Preamble Transmission in a Wireless Device

• US 20130272229A1
• Filed: 04/14/2013
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ofinno Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmael Hejazi
• Granted Patent: US 9,210,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2618 using hybrid code-time division multiple access [CDMA-TDMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/00 Orthogonal multiplex systems, e.g. using WALSH codesH04J13/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2011/0096 Network synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1671 the supervisory signal being transmitted together with control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1835 Buffer management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/188 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/18 Phase-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using phase-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2602 Signal structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0864 Round trip delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0032 Distributed allocation, i.e. involving a plurality of allocating devices, each making partial allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/005 of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0078 Timing of allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0087 : when data requirements change
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 : Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 : Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 : Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 : Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/18 : TPC being performed according to specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/242 : taking into account path loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/325 : Power control of control or pilot channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/36 : with a discrete range or set of values, e.g. step size, ramping or offsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/362 : Aspects of the step size
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 : Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/40 : during macro-diversity or soft handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 : at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 : one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 : compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0065 : using measurement of signal travel time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/004 : in the uplink, i.e. towards network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 : in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/008 : with additional processing of random access related information at receiving side
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 : Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 : Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 : Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 : Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 : Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 : Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless device receives a control message configuring cell groups comprising a primary cell group and a secondary cell group. The wireless device receives a control command causing the wireless device to transmit a random access preamble on random access resources of a secondary cell in the secondary cell group. The wireless device transmits the random access preamble on the random access resources to the base station. Transmission timing of the random access preamble is determined, at least in part, employing uplink subframe transmission timing of the primary cell or a stored timing advance value.

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 to cause in said wireless device;

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

ii) 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;

(1) 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

(2) a secondary cell group comprising a second subset of said at least one secondary cell, uplink transmissions 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;

b) receiving, by said wireless device, a control command causing said wireless device to transmit a random access preamble on random access resources of a secondary cell in said secondary cell group; and

c) transmitting, by said wireless device to said base station, said random access preamble on said random access resources, transmission timing of said random access preamble being determined, at least in part, employing uplink subframe transmission timing of said primary cell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmission timing of said random access preamble, at least in part, further employs a synchronization signal received on said secondary cell.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmission timing of said random access preamble is time aligned with uplink subframe transmission timing of said primary cell.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one control message comprises a plurality of random access resource parameters, said plurality of random access resource parameters comprising an index, a frequency offset, and a plurality of sequence parameters.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising said at least one control message causing configuration of said random access resources.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless device is assigned a plurality of media access control dedicated parameters by said configuration, said plurality of media access control dedicated parameters comprising a plurality of time alignment timer values, each time alignment timer value associated with a unique cell group in said wireless device.

7. 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 to cause in said wireless device;

(1) configuration of a primary cell and at least one secondary cell in a 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 configured to employ 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, uplink transmissions in said secondary cell group configured to employ a second synchronization signal on an activated secondary cell in said secondary cell group as a secondary timing reference;

ii) receive a control command configured to cause said wireless device to transmit a random access preamble on random access resources of a secondary cell in said secondary cell group; and

iii) transmit said random access preamble on said random access resources to said base station, transmission timing of said random access preamble determined, at least in part, employing uplink subframe transmission timing of said primary cell.

8. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein said transmission timing of said random access preamble, at least in part, further employs a synchronization signal received on said secondary cell.

9. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein transmission timing of said random access preamble is time aligned with uplink frame and subframe transmission timing of said primary cell.

10. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein said at least one control message comprises a plurality of random access resource parameters, said plurality of random access resource parameters comprising an index, a frequency offset, and a plurality of sequence parameters.

11. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein said at least one control message causes configuration of said random access resources.

12. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein said wireless device is assigned a plurality of media access control dedicated parameters by said configuration, said plurality of media access control dedicated parameters comprising a plurality of time alignment timer values, each time alignment timer value being associated with a unique cell group in said wireless device.

13. A method comprising:

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

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

ii) 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;

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

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

iii) configuration of a time alignment timer for each of said plurality of cell groups, said time alignment timer starting or restarting in response to said wireless device receiving a timing advance command to adjust a timing advance of a commanded cell group in said plurality of cell groups;

b) generating a first updated timing advance by updating a first timing advance of said secondary cell group, by said wireless device, employing at least one first timing advance command for said secondary cell group;

c) storing, by said wireless device, said first updated timing advance upon expiry of an associated time alignment timer of said secondary cell group;

d) receiving, by said wireless device, a control command causing said wireless device to transmit a random access preamble on random access resources of a secondary cell in said secondary cell group; and

e) transmitting, by said wireless device to said base station, said random access preamble on said random access resources, transmission timing of said random access preamble being determined, at least in part, employing said stored first updated timing advance.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first timing advance is approximately equal to a difference between received timing of said secondary timing reference and transmission timing of said uplink signals.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a value of said first timing advance is initiated by a value of a timing advance in a random access response for a random access preamble transmitted in said secondary cell group.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising setting a value of said first timing advance to zero when said secondary cell group is configured.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising releasing said stored first updated timing advance in said wireless device when said secondary cell group is released.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one control message comprises a plurality of random access resource parameters, said plurality of random access resource parameters comprising an index, a frequency offset, and a plurality of sequence parameters.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising said at least one control message causing configuration of said random access resources.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one control message comprises a plurality of media access control dedicated parameters, said plurality of media access control dedicated parameters comprising a plurality of time alignment timer values, each time alignment timer value associated with a unique cell group in said wireless device.