Time alignment timer in multicarrier communications

• US 9,210,675 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ofinno Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmael Hejazi
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US13/749,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20130188617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 36/0072 of resource information of target access point
• 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 wireless device is configured with a primary cell group and a secondary cell group. When a first time alignment timer of the primary cell group expires, for each cell in the wireless device, the wireless device stops uplink transmission of HARQ feedback, uplink transport blocks, and channel state information. When a second time alignment timer of the secondary cell group expires and the first time alignment timer is running, for each activated cell in the secondary cell group, the wireless device stops transmission of uplink transport blocks, and continues transmission of HARQ feedback and channel state information.

Claims

1. A method, for use in a wireless device, the method comprising:

a) receiving at least one control message from a base station, said at least one control message comprising;

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

ii) a cell group index for assignment of a secondary cell in 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 plurality of cells; and

iii) configuration parameter 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 cell group in said plurality of cell groups, said cell group being one of said primary cell group and said secondary cell group, said cell group considered;

(1) out-of-sync in response to said time alignment timer being expired or not running; and

(2) in-sync in response to said time alignment timer running;

b) when said primary cell group becomes out-of-sync, for a cell in said primary cell group and said secondary cell group;

i) stopping uplink transmission of Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) positive acknowledgement and negative acknowledgement feedback;

ii) stopping re-transmissions of uplink transport blocks in response to downlink HARQ negative acknowledgement feedback;

iii) stopping uplink transmissions of transport blocks and channel state information; and

iv) allowing uplink transmission of at least one random access preamble if said cell is said primary cell; and

c) when said secondary cell group becomes out-of-sync and said primary cell group is in-sync, for each activated cell in said secondary cell group;

i) stopping re-transmission of uplink transport blocks in response to downlink HARQ negative acknowledgement feedback;

ii) stopping transmissions of new transport blocks in an uplink of said activated cell;

iii) continuing transmission of HARQ positive acknowledgement and negative acknowledgement feedback for transport blocks received on a downlink of said activated cell; and

iv) continuing transmission of channel state information for said downlink of said activated cell on an uplink carrier not belonging to said secondary cell group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when said secondary cell group is out-of-sync and said primary cell group is in-sync, for each activated cell in said secondary cell group, said continuing transmission of HARQ positive acknowledgement and negative acknowledgement feedback employs:

a) a physical uplink control channel on said primary cell;

or

b) uplink control information feedback in a transport block transmitted on a shared data channel of an uplink carrier not belonging to said secondary cell group.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein when said secondary cell group is out-of-sync and said primary cell group is in-sync, for each activated cell in said secondary cell group, said continuing transmission of channel state information employs:

a) a physical uplink control channel on said primary cell;

or

b) uplink control information feedback in a transport block transmitted on a shared data channel of an uplink carrier not belonging to said secondary cell group.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one random access preamble is transmitted on said primary cell.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, for each cell in said plurality of cells, notifying a radio resource control protocol layer to release a sounding reference signal when said primary cell group becomes out-of-sync.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, for each activated cell in said secondary cell group, notifying a radio resource control to release a sounding reference signal when said secondary cell group becomes out-of-sync and said primary cell group is in-sync.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing uplink transmission of at least one second random access preamble on said secondary cell group when said secondary cell group becomes out-of-sync and said primary cell group is in-sync.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one control message comprises 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 time alignment timer of a cell group.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one control message comprises 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.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one control message comprises a media access control dedicated information element comprising 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 value for said first secondary cell group.

11. A method, for use in a wireless device, the method comprising:

a) receiving at least one control message from a base station, said at least one control message comprising;

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

ii) a cell group index for assignment of a secondary cell in 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 plurality of cells; and

iii) configuration parameter 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 cell group in said plurality of cell groups, said cell group being one of said primary cell group and said secondary cell group;

b) when a first time alignment timer of said primary cell group expires, for a cell in said primary cell group and said secondary cell group;

i) stopping uplink transmission of Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) positive acknowledgement and negative acknowledgement feedback;

ii) stopping re-transmissions of uplink transport blocks in response to downlink HARQ negative acknowledgement feedback;

iii) stopping uplink transmissions of transport blocks and channel state information; and

iv) allowing uplink transmission of at least one random access preamble if said cell is said primary cell; and

c) when a second time alignment timer of said secondary cell group expires and said first time alignment timer is running, for each activated cell in said secondary cell group;

i) stopping re-transmission of uplink transport blocks in response to downlink HARQ negative acknowledgement feedback;

ii) stopping transmissions of new transport blocks in an uplink of said activated cell;

iii) continuing transmission of HARQ positive acknowledgement and negative acknowledgement feedback for transport blocks received on a downlink of said activated cell; and

iv) continuing transmission of channel state information for said downlink of said activated cell on an uplink carrier not belonging to said secondary cell group.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

a) said primary cell group comprises 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; and

b) said second cell group comprises a second subset of said plurality of cells, 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.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, by said wireless device, said timing advance command, 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 is configured to cause substantial alignment of reception timing of said uplink signals in frames and subframes of said secondary cell group at said base station.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising restarting said time alignment timer of said secondary cell group in response to receiving said timing advance command.

15. A wireless device comprising:

a) one or more communication interface

b) one or more processors;

c) one or more processors; and

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

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

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

(2) a cell group index for assignment of a secondary cell in 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; and

(b) a secondary cell group comprising a second subset of said plurality of cells; and

(3) configuration parameter 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 cell group in said plurality of cell groups, said cell group being one of said primary cell group and said secondary cell group;

ii) when a first time alignment timer of said primary cell group expires, for a cell in said primary cell group and said secondary cell group;

(1) to stop uplink transmission of Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) positive acknowledgement and negative acknowledgement feedback;

(2) to stop re-transmissions of uplink transport blocks in response to downlink HARQ negative acknowledgement feedback;

(3) to stop uplink transmissions of transport block transmissions and channel state information transmissions; and

(4) to allow uplink transmission of at least one random access preamble if said cell is said primary cell; and

iii) when a second time alignment timer of said secondary cell group expires and said first time alignment timer is running, for each activated cell in said secondary cell group;

(1) to stop re-transmission of uplink transport blocks in response to downlink HARQ negative acknowledgement feedback;

(2) to stop transmissions of new transport blocks in an uplink of said activated cell;

(3) to continue transmission of HARQ positive acknowledgement and negative acknowledgement feedback for transport blocks received on a downlink of said activated cell; and

(4) to continue transmission of channel state information for said downlink of said activated cell on an uplink carrier not belonging to said secondary cell group.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said at least one random access preamble is transmitted on said primary cell.

17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said at least one control message comprises 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 time alignment timer of a cell group.

18. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said at least one control message comprises 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.

19. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said at least one control message comprises a media access control dedicated information element comprising 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.

20. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said instructions further cause said wireless device to transmit a second random access preamble on a secondary cell of said secondary cell group in response to receiving a control command from said base station when:

a) said second time alignment timer of said secondary cell group is expired; and

b) said first time alignment timer is running.