System and method for implementing multiple carriers in cellular networks

• US 6,804,214 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2000
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lundh, Peter, Hansson, Bert, Andersson, Rutger, Karlsson, Patrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): NG, CHRISTINE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/548,523
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 370/335, 370/342, 375/140, 375/141, 375/146, 375/147
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/264 for data rate control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/322 Power control of broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for efficient and flexible usage of bandwidth within a code division multiple access (CDMA) cell. Multiple carriers can be included within a CDMA cell, in which a different number of carriers can be allocated to downlink transmissions and uplink transmissions. In addition, a mobile station (MS) can allocate downlink bandwidth from different carriers to contribute to a Traffic channel, making it possible to form high user bit-rates, e.g., 4 Mbps. A CDMA cell can contain a Primary carrier with all channel types and at least one Secondary carrier with only dedicated channels and optionally power controlled common channels. The Primary carrier has a primary scrambling code and zero or more secondary scrambling codes associated therewith, while the Secondary carrier has one or more secondary scrambling codes associated therewith.

Claims

1. A cell within a code division multiple access telecommunications system, comprising:

at least one primary downlink carrier having a primary scrambling code associated therewith, said primary scrambling code being configured to scramble at least non-power controlled common channels for transmission over a first downlink bandwidth, wherein said primary downlink carrier has said primary scrambling code and at least one secondary scrambling code associated therewith; and

at least one secondary downlink carrier having only said at least one secondary scrambling code associated therewith said secondary scrambling code being configured to scramble only power-controlled channels for transmission over a second downlink bandwidth, wherein said power-controlled channels include only dedicated channels.

2. The cell of claim 1, wherein said power-controlled channels include dedicated channels and common channels.

3. The cell of claim 1, wherein detection of said power-controlled channels within said at least one secondary downlink carrier are supported by at least one pilot allocated on each of said power-controlled channels.

4. The cell of claim 1, wherein said primary scrambling code is configured to scramble said non-power controlled common channels and said power-controlled channels.

5. The cell of claim 1, further comprising:

a given one of said power controlled channels using at least one secondary scrambling code from either said at least one primary downlink carrier or said at least one secondary downlink carrier.

6. The cell of claim 1, further comprising:

a given one of said power controlled channels using at least one secondary scrambling code from said at least one primary downlink carrier and at least one secondary scrambling code from said at least one secondary downlink carrier.

7. The cell of claim 1, further comprising:

a given one of said power controlled channels using at least one secondary scrambling code from either said at least primary downlink carrier or said at least one secondary downlink carrier and at least one primary scrambling code from said at least one primary downlink carrier.

8. The cell of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one uplink carrier configured to transmit information on at least one uplink channel over an uplink bandwidth in the bandwidth, the total combination of said first and second downlink code division multiple access bandwidth being unequal to said uplink code division multiple access bandwidth.

9. The cell of claim 1, wherein said at least one primary carrier includes only said non-power controlled common channels.

10. The cell of claim 9, wherein said first downlink bandwidth is allocated in a frequency band of a first cellular system and said second downlink bandwidth is allocated in a frequency band of a second cellular system.

11. A code division multiple access telecommunications system, comprising:

a base station configured to serve at least one cell, said at least one cell having;

at least one primary downlink carrier having at least a primary scrambling code associated therewith, said primary scrambling code being configured to scramble at least non-power controlled common channels for transmission over a first downlink bandwidth, wherein said primary downlink carrier has said primary scrambling code and at least one secondary scrambling code associated therewith, and

at least one secondary downlink carrier having said at least one secondary scrambling code associated therewith, said at least one secondary scrambling code being configured to scramble only power-controlled channels for transmission over a second downlink bandwidth; and

a mobile station within said cell and in wireless communication with said base station, said mobile station being adapted to receive downlink transmissions from said base station over said first and second downlink bandwidth, wherein said power-controlled channels include only dedicated channels.

12. The telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein said power-controlled channels include dedicated channels and common channels.

13. The telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein detection of said power-controlled channels within said at least one secondary downlink carrier are supported by at least one pilot allocated on each of said power-controlled channels.

14. The telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein said primary scrambling code is configured to scramble said non-power controlled common channels and said power-controlled channels.

15. The telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein said base station is configured to allocate a given one of said power-controlled channels to said mobile station, said given power-controlled channel using at least one secondary scrambling code from either said at least one primary downlink carrier or said at least one secondary downlink carrier.

16. The telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein said base station is configured to allocate a given one of said power-controlled channels to said mobile station, said given power-controlled channel using at least one secondary scrambling code from said at least one primary downlink carrier and at least one secondary scrambling code from said at least one secondary downlink carrier.

17. The telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein said base station is configured to allocate a given one of said power-controlled channels to said mobile station, said given power-controlled channel using at least one secondary scrambling code from either said at least one primary downlink carrier or said at least one secondary downlink carrier and at least one primary scrambling code from said at least one primary downlink carrier.

18. The telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein said cell further comprises at least one uplink carrier configured to transmit information on at least one uplink channel over an uplink bandwidth, the total bandwidth in the combination of said first and second downlink bandwidth being unequal to said uplink bandwidth.

19. The telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein said at least one primary carrier includes only said non-power controlled common channels.

20. The telecommunications system of claim 19, wherein said first downlink bandwidth is allocated in a frequency band of a first cellular network and said second downlink bandwidth is allocated in a frequency band of a second cellular network.

21. The telecommunications system of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one additional cell served by said base station, said at least one additional cell having said at least one primary carrier configured to transmit at least said non-power controlled common channels over said first downlink code division multiple access bandwidth and said at least one secondary carrier configured to transmit only said power-controlled channels over said second downlink code division multiple access bandwidth.

22. The telecommunications system of claim 21, wherein said at least one primary carrier within both said cell and said additional cell are allocated to the same frequency.

23. The telecommunications system of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one additional base station configured to serve at least one additional cell, said at least one additional cell having said at least one primary carrier configured to transmit at least said non-power controlled common channels over said first downlink code division multiple access bandwidth and said at least one secondary carrier configured to transmit only said power-controlled channels over said second downlink code division multiple access bandwidth.

24. The telecommunications system of claim 23, wherein said at least one primary carrier within both said cell and said additional cell are allocated to the same frequency.

25. A method for implementing multiple carriers within a cell within a code division multiple access telecommunications system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one primary downlink carder having at least a primary scrambling code and at least one secondary scrambling code associated therewith;

scrambling at least non-power controlled common channels for transmission over a first downlink bandwidth using said primary scrambling code;

providing at least one secondary downlink carrier having at said least one secondary scrambling code associated therewith;

scrambling only power-controlled channels for transmission over a second downlink bandwidth using said at least one secondary scrambling code; and

scrambling said non-power controlled common channels and said power-controlled channels using said primary scrambling code.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of:

allocating a given one of said power-controlled channels using said at least one secondary scrambling code from either said at least one primary downlink carrier or said at least one secondary downlink carrier.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of:

allocating a given one of said power-controlled channels using at least one secondary scrambling code from said at least one primary downlink carrier and at least one secondary scrambling code from said at least one secondary carrier.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of:

allocating a given one of said power-controlled channels using at least one secondary scrambling code from either said at least one primary downlink carrier or said at least one secondary downlink carrier and at least one primary scrambling code from said primary downlink carrier.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of:

providing at least one uplink carrier for transmitting information on at least one uplink channel over an uplink bandwidth, the total bandwidth in the combination of said first and second downlink bandwidth being unequal to said uplink bandwidth.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of providing said at least one primary downlink carrier further comprises the step of:

allocating said first downlink bandwidth in a frequency band of a first cellular network, said step of providing said at least one secondary downlink carrier further comprising the step of;

allocating said second downlink bandwidth in a frequency band of a second cellular network.