METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A TIME ALIGNMENT TIMER IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING A CARRIER AGGREGATION TECHNIQUE

• US 20140092812A1
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jang, Jae Hyuk, Kim, Soeng Hun, Jeong, Kyeong In, Ng, Boon Loong, Van Lieshout, Gert-Jan
• Granted Patent: US 9,681,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0098 Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Operation of a terminal for determining which time alignment timer is applied to a certain condition when specific timers operate for each carrier-wave group in the event a wireless communication system using carrier aggregation techniques. A terminal performs communication without malfunctions using a timer suitable for a certain condition. The terminal operates the timer by receiving, from a base station, a message including a timing advance command and an index on a timing advance group (TAG), operating the timer for the TAG, the index has a value of 00 when the TAG includes a first cell. A terminal operates a timer by operating a first timer for a TAG including a first cell, operating a second timer upon receipt of a timing advance command for a second TAG that does not include the first cell, and, if the first timer has expired, deeming the second timer to also be expired.

Claims

1. A Timing Advance Timer (TAT) management method of a terminal in a wireless communication system including a primary cell and at least one secondary cell and using a carrier aggregation technology, the method comprising:

receiving a message including a Timing Advance Command and an index of Timing Advance Group (TAG) from a base station; and

starting the TAT for the TAG,

wherein the index is set to 00 when the TAG includes the primary cell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is one of MAC Control Element message and Radio Resource Control message.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, before the receipt of the message, a System Information Block including a Timing Alignment Command for use in transmitting a Random Access Preamble from the base station; and

transmitting the Random Access Preamble to the base station.

4. A Timing Advance Timer (TAT) management method of a terminal in a wireless communication system including a primary cell and at least one secondary cell and using a carrier aggregation technology, the method comprising:

starting a primary TAT for a primary Timing Advance Group (TAG) including a primary cell;

starting a secondary TAT when a Timing Advance Command for a secondary TAG including no primary cell; and

regarding, when the primary TAT expires, that the second TAT expires.

5. A Timing Advance Timer (TAT) management method of a base station in a wireless communication system including a primary cell and at least one secondary cell and using a carrier aggregation technology, the method comprising:

determining necessity of adjusting an uplink timing of a terminal; and

transmitting a message including a Timing Advance Command and an index of Timing Advance Group (TAG) to the terminal,

wherein the index is set to 00 when the TAG includes the primary cell.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the message is one of MAC Control Element message and Radio Resource Control message.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting, before the transmission of the message, a System Information Block including a Timing Alignment Command for use in transmitting a Random Access Preamble to the terminal; and

receiving the Random Access Preamble from the terminal.

8. A terminal for managing Timing Advance Timer (TAT) in a wireless communication system including a primary cell and at least one secondary cell and using a carrier aggregation technology, the terminal comprising:

a transceiver which transmits and receives a signal or data to and from a base station; and

a controller which receives a message including a Timing Advance Command and an index of Timing Advance Group (TAG) from a base station and starts the TAT for the TAG,

wherein the index is set to 00 when the TAG includes the primary cell.

9. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the message is one of MAC Control Element message and Radio Resource Control message.

10. The terminal of claim 9, wherein the controller controls receiving a System Information Block including a Timing Alignment Command for use in transmitting a Random Access Preamble from the base station and transmitting the Random Access Preamble to the base station.

11. A terminal for managing Timing Advance Timer (TAT) in a wireless communication system including a primary cell and at least one secondary cell and using a carrier aggregation technology, the terminal comprising:

a transceiver which transmits and receives a signal or data to and from a base station; and

a controller which starts a primary TAT for a primary Timing Advance Group (TAG) including a primary cell, starts a secondary TAT when a Timing Advance Command for a secondary TAG including no primary cell, and regards, when the primary TAT expires, that the second TAT expires.

12. A base station for controlling Timing Advance Timer (TAT) in a wireless communication system including a primary cell and at least one secondary cell and using a carrier aggregation technology, the base station comprising:

a transceiver which transmits and receives a signal or data to and from a terminal; and

a controller which determines necessity of adjusting an uplink timing of the terminal and controls transmitting a message including a Timing Advance Command and an index of Timing Advance Group (TAG) to the terminal,

wherein the index is set to 00 when the TAG includes the primary cell.

13. The base station of claim 12, wherein the message is one of MAC Control Element message and Radio Resource Control message.

14. The base station of claim 13, wherein the controller controls transmitting a System Information Block including a Timing Alignment Command for use in transmitting a Random Access Preamble to the terminal and receiving the Random Access Preamble from the terminal.