Configuration of multiple timing advance groups in wireless communication devices

• US 10,588,155 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2018
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• 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): Rivas, Salvador E
• Application Number:
  US15/888,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20180242368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2011/0096 Network synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2692 with preamble design, i.e. with negotiation of the synchronisation sequence with transmitter or sequence linked to the algorithm used at the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/32 Carrier systems characterised by combinations of two or more of the types covered by groups H04L27/02, H04L27/10, H04L27/18 or H04L27/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0098 Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1066 Session management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/00 Network traffic management; Network resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/00 Access restriction access security to prevent unauthorised access H04W12/08; Network selection; Access point selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/14 Separate analysis of uplink or downlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/18 TPC being performed according to specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/242 taking into account path loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/248 where transmission power control commands are generated based on a path parameter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/34 TPC management, i.e. sharing limited amount of power among users or channels or data types, e.g. cell loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 : Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 : compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 : Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 : in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 : Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 : Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 : Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 : Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems are described for wireless communications. Cells may be grouped into a plurality of cell groups. Control message(s) may be transmitted to a wireless device for the wireless device to transmit a preamble via a secondary cell.

Claims

1. A base station comprising:

one or more processors; and

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

transmit, to a wireless device, at least one control message comprising;

first configuration parameters of a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of cells comprises a plurality of secondary cells, the plurality of cells are grouped into a plurality of cell groups, and the plurality of cell groups comprises a primary cell group and a secondary cell group; and

a plurality of second parameters for configuration of a random access channel of each of the plurality of secondary cells;

receive, from the wireless device, an indication of radio quality of the plurality of secondary cells;

select, based on the indication of radio quality, a random access channel associated with a secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells;

transmit, to the wireless device, a control command to cause transmission of a random access preamble via the secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells; and

receive, from the wireless device, the random access preamble.

2. The base station of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second parameters comprises:

a plurality of random access resource parameters; and

a plurality of power control parameters for random access preamble transmission.

3. The base station of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to transmit a random access response via a primary cell of the plurality of cells, wherein the random access response comprises a timing advance command for the secondary cell group.

4. The base station of claim 3, wherein the timing advance command comprises a time adjustment value, and the timing advance command is configured to cause substantial alignment, at the base station, of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of the secondary cell group.

5. The base station of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to receive a second random access preamble via uplink random access resources indicated by:

a plurality of random access resource parameters; and

the control command.

6. The base station of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to transmit a second control command via a downlink carrier of only a primary cell to cause the wireless device to:

transmit, via an uplink carrier of only the primary cell and to acquire uplink timing for the primary cell group, a second random access preamble.

7. The base station of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the base station to transmit the control command via a cell used for scheduling uplink resources for the secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells.

8. The base station of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to:

select a secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells for random access preamble transmission, wherein the selected secondary cell is an activated secondary cell of the secondary cell group; and

select a random access preamble from a plurality of random access preambles, wherein the control command comprises an indication of the selected random access preamble.

9. The base station of claim 1, wherein:

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

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

10. 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 base station, at least one control message comprising;

first configuration parameters of a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of cells comprises a plurality of secondary cells, the plurality of cells are grouped into a plurality of cell groups, and the plurality of cell groups comprises a primary cell group and a secondary cell group; and

a plurality of second parameters for configuration of a random access channel of each of the plurality of secondary cells; and

transmit, to the base station, an indication of radio quality of the plurality of secondary cells;

receive, from the base station, an indication of a random access channel associated with a secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells;

receive, from the base station, a control command to cause transmission of a random access preamble via the secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells; and

transmit, to the base station, the random access preamble.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of second parameters comprises:

a plurality of random access resource parameters; and

a plurality of power control parameters for random access preamble transmission.

12. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to receive a random access response via a primary cell, wherein the random access response comprises a timing advance command for the secondary cell group.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the timing advance command comprises a time adjustment value, and the timing advance command is configured to cause substantial alignment, at the base station, of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of the secondary cell group.

14. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to transmit a second random access preamble via uplink random access resources indicated by:

a plurality of random access resource parameters; and

the control command.

15. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to receive a second control command via a downlink carrier of only a primary cell to cause the wireless device to:

transmit, via an uplink carrier of only the primary cell and to acquire uplink timing for the primary cell group, a second random access preamble.

16. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to receive the control command via a cell used for scheduling uplink resources for the secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells.

17. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein:

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

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

18. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a base station and to a wireless device, at least one control message comprising;

first configuration parameters of a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of cells comprises a plurality of secondary cells, the plurality of cells are grouped into a plurality of cell groups, and the plurality of cell groups comprises a primary cell group and a secondary cell group; and

a plurality of second parameters for configuration of a random access channel of each of the plurality of secondary cells;

receiving, from the wireless device, an indication of radio quality of the plurality of secondary cells;

selecting, based on the indication of radio quality, a random access channel associated with a secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells;

transmitting, to the wireless device, a control command to cause transmission of a random access preamble via the secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells; and

receiving, from the wireless device, the random access preamble.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of second parameters comprises:

a plurality of random access resource parameters; and

a plurality of power control parameters for random access preamble transmission.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting, by the base station, a random access response via a primary cell of the plurality of cells, wherein the random access response comprises a timing advance command for the secondary cell group.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the timing advance command comprises a time adjustment value, and the timing advance command is configured to cause substantial alignment, at the base station, of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of the secondary cell group.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving, by the base station, a second random access preamble via uplink random access resources indicated by:

a plurality of random access resource parameters; and

the control command.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting, by the base station, a second control command via a downlink carrier of only a primary cell to cause the wireless device to:

transmit, via an uplink carrier of only the primary cell and to acquire uplink timing for the primary cell group, a second random access preamble.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitting the control command comprises transmitting the control command via a cell used for scheduling uplink resources for the secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

selecting a secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells for random access preamble transmission, wherein the selected secondary cell is an activated secondary cell of the secondary cell group; and

selecting a random access preamble from a plurality of random access preambles, wherein the control command comprises an indication of the selected random access preamble.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein:

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

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

27. A method comprising:

receiving, by a wireless device and from a base station, at least one control message comprising;

first configuration parameters of a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of cells comprises a plurality of secondary cells, the plurality of cells are grouped into a plurality of cell groups, and the plurality of cell groups comprises a primary cell group and a secondary cell group; and

a plurality of second parameters for configuration of a random access channel of each of the plurality of secondary cells;

transmitting, to the base station, an indication of radio quality of the plurality of secondary cells;

receiving, from the base station, an indication of a random access channel associated with a secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells;

receiving, from the base station, a control command to cause transmission of a random access preamble via the secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells; and

transmitting, to the base station, the random access preamble.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the plurality of second parameters comprises:

a plurality of random access resource parameters; and

a plurality of power control parameters for random access preamble transmission.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving, by the wireless device, a random access response via a primary cell, wherein the random access response comprises a timing advance command for the secondary cell group.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the timing advance command comprises a time adjustment value, and the timing advance command is configured to cause substantial alignment, at the base station, of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of the secondary cell group.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting, by the wireless device, a second random access preamble via uplink random access resources indicated by:

a plurality of random access resource parameters; and

the control command.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving, by the wireless device, a second control command via a downlink carrier of only a primary cell to cause the wireless device to:

transmit, via an uplink carrier of only the primary cell and to acquire uplink timing for the primary cell group, a second random access preamble.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the receiving the control command comprises receiving the control command via a cell used for scheduling uplink resources for the secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein:

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

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

35. A system comprising:

a base station and a wireless device;

wherein the base station comprises;

first one or more processors; and

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

transmit, to the wireless device, at least one control message comprising;

first configuration parameters of a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of cells comprises a plurality of secondary cells, the plurality of cells are grouped into a plurality of cell groups, and the plurality of cell groups comprises a primary cell group and a secondary cell group; and

a plurality of second parameters for configuration of a random access channel of each of the plurality of secondary cells;

select, based on an indication of radio quality of the plurality of secondary cells, a random access channel associated with a secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells; and

transmit, to the wireless device, a control command to cause transmission of a random access preamble via the secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells; and

wherein the wireless device comprises;

second one or more processors; and

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

transmit, to the base station, the indication of radio quality of the plurality of secondary cells; and

transmit, to the base station, the first random access preamble.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the plurality of second parameters comprises:

a plurality of random access resource parameters; and

a plurality of power control parameters for random access preamble transmission.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the first instructions, when executed by the first one or more processors, further cause the base station to transmit a random access response via a primary cell of the plurality of cells, wherein the random access response comprises a timing advance command for the secondary cell group.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the timing advance command comprises a time adjustment value, and the timing advance command is configured to cause substantial alignment, at the base station, of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of the secondary cell group.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the first instructions, when executed by the first one or more processors, further cause the base station to receive a second random access preamble via uplink random access resources indicated by:

a plurality of random access resource parameters; and

the control command.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein the first instructions, when executed by the first one or more processors, further cause the base station to transmit a second control command via a downlink carrier of only a primary cell to cause the wireless device to:

transmit, via an uplink carrier of only the primary cell and to acquire uplink timing for the primary cell group, a second random access preamble.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein the first instructions, when executed by the first one or more processors, cause the base station to transmit the control command via a cell used for scheduling uplink resources for the secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells.

42. The system of claim 35, wherein the first instructions, when executed by the first one or more processors, further cause the base station to:

select a secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells for random access preamble transmission, wherein the selected secondary cell is an activated secondary cell of the secondary cell group; and

select a random access preamble from a plurality of random access preambles, wherein the control command comprises an indication of the selected random access preamble.

43. The system of claim 35, wherein:

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

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

44. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a base station and to a wireless device, at least one control message comprising;

first configuration parameters of a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of cells comprises a plurality of secondary cells, the plurality of cells are grouped into a plurality of cell groups, and the plurality of cell groups comprises a primary cell group and a secondary cell group; and

a plurality of second parameters for configuration of a random access channel of each of the plurality of secondary cells;

transmitting, by the wireless device and to the base station, an indication of radio quality of the plurality of secondary cells;

selecting, by the base station and based on the indication of radio quality of the plurality of secondary cells, a random access channel associated with a secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells;

transmitting, by the base station and to the wireless device, a control command to cause transmission of a random access preamble via the secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells; and

transmitting, by the wireless device and to the base station, the random access preamble.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the plurality of second parameters comprises:

a plurality of random access resource parameters; and

a plurality of power control parameters for random access preamble transmission.

46. The method of claim 44, further comprising transmitting, by the base station, a random access response via a primary cell of the plurality of cells, wherein the random access response comprises a timing advance command for the secondary cell group.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the timing advance command comprises a time adjustment value, and the timing advance command is configured to cause substantial alignment, at the base station, of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of the secondary cell group.

48. The method of claim 44, further comprising receiving, by the base station, a second random access preamble via uplink random access resources indicated by:

a plurality of random access resource parameters; and

the control command.

49. The method of claim 44, further comprising transmitting, by the base station, a second control command via a downlink carrier of only a primary cell to cause the wireless device to:

transmit, via an uplink carrier of only the primary cell and to acquire uplink timing for the primary cell group, a second random access preamble.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein the transmitting the control command comprises transmitting the control command via a cell used for scheduling uplink resources for the secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells.

51. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

selecting a secondary cell of the plurality of secondary cells for random access preamble transmission, wherein the selected secondary cell is an activated secondary cell of the secondary cell group; and

selecting a random access preamble from a plurality of random access preambles, wherein the control command comprises an indication of the selected random access preamble.

52. The method of claim 44, wherein:

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

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