CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/975,372, filed Oct. 27, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/225,804, filed Apr. 8, 2021 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,516,812), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/168,178, filed Oct. 23, 2018 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,013,011), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/969,682, filed Dec. 15, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,154,500), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/748,583, filed Jan. 23, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,237,537), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/590,366, filed Jan. 25, 2012, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/618,830, filed Apr. 1, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/661,329, filed Jun. 18, 2012. Each of the above patent applications and issued patents is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of several of the various embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting example sets of OFDM subcarriers as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting an example transmission time and reception time for two carriers in a carrier group as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting OFDM radio resources as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a base station and a wireless device as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting a system for transmitting data traffic over an OFDM radio system as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting uplink transmission timing of one or more cells in a first timing advance group (TAG) and a second TAG as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an example message flow in a random access process in a secondary TAG as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows example TAG configurations as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an example physical random access channel (PRACH) configuration in a primary TAG (pTAG) and a secondary TAG (sTAG) as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an example flow diagram illustrating base station signaling to schedule packets on a secondary cell as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an example flow diagram illustrating base station signaling to schedule packets on a secondary cell as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an example flow diagram illustrating signaling mechanism to configure a plurality of cells and a plurality of cell groups as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an example flow diagram illustrating a signaling mechanism to configure a plurality of cells and a plurality of cell groups as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an example flow diagram illustrating a signaling mechanism to configure pathloss reference for secondary cells in a plurality of cell groups as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Example embodiments of the present invention enable operation of multiple timing advance groups. Embodiments of the technology disclosed herein may be employed in the technical field of multicarrier communication systems. More particularly, the embodiments of the technology disclosed herein may relate to operation of multiple timing advance groups.

Example embodiments of the invention may be implemented using various physical layer modulation and transmission mechanisms. Example transmission mechanisms may include, but are not limited to: CDMA (code division multiple access), OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing), TDMA (time division multiple access), Wavelet technologies, and/or the like. Hybrid transmission mechanisms such as TDMA/CDMA, and OFDM/CDMA may also be employed. Various modulation schemes may be applied for signal transmission in the physical layer. Examples of modulation schemes include, but are not limited to: phase, amplitude, code, a combination of these, and/or the like. An example radio transmission method may implement QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) using BPSK (binary phase shift keying), QPSK (quadrature phase shift keying), 16-QAM, 64-QAM, 256-QAM, and/or the like. Physical radio transmission may be enhanced by dynamically or semi-dynamically changing the modulation and coding scheme depending on transmission requirements and radio conditions.

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting example sets of OFDM subcarriers as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in this example, arrow(s) in the diagram may depict a subcarrier in a multicarrier OFDM system. The OFDM system may use technology such as OFDM technology, SC-OFDM (single carrier-OFDM) technology, or the like. For example, arrow 101 shows a subcarrier transmitting information symbols. FIG. 1 is for illustration purposes, and a typical multicarrier OFDM system may include more subcarriers in a carrier. For example, the number of subcarriers in a carrier may be in the range of 10 to 10,000 subcarriers. FIG. 1 shows two guard bands 106 and 107 in a transmission band. As illustrated in FIG. 1, guard band 106 is between subcarriers 103 and subcarriers 104. The example set of subcarriers A 102 includes subcarriers 103 and subcarriers 104. FIG. 1 also illustrates an example set of subcarriers B 105. As illustrated, there is no guard band between any two subcarriers in the example set of subcarriers B 105. Carriers in a multicarrier OFDM communication system may be contiguous carriers, non-contiguous carriers, or a combination of both contiguous and non-contiguous carriers.

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting an example transmission time and reception time for two carriers as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. A multicarrier OFDM communication system may include one or more carriers, for example, ranging from 1 to 10 carriers. Carrier A 204 and carrier B 205 may have the same or different timing structures. Although FIG. 2 shows two synchronized carriers, carrier A 204 and carrier B 205 may or may not be synchronized with each other. Different radio frame structures may be supported for FDD (frequency division duplex) and TDD (time division duplex) duplex mechanisms. FIG. 2 shows an example FDD frame timing. Downlink and uplink transmissions may be organized into radio frames 201. In this example, radio frame duration is 10 msec. Other frame durations, for example, in the range of 1 to 100 milliseconds (“msec” or “ms”) may also be supported. In this example, each 10 ms radio frame 201 may be divided into ten equally sized sub-frames 202. Other subframe durations such as including 0.5 msec, 1 msec, 2 msec, and 5 msec may also be supported. Sub-frame(s) may consist of two or more slots 206. For the example of FDD, 10 subframes may be available for downlink transmission and 10 subframes may be available for uplink transmissions in each 10 ms interval. Uplink and downlink transmissions may be separated in the frequency domain. Slot(s) may include a plurality of OFDM symbols 203. The number of OFDM symbols 203 in a slot 206 may depend on the cyclic prefix length and subcarrier spacing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting OFDM radio resources as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. The resource grid structure in time 304 and frequency 305 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The quantity of downlink subcarriers or resource blocks (RB) (in this example 6 to 100 RBs) may depend, at least in part, on the downlink transmission bandwidth 306 configured in the cell. The smallest radio resource unit may be called a resource element (e.g. 301). Resource elements may be grouped into resource blocks (e.g. 302). Resource blocks may be grouped into larger radio resources called Resource Block Groups (RBG) (e.g. 303). The transmitted signal in slot 206 may be described by one or several resource grids of a plurality of subcarriers and a plurality of OFDM symbols. Resource blocks may be used to describe the mapping of certain physical channels to resource elements. Other pre-defined groupings of physical resource elements may be implemented in the system depending on the radio technology. For example, 24 subcarriers may be grouped as a radio block for a duration of 5 msec. In an illustrative example, a resource block may correspond to one slot in the time domain and 180 kHz in the frequency domain (for 15 kHz subcarrier bandwidth and 12 subcarriers).

According to some embodiments, a radio resource framework using OFDM technology may be employed. Alternative embodiments may be implemented employing other radio technologies. Example transmission mechanisms include, but are not limited to: CDMA, OFDM, TDMA, Wavelet technologies, and/or the like. Hybrid transmission mechanisms such as TDMA/CDMA, and OFDM/CDMA may also be employed.

FIG. 4 is an example block diagram of a base station 401 and a wireless device 406, as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. A communication network 400 may include at least one base station 401 and at least one wireless device 406. The base station 401 may include at least one communication interface 402, at least one processor 403, and at least one set of program code instructions 405 stored in non-transitory memory 404 and executable by the at least one processor 403. The wireless device 406 may include at least one communication interface 407, at least one processor 408, and at least one set of program code instructions 410 stored in non-transitory memory 409 and executable by the at least one processor 408. Communication interface 402 in base station 401 may be configured to engage in communication with communication interface 407 in wireless device 406 via a communication path that includes at least one wireless link 411. Wireless link 411 may be a bi-directional link. Communication interface 407 in wireless device 406 may also be configured to engage in a communication with communication interface 402 in base station 401. Base station 401 and wireless device 406 may be configured to send and receive data over wireless link 411 using multiple frequency carriers. According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, transceiver(s) may be employed. A transceiver is a device that includes both a transmitter and receiver. Transceivers may be employed in devices such as wireless devices, base stations, relay nodes, and/or the like. Example embodiments for radio technology implemented in communication interface 402, 407 and wireless link 411 are illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, and associated text.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting a system 500 for transmitting data traffic generated by a wireless device 502 to a server 508 over a multicarrier OFDM radio according to one aspect of the illustrative embodiments. The system 500 may include a Wireless Cellular Network/Internet Network 507, which may function to provide connectivity between one or more wireless devices 502 (e.g., a cell phone, PDA (personal digital assistant), other wirelessly-equipped device, and/or the like), one or more servers 508 (e.g. multimedia server, application servers, email servers, or database servers) and/or the like.

It should be understood, however, that this and other arrangements described herein are set forth for purposes of example only. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other arrangements and other elements (e.g., machines, interfaces, functions, orders of functions, etc.) may be used instead, some elements may be added, and some elements may be omitted altogether. Further, as in most telecommunications applications, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many of the elements described herein are functional entities that may be implemented as discrete or distributed components or in conjunction with other components, and in any suitable combination and location. Still further, various functions described herein as being performed by one or more entities may be carried out by hardware, firmware and/or software logic in combination with hardware. For instance, various functions may be carried out by a processor executing a set of machine language instructions stored in memory.

As shown, the access network may include a plurality of base stations 503 . . . 504. Base station 503 . . . 504 of the access network may function to transmit and receive RF (radio frequency) radiation 505 . . . 506 at one or more carrier frequencies, and the RF radiation may provide one or more air interfaces over which the wireless device 502 may communicate with the base stations 503 . . . 504. The user 501 may use the wireless device (or UE: user equipment) to receive data traffic, such as one or more multimedia files, data files, pictures, video files, or voice mails, etc. The wireless device 502 may include applications such as web email, email applications, upload and ftp applications, MMS (multimedia messaging system) applications, or file sharing applications. In another example embodiment, the wireless device 502 may automatically send traffic to a server 508 without direct involvement of a user. For example, consider a wireless camera with automatic upload feature, or a video camera uploading videos to the remote server 508, or a personal computer equipped with an application transmitting traffic to a remote server.

One or more base stations 503 . . . 504 may define a corresponding wireless coverage area. The RF radiation 505 . . . 506 of the base stations 503 . . . 504 may carry communications between the Wireless Cellular Network/Internet Network 507 and access device 502 according to any of a variety of protocols. For example, RF radiation 505 . . . 506 may carry communications according to WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access e.g., IEEE 802.16), LTE (long term evolution), microwave, satellite, MMDS (Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service), Wi-Fi (e.g., IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth, infrared, and other protocols now known or later developed. The communication between the wireless device 502 and the server 508 may be enabled by any networking and transport technology for example TCP/IP (transport control protocol/Internet protocol), RTP (real time protocol), RTCP (real time control protocol), HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) or any other networking protocol.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, an LTE network may include many base stations, providing a user plane (PDCP: packet data convergence protocol/RLC: radio link control/MAC: media access control/PHY: physical) and control plane (RRC: radio resource control) protocol terminations towards the wireless device. The base station(s) may be interconnected with other base station(s) by means of an X2 interface. The base stations may also be connected by means of an S1 interface to an EPC (Evolved Packet Core). For example, the base stations may be interconnected to the MME (Mobility Management Entity) by means of the S1-MME interface and to the Serving Gateway (S-GW) by means of the S1-U interface. The S1 interface may support a many-to-many relation between MMEs/Serving Gateways and base stations. A base station may include many sectors for example: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 sectors. A base station may include many cells, for example, ranging from 1 to 50 cells or more. A cell may be categorized, for example, as a primary cell or secondary cell. When carrier aggregation is configured, a wireless device may have one RRC connection with the network. At RRC connection establishment/re-establishment/handover, one serving cell may provide the NAS (non-access stratum) mobility information (e.g. TAI-tracking area identifier), and at RRC connection re-establishment/handover, one serving cell may provide the security input. This cell may be referred to as the Primary Cell (PCell). In the downlink, the carrier corresponding to the PCell may be the Downlink Primary Component Carrier (DL PCC), while in the uplink, it may be the Uplink Primary Component Carrier (UL PCC). Depending on wireless device capabilities, Secondary Cells (SCells) may be configured to form together with the PCell a set of serving cells. In the downlink, the carrier corresponding to an SCell may be a Downlink Secondary Component Carrier (DL SCC), while in the uplink, it may be an Uplink Secondary Component Carrier (UL SCC). An SCell may or may not have an uplink carrier.

A cell, comprising a downlink carrier and optionally an uplink carrier, is assigned a physical cell ID and a cell index. A carrier (downlink or uplink) belongs to only one cell, the cell ID or Cell index may also identify the downlink carrier or uplink carrier of the cell (depending on the context it is used). In the specification, cell ID may be equally referred to a carrier ID, and cell index may be referred to carrier index. In implementation, the physical cell ID or cell index may be assigned to a cell. Cell ID may be determined using the synchronization signal transmitted on a downlink carrier. Cell index may be determined using RRC messages. For example, when the specification refers to a first physical cell ID for a first downlink carrier, it may mean the first physical cell ID is for a cell comprising the first downlink carrier. The same concept may apply to, for example, carrier activation. When the specification indicates that a first carrier is activated, it equally means that the cell comprising the first carrier is activated.

Embodiments may be configured to operate as needed. The disclosed mechanism may be performed when certain criteria are met, for example, in wireless device, base station, radio environment, network, a combination of the above, and/or the like. Example criteria may be based, at least in part, on for example, traffic load, initial system set up, packet sizes, traffic characteristics, a combination of the above, and/or the like. When the one or more criteria are met, the example embodiments may be applied. Therefore, it may be possible to implement example embodiments that selectively implement disclosed protocols.

Example embodiments of the invention may enable operation of multiple timing advance groups. Other example embodiments may comprise a non-transitory tangible computer readable media comprising instructions executable by one or more processors to cause operation of multiple timing advance groups. Yet other example embodiments may comprise an article of manufacture that comprises a non-transitory tangible computer readable machine-accessible medium having instructions encoded thereon for enabling programmable hardware to cause a device (e.g. wireless communicator, UE, base station, etc.) to enable operation of multiple timing advance groups. The device may include processors, memory, interfaces, and/or the like. Other example embodiments may comprise communication networks comprising devices such as base stations, wireless devices (or user equipment: UE), servers, switches, antennas, and/or the like.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, serving cells having an uplink to which the same time alignment (TA) applies may be grouped in a TA group (TAG). Serving cells in one TAG may use the same timing reference. For a given TAG, a user equipment (UE) may use one downlink carrier as the timing reference at a given time. The UE may use a downlink carrier in a TAG as the timing reference for that TAG. For a given TAG, a UE may synchronize uplink subframe and frame transmission timing of the uplink carriers belonging to the same TAG. According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, serving cells having an uplink to which the same TA applies may correspond to the serving cells hosted by the same receiver. A TA group may comprise at least one serving cell with a configured uplink. A UE supporting multiple TAs may support two or more TA groups. One TA group may contain the PCell and may be called a primary TAG (pTAG). In a multiple TAG configuration, at least one TA group may not contain the PCell and may be called a secondary TAG (sTAG). Carriers within the same TA group may use the same TA value and the same timing reference. In this disclosure, timing advance group, time alignment group, and cell group have the same meaning. Further, time alignment command and timing advance command have the same meaning.

FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting uplink transmission timing of one or more cells in a first timing advance group (TAG1) and a second TAG (TAG2) as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. TAG1 may include one or more cells, TAG2 may also include one or more cells. TAG timing difference in FIG. 6 may be the difference in UE uplink transmission timing for uplink carriers in TAG1 and TAG2. The timing difference may range between, for example, sub micro-seconds to about 30 micro-seconds.

FIG. 8 shows example TAG configurations as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. In Example 1, pTAG include PCell, and sTAG includes SCell1. In Example 2, pTAG includes PCell and SCell1, and sTAG includes SCell2 and SCell3. In Example 3, pTAG includes PCell and SCell1, and sTAG1 includes SCell2 and SCell3, and sTAG2 includes SCell4. Up to four TAGs may be supported and other example TAG configurations may also be provided. In many examples of this disclosure, example mechanisms are described for a pTAG and an sTAG. The operation with one example sTAG is described, and the same operation may be applicable to other sTAGs. The example mechanisms may be applied to configurations with multiple sTAGs.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, TA maintenance, pathloss reference handling and the timing reference for pTAG may follow LTE release 10 principles. The UE may need to measure downlink pathloss to calculate the uplink transmit power. The pathloss reference may be used for uplink power control and/or transmission of random access preamble(s). A UE may measure downlink pathloss using the signals received on the pathloss reference cell. The pathloss reference downlink cell and the corresponding uplink cell may be configured to be in the same frequency band due to the required accuracy of pathloss estimation. For SCell(s) in a pTAG, the choice of pathloss reference for cells may be selected from and be limited to the following two options: a) the downlink SCell linked to an uplink SCell using the system information block 2 (SIB2), and b) the downlink PCell. The pathloss reference for SCells in pTAG may be configurable using RRC message(s) as a part of SCell initial configuration and/or reconfiguration. According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, PhysicalConfigDedicatedSCell information element (IE) of an SCell configuration may include the pathloss reference SCell (downlink carrier) for an SCell in pTAG.

The downlink SCell linked to an uplink SCell using the system information block 2 (SIB2) may be referred to as the SIB2 linked downlink of the SCell. Different TAGs may operate in different bands. In another example, the signals in different TAGs may travel through different repeaters, or the signal of one SCell in an sTAG may travel through a repeater while the signal of another TAG may not go through the repeater. Having flexibility in SCell pathloss reference configuration for SCells belonging to an sTAG may result in pathloss estimation errors due to mobility of wireless device. The wireless device may autonomously change a timing reference SCell in an sTAG, but changing pathloss reference autonomously may result in confusion in the serving eNB, specially that different cells may have different transmit power. Therefore, both eNB configuration flexibility and autonomous UE pathloss selection for an SCell in sTAG may result in errors in pathloss estimation. For an uplink carrier in an sTAG, the pathloss reference may be only configurable to the downlink SCell linked to an uplink SCell using the system information block 2 (SIB2) of the SCell. No other downlink carrier may be configured as the pathloss reference for an SCell in an sTAG. This configuration may introduce accuracy in pathloss estimation.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, a UE may successfully complete a random access procedure from the reception of a random access response (RAR) message within the random access (RA) response window using a random access radio network temporary identifier (RA-RNTI). The UE may decode scheduling information for uplink transmission in the PDCCH common search space (CSS) with RA-RNTI. According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, in addition to the time alignment command (TAC) field, RAR for a PCell and/or SCell may contain at least one of the following: a Random Access Preamble Identifier (RAPID), a UL grant, a Temporary C-RNTI, a Backoff Indicator (BI), and/or the like. RAPID may be used to confirm the association between RAR and the transmitted preamble. The UL grant may be employed for uplink transmission on the cell that the preamble was transmitted. Temporary C-RNTI may be used for contention resolution in case of contention based random access (CBRA). A backoff Indicator (BI) may be used in case of collisions and/or high load on PRACH.

To obtain initial uplink (UL) time alignment for an sTAG, eNB may initiate an RA procedure. In an sTAG, a UE may use one of any activated SCells from this sTAG as a timing reference cell. In an example embodiment, the timing reference for SCells in an sTAG may be the SIB2 linked downlink of the SCell on which the preamble for the latest RA procedure was sent. There may be one timing reference and one time alignment timer (TAT) per TA group. TAT for TAGs may be configured with different values. When the TAT associated with the pTAG expires: all TATs may be considered as expired, the UE may flush all HARQ buffers of all serving cells, the UE may clear any configured downlink assignment/uplink grants, and the RRC in the UE may release PUCCH/SRS for all configured serving cells. When the pTAG TAT is not running, an STAG TAT may not be running. When the TAT associated with sTAG expires: a) SRS transmissions may be stopped on the corresponding SCells, b) SRS RRC configuration may be released, c) CSI reporting configuration for the corresponding SCells may be maintained, and/or d) the MAC in the UE may flush the uplink HARQ buffers of the corresponding SCells.

Upon deactivation of the last SCell in an sTAG, the UE may not stop TAT of the sTAG. In an implementation, upon removal of the last SCell in an sTAG, TAT of the TA group may not be running. RA procedures in parallel may not be supported for a UE. If a new RA procedure is requested (either by UE or network) while another RA procedure is already ongoing, it may be up to the UE implementation whether to continue with the ongoing procedure or start with the new procedure. The eNB may initiate the RA procedure via a PDCCH order for an activated SCell. This PDCCH order may be sent on the scheduling cell of this SCell. When cross carrier scheduling is configured for a cell, the scheduling cell may be different than the cell that is employed for preamble transmission, and the PDCCH order may include the SCell index. At least a non-contention based RA procedure may be supported for SCell(s) assigned to sTAG(s). Upon new UL data arrival, the UE may not trigger an RA procedure on an SCell. PDCCH order for preamble transmission may be sent on a different serving cell than the SCell in which the preamble is sent. TA grouping may be performed without requiring any additional UE assisted information.

FIG. 7 is an example message flow in a random access process in a secondary TAG as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. eNB transmits an activation command 600 to activate an SCell. A preamble 602 (Msg1) may be sent by a UE in response to the PDCCH order 601 on an SCell belonging to an sTAG. In an example embodiment, preamble transmission for SCells may be controlled by the network using PDCCH format 1A. Msg2 message 603 (RAR: random access response) in response to the preamble transmission on SCell may be addressed to RA-CRNTI in PCell common search space (CSS). Uplink packets 604 may be transmitted on the SCell, in which the preamble was transmitted.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, initial timing alignment may be achieved through a random access procedure. This may involve the UE transmitting a random access preamble and the eNB responding to an initial TA command N_TA(amount of time alignment) within the random access response window. The start of the random access preamble may be aligned with the start of the corresponding uplink subframe at the UE assuming N_TA=0. The eNB may estimate the uplink timing from the random access preamble transmitted by the UE. The TA command may be derived by the eNB based on the estimation of the difference between the desired UL timing and the actual UL timing. The UE may determine the initial uplink transmission timing relative to the corresponding downlink of the sTAG on which the preamble is transmitted.

PDCCH order may be used to trigger RACH for an activated SCell. For a newly configured SCell or a configured but deactivated SCell, eNB may need to firstly activate the corresponding SCell and then trigger a RA on it. In an example embodiment, with no retransmission of an activation/deactivation command, activation of an SCell may need at least 8 ms, which may be an extra delay for UE to acquire the valid TA value on an SCell compared to the procedure on an already activated SCell. For a newly configured SCell or a deactivated SCell, 8 ms may be required for SCell activation, and at least 6 ms may be required for preamble transmission, and at least 4 ms may be required to receive the random access response. At least 18 ms may be required for a UE to get a valid TA. The possible delay caused by retransmission or other configured parameters may need to be considered (e.g. the possible retransmission of an activation/deactivation command, and/or the time gap between when a RA is triggered and when a preamble is transmitted (equal or larger than 6 ms)). The RAR may be transmitted within the RAR window (for example, 2 ms, 10 ms, 50 ms), and possible retransmission of the preamble may be considered. The delay for such a case may be more than 20 ms or even 30 ms if retransmissions are considered.

A base station may communicate with a mix of wireless devices. Wireless devices may support multiple technologies, or multiple releases of the same technology, have some specific capability depending on the wireless device category and/or capability. A base station may comprise multiple sectors. When this disclosure refers to a base station communicating with a plurality of wireless devices, this disclosure may refer to a subset of the total wireless devices in the coverage area. This disclosure may refer to, for example, a plurality of wireless devices of a given LTE release with a given capability and in a given sector of the base station. The plurality of wireless devices in this disclosure may refer to a selected plurality of wireless devices, and/or a subset of total wireless devices in the coverage area, which perform according to the disclosed methods, and/or the like. There may be many wireless devices in the coverage area that may not comply with the disclosed methods, for example, because those wireless devices perform based on older releases of LTE technology. A time alignment command MAC control element may be a unicast MAC command transmitted to a wireless device. A wireless device may receive its own time alignment commands.

According to some of the various aspects of various embodiments, the base station or wireless device may group cells into a plurality of cell groups. The term “cell group” may refer to a timing advance group (TAG) or a timing alignment group or a time alignment group. A cell group may include at least one cell. A MAC TA command may correspond to a TAG. A group may explicitly or implicitly be identified by a TAG index. Cells in the same band may belong to the same cell group. A first cell's frame timing may be tied to a second cell's frame timing in a TAG. When a time alignment command is received for the second cell, the frame timing of both first cell and second cell may be adjusted. Base station(s) may provide TAG configuration information to the wireless device(s) by RRC configuration message(s).

According to some of the various aspects of some embodiments, the number of time alignment commands transmitted by the base station to a wireless device in a given period may depend, at least in part, on many parameters including at least one of: a) the speed that the wireless device moves in the coverage area, b) the direction that the wireless device moves in the coverage area, c) the coverage radius, and/or d) the number of active wireless devices in the coverage area. A base station may transmit at least two types of time alignment commands. A first type command may be transmitted to a first category of wireless devices. The first category may include devices compatible with at least release 8, 9, or 10 of the LTE standard. A second type command may be transmitted to a second category of devices. The second category may include devices with multi-time alignment group (MTG) capability and compatible with release 11 or beyond of the LTE standard. The time alignment may be transmitted to wireless devices that are in connected mode and are applicable to active cells.

A UE may transmit a Scheduling Request (SR) and/or a buffer status report (BSR) due to uplink data arrival in the UE. A UE may transmit a scheduling request on PUCCH when the UE has data for uplink transmission and UE do not have uplink grants for transmission of a buffer status report. The UE may receive uplink grant in response to a SR. A base station scheduler may also provide an uplink grant to a UE for some other reasons, for example, based on a previous BSR. The UE may transmit a MAC BSR in the uplink resources identified in an uplink grant to inform the base station about the size of the uplink transmission buffer(s). A UE BSR may be transmitted in an uplink resource identified in a received uplink grant. BSR indicates the amount of data in one or more logical channel buffers. Base station may determine the radio resources required for the UE in the uplink employing the received BSR and other parameters, e.g. link quality, interference, UE category, and/or the like. If the base station determines that radio resources of a first SCell which is uplink unsynchronized is required (the SCell may be in-active or may not be even configured yet), the base station may trigger an sTAG sync process to uplink synchronize the sTAG and the first SCell associated with the sTAG. The SCell should be in configured (e.g. using RRC messages) and be in active state (e.g. using MAC activate commands). An SCell is considered out-of-sync if it belongs to or will belong to (after RRC configuration) to an out-of-sync sTAG.

The sTAG sync process may also selectively be started by the base station if a GBR bit rate bearer with required uplink resources has been established. The base station may determine the radio resources required for the UE in the uplink employing the received bit rate, QoS and priority requirements of the GBR bearer and other parameters, e.g. link quality, interference, UE category, and/or the like. If the base station determines that radio resources of a first SCell which is uplink unsynchronized is required (the SCell may be in-active or may not be even configured yet), the base station may trigger an sTAG sync process to uplink synchronize the sTAG and the first SCell associated with the sTAG. The SCell should be in configured (e.g. using RRC messages) and be in active state (e.g. using MAC activate commands) before uplink transmission starts.

eNB may select to synchronize the sTAG and then activate/configure the SCell. eNB may select to first configure/activate SCell and then to uplink synchronize it. For example, if an SCell is added and assigned to a synchronized sTAG, it will be synchronize upon its (re)configuration/addition. In another example, the SCell may be configured, then the sTAG may be synchronized using another SCell in the sTAG, and then the SCell may be activated. In another example, the SCell may be configured/activated, and then sTAG synchronization may start. Different embodiments with different orders in tasks may be implemented. Random access process for an SCell can only be initiated on configured and active SCells assigned to an sTAG.

In an example embodiment, in the sTAG sync process the base station may trigger random access preamble transmission on an SCell of the sTAG that the SCell belongs, or on the first SCell in which its uplink resources are required. In this example, the first SCell belongs to an sTAG which is uplink out-of-sync. In response to receiving a BSR and/or GBR bearer establishment, the eNB may, selectively and depending on a plurality of criteria, transmit a PDCCH order to the UE and may cause the UE to start a RA procedure on an SCell in the sTAG (in case of carrier aggregation). A PDCCH order may be triggered by the BSR reception due to the UL data arrival in the UE or by the establishment of GBR bearer with uplink resource requirements. Preamble transmission may be triggered in the case of UL data arrival, meaning that preamble transmission may be triggered by the BSR reception in the eNB and/or establishment of a non GBR bearer with uplink data. Upon new UL data arrival, the UE may not trigger an RA procedure on an SCell. The eNB may, selectively, trigger the RA procedure based on the BSR reception due to UL data arrival in the UE. eNB may consider many parameters in triggering an RA on an SCell. For example, parameters may include current eNB load, UE buffer size(s) in BSR report(s), UE category, UE capability, QoS requirements, GBR bearer requirements and/or the like. UE may determine that radio resources of the out-of-sync SCell may be required for uplink data transmission.

In a second embodiment, in the sTAG sync process base station may transmit a MAC timing advance command with a TAG index of the out-of-sync sTAG. The UE may use an stored value of N_TAfor the out of sync sTAG and apply the timing advance value in the MAC timing advance command to the stored N_TAof the sTAG. A UE may store or maintains N_TA(current timing advance value of an sTAG) upon expiry of associated time Alignment Timer of the sTAG. The UE may apply the received timing advance command MAC control element and starts associated time Alignment Timer. This process may practically put the sTAG in an in-sync state. The base station may transmit one or more MAC timing advance commands upon receiving uplink packets from the UE on the sTAG to align UE uplink transmissions in the sTAG. It is up to eNB to select the first or second embodiment for synchronizing the uplink of first SCell. For example, the eNB may operate in the second embodiment, if the SCell has not been in-sync for a long time, or the sTAG has not been in-Sync since it has been configured. In another example, the eNB may operate in the first embodiment if the sTAG has recently entered an out-of-sync state. In another example, the eNB may operate in the second embodiment if the eNB-UE distance is relatively short, for example in the range of tens or hundreds of meters.

FIG. 10 is an example flow diagram illustrating base station signaling to schedule packets on a secondary cell as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. According to some of the various embodiments, a base station may be configured to communicate employing a plurality of cells with a wireless device. The plurality of cells may be assigned to a plurality of cell groups comprising: first cell group(s) and the second cell group.

The base station may receive a buffer status report on a first cell in activated cell(s) in the plurality of cells from the wireless device at 1000. The buffer status report may indicate an amount of data available for transmission in uplink buffer(s) of the wireless device. Each of the activated cell(s) may be assigned by the base station to a cell group in at least one first cell group.

At 1002, the base station may transmit a control command for transmission of a random access preamble on a second cell in the plurality of cells if the base station determines that radio resources of the second cell are required for transmission of a portion of the data and that the second cell requires a first uplink timing that is different from a second uplink timing of each of the at least one first cell group. The buffer status report may be used, at least in part, to make the determination. The control command may comprise: a mask index; and the random access preamble identifier.

The base station may receive the random access preamble on the second cell at 1007. The second cell may be assigned to a second cell group. The transmission timing of the random access preamble may be determined at least in part on a synchronization signal transmitted on an activated cell of the second cell group. The second cell group may comprise a second subset of the plurality of cells. The second subset may comprise an active secondary cell. Uplink transmissions in the secondary cell group may employ a second synchronization signal on the active secondary cell as a secondary timing reference. The activated cell of the second cell group may be the second cell.

A random access response may be transmitted on a primary cell of a primary cell group in the first cell group(s) at 1009. The random access response may comprise a timing advance command for the second cell group. The primary cell group may comprise a first subset of the cells. The first subset may comprise the primary cell. Uplink transmissions by the wireless device in the primary cell group may employ a first synchronization signal transmitted on the primary cell.

The base station may transmit control packet(s) at 1010 to provide transport format information and resource allocation information for transmission of packets of the data to be transmitted on a first data channel of the second cell.

According to some of the various embodiments, additional commands may be transmitted by the base station to the wireless device. For example, the base station may send an activation command to activate the second cell in the wireless device. Another example includes transmitting control message(s) to the wireless device. Some of the control message(s) may be configured to cause configuration of the second cell in the wireless device. Other control message(s) may be configured to cause in the wireless device: configuration of the second cell in the plurality of cells; and assignment of the second cell to the second cell group. Control message(s) may comprise radio resource control message(s).

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may be configured to communicate employing a plurality of cells with a wireless device. The base station may comprise: one or more communication interfaces; one or more processors; and memory storing instructions. The memory storing instructions, when executed, may cause the base station to perform a series of actions such as those described above. Additionally, the instructions may further cause the base station to receive a second plurality of packets of the data on currently activated and synchronized cells.

FIG. 11 is an example flow diagram illustrating base station signaling to schedule packets on a secondary cell as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. According to some of the various embodiments, a base station may be configured to communicate employing a plurality of cells with a wireless device. The plurality of cells may be assigned to a plurality of cell groups comprising: first cell group(s) and the second cell group.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit control message(s) on a first cell in activated cell(s) in the plurality of cells at 1100. The control message(s) may establish at least one radio bearer, the at least one radio bearer may enable uplink data transmission with a guaranteed bit rate from the wireless device. Each of the activated cell(s) may be assigned by the base station to a cell group in first cell group(s). The control message(s) may be further configured to modify a radio bearer. Additionally, according to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit control message(s) to the wireless device to cause the configuration of the uplink random access resources.

At 1102, the base station may transmit a control command for transmission of a random access preamble on a second cell in the plurality of cells if the base station determines that radio resources of the second cell are required for transmission of a portion of the data and that the second cell requires a first uplink timing that is different from a second uplink timing of each of the first cell group(s). The guaranteed bit rate may be used, at least in part, to make the determination. The control command may comprise: a mask index; and the random access preamble identifier. Control message may comprise random access resource parameters. The random access resource parameters may comprise an index, a frequency offset, sequence parameter(s), and/or the like. The control command may comprise an index identifying the secondary cell if the control command is not transmitted on a downlink carrier of the secondary cell.

The base station may receive the random access preamble on the second cell at 1107. The second cell may be assigned to a second cell group. The transmission timing of the random access preamble may be determined at least in part on a synchronization signal transmitted on an activated cell of the second cell group. The second cell group may comprise a second subset of the plurality of cells. The second subset may comprise an active secondary cell. Uplink transmissions in the secondary cell group may employ a second synchronization signal on the active secondary cell as a secondary timing reference. The activated cell of the second cell group may be the second cell. The random access preamble may be received on uplink random access resources of the second cell.

A random access response may be transmitted by the base station at 1109. The random access response may comprise a timing advance command for the second cell group. The primary cell group may comprise a first subset of the cells. The first subset may comprise the primary cell. Uplink transmissions by the wireless device in the primary cell group may employ a first synchronization signal transmitted on the primary cell.

The base station may transmit control packet(s) at 1110 to provide transport format information and resource allocation information for transmission of packets of the uplink data to be transmitted on a first data channel of the second cell.

According to some of the various embodiments, additional commands may be transmitted by the base station to the wireless device. For example, the base station may send timing advance command(s) to the wireless device. The timing advance command(s) may comprise: a time adjustment value; and an index identifying the second cell group. The timing advance command(s) causes substantial alignment of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of the second cell group at the base station.

Additional embodiments may comprise the base station receiving a buffer status report from the wireless device. The buffer status report may indicate an amount of data available for transmission in uplink buffer(s) of the wireless device. The base station may transmit a control command for transmission of a random access preamble on a first cell in the cells if the base station determines: that radio resources of the first cell are required for transmission of a portion of the data; and that the first cell requires a different uplink timing from all currently activated cells of the wireless device. The determination may be made, based at least in part, on the buffer status report. The base station may transmit control packet(s) to provide transport format information and resource allocation information for transmission of packets of the data to be transmitted on a first data channel of the first cell.

Yet other embodiments may comprise the base station transmitting control message(s) to the wireless device. The control message(s) may establish radio bearer(s). The radio bearer(s) may enable uplink data transmission with a guaranteed bit rate from the wireless device. The base station may transmit a control command for transmission of a random access preamble on a first cell in the cells if the base station determines: that radio resources of the second cell are required for transmission of a portion of the uplink data; and that the first cell requires a different uplink timing from all currently activated cells of the wireless device. The determination may be made, based at least in part, on the guaranteed bit rate. The base station may transmit control packet(s) to provide transport format information and resource allocation information for transmission of packets of the uplink data to be transmitted on a first data channel of the first cell.

The mapping of a serving cell to a TAG may be configured by the serving eNB with RRC signaling. The mechanism for TAG configuration and reconfiguration may be based on RRC signaling. When needed, the mapping between an SCell and a TA group may be reconfigured with RRC signaling. In an example implementation, the mapping between an SCell and a TAG may not be reconfigured with RRC while the SCell is configured. For example if there is a need to move an SCell from an sTAG to a pTAG, at least one RRC message, for example, at least one RRC reconfiguration message, may be send to the UE to reconfigure TAG configurations. The PCell may not change its TA group and may always be a member of the pTAG.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, when an eNB performs SCell addition configuration, the related TAG configuration may be configured for the SCell. In an example embodiment, eNB may modify the TAG configuration of an SCell by removing (releasing) the SCell and adding a new SCell (with the same physical cell ID and frequency) with an updated TAG ID. The new SCell with the updated TAG ID may be initially inactive subsequent to joining the updated TAG ID. eNB may activate the updated new SCell and then start scheduling packets on the activated SCell. In an example implementation, it may not be possible to change the TAG associated with an SCell, but rather, the SCell may need to be removed and a new SCell may need to be added with another TAG. This may not require employing mobilityControlInfo in the RRC reconfiguration message.

An eNB may perform initial configuration based on initial configuration parameters received from a network node (for example a management platform), an initial eNB configuration, a UE location, a UE type, UE CSI feedback, UE uplink transmissions (for example, data, SRS, and/or the like), a combination of the above, and/or the like. For example, initial configuration may be based on UE channel state measurements. For example, depending on the signal strength received from a UE on various SCells downlink carrier or by determination of UE being in a repeater coverage area, or a combination of both, an eNB may determine the initial configuration of sTAGs and membership of SCells to sTAGs.

In an example implementation, the TA value of a serving cell may change, for example due to UE's mobility from a macro-cell to a repeater or an RRH (remote radio head) coverage area. The signal delay for that SCell may become different from the original value and different from other serving cells in the same TAG. In this scenario, eNB may relocate this TA-changed serving cell to another existing TAG. Or alternatively, the eNB may create a new TAG for the SCell based on the updated TA value. The TA value may be derived, for example, through eNB measurement(s) of signal reception timing, a RA mechanism, or other standard or proprietary processes. An eNB may realize that the TA value of a serving cell is no longer consistent with its current TAG. There may be many other scenarios which require eNB to reconfigure TAGs. During reconfiguration, the eNB may need to move the reference SCell belonging to an sTAG to another TAG. In this scenario, the sTAG would require a new reference SCell. In an example embodiment, the UE may select an active SCell in the sTAG as the reference timing SCell.

eNB may consider UE's capability in configuring multiple TAGs for a UE. UE may be configured with a configuration that is compatible with UE capability. Multiple TAG capability may be an optional feature and per band combination Multiple TAG capability may be introduced. UE may transmit its multiple TAG capability to eNB via an RRC message and eNB may consider UE capability in configuring TAG configuration(s).

The purpose of an RRC connection reconfiguration procedure may be to modify an RRC connection, (e.g. to establish, modify and/or release RBs, to perform handover, to setup, modify, and/or release measurements, to add, modify, and/or release SCells). As part of the procedure, NAS dedicated information may be transferred from E-UTRAN to the UE. If the received RRC Connection Reconfiguration message includes the sCellToReleaseList, the UE may perform an SCell release. If the received RRC Connection Reconfiguration message includes the sCellToAddModList, the UE may perform SCell additions or modification.

When a UE receives an sCellToAddModList in an RRC reconfiguration message, the UE may process the content of the message. The UE may, for an sCellIndex value included in the sCellToAddModList that is not part of the current UE configuration (SCell addition), add the SCell corresponding to the cellIdentification in accordance with the received radioResourceConfigCommonSCell (SCell common configuration parameters) and radioResourceConfigDedicatedSCell (SCell dedicated configuration parameters). The UE may configure lower layers to consider the SCell to be in a deactivated state. The UE may, for a sCellIndex value included in the sCellToAddModList that is part of the current UE configuration (SCell modification), modify the SCell configuration in accordance with the received radioResourceConfigDedicatedSCell.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, common parameters may comprise downlink common parameters and uplink common parameters. Examples of downlink common parameters include: downlink bandwidth, antennaInfoCommon, mbsfn-SubframeConfigList, phich-Config, pdsch-ConfigCommon, and tdd-Config. Examples of uplink common parameters include: ul-CarrierFreq, ul-Bandwidth, p-Max, uplinkPowerControlCommonSCell, soundingRS-UL-ConfigCommon, ul-CyclicPrefixLength, prach-ConfigSCell (TDD), and pusch-ConfigCommon. Dedicated parameters may comprise downlink dedicated parameters and uplink dedicated parameters. Examples of downlink dedicated parameters include AntennaInfoDedicated, CrossCarrierSchedulingConfig, csi-RS-Config, pdsch-ConfigDedicated. Examples of uplink dedicated parameters include antennaInfoUL, pusch-ConfigDedicatedSCell, uplinkPowerControlDedicatedSCell, cqi-ReportConfigSCell, soundingRS-UL-ConfigDedicated, soundingRS-UL-ConfigDedicated, soundingRS-UL-ConfigDedicatedAperiodic, and pathlossReferenceLinking. The names of these variables and example definition(s) and format for these variables may be found in releases of LTE RRC standard documentation.

In an example embodiment, SCell TAG configuration(s) (e.g. TAG ID assignment) may be included in sCellToAddModList or one of the IEs in sCellToAddModList. A TAG ID may be included in the TAG configuration of a cell. The TA group may be configured when an SCell is added. Thus the configuration of a TA group may be seen as part of the SCell addition/modification. A dedicated parameter in SCell dedicated parameters may include the TAG ID of the SCell if the SCell belongs to an sTAG. If a dedicated TAG ID parameter is not included in dedicated radio resource configuration of an SCell, it may be assumed that the SCell is assigned to the pTAG. This may be an implicit assignment of the SCell to pTAG. According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, some of the TAG configuration parameters may be included in common configuration parameters and some other TAG configuration parameters may be included in dedicated configuration parameters. SCellToAddModList transmitted to a UE may comprise one or more of: an SCell Index, a physical Cell Id, a downlink Carrier Frequency, a radioResourceConfigCommonSCell, and a radioResourceConfigDedicatedSCell. radioResourceConfigDedicatedSCell IE in sCellToAddModList transmitted to a UE (in RRC message(s)) may comprise the TAG ID that the SCell belongs to. A TA group configuration may be UE-specific (a dedicated configuration parameter). The identity or index of a TA group which an SCell belongs to, a TA group identity (TAG ID), may be assigned to a SCell employing an dedicated parameter in radioResourceConfigDedicatedSCell. When an SCell is released, the TAG assignment of the SCell may also be released. eNB may not be needed to include TAG ID in sCellToReleaseList. Each Cell may be assigned a TAG ID (implicitly or explicitly). If an SCell is not assigned a TAG ID, the SCell may be considered belonging to the pTAG by default. Implicit assignment of SCells to pTAG may reduce the signaling overhead. It is expected that in many operating scenarios, sTAGs are not configured, and therefore transmission of pTAG index for the configured SCells is avoided. This may increase spectral efficiency and would reduce signaling overhead.

A TAG ID may be UE specific, and each UE may have its own TAG configuration. For example, a given SCell may be a part of the pTAG in one UE and a part of an sTAG in another UE. In this embodiment, the SCell configuration may include TAG Index. Assignment of an SCell to an sTAG may be UE specific, and may be different for different UEs connected to the same eNB. For example, a UE in the coverage of a repeater connected to the eNB may have a different sTAG configuration than a UE which is directly connected to the same eNB.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, MAC-Config-Dedicated parameter in an RRC connection reconfiguration message may include a dedicated TAT parameter for each of the time alignment groups configured in the UE. In this example embodiment, a TAT may be included in MAC Dedicated parameters. If TAT for an sTAG is received in MAC-Dedicated parameters, the UE may consider the dedicated parameter. For an SCell in an sTAG, the UE may not consider time alignment timer in the SIB parameter received from an eNB, instead the UE may consider the time alignment configuration parameter in the MAC-Dedicated parameters. Different UEs may be required to be configured with different TAT values in an optimized network operation. UE TAT value may be optimized depending on eNB-UE distance, UE speed, UE category, and/or the like. Therefore, it is not recommended to use a common variable for time alignment timer of secondary cell groups.

The TA maintenance for PCell may follow Rel-10 principles. If an SCell applying the TA of PCell is added, the Rel-10 procedures may be reused. In one example embodiment, there is no need to explicitly assign a TAG ID for cells in the pTAG. SCells configured with the pTAG may be grouped implicitly and a TAG ID for pTAG may not be needed or a TAG ID may be assigned implicitly by default (for example, TAG ID: 0). TAG identity may be regarded as zero if the TAG identity field is absent in SCell dedicated parameters upon SCell addition. If an SCell is not configured with a TAG ID, it may apply that the SCell belongs to the pTAG.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, sTAG configurations may be released upon re-establishment or handover. TAG related configuration may include TAG ID, TAG-specific TAT, and/or the serving cells associated with it. In an example embodiment MAC dedicated parameters IE may include a TAG configuration information element comprising a sequence of one or more TAG ID and TAT for configured TAGs. In an example embodiment the TAG configuration information element may also comprise the list of SCells belonging to the TAG. The association between SCells with TAG IDs may be included in SCell configuration IE parameters, or may be included in TAG configuration information element.

The parameters related to SCell random access channel may be common to all UEs. For example PRACH configuration (RACH resources, configuration parameters, RAR window) for the SCell may be common to all UEs. RACH resource parameters may include prach-configuration index, and/or prach-frequency offset. SCell RACH common configuration parameters may also include power: power ramping parameter(s) for preamble transmission; and max number of preamble transmission parameter. It is more efficient to use common parameters for RACH configuration, since different UEs will share the same random access channel. Using dedicated parameters for SCell RACH configuration is not preferred since it will increase the size of the radio resources required for random access process, and may reduce spectral efficiency.

In an example implementation, TAT of an sTAG may not be running when the last SCell of the group is removed from the TA group. The eNB may remove sTAG when removing the last SCell from the sTAG. When sTAG is removed the TAT for sTAG may be stopped and the N_TAvalue may be discarded. According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, sTAG TAT configuration may be released when no SCell is configured in the sTAG. When sTAG is released, then TAT is also released/de-configured (e.g. this may be achieved by de-configuring the timer). Upon sTAG depletion, the TAT may be de-configured by the eNB, which may implicitly stop the TAT of this group at the same time. If an sTAG is empty, the same RRC message may remove the sTAG and TAT and a removed sTAG may be released/de-configured. In another example embodiment, TAT may be stopped but a TAT entity may be maintained.

eNB may transmit at least one RRC message to configure PCell, SCell(s) and RACH, and TAG configuration parameters. MAC-MainConfig may include a time AlignmentTimerDedicated IE to indicate time alignment timer value for the pTAG. MAC-MainConfig may further include an IE including a sequence of at least one (sTAG ID, and TAT value) to configure time alignment timer values for sTAGs. In an example, a first RRC message may configure TAT value for pTAG, a second RRC message may configure TAT value for sTAG1, and a third RRC message may configure TAT value for sTAG2. There is no need to include all the TAT configurations in a single RRC message. The IE including a sequence of at least one (sTAG ID, and TAT) value may also be used to update the TAT value of an existing sTAG to an updated TAT value. The at least one RRC message may also include sCellToAddModList including at least one SCell configuration parameters. The radioResourceConfigDedicatedSCell (dedicated radio configuration IEs) in sCellToAddModList may include an SCell MAC configuration comprising TAG ID for the corresponding SCell added or modified. The radioResourceConfigDedicatedSCell may also include pathloss reference configuration for an SCell. If TAG ID is not included in SCell configuration, the SCell is assigned to the pTAG. In other word, a TAG ID may not be included in radioResourceConfigDedicatedSCell for SCells assigned to pTAG. The radioResourceConfigCommonSCell (common radio configuration IEs) in sCellToAddModList may include RACH resource configuration parameters, preamble transmission power control parameters, and other preamble transmission parameter(s). At the least one RRC message configures PCell, SCell, RACH resources, and/or SRS transmissions and may assign each SCell to an sTAG (implicitly or explicitly). PCell is always assigned to the pTAG.

The pathloss reference IE (pathlossReferenceLinking) in radioResourceConfigDedicatedSCell may indicate whether the UE shall apply as pathloss reference either: the downlink of the PCell, or of the SIB2 downlink of the SCell that corresponds with the configured uplink. For SCells part of a secondary TAG eNB may only configure the pathloss reference to SIB2 downlink of the SCell that corresponds with the configured uplink. If a serving cell belongs to a TAG containing the primary cell then, for the uplink of the primary cell, the primary cell is used as the reference serving cell for determining reference Signal Power. For the uplink of the secondary cell, the serving cell configured by the RRC parameter pathloss Reference Linking IE is used as the reference serving cell for determining reference signal power. If a serving cell belongs to an sTAG then the serving cell is used as the reference serving cell for determining reference signal power.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, a base station may transmit at least one control message to a wireless device in a plurality of wireless devices. The at least one control message may be configured to cause, in the wireless device, configuration of at least:

- a) a plurality of cells. Each cell may comprise a downlink carrier and zero or one uplink carrier. The configuration may assign a cell group index to a cell in the plurality of cells. The cell group index may identify one of a plurality of cell groups. A cell group in the plurality of cell groups may comprise a subset of the plurality of cells. The subset may comprise a reference cell with a reference downlink carrier and a reference uplink carrier. Uplink transmissions by the wireless device in the cell group may employ a synchronization signal transmitted on the reference downlink carrier as timing reference.
- b) a plurality of MAC dedicated parameters comprising a sequence of at least one element. An element in the sequence may comprises a time alignment timer value and a secondary time alignment group index. pTAG time alignment timer value may be included as a dedicated IE in MAC main configuration parameter (a dedicated IE). Each time alignment timer value being selected, by the base station, from a finite set of predetermined values. The time alignment timer value in the sequence may be associated with a cell group index that is specified in the same element. In an example embodiment, the element may also comprise the list of cell indexes associated with the time alignment group index.
- c) a time alignment timer for each cell group in the plurality of cell groups.

The base station may transmit a plurality of timing advance commands. Each timing advance command may comprise: a time adjustment value, and a cell group index. A time alignment timer may start or may restart when the wireless device receives a timing advance command to adjust uplink transmission timing on a cell group identified by the cell group index. The cell group may be considered out-of-sync, by the wireless device, when the associated time alignment timer expires or is not running. The cell group may be considered in-sync when the associated time alignment timer is running.

The timing advance command may cause substantial alignment of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of all activated uplink carriers in the cell group at the base station. The time alignment timer value may be configured as one of a finite set of predetermined values. For example, the finite set of predetermined values may be eight. Each time alignment timer value may be encoded employing three bits. TAG TAT may be a dedicated time alignment timer value and is transmitted by the base station to the wireless device. TAG TAT may be configured to cause configuration of time alignment timer value for each time alignment group. The IE TAG TAT may be used to control how long the UE is considered uplink time aligned. It corresponds to the timer for time alignment for each cell group. Its value may be in number of sub-frames. For example, value sf500 corresponds to 500 sub-frames, sf750 corresponds to 750 sub-frames and so on. An uplink time alignment is common for all serving cells belonging to the same cell group. In an example embodiment, the IE TAG TAT may be defined as: TAG TAT:=SEQUENCE{TAG ID, ENUMERATED {sf500, sf750, sf1280, sf1920, sf2560, sf5120, sf10240, infinity} }. Time alignment timer for pTAG may be indicated in a separate IE and may not be included in the sequence.

In an example, TimeAlignmentTimerDedicated IE may be sf500, and then TAG TAT may be {1, sf500; 2, sf2560; 3, sf500}. In the example, time alignment timer for the pTAG is configured separately and is not included in the sequence. In the examples, TAG0 (pTAG) time alignment timer value is 500 subframes (500 m-sec), TAG1 (sTAG) time alignment timer value is 500 subframes, TAG2 time alignment timer value is 2560 subframes, and TAG3 time alignment timer value is 500 subframes. This is for example purposes only. In this example a TAG may take one of 8 predefined values. In a different embodiment, the enumerated values could take other values. The size of the sequence is 3 in the first example and 4 in the second example. In another example embodiment, the size could be 2, 3, equal to the size of configured TAGs in the wireless device, and/or the like.

FIG. 12 is an example flow diagram illustrating signaling mechanism to configure a plurality cells and a plurality of cell groups as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. According to some of the various embodiments, a base station may be configured to communicate with wireless device(s) employing a plurality of cells. The wireless device(s) may be compatible with LTE release 11 or above and support the configuration of multiple cell groups.

The base station may transmit control message(s) to the wireless device at 1200. The control message may be configured to cause in the wireless device configuration of secondary cell(s) in the plurality of cells. The control message may comprise common parameters for a secondary cell in the secondary cell(s). The common parameters may have the same value for multiple wireless devices. The control message may comprise random access resource and power control parameter(s). The random access resource parameters may identify random access resources. The control message may also comprise dedicated parameter(s). The dedicated parameter(s) may be specific to wireless device(s). The dedicated parameter(s) may comprise a cell group index for the secondary cell, and a time alignment timer parameter for each cell group in the plurality of cell groups. The control message(s) may comprise a time alignment timer value for a time alignment timer of the secondary cell group.

The cell group index may identify one of the cell groups. The cell groups may comprise a primary cell group and a secondary cell group. The cell groups may comprise: a primary cell group comprising a first subset of said plurality of cells; and the secondary cell group. The first subset may comprise the primary cell. The secondary cell group may comprise a second subset of the secondary cell(s) comprising the secondary cell.

According to some of the various embodiments, control message(s) may be configured to further cause configuration of a time alignment timer for each of the cell group(s) in the wireless device. The time alignment timer may start or restart in response to the wireless device receiving a timing advance command to adjust uplink transmission timing of a commanded cell group in the plurality of cell groups.

The wireless device may be assigned media access control dedicated parameter(s) by the configuration. The plurality of media access control dedicated parameters may comprise time alignment timer value(s). Each of the time alignment timer value(s) may be associated with a unique cell group in the wireless device.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit a control command to the wireless device at 1202. The control command may be configured to cause transmission of a random access preamble on the random access resources of the secondary cell in the secondary cell group. The transmission power of the random access preamble may be calculated employing the power control parameter(s). The control command may further comprise an index identifying the secondary cell if the control command is transmitted on a cell different from the secondary cell.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit a random access response on a primary cell in the primary cell group at 1204. The random access response may comprise a timing advance command for the secondary cell group comprising the secondary cell.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may receive the random access preamble on the random access resources. Transmission timing of the random access preamble may be determined, at least in part, employing a second synchronization signal transmitted on one of the activated cell(s) in the secondary cell group.

According to some of the various embodiments, base station may transmit timing advance command(s) to the wireless device. The timing advance command(s) may comprise: a time adjustment value; and an index identifying the secondary cell group. Uplink signals transmitted by the wireless device in the secondary cell group may employ the second synchronization signal as a timing reference. Additionally, timing advance command(s) may be configured to cause substantial alignment of reception timing of the uplink signals in frames and subframes of the secondary cell group at the base station. The uplink signals may be transmitted by the wireless device in the primary cell group employ a first synchronization signal transmitted on the primary cell as a first timing reference; and the secondary cell group employ a second synchronization signal transmitted on one of the activated cell(s) in the secondary cell group as a second timing reference. The secondary cell may be the timing reference for uplink transmissions in the secondary cell group by said wireless device if the size of the second subset is one.

According to some of the various embodiments, a first signaling bearer may be established between the base station and the wireless device prior to transmitting the control message(s). The establishing may comprising the base station transmitting a control message to the wireless device on the primary cell. Additionally, prior to transmitting the control message(s), the base station may receive radio capability parameters from the wireless device on the first signaling bearer on the primary cell. The radio capability parameters may indicate that the wireless device supports configuration of the cell groups.

According to some of the various embodiments, a base station may be configured to communicate employing a plurality of cells. The base station may comprise communication interface(s), processor(s) and memory. The memory may store instructions. The processors may be configured to execute the stored instructions to perform various processes as described herein.

FIG. 13 is an example flow diagram illustrating a signaling mechanism to configure a plurality cells and a plurality of cell groups as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

A control message from a base station may be received by a wireless device at 1300. The base station may be configured to communicate employing a plurality of cells. The control message(s) may cause in the wireless device, configuration of secondary cell(s) in the plurality of cells. The control message may comprise common parameters for a secondary cell in the secondary cell(s). The common parameters may have the same value for multiple wireless devices. The control message may comprise random access resource and power control parameter(s). The random access resource parameters may identify random access resources. The control message may also comprise dedicated parameter(s). The dedicated parameter(s) may be specific to wireless device(s). The dedicated parameter(s) may comprise a cell group index for the secondary cell, and a time alignment timer parameter for each cell group in the plurality of cell groups. The resource parameters may identify random access resources. The secondary cell may be in a secondary cell group.

The control message(s) may be configured to further cause in the wireless device, configuration of a time alignment timer for each of the cell groups. The time alignment timer may start or restart in response to the wireless device receiving a timing advance command to adjust uplink transmission timing of a commanded cell group in the plurality of cell groups. Control message(s) may comprise a media access control dedicated information element. The media access control dedicated information element may comprise a sequence of first information element(s). Each of the first information element(s) may comprise: a first cell group index of a first secondary cell group and a first time alignment timer for the first secondary cell group. Control message(s) may set up or modify radio bearer(s).

According to some of the various embodiments, the wireless device may receive a control command at 1302. The control command may be configured to cause transmission of a random access preamble on the random access resources of the secondary cell. The transmission power of the random access preamble may be calculated employing the power control parameter(s). The power control parameter(s) may comprise: a power ramping step; and an initial preamble received target power.

According to some of the various embodiments, the wireless device may receive a random access response at 1304. The random access response may comprise a timing advance command for a secondary cell group comprising the second cell.

FIG. 12 is an example flow diagram illustrating signaling mechanism to configure a plurality cells and a plurality of cell groups as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. According to some of the various embodiments a base station may be configured to communicate to wireless devices employing a plurality of cells. The wireless device(s) may be compatible with LTE release 11 or above and support the configuration of multiple cell groups.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit control message(s) to a wireless device in a plurality of wireless devices at 1200. The control message may be configured to cause the configuration of at least one secondary cell(s) in the plurality of cells in the wireless device. The control message may be configured to cause in the wireless device the assignment of each of the secondary cell(s) to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups. The cell group(s) may comprise a primary cell group and secondary cell group(s). The primary cell group may comprise a first subset of the plurality of cells. The first subset may comprise a primary cell. Uplink transmissions by the wireless device in the primary cell group may employ a first synchronization signal transmitted on the primary cell. The first secondary cell group in the secondary cell group(s) may comprise a second subset of the secondary cell(s). The second subset may comprise a reference secondary cell. Uplink transmissions in the secondary cell group may employ a second synchronization signal on the reference secondary cell as a secondary timing reference. The reference secondary cell may be an activated cell in the secondary cell group.

The control message(s) may comprise dedicated parameter(s) specific to the wireless device. For each of the secondary cell(s), if the dedicated parameter(s) comprise a cell group index for the secondary cell, the secondary cell may be assigned to one of the secondary cell group(s) identified by the cell group index. Otherwise (if the dedicated parameters do not comprise a cell group index for the secondary cell), the secondary cell may be assigned to the primary cell group. The primary cell group may be identified by a group index equal to zero.

Control message(s) may comprise at least one cell-add-modify information element. Each of the cell-add-modify information element(s) may comprises a first plurality of dedicated parameters in the dedicated parameter(s). The first plurality of dedicated parameters may comprise a first cell index for a first secondary cell in the secondary cell(s). The dedicated parameter(s) may further comprise a time alignment timer parameter for each cell group in the plurality of cell groups.

Control message(s) may be configured to further cause in the wireless device configuration of a time alignment timer for each of the plurality of cell groups. The time alignment timer may start or restart in response to the wireless device receiving a timing advance command to adjust uplink transmission timing of a commanded cell group in the plurality of cell groups. The base station may transmit at least one timing advance command to the wireless device. The timing advance command may comprise: a time adjustment value; and an index identifying the secondary cell group. The timing advance command(s) may be configured to cause substantial alignment of reception timing of the uplink signals in frames and subframes of the secondary cell group at the base station.

The control message(s) may comprise a media access control dedicated information element. The media access control dedicated information element may comprise a sequence of first information element(s). Each of the first information element(s) may comprise: a first cell group index of a first secondary cell group; and a first time alignment timer for the first secondary cell group. Media access control dedicated information element may further comprise a deactivation timer for the secondary cell(s).

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit a control command configured to cause transmission of a random access preamble on random access resources of a secondary cell in the secondary cell group at 1202. The base station may receive the random access preamble on the random access resources. Transmission timing of the random access preamble may be determined, at least in part, employing the second synchronization signal.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit a random access response at 1204. The random access response may comprise a timing advance command for the secondary cell group.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit other commands. For example, the base station may transmit a timing advance command to the wireless device. The timing advance command may be configured to cause substantial alignment of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of a cell group at the base station. The timing advance command may comprise an index identifying the cell group.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may comprise communication interface(s), processor(s), and memory. The memory may store instructions. The processor(s) may execute the instructions to cause actions described herein.

FIG. 13 is an example flow diagram illustrating a signaling mechanism to configure a plurality cells and a plurality of cell groups as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

A control message from a base station may be received by a wireless device at 1300. The base station may be configured to communicate with the wireless device employing a plurality of cells. The control message(s) may cause in the wireless device, configuration of secondary cell(s) in the plurality of cells. The control message(s) may cause in the wireless device, assignment of each of the secondary cell(s) to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups. The plurality of cell groups may comprise a primary cell group and secondary cell group(s). The primary cell group may comprise a first subset of the plurality of cells. The first subset may comprise a primary cell. The first secondary cell group in the secondary cell group(s) may comprise a second subset of the secondary cell(s).

The control message may comprise dedicated parameter(s). The dedicated parameter(s) may be specific to wireless device(s) in a plurality of wireless devices. If the dedicated parameter(s) may comprise a cell group index for the secondary cell, the secondary cell may be assigned to one of the secondary cell group(s) identified by the cell group index. Otherwise, the secondary cell may be assigned to the primary cell group. The secondary cell may be in a secondary cell group. The dedicated parameter(s) may comprise a first dedicated parameter applicable to all activated secondary cells in secondary cell(s). The dedicated parameter(s) may comprise a second dedicated parameter being secondary cell specific and being applicable to only one secondary cell in the secondary cell(s).

According to some of the various embodiments, the wireless device may receive a timing advance command from the base station. The timing advance command may be configured to cause substantial alignment of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of a cell group at the base station. The timing advance command may comprising an index identifying the cell group.

FIG. 14 is an example flow diagram illustrating a signaling mechanism to configure a pathloss reference for secondary cells in a plurality of cell groups as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. According to some of the various embodiments a base station may be configured to communicate to wireless devices employing a plurality of cells. The wireless device(s) may be compatible with LTE release 11 or above and support the configuration of multiple cell groups.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit control message(s) to a wireless device at 1400. The control message may be configured to cause in said wireless device configuration of secondary cell(s) in said plurality of cells. The control message may be configured to assign each of the secondary cell(s) to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups. The plurality of cell groups may comprise: a primary cell group and a secondary cell group. The primary cell group may comprise a first subset of the plurality of cells. The first subset may comprise a primary cell. Uplink transmissions by the wireless device in the primary cell group may employ a first synchronization signal transmitted on the primary cell. The secondary cell group may comprise a second subset of the secondary cell(s). The second subset may comprise a reference secondary cell. Uplink transmissions in the secondary cell group may employ a second synchronization signal on the reference secondary cell as a secondary timing reference.

According to some of the various embodiments, the control message may comprise a plurality of dedicated parameters for a secondary cell in the secondary cell(s). The plurality of dedicated parameters may be specific to the wireless device. The plurality of dedicated parameters may comprise a pathloss reference for the secondary cell. The pathloss reference may be a configurable parameter if the secondary cell is in the primary cell group. The configurable parameter may be configurable to a downlink of the secondary cell or a downlink of the primary cell. The pathloss reference may only be configurable as a downlink of the secondary cell if the secondary cell is in the secondary cell group.

According to some of the various embodiments, the plurality of dedicated parameters may include: a cell group index for the secondary cell; and a time alignment timer parameter for each cell group in the plurality of cell groups. The cell group index may identify one of a plurality of cell groups. The plurality of cell groups may comprise a primary cell group and a secondary cell group.

According to some of the various embodiments, the control message(s) may be configured to cause in the wireless device configuration of a time alignment timer for each of the plurality of cell groups. The time alignment timer may start or restart in response to the wireless device receiving a timing advance command to adjust uplink transmission timing of a commanded cell group in the plurality of cell groups.

According to some of the various embodiments, the control message(s) may comprise a media access control dedicated information element. The media access control dedicated information element may comprise a sequence of first information element(s). Each of the first information element(s) may comprise: a first cell group index of a first secondary cell group; and a first time alignment timer for the first secondary cell group.

According to some of the various embodiments, the control message(s) may comprise a pathloss reference for a secondary cell in the secondary cell(s). The pathloss reference may be a configurable parameter if the secondary cell is in the primary cell group. The configurable parameter may be configurable to one of the following: a downlink of the secondary cell; and a downlink of the primary cell. The pathloss reference may be only configurable as a downlink of the secondary cell if the secondary cell is in the secondary cell group.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may receive uplink signals in the secondary cell from the wireless device at 1402. Transmission power of the uplink signals may be determined, at least in part, employing a received power of the pathloss reference assigned to the secondary cell. According to some of the various embodiments, the transmission power of the uplink signals may be determined, at least in part, employing measurements of the received power of the pathloss reference assigned to the secondary cell. According to some of the various embodiments, the transmission power of the uplink signals may be determined, at least in part, further employing at least one power control parameter in the control message(s). According to some of the various embodiments, the transmission power of the uplink signals may be determined, at least in part, further employing power control commands transmitted by the base station.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit a control command configured to cause transmission of a random access preamble on random access resources of the secondary cell in the secondary cell group. The transmission power of the random access preamble may be calculated employing the received power of the pathloss reference assigned to the secondary cell.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit a control packet(s) for providing transport format information, resource allocation information, and power control commands for transmission of a plurality of packets to be transmitted on a first data channel of the secondary cell. Transmission power of the plurality of packets may be calculated employing, at least in part: the received power of the pathloss reference assigned to the secondary cell; and the power control commands.

According to some of the various embodiments, several actions may be taken by the base station prior to transmitting the control message(s). A first signaling bearer may be established between the base station and the wireless device. The establishing may comprise the base station transmitting a control message to the wireless device on the primary cell. The base station may receive a plurality of radio capability parameters from the wireless device on the first signaling bearer on the primary cell. The plurality of radio capability parameters may indicate that the wireless device supports configuration of the plurality of cell groups.

FIG. 15 is an example flow diagram illustrating a signaling mechanism to configure pathloss reference for secondary cells in a plurality of cell groups as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. According to some of the various embodiments, the wireless device may comprise communication interface(s), processor(s), and memory. The memory may store instructions. The processor(s) may execute the instructions to cause the wireless device to take actions described herein.

According to some of the various embodiments, the wireless device may receive control message(s) from a base station at 1500. The base station configured to communicate with the wireless device employing a plurality of cells. The control message(s) may cause in the wireless device the configuration of at least one secondary cell in the plurality of cells. The control message(s) may cause in the wireless device, the assignment of each of the secondary cell(s) to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups. The plurality of cell groups may comprise a primary cell group and a secondary cell group. The primary cell group may comprise a first subset of the plurality of cells. The first subset may comprise a primary cell. The secondary cell group may comprise a second subset of the secondary cell(s).

According to some of the various embodiments, the control message(s) may comprise a pathloss reference for a secondary cell in the secondary cell(s). The pathloss reference may be a configurable parameter if the secondary cell is in the primary cell group. The configurable parameter may be configurable to one of the following: a downlink of the secondary cell; and a downlink of the primary cell. The configurable parameter may be only configurable as a downlink of the secondary cell if the secondary cell is in the secondary cell group.

According to some of the various embodiments, the control message(s) may comprises cell-add-modify information element(s). Each of the cell-add-modify information element(s) may comprise a first plurality of dedicated parameters in the plurality of dedicated parameters. The first plurality of dedicated parameters may comprise a first cell index for a first secondary cell in the secondary cell(s) if the first secondary cell is assigned to a secondary cell group.

According to some of the various embodiments, uplink signals may be transmitted in the secondary cell to the base station at 1502. Transmission power of the uplink signals may be determined, at least in part, employing a received power of the pathloss reference assigned to the secondary cell.

According to some of the various embodiments, the wireless device may receive at timing advance command(s) from the base station. The timing advance command(s) may comprise: a time adjustment value; and an index identifying the secondary cell group. The timing advance command(s) may be configured to cause substantial alignment of reception timing of uplink signals in frames and subframes of the secondary cell group at the base station.

According to some of the various embodiments, the wireless device may be assigned a plurality of media access control dedicated parameters by the configuration. The plurality of media access control dedicated parameters may comprise a plurality of time alignment timer values. Each time alignment timer value may be associated with a unique cell group time alignment timer in the wireless device.

According to some of the various embodiments, the wireless device may receive from the base station control packet(s) for providing transport format information, resource allocation information, and power control commands for transmission of a plurality of packets to be transmitted on a first data channel of the secondary cell. Transmission power of the plurality of packets may be calculated employing, at least in part: the received power of the pathloss reference assigned to the secondary cell; and the power control commands.

FIG. 9 is an example physical random access channel (PRACH) configuration in a primary TAG (pTAG) and a secondary TAG (sTAG) as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the example, PRACH resources are configured for the PCell in pTAG and SCell2 and SCell3 in sTAG. SCell1 and SCell4 are not configured with PRACH resources. This is an example and other configurations are also possible. In an example embodiment, no SCell in pTAG is configured with PRACH resources. In another example embodiment, PRACH resources for an SCell in pTAG may be configured, but eNB is not configured to trigger a preamble transmission on PRACH resources of an SCell in pTAG. Basically, PRACH resources in SCells in pTAG cannot be used for preamble transmissions by a UE.

For pTAG, there may not be a need to have more than one PRACH resource for a UE configured with multiple serving cells in pTAG because the PCell is always activated as long as the UE is in connected mode. There may not be a need to use RACH on the SCells in the TA group comprising the PCell. The TA maintenance of the TA group containing the PCell is based, at least in part, on preamble transmitted on PCell PRACH resource. Even if PRACH resources on an SCell assigned to pTAG is configured in a UE, the eNB is configured not to transmit PDCCH order for transmission of preambles on an SCell assigned to pTAG. Therefore, a UE may not use PRACH of an SCell of the pTAG for preamble transmission in the uplink.

In an sTAG, PRACH may be configured for more than one SCell. This may introduce flexibility for the network to balance the load on PRACH between cells. sTAG may have multiple SCells with PRACH because an SCell may be deactivated. A UE may change the timing reference for example, when the timing reference SCell is deactivated or moved to another sTAG. In an example embodiment, for a UE, the timing reference may be the SCell sending the PRACH preamble and the initial timing acquisition may be made by the PRACH transmission. If needed, RACH may be configured for multiple SCells in the sTAG and the RACH procedure for the sTAG may be carried out on any of those SCell within the sTAG. Configuring PRACH in more than one SCell in an sTAG may provide flexibility for random access process and preamble transmission. An eNB may transmit PDCCH order for preamble transmission on any of the activated SCells in an sTAG with configured PRACH resources.

For an SCell TA group, RACH may be performed on an SCell in the SCell TA group based on the PDCCH order. For the network initiated RACH, the choice of SCell to perform RACH may be left to eNB implementation based on, for example, the radio quality of SCells, network load, and/or the like. For example, when a UE moves in or out of the coverage area of a repeater or RRH (remote radio head) its sTAG and/or pTAG configuration may change (for example, reference timing SCell may change). eNB may detect this event by monitoring uplink transmissions, eNB measurements, or UE feedback. There may be no need to fix a specific SCell in an SCell group for RACH. It may be left to the eNB to decide which SCell to pick for RACH. eNB may select the SCell for RACH. SCells in pTAG may not include PRACH resource and/or their PRACH resources may not be communicated to the UE, but one or more SCells in sTAG may have PRACH resource. Configuration of PCell is UE specific. An SCell for a given UE1 may be a PCell for another UE2. A UE may not receive PRACH configuration for an SCell in a pTAG (or the UE may ignore PRACH configuration for an SCell in pTAG if the UE receives pTAG SCell PRACH configuration). A UE may not be configured to transmit random access preamble on an SCell in a pTAG. In an example implementation, an SCell for UE1, which may be a PCell for UE2, may have PRACH resources, but its PRACH resources may not be communicated to UE1 or when it is communicated, UE1 may not use it for preamble transmission. In an example embodiment, an eNB may configure PRACH resources on an SCell of a pTAG, but the UE may not use those PRACH resources for preamble transmission.

If the multiple SCells in the same TA group are configured with the RACH parameters, the preamble usage efficiency may increase. eNB may select the SCell where the UE is asked to perform the RA procedure and then allocate the dedicated preamble of the selected SCell to the UE. An eNB may configure RACH parameters to more than one SCell in an sTAG. SCell RACH is triggered by the eNB and the SCell RACH may be contention-free. In such a configuration, eNB may select SCell and PRACH resource and preamble ID for a UE. Then UE starts the PRACH process by sending the preamble on the PRACH resource of the SCell selected by eNB. In pTAG operation, UEs may use the same uplink carrier PRACH resource in PCell and use the same PCell timing reference. In sTAG operation, a UE may change its SCell timing reference during operation, and may use one or more SCell PRACH resources during its operation. In an example implementation, a UE uses one SCell timing reference and one SCell PRACH at a given time, and multiple parallel and simultaneous PRACH operations by a UE may not be allowed.

Assignment of cells to pTAG and sTAG are UE specific. A UE may have its own pTAG and sTAG configuration depending on, for example, coverage area, repeater connection, UE capability, coverage quality, and/or the like. A UE may have a different reference timing SCell in the sTAG. Timing reference SCell may be different for different UEs, and a timing reference cell may or may not have PRACH resources in the uplink. For example, UE1 and UE2 may be configured with an sTAG including SCell 1 and SCell 2. SCell 1 may be the timing reference for UE1, and SCell 2 may be the timing reference for UE2. PRACH for SCell 1 and SCell 2 may be communicated to the UE.

RACH configuration may be cell-specific and may be related to the cell coverage and design parameters. SCells and PCell may have different coverage areas. PCell may support contention free and contention based random access process, and an SCell may support contention free random access process. PRACH configuration parameters for SCell and PCell may be different. SCell PRACH configuration parameters are a subset of PCell configuration parameters, and all PCell PRACH configuration parameters may not be needed for an SCell. A new field using some of the existing IEs may be introduced for PRACH configuration for an SCell in the sTAG.

Parameters related to contention based random access process may not be needed in SCell PRACH configuration. The RACH-ConfigDedicated which is related to contention based random access process may not be needed for PRACH configuration for an SCell. The parameters powerRampingParameters, and preambleTransMax may be needed for a PRACH configuration for an SCell. prach-ConfigInfo may include: prach-ConfigIndex, highSpeedFlag, zeroCorrelationZoneConfig, prach-FreqOffset. The parameters in the IE PRACH-Config may be needed for an SCell to support RA procedure. The same RAR window configuration IE may be employed for SCell(s) and PCell. It may be convenient for eNB to use the same IE as the RAR window of SCell and PCell random access process, since Msg2 transmission for SCell and PCell is scheduled together in eNB scheduler on the PCell RAR and employ RAR-CRNTI. RAR window parameter of the PCell may be used for all preamble transmissions on PCell and SCell(s).

FIG. 12 is an example flow diagram illustrating signaling mechanism to configure a plurality of cells and a plurality of cell groups as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. According to some of the various embodiments a base station may be configured to communicate to wireless devices employing a plurality of cells. The wireless device(s) may be compatible with LTE release 11 or above and support the configuration of multiple cell groups.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit control message(s) to a wireless device in a plurality of wireless devices at 1200.

According to some of the various embodiments, the control message(s) may be configured to cause in the wireless device configuration of a primary cell and a plurality of secondary cells in the plurality of cells. The control message(s) may be configured to cause in the wireless device assignment of each of the plurality of secondary cells to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups. The plurality of cell groups may comprise a primary cell group and a secondary cell group. The primary cell group may comprise a first subset of the plurality of cells. The first subset may comprise the primary cell. Uplink transmissions by the wireless device in the primary cell group may employ a first synchronization signal transmitted on the primary cell. The secondary cell group may comprise a second subset of the plurality of secondary cells. The second subset may comprise a reference secondary cell. Uplink transmissions in the secondary cell group may employ a second synchronization signal on the reference secondary cell as a secondary timing reference. The primary cell group may comprise second secondary cell(s).

According to some of the various embodiments, the control message(s) may comprise a plurality of common parameters having the same value for wireless devices in the plurality of wireless devices. The plurality of common parameters may comprise the following parameters for each of at least one first secondary cell in the plurality of secondary cells: a plurality of random access resource parameters; and a plurality of power control parameters for random access preamble transmission. In one embodiment all the cells in the at least one first secondary cell are in sTAGs. In another embodiment, one or more of the SCells in the at least one first secondary cell may be in a pTAG, but base station may be configured not to initiate a random access process on the PRACH of those SCells in pTAG.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit a control command to the wireless device at 1202. The control command may be configurable to cause transmission of a first random access preamble on a secondary cell (being one of the at least one first secondary cell) in the secondary cell group. The control command may be transmitted on a cell employed for scheduling uplink resources for the one of the first secondary cell(s) that is in the second subset.

The control command may be unconfigurable to cause transmission of a second random access preamble on any secondary cell in the primary cell group. A PDCCH order (control command) is configured not to trigger transmission of random access preamble on an SCell of the pTAG. According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit a control command configured to cause the wireless device to transmit a third random access preamble to acquire uplink timing for the primary cell group. The control command may be configurable: to be transmitted on a downlink of only the primary cell; and to cause transmission of the third random access preamble on an uplink of only the primary cell.

The transmission power of the first random access preamble may be calculated employing the plurality of power control parameters. The random access preamble may be received on uplink random access resources identified by: a plurality of random access resource parameters; and the control command. The control command may comprise a mask index; and a random access preamble identifier.

According to some of the various embodiments, the second secondary cell(s) in the primary cell group may not be configured with random access resources. Each of the first secondary cell(s) in the secondary cell group may be configured with a random access resource.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may be configured to communicate with the wireless device employing a plurality of cells. A control message may be transmitted by the base station to a wireless device at 1200. The control message(s) may cause in the wireless device, configuration of a primary cell and a plurality of secondary cells in the plurality of cells. The control message(s) may cause in the wireless device, assignment of each of the plurality of secondary cells to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups. The plurality of cell groups may comprise: a primary cell group; and a secondary cell group. The primary cell group may comprise a first subset of the plurality of cells. The first subset may comprise a primary cell. The secondary cell group may comprise a second subset of the plurality of secondary cells. The control message(s) may comprise a plurality of common parameters. The plurality of common parameters may comprise the following parameters for each of at least one first secondary cell in the plurality of secondary cells: a plurality of random access resource parameters; and a plurality of power control parameters for random access preamble transmission. In an example implementation, the control message(s) may not comprise any random access resource parameter for any secondary cell in the primary cell group.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit a control command to the wireless device at 1202. The control command may be configurable to cause transmission of a first random access preamble on a secondary cell in the secondary cell group. The control command may be unconfigurable to cause transmission of a second random access preamble on any secondary cell in the primary cell group.

The random access preamble may be received on uplink random access resources identified by: a plurality of random access resource parameters; and the control command.

According to some of the various embodiments, the base station may transmit a random access response on the primary cell at 1204. The random access response may comprise a timing advance command for the secondary cell group. The random access response may comprise a timing advance command. The timing advance command may comprise a time adjustment value. The timing advance command may be configured to cause substantial alignment of reception timing of the uplink signals in frames and subframes of the secondary cell group at the base station.

FIG. 13 is an example flow diagram illustrating a signaling mechanism to configure a plurality cells and a plurality of cell groups as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

According to some of the various embodiments, control message(s) from a base station may be received by a wireless device at 1300. The base station may be configured to communicate with the wireless device employing a plurality of cells. The control message(s) may cause in the wireless device, configuration of a primary cell and a plurality of secondary cells in the plurality of cells. The control message(s) may cause in the wireless device, assignment of each of the plurality of secondary cells to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups. The plurality of cell groups may comprise a primary cell group and secondary cell group(s). The primary cell group may comprise a first subset of the plurality of cells. The first subset may comprise a primary cell. The secondary cell group comprising a second subset of the plurality of secondary cells. The control message(s) may comprise a plurality of common parameters. The plurality of common parameters may comprise the following parameters for each of at least one first secondary cell in the plurality of secondary cells: a plurality of random access resource parameters; and a plurality of power control parameters for random access preamble transmission.

The control message(s) may be configured to further cause in the wireless device configuration of a time alignment timer for each of the plurality of cell groups. The time alignment timer may start or restart in response to the wireless device receiving a timing advance command to adjust uplink transmission timing of a commanded cell group in the plurality of cell groups at 1304. In an example implementation, the control message(s) may not comprise any random access resource parameters for any secondary cell in the primary cell group.

According to some of the various embodiments, a control command may be received from the base station at 1302. The control command may be: configurable to cause transmission of a first random access preamble on a secondary cell in the secondary cell group; and unconfigurable to cause transmission of a second random access preamble on any secondary cell in the primary cell group.

The wireless device may transmit the first random access preamble to the base station on random access resources identified by the plurality of random access resource parameters. In an sTAG, transmission timing of the random access preamble may be determined, at least in part, employing a second synchronization signal on an activated cell in the secondary cell group. The transmission power of the first random access preamble may be calculated employing the plurality of power control parameters.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, a UE may select one active SCell DL in a secondary TAG as the DL timing reference cell for the secondary TAG. This may reduce signalling overhead or complexity of implementation and/or increase efficiency. For a UE, an sTAG may have one timing reference cell at a given time. In an example embodiment, the active SCell with the highest signal quality may be selected as the timing reference SCell by the UE. In another example embodiment, DL timing reference cell for an sTAG may be the SCell DL SIB2-linked with the SCell UL where RACH was performed. For preamble transmission, the SIB2 linked DL of the cell which the preamble is sent may be used as DL timing reference. In an example embodiment, UE may autonomously select a downlink carrier in an active cell in the sTAG as the reference SCell. When TA command is received in RAR or MAC CE, the UE may apply the TA value to current UL timing of the corresponding TAG.

One timing reference SCell may be employed in an sTAG, the timing alignment value in RAR (random access response) or TAC (time alignment command) may be applied to all active SCell(s) in the same sTAG. Thus, the UE may select the most suitable SCell for timing reference depending on different circumstances. For example, the SCell which has a better signal quality may be selected as timing reference cell, since better signal quality may provide a more reliable performance and thus reduce the need of re-configuring the timing reference cell. Channel quality of an SCell in an sTAG may be considered for initial SCell timing reference and for reselecting timing reference cell. UE may change the timing reference when it is necessary.

In an example embodiment, the SCell served as the timing reference cell in sTAG may be deactivated in some cases. For a UE, eNB may keep a state of an SCell as active or inactive. In a UE, when an SCell is inactive, the UE may switch off some parts of the receiver and/or transmitter corresponding to the SCell. This act may reduce battery power consumption in the UE. In another example embodiment, the reference SCell in an sTAG may be released by the serving eNB. The timing reference cell may be changed to another active SCell in the sTAG for maintaining UL timing alignment for SCells in the same sTAG. Change of timing reference cell in an sTAG may be supported. The reference cell may also be changed for other reasons such as coverage quality, PRACH failure, Reference SCell release, subscriber mobility, a combination of the above, and/or the like. These scenarios may apply to cases where time alignment is running. If the time alignment is not running and the sTAG is not time aligned, then there is no uplink synchronization and UE may not use any reference SCell for uplink synchronization. In an example embodiment, the UE may autonomously change the timing reference SCell to another active SCell in the sTAG without informing the serving base station. The UE may not inform the base station about a change in the reference SCell, this process avoids additional signaling from a UE to the eNB and may increase radio resource efficiency. This process optimizes reference cell selection by the UE so that the UE can select a suitable SCell as the reference, without adding complexity in the network and without introducing additional signaling overhead.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, UE may autonomously select another reference SCell when the reference SCell becomes deactivated. Since the timing reference is used to derive the UL transmission timing at the UE, there is a need for the UE to select a downlink SCell as the timing reference. The UE may autonomously reselect another activated SCell in the sTAG as the reference when needed. Timing reference for uplink transmission on SCell may be reselected to the DL timing of any activated SCell of the same sTAG when needed. Any activated SCell in the sTAG may be chosen by the UE autonomously as the timing reference for this sTAG. For example, initially downlink SCell in which RA is transmitted may be used as a timing reference and then the UE may use another SCell as the timing reference, when the reference SCell needs to be changed.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, if the UE is configured with one or more SCells, the network may activate and deactivate the configured SCells associated with a wireless device (UE). The PCell is always activated when UE is in RRC-Connected mode. The network may activate and deactivate the SCell(s) by sending the Activation/Deactivation MAC control element. Furthermore, a UE and eNB may maintain an SCellDeactivationTimer timer per configured SCell and may deactivate the associated SCell upon its expiry. sCellDeactivationTimer may be configured by RRC. The same initial timer value may apply to instances of the sCellDeactivationTimer for SCells. The configured SCells may be initially deactivated upon addition and/or after a handover. With the current sCellDeactivationTimer, SCell may be deactivated during the PRACH process. Transmission of uplink preamble on a deactivated SCell may increase battery power consumption and UE complexity. If preamble is transmitted on a deactivated SCell, UE may need to turn on processing related to uplink transmission of the SCell. UE may not transmit data on a deactivated SCell and transmission of preamble may require special processing in the UE and may complicate UE implementation. To address this issue, if the SCell is deactivated during an ongoing RA process on the SCell, for example because SCell deactivation timer expires, the ongoing random access process on the SCell may be aborted. When an SCell is deactivated, the UE may stop all uplink transmissions (for the SCell) including uplink preamble. UE may not transmit any uplink preamble when the SCell is deactivated. eNB may avoid or reduce the probability of such a scenario, by keeping the corresponding SCell activated during random access process. For example, eNB can explicitly activate the SCell before the random access process starts. An eNB may initiate a random access process when there is enough time for performing the entire random access process. UE may start the random access process on an activated SCell. But if the SCell deactivation timer (of the SCell that is used for preamble transmission) expires during the random access process, the UE may deactivate the SCell and may abort the random access process and may not transmit a preamble in the uplink. This process may prevent a situation in which the UE may send uplink signals on a deactivated SCell. If an SCell in a UE is deactivated after a preamble transmission on the SCell and before receiving a random access response corresponding to the preamble transmission, the UE may abort the random access process. A random access process on an SCell is initiated in a UE when the UE received a PDCCH order to transmit a preamble on the SCell. The random access process is considered successfully completed when the UE successfully decodes a corresponding RAR. If the SCell is deactivated after the random access process is initiated and before the random access process is completed, then the UE may abort the random access process.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, sCellDeactivationTimer may be maintained in a way to reduce SCell deactivation during the RA process. The UE may for a TTI and for a configured SCell, if the UE receives an Activation/Deactivation MAC control element in this TTI activating the SCell, the UE may in the TTI according to a predefined timing activate the SCell and start or restart the sCellDeactivationTimer associated with the SCell. Activating an SCell may imply applying normal SCell operation including: SRS transmissions on the SCell (if the SCell is in sync), CQI/PMI/RI/PTI reporting for the SCell, PDCCH monitoring on the SCell, PDCCH monitoring for the SCell. If the UE receives an Activation/Deactivation MAC control element in this TTI deactivating the SCell, or if the sCellDeactivationTimer associated with the activated SCell expires in this TTI, in the TTI according to a predefined timing: deactivate the SCell, stop the sCellDeactivationTimer associated with the SCell, flush all HARQ buffers associated with the SCell.

If PDCCH on the activated SCell indicates an uplink grant or downlink assignment, or if PDCCH on the Serving Cell scheduling the activated SCell indicates an uplink grant or a downlink assignment for the activated SCell, the UE may restart the sCellDeactivationTimer associated with the SCell. If the SCell is deactivated, the UE may: not transmit SRS on the SCell, not report CQI/PMI/RI/PTI for the SCell, not transmit on UL-SCH on the SCell, not monitor the PDCCH on the SCell, not monitor the PDCCH for the SCell, and/or not to transmit uplink preamble on the SCell.

In an example embodiment, an SCell deactivation timer of the SCell may be restarted when the UE receives a PDCCH order to transmit uplink preamble on the SCell. The SCell deactivation timer of the Cell carrying PDCCH order may also be restarted in cross carrier scheduling configuration. In an example implementation, an SCell deactivation timer of the SCell may be restarted when the UE transmits a random access preamble on the uplink the SCell.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, the random access procedure may be initiated by a PDCCH order or by the MAC sublayer itself. Random access procedure on an SCell may be initiated by a PDCCH order. If a UE receives a PDCCH transmission consistent with a PDCCH order masked with its C-RNTI (radio network temporary identifier), and for a specific serving cell, the UE may initiate a random access procedure on this serving cell. For random access on the PCell a PDCCH order or RRC optionally indicate the ra-PreambleIndex and the ra-PRACH-MaskIndex; and for random access on an SCell, the PDCCH order indicates the ra-PreambleIndex with a value different from zero and the ra-PRACH-MaskIndex. For the pTAG preamble transmission on PRACH and reception of a PDCCH order may only be supported for PCell.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, the procedure may use some of the following information: a) the available set of PRACH resources for the transmission of the random access preamble, prach-ConfigIndex., b) for PCell, the groups of random access preambles and/or the set of available random access preambles in each group, c) for PCell, the preambles that are contained in random access preambles group A and Random Access Preambles group B are calculated, d) the RA response window size ra-Response WindowSize, e) the power-ramping factor powerRampingStep, f) the maximum number of preamble transmission preambleTransMax, g) the initial preamble power preambleInitialReceivedTargetPower, h) the preamble format based offset DELTA_PREAMBLE, i) for PCell, the maximum number of Msg3 HARQ transmissions maxHARQ-Msg3Tx, j) for PCell, the Contention Resolution Timer mac-ContentionResolutionTimer. These parameters may be updated from upper layers before each Random Access procedure is initiated.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, the Random Access procedure may be performed as follows: Flush the Msg3 buffer; set the PREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTER to 1; set the backoff parameter value in the UE to 0 ms; for the RN (relay node), suspend any RN subframe configuration; proceed to the selection of the Random Access Resource. There may be one Random Access procedure ongoing at any point in time. If the UE receives a request for a new Random Access procedure while another is already ongoing, it may be up to UE implementation whether to continue with the ongoing procedure or start with the new procedure.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, the Random Access Resource selection procedure may be performed as follows. If ra-PreambleIndex (Random Access Preamble) and ra-PRACH-MaskIndex (PRACH Mask Index) have been explicitly signaled and ra-PreambleIndex is not zero, then the Random Access Preamble and the PRACH Mask Index may be those explicitly signaled. Otherwise, the Random Access Preamble may be selected by the UE.

The UE may determine the next available subframe containing PRACH permitted by the restrictions given by the prach-ConfigIndex, the PRACH Mask Index and physical layer timing requirements (a UE may take into account the possible occurrence of measurement gaps when determining the next available PRACH subframe). If the transmission mode is TDD and the PRACH Mask Index is equal to zero, then if ra-PreambleIndex was explicitly signaled and it was not 0 (i.e., not selected by MAC), then randomly select, with equal probability, one PRACH from the PRACHs available in the determined subframe. Else, the UE may randomly select, with equal probability, one PRACH from the PRACHs available in the determined subframe and the next two consecutive subframes. If the transmission mode is not TDD or the PRACH Mask Index is not equal to zero, a UE may determine a PRACH within the determined subframe in accordance with the requirements of the PRACH Mask Index. Then the UE may proceed to the transmission of the Random Access Preamble.

PRACH mask index values may range for example from 0 to 16. PRACH mask index value may determine the allowed PRACH resource index that may be used for transmission. For example, PRACH mask index 0 may mean that all PRACH resource indexes are allowed; or PRACH mask index 1 may mean that PRACH resource index 0 may be used. PRACH mask index may have different meaning in TDD and FDD systems.

The random-access procedure may be performed by UE setting PREAMBLE_RECEIVED_TARGET_POWER to preambleInitialReceivedTargetPower+DELTA_PREAMBLE+(PREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTER−1)*powerRampingStep. The UE may instruct the physical layer to transmit a preamble using the selected PRACH, corresponding RA-RNTI, preamble index and PREAMBLE_RECEIVED_TARGET_POWER.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, once the random access preamble is transmitted and regardless of the possible occurrence of a measurement gap, the UE may monitor the PDCCH of the PCell for random access response(s) identified by the RA-RNTI (random access radio network identifier) a specific RA-RNTI defined below, in the random access response (RAR) window which may start at the subframe that contains the end of the preamble transmission plus three subframes and has length ra-ResponseWindowSize subframes. The specific RA-RNTI associated with the PRACH in which the Random Access Preamble is transmitted, is computed as: RA-RNTI=1+t_id+10*f_id. Where t_id is the index of the first subframe of the specified PRACH (0≤t_id<10), and f_id is the index of the specified PRACH within that subframe, in ascending order of frequency domain (0≤ f_id<6). The UE may stop monitoring for RAR(s) after successful reception of a RAR containing random access preamble identifiers that matches the transmitted random access preamble.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, if a downlink assignment for this TTI (transmission time interval) has been received on the PDCCH for the RA-RNTI and the received TB (transport block) is successfully decoded, the UE may regardless of the possible occurrence of a measurement gap: if the RAR contains a backoff indicator (BI) subheader, set the backoff parameter value in the UE employing the BI field of the backoff indicator subheader, else, set the backoff parameter value in the UE to zero ms. If the RAR contains a random access preamble identifier corresponding to the transmitted random access preamble, the UE may consider this RAR reception successful and apply the following actions for the serving cell where the random access preamble was transmitted: process the received riming advance command for the cell group in which the preamble was transmitted, indicate the preambleInitialReceivedTargetPower and the amount of power ramping applied to the latest preamble transmission to lower layers (i.e., (PREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTER−1)*powerRampingStep); process the received uplink grant value and indicate it to the lower layers; the uplink grant is applicable to uplink of the cell in which the preamble was transmitted. If ra-PreambleIndex was explicitly signaled and it was not zero (e.g., not selected by MAC), consider the random access procedure successfully completed. Otherwise, if the Random Access Preamble was selected by UE MAC, set the Temporary C-RNTI to the value received in the RAR message. When an uplink transmission is required, e.g., for contention resolution, the eNB may not provide a grant smaller than 56 bits in the Random Access Response.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, if no RAR is received within the RAR window, or if none of all received RAR contains a random access preamble identifier corresponding to the transmitted random access preamble, the random access response reception may considered not successful. If RAR is not received, UE may increment PREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTER by 1. If PREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTER=preambleTransMax+1 and random access preamble is transmitted on the PCell, then UE may indicate a random access problem to upper layers (RRC). This may result in radio link failure. If PREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTER=preambleTransMax+1 and the random access preamble is transmitted on an SCell, then UE may consider the random access procedure unsuccessfully completed. UE may stay in RRC connected mode and keep the RRC connection active even though a random access procedure unsuccessfully completed on a secondary TAG. According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, at completion of the random access procedure, the UE may discard explicitly signaled ra-PreambleIndex and ra-PRACH-MaskIndex, if any; and flush the HARQ buffer used for transmission of the MAC PDU in the Msg3 buffer. In addition, the RN may resume the suspended RN subframe configuration, if any.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, The UE may have a configurable timer timeAlignmentTimer per TAG. The timeAlignmentTimer is used to control how long the UE considers the Serving Cells belonging to the associated TAG to be uplink time aligned (in-sync). When a Timing Advance Command MAC control element is received, the UE may apply the riming advance command for the indicated TAG, and start or restart the timeAlignmentTimer associated with the indicated TAG. When a timing advance command is received in a RAR message for a serving cell belonging to a TAG and if the random access preamble was not selected by UE MAC, the UE may apply the timing advance command for this TAG, and may start or restart the timeAlignmentTimer associated with this TAG. When a timeAlignmentTimer associated with the pTAG expires, the UE may: flush all HARQ buffers for all serving cells; notify RRC to release PUCCH/SRS for all serving cells; clear any configured downlink assignments and uplink grants; and consider all running timeAlignmentTimers as expired. When a timeAlignmentTimer associated with an sTAG expires, then for all Serving Cells belonging to this TAG, the UE may flush all HARQ buffers; and notify RRC to release SRS. The UE may not perform any uplink transmission on a serving Cell except the random access preamble transmission when the timeAlignmentTimer associated with the TAG to which this serving cell belongs is not running. When the timeAlignmentTimer associated with the pTAG is not running, the UE may not perform any uplink transmission on any serving cell except the random access preamble transmission on the PCell. A UE stores or maintains N_TA(current timing advance value of an sTAG) upon expiry of associated timeAlignmentTimer. The UE may apply a received timing advance command MAC control element and starts associated timeAlignmentTimer. Transmission of the uplink radio frame number i from the UE may start (N_TA+N_{TA offset})×T_sseconds before the start of the corresponding downlink radio frame at the UE, where 0≤N_TA≤20512. In an example implementation, N_{TA offset}=0 for frame structure type 1 (FDD) and N_{TA offset}=624 for frame structure type 2 (TDD).

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, upon reception of a timing advance command for a TAG containing the primary cell, the UE may adjust uplink transmission timing for PUCCH/PUSCH/SRS of the primary cell based on the received timing advance command. The UL transmission timing for PUSCH/SRS of a secondary cell may be the same as the primary cell if the secondary cell and the primary cell belong to the same TAG. Upon reception of a timing advance command for a TAG not containing the primary cell, the UE may adjust uplink transmission timing for PUSCH/SRS of secondary cells in the TAG based on the received timing advance command where the UL transmission timing for PUSCH/SRS is the same for all the secondary cells in the TAG.

The timing advance command for a TAG may indicates the change of the uplink timing relative to the current uplink timing for the TAG as multiples of 16 T_s(T_s: sampling time unit). The start timing of the random access preamble may obtained employing a downlink synchronization time in the same TAG. In case of random access response, an 11-bit timing advance command, TA, for a TAG may indicate N_TAvalues by index values of TA=0, 1, 2, . . . , 1282, where an amount of the time alignment for the TAG may be given by N_TA=TA×16. In other cases, a 6-bit timing advance command, TA, for a TAG may indicate adjustment of the current N_TAvalue, N_TA,old, to the new N_TAvalue, N_TA,new, by index values of TA=0, 1, 2, . . . , 63, where N_TA,new=N_TA,old+(TA−31)×16. Here, adjustment of N_TAvalue by a positive or a negative amount indicates advancing or delaying the uplink transmission timing for the TAG by a given amount respectively. For a timing advance command received on subframe n, the corresponding adjustment of the uplink transmission timing may apply from the beginning of subframe n+6. For serving cells in the same TAG, when the UE's uplink PUCCH/PUSCH/SRS transmissions in subframe n and subframe n+1 are overlapped due to the timing adjustment, the UE may complete transmission of subframe n and not transmit the overlapped part of subframe n+1. If the received downlink timing changes and is not compensated or is only partly compensated by the uplink timing adjustment without timing advance command, the UE may change N_TAaccordingly.

Downlink frames and subframes of downlink carriers are time aligned (by the base station) in carrier aggregation and multiple TAG configuration. Time alignment errors may be tolerated to some extent. For example, for intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation, time alignment error may not exceed 130 ns. In another example, for intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation, time alignment error may not exceed 260 ns. In another example, for inter-band carrier aggregation, time alignment error may not exceed 1.3 μs.

The UE may have capability to follow the frame timing change of the connected base station. The uplink frame transmission may take place (N_TA+N_TAoffset)×T_sbefore the reception of the first detected path (in time) of the corresponding downlink frame from the reference cell. The UE may be configured with a pTAG containing the PCell. The pTAG may also contain one or more SCells, if configured. The UE may also be configured with one or more sTAGs, in which case the pTAG may contain one PCell and the sTAG may contain at least one SCell with configured uplink. In pTAG, UE may use the PCell as the reference cell for deriving the UE transmit timing for cells in the pTAG. The UE may employ a synchronization signal on the reference cell to drive downlink timing. When a UE is configured with an sTAG, the UE may use an activated SCell from the sTAG for deriving the UE transmit timing for cell in the sTAG.

In at least one of the various embodiments, uplink physical channel(s) may correspond to a set of resource elements carrying information originating from higher layers. The following example uplink physical channel(s) may be defined for uplink: a) Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), b) Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), c) Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH), and/or the like. Uplink physical signal(s) may be used by the physical layer and may not carry information originating from higher layers. For example, reference signal(s) may be considered as uplink physical signal(s). Transmitted signal(s) in slot(s) may be described by one or several resource grids including, for example, subcarriers and SC-FDMA or OFDMA symbols. Antenna port(s) may be defined such that the channel over which symbol(s) on antenna port(s) may be conveyed and/or inferred from the channel over which other symbol(s) on the same antenna port(s) is/are conveyed. There may be one resource grid per antenna port. The antenna port(s) used for transmission of physical channel(s) or signal(s) may depend on the number of antenna port(s) configured for the physical channel(s) or signal(s).

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, cell search may be the procedure by which a wireless device may acquire time and frequency synchronization with a cell and may detect the physical layer Cell ID of that cell (transmitter). An example embodiment for synchronization signal and cell search is presented below. A cell search may support a scalable overall transmission bandwidth corresponding to 6 resource blocks and upwards. Primary and secondary synchronization signals may be transmitted in the downlink and may facilitate cell search. For example, 504 unique physical-layer cell identities may be defined using synchronization signals. The physical-layer cell identities may be grouped into 168 unique physical-layer cell-identity groups, group(s) containing three unique identities. The grouping may be such that physical-layer cell identit(ies) is part of a physical-layer cell-identity group. A physical-layer cell identity may be defined by a number in the range of 0 to 167, representing the physical-layer cell-identity group, and a number in the range of 0 to 2, representing the physical-layer identity within the physical-layer cell-identity group. The synchronization signal may include a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal.

According to some of the various embodiments, physical downlink control channel(s) may carry transport format, scheduling assignments, uplink power control, and other control information. PDCCH may support multiple formats. Multiple PDCCH packets may be transmitted in a subframe. According to some of the various embodiments, scheduling control packet(s) may be transmitted for packet(s) or group(s) of packets transmitted in downlink shared channel(s). Scheduling control packet(s) may include information about subcarriers used for packet transmission(s). PDCCH may also provide power control commands for uplink channels. PDCCH channel(s) may carry a plurality of downlink control packets in subframe(s). Enhance PDCCH may be implemented in a cell as an option to carrier control information. According to some of the various embodiments, PHICH may carry the hybrid-ARQ (automatic repeat request) ACK/NACK.

Other arrangements for PCFICH, PHICH, PDCCH, enhanced PDCCH, and/or PDSCH may be supported. The configurations presented here are for example purposes. In another example, resources PCFICH, PHICH, and/or PDCCH radio resources may be transmitted in radio resources including a subset of subcarriers and pre-defined time duration in each or some of the subframes. In an example, PUSCH resource(s) may start from the first symbol. In another example embodiment, radio resource configuration(s) for PUSCH, PUCCH, and/or PRACH (physical random access channel) may use a different configuration. For example, channels may be time multiplexed, or time/frequency multiplexed when mapped to uplink radio resources.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, the physical layer random access preamble may comprise a cyclic prefix of length Tcp and a sequence part of length Tseq. The parameter values may be pre-defined and depend on the frame structure and a random access configuration. In an example embodiment, Tcp may be 0.1 msec, and Tseq may be 0.9 msec. Higher layers may control the preamble format. The transmission of a random access preamble, if triggered by the MAC layer, may be restricted to certain time and frequency resources. The start of a random access preamble may be aligned with the start of the corresponding uplink subframe at a wireless device.

According to an example embodiment, random access preambles may be generated from Zadoff-Chu sequences with a zero correlation zone, generated from one or several root Zadoff-Chu sequences. In another example embodiment, the preambles may also be generated using other random sequences such as Gold sequences. The network may configure the set of preamble sequences a wireless device may be allowed to use. According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, there may be a multitude of preambles (e.g. 64) available in cell(s). From the physical layer perspective, the physical layer random access procedure may include the transmission of random access preamble(s) and random access response(s). Remaining message(s) may be scheduled for transmission by a higher layer on the shared data channel and may not be considered part of the physical layer random access procedure. For example, a random access channel may occupy 6 resource blocks in a subframe or set of consecutive subframes reserved for random access preamble transmissions.

According to some of the various embodiments, the following actions may be followed for a physical random access procedure: 1) layer 1 procedure may be triggered upon request of a preamble transmission by higher layers; 2) a preamble index, a target preamble received power, a corresponding RA-RNTI (random access-radio network temporary identifier) and/or a PRACH resource may be indicated by higher layers as part of a request; 3) a preamble transmission power P_PRACH may be determined; 4) a preamble sequence may be selected from the preamble sequence set using the preamble index; 5) a single preamble may be transmitted using selected preamble sequence(s) with transmission power P_PRACH on the indicated PRACH resource; 6) detection of a PDCCH with the indicated RAR may be attempted during a window controlled by higher layers; and/or the like. If detected, the corresponding downlink shared channel transport block may be passed to higher layers. The higher layers may parse transport block(s) and/or indicate an uplink grant to the physical layer(s).

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, a random access procedure may be initiated by a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order and/or by the MAC sublayer in a wireless device. If a wireless device receives a PDCCH transmission consistent with a PDCCH order masked with its radio identifier, the wireless device may initiate a random access procedure. Preamble transmission(s) on physical random access channel(s) (PRACH) may be supported on a first uplink carrier and reception of a PDCCH order may be supported on a first downlink carrier.

Before a wireless device initiates transmission of a random access preamble, it may access one or many of the following types of information: a) available set(s) of PRACH resources for the transmission of a random access preamble; b) group(s) of random access preambles and set(s) of available random access preambles in group(s); c) random access response window size(s); d) power-ramping factor(s); e) maximum number(s) of preamble transmission(s); f) initial preamble power; g) preamble format based offset(s); h) contention resolution timer(s); and/or the like. These parameters may be updated from upper layers or may be received from the base station before random access procedure(s) may be initiated.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, a wireless device may select a random access preamble using available information. The preamble may be signaled by a base station or the preamble may be randomly selected by the wireless device. The wireless device may determine the next available subframe containing PRACH permitted by restrictions given by the base station and the physical layer timing requirements for TDD or FDD. Subframe timing and the timing of transmitting the random access preamble may be determined based, at least in part, on synchronization signals received from the base station and/or the information received from the base station. The wireless device may proceed to the transmission of the random access preamble when it has determined the timing. The random access preamble may be transmitted on a second plurality of subcarriers on the first uplink carrier.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, once a random access preamble is transmitted, a wireless device may monitor the PDCCH of a primary carrier for random access response(s), in a random access response window. There may be a pre-known identifier in PDCCH that identifies a random access response. The wireless device may stop monitoring for random access response(s) after successful reception of a random access response containing random access preamble identifiers that matches the transmitted random access preamble and/or a random access response address to a wireless device identifier. A base station random access response may include a time alignment command. The wireless device may process the received time alignment command and may adjust its uplink transmission timing according the time alignment value in the command. For example, in a random access response, a time alignment command may be coded using 11 bits, where an amount of the time alignment may be based on the value in the command. In an example embodiment, when an uplink transmission is required, the base station may provide the wireless device a grant for uplink transmission.

If no random access response is received within the random access response window, and/or if none of the received random access responses contains a random access preamble identifier corresponding to the transmitted random access preamble, the random access response reception may be considered unsuccessful and the wireless device may, based on the backoff parameter in the wireless device, select a random backoff time and delay the subsequent random access transmission by the backoff time, and may retransmit another random access preamble.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, a wireless device may transmit packets on an uplink carrier. Uplink packet transmission timing may be calculated in the wireless device using the timing of synchronization signal(s) received in a downlink. Upon reception of a timing alignment command by the wireless device, the wireless device may adjust its uplink transmission timing. The timing alignment command may indicate the change of the uplink timing relative to the current uplink timing. The uplink transmission timing for an uplink carrier may be determined using time alignment commands and/or downlink reference signals.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, a time alignment command may indicate timing adjustment for transmission of signals on uplink carriers. For example, a time alignment command may use 6 bits. Adjustment of the uplink timing by a positive or a negative amount indicates advancing or delaying the uplink transmission timing by a given amount respectively.

For a timing alignment command received on subframe n, the corresponding adjustment of the timing may be applied with some delay, for example, it may be applied from the beginning of subframe n+6. When the wireless device's uplink transmissions in subframe n and subframe n+1 are overlapped due to the timing adjustment, the wireless device may transmit complete subframe n and may not transmit the overlapped part of subframe n+1.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, control message(s) or control packet(s) may be scheduled for transmission in a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and/or physical uplink shared channel PUSCH. PDSCH and PUSCH may carry control and data message(s)/packet(s). Control message(s) and/or packet(s) may be processed before transmission. For example, the control message(s) and/or packet(s) may be fragmented or multiplexed before transmission. A control message in an upper layer may be processed as a data packet in the MAC or physical layer. For example, system information block(s), radio resource control messages, and data traffic may be scheduled for transmission in PDSCH.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, a wireless device may be preconfigured with one or more carriers. When the wireless device is configured with more than one carrier, the base station and/or wireless device may activate and/or deactivate the configured carriers. One of the carriers (the primary carrier) may always be activated. Other carriers may be deactivated by default and/or may be activated by a base station when needed. A base station may activate and deactivate carriers by sending an activation/deactivation MAC control element. Furthermore, the UE may maintain a carrier deactivation timer per configured carrier and deactivate the associated carrier upon its expiry. The same initial timer value may apply to instance(s) of the carrier deactivation timer. The initial value of the timer may be configured by a network. The configured carriers (unless the primary carrier) may be initially deactivated upon addition and after a handover.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, if a wireless device receives an activation/deactivation MAC control element activating the carrier, the wireless device may activate the carrier, and/or may apply normal carrier operation including: sounding reference signal transmissions on the carrier (if the carrier is uplink time aligned), CQI (channel quality indicator)/PMI (precoding matrix indicator)/RI (ranking indicator) reporting for the carrier, PDCCH monitoring on the carrier, PDCCH monitoring for the carrier, start or restart the carrier deactivation timer associated with the carrier, and/or the like. If the device receives an activation/deactivation MAC control element deactivating the carrier, and/or if the carrier deactivation timer associated with the activated carrier expires, the base station or device may deactivate the carrier, and may stop the carrier deactivation timer associated with the carrier, and/or may flush HARQ buffers associated with the carrier.

If PDCCH on a carrier scheduling the activated carrier indicates an uplink grant or a downlink assignment for the activated carrier, the device may restart the carrier deactivation timer associated with the carrier. When a carrier is deactivated, the wireless device may not transmit SRS (sounding reference signal) for the carrier, may not report CQI/PMI/RI for the carrier, may not transmit on UL-SCH for the carrier, may not monitor the PDCCH on the carrier, and/or may not monitor the PDCCH for the carrier.

A process to assign subcarriers to data packets may be executed by a MAC layer scheduler. The decision on assigning subcarriers to a packet may be made based on data packet size, resources required for transmission of data packets (number of radio resource blocks), modulation and coding assigned to data packet(s), QoS required by the data packets (i.e. QoS parameters assigned to data packet bearer), the service class of a subscriber receiving the data packet, or subscriber device capability, a combination of the above, and/or the like.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, packets may be referred to service data units and/or protocols data units at Layer 1, Layer 2 and/or Layer 3 of the communications network. Layer 2 in an LTE network may include three sub-layers: PDCP sub-layer, RLC sub-layer, and MAC sub-layer. A layer 2 packet may be a PDCP packet, an RLC packet or a MAC layer packet. Layer 3 in an LTE network may be Internet Protocol (IP) layer, and a layer 3 packet may be an IP data packet. Packets may be transmitted and received via an air interface physical layer. A packet at the physical layer may be called a transport block. Many of the various embodiments may be implemented at one or many different communication network layers. For example, some of the actions may be executed by the PDCP layer and some others by the MAC layer or PHY layer.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, a radio bearer may be a GBR (guaranteed bit rate) bearer and/or a non-GBR bearer. A GBR and/or guaranteed bit rate bearer may be employed for transfer of real-time packets, and/or a non-GBR bearer may be used for transfer of non-real-time packets. The non-GBR bearer may be assigned a plurality of attributes including: a scheduling priority, an allocation and retention priority, a portable device aggregate maximum bit rate, and/or the like. These parameters may be used by the scheduler in scheduling non-GBR packets. GBR bearers may be assigned attributes such as delay, jitter, packet loss parameters, and/or the like.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, the transmitter in the disclosed embodiments of the present invention may be a wireless device (also called user equipment), a base station (also called eNodeB), a relay node transmitter, and/or the like. The receiver in the disclosed embodiments of the present invention may be a wireless device (also called user equipment-UE), a base station (also called eNodeB), a relay node receiver, and/or the like.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, the MAC layer in some wireless device(s) may report buffer size(s) of either a single Logical Channel Group (LCG) or a group of LCGs to a base station. An LCG may be a group of logical channels identified by an LCG ID. The mapping of logical channel(s) to LCG may be set up during radio configuration. Buffer status report(s) may be used by a MAC scheduler to assign radio resources for packet transmission from wireless device(s). HARQ and ARQ processes may be used for packet retransmission to enhance the reliability of radio transmission and reduce the overall probability of packet loss.

In this specification, “a” and “an” and similar phrases are to be interpreted as “at least one” and “one or more.” In this specification, the term “may” is to be interpreted as “may, for example,” In other words, the term “may” is indicative that the phrase following the term “may” is an example of one of a multitude of suitable possibilities that may, or may not, be employed to one or more of the various embodiments. If A and B are sets and every element of A is also an element of B, A is called a subset of B. In this specification, only non-empty sets and subsets are considered. For example, possible subsets of B={cell1, cell2} are: {cell1}, {cell2}, and {cell1, cell2}.

In this specification, parameters (Information elements: IEs) may comprise one or more objects, and each of those objects may comprise one or more other objects. For example, if parameter (IE) N comprises parameter (IE) M, and parameter (IE) M comprises parameter (IE) K, and parameter (IE) K comprises parameter (information element) J, then, for example, N comprises K, and N comprises J.

Many of the elements described in the disclosed embodiments may be implemented as modules. A module is defined here as an isolatable element that performs a defined function and has a defined interface to other elements. The modules described in this disclosure may be implemented in hardware, software in combination with hardware, firmware, wetware (i.e. hardware with a biological element) or a combination thereof, all of which are behaviorally equivalent. For example, modules may be implemented as a software routine written in a computer language configured to be executed by a hardware machine (such as C, C++, Fortran, Java, Basic, Matlab or the like) or a modeling/simulation program such as Simulink, Stateflow, GNU Octave, or LabVIEWMathScript. Additionally, it may be possible to implement modules using physical hardware that incorporates discrete or programmable analog, digital and/or quantum hardware. Examples of programmable hardware comprise: computers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs); field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs); and complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs). Computers, microcontrollers and microprocessors are programmed using languages such as assembly, C, C++ or the like. FPGAs, ASICs and CPLDs are often programmed using hardware description languages (HDL) such as VHSIC hardware description language (VHDL) or Verilog that configure connections between internal hardware modules with lesser functionality on a programmable device. Finally, it needs to be emphasized that the above mentioned technologies are often used in combination to achieve the result of a functional module.

The disclosure of this patent document incorporates material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, for the limited purposes required by law, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope. In fact, after reading the above description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement alternative embodiments. Thus, the present embodiments should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments. In particular, it should be noted that, for example purposes, the above explanation has focused on the example(s) using FDD communication systems. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the invention may also be implemented in TDD communication systems. The disclosed methods and systems may be implemented in wireless or wireline systems. The features of various embodiments presented in this invention may be combined. One or many features (method or system) of one embodiment may be implemented in other embodiments. Only a limited number of example combinations are shown to indicate to one skilled in the art the possibility of features that may be combined in various embodiments to create enhanced transmission and reception systems and methods.

In addition, it should be understood that any figures which highlight the functionality and advantages, are presented for example purposes only. The disclosed architecture is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be utilized in ways other than that shown. For example, the actions listed in any flowchart may be re-ordered or only optionally used in some embodiments.

Further, the purpose of the Abstract of the Disclosure is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract of the Disclosure is not intended to be limiting as to the scope in any way.

Finally, it is the applicant's intent that only claims that include the express language “means for” or “step for” be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112, paragraph 6. Claims that do not expressly include the phrase “means for” or “step for” are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112, paragraph 6.