CELL DEPLOYMENT WITH DIFFERENT CHANNEL BANDWIDTH FOR CARRIER AGGREGATION

• US 20130258936A1
• Filed: 04/01/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Choi, Jihwan P., Zhao, Qing, Lou, Hui-Ling
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• 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 48/20 Selecting an access point
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and techniques are provided for transmitting information to user equipment (UE) in a communications network. Data is generated in (i) a first frequency range associated with a first set of carriers and (ii) a second frequency range associated with a second set of carriers, where the first frequency range specifies a first communications cell and the second frequency range specifies a second communications cell. The first cell is assigned as a primary cell to a first set of UEs in the communications network. Control data is transmitted to both the first set of UEs and a second set of UEs using at least a portion of the first set of carriers.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting information to user equipment (UE) in a communications network, the system comprising:

modulation circuitry configured to generate data in (i) a first frequency range associated with a first set of carriers and (ii) a second frequency range associated with a second set of carriers, wherein the first frequency range specifies a first communications cell, and wherein the second frequency range specifies a second communications cell;

assignment circuitry configured to assign the first cell as a primary cell to a first set of UEs in the communications network; and

transmission circuitry configured to transmit control data to both the first set of UEs and a second set of UEs using at least a portion of the first set of carriers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second set of UEs are carrier aggregation (CA)-capable, and wherein the first set of UEs are not CA-capable.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the assignment circuitry is configured so assign the first cell as a secondary cell to the second set of UEs in the communications network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the assignment circuitry is configured to assign (i) a first amount of bandwidth in the first cell to the first set of UEs and (ii) a second amount of bandwidth in the first cell to the second set of UEs, wherein the first amount of bandwidth is different, than the second amount of bandwidth.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission circuitry is configured to transmit control data in the first frequency range during a control time period.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the control data comprises control signals shared by the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs, and wherein the transmission circuitry is configured to transmit the control data in a first subregion of the first frequency range.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the control data comprises control signals for the second set of UEs, and wherein the transmission circuitry is configured to transmit the control signals in a second subregion and a third subregion of the first frequency range.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one CA-capable UE and at least one UE that is not CA-capable are both located in the first cell.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission circuitry is configured to transmit control data to both the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs using different time and frequency resources to at least partially avoid interference between control data intended for the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission circuitry is configured to transmit a bandwidth amount for the second set of UEs over a data channel located in a primary cell of the second set of UEs.

11. A method for transmitting information to user equipment (UE) in a communications network, the method comprising:

generating data in (i) a first frequency range associated with a first set of carriers and (ii) a second frequency range associated with a second set of carriers, wherein the first frequency range specifies a first communications cell, and wherein the second frequency range specifies a second communications cell;

assigning the first cell as a primary cell to a first set of UEs in the communications network; and

transmitting control data to both the first set of UEs and a second set of UEs using at least a portion of the first set of carriers.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second set of UEs are carrier aggregation (CA)-capable, and wherein the first set of UEs are not CA-capable.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising assigning the first cell as a secondary cell to a second set of UEs in the communications network.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising assigning a first amount of bandwidth in the first cell to the first set of UEs and a second amount of bandwidth in the first cell to the second set of UEs, wherein the first amount of bandwidth is different than the second amount of bandwidth.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting control data in the first frequency range during a control time period.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the control data comprises control signals shared by the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs, and wherein transmitting the control data comprises transmitting the control data in a first subregion of the first frequency range.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the control data comprises control signals for the second set of UEs, and wherein transmitting the control data comprises transmitting the control signals in a second subregion and a third subregion of the first frequency range.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one CA-capable UP and at least one UP that is not CA-capable are both located in the first cell.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting the control data comprises transmitting control data to both the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs using different time and frequency resources to at least partially avoid interference between control data intended for the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs.

20. The method of claim 11, furthering comprising transmitting a bandwidth amount for the second set of UEs over a data channel located in a primary cell of the second set of UEs.