Cell timing in a wireless device and base station

• US 8,989,128 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2013
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• 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): LIN, KENNY S
• Application Number:
  US13/862,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20130279433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 709 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2618 using hybrid code-time division multiple access [CDMA-TDMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/00 Orthogonal multiplex systems, e.g. using WALSH codesH04J13/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2011/0096 Network synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/18 Phase-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using phase-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/005 of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/06 TPC algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/346 distributing total power among users or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/40 during macro-diversity or soft handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/005 compensating for timing error by adjustment in the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0473 : the resource being transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 : in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 : based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 : Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 : Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A wireless device receives a control message configuring cell groups comprising a primary cell group and a secondary cell group. The wireless device receives a timing advance command comprising a time adjustment value and an index identifying the secondary cell group. The wireless device applies the time adjustment value to uplink transmission timing of the secondary cell group. The wireless device triggers an action in response to detecting a difference between primary cell group timing and secondary cell group timing, the difference being greater than a threshold.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) receiving, by a wireless device to communicate employing a plurality of cells, at least one control message from a base station, said at least one control message to cause in said wireless device;

i) configuration of a primary cell and at least one secondary cell in said plurality of cells; 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, uplink transmissions in said secondary cell group employing a second synchronization signal on an activated secondary cell in said secondary cell group as a secondary timing reference;

b) receiving, by said wireless device, at least one timing advance command from said base station, said timing advance command comprising;

i) a time adjustment value; and

ii) an index identifying said secondary cell group;

c) applying, by said wireless device, said time adjustment value to uplink transmission timing of said secondary cell group;

d) determining, by said wireless device, a timing difference between primary cell group timing and secondary cell group timing; and

e) triggering an action, by said wireless device, in response to said wireless device detecting that said timing difference is greater than a threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a) said primary cell group timing is a primary cell group uplink signal timing; and

b) said secondary cell group timing is a secondary cell group uplink signal timing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a) said primary cell group timing is a primary cell group downlink signal timing; and

b) said secondary cell group timing is a secondary cell group downlink signal timing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmission of downlink signals in said primary cell group and said secondary cell group are time aligned within a predetermined value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said action is an action in a radio resource control layer or an action in a medium access control layer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said action comprises at least one of the following:

a) transmitting a radio resource control message to said base station;

b) transmitting a medium access control message to said base station;

c) changing the synchronization state of a cell from an in-sync state to an out-of-sync state; and

d) changing the synchronization state of a cell group from an in-sync state to an out-of-sync state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting said difference employs, at least in part, said first synchronization signal and said second synchronization signal.

8. 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 to cause in said wireless device;

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

(b) a 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 secondary cell group as a secondary timing reference;

ii) receive at least one timing advance command from said base station, said timing advance command comprising;

(1) a time adjustment value; and

(2) an index identifying said secondary cell group;

iii) apply said time adjustment value to uplink transmission timing of said secondary cell group;

iv) determine a timing difference between primary cell group timing and secondary cell group timing; and

v) trigger an action in response to said wireless device detecting that said timing difference is greater than a threshold.

9. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein:

a) said primary cell group timing is a primary cell group uplink signal timing; and

b) said secondary cell group timing is a secondary cell group uplink signal timing.

10. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein:

a) said primary cell group timing is a primary cell group downlink signal timing; and

b) said secondary cell group timing is a secondary cell group downlink signal timing.

11. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein said action comprises at least one of the following:

a) suspending uplink transmission on a cell;

b) suspending uplink transmission on a cell group; and

c) ignoring a received timing advance command resulting in an increase in said difference.

12. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein detecting said difference employs, at least in part, primary cell group uplink signal timing and secondary cell group uplink signal timing.

13. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein said action is an action in a radio resource control layer or an action in a medium access control layer.