System and method for multiple point communications

• US 9,615,360 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Qu, Bingyu, Xiao, Weimin, Liu, Jialing
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang B
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGO, NGUYEN HOANG
• Application Number:
  US13/952,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20140029584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 370236, 370252, 370328, 370329, 370330, 370331, 370332, 370341
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/024 Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
• 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 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0058 Allocation criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0473 the resource being transmission power
• 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 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections

Abstract

A method for multiple point communications includes configuring a set of first communications system resources to form a plurality of first communications system resource groups, each first communications system resource group including a plurality of channels, and configuring a set of second communications system resources for each one of the plurality of first communications system resource groups, the set of second communications system resources used to convey a feedback transmission. The method also includes signaling information about the plurality of first communications system resource groups to a first user equipment, and signaling information about the sets of second communications system resources associated with the plurality of first communications system resource groups to the first user equipment.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communications, the method comprising:

signaling, by a controller device, information about a plurality of network element groups to a first user equipment, each network element in the plurality of network element groups associated with a network element identifier;

signaling, by the controller device, information about a set of communications system resources for each of the plurality of network element groups to the first user equipment, each set of communications system resources including a generalized user equipment identifier;

transmitting, by a first network element associated with a first network element group in the plurality of network element groups, first data on a first set of communications system resources associated with the first network element group to the first user equipment;

transmitting, by a second network element associated with a second network element group in the plurality of network element groups, second data on a second set of communications system resources associated with the second network element group to the first user equipment;

receiving, by the first network element, first feedback information reflective of a decoding of the first data transmitted on the first set of communications system resources; and

receiving, by the second network element, second feedback information reflective of a decoding of the second data transmitted on the second set of communications system resources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network element groups are configured in accordance with a characteristic of a backhaul connection between the associated network elements.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the associated network elements comprise at least one of a virtual cell and a fully featured cell.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic of the backhaul connection comprises at least one of a latency of the backhaul connection, a latency threshold of the backhaul connection, a latency range of the backhaul connection, a data rate of the backhaul connection, and a bandwidth of the backhaul connection.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein first network elements associated with the first network element group are connected with first backhaul connections having the characteristic.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein second network elements associated with the second network element group are connected with second backhaul connections having the characteristic.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first network elements and the second network elements are connected with third backhaul connections that do not have the characteristic.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of communications system resources comprises at least one of scheduling request resources, and buffer status reports.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of communications system resources comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), wherein signaling information about each set of communications system resources comprises signaling information about whether simultaneous transmission of the PUCCH and the PUSCH is one of on and off.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of communications system resources comprises at least one of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH), wherein signaling information about each set of communications system resources comprises signaling information about cross-cell scheduling of at least one of the PDCCH and the EPDCCH.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of communications system resources comprises uplink transmission power.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of communications system resources comprises timing advance signaling.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of communications system resources comprises one of a PDCCH and an EPDCCH.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of communications system resources comprises a set of demodulation reference signals for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and wherein each set of communications system resources comprises a PDCCH or an EPDCCH channel to indicate a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) belonging to the set of demodulation reference signals for the PDSCH.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of communications system resources comprises a set of demodulation reference signals for a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), and wherein each set of communications system resources comprises one of a PDCCH and an EPDCCH channel to indicate a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) belonging to the set of demodulation reference signals for the PUSCH.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of communications system resources comprises a set of channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), and wherein each set of communications system resources comprises one of a PDCCH and an EPDCCH to trigger a channel state information (CSI) report for a CSI-RS in the set of CSI-RS.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of communications system resources is configured independently for each of the plurality of network element groups.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the network element identifier is a physical cell ID (PCID) or a virtual cell ID (VCID).

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network element group is a primary cell group containing at least a primary cell (PCell).

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network element group is a secondary cell group comprising secondary cells (SCells).

21. A method for multiple point communications, the method comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment, information from a communications controller about a plurality of network element groups in a communications system, each network element in the plurality of network element groups associated with a network element identifier;

receiving, at the user equipment, information from the communications controller about a set of communications system resources for each of the plurality of network element groups, each set of communications system resources including a generalized user equipment identifier;

receiving, at the user equipment from a first network element associated with a first network element group in the plurality of network element groups, first data on a first set of communications system resources associated with the first network element group;

receiving, at the user equipment from a second network element associated with a second network element group in the plurality of network element groups, second data on a second set of communications system resources associated with the second network element group;

transmitting, by the user equipment to the first network element, first feedback information reflective of a decoding of the first data transmitted on the first set of communications system resources; and

transmitting, by the user equipment to the second network element, second feedback information reflective of a decoding of the second data transmitted on the second set of communications system resources.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the network element identifier is a physical cell ID (PCID) or a virtual cell ID (VCID).

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first network element group is a primary cell group containing at least a primary cell (PCell).

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the second network element group is a secondary cell group comprising secondary cells (SCells).

25. A wireless communications system comprising:

a controller device comprising a transmitter configured to;

signal information about a plurality of network element groups to a first user equipment, each network element in the plurality of network element groups associated with a network element identifier, and

signal information about a set of communications system resources for each of the plurality of network element groups to the first user equipment, each set of communications system resources including a generalized user equipment identifier;

a first network element associated with a first network element group in the plurality of network element groups, and configured to transmit first data on a first set of communications system resources associated with the first network element group to the first user equipment, and to receive first feedback information reflective of a decoding of the first data transmitted on the first set of communications system resources; and

a second network element associated with a second network element group in the plurality of network element groups, and configured to transmit second data on a second set of communications system resources associated with the second network element group to the first user equipment, and to receive second feedback information reflective of a decoding of the second data transmitted on the second set of communications system resources.

26. The wireless communications system of claim 25, wherein each set of communications system resources comprises at least one of scheduling request resources, and buffer status reports.

27. The wireless communications system of claim 25, wherein each set of communications system resources comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), wherein the transmitter configured to signal information about each set of communications system resources comprises the transmitter configured to signal information about whether simultaneous transmission of the PUCCH and the PUSCH is one of on and off.

28. The wireless communications system of claim 25, wherein each set of fourth communications system resources comprises uplink transmission power.

29. The wireless communications system of claim 25, wherein each set of communications system resources is configured independently for each of the plurality of network element groups.

30. The wireless communications system of claim 25, wherein the network element identifier is a physical cell ID (PCID) or a virtual cell ID (VCID).

31. The wireless communications system of claim 25, wherein the first network element group is a primary cell group containing at least a primary cell (PCell).

32. The wireless communications system of claim 25, wherein the second network element group is a secondary cell group comprising secondary cells (SCells).

33. A user equipment comprising:

a processor;

a receiver operatively coupled to the processor and configured to;

receive information from a controller device about a plurality of network element groups of a communications system, each network element in the plurality of network element groups associated with a network element identifier,

receive information from the controller device about a set of communications system resources for each of the plurality of network element groups, each set of communications system resources including a generalized user equipment identifier;

receive, from a first network element associated with a first network element group in the plurality of network element groups, first data on a first set of communications system resources associated with the first network element group, and

receive, from a second network element associated with a second network element group in the plurality of network element groups, second data on a second set of communications system resources associated with the second network element group; and

a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to;

transmit, to the first network element, first feedback information reflective of a decoding of the first data transmitted on the first set of communications system resources; and

transmit, to the second network element, second feedback information reflective of a decoding of the second data transmitted on the second set of communications system resources.

34. The user equipment of claim 33, wherein the network element identifier is a physical cell ID (PCID) or a virtual cell ID (VCID).

35. The user equipment of claim 33, wherein the first network element group is a primary cell group containing at least a primary cell (PCell).

36. The user equipment of claim 33, wherein the second network element group is a secondary cell group comprising secondary cells (SCells).

37. A method for wireless communications, the method comprising:

signaling, by a controller device, information about a plurality of network element groups to a first user equipment, each network element in the plurality of network element groups associated with a network element identifier;

signaling, by the controller device, information about a set of communications system resources for each of the plurality of network element groups to the first user equipment, each set of communications system resources including a generalized user equipment identifier;

transmitting, by a first network element associated with a first network element group in the plurality of network element groups, first data on a first set of communications system resources associated with the first network element group to the first user equipment; and

transmitting, by a second network element associated with a second network element group in the plurality of network element groups, second data on a second set of communications system resources associated with the second network element group to the first user equipment;

wherein plurality of network element groups are configured in accordance with a characteristic of a backhaul connection between the associated network elements, wherein first network elements associated with the first network element group are connected with first backhaul connections having the characteristic, wherein second network elements associated with the second network element group are connected with second backhaul connections having the characteristic, and wherein the first network elements and the second network elements are connected with third backhaul connections that do not have the characteristic.

38. A method for wireless communications, the method comprising:

signaling, by a controller device, information about a plurality of network element groups to a first user equipment, each network element in the plurality of network element groups associated with a network element identifier;

signaling, by the controller device, information about a set of communications system resources for each of the plurality of network element groups to the first user equipment, each set of communications system resources including a generalized user equipment identifier;

transmitting, by a first network element associated with a first network element group in the plurality of network element groups, first data on a first set of communications system resources associated with the first network element group to the first user equipment; and

transmitting, by a second network element associated with a second network element group in the plurality of network element groups, second data on a second set of communications system resources associated with the second network element group to the first user equipment;

wherein each set of communications system resources comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), wherein signaling information about each set of communications system resources comprises signaling information about whether simultaneous transmission of the PUCCH and the PUSCH is one of on and off.

39. A method for wireless communications, the method comprising:

signaling, by a controller device, information about a plurality of network element groups to a first user equipment, each network element in the plurality of network element groups associated with a network element identifier;

signaling, by the controller device, information about a set of communications system resources for each of the plurality of network element groups to the first user equipment, each set of communications system resources including a generalized user equipment identifier;

transmitting, by a first network element associated with a first network element group in the plurality of network element groups, first data on a first set of communications system resources associated with the first network element group to the first user equipment; and

transmitting, by a second network element associated with a second network element group in the plurality of network element groups, second data on a second set of communications system resources associated with the second network element group to the first user equipment;

wherein each set of communications system resources comprises a set of demodulation reference signals for a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), and wherein each set of communications system resources comprises one of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) to indicate a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) belonging to the set of demodulation reference signals for the PUSCH.

40. A wireless communications system comprising:

a controller device comprising a transmitter configured to;

signal information about a plurality of network element groups to a first user equipment, each network element in the plurality of network element groups associated with a network element identifier, and

signal information about a set of communications system resources for each of the plurality of network element groups to the first user equipment, each set of communications system resources including a generalized user equipment identifier;

a first network element associated with a first network element group in the plurality of network element groups, and configured to transmit first data on a first set of communications system resources associated with the first network element group to the first user equipment; and

a second network element associated with a second network element group in the plurality of network element groups, and configured to transmit second data on a second set of communications system resources associated with the second network element group to the first user equipment;

wherein each set of communications system resources comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), wherein the transmitter configured to signal information about each set of communications system resources comprises the transmitter configured to signal information about whether simultaneous transmission of the PUCCH and the PUSCH is one of on and off.

41. A wireless communications system comprising:

a controller device comprising a transmitter configured to;

signal information about a plurality of network element groups to a first user equipment, each network element in the plurality of network element groups associated with a network element identifier, and

signal information about a set of communications system resources for each of the plurality of network element groups to the first user equipment, each set of communications system resources including a generalized user equipment identifier;

a first network element associated with a first network element group in the plurality of network element groups, and configured to transmit first data on a first set of communications system resources associated with the first network element group to the first user equipment; and

a second network element associated with a second network element group in the plurality of network element groups, and configured to transmit second data on a second set of communications system resources associated with the second network element group to the first user equipment;

wherein each set of communications system resources comprises a set of demodulation reference signals for a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), and wherein each set of communications system resources comprises one of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) to indicate a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) belonging to the set of demodulation reference signals for the PUSCH.