JP2016129386A - Determination for timing advancement group - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote the designation of a specific component carrier to the appropriate group of component carriers in an access network, and to communicate the result of designation to communication equipment in which the specific component carrier is configured.SOLUTION: The technology includes: starting an access procedure by performing uplink transmission from communication equipment on one component carrier among a plurality of component carriers related to an access node; receiving group information for designating the group of the plurality of component carriers sharing uplink transmission timing information as a group to which one component carrier belongs by the communication equipment; and performing different uplink transmission from the communication equipment on one component carrier by using the uplink transmission timing information for the group designated by the group information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to determining a timing advance group.

  Controlling when the communication device performs uplink transmission within a time slot helps to compensate for propagation delay and reduce interference with transmissions in adjacent time slots, thus improving quality of service. To help.

  A communication device can be understood as a device provided with appropriate communication and control capabilities that can be used for communication with other parties. The communication includes communication such as voice, electronic mail (e-mail), text message, data, multimedia, and the like. A communication device typically allows a user of the device to receive and transmit communications over a communication system and thus can be used to access various service applications.

  A communication system is a facility that facilitates communication between two or more entities, such as communication devices, network entities, and other nodes. A communication system is formed by one or more interconnected networks. One or more gateway nodes are provided to interconnect the various networks of the system. For example, a gateway node is typically provided between an access network and other communication networks such as a core network and / or a data network.

  A suitable access system allows the communication device to access a wider communication system. Access to a wider communication system is provided by a fixed line or wireless communication interface, or a combination thereof. Communication systems that provide wireless access typically allow at least some mobility for the user. They include, for example, wireless communication systems where access is provided by the configuration of a cellular access network. Other examples of wireless access technologies include different wireless local area networks (WLANs) and satellite-based communication systems.

  A wireless access system typically operates based on a wireless standard and a set of specifications that define what the various elements of the system are allowed to do and how to achieve them.

  The radio access network is, for example, in the order of their evolution, GSM (registered trademark) (Global System for Mobile) EDGE (Enhanced Data for GSM (Evolution) Evolution) Radio Access System (GERAN), Universal Terrestrial Radio. Includes Access Network (UTRAN) and Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN).

  In Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, downlink transmission is based on orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) technology and uplink transmission is based on single carrier frequency division multiple access (SCFDMA) technology. . Each transmission is performed using a group of orthogonal subcarriers. The subcarriers are grouped into units called resource blocks, and the communication device uses a group of resource blocks ranging up to a predetermined maximum number of resource blocks within a predetermined frequency block called component carrier. The transmission can be transmitted or received.

  Yet another LTE development provides carrier aggregation that combines two or more component carriers to support a wider transmission bandwidth than that defined by a single component carrier. The capable communication device can receive or transmit simultaneously on a plurality of component carriers.

  One of a plurality of component carriers configured for use by a communication device is selectively used for security, non-access layer (NAS) mobile and physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmission, Known as cell or PCell. Other component carriers configured for use by a communication device are known as secondary cells or SCells.

  It has also been proposed to deactivate one or more SCells for uplink transmission from a communication device until the one or more SCells are needed. Deactivating the SCell reduces the power consumption of the communication device during the period in which the SCell is deactivated. As the monitoring activity of the communication device is reduced, the communication device also does not perform PDCCH monitoring and does not perform channel quality information (CQI) measurement for the deactivated SCell. The uplink activity of the deactivated SCell is also stopped, and the communication device does not transmit the voice reference signal (SRS) of the deactivated SCell.

  Timing advance (TA) values / commands are used to control the timing of uplink transmissions within a time slot in order to compensate for propagation delay. It has been proposed to support the use of multiple TA values in the case of LTE uplink carrier aggregation, and multiple component carriers configured for uplink transmission from a communication device (serving cell) can be connected to each same TA. It has also been proposed to divide into groups of component carriers that share values.

  The problem of facilitating assigning a particular component carrier to an appropriate group of component carriers in an access network and communicating the result of the designation to the communication device in which the particular component carrier is configured is recognized .

  The purpose is to satisfy this problem.

  Accordingly, an access procedure is initiated by making an uplink transmission from a communication device on one component carrier of a plurality of component carriers associated with an access node; and thereafter the plurality of components sharing uplink transmission timing information Group information specifying a group of carriers as a group to which the one component carrier belongs is received at the communication device; and using the uplink transmission timing information for the group specified by the group information, the 1 There is provided a method comprising: making yet another uplink transmission from the communication device on one component carrier.

  In one embodiment, the access procedure is a random access procedure.

  In one embodiment, the uplink transmission includes an access request message, and the method includes receiving the group information in response to the access request message.

  In one embodiment, the response also specifies uplink timing information for the group specified in the group information.

  In one embodiment, the access request message is a random access preamble message and the response is a random access response message.

  In one embodiment, the method further includes initiating the access procedure in response to an order from the access node.

  In one embodiment, the method further includes configuring the uplink transmission based on configuration information detected from one or more transmissions from the access node prior to initiating the access procedure.

  In one embodiment, the configuration information does not specify a group of the plurality of component carriers that share uplink transmission timing information to which the one component carrier belongs.

  In one embodiment, the configuration information designates a group of the plurality of component carriers that share common uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs, and the method includes: When the specified group is different from the group specified in the group information, the further transmission in the one component carrier is performed using uplink transmission timing information for the group specified in the group information. Including priority transmission of the uplink.

  In one embodiment, the configuration information is received in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.

  In one embodiment, the method further includes receiving the group information in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.

  In one embodiment, the uplink transmission timing information is timing advance information.

  In one embodiment, the one component carrier is a secondary cell of a communication device, and the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node are at least one configured to be used as a primary cell by the communication device. Includes other component carriers.

  Also, the access node receives an uplink transmission from a communication device that initiates an access procedure on one component carrier of the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node; based at least in part on measurement of parameters of the uplink transmission Determining which group of the plurality of component carriers sharing uplink transmission timing information should include the one component carrier from which the uplink transmission was received; and determining the result of the determination There is also provided a method comprising: transmitting from a node to the communication device.

  In one embodiment, the access procedure is a random access procedure.

  In one embodiment, the uplink transmission from the communication device includes an access request message, and the method further includes the result of the determination as a part of a response to the access request from the access node to the communication device. To send to.

  In one embodiment, the response also specifies uplink timing information for the determined group.

  In one embodiment, the access request message is a random access preamble message and the response is a random access response message.

  In one embodiment, the method further includes transmitting an order to initiate the access procedure from the access node to the communication device.

  In one embodiment, the method further includes transmitting configuration information for configuring the uplink transmission from the access node.

  In one embodiment, the configuration information does not designate a group of the plurality of component carriers that share uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs.

  In one embodiment, the configuration information specifies a group of the plurality of component carriers that share common uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs, and the determined group is the Different from the group specified in the configuration information.

  In one embodiment, the configuration information is transmitted in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.

  In one embodiment, the method further includes transmitting the result of the determination from the access node to the communication device in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.

  In one embodiment, the uplink transmission timing information is timing advance information.

  In one embodiment, the one component carrier is a secondary cell of a communication device, and the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node are at least one configured to be used as a primary cell by the communication device. Includes other component carriers.

  An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code being on the processor, the apparatus on one component carrier of the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node. Starting an access procedure by performing uplink transmission from the communication apparatus; and thereafter, group information specifying the group of the plurality of component carriers sharing the uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs Receiving at the communication device; and using another uplink transmission timing information for the group specified by the group information on the one component carrier from the communication device. It forms a link transmission; is a device configured to be so, is provided.

  In one embodiment, the access procedure is a random access procedure.

  In one embodiment, the uplink transmission includes an access request message, and the memory and computer program code are with a processor such that the device receives the group information in response to the access request message. Configured to be

  In one embodiment, the response also specifies uplink timing information for the group specified in the group information.

  In one embodiment, the access request message is a random access preamble message and the response is a random access response message.

  In one embodiment, the memory and computer program code are configured with a processor to cause the apparatus to initiate the access procedure in response to an order from the access node.

  In one embodiment, the memory and computer program code are the processor and the device based on configuration information detected from one or more transmissions from the access node before the device initiates the access procedure. Configured to configure uplink transmission.

  In one embodiment, the configuration information does not specify a group of the plurality of component carriers that share uplink transmission timing information to which the one component carrier belongs.

  In one embodiment, the configuration information specifies a group of the plurality of component carriers that share common uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs, and the memory and the computer program code are: When the group specified by the configuration information is different from the group specified by the group information, the apparatus transmits uplink transmission timing information to the group specified by the group information. And configured to preferentially perform the further uplink transmission on the one component carrier.

  In one embodiment, the configuration information is received in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.

  In one embodiment, the memory and computer program code are configured with a processor to cause the apparatus to receive the group information in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.

  In one embodiment, the uplink transmission timing information is timing advance information.

  In one embodiment, the one component carrier is a secondary cell of a communication device, and the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node are at least one configured to be used as a primary cell by the communication device. Includes other component carriers.

  Also provided is a user device comprising the device described above.

  An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code being accessed by the apparatus on one component carrier of the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node. Receiving an uplink transmission from a communication device initiating a procedure at an access node; based on measurement of parameters of the uplink transmission, which groups of the plurality of component carriers that share uplink transmission timing information are: Configured to determine whether to include the one component carrier from which the uplink transmission was received; and to transmit the result of the determination from the access node to the communication device. Apparatus is provided.

  In one embodiment, the access procedure is a random access procedure.

  In one embodiment, the uplink transmission from the communication device includes an access request message, the memory and computer program code are a processor, and the device indicates a result of the determination and a response to the access request. Configured to transmit from the access node to the communication device as part of the.

  In one embodiment, the response also specifies uplink timing information for the determined group.

  In one embodiment, the access request message is a random access preamble message and the response is a random access response message.

  In one embodiment, the memory and computer program code are configured with a processor to cause the device to transmit an order to initiate the access procedure from the access node to the communication device.

  In one embodiment, the memory and computer program code are configured with a processor to cause the apparatus to transmit configuration information from the access node for configuring the uplink transmission.

  In one embodiment, the configuration information does not designate a group of the plurality of component carriers that share uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs.

  In one embodiment, the configuration information specifies a group of the plurality of component carriers that share common uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs, and the determined group is the Different from the group specified in the configuration information.

  In one embodiment, the configuration information is transmitted in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.

  In one embodiment, the memory and computer program code are configured with a processor to cause the device to transmit the result of the determination from the access node to the communication device in a radio resource control reconfiguration message. The

  In one embodiment, the uplink transmission timing information is timing advance information.

  In one embodiment, the one component carrier is a secondary cell of a communication device, and the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node are at least one configured to be used as a primary cell by the communication device. Includes other component carriers.

  An access node comprising the apparatus described above is also provided.

  In one embodiment, the access node comprises a macro eNodeB having multiple juxtaposed receivers.

  When loaded into a computer, the access procedure is initiated by making an uplink transmission from a communication device on one of a plurality of component carriers associated with an access node; Group information specifying the group of the plurality of component carriers to be shared as a group to which the one component carrier belongs is received at the communication device; and uplink transmission timing information for the group specified by the group information A computer program product comprising program code means for controlling the computer to make another uplink transmission from the communication device on the one component carrier using It is.

  Receiving at the access node an uplink transmission from a communication device that initiates an access procedure on one of a plurality of component carriers associated with the access node when loaded into the computer; parameters of the uplink transmission; Determining which group of the plurality of component carriers sharing uplink transmission timing information should include the one component carrier from which the uplink transmission was received, based at least in part on the measurement of A computer program product comprising program code means for controlling the computer is provided such that the result of the decision is transmitted from the access node to the communication device;

  Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a technique related to delivery of TA group information to a communication apparatus will be described in detail as an example.

FIG. 6 illustrates single macro eNodeB (eNB) coverage in a cellular radio access network using a remote radio head and frequency selective repeater as a non-colocated receiver. Fig. 2 shows some components of the example user equipment shown in Fig. 1; FIG. 2 shows some components of an example of a device suitable for the macro eNB, remote radio head, and frequency selective repeater shown in FIG. 2 illustrates an example of operations performed by the user apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 illustrates an example of operations performed in the macro eNB of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 shows an example of an information element for use in a random access response message in an embodiment of the present invention. 4 shows an example of an information element for use in a random access response message in an embodiment of the present invention. 4 shows an example of an information element for use in a random access response message in an embodiment of the present invention.

  The following description relates to an example of a communication system that includes a radio access network that operates based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) Release 10 or later.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of coverage of a single macro eNB 2 (for cellular E-UTRAN) that deploys non-colocated receivers such as, for example, a remote radio head (RRH) 4 and a frequency selective repeater 6.

  A large cellular radio access network can use tens of thousands of macro eNBs 2.

  FIG. 2 shows several components of an example of the user device 8 shown in FIG. User equipment (UE) 8 makes and receives telephone calls, receives and transmits data with the data network, and is used for various tasks such as, for example, experiencing multimedia or other content .

  The UE 8 is any device that can transmit or receive at least a radio signal. For example, but not limited to, a mobile station (MS), a portable computer with a wireless interface card or other wireless interface facility, a personal data assistant (PDA) with wireless communication capability, or combinations thereof, etc. Is included. UE8 communicates via the appropriate radio interface structure of UE8. The interface structure is formed by, for example, the radio unit 7 and the related antenna structure. The antenna structure may be arranged inside the UE 8 or outside.

  The UE 8 is provided with at least one data processing entity 3 and at least one memory or data storage entity 7 for use in the tasks it is designed to perform. The data processor 3 and the memory 7 are provided on a suitable circuit board 9 and / or chipset.

  The user controls the operation of the UE 8 through a suitable user interface such as the keypad 1, voice commands, touch sensitive screen or pad, combinations thereof, and the like. A display 5, a speaker and a microphone are also provided. In addition, the UE 8 also includes suitable connectors (wired or wireless) to other devices and / or connectors for connecting external accessories such as, for example, hands-free devices.

  FIG. 3 shows some components of an example of a device suitable for the macro eNB 2, the remote radio head 4 and the frequency selective repeater 6 shown in FIG. This apparatus includes a high-frequency antenna 301 configured to receive and transmit a high-frequency signal, and a high-frequency interface circuit 303 configured to interface a high-frequency signal received and transmitted by the antenna 301. High frequency interface circuits are also known as transceivers. The apparatus also includes a data processor 306 configured to process the signal from the high frequency interface circuit 303 and control the high frequency interface circuit 303 to generate an appropriate RF signal. The access node further includes a memory 307 for storing data, parameters and instructions used by the data processor 306.

  It will be appreciated that the apparatus shown in each of FIGS. 2 and 3 and described above also includes additional elements not directly involved in the embodiments described below.

  The remote radio head 4 and the frequency selective repeater can be considered as an extension of the macro eNB 2. For uplink transmissions, those receivers and receivers located in the macro eNB2 work together as a set of non-colocated receivers belonging to the macro eNB2, and the UE 8 is responsible for these remote radio heads and frequency selection A downlink transmission from one of the sex repeaters is seen as a downlink transmission from the macro eNB2. For purposes of the following description of embodiments of the present invention, transmission to or from the macro eNB 2 includes transmission via the remote radio head 4 of a frequency selective repeater associated with the macro eNB 2 unless otherwise indicated.

  The remote radio head 4 is connected to the macro eNB 2 via a fixed line, and the frequency selective repeater is connected to the macro eNB via a wireless interface.

  The remote radio head 4 and the frequency selective repeater 6 are used to improve the throughput in the hot spot and / or extend the coverage of the macro eNB 2 to an area outside the direct reach of the macro eNB 2.

  Receiving uplink transmissions from UE 8 in this set of non-colocated receivers associated with macro eNB 2 involves the aggregation of component carriers of the type described above. Each of the component carriers configured for uplink transmission from UE 8 is designated as one of a plurality of component carrier groups each sharing a common TA value, and TA for the component carrier group to which the component carrier belongs By performing uplink transmission in the component carrier based on the value, the quality of service can be improved.

  With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, an example of a technique according to an embodiment of the present invention for giving the UE 8 information regarding which component carrier group a particular component carrier belongs to will be described. This example will be described in the situation where a component carrier (SCell) has been added to the set of component carriers configured for uplink transmission from UE8.

  As part of dedicated RRC signaling, the macro eNB 2 transmits component carrier configuration information to be added to the set of component carriers configured for uplink transmission from the UE 8 (“additional SCell”). This configuration information may or may not include information about the random access channel (RACH) for the additional SCell (ie, information about resources that can make a random access request via the additional SCell) and the additional SCell. You may or may not specify a provisional TA group for.

  The macro eNB 2 transmits an order for the UE 8 to start the random access procedure of the type specified in 3GPP TS 36.321 via the additional SCell via the physical download control channel (PDCCH) (step 502 in FIG. 5). ). UE8 detects this order from PDCCH (step 502 in FIG. 5). In response to detection of this order from the macro eNB 2, the UE 8 transmits a random access preamble message via the RACH to the additional SCell (step 404 in FIG. 4). The random access preamble message includes a header indicating a random identifier (random access preamble identifier (RAPID)) of UE8. When the macro eNB 2 correctly receives this preamble message (step 504 in FIG. 5), the address is set to the random access-radio network temporary identifier (RA-RNTI) that can be calculated by the UE 8 from the time and position at which the random access preamble message was transmitted. A random access response message is sent to the UE 8 at the time scheduled by the PDCCH to be performed and the location on the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) (step 508 in FIG. 5). The macro eNB 2 can determine which component carrier group the additional SCell belongs to for the TA value from the measurement of the reception time of the random access preamble message (this group is hereinafter referred to as a TA group) (step of FIG. 5). 506), and the macro eNB 2 includes the indication of the selected TA group in the random access response message. The random access response (RAR) message also specifies the random identifier indicated in the random access preamble message (RAPID) in its header. The RAR message also includes in its payload (i) a cell radio network temporary ID (temporary C-RNTI) used for further uplink transmission via the additional SCell, and (ii) an additional SCell from the UE8. Also indicate the uplink resource indication (UL grant) scheduled for the next uplink transmission via. UE 8 receives the RAR message at the expected time (step 406 of FIG. 4), and then performs another uplink transmission using the TA value for the TA group specified in the RAR message.

  If the random access procedure is for the secondary cell (SCell) (as in the example above) and not for the primary cell (PCell), (i) the UE already knows the C-RNTI Thus, the RAR message need not indicate the UE's temporary C-RNTI (as described below, the RAR message bits used to indicate the primary C-RNTI are UL grant can be omitted from the RAR message because it is not required to transmit msg3 from the UE 8 in response to the RAR message.

  The RAPID in the header of the RAR message is an ID corresponding to a preamble transmitted from the UE, that is, a preamble indicated on the PDCCH from the macro eNB 2 when a dedicated preamble is given.

  One possible alternative is to include TA group information in the RRC confirmation message sent from the macro eNB 2 to the UE 8 as soon as possible after completion of the random access procedure.

  As described above, the configuration information of the additional SCell transmitted by the macro eNB 2 before the UE 8 transmits the random access preamble message may or may not include the RACH parameter for the additional SCell. May or may not include information about the TA group.

  SCell (re-) configuration information transmitted by the macro eNB never includes TA group information. If the configuration information sent by the macro eNB2 as part of the RRC signaling does not include the RACH parameter of the additional SCell, the UE 8 uses the default configuration that it applies the TA value it uses for uplink transmission via the PCell. adopt. If the configuration information sent by the macro eNB 2 as part of the RRC signaling includes the RACH parameters of the additional SCell, the UE 8 determines that no TA group is yet configured for the additional SCell and the TA of the existing TA group Is not applicable to the additional SCell, and the UE 8 does not adopt this default configuration for the random access preamble message, but rather aligns the uplink timing for preamble transmission with the downlink timing.

  Alternatively, if the macro eNB 2 cannot identify the TA group to which the additional SCell belongs, the configuration information transmitted by the macro eNB 2 as RRC signaling can optionally include the TA group information. When the RRC signaling indicates the TA group for the additional SCell, the UE 8 applies the TA value of the indicated TA group to the transmission of the random access preamble message. If the TA group information of the additional SCell is not included because the macro eNB 2 cannot identify the TA group to which the additional SCell belongs, the UE 8 determines that the TA group is not yet configured for the additional SCell and It is determined that the TA for the TA group cannot be applied to the additional SCell. Rather, the UE 8 aligns the uplink timing for preamble transmission with the downlink timing.

  According to another aspect, the configuration information transmitted by the macro eNB for the additional SCell must include TA group information for the additional SCell. If the macro eNB2 cannot identify a TA group suitable for the additional SCell, the macro eNB2 knows that it can invalidate this provisional indication and, as described above, sends a random access preamble message from the UE 8 via the additional SCell. By specifying a different TA group in the RAR message that it sends to the UE 8 when receiving correctly, for example, a TA group of PCell or a new group can be specified for RRC signaling.

  As described above, if the RRC signaling sent by the macro eNB 2 does not include the RACH parameter or the TA group information for the additional SCell, the UE 8 applies the same TA as the PCell and there is only one TA group ( Or rather no TA group). This ensures upward compatibility with eNBs from previous LTE releases.

  The TA group specified in the RAR message for the additional SCell is not necessarily a TA group including another component carrier configured for uplink transmission from the UE 8. In this case, the RAR message also specifies the TA value of the TA group for the additional SCell. If the additional SCell's TA group contains another activated component carrier for UE 8, the RAR message may or may not specify the TA group's TA value, and UE 8 configures for the UE. And already knows the TA value of this TA group in relation to one or more other component carriers belonging to the same TA group.

  6 to 9 show examples of information elements for the payload of the RAR message in the above-described technique.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the X field (1 bit) indicates the TA group of the additional SCell when there are two or less TA groups. If there are more than two TA groups in total, the X field is set to “1” to indicate that the information element specifies a TA group index for the additional SCell, and the group index field is added Specify TA group for SCell. The information element also specifies the TA value (timing advance) of the TA group specified in the group index field.

  7 and 8 show examples of new formats for the information elements of the payload of RAR messages without UL grants. The new information element has TA group information in the dedicated RRC signaling that specifies that the X field is set to “1” (FIG. 7) to indicate that the information element conforms to the new format (FIG. 7). If the UE 8 implicitly anticipates this new format, it can omit such a clear indication (FIG. 8).

  6 to 8, the information element omits the temporary C-RNTI indication for the UE8. As described above, the temporary C-RNTI indication in the RAR message is not necessary in the above-described technique example in which the random access procedure is for the SCell and not for the PCell. Rather, the bits / resources used to indicate C-RNTI for UE 8 are used to indicate TA group information (group index) and TA value (timing advance) for a specified TA group.

  Ensuring upward compatibility with early LTE release eNBs includes this new kind of information, including the new information element at the last entry in the media access control protocol data unit (MAC PDU) of the RAR message. This can be achieved for individual RAR messages that employ information elements.

  The above-described technique is used particularly in a system in which it is difficult to know the presence and position of a frequency selective repeater operating under a macro eNB, for example. When adding an SCell to a set of component carriers configured for uplink transmission from a communication device, the macro eNB does not always know whether the additional SCell belongs to an existing TA group. In the above-described technique, when an SCell is added to a set of configured component carriers, even when the macro eNB does not know whether the added SCell belongs to an existing TA group, the TA group information accurate in the initial stage of the access procedure Is provided to the communication device.

  The operations described above require data processing at various entities. This data processing is performed by one or more data processors. Similarly, the various entities described in the above embodiments are implemented within single or multiple data processing entities and / or data processors. Appropriately adapted computer program code products for implementing the above embodiments when used on a computer are used. Program code products for operation are stored on and formed on a carrier medium such as a carrier disk, card or tape. This program code product can be downloaded via a data network. It is implemented with appropriate software on the server.

  For example, the embodiments are embodied as a chip set, in other words, a series of integrated circuits that communicate with each other. The chipset includes a microprocessor configured to run code, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a programmable digital signal processor for performing the operations.

  The embodiments are embodied in various components such as integrated circuit modules. Integrated circuit design is generally a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate. Programs such as those offered by Synopsys, Inc., Mountain View, California and Cadence Design, San Jose, California, automatically use well-established design rules and a library of pre-stored design modules. The conductor is routed on the semiconductor chip and the component is arranged. Once the design of the semiconductor circuit is complete, the resulting standard electronic format design (eg, Opus, GDSII, etc.) is sent to the semiconductor manufacturing facility or “fab” for manufacturing.

  In addition to the changes explicitly described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other modifications of the above-described techniques can be made and that the above-described techniques can be applied to other communication systems.

2: eNB
3: Data processor 4: Remote wireless head 6: Frequency selective repeater 7: Memory 8: User device 9: Circuit board 301: High frequency antenna 303: High frequency interface circuit 306: Data processor 307: Memory

Claims (59)

Initiating an access procedure by making an uplink transmission from a communication device on one of a plurality of component carriers associated with an access node;
Then, receiving at the communication device group information specifying the group of the plurality of component carriers sharing the uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs;
Making another uplink transmission from the communication device on the one component carrier using uplink transmission timing information for the group specified in the group information;
Including methods.   The method of claim 1, wherein the access procedure is a random access procedure.   The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the uplink transmission includes an access request message, and the method includes receiving the group information in response to the access request message.   The method of claim 3, wherein the response also specifies uplink timing information for the group specified in the group information.   The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the access request message is a random access preamble message and the response is a random access response message.   6. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising initiating the access procedure in response to an order from the access node.   7. The method according to any of claims 1 to 6, comprising configuring the uplink transmission based on configuration information detected from one or more transmissions from the access node prior to initiating the access procedure. .   The method according to claim 7, wherein the configuration information does not specify a group of the plurality of component carriers sharing uplink transmission timing information to which the one component carrier belongs.   The configuration information specifies a group of the plurality of component carriers that share common uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs, and the method includes the group specified by the configuration information: When different from the group specified by the group information, priority is given to the further uplink transmission in the one component carrier using uplink transmission timing information for the group specified by the group information. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:   The method according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the configuration information is received in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.   The method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising receiving the group information in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the uplink transmission timing information is timing advance information.   The one component carrier is a secondary cell of a communication device, and the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node includes at least one other component carrier configured to be used as a primary cell by the communication device. A method according to any of claims 1 to 12. Receiving at the access node an uplink transmission from a communication device that initiates an access procedure on one of the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node;
Based on measurement of parameters of the uplink transmission, which group of the plurality of component carriers sharing uplink transmission timing information should include the one component carrier from which the uplink transmission was received Determining whether or not;
Transmitting the result of the determination from the access node to the communication device;
Including methods.   The method of claim 14, wherein the access procedure is a random access procedure.   The uplink transmission from the communication device includes an access request message, and the method further includes transmitting the result of the determination from the access node to the communication device as part of a response to the access request. The method according to claim 14 or 15.   The method of claim 16, wherein the response also specifies uplink timing information for the determined group.   The method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the access request message is a random access preamble message and the response is a random access response message.   19. A method according to any of claims 14 to 18, comprising transmitting an order to initiate the access procedure from the access node to the communication device.   20. A method according to any of claims 14 to 19, comprising transmitting configuration information for configuring the uplink transmission from the access node.   The method according to claim 20, wherein the configuration information does not designate a group of the plurality of component carriers sharing uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs.   The configuration information specifies a group of the plurality of component carriers sharing common uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs, and the determined group is specified by the configuration information 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the method is different from a group.   23. A method according to any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the configuration information is transmitted in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.   The method according to claim 14 or 15, comprising transmitting the result of the determination from the access node to the communication device in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.   The method according to any one of claims 14 to 24, wherein the uplink transmission timing information is timing advance information.   The one component carrier is a secondary cell of a communication device, and the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node includes at least one other component carrier configured to be used as a primary cell by the communication device. 26. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 25. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code being on the processor, the apparatus on one component carrier of the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node. Start the access procedure by making an uplink transmission from the communication device;
Thereafter, the communication apparatus receives group information specifying the group of the plurality of component carriers sharing the uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs;
And using the uplink transmission timing information for the group specified by the group information to make another uplink transmission from the communication device on the one component carrier;
A device configured to cause   28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the access procedure is a random access procedure.   The uplink transmission includes an access request message, and the memory and computer program code are configured with a processor to cause the apparatus to receive the group information in response to the access request message. An apparatus according to claim 27 or 28.   30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the response also specifies uplink timing information for the group specified in the group information.   The apparatus according to claim 29 or 30, wherein the access request message is a random access preamble message, and the response is a random access response message.   32. The memory and computer program code according to any of claims 26 to 31, wherein the memory and computer program code are configured with a processor to cause the device to initiate the access procedure in response to an order from the access node. Equipment.   The memory and computer program code configure the uplink transmission with a processor based on configuration information detected from one or more transmissions from the access node before the device initiates the access procedure. 33. Apparatus according to any of claims 26 to 32, configured to cause   The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the configuration information does not specify a group of the plurality of component carriers sharing uplink transmission timing information to which the one component carrier belongs.   The configuration information specifies a group of the plurality of component carriers that share common uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs, and the memory and computer program code are a processor, the device, However, when the group specified by the configuration information is different from the group specified by the group information, the one of the ones using uplink transmission timing information for the group specified by the group information is used. 34. The apparatus of claim 33, configured to cause the further uplink transmission to be preferentially performed on a component carrier.   36. Apparatus according to any of claims 33 to 35, wherein the configuration information is received in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.   29. The apparatus of claim 27 or 28, wherein the memory and computer program code are configured with a processor to cause the apparatus to receive the group information in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 27 to 37, wherein the uplink transmission timing information is timing advance information.   The one component carrier is a secondary cell of a communication device, and the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node includes at least one other component carrier configured to be used as a primary cell by the communication device. A device according to any one of claims 27 to 38. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code being accessed by the apparatus on one component carrier of the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node. Receiving an uplink transmission from the communication device initiating the procedure at the access node;
Based on measurement of parameters of the uplink transmission, which group of the plurality of component carriers sharing uplink transmission timing information should include the one component carrier from which the uplink transmission was received Decide;
And transmitting the result of the determination from the access node to the communication device;
A device configured to cause   41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the access procedure is a random access procedure.   The uplink transmission from the communication device includes an access request message, the memory and computer program code are a processor, and the device uses the determination result as part of a response to the access request. 42. The apparatus of claim 40 or 41, wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit to a communication device.   43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the response also specifies uplink timing information for the determined group.   44. The apparatus according to claim 42 or 43, wherein the access request message is a random access preamble message and the response is a random access response message.   45. The memory and computer program code according to any of claims 42 to 44, wherein the memory and computer program code are configured with a processor to cause the device to transmit an order to initiate the access procedure from the access node to the communication device. The device described in 1.   46. The memory and computer program code according to any of claims 42 to 45, wherein the memory and computer program code are configured with a processor to cause the apparatus to transmit configuration information for configuring the uplink transmission from the access node. The device described in 1.   The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the configuration information does not designate a group of the plurality of component carriers sharing uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs.   The configuration information specifies a group of the plurality of component carriers sharing common uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs, and the determined group is specified by the configuration information 47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the apparatus is different from the group.   49. The apparatus according to any of claims 46 to 48, wherein the configuration information is transmitted in a radio resource control reconfiguration message.   41. The memory and computer program code are configured with a processor to cause the device to transmit the result of the determination from the access node to the communication device in a radio resource control reconfiguration message. 41. The apparatus according to 41.   51. The apparatus according to any of claims 40 to 50, wherein the uplink transmission timing information is timing advance information.   The one component carrier is a secondary cell of a communication device, and the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node includes at least one other component carrier configured to be used as a primary cell by the communication device. 52. A device according to any of claims 40 to 51.   An apparatus configured to perform the method of any of claims 1-13.   27. An apparatus configured to perform a method according to any of claims 14 to 26.   A user device comprising the device according to any one of claims 27 to 39 and 53.   An access node comprising the device according to any of claims 40 to 52 and 54.   58. The access node according to claim 57, comprising a macro eNodeB having a plurality of juxtaposed receivers. When loaded into a computer, initiates an access procedure by making an uplink transmission from a communication device on one of a plurality of component carriers associated with an access node;
Thereafter, the communication apparatus receives group information specifying the group of the plurality of component carriers sharing the uplink transmission timing information as a group to which the one component carrier belongs;
And using the uplink transmission timing information for the group specified by the group information to make another uplink transmission from the communication device on the one component carrier;
A computer program product comprising program code means for controlling a computer. Receiving at the access node an uplink transmission from a communication device that initiates an access procedure on one of the plurality of component carriers associated with the access node when loaded into the computer;
Based on measurement of parameters of the uplink transmission, which group of the plurality of component carriers sharing uplink transmission timing information should include the one component carrier from which the uplink transmission was received Decide;
And transmitting the result of the determination from the access node to the communication device;
A computer program product comprising program code means for controlling a computer.

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