PCFICH DESIGN FOR MULTICARRIER OPERATION

• US 20110096734A1
• Filed: 04/21/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Bhushan, Naga, Montojo, Juan, Gaal, Peter, Damnjanovic, Jelena M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,971,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitates communicating Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information to a user equipment (UE) in which the PCFICH information is specific to a particular component carrier. The PCFICH information for each component carrier can be communicated via an anchor component carrier in order to reduce decoding each PCFICH information for each component carrier. In particular, the PCFICH information can be decoded for an anchor component carrier and PCFICH information for additional carriers can be included in a Multi-Carrier (MC) grant of the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

Claims

1. A method used in a wireless communications system that facilitates conveying control information for one or more downlink component carriers, comprising:

evaluating one or more component carriers to identify Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information related therewith; and

communicating PCFICH information related to each of the one or more component carriers via one or more component carriers.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an anchor component carrier from the one or more component carriers; and

communicating PCFICH information related to the anchor component carrier and PCFICH information related to each of the one or more component carriers via the anchor component carrier.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing a fixed PCFICH information value on the one or more component carriers.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the PCFICH information value is fixed for the one or more component carriers other than the anchor component carrier in which the anchor component carrier has a PCFICH information value that is conveyed via an anchor PCFICH by decoding the PCFICH sent on the anchor component carrier.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising broadcasting the fixed PCFICH information value, or signaling it to a UE by dedicated signaling.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating a package that includes Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information for the one or more component carriers into a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) of the anchor component carrier, wherein the package is an multiple carrier grant that includes PCFICH information for the one or more component carriers or assignment data for the one more component carriers.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the package includes separately coded Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for each of the one or more component carriers in which each PDCCH includes Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information for respective component carriers and assignment data for respective component carriers.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating a package that includes PCFICH information for the one or more component carriers into a separate channel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the package includes PCFICH information that is jointly coded.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the package includes PCFICH information that is separately coded.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating the PCFICH information to include a universal PCFICH information for the anchor component carrier and the one or more component carriers.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the universal PCFICH information includes a common size for a downlink (DL) control region for the anchor component carrier and the one or more component carriers.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating a backward compatible component carrier operation mode that supports Long Term Evolution (LTE) user equipment (UE), wherein the backward compatible component carrier operation mode utilizes the PCFICH information to identify one or more symbols for control;

creating a non-backward compatible component carrier operation mode that does not utilize the PCFICH information; and

employing at least one of the backward compatible component carrier operation mode or the non-backward compatible component carrier operation mode based upon a user equipment (UE).

15. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

identify an anchor component carrier from the one or more component carriers; and

communicate PCFICH information related to the anchor component carrier and each of the one or more component carriers via the anchor component carrier.

14. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

evaluate one or more downlink component carriers to identify Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information related therewith;

communicate PCFICH information related to each of the one or more component carriers via one or more component carriers; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

incorporate a package that includes Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information for the one or more component carriers into a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) of the anchor component carrier.

17. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, wherein the package is an multiple carrier grant that includes PCFICH information for the one or more component carriers or assignment data for the one or more component carriers.

18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 17, wherein the package includes separately coded Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for each of the one or more component carriers in which each PDCCH includes Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information for respective component carriers and assignment data for respective component carriers.

19. A wireless communications apparatus that conveys control information for one or more component carriers, comprising:

means for evaluating one or more component carriers to identify Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information related therewith; and

means for communicating PCFICH information related to each of the one or more component carriers via one or more component carriers.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for identifying an anchor component carrier from the one or more component carriers; and

means for communicating PCFICH information related to the anchor component carrier and each of the one or more component carriers via the anchor component carrier.

21. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for incorporating a package that includes Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information for the one or more component carriers into a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) of the anchor component carrier.

22. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 21, wherein the package is an multiple carrier grant that includes PCFICH information for the one or more component carriers or assignment data for the one or more component carriers.

23. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 21, wherein the package includes separately coded Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for each of the one or more component carriers in which each PDCCH includes Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information for respective component carriers and assignment data for respective component carriers.

24. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for incorporating a package that includes PCFICH information for the one or more component carriers into a separate channel.

25. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 24, wherein the package includes PCFICH information that is jointly coded.

26. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 24, wherein the package includes PCFICH information that is separately coded.

27. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for creating the PCFICH information to include a universal PCFICH information for the anchor component carrier and the one or more component carriers.

28. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 27, wherein the universal PCFICH information includes a common size for a downlink (DL) control region for the anchor component carrier and the one or more component carriers.

29. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for creating a backward compatible component carrier operation mode that supports Long Term Evolution (LTE) user equipment (UE), wherein the backward compatible component carrier operation mode utilizes the PCFICH information to identify one or more symbols for control;

means for creating a non-backward compatible component carrier operation mode that does not utilize the PCFICH information; and

means for employing at least one of the backward compatible component carrier operation mode or the non-backward compatible component carrier operation mode based upon a user equipment (UE).

30. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to evaluate one or more downlink component carriers to identify Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information related therewith; and

code for causing at least one computer to communicate PCFICH information related to each of the one or more component carriers via one or more component carriers.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, further comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to identify an anchor component carrier from the one or more component carriers; and

code for causing at least one computer to communicate PCFICH information related to the anchor component carrier and each of the one or more component carriers via the anchor component carrier.

32. The computer program product of claim 30, further comprising a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing at least one computer to incorporate a package that includes Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information for the one or more component carriers into a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) of the anchor component carrier.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the package is an multiple carrier grant that includes PCFICH information for the one or more component carriers or assignment data for the one or more component carriers.

34. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the package includes separately coded Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for each of the one or more component carriers in which each PDCCH includes Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information for respective component carriers and assignment data for respective component carriers.

35. A method used in a wireless communications system that facilitates utilizing control information for one or more component carriers, comprising:

receiving a PCFICH information on one or more downlink component carriers component carrier; and

decoding the PCFICH information to identify control information for the one or more component carriers.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

wherein one or more component carriers is anchor carrier; and

identifying a PCFICH information corresponding to at least one component carrier in addition to the anchor component carrier, wherein the PCFICH information is received via the anchor component carrier.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

utilizing the PCFICH information related to the anchor component carrier to identify one or more symbols for control for such anchor carrier; and

utilizing the PCFICH information corresponding to the component carrier to identify one or more symbols for control for such component carrier.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising decoding a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) to identify a package that includes PCFICH information for the one or more component carriers.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the package is an multiple carrier grant that includes PCFICH information for the one or more component carriers or assignment data for the one or more component carriers.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the package includes separately coded Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for each of the one or more component carriers in which each PDCCH includes Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information for respective component carriers and assignment data for respective component carriers.

41. The method of claim 35, further comprising decoding a package received from a separate channel via the anchor component carrier, wherein the package includes PCFICH information for the one or more component carriers.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the package includes PCFICH information that is jointly coded.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the package includes PCFICH information that is separately coded.

44. The method of claim 35, further comprising identifying the PCFICH information as a universal PCFICH information that corresponds to the anchor component carrier and the at least one component carrier.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the universal PCFICH information includes a common size for a downlink (DL) control region for the anchor component carrier and the at least one component carrier.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the PCFICH information is utilized for at least one of an uplink and a downlink.

47. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

identifying a user equipment (UE) as at least one of backward compatible or non-backward compatible;

employing a backward compatible component carrier operation mode for the user equipment (UE) that supports Long Term Evolution (LTE) user equipment (UE), wherein the backward compatible component carrier operation mode utilizes the PCFICH information to identify one or more symbols for control if the user equipment is backward compatible; and

employing a non-backward compatible component carrier operation mode for the user equipment (UE) and does not utilize the PCFICH information if the user equipment (UE) is non-backward compatible.

48. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a PCFICH information on one or more downlink component carriers component carrier;

decode the PCFICH information to identify control information for the one or more component carriers; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

49. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 48, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

wherein one or more component carriers is anchor carrier; and

identify a PCFICH information corresponding to at least one component carrier in addition to the anchor component carrier, wherein the PCFICH information is received via the anchor component carrier.

50. A wireless communications apparatus that utilizes control information for one or more component carriers, comprising:

means for receiving a PCFICH information on one or more downlink component carriers component carrier; and

means for decoding the PCFICH information to identify control information for the one or more component carriers.

51. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 50, further comprising:

wherein one or more component carriers is anchor carrier; and

means for identifying a PCFICH information corresponding to at least one component carrier in addition to the anchor component carrier, wherein the PCFICH information is received via the anchor component carrier.

52. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 51, further comprising:

means for utilizing the PCFICH information related to the anchor component carrier to identify one or more symbols for control for such anchor carrier; and

means for utilizing the PCFICH information corresponding to the component carrier to identify one or more symbols for control for such component carrier.

53. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 50, further comprising means for decoding a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) to identify a package that includes PCFICH information for the one or more component carriers.

54. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 53, wherein the package is an multiple carrier grant that includes PCFICH information for the one or more component carriers or assignment data for the one or more component carriers.

55. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 53, wherein the package includes separately coded Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for each of the one or more component carriers in which each PDCCH includes Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) information for respective component carriers and assignment data for respective component carriers.

56. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 50, further comprising decoding a package received from a separate channel via the anchor component carrier, wherein the package includes PCFICH information for the one or more component carriers.

57. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 53, further comprising means for identifying the PCFICH information as a universal PCFICH information that corresponds to the anchor component carrier and the at least one component carrier.

58. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 57, wherein the universal PCFICH information includes a common size for a downlink (DL) control region for the anchor component carrier and the at least one component carrier.

59. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 50, further comprising:

means for identifying a user equipment (UE) as at least one of backward compatible or non-backward compatible;

means for employing a backward compatible component carrier operation mode for the user equipment (UE) that supports Long Term Evolution (LTE) user equipment (UE), wherein the backward compatible component carrier operation mode utilizes the PCFICH information to identify one or more symbols for control if the user equipment is backward compatible; and

means for employing a non-backward compatible component carrier operation mode for the user equipment (UE) and does not utilize the PCFICH information if the user equipment (UE) is non-backward compatible.

60. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a PCFICH information on one or more downlink component carriers component carrier; and

code for causing at least one computer to decode the PCFICH information to identify control information for the one or more component carriers.

61. The computer program product of claim 60, further comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

wherein one or more component carriers is anchor carrier; and

code for causing at least one computer to identify a PCFICH information corresponding to at least one component carrier in addition to the anchor component carrier, wherein the PCFICH information is received via the anchor component carrier.