METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING A PLURALITY OF CELLS IN COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20140086127A1
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Young-Bum, Lee, Ju-Ho, Cho, Joon-Young, Choi, Seung-Hoon, Ro, Sang-Min, Ji, Hyoung-Ju
• Granted Patent: US 9,622,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• 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: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for using a plurality of cells by an evolved NodeB (eNB) in a communication system are provided. A first eNB, which manages a first cell and is providing a communication service to a User Equipment (UE) located in the first cell, determines to provide the communication service to the UE together with a second cell of a second eNB, which neighbors the UE. A cell addition request message, making a request for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell, is transmitted to the second eNB to provide the communication service. When a cell addition response message, accepting the request for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell, is received from the second eNB, a cell activation request message, making a request for activation of the second cell, is transmitted to the second eNB.

Claims

1. A method of using a plurality of cells by an evolved NodeB (eNB) in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, by a first eNB that manages a first cell and is providing a communication service to a UE located in the first cell, to provide the communication service to the UE together with a second cell of a second eNB, which neighbors the UE;

transmitting a cell addition request message, making a request for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell, to the second eNB to provide the communication service; and

when a cell addition response message, accepting the request for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell, is received from the second eNB, transmitting a cell activation request message, making a request for activation of the second cell, to the second eNB.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the cell addition response message is received from the second eNB, further comprising:

inserting related information required for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message, and transmitting the RRC connection reconfiguration message to the UE; and

receiving an RRC connection reconfiguration complete message, indicating that preparation for communication with the second cell has been completed, from the UE.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a measurement report comprising at least one of a buffer status report and information on available transmission power, from the UE; and

determining whether to activate the second cell based on the measurement report.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a cell activation response message, accepting the request for activation of the second cell, from the second eNB;

transmitting an activation command of the second cell to the UE; and

transmitting and receiving the communication service to and from the UE after a preset time has passed from a time when the activation command is transmitted.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, when a cell addition response message, comprising information indicating a time when the UE applies an activation of the second cell, is received from the second eNB, further comprising:

transmitting an activation command of the second cell to the UE before the cell activation request message is transmitted; and

transmitting and receiving the communication service to and from the UE after the time when the UE applies the activation of the second cell, from a time when the activation command is transmitted.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the cell addition response message is received from the second eNB, further comprising:

transmitting an activation command of the second cell to the UE; and

receiving a cell activation update message, informing that an activation of the second cell by the UE is applied, from the second eNB.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the related information required for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell comprises at least one of downlink carrier bandwidth information of the second cell, antenna configuration information, uplink component carrier bandwidth and center frequency information, Physical Random Access channel (PRACH) transmission related information, uplink power control related information, Channel Status Indicator (CSI) transmission related information, Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission related information, downlink and uplink data transmission related information, and information on a time when the UE applies an activation of the second cell.

8. A method of using a plurality of cells by an evolved NodeB (eNB) in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a first eNB that manages a first cell and is providing a communication service to a UE located in the first cell, a cell addition request message, making a request for aggregation of the first cell and a second cell of the eNB, which neighbors the UE, to provide the communication service;

transmitting a cell addition response message, accepting the request for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell, to the first eNB; and

receiving a cell activation request message, making a request for activation of the second cell, from the first eNB.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting a cell activation response message, accepting the request for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell, to the first eNB, such that the first eNB transmits an activation command of the second cell to the UE; and

transmitting and receiving the communication service to and from the UE after a preset time has passed from a time when the first eNB transmits the activation command.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

inserting information, indicating a time when the UE applies the activation of the second cell, in the cell addition response message, and transmitting the cell addition response message to the first eNB; and

transmitting and receiving the communication service to and from the UE after the time when the activation of the second cell is applied has passed, from a time when the first eNB transmits an activation command of the second cell to the UE.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein, after the cell addition response message is transmitited to the first eNB, further comprising:

receiving a random access preamble, making a request for a connection from the UE; and

transmitting a random access response, accepting the request for the connection, and a cell activation update message, informing that the activation of the second cell by the UE is applied to the UE.

12. A method of using a plurality of cells by a User Equipment (UE) in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

when a first eNB, which manages a first cell and is providing a communication service to the UE located in the first cell, determines to provide the communication service to the UE together with a second cell of a second eNB, which neighbors the UE, receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message, comprising related information required for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell, from the first eNB;

transmitting an RRC connection reconfiguration complete message, indicating that preparation for communication with the second cell has been completed, to the first eNB; and

receiving an activation command of the second cell, from the first eNB.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting a measurement report, comprising at least one of a buffer status report and information on available transmission power, to the first eNB, such that the first eNB determines whether to activate the second cell.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting and receiving the communication service to and from the first eNB and the second eNB, after a preset time has passed from a time when the activation command is received.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising, when an RRC connection reconfiguration message, comprising information indicating a time when the activation of the second cell is applied, is received, transmitting and receiving the communication service to and from the first eNB and the second eNB, after a time when the activation of the second cell is applied from a time when the activation command is received.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising;

transmitting a random access preamble, making a request for a connection to the second eNB;

receiving a random access response, accepting the request for the connection, from the second eNB; and

transmitting and receiving the communication service to and from the first eNB and the second eNB.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the related information required for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell comprises at least one of downlink carrier bandwidth information of the second cell, antenna configuration information, uplink component carrier bandwidth and center frequency information, Physical Random Access channel (PRACH) transmission related information, uplink power control related information, Channel Status Indicator (C SI) transmission related information, Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission related information, downlink and uplink data transmission related information, and information on a time when the UE applies an activation of the second cell.

18. An eNB using a plurality of cells in a communication system, the eNB comprising:

a carrier aggregation determiner that determines that the eNB, which manages a first cell and is providing a communication service to a UE located in the first cell, to provide the communication service to the UE together with a second cell of a second eNB, which neighbors the UE; and

a transmitter that transmits a cell addition request message, making a request for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell, to the second eNB to provide the communication service and, when a cell addition response message, accepting the request for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell is received from the second eNB, transmits a cell activation request message, making a request for activation of the second cell, to the second eNB.

19. The eNB of claim 18, further comprising a receiver,

wherein, when the cell addition response message is received from the second eNB, the transmitter inserts related information required for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message and transmits the RRC connection reconfiguration message to the UE, and the receiver receives an RRC connection reconfiguration complete message, indicating that preparation for communication with the second cell has been completed, from the UE.

20. The eNB of claim 19, wherein the receiver receives a measurement report comprising at least one of a buffer status report and information on available transmission power, from the UE, and the carrier aggregation determiner determines whether to activate the second cell based on the measurement report.

21. The eNB of claim 19, wherein the receiver receives a cell activation response message, accepting the request for activation of the second cell, from the second eNB, the transmitter transmits an activation command of the second cell to the UE and transmits the communication service to the UE after a preset time has passed from a time when the activation command is transmitted, and the receiver receives the communication service.

22. The eNB of claim 19, wherein, when a cell addition response message, comprising information indicating a time when the UE applies an activation of the second cell, is received from the second eNB, the transmitter transmits an activation command of the second cell to the UE before transmitting the cell activation request message and transmits the communication service to the UE after the time when the activation of the second cell is applied has passed from a time when the activation command is transmitted, and the receiver receives the communication service.

23. The eNB of claim 19, wherein, when the cell addition response message is received from the second eNB, the transmitter transmits an activation command of the second cell to the UE, and the receiver receives a cell activation update message indicating that an activation of the second cell by the UE is applied from the second eNB.

24. The eNB of claim 19, wherein the related information required for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell comprises at least one of downlink carrier bandwidth information of the second cell, antenna configuration information, uplink component carrier bandwidth and center frequency information, Physical Random Access channel (PRACH) transmission related information, uplink power control related information, Channel Status Indicator (CSI) transmission related information, Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission related information, downlink and uplink data transmission related information, and information on a time when the UE applies an activation of the second cell.

25. An eNB using a plurality of cells in a communication system, the eNB comprising:

a receiver that receives, from a first eNB that manages a first cell and is providing a communication service to a UE located in the first cell, a cell addition request message, making a request for aggregation of the first cell and a second cell of the eNB, which neighbors the UE, to provide the communication service, and receives a cell activation request message, making a request for activation the second cell, from the first eNB;

a carrer aggregataion determiner that determines whether to accept the request for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell; and

a transmitter that transmits a cell addition response message, accepting the request for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell, to the first eNB.

26. The eNB of claim 25, wherein the transmitter transmits a cell activation response message, accepting the request for activation of the second cell, from the eNB, such that the first eNB transmits an activation command of the second cell to the UE and transmits the communication service to the UE after a preset time has passed from a time when the first eNB transmits the activation command, and the receiver receives the communication service.

27. The eNB of claim 25, wherein the transmitter inserts information, indicating a time when the UE applies an activation of the second cell, in the cell addition response message, transmits the cell addition response message to the first eNB, and transmits the communication service to the UE after the time when the activation of the second cell is applied from a time when the first eNB transmits the activation command of the second cell to the UE, and the receiver receives the communication service.

28. The eNB of claim 25, wherein, after the cell addition response message is transmitted to the first eNB, the receiver receives a random access preamble, making a request for a connection from the UE, and the transmitter transmits a random access response accepting the request for the connection and a cell activation update message, informing that an activation of the second cell by the UE is applied to the UE.

29. A UE using a plurality of cells in a communication system, the UE comprising:

a receiver that, when a first eNB, which manages a first cell and is providing a communication service to the UE located in the first cell, determines to provide the communication service to the UE together with a second cell of a second eNB, which neighbors the UE, receives a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message, comprising related information required for aggregation of the first cell and the second cell, from the first eNB, and receives an activation command of the second cell, from the first eNB; and

a transmitter that transmits an RRC connection reconfiguration complete message, indicating that a preparation for communication with the second cell has been completed, to the first eNB.

30. The UE of claim 29, wherein the transmitter transmits a measurement report, comprising at least one of a buffer status report and information on available transmission power, to the first eNB, such that the first eNB determines whether to activate the second cell.

31. The UE of claim 29, wherein the transmitter transmits the communication service to the first eNB and the second eNB after a preset time has passed from a time when the activation command is received, and the receiver receives the communication service.

32. The UE of claim 29, wherein, when the RRC connection reconfiguration message, comprising information indicating a time when an activation of the second cell is applied, is received, the transmitter transmits the communication service to the first eNB and the second eNB after the time when the activation of the second cell is applied from a time when the activation command is received, and the receiver receives the communication service from the first eNB and the second eNB.