Primary and secondary cell group configuration

• US 8,542,654 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2013
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ofinno Technologies, LLC (Ofinno, LLC)
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmael Hejazi
• Primary Examiner(s): PARK, JUNG H
• Application Number:
  US13/899,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20130265991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 125 Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2011/0096 Network synchronisation
• 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 27/32 Carrier systems characterised by combinations of two or more of the types covered by groups H04L27/02, H04L27/10, H04L27/18 or H04L27/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0098 Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1066 Session management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/00 Network traffic management; Network resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/00 Access restriction access security to prevent unauthorised access H04W12/08; Network selection; Access point selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/14 Separate analysis of uplink or downlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/18 TPC being performed according to specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/242 taking into account path loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/248 where transmission power control commands are generated based on a path parameter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/34 TPC management, i.e. sharing limited amount of power among users or channels or data types, e.g. cell loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 : Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 : compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 : Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 : in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 : Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 : Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 : Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 : Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

A base station transmits control message(s) to a wireless device configuring secondary cell(s). Each of the secondary cells is assigned to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups comprising a primary cell group and at least one secondary cell group. The control message(s) comprise dedicated parameters. If dedicated parameters comprise a cell group index for the secondary cell, the wireless device assigns the secondary cell to one of the at least one secondary cell group identified by the cell group index. Otherwise, the wireless device assigns the secondary cell to the primary cell group.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) transmitting, by a base station, at least one control message to a wireless device in a plurality of wireless devices, said at least one control message;

i) configured to cause in said wireless device;

(1) configuration of a plurality of cells comprising at least one secondary cell; and

(2) assignment of each of said at least one secondary cell to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups, said plurality of cell groups comprising;

(a) a primary cell group comprising a first subset of said plurality of cells, said first subset comprising a primary cell, uplink transmissions by said wireless device in said primary cell group employing a first synchronization signal transmitted on said primary cell; and

(b) at least one secondary cell group, a first secondary cell group in said at least one secondary cell group comprising a second subset of said at least one secondary cell, uplink transmissions in said secondary cell group employing a second synchronization signal on an activated secondary cell in said first secondary cell group as a secondary timing reference; and

ii) comprising a plurality of dedicated parameters specific to said wireless device, said plurality of dedicated parameters comprising a sequence of at least one first information element, each of said at least one first information element comprising;

a first cell group index of a first secondary cell group and a first time alignment timer for said first secondary cell group, wherein for each of said at least one secondary cell;

(1) if said plurality of dedicated parameters comprise a cell group index for said secondary cell, assigning said secondary cell to one of said at least one secondary cell group identified by said cell group index; and

(2) otherwise, assigning said secondary cell to said primary cell group;

b) receiving, by said base station, a random access preamble on random access resources of a secondary cell in said secondary cell group; and

c) transmitting a random access response comprising a timing advance command for said secondary cell group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said primary cell group is identified by an index equal to zero.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by said base station, a timing advance command to said wireless device, said timing advance command configured to cause substantial alignment of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of a cell group at said base station, said timing advance command comprising an index identifying said cell group.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one control message comprises at least one cell-add-modify information element, each of said at least one cell-add-modify information element comprises a first plurality of dedicated parameters in said plurality of dedicated parameters, said first plurality of dedicated parameters comprising a first cell index for a first secondary cell in said at least one secondary cell.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of dedicated parameters further comprise a time alignment timer parameter for each cell group in said plurality of cell groups.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of dedicated parameters further comprise an activation timer for said at least one secondary cell.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one control message configured to further cause in said wireless device configuration of a time alignment timer for each of said plurality of cell groups, said time alignment timer starting or restarting in response to said wireless device receiving a timing advance command to adjust uplink transmission timing of a commanded cell group in said plurality of cell groups.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein transmission timing of said random access preamble being determined, at least in part, employing said second synchronization signal.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting, by said base station, at least one timing advance command to said wireless device, said timing advance command comprising:

a) a time adjustment value; and

b) an index identifying said secondary cell group; and

wherein said at least one timing advance command configured to cause substantial alignment of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of said secondary cell group at said base station.

10. A base station comprising:

a) one or more communication interfaces;

b) one or more processors; and

c) memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause said base station to;

i) transmit at least one control message to a wireless device, said at least one control message;

(1) configured to cause in said wireless device;

(a) configuration of a plurality of cells comprising at least one secondary cell; and

(b) assignment of each of said at least one secondary cell to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups, said plurality of cell groups comprising;

 

(i) a primary cell group comprising a first subset of said plurality of cells, said first subset comprising a primary cell; and

 

(ii) at least one secondary cell group, a first secondary cell group in said at least one secondary cell group comprising a second subset of said at least one secondary cell; and

(2) comprising a plurality of dedicated parameters comprising a sequence of at least one first information element, each of said at least one first information element comprising;

a first cell group index of a first secondary cell group and a first time alignment timer for said first secondary cell group, wherein for each of said at least one secondary cell;

(a) if said plurality of dedicated parameters comprise a cell group index for said secondary cell, assigning said secondary cell to one of said at least one secondary cell group identified by said cell group index; and

(b) otherwise, assigning said secondary cell to said primary cell group;

ii) receive a random access preamble on random access resources of a secondary cell in said secondary cell group; and

iii) transmit a random access response on said primary cell, said random access response comprising a timing advance command for said secondary cell group.

11. The base station of claim 10, wherein said at least one control message comprises at least one cell-add-modify information element, each of said at least one cell-add-modify information element comprises a first plurality of dedicated parameters in said plurality of dedicated parameters, said first plurality of dedicated parameters comprising a first cell index for a first secondary cell in said at least one secondary cell.

12. The base station of claim 10, wherein said plurality of dedicated parameters further comprise a time alignment timer parameter for each cell group in said plurality of cell groups.

13. The base station of claim 10, wherein said plurality of wireless devices are compatible with LTE release 11 or above and support configuration of multiple cell groups.

14. The base station of claim 10, wherein said plurality of dedicated parameters further comprise an activation timer for said at least one secondary cell.

15. A wireless device comprising:

a) one or more communication interfaces;

b) one or more processors; and

c) memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause said wireless device to;

i) receive at least one control message from a base station, said at least one control message;

(1) causing in said wireless device;

(a) configuration of a plurality of cells comprising at least one secondary cell; and

(b) assignment of each of said at least one secondary cell to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups, said plurality of cell groups comprising;

 

(i) a primary cell group comprising a first subset of said plurality of cells, said first subset comprising a primary cell; and

 

(ii) at least one secondary cell group, a first secondary cell group in said at least one secondary cell group comprising a second subset of said at least one secondary cell; and

(2) comprising a plurality of dedicated parameters comprising a sequence of at least one first information element, each of said at least one first information element comprising;

a first cell group index of a first secondary cell group and a first time alignment timer for said first secondary cell group, wherein for each of said at least one secondary cell;

(a) if said plurality of dedicated parameters comprise a cell group index for said secondary cell, assigning said secondary cell to one of said at least one secondary cell group identified by said cell group index; and

(b) otherwise, assigning said secondary cell to said primary cell group;

ii) transmit a random access preamble on random access resources of a secondary cell in said secondary cell group in response to receiving a control command from said base station; and

iii) receive a random access response on said primary cell, said random access response comprising a timing advance command for said secondary cell group.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said at least one control message configured to further cause in said wireless device configuration of a time alignment timer for each of said plurality of cell groups, said time alignment timer starting or restarting in response to said wireless device receiving a timing advance command to adjust uplink transmission timing of a commanded cell group in said plurality of cell groups.

17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said plurality of dedicated parameters further comprise a time alignment timer parameter for each cell group in said plurality of cell groups.

18. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said plurality of dedicated parameters:

a) are specific to said wireless device in a plurality of wireless devices;

b) comprise a first dedicated parameter applicable to all activated secondary cells in at least one secondary cell; and

c) comprise a second dedicated parameter, being secondary cell specific, and being applicable to only one secondary cell in said at least one secondary cell.

19. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said instructions further cause said wireless device to receive a timing advance command from said base station, said timing advance command configured to cause substantial alignment of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of a cell group at said base station, said timing advance command comprising an index identifying said cell group.