Wireless device handover signalling

• US 10,327,195 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmael Hejazi
• Primary Examiner(s): Masur, Paul H
• Application Number:
  US15/837,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20180167863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2011/0096 Network synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/18 Phase-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using phase-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/106 Packet or message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0005 Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0077 of access information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are described for wireless communications. Cells may be grouped into a plurality of cell groups. Base stations may exchange messages regarding the cell groups so that one of the base stations may receive uplink signals from a wireless device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first base station from a second base station, a first message comprising one or more parameters indicating that a wireless device supports configuration of a plurality of cell groups;

transmitting, by the first base station to the second base station, a second message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a first plurality of cell groups comprising a first cell group and a second cell group; and

receiving, by the first base station, from the wireless device, via the first plurality of cell groups, and based on a third message comprising the configuration parameters, uplink signals, wherein;

uplink transmission timing associated with the first cell group is based on a first cell of the first cell group; and

uplink transmission timing associated with the second cell group is based on a second cell of the second cell group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the uplink signals is further based on a synchronization process with a cell associated with the first base station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters further indicate whether the wireless device supports configuration of the plurality of cell groups for each of one or more band combinations supported by the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the third message is configured to cause a configuration of a time alignment timer for each of the first plurality of cell groups.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration parameters comprise a media access control dedicated information element (IE) comprising a sequence of one or more IEs, and wherein a first IE of the sequence of one or more IEs comprises:

a first cell group index; and

a first time alignment timer value.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising decrypting the third message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration parameters comprise:

configuration parameters of physical channels associated with the wireless device; and

configuration parameters of one or more radio bearers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration parameters comprise one or more of:

a physical layer parameter;

a media access control (MAC) layer parameter;

or

a radio link control (RLC) layer parameter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the third message comprises a dedicated preamble index for connection with the first base station.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first cell group comprises a primary cell; and

the second cell group comprises one or more secondary cells.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the second base station to the wireless device, the third message.

12. A first base station comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first base station to;

receive, from a second base station, a first message comprising one or more parameters indicating that a wireless device supports configuration of a plurality of cell groups;

transmit, to the second base station, a second message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a first plurality of cell groups comprising a first cell group and a second cell group; and

receive, from the wireless device, via the first plurality of cell groups, and based on a third message comprising the configuration parameters, uplink signals, wherein;

uplink transmission timing associated with the first cell group is based on a first cell of the first cell group; and

uplink transmission timing associated with the second cell group is based on a second cell of the second cell group.

13. The first base station of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first base station to receive the uplink signals further based on a synchronization process with a cell associated with the first base station.

14. The first base station of claim 12, wherein the one or more parameters further indicate whether the wireless device supports configuration of the plurality of cell groups for each of one or more band combinations supported by the wireless device.

15. The first base station of claim 12, wherein the third message is configured to cause a configuration of a time alignment timer for each of the first plurality of cell groups.

16. The first base station of claim 12, wherein the configuration parameters comprise a media access control dedicated information element (IE) comprising a sequence of one or more IEs, and wherein a first IE of the sequence of one or more IEs comprises:

a first cell group index; and

a first time alignment timer value.

17. The first base station of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first base station to decrypt the third message.

18. The first base station of claim 12, wherein the configuration parameters comprise:

configuration parameters of physical channels associated with the wireless device; and

configuration parameters of one or more radio bearers.

19. The first base station of claim 12, wherein the configuration parameters comprise one or more of:

a physical layer parameter;

a media access control (MAC) layer parameter;

or

a radio link control (RLC) layer parameter.

20. The first base station of claim 12, wherein the third message comprises a dedicated preamble index for connection with the first base station.

21. The first base station of claim 12, wherein:

the first cell group comprises a primary cell; and

the second cell group comprises one or more secondary cells.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, configure a first base station to:

receive, from a second base station, a first message comprising one or more parameters indicating that a wireless device supports configuration of a plurality of cell groups;

transmit, to the second base station, a second message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a first plurality of cell groups comprising a first cell group and a second cell group; and

receive, from the wireless device, via the first plurality of cell groups, and based on a third message comprising the configuration parameters, uplink signals, wherein;

uplink transmission timing associated with the first cell group is based on a first cell of the first cell group; and

uplink transmission timing associated with the second cell group is based on a second cell of the second cell group.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the first base station to receive the uplink signals further based on a synchronization process with a cell associated with the first base station.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the one or more parameters further indicate whether the wireless device supports configuration of the plurality of cell groups for each of one or more band combinations supported by the wireless device.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the third message is configured to cause a configuration of a time alignment timer for each of the first plurality of cell groups.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the configuration parameters comprise a media access control dedicated information element (IE) comprising a sequence of one or more IEs, and wherein a first IE of the sequence of one or more IEs comprises:

a first cell group index; and

a first time alignment timer value.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the first base station to decrypt the third message.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the configuration parameters comprise:

configuration parameters of physical channels associated with the wireless device; and

configuration parameters of one or more radio bearers.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the configuration parameters comprise one or more of:

a physical layer parameter;

a media access control (MAC) layer parameter;

or a radio link control (RLC) layer parameter.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the third message comprises a dedicated preamble index for connection with the first base station.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein:

the first cell group comprises a primary cell; and

the second cell group comprises one or more secondary cells.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the first base station to transmit, to the wireless device, the third message.