Method and apparatus for controlling carrier frequency in multi-carrier/cell system
Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling activation or deactivation of a carrier frequency in a multi-carrier/cell system. Activation or deactivation of a subsidiary carrier frequency is determined according to a parameter associated with the subsidiary carrier frequency. When the subsidiary carrier frequency is to be activated or deactivated, a message, such as an HS-SCCH order, is transmitted to a terminal to instruct the terminal to activate or deactivate the subsidiary carrier frequency. In this manner, a certain carrier frequency can be flexibly activated or deactivated in accordance with real-time assessment of multi-carrier/cell conditions.
1. A method for controlling activation/deactivation of a carrier frequency by a Node B instead of a Radio Network Controller (RNC) in a multi-carrier/cell High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) system, the method comprising:
determining, by the Node B, whether to activate or deactivate a subsidiary carrier frequency of the multi-carrier/cell HSPA system according to a parameter associated with the subsidiary carrier frequency;
transmitting, by the Node B, when determining to activate or deactivate the subsidiary carrier frequency, a High-Speed Shared Control Channel (HS-SCCH) order to a terminal to instruct the terminal to activate or deactivate the subsidiary carrier frequency; and
receiving, by the Node B, a feedback message responsive to the HS-SCCH order from the terminal.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the feedback message responsive to the HS-SCCH order is an acknowledgment (ACK) message.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the parameter comprises an average bit error rate (BER).
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the parameter comprises a service power.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the parameter comprises channel quality information (CQI).
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the parameter comprises a buffering status.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter for the Node B determining comprises at least one of downlink traffic or channel condition.
8. A Node B configured to be applied in a multi-carrier/cell High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) system and operable to control activation/deactivation of a carrier frequency in the multi-carrier/cell HSPA system, the Node B comprising:
a controller configured to determine whether to activate or deactivate a subsidiary carrier frequency of the multi-carrier/cell HSPA system according to a parameter associated with the subsidiary carrier frequency;
a transmitter configured to transmit, upon a determination to activate or deactivate the subsidiary carrier frequency, a High-Speed Shared Control Channel (HS-SCCH) order to a terminal to instruct the terminal to activate or deactivate the subsidiary carrier frequency; and
a receiver configured to receive a feedback message responsive to the HS-SCCH order from the terminal.
9. The Node B according to claim 8 , wherein the feedback message responsive to the HS-SCCH order is an acknowledgement (ACK) message.
10. The Node B according to claim 8 , wherein the parameter comprises an average bit error rate (BER).
11. The Node B according to claim 8 , wherein the parameter comprises a service power.
12. The Node B according to claim 8 , wherein the parameter comprises channel quality information (CQI).
13. The Node B according to claim 8 , wherein the parameter comprises a buffering status.
14. The Node B of claim 8 , wherein the parameter for the Node B determining whether to activate or deactivate comprises at least one of downlink traffic or channel condition.
15. A multi-carrier/cell High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) system comprising:
a radio network controller (RNC); and
a Node B configured to communicatively couple with the RNC and to control activation or deactivation of a subsidiary carrier frequency of the multi-carrier/cell HSPA system, wherein the Node B is configured to:
determine whether to activate or deactivate the subsidiary carrier frequency according to a parameter associated with the subsidiary carrier frequency;
transmit, when the Node B determines to activate or deactivate the subsidiary carrier frequency, a High-Speed Shared Control Channel (HS-SCCH) order to a terminal to instruct the terminal to activate or deactivate the subsidiary carrier frequency; and
receive a feedback message responsive to the HS-SCCH order from the terminal.
16. The multi-carrier/cell HSPA system according to claim 15 , wherein the feedback message in response to the HS-SCCH order is an acknowledgement (ACK) message.
17. The multi-carrier/cell HSPA system according to claim 15 , wherein the parameter comprises an average bit error rate (BER).
18. The multi-carrier/cell HSPA system according to claim 15 , wherein the parameter comprises a service power of the subsidiary carrier frequency.
19. The multi-carrier/cell HSPA system according to claim 15 , wherein the parameter comprises channel quality information (CQI).
20. The multi-carrier/cell HSPA system according to claim 15 , wherein the parameter comprises a buffering status.
21. The multi-carrier/cell HSPA system of claim 15 , wherein the parameter for the Node B determining whether to activate or deactivate the subsidiary carrier frequency comprises at least one of downlink traffic or channel condition.