METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LAYER 3 CONFIGURATION IN A HETEROGENEOUS NETWORK

• US 20180054779A1
• Filed: 10/27/2017
• Published: 02/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: CAI, Zhijun, SONG, Yi, BONTU, Chandra Sekhar
• Granted Patent: US 10,798,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00695 using split of the control plane or user plane
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for camping, assisted serving cell addition or removal, and discontinuous reception (DRX) in networks having a macro cell and at least one assisted serving cell. In other aspects, enhancements to Layer 1 channels and uplink timing alignments are provided in networks having a macro cell and at least one assisted serving cell. In further aspects, assisted serving cell Layer 2 architecture and transport channels are provided in networks having a macro cell and at least one assisted serving cell. In further aspects, collaborated HARQ solutions are provided in networks having a macro cell and at least one assisted serving cell.

Claims

1-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A method at a user equipment operating in a network having a macro cell and at least one assisted serving cell, the method comprising:

forwarding to the macro cell from the user equipment radio resource control signaling for an assisted serving cell, the assisted serving cell having its own cell identifier;

receiving, from the macro cell, radio resource control signaling for the assisted serving cell.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the radio resource control signaling for the assisted serving cell is in a message container.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising receiving from the assisted serving cell, user plane data.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the user plane data comprises a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) data unit from the macro cell.

50. The assisted serving cell of claim 39, wherein the assisted serving cell is enabled to configure the LRRC by one or more of:

Random Access functions for the assisted serving cell;

radio bearer configurations for the assisted serving cell according to instructions from the macro cell;

resource or traffic status including a number of radio bearers used;

uplink timing alignment for any camped user equipments; and

a list of user equipment identifiers that utilizes the assisted serving cell.

43. A user equipment operating in a network having a macro cell and at least one assisted serving cell, the user equipment comprising:

a processor; and

a communications subsystem,

wherein the user equipment is configured to;

forward to the macro cell from a user equipment radio resource control signaling for an assisted serving cell;

receive, from the macro cell, radio resource control signaling for the assisted serving cell.

44. The user equipment of claim 43, wherein the radio resource control signaling for the assisted serving cell is in a message container.

45. The user equipment of claim 43, wherein the user equipment is further configured to receive from the assisted serving cell, user plane data.

46. The user equipment of claim 45, wherein the user plane data comprises a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) data unit from the macro cell.

47. A method at an assisted serving cell without an Si interface operating in a network having a macro cell, the method comprising:

configuring a local radio resource control (LRRC) protocol layer at the assisted serving cell; and

receiving information for the LRRC over a backhaul from the macro cell.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the assisted serving cell is enabled to configure the LRRC by one or more of:

Random Access functions for the assisted serving cell;

radio bearer configurations for the assisted serving cell according to instructions from the macro cell;

resource or traffic status including a number of radio bearers used;

uplink timing alignment for any camped user equipments; and

a list of user equipment identifiers that utilizes the assisted serving cell.

49. An assisted serving cell without an Si interface operating in a network having a macro cell, the assisted serving cell comprising:

a processor; and

a communications subsystem,

wherein the assisted serving cell is enabled to;

configure a local radio resource control (LRRC) protocol layer at the assisted serving cell; and

receive information for the LRRC over a backhaul from the macro cell.