Frame Number in Multicarrier Wireless Networks

1 . A method comprising:

a) transmitting at least one control message to a wireless device, said at least one control message configured to cause configuration of a plurality of carriers, said plurality of carriers configured to transmit symbols in a sequential series of frames, said plurality of carriers comprising:

i) at least one prime carrier; and

ii) at least one non-prime carrier;

b) transmitting a system frame number, by said base station, in a frame in said sequential series of frames on a prime carrier in said at least one prime carrier;

c) transmitting and receiving, by said base station employing a communication interface, a plurality of packets in said frame on a non-prime carrier in said at least one non-prime carrier, wherein said non-prime carrier is configured to operate without broadcasting said system frame number on said non-prime carrier.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, by said base station, the same system frame number in said frame of each of said at least one prime carrier.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said base station is further configured to communicate with a first category of wireless devices:

a) configured to receive said at least one prime carrier; and

b) unable to receive said at least one non-prime carrier.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said base station is further configured to communicate with a second category of wireless devices configured to receive:

a) said at least one prime carrier; and

b) said at least one non-prime carrier.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least one prime carrier has a larger coverage area than at least one of said at least one non-prime carrier.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising scrambling, by said base station, said control blocks transmitted on said physical broadcast channel with a carrier-specific sequence prior to modulation.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising modulating, by said base station, said control blocks transmitted on said physical broadcast channel employing QPSK modulation.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising encoding, by said base station, said control blocks employing tail biting convolutional coding before transmission.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding, by said base station, CRC bits to an encoded control block before transmission, said CRC bits scrambled according to an antenna configuration of a transmitter in said base station.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a control block in said physical broadcast channel comprises:

a) a downlink bandwidth field;

b) a system frame number field; and

c) a PHICH configuration field.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one control message is configured to cause said wireless device to associate said non-prime carrier with said prime carrier.

12 . A method comprising:

a) transmitting, by a base station configured to communicate employing a plurality of carriers, at least one control message to a wireless device, said at least one control message configured to cause configuration of said plurality of carriers, said plurality of carriers configured to transmit symbols in a sequential series of frames, said plurality of carriers comprising:

i) at least one prime carrier; and

ii) at least one non-prime carrier;

b) transmitting, by said base station, a system frame number in a physical broadcast channel in a frame in said sequential series of frames on a prime carrier in said at least one prime carrier; and

c) transmitting and receiving, by said base station employing a communication interface, a plurality of packets in said frame on a non-prime carrier in said at least one non-prime carrier, said communication interface employing, at least in part, said system frame number transmitted in said frame of said prime carrier, wherein said non-prime carrier is configured to operate without broadcasting said system frame number on said non-prime carrier.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising scrambling, by said base station, said control blocks transmitted on said physical broadcast channel with a carrier-specific sequence prior to modulation.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising modulating, by said base station, said control blocks transmitted on said physical broadcast channel employing QPSK modulation.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising encoding, by said base station, said control blocks employing tail biting convolutional coding before transmission.

16 . A wireless device, configured to communicate employing a plurality of carriers, comprising:

a) one or more communication interfaces;

b) one or more processors; and

c) memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause said wireless device to:

i) receive at least one control message from a base station, said at least one control message configured to cause configuration of said plurality of carriers, said plurality of carriers configured to receive symbols in a sequential series of frames, said plurality of carriers comprising:

(1) at least one prime carrier; and

(2) at least one non-prime carrier;

ii) receive a system frame number, from said base station, in a frame in said sequential series of frames on a prime carrier in said at least one prime carrier; and

iii) transmit and receive, by said base station employing a communication interface, a plurality of packets in said frame on a non-prime carrier in said at least one non-prime carrier, said communication interface employing, at least in part, said system frame number received in said frame of said prime carrier, wherein said non-prime carrier is configured to operate without said base station broadcasting said system frame number on said non-prime carrier.

17 . The wireless device of claim 16 , wherein said at least one control message is configured to cause said wireless device to associate said non-prime carrier with said prime carrier.

18 . The wireless device of claim 16 , wherein a control block in said physical broadcast channel comprises:

a) a downlink bandwidth field;

b) a system frame number field; and

c) a PHICH configuration field.

19 . The wireless device of claim 16 , wherein said control blocks are modulated employing QPSK modulation.

20 . The wireless device of claim 16 , wherein said control blocks are encoded employing tail biting convolutional coding.