UE-INITIATED DYNAMIC ACTIVATION AND DE-ACTIVATION OF SECONDARY CARRIERS

• US 20130194947A1
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ehsan, Navid, Klingenbrunn, Thomas, Gholmieh, Aziz, Gorokhov, Alexei Yurievitch, Kitazoe, Masato, Mahajan, Amit, Gaal, Peter, Gohari, Amir Aminzadeh
• Granted Patent: US 10,111,212 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 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/006 Quality of the received signal, e.g. BER, SNR, water filling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0098 Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Managing of secondary carriers for a multicarrier user equipment (UE) is described in which the UE initiates or provides input for activation and deactivation of selected secondary cells in a carrier aggregation depending on allocation or provisioning of UE radio frequency resources.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

determining, at a user equipment (UE), to re-provision one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) processing chains of the UE;

generating an activation message, wherein the activation message includes activation request information regarding one or more secondary cells configured for the UE; and

transmitting the activation message to a serving base station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation request information includes one of:

a request to activate the one or more secondary cells; and

a request to deactivate the one or more secondary cells.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining to re-provision is made in response to one or more of:

determining to allocate the one or more of the plurality of RF processing chains to another network;

ending a call on another network;

determining to re-allocate bandwidth assigned to the UE; and

determining to update carrier aggregation capabilities with the serving base station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation message is included in a media access control (MAC) control element.

5. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

receiving, at a base station, an activation message from a user equipment (UE), wherein the activation message includes activation request information regarding one or more secondary cells configured for the UE; and

modifying a state of the one or more secondary cells in response to the activation request information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the activation request information includes one of:

a request to activate the one or more secondary cells; and

a request to deactivate the one or more secondary cells.

7. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

generating, at a user equipment (UE), an enhanced carrier aggregation (CA) capabilities report, wherein the enhanced CA capabilities report includes CA capabilities of the UE and hardware limitations of the UE; and

transmitting the enhanced capabilities report to a serving base station.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the hardware limitations include at least one of:

a total number of carriers the UE can support among different access technologies; and

identification of one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) processing chains shared between different access technologies for identified carriers.

9. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

receiving, at a base station of a first access network, an enhanced carrier aggregation (CA) capabilities report from a user equipment (UE), wherein the enhanced CA capabilities report includes CA capabilities of the UE and one or more hardware limitations of the UE;

configuring one or more secondary cells for the UE based, at least in part, on the CA capabilities reported by the UE in the enhanced CA report;

receiving, at the base station, an indication, wherein the indication indicates service initiation between a second access network and the UE;

detecting triggering of the one or more hardware limitations based on the indication of service between the second access network and the UE; and

deactivating the one or more secondary cells in response to detected triggering.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the indication is received from the first access network.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the indication is received from the second access network.

12. The method of claim 9, further including:

receiving, at the base station, a second indication, wherein the second indication indicates service stoppage between the second access network and the UE; and

reactivating the one or more secondary cells in response to the second indication.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the indication is received from the first access network.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the indication is received from the second access network.

15. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

determining, at a user equipment (UE), to reconfigure one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) resources of the UE, wherein one or more secondary cells are activated associated with the one or more plurality of RF resources; and

transmitting one or more controlled value measurements to a base station, wherein the one or more controlled value measurements include pre-determined values selected by the UE that triggers the base station to modify the one or more secondary cells configured for the UE.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more controlled value measurements includes one of:

a false channel quality indicator (CQI) value;

a CQI value equal to 0;

a false rank indicator; and

a rank indicator equal to 1.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the modification of the one or more secondary cells configured includes one or more of:

reducing transmissions on the one or more secondary cells;

deactivating the one or more secondary cells; and

deactivating multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) capabilities of the one or more secondary cells.

18. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

initiating communication between a user equipment (UE) and a first access network using one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) resources;

detecting, at the UE, a measurement of one or more secondary cells associated with carrier aggregation (CA) in a second access network, wherein the measurement would trigger activation of the one or more secondary cells by the second access network; and

deactivating reporting of the measurement to the second access network.

19. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

determining at least one parameter associated with use of a component carrier by a user equipment;

adjusting the at least one parameter to affect an activation status of the component carrier; and

signaling the adjusted parameter to a base station.

20. The method of claim 19, the at least one parameter includes a channel quality indicator or a rank indicator associated with the component carrier.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein adjusting the at least one parameter includes varying a reported CQI value from a measured CQI value.

22. The method of claim 21, further including varying the reported CQI value in a series of steps.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein adjusting the at least one parameter includes varying a reported RI measure from an actual RI value.

24. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining, at a user equipment (UE), to re-provision one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) processing chains of the UE;

means for generating an activation message, wherein the activation message includes activation request information regarding one or more secondary cells configured for the UE; and

means for transmitting the activation message to a serving base station.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the activation request information includes one of:

a request to activate the one or more secondary cells; and

a request to deactivate the one or more secondary cells.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for determining to re-provision is made in response to one or more of:

means for determining to allocate the one or more of the plurality of RF processing chains to another network;

means for ending a call on another network;

means for determining to re-allocate bandwidth assigned to the UE; and

means for determining to update carrier aggregation capabilities with the serving base station.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the activation message is included in a media access control (MAC) control element.

28. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving, at a base station, an activation message from a user equipment (UE), wherein the activation message includes activation request information regarding one or more secondary cells configured for the UE; and

means for modifying a state of the one or more secondary cells in response to the activation request information.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the activation request information includes one of:

a request to activate the one or more secondary cells; and

a request to deactivate the one or more secondary cells.

30. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for generating, at a user equipment (UE), an enhanced carrier aggregation (CA) capabilities report, wherein the enhanced CA capabilities report includes CA capabilities of the UE and hardware limitations of the UE; and

means for transmitting the enhanced capabilities report to a serving base station.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the hardware limitations include at least one of:

a total number of carriers the UE can support among different access technologies; and

identification of one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) processing chains shared between different access technologies for identified carriers.

32. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving, at a base station of a first access network, an enhanced carrier aggregation (CA) capabilities report from a user equipment (UE), wherein the enhanced CA capabilities report includes CA capabilities of the UE and one or more hardware limitations of the UE;

means for configuring one or more secondary cells for the UE based, at least in part, on the CA capabilities reported by the UE in the enhanced CA report;

means for receiving, at the base station, an indication, wherein the indication indicates service initiation between a second access network and the UE;

means for detecting triggering of the one or more hardware limitations based on the indication of service between the second access network and the UE; and

means for deactivating the one or more secondary cells in response to detected triggering.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the indication is received from the first access network.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the indication is received from the second access network.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, further including:

means for receiving, at the base station, a second indication, wherein the second indication indicates service stoppage between the second access network and the UE; and

means for reactivating the one or more secondary cells in response to the second indication.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the indication is received from the first access network.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the indication is received from the second access network.

38. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining, at a user equipment (UE), to reconfigure one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) resources of the UE, wherein one or more secondary cells are activated associated with the one or more plurality of RF resources; and

means for transmitting one or more controlled value measurements to a base station, wherein the one or more controlled value measurements include pre-determined values selected by the UE that triggers the base station to modify the one or more secondary cells configured for the UE.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the one or more controlled value measurements includes one of:

a false channel quality indicator (CQI) value;

a CQI value equal to 0;

a false rank indicator; and

a rank indicator equal to 1.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the modification of the one or more secondary cells configured includes one or more of:

means for reducing transmissions on the one or more secondary cells;

means for deactivating the one or more secondary cells; and

means for deactivating multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) capabilities of the one or more secondary cells.

41. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for initiating communication between a user equipment (UE) and a first access network using one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) resources;

means for detecting, at the UE, a measurement of one or more secondary cells associated with carrier aggregation (CA) in a second access network, wherein the measurement would trigger activation of the one or more secondary cells by the second access network; and

means for deactivating reporting of the measurement to the second access network.

42. An apparatus of wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining at least one parameter associated with use of a component carrier by a user equipment;

means for adjusting the at least one parameter to affect an activation status of the component carrier; and

means for signaling the adjusted parameter to a base station

43. The apparatus of claim 42, the at least one parameter includes a channel quality indicator or a rank indicator associated with the component carrier.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein means for adjusting the at least one parameter includes

means for varying a reported CQI value from a measured CQI value.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, further including varying the reported CQI value in a series of steps.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein adjusting the at least one parameter includes varying a reported RI measure from an actual RI value.

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 comprising program code to cause a computer to;

determine, at a user equipment (UE), to re-provision one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) processing chains of the UE;

generate an activation message, wherein the activation message includes activation request information regarding one or more secondary cells configured for the UE; and

transmit the activation message to a serving base station.

48. 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 comprising program code to cause a computer to;

receive, at a base station, an activation message from a user equipment (UE), wherein the activation message includes activation request information regarding one or more secondary cells configured for the UE; and

modify a state of the one or more secondary cells in response to the activation request information.

49. 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 comprising program code to cause a computer to;

generate, at a user equipment (UE), an enhanced carrier aggregation (CA) capabilities report, wherein the enhanced CA capabilities report includes CA capabilities of the UE and hardware limitations of the UE; and

transmit the enhanced capabilities report to a serving base station.

50. 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 comprising program code to cause a computer to;

receive, at a base station of a first access network, an enhanced carrier aggregation (CA) capabilities report from a user equipment (UE), wherein the enhanced CA capabilities report includes CA capabilities of the UE and one or more hardware limitations of the UE;

configure one or more secondary cells for the UE based, at least in part, on the CA capabilities reported by the UE in the enhanced CA report;

receive, at the base station, an indication, wherein the indication indicates service initiation between a second access network and the UE;

detect triggering of the one or more hardware limitations based on the indication of service between the second access network and the UE; and

deactivate the one or more secondary cells in response to detected triggering.

51. 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 comprising program code to cause a computer to;

determine, at a user equipment (UE), to reconfigure one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) resources of the UE, wherein one or more secondary cells are activated associated with the one or more plurality of RF resources; and

transmit one or more controlled value measurements to a base station, wherein the one or more controlled value measurements include pre-determined values selected by the UE that triggers the base station to modify the one or more secondary cells configured for the UE.

52. 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 comprising program code to cause a computer to;

initiate communication between a user equipment (UE) and a first access network using one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) resources;

detect, at the UE, a measurement of one or more secondary cells associated with carrier aggregation (CA) in a second access network, wherein the measurement would trigger activation of the one or more secondary cells by the second access network; and

deactivate reporting of the measurement to the second access network.

53. 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 comprising program code to cause a computer to;

determine at least one parameter associated with use of a component carrier by a user equipment;

adjust the at least one parameter to affect an activation status of the component carrier; and

signal the adjusted parameter to a base station

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

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured;

determine, at a user equipment (UE), to re-provision one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) processing chains of the UE;

generate an activation message, wherein the activation message includes activation request information regarding one or more secondary cells configured for the UE; and

transmit the activation message to a serving base station.

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

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured;

receive, at a base station, an activation message from a user equipment (UE), wherein the activation message includes activation request information regarding one or more secondary cells configured for the UE; and

modify a state of the one or more secondary cells in response to the activation request information.

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

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured;

generate, at a user equipment (UE), an enhanced carrier aggregation (CA) capabilities report, wherein the enhanced CA capabilities report includes CA capabilities of the UE and hardware limitations of the UE; and

transmit the enhanced capabilities report to a serving base station.

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

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured;

receive, at a base station of a first access network, an enhanced carrier aggregation (CA) capabilities report from a user equipment (UE), wherein the enhanced CA capabilities report includes CA capabilities of the UE and one or more hardware limitations of the UE;

configure one or more secondary cells for the UE based, at least in part, on the CA capabilities reported by the UE in the enhanced CA report;

receive, at the base station, an indication, wherein the indication indicates service initiation between a second access network and the UE;

detect triggering of the one or more hardware limitations based on the indication of service between the second access network and the UE; and

deactivate the one or more secondary cells in response to detected triggering.

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

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured;

determine, at a user equipment (UE), to reconfigure one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) resources of the UE, wherein one or more secondary cells are activated associated with the one or more plurality of RF resources; and

transmit one or more controlled value measurements to a base station, wherein the one or more controlled value measurements include pre-determined values selected by the UE that triggers the base station to modify the one or more secondary cells configured for the UE.

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

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured;

initiate communication between a user equipment (UE) and a first access network using one or more of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) resources;

detect, at the UE, a measurement of one or more secondary cells associated with carrier aggregation (CA) in a second access network, wherein the measurement would trigger activation of the one or more secondary cells by the second access network; and

deactivate reporting of the measurement to the second access network.

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

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured;

determine at least one parameter associated with use of a component carrier by a user equipment;

adjust the at least one parameter to affect an activation status of the component carrier; and

signal the adjusted parameter to a base station