Aggregation of data bearers for carrier aggregation

• US 9,408,125 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2013
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Horn, Gavin Bernard, Damnjanovic, Jelena, Prakash, Rajat
• Primary Examiner(s): KAMARA, MOHAMED A
• Application Number:
  US13/934,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20140010207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/310, 370331-332, 370/236, 370328-329, 370/338, 455/423, 455/436, 455/438, 455/561
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/165 for reducing network power consumption H04W36/18 - H04W36/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/28 involving a plurality of connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer connections

Abstract

Multiple data bearers may be configured for a user equipment (UE) for carrier aggregation and may be split among multiple evolved nodeBs (eNBs). The eNBs may be selected to serve the multiple data bearers for the UE based on various criteria such as channel conditions, loading, and the like. Various eNBs may be selected to serve data bearers for UE on a per data bearer basis, so that a particular eNB may be selected to serve each data bearer of the UE. Each data packet for the UE may then be sent via an appropriate data bearer.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

identifying a plurality of data bearers configured for a user equipment (UE) served by a first base station;

receiving from the UE a measurement report identifying a second base station;

determining to offload at least one data bearer, among the plurality of data bearers, to the second base station;

communicating with the second base station by the first base station to offload the at least one data bearer to the second base station, wherein data for the UE is sent via the plurality of data bearers through the first base station and the second base station;

forwarding data for the at least one data bearer from the first base station to the second base station;

determining, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station; and

communicating with the second base station, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating with the second base station by the first base station to offload the at least one data bearer comprises:

sending an offload request message from the first base station to the second base station, the offload request message conveying the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the offload request message further includes quality-of-service (QoS) information for the at least one data bearer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for at least one radio access bearer associated with the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station comprises:

receiving a second measurement report from the UE at the first base station; and

determining to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station based on the second measurement report.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating with the second base station by the first base station to modify handling of the at least one data bearer comprises:

sending a modification request message, from the first base station to the second base station, to modify the at least one data bearer at the second base station.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for one or more radio access bearers associated with the at least one data bearer whose handling is being modified at the second base station.

8. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

identifying a plurality of data bearers configured for a user equipment (UE) served by a first base station;

receiving from the UE a measurement report identifying a second base station;

determining to offload at least one data bearer, among the plurality of data bearers, to the second base station;

communicating with the second base station by the first base station to offload the at least one data bearer to the second base station;

communicating with a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to convey the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station, wherein data for the UE is sent via the plurality of data bearers through the first base station and the second base station;

determining, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station; and

communicating with the second base station, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sending a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for at least one radio access bearer associated with the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station comprises:

receiving a second measurement report from the UE at the first base station; and

determining to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station based on the second measurement report.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the communicating with the second base station by the first base station to modify handling of the at least one data bearer comprises:

sending a modification request message, from the first base station to the second base station, to modify the at least one data bearer at the second base station.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sending a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for one or more radio access bearers associated with the at least one data bearer whose handling is being modified at the second base station.

13. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving an offload request message sent from a first base station to a second base station, the offload request message conveying at least one data bearer to offload to the second base station, the at least one data bearer being among a plurality of data bearers configured for a user equipment (UE);

admitting the at least one data bearer of the UE at the second base station;

receiving, at the second base station, data for the at least one data bearer from the first base station;

exchanging the data for the at least one data bearer of the UE via the second base station;

receiving a modification request message, sent from the first base station to the second base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station; and

terminating exchange of data for the at least one data bearer with the UE.

14. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:

means for identifying a plurality of data bearers configured for a user equipment (UE) served by a first base station;

means for receiving from the UE a measurement report identifying a second base station;

means for determining to offload at least one data bearer, among the plurality of data bearers, to the second base station;

means for communicating with the second base station by the first base station to offload the at least one data bearer to the second base station, wherein data for the UE is sent via the plurality of data bearers through the first base station and the second base station;

means for forwarding data for the at least one data bearer from the first base station to the second base station;

means for determining, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station; and

means for communicating with the second base station, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for communicating with the second base station by the first base station to offload the at least one data bearer comprises:

means for sending an offload request message from the first base station to the second base station, the offload request message conveying the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the offload request message further includes quality-of-service (QoS) information for the at least one data bearer.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for sending a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for at least one radio access bearer associated with the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for determining to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station comprises:

means for receiving a second measurement report from the UE at the first base station; and

means for determining to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station based on the second measurement report.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for communicating with the second base station by the first base station to modify handling of the at least one data bearer comprises:

means for sending a modification request message, from the first base station to the second base station, to modify the at least one data bearer at the second base station.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for sending a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for one or more radio access bearers associated with the at least one data bearer whose handling is being modified at the second base station.

21. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:

means for identifying a plurality of data bearers configured for a user equipment (UE) served by a first base station;

means for receiving from the UE a measurement report identifying a second base station;

means for determining to offload at least one data bearer, among the plurality of data bearers, to the second base station;

means for communicating with the second base station by the first base station to offload the at least one data bearer to the second base station;

means for communicating with a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to convey the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station, wherein data for the UE is sent via the plurality of data bearers through the first base station and the second base station;

means for determining, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station; and

means for communicating with the second base station, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for sending a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for at least one radio access bearer associated with the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for determining to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station comprises:

means for receiving a second measurement report from the UE at the first base station; and

means for determining to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station based on the second measurement report.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for communicating with the second base station by the first base station to modify handling of the at least one data bearer comprises:

means for sending a modification request message, from the first base station to the second base station, to modify the at least one data bearers at the second base station.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for sending a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for one or more radio access bearers associated with the at least one data bearer whose handling is being modified at the second base station.

26. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving an offload request message sent from a first base station to a second base station, the offload request message conveying at least one data bearer to offload to the second base station, the at least one data bearer being among a plurality of data bearers configured for a user equipment (UE);

means for admitting the at least one data bearer of the UE at the second base station;

means for receiving, at the second base station, data for the at least one data bearer from the first base station;

means for exchanging the data for the at least one data bearer of the UE via the second base station;

means for receiving a modification request message, sent from the first base station to the second base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station; and

means for terminating exchange of data for the at least one data bearer with the UE.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code including:

program code for causing a computer to identify a plurality of data bearers configured for a user equipment (UE) served by a first base station;

program code for causing the computer to receive from the UE a measurement report identifying a second base station;

program code for causing the computer to determine to offload at least one data bearer, among the plurality of data bearers, to the second base station;

program code for causing the computer to communicate with the second base station by the first base station to offload the at least one data bearer to the second base station, wherein data for the UE is sent via the plurality of data bearers through the first base station and the second base station;

program code for causing the computer to forward data for the at least one data bearer from the first base station to the second base station;

program code for causing the computer to determine, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station; and

program code for causing the computer to communicate with the second base station, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the program code for causing the computer to communicate with the second base station by the first base station to offload the at least one data bearer comprises:

program code for causing the computer to send an offload request message from the first base station to the second base station, the offload request message conveying the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the offload request message further includes quality-of-service (QoS) information for the at least one data bearer.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

program code for causing the computer to send a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for at least one radio access bearer associated with the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the program code for causing the computer to determine to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station comprises:

program code for causing the computer to receive a second measurement report from the UE at the first base station; and

program code for causing the computer to determine to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station based on the second measurement report.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the program code for causing the computer to communicate with the second base station by the first base station to modify handling of the at least one data bearer comprises:

program code for causing the computer to send a modification request message, from the first base station to the second base station, to modify the at least one data bearer at the second base station.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

program code for causing the computer to send a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for one or more radio access bearers associated with the at least one data bearer whose handling is being modified at the second base station.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code including:

program code for causing a computer to identify a plurality of data bearers configured for a user equipment (UE) served by a first base station;

program code for causing the computer to receive from the UE a measurement report identifying a second base station;

program code for causing the computer to determine to offload at least one data bearer, among the plurality of data bearers, to the second base station;

program code for causing the computer to communicate with the second base station by the first base station to offload the at least one data bearer to the second base station;

program code for causing the computer to communicate with a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to convey the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station, wherein data for the UE is sent via the plurality of data bearers through the first base station and the second base station;

program code for causing the computer to determine, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station; and

program code for causing the computer to communicate with the second base station, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising:

program code for causing the computer to send a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for at least one radio access bearer associated with the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the program code for causing the computer to determine to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station comprises:

program code for causing the computer to receive a second measurement report from the UE at the first base station; and

program code for causing the computer to determine to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station based on the second measurement report.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the program code for causing the computer to communicate with the second base station by the first base station to modify handling of the at least one data bearer comprises:

program code for causing the computer to send a modification request message, from the first base station to the second base station, to modify the at least one data bearer at the second base station.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising:

program code for causing the computer to send a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for one or more radio access bearers associated with the at least one data bearer whose handling is being modified at the second base station.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code including:

program code for causing a computer to receive an offload request message sent from a first base station to a second base station, the offload request message conveying at least one data bearer to offload to the second base station, the at least one data bearer being among a plurality of data bearers configured for a user equipment (UE);

program code for causing the computer to admit the at least one data bearer of the UE at the second base station;

program code for causing the computer to receive, at the second base station, data for the at least one data bearer from the first base station;

program code for causing the computer to exchange the data for the at least one data bearer of the UE via the second base station;

program code for causing the computer to receive a modification request message, sent from the first base station to the second base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station; and

program code for causing the computer to terminate exchange of data for the at least one data bearer with the UE.

30. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured;

to identify a plurality of data bearers configured for a user equipment (UE) served by a first base station;

to receive from the UE a measurement report identifying a second base station;

to determine to offload at least one data bearer, among the plurality of data bearers, to the second base station;

to communicate with the second base station by the first base station to offload the at least one data bearer to the second base station, wherein data for the UE is sent via the plurality of data bearers through the first base station and the second base station;

to forward data for the at least one data bearer from the first base station to the second base station;

to determine, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station; and

to communicate with the second base station, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer.

43. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the configuration of the at least one processor to communicate with the second base station by the first base station to offload the at least one data bearer comprises configuration of the at least one processor:

to send an offload request message from the first base station to the second base station, the offload request message conveying the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the offload request message further includes quality-of-service (QoS) information for the at least one data bearer.

45. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising configuration of the at least one processor:

to send a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for at least one radio access bearer associated with the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station.

46. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the configuration of the at least one processor to determine to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station comprises configuration of the at least one processor:

to receive a second measurement report from the UE at the first base station; and

to determine to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station based on the second measurement report.

47. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the configuration of the at least one processor to communicate with the second base station by the first base station to modify handling of the at least one data bearer comprises configuration of the at least one processor:

to send a modification request message, from the first base station to the second base station, to modify the at least one data bearer at the second base station.

48. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising configuration of the at least one processor:

to send a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for one or more radio access bearers associated with the at least one data bearer whose handling is being modified at the second base station.

31. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured;

to identify a plurality of data bearers configured for a user equipment (UE) served by a first base station;

to receive from the UE a measurement report identifying a second base station;

to determine to offload at least one data bearer, among the plurality of data bearers, to the second base station;

to communicate with the second base station by the first base station to offload the at least one data bearer to the second base station;

to communicate with a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to convey the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station, wherein data for the UE is sent via the plurality of data bearers through the first base station and the second base station;

to determine, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station; and

to communicate with the second base station, by the first base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer.

49. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising configuration of the at least one processor:

to send a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for at least one radio access bearer associated with the at least one data bearer being offloaded to the second base station.

50. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the configuration of the at least one processor to determine to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station comprises configuration of the at least one processor:

to receive a second measurement report from the UE at the first base station; and

to determine to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station based on the second measurement report.

51. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the configuration of the at least one processor to communicate with the second base station by the first base station to modify handling of the at least one data bearer comprises configuration of the at least one processor:

to send a modification request message, from the first base station to the second base station, to modify the at least one data bearer at the second base station.

52. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising configuration of the at least one processor:

to send a reconfiguration message from the first base station to the UE, the reconfiguration message including radio resource configuration information for one or more radio access bearers associated with the at least one data bearer whose handling is being modified at the second base station.

32. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured;

to receive an offload request message sent from a first base station to a second base station, the offload request message conveying at least one data bearer to offload to the second base station, the at least one data bearer being among a plurality of data bearers configured for a user equipment (UE);

to admit the at least one data bearer of the UE at the second base station;

to receive, at the second base station, data for the at least one data bearer from the first base station;

to exchange the data for the at least one data bearer of the UE via the second base station;

to receive a modification request message, sent from the first base station to the second base station, to modify handling of the at least one data bearer at the second base station; and

to terminate exchange of data for the at least one data bearer with the UE.