User equipment: In some embodiments the non-limiting term user equipment (UE) is used and it refers to any type of wireless device communicating with a radio network node in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples of UE are target device, device to device UE, machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine communication, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), iPAD, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, Laptop Embedded Equipped (LEE), Laptop Mounted Equipment (LME), USB dongles etc.

The embodiments herein also apply to the multi-point carrier aggregation systems.

As part of the development of embodiments herein, a problem with exiting methods will first be identified and discussed.

Currently, control information such as resource allocation grants, sent via PDCCH/EPDCCH on unlicensed carriers may be transmitted only after a complete random backoff procedure is performed and, when data, e.g., the PDSCH, is also present. A significant delay in accessing the medium may therefore be incurred when networks are congested with multiple nodes contending for channel access.

In order to expedite the transmission of control signals, embodiments herein may relate to transmission of control signals along with discovery reference signals. Particular examples herein may teach how to exploit the short CCA for quick DRS channel access without PDSCH by sending control information such as resource allocation grants along with the DRS. The grants may be for UL transmission, DL transmissions in future subframes, cross-carrier grants or joint grants across multiple carriers, and common search space control signaling.