Uplink transmission for dual connectivity

• US 10,728,858 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2018
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Papasakellariou, Aris, Ng, Boon Loong
• Primary Examiner(s): Chung, Hoon J
• Application Number:
  US16/223,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20190124599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1469 using time-sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/281 taking into account user or data type priority
• 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 52/365 Power headroom reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for a User Equipment (UE) configured by a Master enhanced NodeB (MeNB) for operation with dual connectivity to a Secondary eNB (SeNB) to determine a power for transmission to the MeNB and a power for transmission to the SeNB in a subframe when a total power the UE determines according to power control processes for transmission to the MeNB and for transmission to the SeNB exceeds a maximum transmission power in the subframe. Methods and apparatus are also provided for the MeNB to select one or more antenna ports the UE uses to transmit to the MeNB and inform the selected antenna ports to the UE.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving;

a configuration of a first maximum power for transmissions on a first group of cells,

a configuration of a second maximum power for transmissions on a second group of cells, and

a configuration of a communication direction for time units in the first group of cells;

determining a maximum power for transmissions on the second group of cells over a second time period, wherein the maximum power is;

the second maximum power when the second time period overlaps with a time unit having a communication direction enabling transmission to the first group of cells, and

a third maximum power, that is larger than the second maximum power, when the second time period does not overlap with any time unit having a communication direction enabling transmission to the first group of cells; and

transmitting on the second group of cells with a second power that is not larger than the maximum power.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the third maximum power is a maximum output power P_CMAX.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a power for transmissions on the first group of cells independently from a power for transmissions on the second group of cells.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a power headroom report for the first group of cells or for the second group of cells by assuming no transmission on the second group of cells or on the first group of cells, respectively.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first group of cells is associated with a master base station and the second group of cells is associated with a secondary base station.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a first power for transmissions on the first group of cells over a first time period that overlaps with the second time period, wherein;

the first power is not larger than the first maximum power,

a sum of linear values for the first maximum power and the second maximum power is larger than a linear value of a maximum power for simultaneous transmissions on the first group of cells and on the second group of cells, and

a sum of the linear values for the first power and the second power is larger than the linear value of the maximum power for simultaneous transmissions on the first group of cells and on the second group of cells,

reducing the first power so that the sum of the linear values for the first power and the second power is not larger than the linear value of the maximum power for simultaneous transmissions on the first group of cells and on the second group of cells; and

transmitting on the first group of cells with the reduced first power.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting on the second group of cells with the second power.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second time period overlaps with two first time periods.

9. A User Equipment (UE) comprising:

a receiver configured to receive;

a configuration of a first maximum power for transmissions on a first group of cells,

a configuration of a second maximum power for transmissions on a second group of cells, and

a configuration of a communication direction for time units in the first group of cells;

a processor configured to determine a maximum power for transmissions on the second group of cells over a second time period, wherein the maximum power is;

the second maximum power when the second time period overlaps with a time unit having a communication direction enabling transmission to the first group of cells, and

a third maximum power, that is larger than the second maximum power, when the second time period does not overlap with any time unit having a communication direction enabling transmission to the first group of cells; and

a transmitter configured to transmit on the second group of cells with a power that is not larger than the maximum power.

10. The UE of claim 9, wherein the third maximum power is a maximum output power P_CMAX.

11. The UE of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a power for transmissions on the first group of cells independently from a power for transmissions on the second group of cells.

12. The UE of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a power headroom report for the first group of cells or for the second group of cells by assuming no transmission on the second group of cells or on the first group of cells, respectively.

13. The UE of claim 9, wherein the first group of cells is associated with a master base station and the second group of cells is associated with a secondary base station.

14. The UE of claim 13, wherein:

the processor is further configured to;

determine a first power for transmissions on the first group of cells over a first time period that overlaps with the second time period, wherein;

the first power is not larger than the first maximum power,

a sum of linear values for the first maximum power and the second maximum power is larger than a linear value of a maximum power for simultaneous transmissions on the first group of cells and on the second group of cells, and

a sum of the linear values for the first power and the second power is larger than the linear value of the maximum power for simultaneous transmissions on the first group of cells and on the second group of cells; and

reduce the first power so that the sum of the linear values for the first power and the second power is not larger than the linear value of the maximum power for simultaneous transmissions on the first group of cells and on the second group of cells; and

the transmitter is further configured to transmit on the first group of cells with the reduced first power.

15. The UE of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit on the second group of cells with the second power.

16. The UE of claim 14, wherein the second time period overlaps with two first time periods.

17. A pair of base stations comprising:

a first base station including;

a transmitter configured to transmit;

a configuration of a first maximum power for transmissions on a first group of cells,

a configuration of a second maximum power for transmissions on a second group of cells,

a configuration of a communication direction for time units in the first group of cells, and

signals on the first group of cells; and

a receiver configured to receive signals on the first group of cells; and

a second base station including;

a transmitter configured to transmit signals on the second group of cells; and

a receiver configured to receive, on the second group of cells over a second time period, signals that are transmitted from a same transmitter with a power that is not larger than a maximum power, wherein the maximum power is;

the second maximum power when the second time period overlaps with a time unit having a communication direction enabling transmission to the first group of cells, and

a third maximum power, larger than the second maximum power, when the second time period does not overlap with any time unit having a communication direction enabling transmission to the first group of cells.

18. The pair of base stations of claim 17, wherein the receiver of the first base station or of the second base station is further configured to receive a buffer status report that includes a buffer status report for transmissions on the first group of cells and a buffer status report for transmissions on the second group of cells.

19. The pair of base stations of claim 17, wherein the receiver of the second base station is further configured to receive the configuration of the communication direction for time units in the first group of cells.

20. The pair of base stations of claim 17, wherein the receiver of the second base station is further configured to receive the configuration of the second maximum transmission power.