Methods for multi-point carrier aggregation configuration and data forwarding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9258809-B2
Application number	US-201313848987-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2013
Priority date	Mar 23, 2012
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

Methods of multi-point carrier aggregation configuration and data forwarding are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a primary connection is established between a UE and a primary base station in a primary cell with a first UE-ID. A second connection is configured between the UE and a second base station in a secondary cell with a second UE-ID. Component carriers from the primary and the second connections are configured and aggregated. Mobility management functions are performed on the primary connection. In another embodiment of the current invention, a first UE data is received from a primary connection with a UE connecting to a first base station, a second UE data is received from a second base station. The first UE data and the second UE data are combined. A third UE data from a network entity is distributed to the first and the second base station.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
establishing a primary connection in a primary cell belonging to a primary base station with a first UE-ID, wherein the primary cell comprises a downlink component carrier (CC) and an uplink CC;
establishing a second connection in a second cell belonging to a second base station with a second UE-ID, wherein the secondary cell comprises a downlink CC and an optional uplink CC;
aggregating component carriers based on the first UE-ID and the second UE-ID;
receiving a configuration that configures the uplink CC of the primary cell as a feedback channel for the downlink CC of the second connection; and
performing a Radio Link Monitoring (RLM) function on the primary connection and performing cell reselection when a radio link failure of the primary connection occurs.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second connection is configured through the primary connection.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein control signaling messages of Radio Resource Control (RRC) are configured to be carried on the primary connection and the second connection.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein control signaling messages of Radio Resource Control (RRC) are configured to be carried on the primary connection only.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a first UE data from the primary base station and a second UE data from the second base station;
decoding the first UE data and the second UE data independently; and
reassembling a data stream by combining the decoded first UE data and second UE data.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a first UE data from the primary base station and a second UE data from the second base station;
generating a bit stream by soft combining the first UE data and the second UE data; and
reassembling a data stream by decoding the generated bit stream.

7. A method, comprising:
establishing a primary connection in a primary cell belonging to a primary base station with a first UE-ID, wherein the primary cell comprises a downlink component carrier (CC) and an uplink CC;
establishing a second connection in a second cell belonging to a second base station with a second UE-ID, wherein the secondary cell comprises a downlink CC and an optional uplink CC;
aggregating component carriers based on the first UE-ID and the second UE-ID;
receiving a configuration that configures the uplink CC of the secondary cell as a feedback channel for the downlink CC of the second connection;
performing a Radio Link Monitoring (RLM) function on the primary connection and performing cell reselection when a radio link failure of the primary connection occurs; and
performing RLM functions on the second connection and suspending uplink transmission of the second connection when a radio link failure of the the second connection occurs.

8. A user equipment (UE), comprising:
memory that contains a set of program instructions;
a radio frequency (RF) transceiver that transmits and receives radio signals; and
a processor that executes the set of program instructions in accordance with the radio signals and thereby controls the UE to perform the steps of: establishing a primary connection in a primary cell belonging to a primary base station with a first UE-ID, wherein the primary cell comprises a downlink component carrier (CC), wherein a second connection is established in a second cell belonging to a second base station with a second UE-ID, and wherein the secondary cell comprises a downlink CC;
aggregating component carriers based on the first UE-ID and the second UE-ID;
receiving a configuration that configures an uplink CC of the primary cell as a feedback channel for the downlink CC of the second connection; and
performing a Radio Link Monitoring (RLM) function on the primary connection and performs cell reselection when a radio link failure of the primary connection occurs.

9. The UE of claim 8 , wherein the second connection is configured through the primary connection.

10. The UE of claim 8 , wherein control signaling messages of Radio Resource Control (RRC) are configured to be carried on the primary connection and the second connection.

11. The UE of claim 8 , wherein control signaling messages of Resource Control (RRC) are configured to be carried on the primary connection only.

12. The UE of claim 8 , wherein the UE receives a first UE data from the primary base station and a second UE data from the second base station, the UE further comprises:
a decoder that decodes the first UE data and the second UE data independently,
wherein the UE reassembles a data stream by combining the decoded first UE data and second UE data.

13. The UE of claim 8 , wherein the UE receives a first UE data from the primary base station and a second UE data from the second base station, the UE further comprises:
a decoder that reassembles a data stream by decoding a generated bit stream that is generated by soft combining the first UE data and the second UE data.

Assignees

• Mediatek Inc
• Mediatek Inc

Inventors

• Liao Pei-Kai
• Chen Yih-Shen

Classifications

• H04W72/20

  Control channels or signalling for resource management · CPC title

• H04W72/27

  between access points · CPC title

• H04W72/21

  in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network · CPC title

• H04W72/23

  in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal · CPC title

• H04W24/04

  Arrangements for maintaining operational condition · CPC title