SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MULTI-CONNECTIVITY OPERATION

• US 20150173047A1
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Shohei
• Granted Patent: US 9,585,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0841 with collision treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

Abstract

A method for receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message by a user equipment (UE) is described. The method includes receiving an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition. In response to receiving the RRC connection reconfiguration message including SCG configuration parameters for SCG addition, the method also includes ordering, by an RRC of the UE, a medium access control (MAC) of the SCG of the UE to initiate a random access procedure.

Claims

1. A method for receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message by a user equipment (UE), comprising:

receiving an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition; and

in response to receiving the RRC connection reconfiguration message including SCG configuration parameters for SCG addition;

ordering, by an RRC of the UE, a medium access control (MAC) of the SCG of the UE to initiate a random access procedure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the random access procedure comprises a contention resolution.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein if the random access procedure was initiated by the RRC order and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission is addressed to a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) of the SCG of the UE, then:

considering the contention resolution successful; and

considering the random access procedure successfully completed.

4. A method for sending a radio resource control (RRC) message by an evolved Node B (eNB), comprising:

sending an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition to a user equipment (UE); and

controlling a random access procedure initiated by the UE.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising sending a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission that is addressed to a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) of the SCG of the UE, wherein the PDCCH transmission causes the UE to consider a random access procedure successfully completed.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising considering the random access procedure concerning the SCG addition for the UE successfully completed.

7. A user equipment (UE) for receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message, comprising:

a processor; and

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein instructions stored in the memory are executable to;

receive an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition; and

in response to receiving the RRC connection reconfiguration message including SCG configuration parameters for SCG addition;

order, by an RRC of the UE, a medium access control (MAC) of the SCG of the UE to initiate a random access procedure.

8. The UE of claim 7, wherein the random access procedure comprises a contention resolution.

9. The UE of claim 8, wherein if the random access procedure was initiated by the RRC order and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission is addressed to a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) of the SCG of the UE, then the instructions are further executable to:

consider the contention resolution successful; and

consider the random access procedure successfully completed.

10. An evolved Node B (eNB) for sending a radio resource control (RRC) message, comprising:

a processor; and

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein instructions stored in the memory are executable to;

send an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition to a user equipment (UE); and

control a random access procedure initiated by the UE.

11. The eNB of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further executable to send a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission that is addressed to a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) of the SCG of the UE, wherein the PDCCH transmission causes the UE to consider a random access procedure successfully completed.

12. The eNB of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable to consider the random access procedure concerning the SCG addition for the UE successfully completed.

13. A non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium for receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message by a user equipment (UE), comprising executable instructions for:

receiving an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition; and

in response to receiving the RRC connection reconfiguration message including SCG configuration parameters for SCG addition;

ordering, by an RRC of the UE, a medium access control (MAC) of the SCG of the UE to initiate a random access procedure.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the random access procedure comprises a contention resolution.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein if the random access procedure was initiated by the RRC order and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission is addressed to a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) of the SCG of the UE, then the computer-readable medium further comprises executable instructions for:

considering the contention resolution successful; and

considering the random access procedure successfully completed.

16. A non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium for sending a radio resource control (RRC) message by an evolved Node B (eNB), comprising executable instructions for:

sending an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition to a user equipment (UE); and

controlling a random access procedure initiated by the UE.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising executable instructions for sending a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission that is addressed to a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) of the SCG of the UE, wherein the PDCCH transmission causes the UE to consider a random access procedure successfully completed.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising executable instructions for considering the random access procedure concerning the SCG addition for the UE successfully completed.