Techniques and apparatuses for virtual radio link monitoring during carrier aggregation and cross-carrier scheduling

• US 9,949,161 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2015
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Mandil, Amit, Aminzadeh Gohari, Amir, Choi, Won-Joon, Yan, Hongbo, Yuan, Rebecca Wen-Ling, Zacharias, Leena, Pany, Antriksh, Khangura, Sarabjot Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): SHIVERS, ASHLEY L
• Application Number:
  US14/925,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20170034840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/006 Quality of the received signal, e.g. BER, SNR, water filling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0098 Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1263 Mapping of traffic onto schedule, e.g. scheduled allocation or multiplexing of flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communications. In some aspects, a wireless communication device may determine that the wireless communication device is configured to use a primary component carrier (PCC), a first secondary component carrier (SCC), and a second SCC for carrier aggregation. A primary cell may be associated with the PCC, a first secondary cell may be associated with the first SCC, and a second secondary cell may be associated with the second SCC. The first secondary cell may provide control information for the second secondary cell. The wireless communication device may monitor at least one of the first SCC or the second SCC. The wireless communication device may perform an action associated with the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on monitoring the at least one the first SCC or the second SCC.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

determining, by a wireless communication device, that the wireless communication device is configured to use a primary component carrier (PCC), a first secondary component carrier (SCC), and a second SCC for carrier aggregation, wherein a primary cell is associated with the PCC, a first secondary cell is associated with the first SCC, a second secondary cell is associated with the second SCC, and the first secondary cell provides scheduling information for the second secondary cell;

monitoring, by the wireless communication device, at least one of the first SCC or the second SCC;

detecting, by the wireless communication device, that a signal quality associated with the first SCC does not satisfy a threshold; and

deactivating, by the wireless communication device, the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on detecting that the signal quality associated with the first SCC does not satisfy the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically activating the second secondary cell to determine channel state information associated with the second SCC; and

reporting the channel state information.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the deactivating, by the wireless communication device, the second secondary cell further comprises:

deactivating the second secondary cell during a first time period;

the method further comprising;

activating the second secondary cell during a second time period that occurs after the first time period;

determining channel state information associated with the second SCC based, at least in part, on activating the second secondary cell during the second time period; and

reporting the channel state information associated with the second SCC.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

deactivating the second secondary cell during a third time period that occurs after the second time period; and

reporting the channel state information for a fourth time period that occurs after the second time period without activating the second secondary cell during the fourth time period,

wherein the second time period and the fourth time period are consecutive reporting periods.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the first secondary cell has been de-configured or deactivated based, at least in part, on monitoring the first SCC; and

deactivating the first secondary cell based, at least in part, on determining that the first secondary cell has been de-configured or deactivated.

6. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

determining, by a wireless communication device, that the wireless communication device is configured to use a primary component carrier (PCC), a first secondary component carrier (SCC), and a second SCC for carrier aggregation, wherein a primary cell is associated with the PCC, a first secondary cell is associated with the first SCC, a second secondary cell is associated with the second SCC, and the first secondary cell provides scheduling information for the second secondary cell;

monitoring, by the wireless communication device, at least one of the first SCC or the second SCC;

detecting that the wireless communication device has tuned away from the first SCC; and

deactivating the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on detecting that the wireless communication device has tuned away from the first SCC.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining that a tune-away time period, during which the wireless communication device is tuned away from the first SCC, satisfies a threshold;

activating the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on determining that the tune-away time period satisfies the threshold;

determining channel state information associated with the second SCC based, at least in part, on activating the second secondary cell; and

reporting the channel state information.

8. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

determining, by a wireless communication device, that the wireless communication device is configured to use a primary component carrier (PCC), a first secondary component carrier (SCC), and a second SCC for carrier aggregation, wherein a primary cell is associated with the PCC, a first secondary cell is associated with the first SCC, a second secondary cell is associated with the second SCC, and the first secondary cell provides scheduling information for the second secondary cell;

monitoring, by the wireless communication device, at least one of the first SCC or the second SCC;

detecting that a signal quality associated with the second SCC does not satisfy a threshold

determining a downlink reference time associated with another cell other than the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on detecting that the signal quality associated with the second SCC does not satisfy the threshold;

determining a timing advance for an uplink channel of the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on the downlink reference time; and

transmitting a communication via the uplink channel of the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on the timing advance.

9. The method of claim 8,

wherein detecting that the signal quality associated with the second SCC does not satisfy the threshold includes detecting a radio link failure associated with a downlink channel of the second secondary cell;

and

wherein determining the downlink reference time includes determining the downlink reference time based, at least in part, on detecting the radio link failure.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the other cell is in a same timing advance group as the second secondary cell.

11. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

determining, by a wireless communication device, that the wireless communication device is configured to use a primary component carrier (PCC), a first secondary component carrier (SCC), and a second SCC for carrier aggregation, wherein a primary cell is associated with the PCC, a first secondary cell is associated with the first SCC, a second secondary cell is associated with the second SCC, and the first secondary cell provides scheduling information for the second secondary cell;

monitoring, by the wireless communication device, at least one of the first SCC or the second SCC;

detecting that the wireless communication device has tuned away from a downlink channel associated with the second SCC;

determining a downlink reference time associated with another cell other than the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on detecting that the wireless communication device has tuned away from the downlink channel;

determining a timing advance for an uplink channel of the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on the downlink reference time; and

transmitting a communication via the uplink channel of the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on the timing advance.

12. A wireless communication device for wireless communication, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

determine that the wireless communication device is configured to use a primary component carrier (PCC), a first secondary component carrier (SCC), and a second SCC for carrier aggregation, wherein a primary cell is associated with the PCC, a first secondary cell is associated with the first SCC, a second secondary cell is associated with the second SCC, and the first secondary cell provides scheduling information for the second secondary cell;

monitor at least one of the first SCC or the second SCC;

detect that a signal quality associated with the first SCC does not satisfy a threshold; and

deactivate the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on detecting that the signal quality associated with the first SCC does not satisfy the threshold.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine that the first secondary cell has been de-configured or deactivated based, at least in part, on monitoring the first SCC; and

deactivate the first secondary cell based, at least in part, on determining that the first secondary cell has been de-configured or deactivated.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

activate the second secondary cell after deactivating the second secondary cell;

determine channel state information associated with the second SCC based, at least in part, on activating the second secondary cell; and

report the channel state information.

15. A wireless communication device for wireless communication, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

determine that the wireless communication device is configured to use a primary component carrier (PCC), a first secondary component carrier (SCC), and a second SCC for carrier aggregation, wherein a primary cell is associated with the PCC, a first secondary cell is associated with the first SCC, a second secondary cell is associated with the second SCC, and the first secondary cell provides scheduling information for the second secondary cell;

monitor at least one of the first SCC or the second SCC;

detect that the wireless communication device has tuned away from the first SCC; and

deactivate the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on detecting that the wireless communication device has tuned away from the first SCC.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine a downlink reference time associated with another cell other than the second secondary cell;

determine a timing advance for an uplink channel of the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on the downlink reference time; and

transmit a communication via the uplink channel of the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on the timing advance.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for wireless communication, that, when executed by one or more processors of a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to:

determine that the wireless communication device is configured to use a primary component carrier (PCC), a first secondary component carrier (SCC), and a second SCC for carrier aggregation, wherein a primary cell is associated with the PCC, a first secondary cell is associated with the first SCC, a second secondary cell is associated with the second SCC, and the first secondary cell provides scheduling information for the second secondary cell;

monitor at least one of the first SCC or the second SCC;

detect that a signal quality associated with the first SCC does not satisfy a threshold; and

deactivate the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on detecting that the signal quality associated with the first SCC does not satisfy the threshold.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the one or more instructions further cause the one or more processors wireless communication device to:

determine that the first secondary cell has been de-configured based, at least in part, on monitoring the first SCC; and

deactivate the first secondary cell based, at least in part, on determining that the first secondary cell has been de-configured.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the one or more instructions further cause the wireless communication device to:

activate the second secondary cell after deactivating the second secondary cell;

determine channel state information associated with the second SCC based, at least in part, on activating the second secondary cell; and

report the channel state information.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for wireless communication that, when executed by one or more processors of a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to:

determine that the wireless communication device is configured to use a primary component carrier (PCC), a first secondary component carrier (SCC), and a second SCC for carrier aggregation, wherein a primary cell is associated with the PCC, a first secondary cell is associated with the first SCC, a second secondary cell is associated with the second SCC, and the first secondary cell provides scheduling information for the second secondary cell;

monitor at least one of the first SCC or the second SCC;

detect that the wireless communication device has tuned away from the first SCC; and

deactivate the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on detecting that the wireless communication device has tuned away from the first SCC.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the one or more instructions further cause the wireless communication device to:

determine a downlink reference time associated with at least one of the primary cell or the first secondary cell;

determine a timing advance for an uplink channel of the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on the downlink reference time; and

transmit a communication via the uplink channel of the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on the timing advance.

22. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining that the apparatus is configured to use a primary component carrier (PCC), a first secondary component carrier (SCC), and a second SCC for carrier aggregation, wherein a primary cell is associated with the PCC, a first secondary cell is associated with the first SCC, a second secondary cell is associated with the second SCC, and the first secondary cell provides scheduling information for the second secondary cell;

means for monitoring at least one of the first SCC or the second SCC;

means for detecting, by the wireless communication device, that a signal quality associated with the first SCC does not satisfy a threshold based; and

means for deactivating, by the wireless communication device, the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on detecting that the signal quality associated with the first SCC does not satisfy the threshold.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

means for determining that the first secondary cell has been de-configured based, at least in part, on monitoring the first SCC; and

means for deactivating the first secondary cell based, at least in part, on determining that the first secondary cell has been de-configured.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for performing the action comprises:

means for activating the second secondary cell after deactivating the second secondary cell;

means for determining channel state information associated with the second SCC based, at least in part, on activating the second secondary cell; and

means for reporting the channel state information.

25. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining that the wireless communication device is configured to use a primary component carrier (PCC), a first secondary component carrier (SCC), and a second SCC for carrier aggregation, wherein a primary cell is associated with the PCC, a first secondary cell is associated with the first SCC, a second secondary cell is associated with the second SCC, and the first secondary cell provides scheduling information for the second secondary cell;

means for monitoring at least one of the first SCC or the second SCC;

means for detecting that the apparatus has tuned away from the first SCC; and

means for deactivating the second secondary cell based, at least in part, on detecting that the apparatus has tuned away from the first SCC.