing blocking of transmissions in the wireless local area network using said pre-defined frequency resources during said at least one pre-defined time window.