Random Access Mechanism for a Wireless Device and Base Station

• US 20130258882A1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ofinno Technologies, LLC (Ofinno, LLC)
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmael Hejazi
• Granted Patent: US 8,964,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/261 Details of reference signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2662 Symbol synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/22 taking into account previous information or commands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/242 taking into account path loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access

Abstract

A wireless device receives at least one control message configuring a plurality of cell groups and a pathloss reference for each secondary cell in at least one secondary cell. The wireless device transmits uplink signals to a base station in a first secondary cell in a secondary cell group. Transmission power of the uplink signals is determined employing a received power of the pathloss reference assigned to the first secondary cell. Timing of the uplink signals in the secondary cell group employs a second synchronization signal on an active secondary cell in the secondary cell group as a secondary timing reference.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) receiving, by a wireless device to communicate employing a plurality of cells, at least one control message from a base station, said at least one control message;

i) causing in said wireless device;

(1) configuration of a primary cell and at least one secondary cell in said plurality of cells; and

(2) assignment of each of said at least one secondary cell to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups, said plurality of cell groups comprising;

(a) a primary cell group comprising a first subset of said plurality of cells, said first subset comprising said primary cell, uplink transmissions by said wireless device in said primary cell group employing a first synchronization signal transmitted on said primary cell as a primary timing reference; and

(b) a secondary cell group comprising a second subset of said at least one secondary cell; and

ii) comprising a pathloss reference for each secondary cell in said at least one secondary cell, said pathloss reference being only configurable as a downlink of said secondary cell if said secondary cell is in said secondary cell group; and

b) transmitting, by said wireless device, uplink signals to said base station in a first secondary cell in said secondary cell group, wherein;

i) transmission power of said uplink signals being determined, at least in part, employing a received power of said pathloss reference assigned to said first secondary cell; and

ii) timing of said uplink signals in said secondary cell group employing a second synchronization signal on an activated secondary cell in said secondary cell group as a secondary timing reference.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping, by said wireless device, transmission of uplink transport blocks in said secondary cell group if the following conditions are satisfied:

a) said wireless device is unable to acquire timing of said second synchronization signal; and

b) said secondary cell group does not comprise any other active cells.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising allowing uplink transmission of at least one random access preamble in said secondary cell group if said conditions are satisfied.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising continuing transmission of channel state information for said first secondary cell on an uplink carrier not belonging to said secondary cell group if said conditions are satisfied.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising continuing transmission of HARQ feedback for transport blocks received on a downlink of said first secondary cell if said conditions are satisfied.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping, by said wireless device, transmission of uplink transport blocks in said secondary cell group if the following conditions are satisfied:

a) said wireless device is unable to acquire timing of said second synchronization signal;

b) said secondary cell group does not comprise any other active cells; and

c) a time alignment timer corresponding to said secondary cell group is running.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting, autonomously by said wireless device, a new activated secondary cell in said secondary cell group as said secondary timing reference if the following conditions are satisfied:

a) said wireless device is unable to acquire timing of said second synchronization signal; and

b) at least one secondary cell, different from said active secondary cell, in said secondary cell group is active in said wireless device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising continuing transmission of uplink signals in said secondary cell group.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless device:

a) initiates a radio link failure if said wireless device is unable to acquire timing of said first synchronization signal regardless of whether said wireless device acquires timing of said second synchronization signal; and

b) keeps the connection with said base station active if said wireless device is able to acquire timing of said first synchronization signal regardless of whether said wireless device acquires timing of said second synchronization signal.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by said wireless device, at least one control packet comprising one or more power control commands, transmission power of a plurality of packets transmitted by said wireless device calculated employing, at least in part:

a) said received power of said pathloss reference assigned to said first secondary cell; and

b) said one or more power control commands.

11. A wireless device comprising:

a) one or more communication interfaces;

b) one or more processors; and

c) memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause said wireless device to;

i) receive at least one control message from a base station, said at least one control message;

(1) causing in said wireless device;

(a) configuration of a plurality of cells comprising a primary cell and at least one secondary cell; and

(b) assignment of each of said at least one secondary cell to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups, said plurality of cell groups comprising;

 

(i) a primary cell group comprising a first subset of said plurality of cells, said first subset comprising said primary cell, uplink transmissions by said wireless device in said primary cell group employing a first synchronization signal transmitted on said primary cell as a primary timing reference; and

 

(ii) a secondary cell group comprising a second subset of said at least one secondary cell; and

(2) comprising a pathloss reference for each secondary cell in said at least one secondary cell, said pathloss reference being only configurable as a downlink of said secondary cell if said secondary cell is in said secondary cell group; and

ii) transmit uplink signals to said base station in a first secondary cell in said secondary cell group, wherein;

(1) transmission power of said uplink signals being determined, at least in part, employing a received power of said pathloss reference assigned to said first secondary cell; and

(2) timing of said uplink signals in said secondary cell group employing a second synchronization signal on an activated secondary cell in said secondary cell group as a secondary timing reference.

12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein said wireless device stops transmission of uplink transport blocks on said first secondary cell if said wireless device is unable to measure a received power of said pathloss reference for a period of time.

13. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein said instruction further cause said wireless device to stop transmission of uplink transport blocks in said secondary cell group if the following conditions are satisfied:

a) said wireless device is unable to acquire timing of said second synchronization signal;

b) said secondary cell group does not comprise any other active cells; and

c) a time alignment timer corresponding to said secondary cell group being expired.

14. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein said transmission power of said uplink signals is determined, at least in part, further employing at least one power control parameter received in said at least one control message.

15. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein said transmission power of said uplink signals is determined, at least in part, further employing at least one power control command transmitted by said base station.

16. A wireless device comprising:

a) one or more communication interfaces;

b) one or more processors; and

c) memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause said wireless device to;

i) receive at least one control message from a base station, said at least one control message;

(1) causing in said wireless device assignment of each of at least one secondary cell to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups, said plurality of cell groups comprising;

(a) a primary cell group comprising a first subset of a plurality of cells, said first subset comprising a primary cell; and

(b) a secondary cell group comprising a second subset of said at least one secondary cell; and

(2) comprising a pathloss reference for each secondary cell in said at least one secondary cell; and

ii) transmit uplink signals to said base station in a first secondary cell in said secondary cell group, wherein;

(1) transmission power of said uplink signals being determined, at least in part, employing a received power of said pathloss reference assigned to said first secondary cell; and

(2) timing of said uplink signals in said secondary cell group employing a second synchronization signal on an activated secondary cell in said secondary cell group as a secondary timing reference.

17. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein said transmission power of said uplink signals is determined, at least in part, employing measurements of a received power of said pathloss reference assigned to said first secondary cell.

18. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein said transmission power of said uplink signals is determined, at least in part, further employing at least one power control parameter received in said at least one control message.

19. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein said transmission power of said uplink signals is determined, at least in part, further employing at least one power control command transmitted by said base station.

20. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein said wireless device stops transmission of uplink transport blocks on said first secondary cell if said wireless device is unable to measure a received power of said pathloss reference for a period of time.