TW201632013A - Method, apparatus and system - Google Patents

Abstract

A method comprising receiving at least one first information element at a user equipment, from said at least one first information element, determining, at least one of, one of a plurality of configurations for a control channel associated with a first cell, and one of a plurality of configurations for a control channel associated with a second cell and causing uplink control channel transmission using at least one of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell, wherein said configuration for the at least one control channel is dependent on said determination.

Description

Method, device and system

The present invention relates to a method, apparatus and system, and in particular, but not exclusively, to LTE carrier aggregation.

A communication system can be considered as a device that enables communication conversations between two or more entities such as user terminals, base stations, and/or other nodes by providing carrier aggregation between various entities included in the communication path . The communication system can be provided, for example, in a communication network and one or more compatible communication devices. Communications may include, for example, data communications for carrying communications such as voice, email (email), text messaging, multimedia, and/or content material. Non-limiting examples of services provided include two or more calls, data communication or multimedia services, and access to a data network system like the Internet.

In a wireless communication system, at least a portion of the communication between at least two stations occurs through a wireless connection. Examples of wireless systems include public land mobile networks (PLMNs), satellite communication systems, and different wireless local area networks, such as wireless local area network systems (WLANs). These wireless systems are typically divided into a number of cells and, therefore, are often referred to as cellular systems. The user can access the communication system via a suitable communication device or terminal. User communication devices are often referred to as users Device (UE). The communication device has an appropriate signal receiving and transmitting device to enable communication, for example, to access a communication network or to communicate directly with other users. The communication device can access a carrier provided by a station (e.g., a base station or a cell) and transmit and/or receive communications on the carrier.

Communication systems and associated devices typically operate in accordance with established standards or specifications that are used to describe the various entities that are associated with the system that are permitted to be performed and how that event is completed. Communication protocols and/or parameters for the connection are also typically defined. An example of an attempt to solve the problem of increased capacity demand is an architecture called Long Term Evolution (LTE) called Global Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio access technology. LTE is standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The various stages of development of the 3GPP LTE specifications are called releases.

In a first aspect, a method is provided, comprising: receiving at least one first information element at a user equipment; determining a plurality of configurations of a control channel associated with a first cell based on the at least one first information element Using at least one of one of a plurality of configurations of one of the control channels associated with a second cell; and using the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell At least one of the causes facilitates uplink control channel transmission, wherein the configuration for the at least one control channel depends on the decision.

The first cell may include a primary cell and the second cell may include a secondary cell.

A configuration can include an uplink control information profile.

The uplink control information profile may define a control channel format type, a resource index associated with a control channel format type, spatial bundling information, carrier bundling information, and time domain bundling information ( Time domain bundling information) and at least one of the downlink cell information involved.

The method can include determining which of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell to use based on the priority information.

The method can include determining which of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell to use based on the at least one first information element.

Each of the at least one first information element can include at least one bit of the downlink allocation information.

The first cell can be associated with a first group of cells, and the second cell can be associated with a second group of cells.

The first group of cells may be associated with one of a primary cell and a primary cell.

The at least one first information element may include first information received from at least one of a primary cell and a primary cell.

In a second aspect, a method is provided, comprising: causing at least one first information element to be transmitted from at least one of a first cell and a second cell to a user equipment, the at least one first information element indication a plurality of uplink control channels associated with one other cell One of the configurations; and receiving the uplink control channel transmission using the control channel associated with a different cell, wherein the configuration for the at least one uplink control channel depends on the indication.

The first cell may be a primary cell and the second cell may be a primary cell.

A configuration can include an uplink control information profile.

The uplink control information profile may define a control channel format type, a resource index associated with a control channel format type, spatial bundling information, carrier bundling information, time domain bundling information, and downlink cell information involved. At least one.

The at least one first information element can indicate a control channel associated with the first cell or a control channel associated with the second cell.

The at least one first information element may include at least one bit of the downlink allocation information.

The first cell can be associated with a first group of cells, and the second cell can be associated with a second group of cells.

The individual cell may be the first cell or the second cell.

The first group of cells may be associated with one of a primary cell and a primary cell.

In a third aspect, an apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising a means for receiving at least one first information element at a user equipment; a means for determining, based on the first information, a first cell At least one of a plurality of configurations of one of the plurality of configurations of the control channel and one of the plurality of configurations of the control channel associated with a second cell; and a means for using the first cell At least one of the control channels associated with the second cell facilitates uplink control channel transmission, wherein the configuration for the at least one control channel is dependent on the decision.

The first cell may include a primary cell and the second cell may include a primary cell.

A configuration can include an uplink control information profile.

The uplink control information profile may define a control channel format type, a resource index associated with a control channel format type, spatial bundling information, carrier bundling information, time domain bundling information, and downlink cell information involved. At least one.

The apparatus can include determining which of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell to use based on the priority information.

The apparatus can include determining which of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell to use based on the at least one first information element.

The at least one first information may include at least one bit of the downlink allocation information.

The first cell can be associated with a first group of cells, and the second cell can be associated with a second group of cells.

The first group of cells may be associated with one of a primary cell and a primary cell.

The at least one first information element may include first information received from at least one of a primary cell and a primary cell.

In a fourth aspect, an apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising a means for causing at least one first information element to be transmitted from at least one of a first cell and a second cell to a user equipment, the at least one An information element indicating one of a plurality of configurations of an uplink control channel associated with a different cell; and a means for receiving an uplink control channel transmission using the control channel associated with a different cell, The configuration for the at least one uplink control channel depends on the indication.

The first cell may be a primary cell and the second cell may be a primary cell.

A configuration can include an uplink control information profile.

The uplink control information profile may define a control channel format type, a resource index associated with a control channel format type, spatial bundling information, carrier bundling information, time domain bundling information, and downlink cell information involved. At least one.

The at least one first information element can indicate a control channel associated with the first cell or a control channel associated with the second cell.

The at least one first information element may include at least one bit of the downlink allocation information.

The first cell can be associated with a first group of cells, and the second cell can be associated with a second group of cells.

The individual cell may be the first cell or the second cell.

The first group of cells may be associated with one of a primary cell and a primary cell.

In a fifth aspect, an apparatus is provided, comprising: at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory comprising a computer code, the at least one memory and the computer code and the at least one processing The devices are configured together to cause the apparatus to: at least: receive at least one first information element at a user equipment; and determine one of a plurality of configurations of a control channel associated with a first cell based on the at least one first information element And at least one of a plurality of configurations of a control channel associated with a second cell; and using at least one of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell Promoting uplink control channel transmission, wherein the configuration for the at least one control channel depends on the decision.

The first cell may include a primary cell and the second cell may include a primary cell.

A configuration can include an uplink control information profile.

The uplink control information profile may define a control channel format type, a resource index associated with a control channel format type, spatial bundling information, carrier bundling information, time domain bundling information, and downlink cell information involved. At least one.

The apparatus can be configured to determine which of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell to use based on the priority information.

The apparatus can be configured to determine which of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell to use based on the at least one first information element.

The at least one first information element may include at least one bit of the downlink allocation information.

The first cell can be associated with a first group of cells, and the second cell can be associated with a second group of cells.

The first group of cells may be associated with one of a primary cell and a primary cell.

The at least one first information element may include first information received from at least one of a primary cell and a primary cell.

In a sixth aspect, an apparatus is provided, comprising: at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory comprising a computer code, the at least one memory and the computer code and the at least one processing Configuring, together, causing the apparatus to cause at least one first information element to be transmitted from at least one of a first cell and a second cell to a user equipment, the at least one first information element indicating associated with a different cell And one of a plurality of configurations of one of the uplink control channels; and receiving, by the control channel associated with the other cell, an uplink control channel transmission, wherein the configuration for the at least one uplink control channel Decide on the instructions.

The first cell may be a primary cell and the second cell may be a primary cell.

A configuration can include an uplink control information profile.

The uplink control information profile may define a control channel format type, a resource index associated with a control channel format type, spatial bundling information, carrier bundling information, time domain bundling information, and downlink cell information involved. At least one.

The at least one first information element can indicate a control channel associated with the first cell or a control channel associated with the second cell.

The at least one first information element may include at least one bit of the downlink allocation information.

The first cell can be associated with a first group of cells, and the second cell can be associated with a second group of cells.

The individual cell may be the first cell or the second cell.

The first group of cells may be associated with one of a primary cell and a primary cell.

In a seventh aspect, a computer program is provided for inclusion in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer program including code for controlling execution of a program, the program comprising receiving at a user device At least one first information element; determining, according to the at least one first information element, one of a plurality of configurations of a control channel associated with a first cell and a plurality of control channels associated with a second cell At least one of one of the configurations; and using at least one of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell to facilitate uplink control channel transmission, wherein for the at least one The configuration of the control channel depends on this decision.

The first cell may include a primary cell and the second cell may include a primary cell.

A configuration can include an uplink control information profile.

The uplink control information profile may define a control channel format type, a resource index associated with a control channel format type, spatial bundling information, carrier bundling information, time domain bundling information, and downlink cell information involved. At least one.

The program can include determining which of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell to use based on the priority information.

The program can include determining which of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell to use based on the at least one first information element.

Each of the first information may include at least one bit of the downlink allocation information.

The first cell can be associated with a first group of cells, and the second cell can be associated with a second group of cells.

The first group of cells may be associated with one of a primary cell and a primary cell.

The at least one first information element may include first information received from at least one of a primary cell and a primary cell.

In an eighth aspect, a computer program is provided for inclusion in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer program comprising code for controlling execution of a program, the program comprising causing at least one first information The element is transmitted from at least one of a first cell and a second cell Sent to a user equipment, the at least one first information element indicating one of a plurality of configurations of an uplink control channel associated with one of the other cells and using the control channel associated with a different cell to receive the uplink Link control channel transmission; and receiving the uplink control channel transmission using the control channel associated with a different cell, wherein the configuration for the at least one uplink control channel depends on the indication.

The first cell may be a primary cell and the second cell may be a primary cell.

A configuration can include an uplink control information profile.

The uplink control information profile may define a control channel format type, a resource index associated with a control channel format type, spatial bundling information, carrier bundling information, time domain bundling information, and downlink cell information involved. At least one.

The at least one first information element can indicate a control channel associated with the first cell or a control channel associated with the second cell.

The at least one first information element may include at least one bit of the downlink allocation information.

The first cell can be associated with a first group of cells, and the second cell can be associated with a second group of cells.

The individual cell may be the first cell or the second cell.

The first group of cells may be associated with one of a primary cell and a primary cell.

In a ninth aspect, a computer program product is provided for use in a computer, the computer program product comprising, when the product is executed on the computer, for performing any of the first and second aspects The software part of the step of the program.

In the above, many different embodiments have been described. It is to be understood that additional embodiments may be provided by a combination of any two or more of the embodiments described above.

100‧‧‧Wireless communication system

102‧‧‧Mobile communication devices or user equipment

104‧‧‧Mobile communication devices or user equipment

105‧‧‧Mobile communication devices or user equipment

106‧‧‧Base station

107‧‧‧Base station

108‧‧‧Control device

109‧‧‧Control device

111‧‧‧ gateway

112‧‧‧ gateway

113‧‧‧Communication network

116‧‧‧Base station

118‧‧‧Base station

120‧‧‧Base station

200‧‧‧Communication device

201‧‧‧Data processing entity

202‧‧‧ memory

203‧‧‧ components

204‧‧‧Board or chipset

205‧‧‧Keypad

206‧‧‧Transceiver

207‧‧‧Air or radio interface

208‧‧‧ display

300‧‧‧ device

301‧‧‧ memory

302‧‧‧Data Processing Unit

303‧‧‧ Data Processing Unit

304‧‧‧Input/Output Interface

1000‧‧‧ device

1010‧‧ means

1020‧‧ means

1030‧‧ means

1100‧‧‧ device

1110‧‧ means

1120‧‧ means

Embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an example communication system including a base station and a plurality of communication devices; FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an example mobile communication device; The figure shows a flow chart of an example method for providing an elastic PUCCH configuration in carrier aggregation; FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an example method for providing an elastic PUCCH configuration in carrier aggregation; and FIG. 5 shows an example of a cell grouping according to PUCCH allocation. . Figure 6 shows an example of prioritization in the case of two PUCCH configurations; Figure 7 shows an example of a UCI (Uplink Control Information) configuration that the UE may be configured; Figure 8 shows UCI that may be configured by the UE (upstream) Link control information) an example of configuration; Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of an example control device; Figure 10 shows a schematic of an example device; Figure 11 shows a schematic of an example device.

Before describing the examples in detail, some general principles of a wireless communication system and a plurality of mobile communication devices are briefly illustrated in accordance with Figures 1 through 2 to facilitate understanding of the techniques underlying the examples.

In the wireless communication system 100 as shown in FIG. 1, wireless access is provided to a plurality of mobile communication devices or user equipments (UEs) 102, 104 via at least one base station or similar wireless transmission and/or reception node or point, 105. The base station is typically controlled by at least one appropriate control device to enable the operation of the base stations and the management of communications between the plurality of mobile communication devices and the base stations. The control device can be located in a wireless access network (e.g., wireless communication system 100) or in a core network (not shown) and can be implemented as a central device or can distribute its functionality to several devices. in. The control device can be part of the base station and/or be provided by an individual entity such as a radio network controller. In Fig. 1, display control devices 108 and 109 control individual large base stations 106 and 107. The control device typically has a memory capacity and at least one data processor. The control device and functions can be distributed among a plurality of control units. In some systems, the control device can be additionally provided in a radio network controller. The control device can provide the device as described in Fig. 8.

However, it can be considered that the LTE system has a so-called "flat" architecture without a supply of RNCs; rather, (e)NB and System Architecture Evolution Gateway (SAE-GW) and Action Management Entity (MME) Communication, these entities can also be combined, which means that these nodes can serve multiple (group) (e) NBs. Only one MME and/or S-GW serves each UE at a time, and (e)NB follows the current allocation. The SAE-GW is a "high-level" user plane core network element in LTE, which can be composed of S-GW and P-GW (service gateway and packet data network gateway, respectively). The functions of the S-GW and the P-GW are separate and they do not need to be in the same location.

In FIG. 1, base stations 106 and 107 are shown connected to a wider communication network 113 via gateway 112. Another gateway function can be provided to connect to another network.

The small base stations 116, 118 and 120 can also be connected to the network 113, for example, by a gateway function and/or via a controller of the large stations. The base stations 116, 118, and 120 can be pico or femto level base stations or the like. In this example, the stations 116 and 118 are connected via a gateway 111, however the station 120 is connected via the control device 108. In some specific examples, a small station may not be set up.

One possible mobile communication device will now be described in more detail with respect to FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 2 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a communication device 200. Such communication devices are often referred to as User Equipment (UE) or terminals. The appropriate mobile communication device can be provided by any device capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals. Non-limiting examples include mobile stations (MS) or mobile devices, such as mobile phones or so-called "smart phones", computers with wireless interface cards or other wireless interface devices (eg, USB dongles), personal data assistants (PDA) or have wireless A tablet of communication capabilities or any combination thereof or the like. The mobile communication device can provide, for example, communication for carrying data such as voice, e-mail, text information, multimedia, and the like. Thus, many of their services can be provided via the user's communication device. Non-limiting examples of such services include two-way or multi-way calls, data communication or multimedia services, or simply access to a data communication network system like the Internet. User broadcast or multicast material can also be provided. Non-limiting examples of content include downloads, television and radio programs, videos, advertisements, various alert signals, and other information.

The mobile device 200 can receive signals over an air or radio interface 207 via appropriate means for receiving and can transmit signals via appropriate means for transmitting radio signals. In Fig. 2, the transceiver is schematically represented by block 206. The transceiver 206 can be provided, for example, by a radio component and associated antenna device. The antenna device can be disposed inside or outside the mobile device.

The mobile device typically has at least one data processing entity 201, at least one memory 202, and software for it to be designed to perform the work (including access to and access to the access network and the mass communication device). And other possible components 203 of hardware assisted execution. The data processing, storage, and other associated control devices can be disposed on a suitable circuit board and/or in a chip set. This feature is represented by component symbol 204. The user can control the operation of the mobile device by a suitable user interface such as keypad 205, voice commands, touch screen or board, combinations thereof or the like. A display 208, a speaker and a microphone can also be provided. Furthermore, the mobile communication device can be included to other devices A suitable connector (wired or wireless) that is placed and/or used to connect external accessories (eg, hands-free devices).

The communication devices 102, 104, 105 can access the communication system in accordance with various access technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA) or wideband CDMA (WCDMA). Other non-limiting examples include time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), and interleaved frequency division multiple access (IFDMA), single carrier multiple access (SC-FDMA), and quadrature multiple input. Various schemes of FDMA (OFDMA), sub-space multiple access (SDMA), and the like.

An example of a wireless communication system is an architecture standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The latest 3GPP development is often referred to as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology of the Global System for Mobile Communications (UMTS) radio access technology. The various stages of development of the 3GPP specifications are called releases. Recent developments in LTE are often referred to as Long Term Evolution Technology Upgrade (LTE-A). LTE uses an action architecture called the Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN). The base stations of such systems are referred to as evolved or enhanced Node Bs (eNBs) and provide such user plane radio link control/indirect access control/physical layer protocol (RLC/MAC/PHY) and control to such communication devices. E-UTRAN function terminated by the Planar Radio Resource Control (RRC) Agreement. Other examples of wireless access systems include those provided by base stations based on systems such as Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and/or WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). The base station can provide coverage of similar radio service areas throughout the cell.

UL and/or in the same frame structure (FDD-FDD or TDD-TDD) has been adopted in the Long Term Evolution Technology Upgrade (LTE Rel. 10) An LTE Carrier Aggregation (CA) architecture supporting up to five component carriers in the DL, assuming that the cell/carrier does have a fast (near-ideal) backhaul connection.

In Rel. 11, the CA architecture has been extended by supporting TDD cross-frequency carrier aggregation with different UL-DL configurations, and in addition, the CA architecture can make different carriers belonging to different time-referencing groups (TAGs) Timing advance values are possible and can improve UL carrier aggregation support.

In Rel. 12, TDD-FDD carrier aggregation has been employed, which can support aggregation of carriers with different frame structures, that is, a single user can aggregate resources of FDD & TDD carriers.

Dual-connectivity support has been employed in Rel. 12, which enables resource aggregation of cells that do not have ideal (fast) backhaul transmission connections between different cells or groups of cells. A primary eNB (MeNB) can support one of the groups of cells, and a primary eNB (SeNB) can support other groups of cells. Here, additional support for dual PUCCH operation may be provided, where individual UL Control Channels (PUCCHs) are provided for the primary eNB (MeNB) and the secondary eNB (SeNB). In these MeNB and SeNB cell groups, normal carrier aggregation operations are also possible.

The limit limit of the five component carriers is in particular a further LET CA configuration for DL carrier aggregation operations. Therefore, the CA architecture needs to be extended to support a large number of component carriers.

An extension of the CA architecture of more than 5 carriers can provide an opportunity for operators to more efficiently utilize the available spectrum required for communication.

Not all CA aspects extend directly with the increase in the number of component carriers. As an example, if the number of UEs and/or aggregated CCs that can be CA is increased, the cell that is a PCell may be particularly heavily loaded in the UL. This is because only the PCell is implemented with primary functions, such as PUCCH transmission. An increase in the number of supported component carriers may require a greater increase in the required PUCCH payload size per CA UE, which may affect the PCell UL load due to an increase in the number of CA UEs. Having all of the PUCCH transmissions in the PCell UL may significantly increase the UL overhead and performance that may particularly affect non-CA UEs.

In this case, the PCell changing between the large cell and a small cell served by the RRH can allocate PUCCH resources of the UEs in the network and can solve the overload problem. However, this small cell deployment requires more careful cell planning since UE mobility is managed via the small cell. This may reduce the benefit of installing a small cell device like an RRH in a simple manner.

In Rel-12, dual connectivity (DC) is developed in which the UE may be required to support UL-CA with simultaneous PUCCH/PUCCH and PUCCH/PUSCH transmissions throughout the group of cells (CGs).

Specifically, for deployment in carrier aggregation, support for PUCCH on the SCell of the CA can be considered critical. From the perspective of the physical layer, CA's dual connectivity UCI feedback mechanism can be reused. Furthermore, the PUCCH on the SCell for CA can reduce the load in terms of an increase in the number of DL carriers that the PUCCH considers to be aggregated.

The use of PUCCH or dual PUCCH on the SCell to support CA extensions of a large number of component carriers (eg, up to 32) may also require enhancement of HARQ-ACK feedback and CSI feedback carried on a single UL carrier. Such enhancements may improve CA operations, particularly for TDD PCell, which may have faced limitations on PDSCH HARQ-ACK feedback even though there are 3 component carriers.

As of Rel-10, the basic assumption in LTE carrier aggregation is to provide HARQ-ACK feedback for all configured DL carriers regardless of whether those carriers are actually scheduled or even started. The only exception is when the user has a PDSCH arranged only on the PCell: in this case, using the PUCCH format 1a/b, only the HARQ-ACK feedback is provided to the PCell.

As a result, even if the eNodeB chooses to schedule, for example, one (SCell) or two DL cells at that time, the PUCCH burden is often increased to the maximum. This may not be significant when the number of carriers is only up to five. However, when the number of configured DL carriers is increased, for example, up to 32 carriers, the UL/PUCCH burden is also increased. On the other hand, it is still possible that a base station does not have all DL carriers arranged at the same time. This highlights the need for increased use of PUCCH resources.

Carrier aggregation has been used in LTE Rel-10 in the past. In the past, a new PUCCH format 3 based on the regional spread spectrum DFT-S-OFDMA was used as part of the solution. The main features of PUCCH format 3 are:

The ̇ bearer depends on the number of configured cells and the corresponding transmission mode (ie, not the number of scheduled DL cells).

̇ Clear resource allocation

The TPC field (2 bits) in the PDCCH corresponding to the PDSCH on the SCell is used as the ARI (ACK/NACK Resource Indicator).

The four values in the ARI point to the four semi-static configuration values of the PUCCH resource.

隐 Implicitly obtained PUCCH format 1a/1b resources are applied only in the case of PCell scheduling.

Currently ARI functionality may not be flexible enough to support a large number (eg, up to 32) of component carriers. Furthermore, it may not be possible to cover the case of SCell PUCCH. The following is an LTE carrier aggregation enhancement for more than 5 component carriers, including support for PUCCH on the SCell.

A method of providing an elastic PUCCH configuration in carrier aggregation is shown in FIG. The method includes: receiving, in step S1, at least one first information element; and in step S2, determining one of a plurality of configurations of a control channel associated with a first cell according to the at least one first information element And at least one of a plurality of configurations of one of the control channels associated with a second cell; and in step S3, using the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell At least one of the ones facilitates uplink control channel transmission, wherein the configuration for the at least one control channel depends on the decision.

The method can be implemented at a user device. The at least one first information element may be received from at least one of the first cell and the second cell. The first cell may be a primary cell and the second cell may be a primary cell (SCell), for example, a specific SCell (ie, a unique SCell supporting PUCCH), which is called a PSCell. In another option, The at least one first information element may be received from a cell in a cell group associated with the one cell and/or the second cell.

The method shown in Fig. 4 can be implemented in a first cell or a second cell. The method includes: in step T1, causing at least one first information element to be transmitted from at least one of a first cell and a second cell to a user equipment, the at least one first information element indicating associated with a different cell One of a plurality of configurations of one of the uplink control channels; and in step T2, receiving the uplink control channel transmission using the control channel associated with a different cell, wherein the at least one uplink is used The configuration of the way control channel depends on this indication.

The individual cell may be one of the first cell and the second cell. The first cell may be a primary cell and the second cell may be a primary cell, which are used, for example, in a CA. The secondary cell may be a specific SCell (ie, the only SCell that supports PUCCH) and may be referred to as a PSCell. In another option, the first cell and/or the second cell may be a cell in a group of cells associated with the individual cell (e.g., a PCell or PSCell).

The uplink control channel can include uplink control information (UCI) transmissions.

The configuration for a control channel can be one UCI profile for a PUCCH configuration. The association of a configuration with a first or second cell may include mapping of the PUCCH configuration to the individual first or second cell.

The UE can transmit according to two control channel configurations. The UE may be via a predetermined control channel, eg, depending on the configuration associated with the PSCell Configure to transfer UCI and discard another configuration (for example, about PCell configuration).

More than one PUCCH configuration may be provided to the CA UE. In some embodiments, the CA operation follows a predetermined packet of 16 cells as shown in FIG. 5, for a particular instance of the two groups, each group has a PUCCH configuration and each group contains 8 DL component carriers. The packet of the cell shown in FIG. 5 is an example; any number of cells may be configured on the DL side, and two or more cells are configured on the UL side. Packets may contain certain restrictions, for example, DL cross-carrier scheduling can occur only in a group of births. One of the PUCCH configurations may be associated with or mapped to a first cell, eg, a PCell (Group #1). Another PUCCH configuration may be associated (eg, mapped) to a second cell, eg, a predetermined SCell. The predetermined SCell may be referred to as a PSCell. The PSCell can be located in group #2. The first information element may be received from the PCell or the PSCell or from a cell in a group of cells associated with the first cell or the second cell (e.g., a PCell or PSCell).

In the case where the CA is configured for the UE for the first time, the at least one first information element is from the PCell, because the configuration about an SCell may not be transmitted before the CA is configured. On the other hand, the potential reconfiguration of the PUCCH association (PUCCH profile) can be transmitted over the PDSCH of any SCell.

Figure 6 shows an example UCI configuration for PCell and PSCell with two fixed PUCCH configurations, each configured with a single fixed UCI profile. In the following example, the first cell is a PCell and the second cell is a PScell. Each PUCCH configuration can have multiple (eg UCI profiles configured or defined as 4 or 8). The at least one first information element may be a predetermined bit in a DL resource allocation grant (eg, ARI). The eNB may indicate the selected UCI profile to the UE via the ARI (or some other predetermined bit included in the DL resource allocation grant). The UE may then determine an selected UCI profile for one of the PUCCH configurations for one of the other calls based on the at least one information element, ie, one of the plurality of configurations associated with the first cell and the second cell One of a plurality of associated configurations. Figure 7 shows an example UCI configuration for PCell and PSCell, where only cells with PUCCH are scheduled in that PUCCH profile, in addition to format 1a/1b fallback, 2-bit is used. The ARI indicates one of four different UCI profiles.

A UCI profile may define, for example, a PUCCH format type (eg, except for an additional new and/or larger PUCCH format type, which may be referred to as format x, eg, format 4 as shown in FIG. 7, and an image format 1a/1b, existing LTE PUCCH format of format 3), resource index of a given PUCCH format type, possible bundling scheme, for example, spatial bundling and/or carrier/time domain bundling.

The UCI profile can define the DL cell involved. The DL cell involved is a DL cell for transmission of ACK/NACK in the UCI profile. A DL cell may be part of a multiple UCI profile/PUCCH configuration. This can contribute to the dynamic adaptation of the UCI bearer size. This may require different UCI profiles to be configured with different cell combinations. This can help the PUCCH cell to dynamically select according to the scheduling decision of the eNB. This may require some cells to have two PUCCH configurations. Part of it. This can facilitate UCI diversity transmission via two PUCCH cells (again depending on the PUCCH configuration).

A cell may be part of the first control channel configuration and the second control channel configuration. For example, DL cell association can be defined in accordance with at least one of the following principles.

̇ One-to-one mapping, where a DL cell is part of exactly one configuration (ie, Pcell configuration or Scell configuration).

̇ One-to-many mapping, where a DL cell can be part of a Pcell configuration and an Scell configuration.

There are different options available to deliver UCI. For example, the Pcell PUCCH and the PScell PUCCH can be transmitted in accordance with the current UCI profile defined by the ARI.

Another alternative is to transmit, for example, the PSCell PUCCH in accordance with exactly one UCI profile defined by the ARI. Another PUCCH (in this case, Pcell) can be discarded.

The number of ARI bits can be, for example, 2 or 3. The ARI may use TPC bits or some other bits included in the DL allocation. In another option or in addition, additional bits may be introduced into the PDCCH/EPDCCH DL allocation.

Configuring a cell group may provide eNB resilient configuration choices (because the ARI bit or other bits included in the DL resource allocation grant indicate each of the two PUCCH configurations in the example of FIG. 6 UCI profile).

These ARI bits/fields can be extended, but the ARI will use 2 TPC bits for each license. The TPC bit on some Schedules of Scells provides certain ARI bits. The association between the ARI bit and the DL SCells can be configured via a higher layer. The ARI field consists of TPC bits of multiple schedule licenses. The default value of the ARI bit is predetermined. The preset value can be used without signaling/receiving the ARI bit value. If the eNB needs to minimize the error condition, the transmit ARI bit value can be changed according to a preset value only when the ARI bit is signaled via a plurality of DL schedule grants.

A resource pool for each PUCCH configuration may be configured via higher layer signaling (RRC). The cell involved may be signaled, for example via a bitmap or explicitly indicating the cell involved, to signal the cell association of each UCI profile/PUCCH configuration. The configuration of the UCI profile and the PUCCH configuration may be UE-specific.

In particular, when a cell is part of a plurality of UCI configurations (as shown in Figures 7 and 8), priority rules may be needed to improve efficiency. When the ARI on the first cell group scheduling grant indicates a UCI profile from the first PUCCH configuration and the ARI from the second PUCCH configuration indicates another UCI profile on the second cell group scheduling permission, Apply priority rules. In the example shown in FIG. 7, even if the UE receives the PDSCH via two groups (see FIG. 6), it can transmit the UCI only via the Scell (or PCell). This is achievable because one of the UCI profiles involved (in this example, UCI profile SCell_Y) can be transmitted corresponding to all involved DL cells. HARQ-ACK. This option can be thought of as a way to offload UCI from PCell to SCell.

This specification can define some priority rules (if not all).

For example, regarding a PCcell that facilitates PUCCH offloading, PSCell can be prioritized. An alternative may be to configure at least a portion of the priority rules by the eNB.

In an embodiment, the configuration for the at least one control channel depends on a predetermined priority rule. The priority criteria can only be applied if certain specifications are met: for example, if the priority PUCCH configuration transmits HARQ-ACKs for all scheduled cells, another PUCCH can be discarded. Another exemplary criterion for applying this priority rule is to list all scheduled DL cells as the involved DL cells in the priority UCI profile (if not, use the two PUCCH configurations defined by the ARI in the UCI transmission) . The priority rule may also consider other signals transmitted via the same subframe (eg, different priorities with or without simultaneous periodic CSI).

An example of a possible configuration using a priority rule is shown in FIG.

In this example, there are up to 2 cell groups; group #1: cell 0-cell 7 and group #2: cell 8 - cell 15. There are two PUCCH configurations in this example; the PCell PUCCH configuration is mapped to the uplink of cell 0 and the PSCell PUCCH configuration is mapped to the uplink of cell 8.

There are 4 UCI profiles in each PUCCH configuration (the number of ARI bits is equal to 2).

The eNodeB includes the ARI in each DL allocation schedule cell #0...#15, which indicates the UCI profile to be applied. The ARI may not exist in the PDCCH allocation corresponding to the Pcell (or the PSCell). Those bits can be used as TPC bits. The UE may consider the eNodeB to signal the same ARI value in the PDCCH allocation corresponding to cells belonging to the same group.

In a first example, the eNodeB schedules all 16 cells (0-15). The ARI in the PDCCH allocation transmitted on the cell belonging to the group #1 is set to "11". The ARI in the PDCCH allocation transmitted on the cell belonging to the group #2 is set to "11". The predetermined priority rule is defined: sufficient to transmit on the PSCell (abandon Pcell) according to UCI Profile 1.

In a second example, the eNodeB only schedules 4 cells from group #1 (eg, #0, #1, #3, #5) and there are no cells from group #2. The eNodeB selects the ARI as follows: the ARI in the PDCCH allocation transmitted on the cell belonging to the group #1 is set to "10". The UE reserves space for the HARQ Ack/Nack of 6 cells, but only transmits HARQ for the 4 cells scheduled. The UE signals "NACK" for the remainder of the DL cell that is part of the UCI profile. PUCCH format 3 and resource "B" are used on the PCell.

In a third embodiment, the eNodeB arranges cells #1 and #8. The eNodeB selects the ARI as follows: transmitting the cell #1 The ARI in the PDCCH allocation is set to "00". Accordingly, PUCCH format 3 (on resource D) is transmitted on the PCell PUCCH. Since cell #8 is a PSCell, there is no ARI in the PDCCH DL allocation. When the PSCell is not part of the UCI profile indicated by the ARI on cell #1, the implicit decision PUCCH format 1a/b on the PSCell PUCCH is used for HARQ-ACK feedback for cell #8.

In addition, or as an alternative to the use of the priority rule, the at least one first information element may indicate a control channel. An eNB may select a PUCCH configuration and a UCI profile to be used by the UE and signal the PUCCH configuration and the UCI profile to the UE via the ARI. This selection may not require a predetermined packet of cells between the Pcell and the Pscell. The PUCCH configuration is associated with the UCI profile for each ARI value via higher layer signaling. One or more PUCCH configurations may be associated with a UCI profile for an ARI value or some other predetermined bit included in a DL resource allocation grant, in which case the UE is dependent on the ARI value (or in the DL resource allocation) The UCI profile associated with some of the other predetermined bits included in the license) transmits the PUCCH on the PCell and PSCell.

An example of a possible implementation of this embodiment is depicted in FIG. In this example, there are two PUCCH configurations; the PCell PUCCH configuration is mapped to the uplink of cell 0; the PSCell PUCCH configuration is mapped to the uplink of cell 8. There are two UCI profiles in the PCell PUCCH configuration and six UCI configurations in the PSCell PUCCH configuration (this can provide more flexible support for PUCCH offload). In this example, the at least one first information element is an ARI. The eNodeB will expand An ARI of up to 3 bits is included in each DL allocation schedule cell #0...#15, which indicates the UCI profile and PUCCH configuration to be applied. The ARI may not exist in the PDCCH allocation corresponding to the Pcell (or PSCell).

The proposed solution provides a reasonable way for more dynamic HARQ-ACK codebook adaptation, which can be viewed as a performance booster compared to current solutions. When a relatively small number of DL cells are arranged, a better PUCCH reliability can be achieved.

Embodiments may facilitate more efficient use of PUCCH resources. Moreover, they can maximize the similarity to current solutions. For example, the method can be compatible with current PUCCH formats. This method is compatible with current PUCCH format 3 resource allocation.

Embodiments may support the new PUCCH format developed when extending CA capabilities. Embodiments or licenses apply to TDD and FDD.

Various eNB implementation options can be supported, for example, an eNB implementation option with completely independent processing between group #1 and group #2. This maximizes the implementation synergy with dual connectivity. Another option is the best UCI for carrier aggregation. In this method, the UCI between group #1 and group #2 has an overlap.

It can be on a device such as a node, a host, or a server, or in a unit, module, or the like that provides a control function as shown in FIG. 9 or on a mobile device as shown in FIG. 2 (or a unit in a mobile device). In the module, the module, etc.) the embodiment described above with reference to Figures 1 to 8 is implemented. Figure 9 shows An example of such a device. In some embodiments, a base station includes an individual unit or module for performing control functions. In other embodiments, such control functions may be provided by, for example, a radio network controller or a spectrum controller. The apparatus 300 can be configured to provide control of communications in a service area of the system. The device 300 includes at least one memory 301, at least one data processing unit 302, 303, and an input/output interface 304. The control device can be coupled to the receiver and transmitter of the base station via the interface. The receiver and/or the transmitter can be implemented with a radio front end or a remote radio head. For example, the apparatus 300 can be configured to execute appropriate software code to provide control functionality. The control function may include at least receiving at least one first information element at a user equipment; determining one of a plurality of configurations of a control channel associated with a first cell according to the at least one first information element and At least one of a plurality of configurations of one of the control channels associated with the second cell; and using at least one of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell to facilitate uplink The way to control channel transmission, wherein the configuration for the at least one control channel depends on the decision. In another option or in addition, the controlling function can include causing the at least one first information element to be transmitted from at least one of the first cell and the second cell to a user equipment, the at least one first information element indicating One of a plurality of configurations of an uplink control channel associated with an individual cell; and receiving an uplink control channel transmission using a control channel associated with a different cell, wherein the at least one uplink control channel is used The configuration depends on the indication.

An example of the apparatus 1000 shown in FIG. 10 includes a means 1010 for receiving at least one first information element at a user equipment; and means 1030 for deciding one of associated with a first cell based on the at least one first information element At least one of a plurality of configurations of one of a plurality of configurations of the control channel and one of the control channels associated with a second cell; and means 1020 for use with the first cell and the first At least one of the control channels associated with the two cells facilitates uplink control channel transmission, wherein the configuration for the at least one control channel depends on the decision. The device may be adapted to be included in a user device.

An example of the device 1100 shown in FIG. 11 may include a means 1110 for causing at least one first information element to be transmitted from at least one of a first cell and a second cell to a user equipment, the at least one first The information element indicates one of a plurality of configurations of an uplink control channel associated with an alternate cell; and a means 1120 for receiving the uplink control channel transmission using the control channel associated with a different cell The configuration for the at least one uplink control channel depends on the indication. The device may be adapted to be included in a base station.

It should be appreciated that the apparatus can include or be coupled to other units or modules or the like for transmitting and/or receiving like radio parts or radio head equipment. Although the device has been described in terms of one entity, different modules and memories may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities.

It is noted that although embodiments have been described with respect to LTE, similar principles can be applied to any other communication system or radio access technology. Embodiments are generally applicable where carrier aggregation is supported. therefore, Although certain embodiments have been described above by way of example with respect to certain example architectures of wireless networks, technologies, and standards, embodiments may be applied to a communication system other than any other suitable form described herein.

It is also noted that while the embodiments are described above, several variations and modifications can be made to the disclosed solutions without departing from the scope of the invention.

In general, the various embodiments can be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic circuits, or any combination thereof. Some aspects of the invention may be implemented in hardware, however, other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software that may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the invention is not limited thereto. Although various aspects of the invention are described in block diagrams, flow diagrams, or in some other graphical representations, it should be understood that hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic circuits, general purpose hardware or control may be utilized. The blocks or devices, systems, techniques, or methods described herein are non-limiting examples.

Computer software (eg, in the processor entity) executable by a data processor, at least one data processing unit, or a program of a base station (eg, an eNB) or a UE, or by hardware The embodiments described above with respect to Figures 1 through 8 are implemented by a combination of software and hardware. The computer software or program can be stored in any device readable data storage medium or distribution medium, which is also called a program product, which includes software routines, applets and/or applets. Or macros, and they include program instructions to perform specific tasks. a device readable data storage medium Or the distribution media can be a non-transitory media. A computer program product can include one or more computer executable components that, when executed, are configured to implement the embodiments. The one or more computer executable components can be at least one software code or portions thereof.

In addition, it should be noted that any blocks of logic flow in the drawings may represent program steps or interconnected logic circuits, blocks and functions or combinations of program steps and logic circuits, blocks and functions. The software can be stored in a physical medium such as a memory chip or a memory block implemented in the processor, a magnetic medium such as a hard disk or a floppy disk, and an optical like DVD and its data variants, CD. In the media. The physical media is a non-transitory media.

The memory can be of any type suitable for use in a local technical environment and can be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, and removable memory. body. The data processors may be of any type suitable for use in a local technical environment and may include one or more general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). , FPGAs, gate level circuits, and processors based on multi-core processor architectures are non-limiting examples.

The embodiments described above with respect to Figures 1 through 8 can be implemented in various components like an integrated circuit module. The design of the integrated circuit is generally a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available to convert the logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate.

The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting example However, various modifications and adaptations will become apparent to those skilled in the <RTIgt; However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of the present invention will still fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Rather, there is another embodiment that includes a combination of one or more of the foregoing embodiments and any other embodiments.

Claims (32)

A method, comprising: receiving at least one first information element at a user equipment; determining one of a plurality of configurations of a control channel associated with a first cell and one according to the at least one first information element At least one of a plurality of configurations of one of the control channels associated with the second cell; and using at least one of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell to facilitate uplink The link control channel transmits, wherein the configuration for the at least one control channel depends on the decision. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the configurations includes an uplink control information profile. The method of claim 2, wherein the uplink control information profile defines a control channel format type, a resource index associated with a control channel format type, spatial bundling information, carrier bundling information, time domain bundling information, and related At least one of downlink cell information. A method as in any preceding claim, comprising determining which of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell is to be used based on the priority information. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising determining which one of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell is to be used in accordance with the at least one first information element. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one first information element comprises at least one bit of downlink allocation information. A method as in any preceding claim, wherein the first cell is associated with a first group of cells and the second cell is associated with a second group of cells. The method of claim 7, wherein the first group of cells is associated with one of a primary cell and a primary cell. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one first information element comprises first information received from at least one of a primary cell and a primary cell. A method, comprising: causing at least one first information element to be transmitted from at least one of a first cell and a second cell to a user equipment, the at least one first information element indicating one of associated with a different cell One of a plurality of configurations of the uplink control channel; and receiving the uplink control channel transmission using the control channel associated with a different cell, wherein the configuration for the at least one uplink control channel depends on The instructions. In the method of claim 10, one of the configurations includes an uplink control information profile. The method of claim 11, wherein the uplink control information profile defines a control channel format type, a resource index associated with a control channel format type, spatial bundling information, carrier bundling information, time domain bundling information, and related At least one of downlink cell information. The method of any one of clauses 10 to 12, wherein the at least one first information element indicates a control channel associated with the first cell or a control channel associated with the second cell. The method of any one of clauses 10 to 13, wherein the first cell is associated with a first group of cells and the second cell is associated with a second group of cells. The method of claim 14, wherein the first group of cells is associated with one of a primary cell and a primary cell. A device comprising means for implementing the method of any one of claims 1 to 15. A computer program product for use in a computer, the computer program product comprising a software code portion for performing the steps of any one of claims 1 to 15 when the product is executed on the computer. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory comprising a computer code, the at least one memory and the computer code being configured with the at least one processor to cause the device to at least Receiving at least one first information element; determining, according to the at least one first information element, one of a plurality of configurations of a control channel associated with a first cell and a control channel associated with a second cell At least one of the plurality of configurations; and using at least one of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell to facilitate uplink control channel transmission, wherein The configuration of at least one control channel depends on the decision. In the apparatus of claim 18, one of the configurations includes an uplink control information profile. The device of claim 19, wherein the uplink control information profile defines a control channel format type, a resource index associated with a control channel format type, spatial bundling information, carrier bundling information, time domain bundling information, and related At least one of downlink cell information. The apparatus of any one of claims 18 to 20, configured to determine which of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell is used based on the priority information. The apparatus of any one of claims 18 to 20, configured to determine which of the control channels associated with the first cell and the second cell is to be used in accordance with the at least one first information element. The apparatus of any one of clauses 18 to 22, wherein the at least one first information element comprises at least one bit of downlink allocation information. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first cell is associated with a first group of cells, and the second cell is associated with a second group of cells. The device of claim 24, wherein the first group of cells is associated with one of a primary cell and a primary cell. The apparatus of any one of clauses 17 to 25, wherein the at least one first information element comprises first information received from at least one of a primary cell and a primary cell. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory comprising a computer code, the at least one memory and the computer code being configured with the at least one processor to cause the device to at least : And causing at least one first information element to be transmitted from at least one of a first cell and a second cell to a user equipment, the at least one first information element indicating an uplink control channel associated with one other cell One of a plurality of configurations; and receiving an uplink control channel transmission using a control channel associated with a different cell, wherein the configuration for the at least one uplink control channel is determined by the indication In the apparatus of claim 27, one of the configurations includes an uplink control information profile. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the uplink control information profile defines a control channel format type, a resource index associated with a control channel format type, spatial bundling information, carrier bundling information, time domain bundling information, and related At least one of downlink cell information. The apparatus of any one of clauses 27 to 29, wherein the at least one first information element indicates a control channel associated with the first cell or a control channel associated with the second cell. The apparatus of any one of clauses 27 to 30, wherein the first cell is associated with a first group of cells and the second cell is associated with a second group of cells. The device of claim 31, wherein the first group of cells is associated with one of a primary cell and a primary cell.