Transmission of content to a wireless device via cell groups

• US 10,383,068 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2017
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• 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): Atkins, George C
• Application Number:
  US15/657,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20170325188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are described for wireless communications. Cells may be grouped into a plurality of cell groups. A base station may transmit a first message to a wireless device via a primary cell group. The first message may indicate information associated with content stored at one or more servers. The base station may also transmit the content to the wireless device via the primary cell group and via the secondary cell group.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a node and to a wireless device, at least one control message comprising one or more configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups, wherein the plurality of cell groups comprise a primary cell group and a secondary cell group;

transmitting, to the wireless device via the primary cell group, a first message that indicates information associated with content stored at one or more servers;

receiving, from the wireless device via the primary cell group, a second message indicating a request for the content stored at the one or more servers;

transmitting, to the wireless device via the primary cell group, a command configured to activate one or more secondary cells of the secondary cell group; and

transmitting, to the wireless device, via the primary cell group and via the secondary cell group, a first plurality of packets comprising a first portion of the content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the primary cell group comprises a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset comprises a primary cell; and

the secondary cell group comprises a second subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the second subset comprises at least one secondary cell.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

uplink transmissions by the wireless device via the primary cell group use, as a primary timing reference, a first synchronization signal transmitted via the primary cell; and

uplink transmissions via the secondary cell group use, as a secondary timing reference, a second synchronization signal transmitted via an activated secondary cell of the secondary cell group.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, to the wireless device via the primary cell group, a second plurality of packets comprising a second portion of the content.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the transmitting the first plurality of packets comprises transmitting the first portion of the content in a first time period;

the transmitting the second plurality of packets comprises transmitting the second portion of the content in a second time period;

the first time period and the second time period do not overlap; and

the second time period precedes the first time period.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the transmitting the first message comprises transmitting the first message via a first radio bearer;

the receiving the second message comprises receiving the second message via the first radio bearer;

the transmitting the first plurality of packets comprises transmitting the first portion of the content via the first radio bearer; and

the transmitting the second plurality of packets comprises transmitting the second portion of the content via the first radio bearer.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the first plurality of packets and the second plurality of packets are encrypted packets.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more configuration parameters of the plurality of cells are of the primary cell group, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting, to the wireless device via the primary cell group, at least one second control message comprising one or more configuration parameters of the secondary cell group.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one control message further comprises a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer;

the deactivation timer is configured to restart in response to a packet transmission via a first secondary cell; and

the first secondary cell is deactivated in the wireless device in response to the deactivation timer expiring.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the command comprises transmitting the command, without encryption, to the wireless device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, to the wireless device, a control command configured to initiate an uplink timing synchronization process for the secondary cell group.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the first plurality of packets is performed even if the secondary cell group is out-of-sync.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second message further indicates at least one address of the one or more servers.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, by a wireless device and from a node, at least one control message comprising one or more configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups, wherein the plurality of cell groups comprise a primary cell group and a secondary cell group;

receiving, from the node via the primary cell group, a first message that indicates information associated with content stored at one or more servers;

transmitting, to the node via the primary cell group, a second message indicating a request for the content stored at the one or more servers;

receiving, from the node via the primary cell group, a command configured to activate one or more secondary cells of the secondary cell group; and

receiving, from the node, via the primary cell group and via the secondary cell group, a first plurality of packets comprising a first portion of the content.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the primary cell group comprises a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset comprises a primary cell; and

the secondary cell group comprises a second subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the second subset comprises at least one secondary cell.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

uplink transmissions by the wireless device via the primary cell group use, as a primary timing reference, a first synchronization signal transmitted via a primary cell; and

uplink transmissions via the secondary cell group use, as a secondary timing reference, a second synchronization signal transmitted via an activated secondary cell of the secondary cell group.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving, from the node via the primary cell group, a second plurality of packets comprising a second portion of the content.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the receiving the first plurality of packets comprises receiving the first portion of the content in a first time period;

the receiving the second plurality of packets comprises receiving the second portion of the content in a second time period;

the first time period and the second time period do not overlap; and

the second time period precedes the first time period.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the receiving the first message comprises receiving the first message via a first radio bearer;

the transmitting the second message comprises transmitting the second message via the first radio bearer;

the receiving the first plurality of packets comprises receiving the first portion of the content via the first radio bearer; and

the receiving the second plurality of packets comprises receiving the second portion of the content via the first radio bearer.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first plurality of packets and the second plurality of packets are encrypted packets.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more configuration parameters of the plurality of cells are of the primary cell group, and wherein the method further comprises receiving, from the node via the primary cell group, at least one second control message comprising one or more configuration parameters of the secondary cell group.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the at least one control message further comprises a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer;

the deactivation timer is configured to restart in response to a packet transmission via a first secondary cell; and

the first secondary cell is deactivated in the wireless device in response to the deactivation timer expiring.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the receiving the command comprises receiving the command, without encryption, from the node.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving, from the node, a control command configured to initiate an uplink timing synchronization process for the secondary cell group.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the receiving the first plurality of packets is performed even if the secondary cell group is out-of-sync.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the second message further indicates at least one address of the one or more servers.

27. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a node and to a wireless device, at least one control message comprising one or more configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups, wherein the plurality of cell groups comprise a primary cell group and a secondary cell group;

transmitting, by the node, to the wireless device, and via the primary cell group, a first message that indicates information associated with content stored at one or more servers;

transmitting, by the wireless device, to the node, and via the primary cell group, a second message indicating a request for the content stored at the one or more servers;

transmitting, by the node, to the wireless device, and via the primary cell group, a command configured to activate one or more secondary cells of the secondary cell group; and

transmitting, by the node, to the wireless device, and via the primary cell group and via the secondary cell group, a first plurality of packets comprising a first portion of the content.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the primary cell group comprises a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset comprises a primary cell; and

the secondary cell group comprises a second subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the second subset comprises at least one secondary cell.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein:

uplink transmissions by the wireless device via the primary cell group use, as a primary timing reference, a first synchronization signal transmitted via a primary cell; and

uplink transmissions via the secondary cell group use, as a secondary timing reference, a second synchronization signal transmitted via an activated secondary cell of the secondary cell group.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting, by the node, to the wireless device, and via the primary cell group, a second plurality of packets comprising a second portion of the content.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the transmitting the first plurality of packets comprises transmitting the first portion of the content in a first time period;

the transmitting the second plurality of packets comprises transmitting the second portion of the content in a second time period;

the first time period and the second time period do not overlap; and

the second time period precedes the first time period.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the transmitting the first message comprises transmitting the first message via a first radio bearer;

the transmitting the second message comprises transmitting the second message via the first radio bearer;

the transmitting the first plurality of packets comprises transmitting the first portion of the content via the first radio bearer; and

the transmitting the second plurality of packets comprises transmitting the second portion of the content via the first radio bearer.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the first plurality of packets and the second plurality of packets are encrypted packets.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more configuration parameters of the plurality of cells are of the primary cell group, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting, by the node, to the wireless device, and via the primary cell group, at least one second control message comprising one or more configuration parameters of the secondary cell group.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the at least one control message further comprises a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer;

the deactivation timer is configured to restart in response to a packet transmission via a first secondary cell; and

the first secondary cell is deactivated in the wireless device in response to the deactivation timer expiring.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the transmitting the command comprises transmitting the command, without encryption, to the wireless device.

37. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting, by the node and to the wireless device, a control command configured to initiate an uplink timing synchronization process for the secondary cell group.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the transmitting the first plurality of packets is performed even if the secondary cell group is out-of-sync.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the second message further indicates at least one address of the one or more servers.

40. A node comprising:

one or more processors; and

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

transmit, to a wireless device, at least one control message comprising one or more configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups, wherein the plurality of cell groups comprise a primary cell group and a secondary cell group;

transmit, to the wireless device via the primary cell group, a first message that indicates information associated with content stored at one or more servers;

receive, from the wireless device via the primary cell group, a second message indicating a request for the content stored at the one or more servers;

transmit, to the wireless device via the primary cell group, a command configured to activate one or more secondary cells of the secondary cell group; and

transmit, to the wireless device, via the primary cell group and via the secondary cell group, a first plurality of packets comprising a first portion of the content.

41. The node of claim 40, wherein:

the primary cell group comprises a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset comprises a primary cell; and

the secondary cell group comprises a second subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the second subset comprises at least one secondary cell.

42. The node of claim 41, wherein:

uplink transmissions by the wireless device via the primary cell group use, as a primary timing reference, a first synchronization signal transmitted via the primary cell; and

uplink transmissions via the secondary cell group use, as a secondary timing reference, a second synchronization signal transmitted via an activated secondary cell of the secondary cell group.

43. The node of claim 40, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the node to transmit, to the wireless device via the primary cell group, a second plurality of packets comprising a second portion of the content.

44. The node of claim 43, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the node to transmit the first portion of the content in a first time period and transmit the second portion of the content in a second time period;

and wherein the first time period and the second time period do not overlap, and the second time period precedes the first time period.

45. The node of claim 43, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the node to:

transmit the first message via a first radio bearer;

receive the second message via the first radio bearer;

transmit the first portion of the content via the first radio bearer; and

transmit the second portion of the content via the first radio bearer.

46. The node of claim 43, wherein the first plurality of packets and the second plurality of packets are encrypted packets.

47. The node of claim 40, wherein the one or more configuration parameters of the plurality of cells are of the primary cell group, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the node to transmit, to the wireless device via the primary cell group, at least one second control message comprising one or more configuration parameters of the secondary cell group.

48. The node of claim 40, wherein:

the at least one control message further comprises a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer;

the deactivation timer is configured to restart in response to a packet transmission via a first secondary cell; and

the first secondary cell is deactivated in the wireless device in response to the deactivation timer expiring.

49. The node of claim 40, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the node to transmit the command, without encryption, to the wireless device.

50. The node of claim 40, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the node to transmit, to the wireless device, a control command configured to initiate an uplink timing synchronization process for the secondary cell group.

51. The node of claim 40, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the node to transmit the first plurality of packets, cause the node to transmit the first plurality of packets even if the secondary cell group is out-of-sync.

52. The node of claim 40, wherein the second message further indicates at least one address of the one or more servers.

53. A wireless device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to;

receive, from a node, at least one control message comprising one or more configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups, wherein the plurality of cell groups comprise a primary cell group and a secondary cell group;

receive, from the node via the primary cell group, a first message that indicates information associated with content stored at one or more servers;

transmit, to the node via the primary cell group, a second message indicating a request for the content stored at the one or more servers;

receive, from the node via the primary cell group, a command configured to activate one or more secondary cells of the secondary cell group; and

receive, from the node, via the primary cell group and via the secondary cell group, a first plurality of packets comprising a first portion of the content.

54. The wireless device of claim 53, wherein:

the primary cell group comprises a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset comprises a primary cell; and

the secondary cell group comprises a second subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the second subset comprises at least one secondary cell.

55. The wireless device of claim 54, wherein:

uplink transmissions by the wireless device via the primary cell group use, as a primary timing reference, a first synchronization signal transmitted via the primary cell; and

uplink transmissions via the secondary cell group use, as a secondary timing reference, a second synchronization signal transmitted via an activated secondary cell of the secondary cell group.

56. The wireless device of claim 53, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to receive, from the node via the primary cell group, a second plurality of packets comprising a second portion of the content.

57. The wireless device of claim 56, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to receive the first portion of the content in a first time period and receive the second portion of the content in a second time period;

and wherein the first time period and the second time period do not overlap, and the second time period precedes the first time period.

58. The wireless device of claim 56, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to:

receive the first message via a first radio bearer;

transmit the second message via the first radio bearer;

receive the first portion of the content via the first radio bearer; and

receive the second portion of the content via the first radio bearer.

59. The wireless device of claim 56, wherein the first plurality of packets and the second plurality of packets are encrypted packets.

60. The wireless device of claim 53, wherein the one or more configuration parameters of the plurality of cells are of the primary cell group, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to receive, from the node via the primary cell group, at least one second control message comprising one or more configuration parameters of the secondary cell group.

61. The wireless device of claim 53, wherein:

the at least one control message further comprises a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer;

the deactivation timer is configured to restart in response to a packet transmission via a first secondary cell; and

the first secondary cell is deactivated in the wireless device in response to the deactivation timer expiring.

62. The wireless device of claim 53, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to receive the command, without encryption, from the node.

63. The wireless device of claim 53, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to receive, from the node, a control command configured to initiate an uplink timing synchronization process for the secondary cell group.

64. The wireless device of claim 53, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to receive the first plurality of packets, cause the wireless device to receive the first plurality of packets even if the secondary cell group is out-of-sync.

65. The wireless device of claim 53, wherein the second message further indicates at least one address of the one or more servers.

66. A system comprising:

a wireless device; and

a node comprising;

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the node, cause the node to;

transmit, to the wireless device, at least one control message comprising one or more configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups, wherein the plurality of cell groups comprise a primary cell group and a secondary cell group; and

transmit, via the primary cell group, a first message that indicates information associated with content stored at one or more servers;

wherein the wireless device comprises;

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless device, cause the wireless device to;

transmit, to the node via the primary cell group, a second message indicating a request for the content stored at the one or more servers; and

wherein, when executed by the one or more processors of the node, the instructions stored in the memory of the node further cause the node to;

transmit, via the primary cell group, a command configured to activate one or more secondary cells of the secondary cell group; and

transmit, via the primary cell group and via the secondary cell group, a first plurality of packets comprising a first portion of the content.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein:

the primary cell group comprises a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset comprises a primary cell; and

the secondary cell group comprises a second subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the second subset comprises at least one secondary cell.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein:

uplink transmissions by the wireless device via the primary cell group use, as a primary timing reference, a first synchronization signal transmitted via the primary cell; and

uplink transmissions via the secondary cell group use, as a secondary timing reference, a second synchronization signal transmitted via an activated secondary cell of the secondary cell group.

69. The system of claim 66, wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the node, when executed by the one or more processors of the node, further cause the node to transmit, to the wireless device via the primary cell group, a second plurality of packets comprising a second portion of the content.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the node, when executed by the one or more processors of the node, further cause the node to transmit the first portion of the content in a first time period and transmit the second portion of the content in a second time period;

and wherein the first time period and the second time period do not overlap, and the second time period precedes the first time period.

71. The system of claim 69, wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the node, when executed by the one or more processors of the node, further cause the node to transmit, via a first radio bearer, the first message, the first portion of the content, and the second portion of the content;

and wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the wireless device, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless device, further cause the wireless device to transmit the second message via the first radio bearer.

72. The system of claim 69, wherein the first plurality of packets and the second plurality of packets are encrypted packets.

73. The system of claim 66, wherein the one or more configuration parameters of the plurality of cells are of the primary cell group, and wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the node, when executed by the one or more processors of the node, further cause the node to transmit, to the wireless device via the primary cell group, at least one second control message comprising one or more configuration parameters of the secondary cell group.

74. The system of claim 66, wherein:

the at least one control message further comprises a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer;

the deactivation timer is configured to restart in response to a packet transmission via a first secondary cell; and

the first secondary cell is deactivated in the wireless device in response to the deactivation timer expiring.

75. The system of claim 66, wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the node, when executed by the one or more processors of the node, further cause the node to transmit the command, without encryption, to the wireless device.

76. The system of claim 66, wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the node, when executed by the one or more processors of the node, further cause the node to transmit, to the wireless device, a control command configured to initiate an uplink timing synchronization process for the secondary cell group.

77. The system of claim 66, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the node, cause the node to transmit the first plurality of packets, cause the node to transmit the first plurality of packets even if the secondary cell group is out-of-sync.

78. The system of claim 66, wherein the second message further indicates at least one address of the one or more servers.