Methods for multi-point carrier aggregation configuration and data forwarding

• US 9,661,682 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2016
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• 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:
  US15/000,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20160143084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 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 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;

establishing a second connection in a secondary cell belonging to a second base station with a second UE-ID, and wherein the secondary cell comprises a downlink CC and an uplink CC;

aggregating component carriers based on the first UE-ID and the second UE-ID;

receiving a configuration that configures the uplink CC of the secondary cell as a feedback channel for the downlink CC of the second connection;

performing a radio link monitoring (RLM) function on the second connection; and

suspending uplink transmissions of the second connection when a radio link failure (RLF) of the second connection occurs.

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 the primary connection and the second connection.

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

5. The UE of claim 1, wherein the UE receives a first UE data from the primary base station and a second UE data from the second base station, the UE further comprises:

a decoder that reassembles a data stream by decoding a generated bit stream that is generated by soft combining the first UE data and the second UE data.

6. A method, comprising:

establishing a primary connection 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);

establishing a second connection in a secondary cell belonging to a second base station with a second UE-ID, wherein the secondary cell comprises a downlink CC, wherein the second UE-ID is derived from a Random Access Channel (RACH) response message from the second base station;

aggregating component carriers based on the first UE-ID and the second UE-ID; and

performing mobility management functions through the primary connection.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a first UE data from the primary base station and a second UE data from the second base station;

generating a bit stream by soft combining the first UE data and the second UE data; and

reassembling a data stream by decoding the generated bit stream.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a first UE data from the primary base station and a second UE data from the second base station;

decoding the first UE data and the second UE data independently; and

reassembling a data stream by combining the decoded first UE data and second UE data.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the second connection is configured through the primary connection.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein control signaling messages of Radio Resource Control (RRC) are configured to be carried on the primary connection and the second connection.

16. The method of claim 6, wherein control signaling messages of Radio Resource Control (RRC) are configured to be carried on the primary connection only.

17. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a first UE data from the primary base station and a second UE data from the second base station;

decoding the first UE data and the second UE data independently; and

reassembling a data stream by combining the decoded first UE data and second UE data.

18. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a first UE data from the primary base station and a second UE data from the second base station;

generating a bit stream by soft combining the first UE data and the second UE data; and

reassembling a data stream by decoding the generated bit stream.

8. A user equipment (UE), 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 UE to perform the steps of;

establishing a primary connection 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, wherein a second connection is established in a secondary cell belonging to a second base station with a second UE-ID, and wherein the secondary cell comprises a downlink CC and an uplink CC;

aggregating component carriers based on the first UE-ID and the second UE-ID;

receiving a configuration that configures the uplink CC of the secondary cell as a feedback channel for the downlink CC of the second connection;

performing a radio link monitoring (RLM) function on the second connection; and

suspending uplink transmissions of the second connection when a radio link failure of the second connection occurs.

9. The UE of claim 8, wherein the second connection is configured through the primary connection.

10. The UE of claim 8, wherein control signaling messages of Radio Resource Control (RRC) are configured to be carried on the primary connection and the second connection.

11. The UE of claim 8, wherein control signaling messages of Resource Control (RRC) are configured to be carried on the primary connection only.

13. The UE of claim 8, wherein the UE receives a first UE data from the primary base station and a second UE data from the second base station, the UE further comprises:

a decoder that decodes the first UE data and the second UE data independently, wherein the UE reassembles a data stream by combining the decoded first UE data and second UE data.