Method and apparatus for managing multiple timing advance groups in mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation

• US 9,491,782 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Sangbum, Jeong, Kyeongin
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, STEVE R
• Application Number:
  US13/440,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20120257601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1835 Buffer management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1851 using multiple timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1854 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1874 Buffer management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1883 using multiple timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2662 Symbol synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0098 Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• 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 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• 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 72/00 : Local resource management
• 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 72/0453 : 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 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• 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 74/085 : collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0858 : collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0891 : for synchronized access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 : Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/38 : triggered by timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing multiple Timing Advance Groups (TAGs) operating with different timings are provided for use in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. The method for managing multiple TAGs at a base station of a wireless communication system supporting carrier aggregation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes categorizing a plurality of carriers into at least one TAG according to a predetermined rule, assigning a TAG index to each TAG, transmitting the TAG index to a terminal, generating a Timing Advance Command (TAC) for synchronization, and transmitting the TAC to the terminal in a random access process. The method and apparatus for managing TAGs according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention is capable of informing of the timing advance group to which each carrier belongs and managing multiple timing advance groups efficiently without signaling overhead.

Claims

1. A method for managing at least one timing advance group (TAG) by a base station in a wireless communication system supporting carrier aggregation, the method comprising:

mapping each of at least one cell to at least one TAG, the TAG including at least one cell corresponding to same uplink timing advance;

identifying whether a cell to be configured is a part of a primary TAG (PTAG) including a primary cell (PCell);

transmitting, to a terminal, control information including a TAG identifier of the cell, if the cell is not part of the PTAG; and

transmitting, to the terminal, control information without a TAG identifier of the cell, if the cell is part of the PTAG,

wherein a TAG of the cell is assigned to the terminal as the PTAG if the TAG identifier of the cell is not included in the control information, and

wherein a TAG of the cell is assigned to the terminal as a secondary TAG (STAG) corresponding to the TAG identifier if the TAG identifier of the cell is included in the control information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, to the terminal, MAC control element (MAC CE) including a TAG identifier and timing advance command (TAC) for time alignment of a TAG associated with the TAG identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein if the TAG identifier is 0, the TAC is for the PTAG.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein if the TAG identifier is not 0, the TAC is for the STAG which does not include the PCell.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a non-contention based random access procedure with a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order for time alignment for at least one STAG.

6. A method for managing at least one timing advance group (TAG) by a terminal in a wireless communication system supporting carrier aggregation, the method comprising:

receiving first control information on configuring a first cell;

receiving second control information on configuring a second cell, the second control information including a TAG identifier if the second cell is not part of a TAG of the first cell, the second control information not including a TAG identifier if the second cell is part of the TAG of the first cell;

receiving MAC control element (MAC CE) including a TAG identifier and timing advance command (TAC) associated with at least one of the first cell and the second cell for time alignment of a TAG associated with the TAG identifier; and

applying the TAC for the TAG associated with the TAG identifier,

wherein the TAG of the first cell is a primary TAG (PTAG) including a primary cell (PCell),

wherein a TAG of the cell is assigned to the terminal as the PTAG if the TAG identifier of the cell is not included in the control information, and

wherein a TAG of the cell is assigned to the terminal as a secondary TAG (STAG) corresponding to the TAG identifier if the TAG identifier of the cell is included in the control information.

7. The method of claim 6,

wherein if the TAG identifier is not 0, the TAC is for the STAG which does not include the PCell, and

wherein if the TAG identifier is 0, the TAC is for the PTAG which includes the PCell.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the TAG includes at least one cell corresponding to same uplink timing advance.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first cell is the PCell.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving information for time alignment for at least one STAG using a non-contention based random access procedure with a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order.

11. A base station for managing at least one timing advance group (TAG) in a wireless communication system supporting carrier aggregation, the base station comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit data; and

a controller configured to;

map each of at least one cell to at least one TAG, the TAG including at least one cell corresponding to same uplink timing advance;

identify whether a cell to be configured is part of a primary TAG (PTAG) including a primary cell (PCell);

transmit, to a terminal, control information including a TAG identifier of the cell, if the cell is not part of the PTAG; and

transmit, to the terminal, control information without a TAG identifier of the cell, if the cell is part of the PTAG,

wherein a TAG of the cell is assigned to the terminal as the PTAG if the TAG identifier of the cell is not included in the control information, and

wherein a TAG of the cell is assigned to the terminal as a secondary TAG (STAG) corresponding to the TAG identifier if the TAG identifier of the cell is included in the control information.

12. The base station of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit, to the terminal, MAC control element (MAC CE) including a TAG identifier and timing advance command (TAC) for time alignment of a TAG associated with the TAG identifier.

13. The base station of claim 12, wherein if the TAG identifier is 0, the TAC is for the PTAG.

14. The base station of claim 12, wherein if the TAG identifier is not 0, the TAC is for the STAG which does not include the PCell.

15. The base station of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to initiate a non-contention based random access procedure with a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order for time alignment for at least one STAG.

16. A terminal for managing at least one timing advance group (TAG) in a wireless communication system supporting carrier aggregation, the terminal comprising:

a receiver configured to receive data; and

a controller configured to;

receive first control information on configuring a first cell;

receive second control information on configuring a second cell, the second control information including a TAG identifier if the second cell is not part of a TAG of the first cell, the second information not including a TAG identifier if the second cell is part of the TAG of the first cell;

receive MAC control element (MAC CE) including a TAG identifier and timing advance command (TAC) associated with at least one of the first cell and the second cell for time alignment of a TAG associated with the TAG identifier; and

apply the TAC for the TAG associated with the TAG identifier,

wherein the TAG of the first cell is a primary TAG (PTAG) including a primary cell (PCell),

wherein a TAG of the cell is assigned to the terminal as the PTAG if the TAG identifier of the cell is not included in the control information, and

wherein a TAG of the cell is assigned to the terminal as a secondary TAG (STAG) corresponding to the TAG identifier if the TAG identifier of the cell is included in the control information.

17. The terminal of claim 16, wherein if the TAG identifier is not 0, the TAC is for the STAG which does not include the PCell.

18. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the TAG includes at least one cell corresponding to same uplink timing advance.

19. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the first cell is the PCell.

20. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to receive information for time alignment for at least one STAG using a non-contention based random access procedure with a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order.