Systems and methods for multi-connectivity operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9585134-B2
Application number	US-201314106626-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2013
Priority date	Dec 13, 2013
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A method for receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message by a user equipment (UE) is described. The method includes receiving an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition. In response to receiving the RRC connection reconfiguration message including SCG configuration parameters for SCG addition, the method also includes ordering, by an RRC of the UE, a medium access control (MAC) of the SCG of the UE to initiate a random access procedure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message by a user equipment (UE), comprising:
receiving an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition, wherein a medium access control (MAC) entity of a master cell group (MCG) and a MAC entity of the SCG are configured for the UE; and in response to receiving the RRC connection reconfiguration message including SCG configuration parameters for SCG addition:
ordering, by an RRC entity of the UE, the MAC entity of the SCG of the MAC entities of the MCG and the SCG of the UE, to initiate a random access procedure, the random access procedure comprising a contention resolution; and
considering the contention resolution successful, if (i) a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) MAC control element was included in message 3 (Msg. 3); and either (ii) the random access procedure was initiated by a MAC sublayer itself or by the RRC entity and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission is addressed to a C-RNTI and contains an uplink (UL) grant for a new transmission; or (iii) the random access procedure was initiated by a PDCCH order and the PDCCH transmission is addressed to the C-RNTI.

2. A method for sending a radio resource control (RRC) message by an evolved Node B (eNB), comprising:
sending an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition to a user equipment (UE), wherein a medium access control (MAC) entity of a master cell group (MCG) and a MAC entity of the SCG are configured for the UE, and the RRC connection reconfiguration message causes an RRC entity of the UE to order the MAC entity of the SCG of the MAC entities of the MCG and the SCG of the UE, to initiate a random access procedure, the random access procedure comprising a contention resolution;
sending a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission; and
causing the UE to consider the contention resolution successful, if (i) a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) MAC control element was included in message 3 (Msg. 3); and either (ii) the random access procedure was initiated by a MAC sublayer itself or by the RRC entity and the PDCCH transmission is addressed to a C-RNTI and contains an uplink (UL) grant for a new transmission; or (iii) the random access procedure was initiated by a PDCCH order and the PDCCH transmission is addressed to the C-RNTI.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising causing the UE to consider a random access procedure successfully completed, if the PDCCH transmission is addressed to the C-RNTI of the SCG of the UE.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising considering the random access procedure concerning the SCG addition for the UE successfully completed.

5. A user equipment (UE) for receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message, comprising:
a processor; and
memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein instructions stored in the memory are executable to:
receive an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition, wherein a medium access control (MAC) entity of a master cell group (MCG) and a MAC entity of the SCG are configured for the UE; and in response to receiving the RRC connection reconfiguration message including SCG configuration parameters for SCG addition:
order, by an RRC entity of the UE, the MAC entity of the SCG of the MAC entities of the MCG and the SCG of the UE, to initiate a random access procedure, the random access procedure comprising a contention resolution; and
consider the contention resolution successful, if (i) a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) MAC control element was included in message 3 (Msg. 3); and either (ii) the random access procedure was initiated by a MAC sublayer itself or by the RRC entity and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission is addressed to a C-RNTI and contains an uplink (UL) grant for a new transmission; or (iii) the random access procedure was initiated by a PDCCH order and the PDCCH transmission is addressed to the C-RNTI.

6. An evolved Node B (eNB) for sending a radio resource control (RRC) message, comprising:
a processor; and
memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein instructions stored in the memory are executable to:
send an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition to a user equipment (UE), wherein a medium access control (MAC) entity of a master cell group (MCG) and a MAC entity of the SCG are configured for the UE, and the RRC connection reconfiguration message causes an RRC entity of the UE to order the MAC entity of the SCG of the MAC entities of the MCG and the SCG of the UE, to initiate a random access procedure, the random access procedure comprising a contention resolution;
send a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission; and
cause the UE to consider the contention resolution successful, if (i) a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) MAC control element was included in message 3 (Msg. 3); and either (ii) the random access procedure was initiated by a MAC sublayer itself or by the RRC entity and the PDCCH transmission is addressed to a C-RNTI and contains an uplink (UL) grant for a new transmission; or (iii) the random access procedure was initiated by a PDCCH order and the PDCCH transmission is addressed to the C-RNTI.

7. The eNB of claim 6 , wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the UE to consider a random access procedure successfully completed, if the PDCCH transmission is addressed to the C-RNTI of the SCG of the UE.

8. The eNB of claim 7 , wherein the instructions are further executable to consider the random access procedure concerning the SCG addition for the UE successfully completed.

9. A non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium for receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message by a user equipment (UE), comprising executable instructions for:
receiving an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition, wherein a medium access control (MAC) entity of a master cell group (MCG) and a MAC entity of the SCG are configured for the UE; and in response to receiving the RRC connection reconfiguration message including SCG configuration parameters for SCG addition:
ordering, by an RRC entity of the UE, the MAC entity of the SCG of the MAC entities of the MCG and the SCG of the UE, to initiate a random access procedure, the random access procedure comprising a contention resolution; and
considering the contention resolution successful, if (i) a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) MAC control element was included in message 3 (Msg. 3); and either (ii) the random access procedure was initiated by a MAC sublayer itself or by the RRC entity and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission is addressed to a C-RNTI and contains an uplink (UL) grant for a new transmission; or (iii) the random access procedure was initiated by a PDCCH order and the PDCCH transmission is addressed to the C-RNTI.

10. A non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium for sending a radio resource control (RRC) message by an evolved Node B (eNB), comprising executable instructions for:
sending an RRC connection reconfiguration message including secondary cell group (SCG) configuration parameters for SCG addition to a user equipment (UE), wherein a medium access control (MAC) entity of a master cell group (MCG) and a MAC entity of the SCG are configured

Assignees

• Sharp Laboratories America Inc
• Sharp Kk

Inventors

• Yamada Shohei

Classifications

• H04W76/15 Primary

  Setup of multiple wireless link connections · CPC title

• H04W72/23 Primary

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

• H04W74/0841

  with collision treatment · CPC title

• H04W28/18

  Negotiating wireless communication parameters · CPC title

• H04W74/0833

  Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access · CPC title