Random access in networks with carrier aggregation

1. A method for use by a wireless device, the method comprising:

a) receiving from a base station at least one message comprising:

i) configuration parameters of a plurality of cells comprising a primary cell and at least one secondary cell, said plurality of cells being grouped into a plurality of cell groups comprising a primary cell group and a secondary cell group; and

ii) a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer corresponding to a secondary cell, said deactivation timer restarting in response to a packet transmission on said secondary cell, said corresponding secondary cell being deactivated in said wireless device in response to said deactivation timer expiring;

b) receiving a control command initiating a random access process for a secondary cell in said secondary cell group;

c) transmitting a random access preamble on random access resources of said secondary cell; and

d) aborting said random access process on said secondary cell if said secondary cell is deactivated before said wireless device receives a random access response for said random access preamble transmission.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one message comprises a timer value for a time alignment timer of said secondary cell group, said time alignment timer starting or restarting in response to said wireless device receiving a timing advance command to adjust uplink transmission timing on said secondary cell group.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising restarting said deactivation timer associated with said secondary cell in response to said wireless device receiving said control command.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising restarting a deactivation timer associated with a cell carrying said control command if said cell is one of said at least one secondary cell.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising restarting said deactivation timer associated with said secondary cell if a random access response with an uplink grant for transmission on said secondary cell is received by said wireless device from said base station.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a downlink control channel of said primary cell for said random access response after transmitting said random access preamble.

7. A wireless device 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 from a base station at least one message comprising:

(1) configuration parameters of a plurality of cells comprising a primary cell and at least one secondary cell, said plurality of cells being grouped into a plurality of cell groups comprising a primary cell group and a secondary cell group; and

(2) a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer corresponding to a secondary cell, said deactivation timer restarting in response to a packet transmission on said secondary cell, said corresponding secondary cell being deactivated in said wireless device in response to said deactivation timer expiring;

ii) receive a control command initiating a random access process for a secondary cell in said secondary cell group;

iii) transmit a random access preamble on random access resources of said secondary cell; and

iv) abort said random access process on said secondary cell if said secondary cell is deactivated before said wireless device receives a random access response for said random access preamble transmission.

8. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein said at least one message comprises a timer value for a time alignment timer of said secondary cell group, said time alignment timer starting or restarting in response to said wireless device receiving a timing advance command to adjust uplink transmission timing on said secondary cell group.

9. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein said instructions further cause said wireless device to monitor a downlink control channel of said primary cell for said random access response after transmitting said random access preamble.

10. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein said control command comprises:

a) a mask index; and

b) said random access preamble identifier.

11. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein said instructions further cause said wireless device to restart said deactivation timer associated with said secondary cell in response to said wireless device receiving said control command.

12. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein said instructions further cause said wireless device to restart a deactivation timer associated with a cell carrying said control command if said cell is one of said at least one secondary cell.

13. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein said instructions further cause said wireless device to restart said deactivation timer associated with said secondary cell if a random access response with an uplink grant for transmission on said secondary cell is received by said wireless device from said base station.

14. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein said at least one message comprises a plurality of common parameters for said secondary cell, said plurality of common parameters comprising:

a) a plurality of random access resource parameters identifying said random access resources; and

b) a plurality of power control parameters.

15. A base station comprising:

a) one or more communication interfaces;

b) one or more processors; and

c) memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause said base station to:

i) transmit to a wireless device at least one message comprising:

(3) configuration parameters of a plurality of cells comprising a primary cell and at least one secondary cell, said plurality of cells being grouped into a plurality of cell groups comprising a primary cell group and a secondary cell group; and

(4) a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer corresponding to a secondary cell, said deactivation timer restarting in response to a packet transmission on said secondary cell, said corresponding secondary cell being deactivated in said wireless device in response to said deactivation timer expiring;

ii) transmit a control command to a wireless device initiating a random access process for a secondary cell in said secondary cell group, said control command comprising an identifier of a random access preamble; and

iii) abort said random access process on said secondary cell if said secondary cell is deactivated before said base station receives said random access preamble on random access resources.

16. The base station of claim 15 , wherein said at least one message comprises a plurality of common parameters for said secondary cell, said plurality of common parameters comprising:

c) a plurality of random access resource parameters identifying said random access resources; and

d) a plurality of power control parameters.

17. The base station of claim 15 , wherein said instructions further cause said base station to:

a) receive said random access preamble from said wireless device;

b) transmit a random access response comprising an uplink grant to said wireless device; and

c) abort said random access process if said secondary cell is deactivated before said base station receives an uplink packet from said wireless device in response to said uplink grant.

18. The base station of claim 15 , wherein said at least one message comprises a plurality of random access resource parameters, said plurality of random access resource parameters comprise: an index; a frequency offset; and a plurality of sequence parameters.

19. The base station of claim 15 , wherein said at least one message comprises a plurality of media access control dedicated parameters comprising a plurality of time alignment timer values, each time alignment timer value associated with a unique cell group in said wireless device.

20. The base station of claim 15 , wherein said instructions further cause said base station to restart said deactivation timer associated with said secondary cell in response to said base station transmitting said control command.