UPLINK TRANSMIT ANTENNA SELECTION IN CARRIER AGGREGATION

• US 20120213154A1
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gaal, Peter, Chen, Wanshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,537,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0608 Antenna selection according to transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/061 using feedback from receiving side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0691 using subgroups of transmit antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2027/0044 Control loops for carrier regulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0098 Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties

Abstract

An uplink antenna selection method where a base station transmits first and second control information to a user equipment. The first control information includes instructions for configuring the user equipment with closed-loop transmit antenna selection on one of a plurality of component carriers, and the second control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with open-loop transmit antenna selection on at least one other of the plurality of the component carriers. Also, the UE may transmit an indication of its capability for transmission antenna switching per component carrier. Further, the UE may perform steps to resolve inconsistent antenna selection triggers received from the base station.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

transmitting, from a base station, first control information to a user equipment (UE) wherein the first control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with closed-loop transmit antenna selection on one of a plurality of component carriers; and

transmitting, from the base station, second control information to the UE wherein the second control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with open-loop transmit antenna selection on at least one other of the plurality of the component carriers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of component carriers includes a primary component carrier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one other of the plurality of component carriers includes a secondary component carrier.

4. The method of claim 1, further including receiving, at the base station, an indication of the UE'"'"'s capability for transmission antenna switching per component carrier in a carrier aggregation.

5. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:

means for transmitting, from a base station, first control information to a user equipment (UE) wherein the first control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with closed-loop transmit antenna selection on one of a plurality of component carriers; and

means for transmitting, from the base station, second control information to the UE wherein the second control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with open-loop transmit antenna selection on at least one other of the plurality of the component carriers.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one of the plurality of component carriers includes a primary component carrier.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one other of the plurality of component carriers includes a secondary component carrier.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, further including means for receiving, at the base station, an indication of the UE'"'"'s capability for transmission antenna switching per component carrier in a carrier aggregation.

9. A computer program product for wireless communications in a wireless network, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code including;

program code to transmit, from a base station, first control information to a user equipment (UE) wherein the first control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with closed-loop transmit antenna selection on one of a plurality of component carriers; and

program code to transmit, from the base station, second control information to the UE wherein the second control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with open-loop transmit antenna selection on at least one other of the plurality of the component carriers.

10. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

transmit, from a base station, first control information to a user equipment (UE) wherein the first control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with closed-loop transmit antenna selection on one of a plurality of component carriers; and

transmit, from the base station, second control information to the UE wherein the second control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with open-loop transmit antenna selection on at least one other of the plurality of the component carriers.

11. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment (UE), first control information wherein the first control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with closed-loop transmit antenna selection on one of a plurality of component carriers; and

receiving, at the UE, second control information wherein the second control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with open-loop transmit antenna selection on at least one other of the plurality of the component carriers.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one of the plurality of component carriers includes a primary component carrier.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one other of the plurality of component carriers includes a secondary component carrier.

14. The method of claim 11, further including transmitting, from the UE, an indication of the UE'"'"'s capability for transmission antenna switching per component carrier in a carrier aggregation.

15. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving, at a user equipment (UE), first control information wherein the first control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with closed-loop transmit antenna selection on one of a plurality of component carriers; and

means for receiving, at the UE, second control information wherein the second control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with open-loop transmit antenna selection on at least one other of the plurality of the component carriers.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one of the plurality of component carriers includes a primary component carrier.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one other of the plurality of component carriers includes a secondary component carrier.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further including means for transmitting, from the UE, an indication of the UE'"'"'s capability for transmission antenna switching per component carrier in a carrier aggregation.

19. A computer program product for wireless communications in a wireless network, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code including;

program code to receive, at a user equipment (UE), first control information wherein the first control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with closed-loop transmit antenna selection on one of a plurality of component carriers; and

program code to receive, at the UE, second control information wherein the second control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with open-loop transmit antenna selection on at least one other of the plurality of the component carriers.

20. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

receive, at a user equipment (UE), first control information wherein the first control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with closed-loop transmit antenna selection on one of a plurality of component carriers; and

receive, at the UE, second control information wherein the second control information includes instructions for configuring the UE with open-loop transmit antenna selection on at least one other of the plurality of the component carriers.

21. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

generating, at a user equipment (UE) configured for carrier aggregation, an indication of the UE'"'"'s capability for transmission antenna switching per component carrier in the carrier aggregation; and

transmitting the indication to a base station.

22. The method of claim 21, further including:

receiving, at the UE, control information from the base station, wherein the control information includes a transmission antenna selection for the UE based at least in part on the indication of the UE'"'"'s capability.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the transmission antenna selection includes independent antenna selection per component carrier.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the carrier aggregation includes an inter-band carrier aggregation configuration.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the transmission antenna selection includes simultaneous antenna switching for all component carriers in the carrier aggregation.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the carrier aggregation includes an intra-band carrier aggregation configuration.

27. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:

means for generating, at a user equipment (UE) configured for carrier aggregation, an indication of the UE'"'"'s capability for transmission antenna switching per component carrier in the carrier aggregation; and

means for transmitting the indication to a base station.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further including:

means for receiving, at the UE, control information from the base station, wherein the control information includes a transmission antenna selection for the UE based at least in part on the indication of the UE'"'"'s capability.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the transmission antenna selection includes independent antenna selection per component carrier.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the carrier aggregation includes an inter-band carrier aggregation configuration.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the transmission antenna selection includes simultaneous antenna switching for all component carriers in the carrier aggregation.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the carrier aggregation includes an intra-band carrier aggregation configuration.

33. A computer program product for wireless communications in a wireless network, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code including;

program code to generate, at a user equipment (UE) configured for carrier aggregation, an indication of the UE'"'"'s capability for transmission antenna switching per component carrier in the carrier aggregation; and

program code to transmit the indication to a base station.

34. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

generate, at a user equipment (UE) configured for carrier aggregation, an indication of the UE'"'"'s capability for transmission antenna switching per component carrier in the carrier aggregation; and

transmit the indication to a base station.

35. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

receiving, at a base station, an indication of a user equipment (UE) capability for antenna switching per component carrier in carrier aggregation; and

determining, at the base station, a transmission antenna selection for the UE based, at least in part, on the indication of the UE capability.

36. The method of claim 35, further including:

transmitting, from the base station, control information including the transmission antenna selection for the UE, based at least in part on the indication of the UE capability.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the transmission antenna selection includes independent antenna switching per component carrier in the carrier aggregation.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the carrier aggregation includes an inter-band carrier aggregation configuration.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the transmission antenna selection includes simultaneous antenna switching for all component carriers in the carrier aggregation.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the carrier aggregation includes an intra-band carrier aggregation configuration.

41. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving, at a base station, an indication of a user equipment (UE) capability for antenna switching per component carrier in carrier aggregation; and

means for determining, at the base station, a transmission antenna selection for the UE based, at least in part, on the indication of the UE capability.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, further including:

means for transmitting, from the base station, control information including the transmission antenna selection for the UE, based at least in part on the indication of the UE capability.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the transmission antenna selection includes independent antenna switching per component carrier in the carrier aggregation.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the carrier aggregation includes an inter-band carrier aggregation configuration.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the transmission antenna selection includes simultaneous antenna switching for all component carriers in the carrier aggregation.

46. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the carrier aggregation includes an intra-band carrier aggregation configuration.

47. A computer program product for wireless communications in a wireless network, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code including;

program code to receive, at a base station, an indication of a user equipment (UE) capability for antenna switching per component carrier in carrier aggregation; and

program code to determine, at the base station, a transmission antenna selection for the UE based, at least in part, on the indication of the UE capability.

48. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

receive, at a base station, an indication of a user equipment (UE) capability for antenna switching per component carrier in carrier aggregation; and

determine, at the base station, a transmission antenna selection for the UE based, at least in part, on the indication of the UE capability.

49. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment (UE), a plurality of antenna selection assignments from at least one base station;

evaluating the received plurality of antenna selection assignments for an inconsistency; and

in response to finding the inconsistency, determining, at the UE, antenna selection for uplink transmissions on at least one of a plurality of component carriers.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the determining includes ignoring all antenna selection assignments and not performing uplink transmission.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the determining includes performing uplink transmission with antenna selection different from the received plurality of the antenna selection assignments on at least one of the component carriers.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the determining includes ignoring inconsistent ones of the plurality of antenna selection assignments.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the determining includes:

determining an antenna port identified in a majority of the plurality of antenna selection assignments; and

selecting the determined antenna port for the uplink transmissions.

54. The method of claim 49, wherein the determining includes selecting an antenna port associated with a priority component carrier of the plurality of component carriers.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein the determining includes selecting a predetermined antenna port.

56. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving, at a user equipment (UE), a plurality of antenna selection assignments from at least one base station;

means for evaluating the received plurality of antenna selection assignments for an inconsistency; and

means for determining, at the UE, antenna selection for uplink transmissions on at least one of a plurality of component carriers in response to finding the inconsistency.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the means for determining includes means for ignoring all antenna selection assignments and not performing uplink transmission.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the means for determining includes means for performing uplink transmission with antenna selection different from the received plurality of the antenna selection assignments on at least one of the component carriers.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the means for determining includes means for ignoring inconsistent ones of the plurality of antenna selection assignments.

60. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the means for determining includes:

means for determining an antenna port identified in a majority of the plurality of antenna selection assignments; and

means for selecting the determined antenna port for the uplink transmissions.

61. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the means for determining includes means for selecting an antenna port associated with a priority component carrier of the plurality of component carriers.

62. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the means for determining includes means for selecting a predetermined antenna port.

63. A computer program product for wireless communications in a wireless network, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code including;

program code to receive, at a user equipment (UE), a plurality of antenna selection assignments from at least one base station;

program code to evaluate the received plurality of antenna selection assignments for an inconsistency; and

in response to finding the inconsistency, program code to determine, at the UE, antenna selection for uplink transmissions on at least one of a plurality of component carriers.

64. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

receive, at a user equipment (UE), a plurality of antenna selection assignments from at least one base station;

evaluate the received plurality of antenna selection assignments for an inconsistency; and

in response to finding the inconsistency, determine, at the UE, antenna selection for uplink transmissions on at least one of a plurality of component carriers.