Functional Split for a Multi-Node Carrier Aggregation Transmission Scheme
An apparatus is described which includes a network interface configured to receive and/or send data for a user equipment from and/or to a network, a processor configured to control a split of the data for at least two component carriers, and a transceiver unit configured to perform a downlink and/or uplink transmission with a user equipment via at least a first one of the at least two component carriers, wherein the processor is configured to send and/or receive the data of at least a second one of the at least two component carriers to and/or from a slave network node
1 . An apparatus comprising
a network interface configured to receive and/or send data for a user equipment from and/or to a network,
a processor configured to control a split of the data for at least two component carriers, and
a transceiver unit configured to perform a downlink and/or uplink transmission with a user equipment via at least a first one of the at least two component carriers,
wherein the processor is configured to send and/or receive the data of at least a second one of the at least two component carriers to and/or from a slave network node.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the data for at least the second one of the at least two component carriers sent to and/or received from the slave network node are for said user equipment.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises at least a part of a radio link control functionality.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises a packet data control protocol functionality.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises a radio resource control functionality.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transceiver unit comprises an independent transceiver for each component carrier and a common packet scheduler.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to send and/or receive the data for the at least second component carrier based on a request from the slave network node and/or based on load conditions of the slave network node and the apparatus.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to configure a network node to act as the slave network node and/or to disable a slave network node via a control signalling.
9 . An apparatus comprising
a processor configured to receive and/or send data for at least one component carrier for a user equipment from and/or to a master network node, and
a transceiver unit configured to perform a downlink and/or an uplink transmission with the user equipment via the at least one component carrier.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the transceiver unit comprises an independent transceiver for each component carrier and a common packet scheduler.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the transceiver unit is configured to request sending and/or receiving the data for the at least one component carrier from the master network node.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the transceiver unit is configured to request sending the data for the at least one component carrier based on a connection condition between the apparatus and the master network node.
13 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is configured to act as a slave network node and/or to be disabled as a slave network via a control signalling from the master network node.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the processor comprises at least a part of a radio link control functionality.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the part of the radio link control functionality is performing a packet data unit segmentation.
16 . An apparatus comprising
a transceiver unit configured to receive and/or to send at least a first component carrier from and/or to a first network node, and a at least a second component carrier from and/or to a second network node.
17 . (canceled)
18 . A method comprising
receiving and/or data for a user equipment from and/or to a network, controlling a split of the data for at least two component carriers,
performing a downlink and/or uplink transmission with a user equipment via at least a first one of the at least two component carriers, and
sending and/or receiving the data for at least a second one of the at least two component carriers to and/or from a slave network node.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the data of at least the second one of the at least two component carriers sent to and/or received from the slave network node are for said user equipment.
20 . The method according to claim 18 , further comprising performing at least a part of a radio link control functionality.
21 . The method according to claim 18 , further comprising performing a packet data control protocol functionality .
22 . The method according to claim 18 , further comprising performing a radio resource control functionality.
23 . The method according to claim 18 , further comprising
sending and/or receiving the data for the at least second component carrier based on a request from the slave network node and/or based on load conditions of the slave network node and the apparatus performing the method.
24 . The method according to claim 18 , further comprising
configuring a network node to act as the slave network node and/or to disable a slave network node via a control signalling.
25 . A method comprising
receiving and/or sending data for at least one component carrier for a user equipment from and/or to a master network node, and
performing a downlink and/or an uplink transmission with the user equipment via the at least one component carrier.
26 . The method according to claim 25 , further comprising requesting sending and/or receiving the data for the at least one component carrier from the master network node.
27 . The method according to claim 26 , wherein the requesting of sending and/or receiving the data for the at least one component carrier is based on a connection condition between the apparatus and the master network node.
28 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein an apparatus performing the method is configured to act as a slave network node and/or to be disabled as a slave network via a control signalling from the master network node.
29 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising performing at least a part of a radio link control functionality.
30 . The method according to claim 29 , wherein the part of the radio link control functionality is performing a packet data unit segmentation.
31 . A method comprising
receiving and/or sending at least a first component carrier from and/or to a first network node, and
receiving and/or sending at least a second component carrier from and/or to a second network node.
32 . A computer program product comprising code means performing a method according to claim 18 when run on a processing means or module.
33 . The computer program product according to claim 32 , wherein the computer program product is embodied on a computer-readable medium.