System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception

1. A method in a user equipment, comprising:

receiving a timing alignment update command for adjusting an uplink timing alignment of the user equipment;

resetting a timing alignment timer in response to receiving the timing alignment update command;

monitoring a control channel during a discontinuous reception (DRX) active time;

refraining from transmitting an uplink sounding reference signal using resources identified in the resource configuration when not in said DRX active time;

maintaining a resource configuration for the user equipment to transmit uplink sounding reference signals when not in said DRX active time; and

releasing the resource configuration for the user equipment to transmit the uplink sounding reference signals upon expiration of the time alignment timer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said DRX active time is associated with DRX operation in a connected mode.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising not monitoring the control channel when not in said DRX active time.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the resource configuration for the user equipment to transmit the uplink sounding reference signals based on a Sounding Reference Signal configuration element received from a network access device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising entering a reduced power state when not in said DRX active time.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising releasing a resource configuration for the user equipment to transmit channel quality indictor (CQI) upon expiration of the time alignment timer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the resource configuration for the user equipment to transmit the uplink sounding reference signals is associated with a time-frequency resource.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the uplink sounding reference signal during said DRX active time using the resources identified in the resource configuration.

9. A user equipment (UE) for a wireless telecommunications system, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a timing alignment update command for adjusting an uplink timing alignment of the user equipment; and

a processor, the processor configured to perform operations comprising:

resetting a timing alignment timer in response to receiving the timing alignment update command;

controlling the receiver to monitor a control channel during a discontinuous reception (DRX) active time;

instructing a transmitter to refrain from transmitting an uplink sounding reference signal using resources identified in the resource configuration when not in said DRX active time;

maintaining a resource configuration for the user equipment to transmit uplink sounding reference signals when not in said DRX active time; and

releasing the resource configuration for the user equipment to transmit the uplink sounding reference signals upon expiration of the time alignment timer.

10. The UE of claim 9 , wherein said DRX active time is associated with DRX operation in a connected mode.

11. The UE of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to not monitor the control channel when not in said DRX active time.

12. The UE of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the resource configuration for the user equipment to transmit the uplink sounding reference signal based on a Sounding Reference Signal configuration element received from a network access device.

13. The UE of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to enter a reduced power state when not in said DRX active time.

14. The UE of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to release a resource configuration for the user equipment to transmit channel quality indictor (CQI) upon expiration of the time alignment timer.

15. The UE of claim 9 , wherein the resource configuration for the user equipment to transmit the uplink sounding reference signal is associated with a time-frequency resource.

16. The UE of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to instruct the transmitter to transmit the uplink sounding reference signal during said DRX active time using the resources identified in the resource configuration.