Methods for multi-point carrier aggregation configuration and data forwarding

• US 9,622,288 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2016
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HFI Innovation, Inc. (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: Liao, Pei-Kai, Chen, Yih-Shen
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): BHATTI, HASHIM S
• Application Number:
  US15/000,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20160135248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• 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 72/27 between access points
• 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

Methods of multi-point carrier aggregation configuration and data forwarding are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a primary connection is established between a UE and a primary base station in a primary cell with a first UE-ID. A second connection is configured between the UE and a second base station in a secondary cell with a second UE-ID. Component carriers from the primary and the second connections are configured and aggregated. Mobility management functions are performed on the primary connection. In another embodiment of the current invention, a first UE data is received from a primary connection with a UE connecting to a first base station, a second UE data is received from a second base station. The first UE data and the second UE data are combined. A third UE data from a network entity is distributed to the first and the second base station.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing a primary connection with a UE in a primary cell belonging to a primary base station with a first UE-ID, wherein the primary cell comprises a downlink component carrier (CC) and an uplink CC;

configuring a second connection with the UE in a secondary cell belonging to a second base station, wherein the secondary cell comprises a downlink CC, wherein an uplink CC of the primary connection is configured as a feedback channel for the downlink CC of the second connection;

configuring and aggregating component carriers of the primary cell and the secondary cell for the primary connection and the second connection; and

performing mobility management functions through the primary connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second connection is configured through the primary connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein control signaling messages of Radio Resource Control (RRC) are configured to be carried on both the primary connection and the second connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein control signaling messages of RRC are configured to be carried on the primary connection only.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the primary base station exchanges RRC messages with the second base station through a backhaul connection.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the backhaul connection is a connection via X2 interface between the primary base station and the second base station.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a second UE-ID to the second connection via a RRC reconfiguration message.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a second UE-ID derived from a RACH Response message from the second base station to the second connection.

9. A method, comprising:

establishing a primary connection with a UE in a primary cell belonging to a primary base station with a first UE-ID, wherein the primary cell comprises a downlink component carrier (CC) and an uplink CC;

configuring a second connection with the UE in a secondary cell belonging to a second base station, wherein the secondary cell comprises a downlink CC and an uplink CC, wherein the uplink CC of the second connection is configured as a feedback channel for the downlink CC of the second connection;

configuring and aggregating component carriers of the primary cell and the secondary cell for the primary connection and the second connection; and

performing mobility management functions through the primary connection and the second connection.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second connection is configured through the primary connection.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein control signaling messages of Radio Resource Control (RRC) are configured to be carried on both the primary connection and the second connection.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein control signaling messages of RRC are configured to be carried on the primary connection only.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the primary base station exchanges RRC messages with the second base station through a backhaul connection.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the backhaul connection is a connection via X2 interface between the primary base station and the second base station.

15. A primary base station, comprising:

memory that contains a set of program instructions;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver that transmits and receives radio signals; and

a processor that executes the set of program instructions in accordance with the radio signals and thereby controls the base station to perform the steps of;

establishing a primary connection with a UE in a primary cell belonging to the primary base station with a first UE-ID, wherein the primary cell comprises a downlink component carrier (CC) and an uplink CC;

configuring a second connection with the UE in a secondary cell belonging to a second base station, wherein the secondary cell comprises a downlink CC;

assigning a second UE-ID derived from a RACH response message from the second base station to the second connection;

configuring and aggregating component carriers of the primary cell and the secondary cell for the primary connection and the second connection; and

performing mobility management functions through the primary connection.

16. The base station of claim 15, wherein the second connection is configured through the primary connection.

17. The base station of claim 15, wherein control signaling messages of Radio Resource Control (RRC) are configured to be carried on both the primary connection and the second connection.

18. The base station of claim 15, wherein control signaling messages of RRC are configured to be carried on the primary connection only.

19. The base station of claim 18, wherein the primary base station exchanges RRC messages with the second base station through a backhaul connection.

20. The base station of claim 19, wherein the backhaul connection is a connection via X2 interface between the primary base station and the second base station.