Carrier Grouping in Multicarrier Communications

• US 20140185572A1
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ofinno Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmael Hejazi
• Granted Patent: US 9,397,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2613 Structure of the reference signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2657 Carrier synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2666 Acquisition of further OFDM parameters, e.g. bandwidth, subcarrier spacing, or guard interval length
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2692 with preamble design, i.e. with negotiation of the synchronisation sequence with transmitter or sequence linked to the algorithm used at the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0085 when channel conditions change
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0098 Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• 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

Abstract

A wireless device receives messages comprising parameters of carriers and carrier groups. Downlink transmissions on a first carrier and at least one second carrier are substantially time aligned with each other. The wireless device receives time alignment commands comprising a time adjustment value and an index identifying a carrier group. Uplink transmissions on a first carrier group and a second carrier group employ different synchronization signals on different carriers as timing reference and are adjusted in response to different time alignment commands.

Claims

1. A method for use in a wireless device, said method comprising:

a) receiving at least one radio resource control message comprising;

(i) configuration parameters of a plurality of carriers comprising a first carrier and at least one second carrier; and

(ii) a carrier group index for a second carrier in said at least one second carrier, said carrier group index identifying a carrier group in a plurality of carrier groups comprising;

(1) a first carrier group comprising a first subset of said plurality of carriers; and

(2) a second carrier group comprising a second subset of said at least one second carrier;

b) receiving signals from a base station on said plurality of carriers, wherein downlink transmissions on said first carrier and said at least one second carrier are substantially time aligned with each other;

c) transmitting uplink signals to said base station on said plurality of carriers; and

d) receiving at least one time alignment command comprising a time adjustment value and an index identifying one carrier group;

wherein uplink transmissions on said first carrier group and said second carrier group employ different synchronization signals on different carriers as timing reference and are adjusted in response to different time alignment commands.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first subset comprises said first carrier.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a control command causing said wireless device to transmit a random access preamble on said second carrier;

said control command comprising a preamble index corresponding to said random access preamble.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting a random access preamble on said second carrier.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving on said first carrier a long time alignment command comprising said preamble index and a long time adjustment value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said synchronization signals comprise a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal.

7. A wireless device comprising:

a) one or more communication interfaces configured to communicate with a base station via at least one wireless link;

b) one or more processors; and

c) memory storing instructions that, when executed by said one or more processors, cause said wireless device to;

i) receive at least one radio resource control message comprising;

(1) configuration parameters of a plurality of carriers comprising a first carrier and at least one second carrier;

(2) a carrier group index for a second carrier in said at least one second carrier, said carrier group index identifying a carrier group in a plurality of carrier groups comprising;

(a) a first carrier group comprising a first subset of said plurality of carriers; and

(b) a second carrier group comprising a second subset of said at least one second carrier;

ii) receive signals from said base station on said plurality of carriers, wherein downlink transmissions on said first carrier and said at least one second carrier are substantially time aligned with each other;

iii) transmit uplink signals to said base station on said plurality of carriers; and

iv) receive at least one time alignment command comprising a time adjustment value and an index identifying one carrier group;

wherein uplink transmissions on said first carrier group and said second carrier group employ different synchronization signals on different carriers as timing reference and are adjusted in response to different time alignment commands.

8. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein said first subset comprises said first carrier.

9. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein said instructions, when executed, further cause said wireless device to receive a control command causing said wireless device to transmit a random access preamble on said second carrier.

10. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein said instructions, when executed, further cause said wireless device to transmit a random access preamble on said second carrier.

11. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein said synchronization signals comprise a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal.

12. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein said configuration parameters comprise a physical layer parameter, a media access control layer parameter, and a radio link control layer parameter.

13. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein said instructions, when executed, further cause said wireless device to apply said time adjustment value to uplink transmissions on a carrier in said one carrier group.

14. A method for use in a base station, said method comprising:

a) one or more communication interfaces configured to communicate with a wireless device via at least one wireless link;

b) one or more processors; and

c) memory storing instructions that, when executed by said one or more processors, cause said base station to;

i) transmit at least one radio resource control message comprising;

(1) configuration parameters of a plurality of carriers comprising a first carrier and at least one second carrier; and

(2) a carrier group index for a second carrier in said at least one second carrier, said carrier group index identifying a carrier group in a plurality of carrier groups comprising;

(a) a first carrier group comprising a first subset of said plurality of carriers; and

(b) a second carrier group comprising a second subset of said at least one second carrier;

ii) transmit signals on said plurality of carriers, wherein downlink transmissions on said first carrier and said at least one second carrier are substantially time aligned with each other;

iii) receive uplink signals from said wireless device on said plurality of carriers; and

iv) transmit to said wireless device at least one time alignment command comprising a time adjustment value and an index identifying one carrier group;

wherein uplink transmissions on said first carrier group and said second carrier group employ different synchronization signals on different carriers as timing reference and are adjusted in response to different time alignment commands.

15. The base station of claim 14, wherein said first subset comprises said first carrier.

16. The base station of claim 14, wherein said transmission of said time alignment command is initiated by a media access control sub-layer.

17. The base station of claim 14, further wherein said instructions, when executed, further cause said base station to transmit a control command causing said wireless device to transmit a random access preamble on said second carrier.

18. The base station of claim 17, further wherein said instructions, when executed, further cause said base station to receive a random access preamble from said wireless device on said second carrier.

19. The base station of claim 14, wherein said synchronization signals comprise a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal.

20. The base station of claim 14, wherein said configuration parameters comprise a physical layer parameter, a media access control layer parameter, and a radio link control layer parameter.