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

• US 9,491,783 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2015
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Sangbum, Jeong, Kyeongin
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, STEVE R
• Application Number:
  US14/825,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20150351134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 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 at least one secondary cell to at least one TAG, wherein each cell mapped to a same TAG has a same uplink timing advance;

identifying whether a first secondary cell to be configured is included in a primary TAG having a primary cell;

transmitting, to a terminal, radio resource control (RRC) connection reconfiguration information for configuring the first secondary cell, the RRC connection reconfiguration information including an identifier of a TAG for the first secondary cell, if the first secondary cell is not included in the primary TAG;

transmitting, to the terminal, RRC connection reconfiguration information for configuring the first secondary cell without an identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell, if the first secondary cell is included in the primary TAG; and

transmitting, to the terminal, a MAC control element (MAC CE) including the identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell and a timing advance command (TAC).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the TAC is for the primary TAG, if the identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell is 0.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the TAC is for a TAG which does not include the primary cell, if the identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell is not 0.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the RRC connection reconfiguration information is included in a message to add the first secondary cell to the terminal.

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 a time alignment for the first secondary cell.

6. 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 transceiver configured to transmit and receive a signal; and

a controller configured to;

map at least one secondary cell to at least one TAG, wherein each cell mapped to a same TAG has a same uplink timing advance,

identify whether a first secondary cell to be configured is included in a primary TAG having a primary cell,

transmit, to a terminal, radio resource control (RRC) connection reconfiguration information for configuring the first secondary cell, the RRC connection reconfiguration information including an identifier of a TAG for the first secondary cell, if the first secondary cell is not included in the primary TAG,

transmit, to the terminal, RRC connection reconfiguration information for configuring the first secondary cell without an identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell, if the first secondary cell is included in the primary TAG, and

transmit, to the terminal, a MAC control element (MAC CE) including the identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell and a timing advance command (TAC).

7. The base station of claim 6, wherein the TAC is for the primary TAG, if the identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell is 0.

8. The base station of claim 6, wherein the TAC is for a TAG which does not include the primary cell, if the identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell is not 0.

9. The base station of claim 6, wherein the RRC connection reconfiguration information is included in a message to add the first secondary cell to the terminal.

10. The base station of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to initiate a non-contention based random access procedure with a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order for a time alignment for the first secondary cell.

11. 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 primary cell;

receiving a radio resource control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message including second control information for configuring a first secondary cell, the second control information including an identifier of a TAG for the first secondary cell if the second cell is not included in a primary TAG having the primary cell, and not including an identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell if the second cell is included in the primary TAG, wherein each cell mapped to a same TAG has a same uplink timing advance;

receiving a MAC control element (MAC CE) including the identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell and a timing advance command (TAC); and

applying the TAC to at least one cell included in a TAG indicated by the identifier of the TAG included in the MAC CE.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the TAC is for the primary TAG, if the identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell is 0.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the TAC is for a TAG which does not include the primary cell, if the identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell is not 0.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the second control information is included in a message to add the first secondary cell to the terminal.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving information for time alignment for the first secondary cell using a non-contention based random access procedure with a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order.

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

a transceiver configured to transmit and receive a signal; and

a controller configured to;

receive first control information on configuring a primary cell,

receive a radio resource control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message including second control information for configuring a first secondary cell, the second control information including an identifier of a TAG for the first secondary cell if the second cell is not included in a primary TAG having the primary cell, and not including an identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell if the second cell is included in the primary TAG, wherein each cell mapped to a same TAG has a same uplink timing advance,

receive a MAC control element (MAC CE) including the identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell and a timing advance command (TAC), and

apply the TAC to at least one cell included in a TAG indicated by the identifier of the TAG included in the MAC CE.

17. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the TAC is for the primary TAG, if the identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell is 0.

18. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the TAC is for a TAG which does not include the primary cell, if the identifier of the TAG for the first secondary cell is not 0.

19. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the second control information is included in a message to add the first secondary cell to the terminal.

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