Carrier configuration in wireless networks

• US 9,706,454 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmael Hejazi
• Primary Examiner(s): Crompton, Christopher R
• Application Number:
  US14/929,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20160057665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 370329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0072 of resource information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0077 of access information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal

Abstract

A base station transmits, to a wireless device, at least one first RRC message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells being grouped into a plurality of cell groups. The base station makes a handover decision for the wireless device. The base station transmits a second RRC message causing in the wireless device, modification of a cell group of a cell without explicitly releasing the cell. The second RRC message comprises mobility control information.

Claims

1. A base station comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the base station to;

transmit, to a wireless device, at least one first radio resource control (RRC) message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups comprising a first cell group and a second cell group, wherein;

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the first cell group is based on a first cell of the first cell group; and

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the second cell group is based on a second cell of the second cell group;

determine to perform a handover of the wireless device; and

transmit a second RRC message configured to cause, for a cell associated with the wireless device and without explicitly releasing the cell, a cell grouping modification from the first cell group to the second cell group, wherein the second RRC message comprises mobility control information.

2. The base station of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to initiate the handover of the wireless device from the base station to a second base station.

3. The base station of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to initiate the handover of the wireless device from a first sector of the base station to a second sector of the base station.

4. The base station of claim 1, wherein the at least one first RRC message comprises a timer value for a time alignment timer for each of the plurality of cell groups.

5. The base station of claim 1, wherein the second RRC message is an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message.

6. The base station of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to transmit a third RRC message, wherein the third RRC message does not comprise mobility control information, and wherein the third RRC message is configured to explicitly release a secondary cell as part of a cell grouping modification, for the secondary cell and from the second cell group to the first cell group.

7. The base station of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to transmit a third RRC message, wherein the third RRC message does not comprise mobility control information, and wherein the third RRC message is configured to cause a cell grouping modification, for a secondary cell and from the second cell group to the first cell group, by:

releasing the secondary cell; and

associating the secondary cell with a different cell group index.

8. The base station of claim 1, wherein the first cell group comprises a primary cell and at least one secondary cell.

9. The base station of claim 1, wherein the second cell group comprises secondary cells.

10. The base station of claim 1, wherein without explicitly releasing the cell is based on the second RRC message not comprising an information element releasing the cell.

11. The base station of claim 1, wherein the second RRC message further comprises an indication of a random access preamble.

12. A wireless device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to;

receive, from a base station, at least one first radio resource control (RRC) message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups comprising a first cell group and a second cell group, wherein;

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the first cell group is based on a first cell of the first cell group; and

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the second cell group is based on a second cell of the second cell group;

receive a second RRC message configured to cause, for a cell associated with the wireless device and without explicitly releasing the cell, a cell grouping modification of from the first cell group to the second cell group, wherein the second RRC message comprises mobility control information; and

transmit a random access preamble to a target cell.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to perform a handover from the base station to a second base station.

14. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to perform a handover from a first sector of the base station to a second sector of the base station.

15. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the at least one first RRC message comprises a timer value for a time alignment timer for each of the plurality of cell groups.

16. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the second RRC message is an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message.

17. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to perform a synchronization process with the target cell.

18. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the second RRC message further comprises an indication of the random access preamble.

19. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the first cell group comprises a primary cell and at least one secondary cell.

20. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the second cell group comprises secondary cells.

21. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein without explicitly releasing the cell is based on the second RRC message not comprising an information element releasing the cell.

22. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to transmit a third RRC message, wherein the third RRC message does not comprise mobility control information, and wherein the third RRC message is configured to explicitly release a secondary cell as part of a cell grouping modification, for the secondary cell and from the second cell group to the first cell group.

23. A wireless device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to;

receive, from a base station, at least one first radio resource control (RRC) message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups comprising a first cell group and a second cell group, wherein;

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the first cell group is based on a first cell of the first cell group; and

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the second cell group is based on a second cell of the second cell group;

receive a second RRC message configured to cause, for a cell associated with the wireless device and without explicitly releasing the cell, a cell grouping modification from the first cell group to the second cell group, wherein the second RRC message comprises mobility control information; and

perform, based on the second RRC message, a handover.

24. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the handover is from a first sector of the base station to a second sector of the base station.

25. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the at least one first RRC message comprises a timer value for a time alignment timer for each of the plurality of cell groups.

26. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the second RRC message is an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message.

27. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to perform a synchronization process with a target cell.

28. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the second RRC message further comprises an indication of a random access preamble.

29. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the first cell group comprises a primary cell and at least one secondary cell.

30. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the second cell group comprises secondary cells.

31. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein without explicitly releasing the cell is based on the second RRC message not comprising an information element releasing the cell.

32. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to transmit a third RRC message, wherein the third RRC message does not comprise mobility control information, and wherein the third RRC message is configured to explicitly release a secondary cell as part of a cell grouping modification, for the secondary cell and from the second cell group to the first cell group.

33. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a base station and to a wireless device, at least one first radio resource control (RRC) message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups comprising a first cell group and a second cell group, wherein;

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the first cell group is based on a first cell of the first cell group; and

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the second cell group is based on a second cell of the second cell group; and

determining to perform a handover of the wireless device; and

transmitting a second RRC message configured to cause, for a cell associated with the wireless device and without explicitly releasing the cell, a cell grouping modification from the first cell group to the second cell group, wherein the second RRC message comprises mobility control information.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising initiating the handover of the wireless device from the base station to a second base station.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising initiating the handover of the wireless device from a first sector of the base station to a second sector of the base station.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one first RRC message comprises a timer value for a time alignment timer for each of the plurality of cell groups.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the second RRC message is an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message.

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising transmitting a third RRC message, wherein the third RRC message does not comprise mobility control information, and wherein the third RRC message is configured to explicitly release a secondary cell as part of a cell grouping modification, for the secondary cell and from the second cell group to the first cell group.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising transmitting a third RRC message, wherein the third RRC message does not comprise mobility control information, and wherein the third RRC message is configured to cause a cell grouping modification, for a secondary cell and from the second cell group to the first cell group, by:

releasing the secondary cell; and

associating the secondary cell with a different cell group index.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the first cell group comprises a primary cell and at least one secondary cell.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the second cell group comprises secondary cells.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein without explicitly releasing the cell is based on the second RRC message not comprising an information element releasing the cell.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the second RRC message further comprises an indication of a random access preamble.

44. A method comprising:

receiving, by a wireless device and from a base station, at least one first radio resource control (RRC) message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups comprising a first cell group and a second cell group, wherein;

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the first cell group is based on a first cell of the first cell group; and

transmission timing associated with uplink transmission in the second cell group is based on a second cell of the second cell group;

receiving a second RRC message configured to cause, for a cell associated with the wireless device and without explicitly releasing the cell, a cell grouping modification from the first cell group to the second cell group, wherein the second RRC message comprises mobility control information; and

performing, based on the second RRC message, a handover.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the handover is from a first sector of the base station to a second sector of the base station.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the at least one first RRC message comprises a timer value for a time alignment timer for each of the plurality of cell groups.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the second RRC message is an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message.

48. The method of claim 44, further comprising performing a synchronization process with a target cell.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein the second RRC message further comprises an indication of a random access preamble.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein the first cell group comprises a primary cell and at least one secondary cell.

51. The method of claim 44, wherein the second cell group comprises secondary cells.

52. The method of claim 44, wherein without explicitly releasing the cell is based on the second RRC message not comprising an information element releasing the cell.

53. The method of claim 44, further comprising receiving a third RRC message, wherein the third RRC message does not comprise mobility control information, and wherein the third RRC message is configured to explicitly release a secondary cell as part of a cell grouping modification, for the secondary cell and from the second cell group to the first cell group.

54. A system comprising:

a wireless device; and

a base station comprising;

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the base station, cause the base station to;

transmit at least one first radio resource control (RRC) message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups comprising a first cell group and a second cell group, wherein;

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the first cell group is based on a first cell of the first cell group; and

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the second cell group is based on a second cell of the second cell group; and

transmit a second RRC message configured to cause, for a cell associated with the wireless device and without explicitly releasing the cell, a cell grouping modification from the first cell group to the second cell group, wherein the second RRC message comprises mobility control information; and

wherein the wireless device comprises;

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless device, cause the wireless device to;

receive the at least one first RRC message;

receive the second RRC message; and

perform, based on the second RRC message, a handover.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the handover is from a first sector of the base station to a second sector of the base station.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein the at least one first RRC message comprises a timer value for a time alignment timer for each of the plurality of cell groups.

57. The system of claim 54, wherein the second RRC message is an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message.

58. The system of claim 54, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless device, further cause the wireless device to perform a synchronization process with a target cell.

59. The system of claim 54, wherein the second RRC message further comprises an indication of a random access preamble.

60. The system of claim 54, wherein the first cell group comprises a primary cell and at least one secondary cell.

61. The system of claim 54, wherein the second cell group comprises secondary cells.

62. The system of claim 54, wherein without explicitly releasing the cell is based on the second RRC message not comprising an information element releasing the cell.

63. The system of claim 54, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to transmit a third RRC message, wherein the third RRC message does not comprise mobility control information, and wherein the third RRC message is configured to explicitly release a secondary cell as part of a cell grouping modification, for the secondary cell and from the second cell group to the first cell group.

64. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a base station and to a wireless device, at least one first radio resource control (RRC) message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups comprising a first cell group and a second cell group, wherein;

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the first cell group is based on a first cell of the first cell group; and

transmission timing associated with uplink transmissions in the second cell group is based on a second cell of the second cell group;

transmitting, by the base station and to the wireless device, a second RRC message configured to cause, for a cell associated with the wireless device and without explicitly releasing the cell, a cell grouping modification from the first cell group to the second cell group, wherein the second RRC message comprises mobility control information;

receiving, by the wireless device, the at least one first RRC message;

receiving, by the wireless device, the second RRC message; and

performing, based on the second RRC message, a handover of the wireless device.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the handover is from a first sector of the base station to a second sector of the base station.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the at least one first RRC message comprises a timer value for a time alignment timer for each of the plurality of cell groups.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein the second RRC message is an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message.

68. The method of claim 64, further comprising performing a synchronization process with a target cell.

69. The method of claim 64, wherein the second RRC message further comprises an indication of a random access preamble.

70. The method of claim 64, wherein the first cell group comprises a primary cell and at least one secondary cell.

71. The method of claim 64, wherein the second cell group comprises secondary cells.

72. The method of claim 64, wherein without explicitly releasing the cell is based on the second RRC message not comprising an information element releasing the cell.

73. The method of claim 64, further comprising transmitting a third RRC message, wherein the third RRC message does not comprise mobility control information, and wherein the third RRC message is configured to explicitly release a secondary cell as part of a cell grouping modification, for the secondary cell and from the second cell group to the first cell group.