System information update for carrier aggregation

• US 9,596,068 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Wu, Chunli, Sebire, Benoist Pierre, Jokimies, Matti
• Primary Examiner(s): CASCA, FRED A
• Application Number:
  US13/027,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20110201323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,219 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450, 455/434, 455/115.1, 455/432.2, 455/435.2, 455/464, 455/509, 455/515, 455/517, 455/555, 455/68, 370/329, 370/312, 370/328, 370/252, 370/336, 370/280, 370/330, 370/348, 375/130, 375/E1.002, 375/E1.033, 375/132
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method for providing system integration (SI) updates for a carrier aggregation system is described. The method includes, for each other component carrier (CC) of a configured set of CCs, determining a start time for the other CC when updated SI for the other CC becomes valid. A first time prior to each start time for the at least one other CC is determined. A message including the updated SI for the at least one other CC and an indication of the first time is sent on a first CC. A UE configured for a set of CCs receiving the message. For each CC of the configured set of CCs, a next time for the other CC which begins after the first time is determined and the user equipment (UE) is configured to use the updated SI for the other CC beginning at the next time. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

for each other component carrier of a configured set of component carriers;

determining by one or more processors a start time for said each other component carrier when updated system information for said each other component carrier becomes valid;

determining by the one or more processors, a first time prior to each start time for said each other component carrier; and

sending, to a user equipment on a first component carrier, a message comprising the updated system information for said each other component carrier and an indication of the first time to indicate an appropriate time to begin using the updated system information for said each other component carrier, wherein the updated system information is used at least in part for carrier aggregation, wherein prior to sending the message the user equipment is configured with the first component carrier activated for user data transfer, and wherein unless already activated and configured for user data transfer with the user equipment, said each other component carrier is configured but not activated for user data transfer.

2. The method of claim 1, where the first time is a start of a system frame on the first component carrier.

3. The method of claim 2, where the indication comprises a system frame number for the system frame on the first component carrier.

4. The method of claim 2, where determining the first time comprises determining a system frame which starts prior to each start time.

5. The method of claim 1, where modification period boundaries for the first component carrier and modification period boundaries for the at least one other component carrier are unaligned.

6. An apparatus, comprising at least one processor;

and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

to determine, for each other component carrier of a configured set of component carriers, a start time for the other component carrier when updated system information for the other component carrier becomes valid;

to determine a first time prior to each start time for the at least one other component carrier; and

to send, to a user equipment on a first component carrier, a message comprising the updated system information for the at least one other component carrier and an indication of the first time to indicate an appropriate time to begin using the updated system information for the at least one other component carrier, wherein the updated system information is used at least in part for carrier aggregation, wherein prior to sending the message the user equipment is configured with the first component carrier activated for user data transfer, and wherein unless already activated and configured for user data transfer with the user equipment, said each other component carrier is configured but not activated for user data transfer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, where the first time is a start of a system frame on the first component carrier.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, where the indication comprises a system frame number for the system frame on the first component carrier.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, where the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to cause the apparatus, when determining the first time, to determine a system frame which starts prior to each start time.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, where modification period boundaries for the first component carrier and modification period boundaries for the at least one other component carrier are unaligned.

11. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which a computer program is stored that, when being executed by a computer, is configured to provide instructions to control or carry out:

for each other component carrier of a configured set of component carriers;

determining a start time for the other component carrier when updated system information for the other component carrier becomes valid;

determining a first time prior to each start time for the at least one other component carrier; and

sending, to a user equipment on a first component carrier, a message comprising the updated system information for the at least one other component carrier and an indication of the first time to indicate an appropriate time to begin using the updated system information for the at least one other component carrier, wherein the updated system information is used at least in part for carrier aggregation, wherein prior to sending the message the user equipment is configured with the first component carrier activated for user data transfer, and wherein unless already activated and configured for user data transfer with the user equipment, said each other component carrier is configured but not activated for user data transfer.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, where the first time is a start of a system frame on the first component carrier.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, where the indication comprises a system frame number for the system frame on the first component carrier.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, where determining the first time comprises determining a system frame which starts prior to each start time.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, where modification period boundaries for the first component carrier and modification period boundaries for the at least one other component carrier are unaligned.