METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AGGREGATING CARRIERS OF MULTIPLE RADIO ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES

• US 20130028117A1
• Filed: 07/24/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Montojo, Juan, Damnjanovic, Jelena M., Chen, Wanshi, Gaal, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,537,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/004 in the uplink, i.e. towards network

Abstract

The described aspects include methods and apparatus for communicating control information in a carrier aggregation configuration that uses multiple radio access technologies (RAT). A first resource assignment related to a first carrier corresponding to a first RAT can be received, as well as, a second resource assignment related to a second carrier corresponding to a second RAT. The first carrier and the second carrier are aggregated for communicating data in a wireless network. In addition, resources can be determined for communicating first RAT control data for the first RAT over an uplink carrier based at least in part on the first resource assignment. Second RAT control data can then also be communicated in containers and/or using timing for control data of the first RAT over at least a portion of the resources.

Claims

1. A method for communicating control information in a carrier aggregation configuration, comprising:

receiving a first resource assignment related to a first carrier corresponding to a first radio access technology (RAT);

receiving a second resource assignment related to a second carrier corresponding to a second RAT, wherein the first carrier and the second carrier are aggregated for communicating data in a wireless network;

determining resources for communicating first RAT control data for the first RAT over an uplink carrier based at least in part on the first resource assignment; and

communicating second RAT control data in containers for control data of the first RAT over at least a portion of the resources.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a first processing timing that is different from a second processing timing defined by the second RAT, wherein the first processing timing is for communicating the second RAT control data over the portion of the resources, and the communicating is based on the first processing timing.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining the first processing timing comprises selecting the first processing timing from a plurality of processing timings based at least in part on channel characteristics related to a channel of the second RAT.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first RAT comprises long term evolution, the second RAT comprises high speed packet access, and the first processing timing is selected to be either 7 slots or 8.5 slots of the first RAT.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining the first processing timing as a fixed timing offset between a first RAT processing timing of the first RAT and the second processing timing of the second RAT.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the first RAT comprises long term evolution, the second RAT comprises high speed packet access, and the first processing timing is 3 milliseconds.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the communicating the second RAT control data further comprises communicating over the resources using a periodicity and a reporting offset related to the first RAT.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first RAT comprises long term evolution, and the first carrier is a downlink carrier.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving system information for the first RAT and the second RAT over the first carrier.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising performing handover to one or more evolved Node Bs based at least in part on the first carrier.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the performing the handover comprises receiving handover information over the first carrier.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the performing the handover comprises measuring channel quality over the first carrier.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising requesting access over a random access channel of the first RAT using the uplink carrier corresponding to the first carrier.

14. An apparatus for communicating control information in a carrier aggregation configuration, comprising:

means for receiving a first resource assignment related to a first carrier corresponding to a first radio access technology (RAT) and receiving a second resource assignment related to a second carrier corresponding to a second RAT, wherein the first carrier and the second carrier are aggregated for communicating data in a wireless network;

means for determining resources for communicating first RAT control data for the first RAT over an uplink carrier based at least in part on the first resource assignment; and

means for communicating second RAT control data in containers for control data of the first RAT over at least a portion of the resources.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for determining determines a first processing timing that is different from a second processing timing defined by the second RAT, wherein the first processing timing is for communicating the second RAT control data over the portion of the resources, and the means for communicating communicates the second RAT control data based on the first processing timing.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for determining determines the first processing timing in part by selecting the first processing timing from a plurality of processing timings based at least in part on channel characteristics related to a channel of the second RAT.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for determining determines the first processing timing as a fixed timing offset between a first RAT processing timing of the first RAT and the second processing timing of the second RAT.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first RAT comprises long term evolution, and the first carrier is a downlink carrier.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for performing handover to one or more evolved Node Bs based at least in part on the first carrier.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for receiving system information for the first RAT and the second RAT over the first carrier, wherein the performing the handover comprises receiving handover information or measuring channel quality over the first carrier.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for requesting service over a random access channel of the first RAT using the uplink carrier corresponding to the first carrier.

22. A computer program product for communicating control information in a carrier aggregation configuration, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a first resource assignment related to a first carrier corresponding to a first radio access technology (RAT);

code for causing the at least one computer to receive a second resource assignment related to a second carrier corresponding to a second RAT, wherein the first carrier and the second carrier are aggregated for communicating data in a wireless network;

code for causing the at least one computer to determine resources for communicating first RAT control data for the first RAT over an uplink carrier based at least in part on the first resource assignment; and

code for causing the at least one computer to communicate second RAT control data in containers for control data of the first RAT over at least a portion of the resources.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to determine a first processing timing that is different from a second processing timing defined by the second RAT, wherein the first processing timing is for communicating the second RAT control data over the portion of the resources, and the code for causing the at least one computer to communicate communicates the second RAT control data based on the first processing timing.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to determine the first processing timing selects the first processing timing from a plurality of processing timings based at least in part on channel characteristics related to a channel of the second RAT.

25. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to determine the first processing timing determines the first processing timing as a fixed timing offset between a first RAT processing timing of the first RAT and the second processing timing of the second RAT.

26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the first RAT comprises long term evolution, and the first carrier is a downlink carrier.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to perform handover to one or more evolved Node Bs based at least in part on the first carrier.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to receive system information for the first RAT and the second RAT over the first carrier, wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to perform the handover receives handover information or measures channel quality over the first carrier based on the system information.

29. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to request service over a random access channel of the first RAT using the uplink carrier corresponding to the first carrier.

30. An apparatus for communicating control information in a carrier aggregation configuration, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive a first resource assignment related to a first carrier corresponding to a first radio access technology (RAT);

receive a second resource assignment related to a second carrier corresponding to a second RAT, wherein the first carrier and the second carrier are aggregated for communicating data in a wireless network;

determine resources for communicating first RAT control data for the first RAT over an uplink carrier based at least in part on the first resource assignment; and

communicate second RAT control data in containers for control data of the first RAT over at least a portion of the resources.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the instructions being further executable by the processor to:

determine a first processing timing that is different from a second processing timing defined by the second RAT, wherein the first processing timing is for communicating the second RAT control data over the portion of the resources; and

communicate the second RAT control data based on the first processing timing.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the instructions being further executable by the processor to select the first processing timing from a plurality of processing timings based at least in part on channel characteristics related to a channel of the second RAT.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the instructions being further executable by the processor to determine the first processing timing as a fixed timing offset between a first RAT processing timing of the first RAT and the second processing timing of the second RAT.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first RAT comprises long term evolution, and the first carrier is a downlink carrier.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the instructions being further executable by the processor to perform handover to one or more evolved Node Bs based at least in part on the first carrier.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the instructions being further executable by the processor to:

receive system information for the first RAT and the second RAT over the first carrier; and

perform the handover receives handover information or measures channel quality over the first carrier based on the system information.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the instructions being further executable by the processor to request service over a random access channel of the first RAT using the uplink carrier corresponding to the first carrier.

38. An apparatus for communicating control information in a carrier aggregation configuration, comprising:

a carrier assignment receiving component for receiving a first resource assignment related to a first carrier corresponding to a first radio access technology (RAT) and receiving a second resource assignment related to a second carrier corresponding to a second RAT, wherein the first carrier and the second carrier are aggregated for communicating data in a wireless network;

a control resource determining component for determining resources for communicating first RAT control data for the first RAT over an uplink carrier based at least in part on the first resource assignment; and

a control data communicating component for communicating second RAT control data in containers for control data of the first RAT over at least a portion of the resources.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the control resource determining component determines a first processing timing that is different from a second processing timing defined by the second RAT, wherein the first processing timing is for communicating the second RAT control data over the portion of the resources, and the control data communicating component communicates the second RAT control data based on the first processing timing.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the control resource determining component determines the first processing timing in part by selecting the first processing timing from a plurality of processing timings based at least in part on channel characteristics related to a channel of the second RAT.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the first RAT comprises long term evolution, the second RAT comprises high speed packet access, and the first processing timing is selected to be either 7 slots or 8.5 slots of the first RAT.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the control resource determining component determines the first processing timing as a fixed timing offset between a first RAT processing timing of the first RAT and the second processing timing of the second RAT.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first RAT comprises long term evolution, the second RAT comprises high speed packet access, and the first processing timing is 3 milliseconds.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the control data communicating component communicates the second RAT control data over the resources using a periodicity and a reporting offset related to the first RAT.

45. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the first RAT comprises long term evolution, and the first carrier is a downlink carrier.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising a system information receiving component for receiving system information for the first RAT and the second RAT over the first carrier.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising a handover component for performing handover to one or more evolved Node Bs based at least in part on the first carrier.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the handover component performs the handover based in part on receiving handover information over the first carrier.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the handover component performs the handover based in part on measuring channel quality over the first carrier.

50. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising a random access generating component for requesting access over a random access channel of the first RAT using the uplink carrier corresponding to the first carrier.

51. A method for assigning carriers to one or more devices in a wireless network, comprising:

assigning a first set of resources related to a first carrier of a first radio access technology (RAT) to a user equipment (UE);

assigning a second set of resources related to a second carrier of a second RAT to the UE; and

receiving control data for the second set of resources in containers for control data of the first RAT over resources of an uplink carrier assigned for communicating control data of the first RAT.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the receiving control data comprises receiving the control data according to a first transmission timing related to the first RAT.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising communicating the control data to a cell providing the second set of resources.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the first RAT is long term evolution, and the second RAT is high speed packet access.

55. The method of claim 51, further comprising transmitting system information for the first RAT and the second RAT over the first carrier.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising performing handover for the UE to one or more eNBs over the first carrier.

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising advertising a random access channel on the first carrier.

58. An apparatus for assigning carriers to one or more devices in a wireless network, comprising:

means for assigning a first set of resources related to a first carrier of a first radio access technology (RAT) to a user equipment (UE) and assigning a second set of resources related to a second carrier of a second RAT to the UE; and

means for receiving control data for the second set of resources in containers for control data of the first RAT over resources of an uplink carrier assigned for communicating control data of the first RAT.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the means for receiving receives the control data according to a first transmission timing related to the first RAT.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising means for decoding the control data for the second RAT or communicating the control data to a cell providing the second set of resources.

61. A computer program product for assigning carriers to one or more devices in a wireless network, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to assign a first set of resources related to a first carrier of a first radio access technology (RAT) to a user equipment (UE);

code for causing the at least one computer to assign a second set of resources related to a second carrier of a second RAT to the UE; and

code for causing the at least one computer to receive control data for the second set of resources in containers for control data of the first RAT over resources of an uplink carrier assigned for communicating control data of the first RAT.

62. The computer program product of claim 61, wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to receive receives the control data according to a first transmission timing related to the first RAT.

63. The computer program product of claim 61, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to decode the control data for the second RAT or communicate the control data to a cell providing the second set of resources.

64. An apparatus for assigning carriers to one or more devices in a wireless network, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

assign a first set of resources related to a first carrier of a first radio access technology (RAT) to a user equipment (UE);

assign a second set of resources related to a second carrier of a second RAT to the UE; and

receive control data for the second set of resources in containers for control data of the first RAT over resources of an uplink carrier assigned for communicating control data of the first RAT.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the instructions being further executable by the processor to receive the control data according to a first transmission timing related to the first RAT.

66. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the instructions being further executable by the processor to decode the control data for the second RAT or communicate the control data to a cell providing the second set of resources.

67. An apparatus for assigning carriers to one or more devices in a wireless network, comprising:

a carrier assigning component for assigning a first set of resources related to a first carrier of a first radio access technology (RAT) to a user equipment (UE) and assigning a second set of resources related to a second carrier of a second RAT to the UE; and

a control data receiving component for receiving control data for the second set of resources in containers for control data of the first RAT over resources of an uplink carrier assigned for communicating control data of the first RAT.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the control data receiving component receives the control data according to a first transmission timing related to the first RAT.

69. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising a control data processing component for decoding the control data for the second RAT or communicating the control data to a cell providing the second set of resources.

70. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the first RAT is long term evolution, and the second RAT is high speed packet access.

71. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising a system information communicating component for transmitting system information for the first RAT and the second RAT over the first carrier.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising a handover component for performing handover for the UE to one or more eNBs over the first carrier.

73. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising a random access parameter broadcasting component for advertising a random access channel on the first carrier.