Method and apparatus for sending and receiving multi-carrier information in multi-carrier communication system

1. A method for operating a plurality of carriers by a user equipment in a wireless communication system supporting a primary carrier and at least one secondary carrier, the method comprising:

transmitting, to a first base station, carrier capability information;

receiving, from the first base station, carrier configuration information, the carrier configuration information including an index of the at least one secondary carrier configured for the user equipment, the carrier configuration information being based upon the carrier capability information of the user equipment, the primary carrier being configured as a carrier for performing an initial network entry procedure;

receiving, from the first base station through the primary carrier, a control channel, the control channel including control information for traffic exchanged via a secondary carrier between the user equipment and the first base station;

receiving, from the first base station, traffic through the secondary carrier based on the control channel received through the primary carrier; and

receiving a message during a procedure of network entry to a second base station, the message including information for a primary carrier change,

wherein the primary carrier is only changed with the procedure of network entry.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier capability information includes information related to a maximum bandwidth supported by the user equipment.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier capability information includes information related to a number of carriers supported by the user equipment.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier capability information is transmitted during the initial network entry procedure.

5. A user equipment for operating a plurality of carriers in a wireless communication system supporting a primary carrier and at least one secondary carrier, the user equipment comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit, to a first base station, carrier capability information; and

a receiver configured to receive, from the first base station, carrier configuration information, the carrier configuration information including an index of the at least one secondary carrier configured for the user equipment, the carrier configuration information being based upon the carrier capability information of the user equipment, the primary carrier being configured as a carrier for performing an initial network entry procedure,

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive, from the first base station through the primary carrier, a control channel, the control channel including control information for traffic exchanged via a secondary carrier between the user equipment and the first base station,

wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit, to the first base station, traffic through the secondary carrier based on the control channel received through the primary carrier,

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a message during a procedure of network entry to a second base station, the message including information for a primary carrier change, and

wherein the primary carrier is only changed with the procedure of network entry.

6. The user equipment of claim 5 , wherein the carrier capability information includes information related to a maximum bandwidth supported by the user equipment.

7. The user equipment of claim 5 , wherein the carrier capability information includes information related to a number of carriers supported by the user equipment.

8. The user equipment of claim 5 , wherein the carrier capability information is transmitted during the initial network entry procedure.