Control channel power control in a wireless network using primary and secondary transmit power control indexes

1. A method comprising:

receiving at least one message comprising:

configuration parameters of a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups comprising:

a primary PUCCH group comprising a primary cell with a primary PUCCH transmitted to a base station; and

a secondary PUCCH group comprising a PUCCH secondary cell with a secondary PUCCH transmitted to the base station;

a transmit power control (TPC) radio network temporary identifier (RNTI);

a primary TPC index for the primary PUCCH, the primary TPC index indicating a first downlink control information (DCI) format; and

a secondary TPC index for the secondary PUCCH, the secondary TPC index indicating the first DCI format and having a different index value from the primary TPC index;

searching a common search space of the primary cell for a DCI associated with the TPC RNTI, wherein:

the DCI is of the first DCI format and comprises an array of TPC commands comprising a first TPC command and a second TPC command; and

the secondary TPC index identifies the second TPC command in the array; and

adjusting uplink transmission power of the secondary PUCCH employing the second TPC command when the DCI is found.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first DCI format indicates that one of the following is employed as the TPC index value:

a number between 1 to 15; and

a number between 1 to 31.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary TPC index identifies the first TPC command in the array.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising adjusting uplink signal transmission power of the primary PUCCH employing the first TPC command when the DCI is found.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the searching includes blind decoding for the DCI having the first DCI format.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the second TPC command is encoded by two bits when a first DCI format is employed; and

the second TPC command is encoded by one bit when a second DCI format is employed.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the DCI is encoded employing a cyclic redundancy check.

8. A method comprising:

receiving at least one message comprising:

configuration parameters of a plurality of cells comprising:

a primary cell with a primary PUCCH; and

a PUCCH secondary cell with a secondary PUCCH;

a transmit power control (TPC) radio network temporary identifier (RNTI);

a primary TPC index for the primary PUCCH; and

a secondary TPC index for the secondary PUCCH;

searching a common search space of the primary cell for a downlink control information (DCI) associated with the TPC RNTI, wherein:

the DCI comprises an array of TPC commands; and

the secondary TPC index identifies a TPC command in the array; and

adjusting uplink signal transmission power of the secondary PUCCH employing the TPC command when the DCI is found.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of cells are grouped into a plurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups comprising:

a primary PUCCH group comprising the primary cell; and

a secondary PUCCH group comprising the PUCCH secondary cell.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein a first format of a TPC index indicates that one of the following is used as the TPC index value:

a number between 1 to 15; and

a number between 1 to 31.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the primary TPC index identifies a first TPC command in the array.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising adjusting uplink signal transmission power of the primary PUCCH employing the first TPC command when the DCI is found.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the searching comprises blind decoding for the DCI having a first format.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the TPC command is encoded by two bits when a first DCI format is employed; and

the TPC command is encoded by one bit when a second DCI format is employed.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the DCI is encoded employing a cyclic redundancy check.

16. A method comprising:

receiving at least one message comprising:

configuration parameters of a plurality of cells comprising:

a primary cell with a primary PUCCH; and

a PUCCH secondary cell with a secondary PUCCH;

a transmit power control (TPC) radio network temporary identifier (RNTI);

a primary TPC index for the primary PUCCH; and

a secondary TPC index for the secondary PUCCH;

searching a common search space of the primary cell for a downlink control information (DCI) associated with the TPC RNTI, wherein:

the DCI comprises an array of TPC commands; and

the secondary TPC index determines a TPC command in the array; and

when the DCI is found, adjusting uplink signal transmission power of the secondary PUCCH according to the TPC command only if the PUCCH secondary cell is activated.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of cells are grouped into a plurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups comprising:

a primary PUCCH group comprising the primary cell; and

a secondary PUCCH group comprising the PUCCH secondary cell.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the primary TPC index determines a first TPC command in the array.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising adjusting uplink signal transmission power of the primary PUCCH employing the first TPC command when the DCI is found.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein:

the TPC command is encoded by two bits when a first DCI format is employed; and

the TPC command is encoded by one bit when a second DCI format is employed.