Multi-carrier operation for wireless systems

• US 8,711,773 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Yu, Dong-Sheng, Nikopourdeilami, Hosein, Fong, Mo-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamza, Faruk
• Assistant Examiner(s): LO, DIANE LEE
• Application Number:
  US12/874,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20120057524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/26 Systems using multi-frequency codes H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0057 Physical resource allocation for CQI
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method for a subscriber station to perform network entry in a multi-carrier wireless environment that has a primary carrier and at least one secondary carrier associated with a base station. The method includes sensing a carrier in an area serviced by the base station and determining if the carrier is a primary carrier or a secondary carrier. The method further includes performing the network entry if the determining establishes that the sensed carrier is a primary carrier and not a secondary carrier.

Claims

1. A method of a subscriber station (SS) comprising:

performing network entry in a multi-carrier wireless environment using a primary carrier;

receiving timing information corresponding to the primary carrier;

receiving a first control signaling via the primary carrier, the first control signaling assigning at least one secondary carrier;

transmitting uplink data via the secondary carrier using an uplink transmission timing of the secondary carrier, the uplink transmission timing of the secondary carrier being assigned the same as an uplink transmission timing of the primary carrier; and

modifying the uplink transmission timing or frequency of the secondary carrier after transmitting the uplink data via the secondary carrier, wherein modifying the uplink transmission timing or frequency of the secondary carrier after transmitting the uplink data via the secondary carrier comprises;

measuring a preamble or pilot; and

determining an adjustment of the uplink transmission timing or frequency of the secondary carrier based on the measurement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary carrier corresponds to the carrier used for network entry.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary carrier contains a synchronization channel.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a second control signaling via the primary carrier, the second control signaling changing the primary carrier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary carrier carries voice information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the primary carrier carries real-time services to a user of the SS.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the secondary carrier provides data services to a user of the SS.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the primary carrier is code division multiplexed.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary carrier is time division multiplexed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the SS is responsive to a control signal sent from a base station (BS) over the primary carrier to trigger an UL transmission on the selected secondary carrier.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the uplink transmission timing of the second carrier is performed independently of the uplink transmission timing of the primary carrier.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor configured to;

perform network entry of a subscriber station (SS) in a multi-carrier wireless environment using a primary carrier;

receive timing information corresponding to the primary carrier;

receive a first control signaling via the primary carrier, the first control signaling assigning at least one secondary carrier;

transmit uplink data via the secondary carrier using an uplink transmission timing of the secondary carrier, the uplink transmission timing of the secondary carrier being assigned the same as an uplink transmission timing of the primary carrier; and

modify the uplink transmission timing or frequency of the secondary carrier after transmitting the uplink data via the secondary carrier, wherein modifying the uplink transmission timing or frequency of the secondary carrier after transmitting the uplink data via the secondary carrier comprises;

measuring a preamble or pilot; and

determining an adjustment of the uplink transmission timing or frequency of the secondary carrier based on the measurement.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the primary carrier corresponds to the carrier used for network entry.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the primary carrier contains a synchronization channel.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, the processor further configured to receive a second control signaling via the primary carrier, the second control signaling changing the primary carrier.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the primary carrier carries voice information.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the primary carrier carries real-time services to a user of the SS.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the secondary carrier provides data services to a user of the SS.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the primary carrier is code division multiplexed.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the secondary carrier is time division multiplexed.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the SS is responsive to a control signal sent from a base station (BS) over the primary carrier to trigger an UL transmission on the selected secondary carrier.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein modifying the uplink transmission timing of the second carrier is performed independently of the uplink transmission timing of the primary carrier.

23. A method of a subscriber station (SS) comprising:

performing network entry in a multi-carrier wireless environment using a primary carrier;

receiving timing information corresponding to the primary carrier;

receiving a first control signaling via the primary carrier, the first control signaling assigning at least one secondary carrier;

initially assigning an uplink transmission timing of the secondary carrier based on an uplink transmission timing of the primary carrier; and

prior to transmitting uplink data via the secondary carrier using the uplink transmission timing of the secondary carrier, modifying the uplink transmission timing or frequency of the secondary carrier, wherein modifying the uplink transmission timing or frequency of the second carrier after transmitting the uplink data via the secondary carrier comprises;

measuring a preamble or pilot; and

determining an adjustment of the uplink transmission timing or frequency of the secondary carrier based on the measurement.