HK1170435B - Downlink assignment indicator design for multi-carrier wireless communication - Google Patents

Description

Downlink allocation indicator design for multi-carrier wireless communications

Cross-referencing

Priority OF U.S. provisional application No.61/183,496 entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF DAI DESIGN FOR LTE-A TDD SYSTEMS", filed on day 2, 6/2009, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to techniques for managing resource allocation in a multi-carrier wireless communication environment.

Background

Wireless communication systems have been widely deployed to provide various communication services; for example, voice, video, packet data, broadcast and messaging services may be provided via such wireless communication systems. These systems may be multiple-access systems that support communication for multiple terminals by sharing the available system resources. Examples of such multiple access systems include: code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems.

Generally, a wireless multiple-access communication system is capable of supporting communication for multiple wireless terminals simultaneously. In such a system, each terminal can communicate with one or more base stations via transmissions on the forward and reverse links. The forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from the base stations to the terminals, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from the terminals to the base stations. Such communication links may be established via single-input single-output (SISO), multiple-input single-output (MISO), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems.

MIMO systems can support Time Division Duplex (TDD) and Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems. In a TDD system, forward and reverse link transmissions may be made over a shared frequency region, such that reciprocity principles may be used to estimate the forward link channel from the reverse link channel. This, in turn, enables the access point to achieve transmit beamforming gain on the forward link when multiple antennas are available at the access point.

Further, for various TDD systems utilizing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), multiple downlink subframes may generally be associated with one or more uplink subframes for feedback communication. A set of downlink subframes allocated to a smaller number of uplink subframes for feedback communication is typically referred to as a bundling window. Thus, a device receiving a transmission on a resource within a bundling window may perform a feedback operation on a designated uplink subframe for the bundling window. One type of feedback mode for TDD systems is an Acknowledgement (ACK)/Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) message, in which case a set of downlink subframes may be referred to as an ACK/NACK bundling window. Downlink transmissions received by the UE within the ACK/NACK bundling window are acknowledged on an uplink subframe. Such a bundling window design for wireless signals may more efficiently utilize downlink and uplink signal resources, providing an overall improvement for a wireless communication system.

In view of at least the above, it may be desirable to implement techniques for very efficiently allocating, managing, and/or utilizing bundling windows in a multi-carrier wireless communication environment.

Disclosure of Invention

The following presents a simplified summary of various aspects of the claimed subject matter in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of such aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the disclosed aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

According to one aspect, a method is described herein. The method can comprise the following steps: identifying a plurality of carriers configured for communication in a wireless communication system; determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers; and configuring at least one indication for communication on at least one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers, the indication specifying a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with at least the one or more first carriers.

A second aspect described herein relates to a wireless communications apparatus that can include a memory for storing data related to a plurality of carriers configured for communication in a wireless communications system. The wireless communications apparatus can also include a processor configured to: determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers; and configuring at least one indication for communication on at least one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers, the indication specifying a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with at least the one or more first carriers.

A third aspect relates to an apparatus, which may comprise: an identification module to identify a plurality of carriers associated with a wireless communication system, at least one first carrier of the plurality of carriers, and at least one second carrier of the plurality of carriers; an obtaining module for obtaining information about the number of downlink transmission allocations applied to the at least one first carrier; and generating a Downlink Assignment Index (DAI) to transmit on the at least one second carrier, the DAI specifying a number of downlink transmission assignments applied to the at least one first carrier.

A fourth aspect described herein relates to a computer program product that may include a computer readable medium comprising: identifying code for causing a computer to identify a plurality of carriers, at least one first carrier of the plurality of carriers, and at least one second carrier of the plurality of carriers associated with a wireless communication system; obtaining code for causing a computer to obtain information relating to a number of downlink transmission allocations applied to the at least one first carrier; and generating code for causing a computer to generate a DAI for transmission on the at least one second carrier, the DAI specifying a number of downlink transmission allocations applied to the at least one first carrier.

According to a fifth aspect, described herein is a method, which may comprise: identifying a plurality of carriers configured for communication with a wireless communication network; obtaining transmission allocation signaling from the wireless communication network on at least one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers; and determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with at least one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers based on the transmission allocation signaling.

A sixth aspect described herein relates to a wireless communications apparatus that can include a memory to store data related to a plurality of carriers configured for communication with a wireless communications network. The wireless communications apparatus can also include a processor configured to: obtaining transmission allocation signaling from the wireless communication network on at least one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers; and determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with at least one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers based on the transmission allocation signaling.

A seventh aspect relates to an apparatus, which may comprise: an identifying module to identify a plurality of carriers designated for communication with a wireless communication network, at least one first carrier of the plurality of carriers, and at least one second carrier of the plurality of carriers; means for obtaining one or more DAIs from the wireless communication network on the at least one first carrier; and a determining module to determine a number of downlink transmission allocations to apply to the at least one second carrier based on the one or more DAIs.

An eighth aspect described herein relates to a computer program product that may include a computer readable medium comprising: identifying code for causing a computer to identify a plurality of carriers designated for communication with a wireless communication network, at least one first carrier of the plurality of carriers, and at least one second carrier of the plurality of carriers; code for causing a computer to obtain one or more DAIs from the wireless communication network on the at least one first carrier; and determining a number of downlink transmission allocations to apply to the at least one second carrier based on the one or more DAIs.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, one or more aspects of the claimed subject matter comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the claimed subject matter. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the claimed subject matter may be employed. Moreover, the disclosed aspects are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a system that facilitates generating and processing downlink assignment indication messages in a multi-carrier wireless communication environment in accordance with various aspects.

Fig. 2 illustrates an example wireless communication system that facilitates multicarrier communication in accordance with various aspects.

Fig. 3 illustrates an example wireless communication environment that supports feedback for multicarrier communication in accordance with various aspects.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a system that facilitates cross-carrier and/or other signaling to support uplink feedback for multi-carrier communication in accordance with various aspects.

Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary Downlink Assignment Index (DAI) design that may be used in a wireless communication system.

Fig. 6-8 respectively illustrate techniques for enhanced DAI design for a multi-carrier wireless environment in accordance with various aspects described herein.

Fig. 9-12 are flow diagrams illustrating various methodologies for generating signaling indicative of downlink transmission allocations made in a multi-carrier wireless communication environment.

Fig. 13 is a flow diagram of a method for processing transmission allocation signaling including multi-carrier allocation information.

Fig. 14-15 are block diagrams of various apparatuses that facilitate generating and processing downlink allocation indicator signaling in a multi-carrier wireless communication system.

Fig. 16 illustrates a wireless multiple-access communication system in accordance with various aspects described herein.

Fig. 17 is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communication system in which various aspects described herein may operate.

Detailed Description

Various aspects of the claimed subject matter are now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It may be evident, however, that such aspect(s) may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing one or more aspects.

As used in this application, the terms "component," "module," "system," and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to: a process running on a processor, an integrated circuit, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. For example, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate by way of local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from a component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the internet with other systems by way of the signal).

Moreover, various aspects are described herein in connection with a wireless terminal and/or a base station. A wireless terminal may refer to a device used to provide voice and/or data connectivity to a user. The wireless terminal may be connected to a computing device such as a laptop computer or desktop computer, or it may be a self-contained device such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). A wireless terminal can also be called a system, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile terminal, remote station, access point, remote terminal, access terminal, user agent, user device, or User Equipment (UE). A wireless terminal may be a subscriber station, wireless device, cellular telephone, PCS telephone, cordless telephone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device having wireless connection capability, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem. A base station (e.g., access point or node B) may refer to a device in an access network that communicates over the air-interface, through one or more sectors, with wireless terminals. The base station may act as a router between the wireless terminal and other access networks, which may include IP networks, by converting received air-interface frames to Internet Protocol (IP) packets. The base stations may also cooperatively manage the attributes of the air interface.

Further, the various functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. Such computer-readable media can include, for example, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of computer-accessible instructions or data structures. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk or disc, as used herein, includes Compact Disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc (BD) where disks (disk) usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs (disc) reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

The various techniques described herein may be used for various wireless communication systems such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems, single carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) systems, and other such systems. The terms "network" and "system" are generally used interchangeably. A CDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), CDMA2000, etc. UTRA includes wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) and other variants of CDMA. In addition, CDMA2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856 standards. TDMA systems may implement wireless technologies such as global system for mobile communications (GSM). OFDMA systems may implement methods such as evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11(Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16(WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, and,Etc. wireless technologies. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). 3GPP LongPhase evolution (LTE) is a release to be released using E-UTRA, which employs OFDMA on the downlink and SC-FDMA on the uplink. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, and GSM are described in the literature for an organization named "third Generation partnership project" (3 GPP). In addition, CDMA2000 and UWB are described in a document entitled "third generation partnership project 2" (3GPP 2) organization.

Various aspects will be presented in terms of systems that may include a number of devices, components, modules, and the like. It is to be understood and appreciated that the various systems may also include additional devices, components, modules, etc. and/or may omit some or all of the devices, components, modules etc. discussed in connection with the figures. Furthermore, a combination of these methods may also be used.

Referring now to the drawings, fig. 1 illustrates a system 100 that facilitates generating and processing a downlink assignment indication message in a multi-carrier wireless communication environment in accordance with various aspects described herein. As shown in fig. 1, system 100 may include one or more base stations 110 (also referred to herein as node bs or enbs, cells or network cells, nodes or network nodes, Access Points (APs), etc.) that may communicate with one or more user equipment units (UEs, also referred to herein as Access Terminals (ATs), mobile stations or subscriber stations, mobile devices, mobile terminals, etc.) 120 via respective transceivers 118. According to one aspect, base station 110 may engage in one or more downlink (DL, also referred to herein as Forward Link (FL)) communications with UE120, and UE120 may engage in one or more uplink (UL, also referred to herein as Reverse Link (RL)) communications with base station 110. Additionally or alternatively, base station 110 and/or UE120 may engage in any suitable communication with each other, with other devices or entities in system 100, and/or with any other suitable entity.

According to an aspect, in various wireless communication systems (e.g., TDD systems, etc.), one UL subframe may be associated with multiple DL subframes. The plurality of DL subframes associated with one UL subframe in this manner is referred to herein and in the art generally as a DL subframe bundling window (bundling window). For DL transmissions in the same bundling window, UL feedback, such as acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (ACK/NAK) signaling, may be configured for feedback in the corresponding UL subframe. In one example, the ACK/NAK signaling may be generated in response to and for an expected or received signal or one or more radio resources demodulated at the UE 120. Examples of suitable received/desired signals may include a predetermined number of data packets, a predetermined number of radio resources (e.g., time-frequency resources, OFDM symbols, code resources, time frames or subframes, etc.), and so forth. Thus, as one example, the network protocol may configure the UE120 to send an ACK/NAK for N received data packets or for N DL resource blocks or after expiration of an amount of time X or for some combination thereof (where X and N are non-negative integers). UE120 may send an ACK feedback signal if all desired signals or packets are received and a NAK feedback signal otherwise. Alternatively, other types of feedback may be used, such as automatic repeat request (ARQ) signaling, hybrid ARQ (harq) signaling, and so forth.

One type of ACK/NAK feedback mode that may be utilized by UE120 in one example provided above is referred to as ACK/NAK bundling, where multiple ACK/NAKs in a bundling window are logically bundled into one ACK/NAK (e.g., by performing a logical AND operation). Additionally or alternatively, another type of ACK/NAK feedback that may be utilized by UE120 is referred to as ACK/NAK multiplexing, where up to 4 bits of ACK/NAK may be fed back.

It is to be appreciated that in some cases, the UE120 may miss signaling (e.g., on a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and/or other suitable channel or combination of channels) from the base station 110 for providing resource grants and/or other transmission allocation information. Thus, in the event that the UE120 misses such signaling, the base station 110 and the UE120 may have different understanding of how many data transmissions (e.g., Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmissions, etc.) are to be performed in the bundling window.

Accordingly, to address and/or mitigate this misalignment, a 2-bit Downlink Allocation Index (DAI) field may be utilized in conjunction with various UL Downlink Control Information (DCI) formats and/or DL DCI formats for control signaling transmission in system 100. For example, the base station 110 may utilize the DAI field in one or more DL DCI formats to indicate the cumulative number of DL allocations in the bundling window. Thus, for example, a DAI field corresponding to a first allocated downlink transmission in a bundling window may indicate one allocation, a DAI field corresponding to a second allocated downlink transmission in a bundling window may indicate two allocations, and so on. Additionally or alternatively, the base station 110 may utilize the DAI field in one or more DL DCI formats to indicate the total number of DL allocations in the bundling window. Thus, for example, where n downlink transmissions are allocated for a bundling window, the DAI field corresponding to each of the n allocated downlink transmissions may indicate the n allocations.

According to another aspect, it can be appreciated that since information needs to be fed back on a single UL subframe corresponding to multiple DL subframes in a TDD system and/or other suitable wireless communication systems for UE120, UE120 may be required to know how many DL transmissions in a given bundling window have been scheduled in some cases. Further, it can be appreciated that in some cases it may not be guaranteed to have UL control signaling in a given bundling window. Given such signaling and successful decoding of the signaling by the UE120, it can be appreciated that the base station 110 and the UE120 can be substantially well aligned for the total number of DL transmissions in the corresponding bundling window. Thus, with the aid of DAI with DL control signaling, UE120 may effectively feed back corresponding ACK/NAK information, or, if UL control PDCCH and/or other control signaling is not present, in some cases UE120 may need to rely on a DAI field given in the DL control signaling. However, due to the cumulative nature of the DAI information in the DL signaling, the loss of the last one or a few DL control signals in a given bundling window may result in misalignment between the base station 110 and the UE120 with respect to the total number of DL data transmissions, making it difficult to perform effective ACK/NAK feedback. It is also to be appreciated that for DAI information transmitted on the PDCCH and/or other suitable control channel between base station 110 and UE120, in some cases, transmission on the control channel can have a relatively high tolerable loss rate (e.g., approximately 1%, etc.) as compared to ACK/NAK signaling and/or other forms of signaling. In view of the above, it would be desirable to implement improved techniques to improve ACK/NAK performance in a given bundling window. Moreover, as described further herein, it may be desirable to implement a technique by which multiple carriers utilized by a wireless communication system may be adjusted to enhance DAI transmission and/or processing.

In view of at least the above, base station 110 and/or UE120 may operate in accordance with various aspects described herein to facilitate enhanced signaling and processing of DAIs and/or other indicators that indicate a number of transmission allocations applied to various carriers in a multi-carrier system. For example, base station 110 may include a carrier analysis module 112 and/or other suitable mechanism to identify a plurality of carriers configured for communication in a wireless communication system. Further, the base station 110 may include a transmission allocation manager 114 and/or other suitable mechanism to determine a number of DL transmission allocations associated with one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers. Additionally, the base station 110 may include an allocation signaling generator 116 that may configure at least one indication for transmissions on at least one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers (e.g., via the transceiver 118) that specifies at least a number of DL transmission allocations associated with at least the one or more first carriers. In one example, the one or more second carriers may be different from the one or more first carriers.

Accordingly, UE120 in system 100 may include a carrier analysis module 112 that may identify a plurality of carriers configured for communication with base station 110 and/or any suitable entity associated with a wireless communication network. UE120 may also include transceiver 118 and/or other mechanisms to obtain transmission allocation signaling from base station 110 over at least one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers, transmission allocation analyzer 122, etc., may determine a number of DL transmission allocations associated with at least one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers based on the signaling. In one example, the one or more second carriers may be different from the one or more first carriers. In another example, transmission allocation signaling transmitted from base station 110 to UE120 may include DL transmission allocations and/or UL transmission allocations.

According to one aspect, the number of DL transmission allocations identified by the transmission allocation manager 114 at the base station 110 can be a number of DL transmission allocations associated with one or more first carriers over a predetermined duration (e.g., corresponding to a number of subframes and/or any other suitable time increment). Similarly, the number of DL transmission allocations associated with one or more second carriers (which are different from the one or more first carriers used to receive the signaling) over a predetermined time duration can be determined based on signaling from the base station 110 using a transmission allocation analyzer 122 at the UE 120.

According to various aspects, base station 110 may signal various types of DAI signaling and/or other indicators to UE120 to indicate the number of transmission allocations associated with carriers other than the carrier used to provide the signaling. For example, the base station 110 may utilize cross-carrier DAI signaling, multiple DAI signaling, aggregated DAI signaling, and/or any other suitable signaling type. Various examples of these signaling types are provided in further detail herein. It may be appreciated that the description and claims provided herein are not intended to be limited to any particular type of signaling that may be performed by the base station 110 and/or processed by the UE120 unless otherwise specified.

Referring now to fig. 2, a block diagram of an example system 200 that facilitates multicarrier wireless communications in accordance with various aspects is illustrated. In one example, system 200 can facilitate increasing reliability of feedback signaling related to multicarrier wireless communications. As a result, system 200 can reduce retransmission of control or traffic (voice or data traffic) and thereby improve overall wireless communication efficiency.

As shown in fig. 2, system 200 may include a base station 110 that may be communicatively coupled to a UE120 via a multi-carrier wireless link 210. The multicarrier wireless link 210 may comprise two or more different carrier frequencies. Although fig. 2 depicts 4 different carriers, it should be understood that this illustration is provided by way of example only and is not intended to be construed as limiting the number of carriers that may be used in the context of the multicarrier wireless link 210. According to an aspect, DL and/or UL communication between base station 110 and UE120 may be performed over one or more different carriers of multicarrier radio link 210. DL signals may be transmitted from the base station 110 to the UE120 and may include, for example, control signals (e.g., PDCCH), traffic signals (e.g., PDSCH), and so on. Similarly, the UL signals transmitted from the UE120 to the base station 110 may include control signals (e.g., ACK/NAK, channel feedback, scheduling requests, Sounding Reference Signals (SRS), etc.), traffic signals (e.g., Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) signaling), and so on.

According to another aspect, base station 110 may allocate various UL and DL signals for transmission on any one or a set of such different carriers of multicarrier wireless link 210. Further, the carrier allocation may change over time. As an illustrative example, a set of DL control signals may be transmitted on a first subset of carriers in one signal time frame (e.g., frame, subframe, slot, subslot, etc.), on a second subset of carriers in a subsequent signal time frame, etc. The feedback signal assigned to the set of DL control signals may similarly be assigned to a subset of carriers, which may be the same subset of carriers as the subset of carriers used for the DL control signals or a different subset of carriers.

Because DL transmissions (of control signals or traffic signals) may be sent by base station 110 on multiple carriers, it may be appreciated that UE120 may be configured to monitor multiple carriers to determine whether an individual signal corresponding to the DL transmission is received at UE 120. UE120 may then transmit an UL feedback signal in response to the DL transmission. To assist the UE120 in monitoring and receiving individual signals of DL transmissions, the base station 110 may transmit a DAI 212 on a first subset of carriers that provides an indication of the total number of DL transmission signals transmitted on at least one other subset of carriers. The DAI 212 may be a cross-carrier DAI, a set of multiple DAIs, an aggregated DAI, and/or any other form of signaling suitable for indicating a DL transmission allocation on a carrier other than the carrier used to transmit the DAI. Additionally or alternatively, the DAI 212 may also identify the total number of DL transmitted signals transmitted on the first subset of carriers, or this information may be transmitted in a separate DAI (not shown). Thus, the UE120 may determine whether the DL signal received in the DL bundling window includes a complete transmission (e.g., all individual signals of the DL transmission) or an incomplete transmission.

In addition to the foregoing, UE120 may use DAI 212 to coordinate signaling of UL feedback 214 corresponding to DL transmissions in a given DL bundling window. The form of performing the signaling of UL feedback 214 may be in accordance with a default configuration (e.g., as specified in a network standard, etc.), configured by base station 110 on a per-UE or per-cell basis, and so on.

According to one aspect, the DAI 212 may include DL signaling information related to a single carrier other than the carrier used by the base station 110 to transmit the DAI 212 (referred to herein as the DL DAI carrier). In this case, UE120 may perform ACK/NAK signaling for the single carrier. In one example, the ACK/NAK signaling may be accomplished by as few as 1 data bit, e.g., to indicate that all transmissions corresponding to the DAI 212 have or have not been received on the single carrier. Alternatively, multiple data bits may be utilized, for example, to indicate a particular transmission was received and/or to indicate a particular transmission was not received.

According to another aspect, the DAI 212 may include DL signaling information for multiple carriers (including a DL DAI carrier, but which also includes at least one other carrier). In this case, the DAI 212 may specify information for the multiple carriers, including one or more signal slots per carrier (where a signal slot may be, for example, a signal subframe, a signal sub-slot, a signal frame or slot, or other suitable time-based division of the DL signal). Alternatively, the base station 110 may transmit multiple DAIs 212 that provide DL signaling information for one or more of the multiple carriers or one or more signal slots per carrier or any other suitable combination of carriers and signal slots.

Turning next to fig. 3, illustrated is an exemplary system 300 that facilitates multicarrier wireless communications in accordance with various aspects. System 300 may include a base station 110, which may be coupled with one or more UEs 120. Additionally, the base station 110 may include or may be communicatively coupled to a node assignment apparatus 302. The node allocating arrangement 302 may be configured to support multicarrier wireless communications by, for example, providing the UE120 with information indicating individual carriers allocated to individual DL transmissions (e.g., associated with one or more UL feedback resources) in a DL bundling window. This information may be explicitly represented by the node allocation means 302 or may be implicitly specified in the network specification (e.g., with lowest or non-higher layer signaling) and/or in any other suitable manner.

In one example, node assigning means 302 may include a communication (comm.) interface 304 for communicating with UE 120. Communication interface 304 may correspond to a transmit-receive chain of base station 110 or may comprise a separate electronic communication entity configured to communicate with or utilize the transmit-receive chain. Additionally, the node assigning apparatus 302 may include a memory 312 for storing instructions configured to facilitate multi-carrier wireless service for the UE120 in a wireless network associated with the base station 110, and a data processor 310 for executing modules implementing the instructions. For example, the modules may include a reference module 314 that forms a wireless message 316 for associating a set of DL transmissions on a first wireless carrier with UL feedback resources. The association may be established with one or more DAIs as described herein. Further, the node assigning apparatus 302 can include a transmission module 318 that encodes a wireless message onto a control channel resource (e.g., control message 320) of the wireless signal and transmits the wireless message to one or more UEs 120 on a second wireless carrier.

According to one aspect, the wireless message 316 may specify a total number of wireless carriers for transmitting the set of DL transmissions to the UE 120. In one example, the wireless message 316 can also specify a total number of DL transmissions (e.g., independent DL signals) on respective carriers of the total number of wireless carriers in the set of DL transmissions. Thus, the UE120 may easily track the number of DL transmissions received per carrier, thereby improving coordination between the base station 110 and the UE120 and improving reliability of feedback signaling sent by the UE 120.

According to another aspect, the control message 320 may utilize various options to convey information regarding DL transmissions on carriers other than (and optionally in addition to) the second wireless carrier (e.g., the carrier used to transmit the control information 320). In one example, the wireless message 316 can include a first data field identifying the first wireless carrier and a second data field specifying a total number of DL transmissions allocated to the UL feedback resources and transmitted on the first wireless carrier. In another example, the wireless message 316 can be one of a set of wireless messages generated by the reference module 314 and sent to the UE120, each of which can specify a total number of DL transmissions transmitted on a respective subset of the set of wireless carriers allocated to the UL feedback resources. In this case, the reference module 314 can generate different numbers of wireless messages and assign them to different subsets of the set of wireless carriers. As an example, the set of wireless messages includes one wireless message 316 for each wireless carrier in the set of wireless carriers.

In one example, each wireless message 316 can include a cross-carrier DAI identifying a total number of DL transmissions for one of the respective wireless carriers. Alternatively, the one or more wireless messages 316 may include multiple DAIs, each specifying a total number of DL transmissions for a different carrier. As an example of this case, a set of wireless messages can include N wireless messages (where N is a positive integer and is less than or equal to the number M of the set of wireless carriers), where each wireless message is for each anchor carrier in the set of wireless carriers (where the number of anchor carriers is less than or equal to M). At least one wireless message in the set of wireless messages may optionally include a plurality of DAIs, effectively bundling DL transmissions of non-anchor carriers with DL transmissions of corresponding anchor carriers. Alternatively, the wireless message 316 may include one or more DAIs that logically bind (e.g., using a logical AND operation) DL transmission information for multiple wireless carriers. In this alternative example, the reference module 314 can identify in the wireless message 316 a total number of DL transmissions on at least one other wireless carrier in addition to the total number of the set of DL transmissions on the first wireless carrier. Upon identifying the DL transmission, the wireless message 316 may use an alternative format to explicitly or implicitly convey the DL transmission information. In one example, the DAI may specify a total transmission in the DL bundling window. In another example, the DAI may specify the DL transmissions accumulated over the DL bundling window.

Depending on the amount of information to be transmitted by the wireless message 316 (e.g., how many DAIs to include, how many carriers to specify, etc.), a different amount of data needs to be reserved for the message. This may be provided in a network-wide standard, e.g. on a per cell or per UE basis. Thus, reference module 314 can generate a plurality of data bits of wireless message 316 based on a control standard or configuration for managing base station 110 and/or any other suitable factors.

In another example, the DL transmission corresponding to wireless message 316 may include either or both of multicarrier control or multicarrier traffic transmission. Thus, for example, the set of DL transmissions mentioned above may include data or voice traffic transmissions that relate to the UE120 and are transmitted at least in part on the first radio carrier. In this case, the total number of DL transmissions in the set of DL transmissions on the first radio carrier may be sent using the wireless message 316. As another example, the set of DL transmissions may include control traffic transmissions that relate to the UE120 and are transmitted on a first radio carrier. These control traffic transmissions optionally pertain to data or voice traffic signals transmitted on other carriers (e.g., the second wireless carrier or the third wireless carrier). In this case, the wireless message 316 may optionally specify only the total number of DL control transmissions, the total number of DL voice or data traffic transmissions on other carriers, or both DL control transmissions and DL voice/data traffic transmissions. Whether the wireless message 316 relates to data or voice traffic transmission, to control traffic transmission, or both may be specified in a cell-specific or UE-specific configuration stored in a standard, memory 312, or the like of the wireless network. In one example, the reference module 314 can access the memory 312 to obtain the criteria when generating the wireless message 316.

Fig. 4 illustrates a further system 400 that may be deployed in accordance with various aspects described herein. System 400 may include UE120, which may be wirelessly coupled to base station 110 via a multi-carrier wireless link. Additionally, UE120 may include a multi-carrier signal apparatus 402 that may provide improved feedback signaling based on the DAI signal provided by base station 110.

In one example, multicarrier signal apparatus 402 may comprise communications interface 304 to exchange wireless signals with base station 110. Additionally, multicarrier signal apparatus 402 may comprise memory 312 to store instructions to facilitate multicarrier wireless communications and data processor 310 to operate and/or otherwise implement means for implementing the instructions. In operation, base station 110 may send wireless message 422 to UE 120. The wireless message 422 may be transmitted on one of the carriers of the multicarrier wireless link and may provide DL bundling window information relating to at least a second carrier of the multicarrier wireless link. The DL bundling window information may be specified in one or more DAIs having various formats as described herein.

In another example, multicarrier signal apparatus 402 may use filtering module 412 to extract wireless message 422 from a signal received by communication interface 304 on a first wireless carrier. In addition, an intermediate module 414 can be employed that analyzes the wireless message 422 and identifies a number of transmissions allocated to the UL feedback resource and to be received on the second wireless carrier. In this way, multicarrier signal apparatus 402 may monitor the second wireless carrier for a specified number of transmissions and determine whether the number of transmissions has been successfully received at UE 120.

According to one aspect, multicarrier signal apparatus 402 may comprise counting module 416 to monitor traffic received by communication interface 304 over the multicarrier wireless link, and in particular at least over the second wireless carrier identified in wireless message 422. Further, the counting module 416 can track and determine a number of received transmissions received on at least the second wireless carrier allocated to the UL feedback resources. The number of received transmissions may be compared to a number of expected transmissions on the second wireless carrier provided by the intermediate module 414. Multicarrier signal apparatus 402 may also comprise timing module 418 to set a NAK period for receiving the number of transmissions on the second wireless carrier. As an illustrative example, the NAK period may be based on a response time of ACK/NAK signaling 424 included in the network specification or specified by base station 110. By way of a specific, non-limiting example, the response time may be 4 subframes, such that the transmission in subframe N must be responded to by UE120 in subframe N + 4. Alternatively, the NAK period may be any other suitable number of signal slots.

According to another aspect, multicarrier signal apparatus 402 and/or other mechanisms associated with UE120 may compare a DAI value obtained from base station 110 (e.g., via wireless message 422) to a detected number of DL transmissions received from base station 110. Based on this comparison, the layer three (L3) configured transmission scheme, and/or any other suitable transmission scheme utilized by UE120 (e.g., bundling, multiplexing, etc.), and the physical layer transmission module utilized by UE120 (e.g., on a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), piggybacked on PUSCH, etc.), UE120 may accordingly provide ACK/NAK signaling 424 to base station 110.

As further described herein, the wireless message 422 may include one or more DAIs that respectively provide DL signal information related to one or more carriers. The size of the data field in each DAI may be set by the base station 110 and may be different for each UE, each cell, or each DAI, or may be a standard size established by a network protocol. Thus, in one example, wireless message 422 can include a number of data bits suitable for identifying each carrier used for multi-carrier wireless communication, each carrier available to base station 110, or each carrier assigned to UE 120. Alternatively, wireless message 422 may include a plurality of data bits suitable for identifying a plurality of carriers for multicarrier wireless communication, a plurality of carriers available to base station 110, or a plurality of carriers assigned to UE 120. In another case, the wireless message 422 may include a plurality of data bits adapted to minimize control channel blind decoding based on size matching between the UL DCI format and the DL DCI format.

The number of wireless carriers transmitted by wireless message 422 (or a set of such wireless messages) may also vary and may be configured by base station 110. In one example, the number of wireless carriers can be equal to the number of anchor carriers used by the base station 110. In an alternative example, the number of wireless carriers may be equal to or less than the total number of carriers available to the base station 110 or allocated to the UE120 for multi-carrier wireless communication. In the case where wireless message 422 transmits multiple carriers, multiple DAIs may be used, one DAI for one carrier, or at least one subset of DAIs may transmit the number of transmissions on two or more carriers in one DL bundling window. Thus, as an example, the wireless message 422 may contain a separate data field specifying a number of transmissions per carrier for each of the plurality of wireless carriers. Alternatively, the wireless message 422 may include one or more aggregated data fields specifying a set number of transmissions per carrier for a plurality of the plurality of wireless carriers.

According to one aspect, multicarrier signal apparatus 402 may use a network configuration or standard to interpret wireless message 422 and the DAIs included therein. In addition, filtering module 412 can obtain a network configuration that identifies a plurality of wireless carriers (including at least a second wireless carrier) specified in wireless message 422. In addition, the intermediary module 414 can use the network configuration to identify a number of transmissions per carrier of the UL feedback resources allocated to each of the plurality of wireless carriers. This scheme may be implemented, for example, where the wireless message 422 includes multiple DAIs specifying the number of DL transmissions for each carrier or a single DAI configured with a logical AND operation.

Referring again to fig. 1, it can be appreciated that in some wireless communication implementations, control and data can be configured to always be communicated on the same carrier. However, for multi-carrier operation, it is understood that control and data can be transmitted from different carriers. The signaling performed in this manner, in which control (e.g., PDCCH) signaling is used to direct data (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) signaling on at least one different carrier, is referred to herein and generally in the art as cross-carrier signaling. In one example, the multicarrier control signaling may be generated using independent coding of DL allocations and UL grants for each component carrier based on a DCI format of a single carrier with an additional carrier indicator field of 0-3 bits. In case of 0 bit, the carrier indicator may be omitted. Thus, it can be appreciated that carrier association of UL ACK/NAK in response to data transmission may have two options: (1) the UL carrier for UL ACK/NAK and the DL carrier for DL data are always associated, or (2) the UL carrier for UL ACK/NAK and the DL carrier for DL control are always associated.

Based at least on the above discussion, it can be appreciated that the presence of a DAI in a UL allocation can facilitate efficient ACK/NAK feedback for a TDD system and/or other suitable systems. However, as further illustrated above, in some cases, UE120 may be configured with multiple component carriers. Thus, in some cases, the concept of a DAI for a single carrier system may be extended to a multi-carrier scenario in which the DAI may indicate a number of DL allocations over multiple carriers (e.g., over frequency) rather than indicating a number of DL allocations over a bundling window. Thus, for a TDD system, 2 DAIs may be utilized: a time-based DAI (DAI _ time) indicating a total (or cumulative) DL allocation in a given bundling window; and a frequency-based DAI (DAI _ freq) indicating a total number of DL carriers having at least one DL allocation in a given DL subframe bundling window. Diagram 500 in fig. 5 illustrates this DAI configuration in further detail.

In accordance with various aspects described herein, DAI signaling can be generated and/or processed in system 100 such that the DAI signaling provided on a given carrier can provide a particular number of DL transmission allocations applied to different carriers, thereby further improving the DAI design of the technique shown in diagram 500. It should be understood that the various examples provided herein may be used instead of or in addition to the { DAI _ time, DAI _ freq } structure shown in diagram 500.

According to one aspect, base stations 110 and UEs 120 in system 100 may utilize cross-carrier DAI signaling to indicate and process DL allocation information corresponding to individual carriers. Thus, for example, base station 110 can configure at least one indication of a plurality of DL transmission allocations for one or more carriers to include index information (e.g., Carrier Index Field (CIF), etc.) associating the one or more carriers with the plurality of DL transmission allocations with which they are associated. Correspondingly, UE120 may utilize transmission allocation analyzer 122 and/or other suitable mechanisms to identify one or more carriers corresponding to transmission allocation signaling via index information, e.g., CIF, etc., provided in the transmission allocation signaling.

For example, cross-carrier DAI signaling may be generated by base station 110 and/or UE120 in the following manner. Although the following example assumes a two carrier allocation, it should be understood that the concepts described and illustrated herein may be applied to any suitable number of carriers. In one example, a UE may be configured with two component carriers denoted as C1 and C2 for two cases: (1) DL data transmission on C1 and one UL data transmission on C2; and (2) two DL data transmissions in the bundling window are on C1, one DL data transmission in the bundling window is on C2, and one UL data transmission is on C2. In case (1), it can be understood that the DAI field in DL control signaling for allocating UL data transmission on C2 is meaningless because there is no corresponding DL data transmission on C2. Further, in case (2), it can be appreciated that the DAI field in the DL control signaling for allocating UL transmissions on C2 would be more useful if configured to indicate the total number of DL data transmissions on C1 rather than C2, since there are 2 on C1 and only one DL data transmission on C2.

In both of the above scenarios, it may be appreciated that the DAI field in DL signaling intended for allocation of UL data transmissions on C2 may also indicate the total number of DL data transmissions in the bundling window for another carrier (e.g., such that the DAI provides a cross-carrier indication). Alternatively, it will be appreciated that cross-carrier DAI signaling is similarly desirable in other situations. Thus, cross-carrier DAI signaling may be implemented as follows. In the case where M component carriers are configured for UE120 (or corresponding cell) for each UL or DL component, a CIF (e.g., CIF _ DAI) ranging from 0 to N bits may be introduced for DAI, where N ═ ceil (log)₂(M)). Diagram 600 in fig. 6 shows an example of cross-carrier DAI signaling that may be generated and utilized in this manner. However, it should be understood that it is not required that the number of bits for CIF _ DAI be ceil (log)₂(M)) to address the entire space of M component carriers; rather, CIF values may be configured to apply only to a subset of carriers (e.g., anchor carriers and/or any other suitable selected group of carriers), various groups of multiple carriers, and/or any other suitable CIF-to-carrier mapping.

By way of specific, non-limiting example, the CIF may be a fixed 3-bit field that facilitates UE-specific mapping of possible CIF values to individual carriers. Thus, for example, a first carrier may be indicated with a value of 000, a second carrier may be indicated with a value of 001, a first carrier and a second carrier may be indicated with a value of 010, and so on. Alternatively, it should be appreciated that any suitable mapping of CIF configurations to carriers may be utilized.

In another example, the number of bits for CIF _ DAI may be selected by considering possible size matching between DL DCI formats and UL DCI formats, such that, for example, PDCCH blind decoding and/or other suitable decoding operations can be minimized (e.g., by having the same DL/UL DCI format size). For example, if the DL DCI has L bits and the corresponding UL DCI has L-1 bits before size matching, a 1-bit CIF _ DAI may be selected such that no additional zero padding bits are needed. By doing so, it can be appreciated that a tradeoff can be achieved between control overhead and flexibility in cross-carrier DAI signaling. In a further example, for a given number of bits for a CIF _ DAI, UE120 may be configured via a Radio Resource Control (RRC) entity and/or other suitable mechanism to identify the carrier to which the CIF _ DAI is addressed. In another example, the number of bits for the CIF _ DAI can be UE-specific, cell-specific, and/or determined by system 100 in any suitable uniform or non-uniform manner.

According to another aspect, the base station 110 can facilitate signaling of DL transmission allocations on multiple carriers by transmitting multiple DAIs for the multiple carriers in corresponding UL or DL allocations. Diagram 700 in fig. 7 shows an example of multiple DAI signaling that may be performed in this manner. With respect to base stations 110 in system 100, allocation signaling generator 116 and/or other suitable association module can facilitate multiple DAI signaling by configuring multiple indications to specify a number of DL transmission allocations associated with respective ones of an associated plurality of carriers. After generating such an indication, multiple indications may be transmitted by the transceiver 118 on one control signal or multiple (e.g., two or more) control signals. The control signals may be transmitted via, for example, PDCCH and/or any other suitable channel. Where two or more control signals are utilized, the control signals may be transmitted on one carrier or multiple (e.g., two or more) carriers.

Accordingly, at the UE120, the transceiver 118 may be utilized to obtain transmission allocation signaling provided by the base station 110 via a control signal or control signals (on one or more carriers) as described above. Based on the transmission allocation signaling, transmission allocation analyzer 122 and/or other mechanisms associated with UE120 may determine a plurality of numbers of DL transmission allocations associated with respective ones of the associated plurality of carriers.

In one example, multiple DAIs may be transmitted by the base station 110 for multiple carriers in an UL or DL allocation in the following manner. For example, rather than utilizing the { DAI value, CIF _ DAI } structure described above for cross-carrier DAI signaling, base station 110 may transmit N ≦ M DAIs per UL or DL allocation (where M is the number of component carriers, in the form { DAI _1, DAI _ 2.., DAI _ N }). According to one aspect, the set { DAI _1, DAI _2, ·, DAI _ N } may be encoded individually (e.g., based on each indication) or jointly.

In another example, as implied by N ≦ M, it may be appreciated that DAIs need not be provided for all M component carriers in all cases. Rather, in some cases, N carriers associated with, for example, an anchor carrier and/or any other carrier selection may be selected, and N may be equal to or less than M. In a further example, where DAIs are provided for fewer than all of the component carriers allocated to a given UE120, UE120 may be operable to variously map individual DAIs to carriers. For example, CIF information may have one or more DAIs. Alternatively, UE120 may adjust a set of mappings between multiple DAIs provided in the transmission allocation signaling and the carriers to which the DAIs refer. The mapping may be a static mapping (e.g., a static mapping of the L3 configuration) and/or constructed in any other suitable manner. In a further example, multiple mappings can be provided for different numbers of DAIs, such that transmission allocation signaling with different numbers of DAIs (e.g., 2 DAIs, 3 DAIs, etc.) can correspond to different sets of carriers utilized in system 100.

According to another aspect, one or more DAI values can be provided by the base station 110 in transmission allocation signaling that covers multiple carriers in a corresponding UL allocation such that the DAI signaling is aggregated in frequency (e.g., multiple carriers) and time (e.g., over a DL subframe bundling window). Diagram 800 in fig. 8 shows an example of aggregated DAI signaling that may be constructed in this manner. With respect to base stations 110 in system 100, at least one indication (e.g., DAI) can be configured, with transmission allocation manager 114 and/or other suitable modules, to specify a combined number of DL transmission allocations associated with one or more first carriers and one or more second carriers. Accordingly, at the UE120, a combined number of DL transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers and the one or more second carriers may be determined based on the received transmission allocation signaling using the transmission allocation analyzer 122. In one non-limiting exemplary scenario, the transmission allocation signaling provided by base station 110 to UE120 may include an indication and/or other information specifying a number of DL transmission allocations associated with substantially all carriers in a set of carriers associated with one or more entities in system 100.

In one example, where M component carriers are utilized, the base station 110 may construct K ≧ 1 DAIs, each covering M_kA carrier wave such that M₁+M₂+...+M_KM. In one example, the respective K DAIs may be statically or semi-statically partitioned over the M component carriers in any uniform or non-uniform fashion. Thus, for example, in a 5-carrier system, a first DAI may correspond to carriers 1 and 2, a second DAI may correspond to carriers 3 and 4, and a third DAI may correspond to carrier 5. However, it should be understood that any suitable mapping may be utilized. In another example, for the special case of K ═ 1 above, the DAI in the UL allocation or DL allocation may indicate the total number of DL allocations in the DL subframe bundling window over all carriers. In a further example, aggregated DAI signaling as described above may utilize CIF information in a manner similar to cross-carrier DAI signaling shown in fig. 6, utilize multiple DAIs in a manner similar to that shown in fig. 7, and/or utilize any other suitable characteristics to facilitate DAI signaling.

According to further aspects, as described above, the carriers used by the UE120 for UL ACK/NAK feedback may be associated with corresponding DL data transmissions or DL control transmissions (e.g., PDSCH or PDCCH, etc.). As a result, it can be appreciated that base station 110 and/or UE120 can adjust at least two options regarding DAI signaling association. In a first example, the DAI may be configured to always count the number of DL data transmissions on a given carrier. Alternatively, in a second example, the DAI may be configured to always count the number of DL control transmissions on a given carrier, although some DL controls may send DL data transmissions on different carriers. Thus, according to one aspect, the base station 110 may determine at least one of a plurality of DL control signal transmission allocations or a plurality of DL data transmission allocations associated with one or more carriers such that the UE120 may obtain this information from transmission allocation signaling received from the base station 110. In one example, the option for DAI association may be selected by base station 110 and/or UE120 from the above options and/or other suitable options via a pre-formed network specification or other similar means, cell-specific or UE-specific configuration, and/or in any other suitable manner.

According to another scheme, the number of bits used for the DAI may be adjusted to imply the carriers involved in the DAI. Thus, it can be appreciated that the number of bits for the DAI can additionally be utilized by the UE120 and/or the base station 110 to facilitate one or more of the above-described operations in addition to the payload of the DAI. In one example, the mapping configured by L3 and/or other suitable means may be utilized to map individual DAI bit sizes to corresponding carriers in a manner similar to that described above for fig. 7 for adjusting the number of DAIs.

Referring now to fig. 9-13, various methodologies that may be implemented in accordance with various aspects described herein are illustrated. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodologies are shown and described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in accordance with one or more aspects, occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with one or more aspects.

Referring to fig. 9, a first methodology 900 is illustrated that facilitates generating signaling indicative of downlink transmission allocations made in a multi-carrier wireless communication environment. It is to be appreciated that methodology 900 can be performed by, for example, a base station (e.g., base station 110) and/or any other suitable network entity. The methodology 900 begins at block 902, where a plurality of carriers configured for communication in a wireless communication system are identified (e.g., by the carrier analysis module 112) at block 902. At block 904, a number of DL transmission allocations associated with one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers is determined (e.g., by the transmission allocation manager 114). At block 906, at least one indication specifying at least a number of DL transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers is configured (e.g., by allocation signaling generator 116) for communication on at least one second carrier of the plurality of carriers.

Fig. 10 illustrates a second methodology 1000 for generating signaling indicative of downlink transmission allocations made in a multi-carrier wireless communication environment. It is to be appreciated that methodology 1000 can be performed by, for example, an eNB and/or any other suitable network entity. The methodology 1000 begins at block 1002, and at block 1002 a plurality of carriers configured for communication in a wireless communication system are identified. At block 1004, a number of DL transmission allocations associated with one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers is determined. At block 1006, at least one indication is configured that specifies at least a number of DL transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers and index information for associating the one or more first carriers with the number of DL transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers.

Referring to fig. 11, illustrated is a third methodology 1100 for generating signaling indicative of downlink transmission allocations made in a multi-carrier wireless communication environment. It is to be appreciated that methodology 1100 can be performed by, for example, a network cell and/or any other suitable network entity. The methodology 1100 begins at block 1102, and at block 1102, a plurality of carriers configured for communication in a wireless communication system are identified. At block 1104, a number of DL transmission allocations associated with each carrier of a plurality of carriers, the each carrier including one or more first carriers, is determined. At block 1106, a plurality of indications specifying a number of DL transmission allocations associated with the respective ones of the plurality of carriers is configured.

Fig. 12 illustrates a fourth method 1200 for generating signaling indicating downlink transmission allocations made in a multi-carrier wireless communication environment. Method 1200 may be performed by, for example, a base station and/or any other suitable network entity. The methodology 1200 begins at block 1202, where a plurality of carriers configured for communication in a wireless communication system are identified. At block 1204, an indication is configured indicating a number of DL transmission allocations associated with substantially all carriers of the plurality of carriers.

Turning to fig. 13, illustrated is a methodology 1300 for processing transmission allocation signaling that includes multi-carrier allocation information. Method 1300 may be performed by, for example, a UE (e.g., UE 120) and/or any other appropriate network entity. The methodology 1300 begins at block 1302, where a plurality of carriers configured for communication with a wireless communication network are identified (e.g., by a carrier analysis module 112) at block 1302. At block 1304, transmission allocation signaling is obtained from the wireless communication network on at least one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers (e.g., via the transceiver 118). At block 1306, a number of DL transmission allocations associated with at least one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers is determined (e.g., by transmission allocation analyzer 122) based on the transmission allocation signaling.

Referring next to fig. 14-15, various apparatus 1400-1500 are shown that can be implemented in accordance with various aspects described herein. It is to be appreciated that apparatus 1400-1500 is represented as including functional blocks, which can be functional blocks that represent functions implemented by a processor, software, or combination thereof (e.g., firmware).

Referring to fig. 14, a first apparatus 1400 that facilitates generating and processing downlink allocation indicator signaling in a multi-carrier wireless communication system is illustrated. Apparatus 1400 may be implemented by a base station (e.g., base station 110) and/or any other suitable network entity, and apparatus 1400 may comprise: a module 1402 for identifying a plurality of carriers associated with a wireless communication system, at least one first carrier of the plurality of carriers, and at least one second carrier of the plurality of carriers; a module 1404 for obtaining information about a number of DL transmission allocations applied to the at least one first carrier; and a module 1406 for generating a DAI for transmission on the at least one second carrier, the DAI specifying a number of DL transmission allocations applied to the at least one first carrier.

Fig. 15 illustrates a second apparatus 1500 that facilitates generating and processing downlink allocation indicator signaling in a multi-carrier wireless communication system. Apparatus 1500 may be implemented by a mobile terminal (e.g., UE 120) and/or any other suitable network entity, and apparatus 1500 may include: a module 1502 for identifying a plurality of carriers designated for communication with a wireless communication network, at least one first carrier of the plurality of carriers, and at least one second carrier of the plurality of carriers; a module 1504 for obtaining one or more DAIs from the wireless communication network on the at least one first carrier; and a module 1506 for determining a number of DL transmission allocations to apply to the at least one second carrier based on the one or more DAIs.

Turning now to fig. 16, a diagram of a wireless multiple-access communication system in accordance with various aspects is provided. In one example, an access point 1600(AP) includes multiple antenna groups. As shown in fig. 16, one antenna group can include antennas 1604 and 1606, another antenna group can include antennas 1608 and 1610, and another antenna group can include antennas 1612 and 1614. Although only 2 antennas are shown in fig. 16 for each antenna group, it can be appreciated that more or fewer antennas can be utilized for each antenna group. In another example, access terminal 1616 can be in communication with antennas 1612 and 1614, where antennas 1612 and 1614 transmit information to access terminal 1616 over forward link 1620 and receive information from access terminal 1616 over reverse link 1618. Additionally and/or alternatively, access terminal 1622 can be in communication with antennas 1606 and 1608, where antennas 1606 and 1608 transmit information to access terminal 1622 over forward link 1626 and receive information from access terminal 1622 over reverse link 1624. In a frequency division duplex system, communication links 1618, 1620, 1624, and 1626 may communicate using different frequencies. For example, forward link 1620 may utilize a different frequency than that used by reverse link 1618.

Each group of antennas and/or the area in which they are designated to communicate may be referred to as a sector of the access point. In accordance with one aspect, antenna groups can be designed to communicate to access terminals in a sector, of the areas covered by access point 1600. In communication over forward links 1620 and 1626, the transmitting antennas of access point 1600 can utilize beamforming to improve signal-to-noise ratio of forward links for the different access terminals 1616 and 1622. Also, an access point utilizing beamforming to transmit to access terminals scattered randomly through its coverage causes less interference to access terminals in neighboring cells than an access point transmitting through a single antenna to all its access terminals.

An access point, e.g., access point 1600, may be a fixed station used for communicating with the terminals and may also be referred to as a base station, an eNB, an access network, and/or other suitable terminology. In addition, an access terminal, e.g., access terminal 1616 or 1622, can also be referred to as a mobile terminal, user equipment, a wireless communication device, a terminal, a wireless terminal, and/or other appropriate terminology.

Referring now to fig. 17, a block diagram is provided that illustrates an exemplary wireless communication system 1700 in which various aspects described herein can operate. In one example, system 1700 is a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system that includes a transmitter system 1710 and a receiver system 1750. It is to be appreciated that transmitter system 1710 and/or receiver system 1750 can also be applied to a multiple-input single-output system in which, for example, multiple transmit antennas (e.g., at a base station) can transmit one or more symbol streams to a single antenna device (e.g., a mobile station). Additionally, it should be appreciated that aspects of transmitter system 1710 and/or receiver system 1750 described herein can be utilized with a single-output to single-input antenna system.

In accordance with one aspect, at transmitter system 1710, traffic data for a number of data streams is provided from a data source 1712 to a Transmit (TX) data processor 1714. In one example, each data stream can then be transmitted via a respective transmit antenna. Additionally, TX data processor 1714 can format, encode, and interleave traffic data for each data stream based on a particular coding scheme selected for that data stream to provide coded data. In one example, the coded data for each data stream can then be multiplexed with pilot data using OFDM techniques. The pilot data may be, for example, a known data pattern that is processed in a known manner. And, the pilot data can be used at receiver system 1750 to estimate the channel response. Returning to the transmitter system 1710, the multiplexed pilot and coded data for each data stream can be modulated (e.g., symbol mapped) based on a particular modulation scheme (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, M-PSK, or M-QAM) selected for that data stream to provide modulation symbols. In one example, the data rate, coding, and modulation for each data stream can be determined by instructions performed on processor 1730 and/or provided by processor 1730.

The modulation symbols for all data streams are then provided to a TX MIMO processor 1720, which can further process the modulation symbols (e.g., for OFDM). Then, TX MIMO processor 1720 forwards N_TA plurality of transceivers 1722a through 1722t provide N_TA stream of modulation symbols. In one example, each transceiver 1722 can receive and process a respective symbol stream to provide one or more analog signals. Each transceiver 1722 is then further conditioned (e.g., amplified, filtered, and upconverted)These analog signals are used to provide modulated signals suitable for transmission over the MIMO channel. Thus, then from N respectively_TThe antennas 1724a through 1724t transmit N from the transceivers 1722a through 1722t_TA modulated signal.

According to another aspect, at receiver system 1750, N can be passed_RThe individual antennas 1752a to 1752r receive the transmitted modulated signals. The received signals from each antenna 1752 are then provided to a respective transceiver 1754 r. In one example, each transceiver 1754 can condition (e.g., filter, amplify, and downconvert) a respective received signal, digitize the conditioned signal to provide samples, and further process the samples to provide a corresponding "received" symbol stream. The RXMIMO/data processor 1760 may then be based on the particular receiver processing technique, from N_RN is received by a transceiver 1754_RA stream of received symbols is processed to provide N_TA "detected" symbol stream. In one example, each detected symbol stream can include symbols that are estimates of the modulation symbols transmitted for the corresponding data stream. RX processor 1760 can then process each symbol stream at least in part by demodulating, deinterleaving, and decoding each detected symbol stream to recover traffic data for a corresponding data stream. Thus, the processing by RX processor 1760 is complementary to that performed by TX MIMO processor 1720 and TX data processor 1714 at transmitter system 1710. RX processor 1760 can also provide processed symbol streams to a data sink 1764.

In accordance with an aspect, the channel response estimate generated by RX processor 1760 can be used to perform space/time processing at the receiver, to adjust power levels, to change modulation rates or schemes, and/or other appropriate actions. In addition, the RX processor 1760 can estimate channel characteristics, e.g., signal-to-noise-and-interference ratios (SNRs), of the detected symbol streams. RX processor 1760 can then provide estimated channel characteristics to a processor 1770. In one example, RX processor 1760 and/or processor 1770 can also derive an estimate of the "operating" SNR for the system. Processor 1770 can then provide Channel State Information (CSI), which can comprise information regarding the communication link and/or the received data stream. This information may include, for example, the operating SNR. The CSI can then be processed by a TX data processor 1718, modulated by a modulator 1780, conditioned by transceivers 1754a through 1754r, and transmitted back to transmitter system 1710. In addition, a data source 1716 at receiver system 1750 can provide additional data to be processed by TX data processor 1718.

Returning to transmitter system 1710, the modulated signals from receiver system 1750 can then be received by antennas 1724, conditioned by transceivers 1722, demodulated by a demodulator 1740, and processed by a RX data processor 1742 to recover the CSI reported by receiver system 1750. In one example, the reported CSI can then be provided to processor 1730 and used to determine data rates and coding and modulation schemes to be used for one or more data streams. The determined coding and modulation schemes can then be provided to transceivers 1722 for equalization and/or for later transmission to receiver system 1750. Additionally and/or alternatively, processor 1730 can use the reported CSI to generate various controls for TX data processor 1714 and TX MIMO processor 1718. In another example, CSI and/or other information processed by RX data processor 1742 can be provided to a data sink 1744.

In one example, processor 1730 at transmitter system 1710 and processor 1770 at receiver system 1750 direct operation on their respective systems. Additionally, memory 1732 at transmitter system 1710 and memory 1772 at receiver system 1750 can store program codes and data for use by processors 1730 and 1770, respectively. In addition, at receiver system 1750, N may be processed using various processing techniques_RA received signal to detect N_TA stream of transmit symbols. These receiver processing techniques may include spatial and space-time receiver processing techniques, which may also be referred to as equalization techniques and/or "successive zero-forcing/equalization and interference cancellation" receiver processing techniques, which may also be referred to as "successive interference cancellation" or "successive cancellation"Receiver processing techniques.

It is to be understood that the aspects described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or any combination thereof. When the systems and/or methods are implemented using software, firmware, middleware or microcode, program code or code segments, they can be stored in a machine-readable medium, such as a storage component. A code segment may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted using any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

For a software implementation, the techniques described herein may be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. The software codes may be stored in memory units and executed by processors. The memory unit may be implemented within the processor or external to the processor, in which case it can be communicatively coupled to the processor via various means as is known in the art.

What has been described above includes examples of one or more aspects. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the aforementioned aspects, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of various embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the described aspects are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term "includes" is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, the term "or" as used in either the specification or the claims means a "non-exclusive or".

Claims (46)

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

identifying a plurality of carriers configured for communication in a wireless communication system;

determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers; and is

Configuring at least one indication for communication on one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers, the indication specifying a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers.

2. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the one or more second carriers are different from the one or more first carriers.

3. The wireless communications method of claim 1, wherein the at least one indication comprises Downlink Assignment Index (DAI) signaling.

4. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the configuring at least one indication comprises:

configuring the at least one indication to include index information that associates the one or more first carriers with the number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers.

5. The wireless communication method of claim 4, wherein the index information comprises a Carrier Index Field (CIF).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring at least one indication comprises:

configuring the at least one indication to specify one or more of: a total number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers, or a cumulative number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers.

7. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the configuring at least one indication comprises:

configuring the at least one indication to specify a combined number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers and the one or more second carriers.

8. The wireless communication method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting the at least one indication via at least one of a downlink transmission allocation or an uplink transmission allocation.

9. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the configuring at least one indication comprises:

configuring a plurality of indications to specify a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with respective carriers of the plurality of carriers, and wherein the respective carriers include the one or more first carriers.

10. The wireless communication method of claim 9, further comprising: transmitting the plurality of indications via at least one control signal.

11. The wireless communications method of claim 10, wherein the configuring at least one indication further comprises:

encoding the plurality of indications for transmission on the at least one control signal using at least one of a per indication encoding and a joint encoding.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring at least one indication comprises:

configuring the at least one indication to specify a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with all carriers of the plurality of carriers.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers comprises:

determining at least one of a number of downlink control signal transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers and a number of downlink data transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers.

14. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory for storing data relating to a plurality of carriers configured for communication in a wireless communication system; and

a processor configured to: determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers; and configuring at least one indication for communication on one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers, the indication specifying a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers.

15. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 14, wherein the one or more second carriers are different from the one or more first carriers.

16. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

configuring the at least one indication to include index information that associates the one or more first carriers with the number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers.

17. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

configuring the at least one indication to specify a combined number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers and the one or more second carriers.

18. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

configuring a plurality of indications to specify a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with respective carriers of the plurality of carriers, and wherein the respective carriers include the one or more first carriers.

19. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

an identification module to identify a plurality of carriers associated with a wireless communication system, at least one first carrier of the plurality of carriers, and at least one second carrier of the plurality of carriers;

an obtaining module for obtaining information about the number of downlink transmission allocations applied to the at least one first carrier; and

a generating module to generate a Downlink Assignment Index (DAI) for transmission on the at least one second carrier, the DAI specifying a number of downlink transmission assignments applied to the at least one first carrier.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one first carrier is different from the at least one second carrier.

21. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for generating comprises:

means for associating a Carrier Index Field (CIF) identifying the at least one first carrier with the DAI.

22. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for generating comprises:

means for generating a DAI specifying a combined number of downlink transmission allocations applied to the at least one first carrier and the at least one second carrier.

23. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for generating comprises:

means for generating a plurality of DAIs specifying respective numbers of downlink transmission allocations applied to respective corresponding sets of one or more of the plurality of carriers.

24. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

identifying a plurality of carriers configured for communication with a wireless communication network;

obtaining transmission allocation signaling from the wireless communication network on one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers; and is

Determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers based on the transmission allocation signaling.

25. The wireless communications method of claim 24, wherein the one or more second carriers are different from the one or more first carriers.

26. The wireless communications method of claim 24, wherein the determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers comprises:

determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more second carriers based on Downlink Allocation Index (DAI) signaling provided in the transmission allocation signaling.

27. The wireless communications method of claim 24, wherein the determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers comprises:

identifying the one or more second carriers via index information provided in the transmission allocation signaling.

28. The wireless communication method of claim 27, wherein the index information comprises a Carrier Index Field (CIF).

29. The wireless communications method of claim 24, wherein the determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers comprises:

determining one or more of: a total number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more second carriers, or a cumulative number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more second carriers.

30. The wireless communications method of claim 24, wherein the determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers comprises:

determining a combined number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers and the one or more second carriers based on the transmission allocation signaling.

31. The wireless communications method of claim 24, wherein the transmission allocation signaling includes at least one of a downlink transmission allocation and an uplink transmission allocation.

32. The wireless communications method of claim 24, wherein the determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers comprises:

determining, based on the transmission allocation signaling, a plurality of numbers of downlink transmission allocations associated with respective carriers of the plurality of carriers, and wherein the respective carriers include the one or more second carriers.

33. The wireless communications method of claim 32, wherein the obtaining transmission allocation signaling comprises:

obtaining at least one control signal comprising the transmission allocation signalling.

34. The wireless communications method of claim 33, wherein the plurality of numbers of downlink transmission allocations are encoded onto the at least one control signal via at least one of separate encoding and joint encoding.

35. The wireless communications method of claim 24, wherein the determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers comprises:

determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with all carriers of the plurality of carriers based on the transmission allocation signaling.

36. The wireless communications method of claim 24, wherein the determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers comprises:

determining at least one of a number of downlink control signal transmission allocations and a number of downlink data transmission allocations associated with the one or more second carriers based on the transmission allocation signaling.

37. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory for storing data relating to a plurality of carriers configured for communication with a wireless communication network; and

a processor configured to: obtaining transmission allocation signaling from the wireless communication network on one or more first carriers of the plurality of carriers; and determining a number of downlink transmission allocations associated with one or more second carriers of the plurality of carriers based on the transmission allocation signaling.

38. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 37, wherein the one or more second carriers are different from the one or more first carriers.

39. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identifying the one or more second carriers via index information provided in the transmission allocation signaling.

40. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determining a combined number of downlink transmission allocations associated with the one or more first carriers and the one or more second carriers based on the transmission allocation signaling.

41. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determining, based on the transmission allocation signaling, a plurality of numbers of downlink transmission allocations associated with respective carriers of the plurality of carriers, and wherein the respective carriers include the one or more second carriers.

42. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

an identifying module to identify a plurality of carriers designated for communication with a wireless communication network, at least one first carrier of the plurality of carriers, and at least one second carrier of the plurality of carriers;

means for obtaining one or more Downlink Assignment Indices (DAIs) from the wireless communication network on the at least one first carrier; and

a determining module to determine a number of downlink transmission allocations to apply to the at least one second carrier based on the one or more DAIs.

43. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 42, wherein the at least one first carrier is different from the at least one second carrier.

44. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 42, wherein the means for determining comprises:

means for identifying a Carrier Index Field (CIF) in the one or more DAIs; and

means for identifying the at least one second carrier based on the CIF.

45. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 42, wherein the means for determining comprises:

means for determining a combined number of downlink transmission allocations applied to the at least one first carrier and the at least one second carrier based on the one or more DAIs.

46. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 42, wherein:

the obtaining means comprises means for obtaining a plurality of DAIs; and is

The determining module comprises: means for identifying respective numbers of downlink transmission assignments from respective ones of the plurality of DAIs applied to respective ones of the plurality of carriers, wherein the respective carriers include the at least one second carrier.