Synchronization in base stations and wireless networks

• US 8,976,765 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• 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): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohebbi, Kouroush
• Application Number:
  US13/749,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20130188618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/336
• 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 subframes of downlink carriers in a primary cell group and downlink carriers in a secondary cell group in substantial time alignment with each other. A wireless device transmits subframes of uplink carriers in the primary cell group in substantially time alignment with each other. The wireless device transmits subframes of uplink carriers in the secondary cell group in substantially time alignment with each other. The subframes transmission timing for uplink carriers in the primary cell group and in the secondary cell group employ different synchronization signals as a timing reference and different timing advance commands.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

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

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

ii) 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;

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

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

b) transmitting, by said base station, a plurality of timing advance commands to said wireless device, each of said plurality of timing advance commands comprising;

i) a time adjustment value; and

ii) an index identifying a cell group; and

wherein;

i) frames and subframes transmission timing for downlink carriers in said primary cell group and downlink carriers in said secondary cell group are substantially time aligned with each other;

ii) frames and subframes transmission timing for downlink carriers in said primary cell group and downlink carriers in said secondary cell group of said base station are substantially time aligned with frames and subframes transmission timing of downlink carriers of other base stations in said plurality of base stations;

iii) frames and subframes transmission timing for uplink carriers in said primary cell group of said wireless device are substantially time aligned with each other;

iv) frames and subframes transmission timing for uplink carriers in said secondary cell group of said wireless device are substantially time aligned with each other;

v) frames and subframes transmission timing for uplink carriers in said primary cell group and in said secondary cell group of said wireless device employ;

(1) different synchronization signals as a timing reference; and

(2) different timing advance commands; and

vi) said plurality of timing advance commands are configured to cause said wireless device to adjust timing of uplink signal transmissions in uplink carriers of said primary cell group and said secondary cell group such that said base station receives said uplink signal transmissions in substantial alignment with frames and subframes of said base station; and

wherein frame and subframe timings are substantially aligned when said frame and subframe timings are aligned within an accuracy limit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein frames and subframe reception timing for uplink carriers in said primary cell group and uplink carriers in said secondary cell group of said base station are substantially time aligned with frames and subframe reception timing of uplink carriers of other base stations in said plurality of base stations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one first control message is further configured to modify a radio bearer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one first control message is configured to further cause in said wireless device configuration of uplink random access resources on said reference secondary cell.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein frames and subframes transmission timing for uplink carriers in said primary cell group and in said secondary cell group of said wireless device are not necessarily time aligned.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless device is assigned, by said configuration, a plurality of media access control dedicated parameters comprising a plurality of time alignment timer values, each of said plurality of time alignment timer values associated with a unique cell group in said wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a) transmitting, by said base station, a control command configured to cause transmission of a random access preamble on random access resources of said reference secondary cell in said secondary cell group; and

b) transmitting, by said base station, a random access response on a primary cell in said primary cell group, said random access response comprising a timing advance command for said secondary cell group comprising said reference secondary cell.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said control command comprises:

a) a mask index; and

b) said random access preamble identifier.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said random access response comprises an identifier of said random access preamble.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of base stations are compatible with LTE release 11 or above.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein transmission time is divided into frames, and each frame is divided into a plurality of subframes.

12. A method comprising:

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

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

ii) 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;

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

(2) a secondary cell group comprising a second subset of said at least one secondary cell; and

b) transmitting, by said base station, a plurality of timing advance commands to said wireless device, each of said plurality of timing advance commands comprising;

i) a time adjustment value; and

ii) an index identifying a cell group; and

wherein;

i) frames and subframes transmission timing for downlink carriers in said primary cell group and downlink carriers in said secondary cell group are substantially time aligned with each other;

ii) frames and subframes transmission timing for downlink carriers in said primary cell group and downlink carriers in said secondary cell group of said base station are substantially time aligned with frames and subframes transmission timing of downlink carriers of other base stations in said plurality of base stations;

iii) frames and subframes transmission timing for uplink carriers in said primary cell group of said wireless device are substantially time aligned with each other;

iv) frames and subframes transmission timing for uplink carriers in said secondary cell group of said wireless device are substantially time aligned with each other;

v) frames and subframes transmission timing for uplink carriers in said primary cell group and in said secondary cell group of said wireless device employ;

(1) different synchronization signals as a timing reference; and

(2) different timing advance commands; and

vi) said plurality of timing advance commands are configured to cause said wireless device to adjust timing of uplink signal transmissions in uplink carriers of said primary cell group and said secondary cell group such that said base station receives said uplink signal transmissions in substantial alignment with frames and subframes of said base station; and

wherein frame and subframe timings are substantially aligned when said frame and subframe timings are aligned within an accuracy limit.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

a) transmitting, by said base station, a control command configured to cause transmission of a random access preamble on random access resources of said reference secondary cell in said secondary cell group; and

b) transmitting, by said base station, a random access response on a primary cell in said primary cell group, said random access response comprising a timing advance command for said secondary cell group comprising said reference secondary cell.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said control command comprises:

a) a mask index; and

b) said random access preamble identifier.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said random access response comprises an identifier of said random access preamble.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said plurality of base stations are compatible with LTE release 11 or above.

17. A base station in a wireless network comprising a plurality of base stations, said 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 first control message to a wireless device, said at least one first control message configured to cause in said wireless device;

(1) configuration of a plurality of cells comprising a primary cell and 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 said primary cell; and

(b) a secondary cell group comprising a second subset of said at least one secondary cell; and

ii) transmitting, by said base station, a plurality of timing advance commands to said wireless device, each of said plurality of timing advance commands comprising;

(1) a time adjustment value; and

(2) an index identifying a cell group; and

wherein;

i) frames and subframes transmission timing for downlink carriers in said primary cell group and downlink carriers in said secondary cell group are substantially time aligned with each other;

ii) frames and subframes transmission timing for downlink carriers in said primary cell group and downlink carriers in said secondary cell group of said base station are substantially time aligned with frames and subframes transmission timing of downlink carriers of other base stations in said plurality of base stations;

iii) frames and subframes transmission timing for uplink carriers in said primary cell group of said wireless device are substantially time aligned with each other;

iv) frames and subframes transmission timing for uplink carriers in said secondary cell group of said wireless device are substantially time aligned with each other;

v) frames and subframes transmission timing for uplink carriers in said primary cell group and in said secondary cell group of said wireless device employ;

(1) different synchronization signals as a timing reference; and

(2) different timing advance commands; and

vii) said plurality of timing advance commands are configured to cause said wireless device to adjust timing of uplink signal transmissions in uplink carriers of said primary cell group and said secondary cell group such that said base station receives said uplink signal transmissions in substantial alignment with frames and subframes of said base station; and

wherein frame and subframe timings are substantially aligned when said frame and subframe timings are aligned within an accuracy limit.

18. The base station claim 17, wherein said base station is compatible with LTE release 11 or above.

19. The base station claim 17, wherein a transmission time is divided into frames, and each frame is divided into a plurality of subframes.

20. The base station claim 17, wherein said wireless device is assigned, by said configuration, a plurality of media access control dedicated parameters comprising a plurality of time alignment timer values, each of said plurality of time alignment timer values being associated with a unique cell group in said wireless device.