IP Library Granted Patent US 11,664,957
Granted Patent B2
US 11,664,957 · App. 17/328,808 · Granted May 30, 2023

Secondary cell management in wireless communications

Inventor: Esmael Hejazi Dinan (McLean, VA)
Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
H04L5/0098H04L5/001H04L5/0053H04W72/0413H04W76/38Y02D30/70
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,664,957
App. No.
17/328,808
Granted
May 30, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Secondary cell management in wireless communications is described. A plurality of cells may be grouped into a plurality of groups that comprise a primary group comprising a primary cell with a primary control channel, and a secondary group comprising a plurality of secondary cells. The secondary group may comprise a first secondary cell with a secondary control channel. The wireless device may keep the first secondary cell active based on a secondary cell in the secondary group being active.

Claims (183)

1. A wireless device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to:

receive, from a base station:

configuration parameters of a plurality of cells that are grouped into:

a primary group comprising a primary cell configured with a primary control channel; and

a secondary group comprising:

 a first secondary cell configured with a secondary control channel; and

 a second secondary cell different from the first secondary cell; and

a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer associated with at least one secondary cell of the secondary group;

keep the first secondary cell active based on the second secondary cell being active; and

deactivate the first secondary cell after deactivation of each other secondary cell of the secondary group.

2. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to maintain configuration of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell after the first secondary cell is deactivated.

3. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to restart the deactivation timer after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant or a downlink assignment.

4. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to restart a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on a cell scheduling the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant for the first secondary cell or a downlink assignment for the first secondary cell.

5. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to receive, from the base station, configuration parameters of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell.

6. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to receive, from the base station, information that maps each of a plurality of secondary cells to one of the primary group or the secondary group.

7. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to transmit, via the first secondary cell, at least one of:

channel state information associated with the second secondary cell;

positive acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell;

negative acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell; or

a scheduling request associated with the second secondary cell.

8. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to keep the first secondary cell active further based on a condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell being satisfied.

9. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell comprises at least one of:

an expiration of a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell;

a medium access control (MAC) control element indicating deactivation of the first secondary cell; or

a radio resource control message.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, by a wireless device:

configuration parameters of a plurality of cells that are grouped into:

a primary group comprising a primary cell configured with a primary control channel; and

a secondary group comprising:

a first secondary cell configured with a secondary control channel; and

a second secondary cell different from the first secondary cell; and

a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer associated with at least one secondary cell of the secondary group;

keeping the first secondary cell active based on the second secondary cell being active; and

deactivating the first secondary cell after deactivation of each other secondary cell of the secondary group.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising maintaining configuration of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell after the first secondary cell is deactivated.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising restarting the deactivation timer after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant or a downlink assignment.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising restarting a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on a cell scheduling the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant for the first secondary cell or a downlink assignment for the first secondary cell.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving configuration parameters of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving information that maps each of a plurality of secondary cells to one of the primary group or the secondary group.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising transmitting, via the first secondary cell, at least one of:

channel state information associated with the second secondary cell;

positive acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell;

negative acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell; or

a scheduling request associated with the second secondary cell.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the keeping the first secondary cell active is further based on a condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell being satisfied.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell comprises at least one of:

an expiration of a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell;

a medium access control (MAC) control element indicating deactivation of the first secondary cell; or

a radio resource control message.

19. A base station comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the base station to:

transmit, to a wireless device:

configuration parameters of a plurality of cells that are grouped into:

a primary group comprising a primary cell configured with a primary control channel; and

a secondary group comprising:

 a first secondary cell configured with a secondary control channel; and

 a second secondary cell different from the first secondary cell; and

a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer associated with at least one secondary cell of the secondary group;

keep a state of the first secondary cell active based on the second secondary cell being active; and

change the state of the first secondary cell to deactivated after deactivation of each other secondary cell of the secondary group.

20. The base station of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to maintain configuration of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell after the state of the first secondary cell is changed.

21. The base station of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to restart the deactivation timer after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant or a downlink assignment.

22. The base station of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to restart a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on a cell scheduling the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant for the first secondary cell or a downlink assignment for the first secondary cell.

23. The base station of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to transmit, to the wireless device, configuration parameters of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell.

24. The base station of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to transmit, to the wireless device, information that maps each of a plurality of secondary cells to one of the primary group or the secondary group.

25. The base station of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to receive, via the first secondary cell, at least one of:

channel state information associated with the second secondary cell;

positive acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell;

negative acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell; or

a scheduling request associated with the second secondary cell.

26. The base station of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the base station to keep the state of the first secondary cell active by keeping, after a condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell is satisfied, the state of the first secondary cell active for a time interval.

27. The base station of claim 26 , wherein the condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell comprises at least one of:

an expiration of a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell;

a medium access control (MAC) control element indicating deactivation of the first secondary cell; or

a radio resource control message.

28. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a base station:

configuration parameters of a plurality of cells that are grouped into:

a primary group comprising a primary cell configured with a primary control channel; and

a secondary group comprising:

a first secondary cell configured with a secondary control channel; and

a second secondary cell different from the first secondary cell; and

a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer associated with at least one secondary cell of the secondary group;

keeping a state of the first secondary cell active based on the second secondary cell being active; and

changing the state of the first secondary cell to deactivated after deactivation of each other secondary cell of the secondary group.

29. The method of claim 28 , further comprising maintaining configuration of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell after the state of the first secondary cell is changed.

30. The method of claim 28 , further comprising restarting the deactivation timer after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant or a downlink assignment.

31. The method of claim 28 , further comprising restarting a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on a cell scheduling the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant for the first secondary cell or a downlink assignment for the first secondary cell.

32. The method of claim 28 , further comprising transmitting configuration parameters of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell.

33. The method of claim 28 , further comprising transmitting information that maps each of a plurality of secondary cells to one of the primary group or the secondary group.

34. The method of claim 28 , further comprising receiving, via the first secondary cell, at least one of:

channel state information associated with the second secondary cell;

positive acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell;

negative acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell; or

a scheduling request associated with the second secondary cell.

35. The method of claim 28 , wherein the keeping the state of the first secondary cell active comprises: keeping, after a condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell is satisfied, the state of the first secondary cell active for a time interval.

36. The method of claim 35 , wherein the condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell comprises at least one of:

an expiration of a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell;

a medium access control (MAC) control element indicating deactivation of the first secondary cell; or

a radio resource control message.

37. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, configure a wireless device to:

receive, from a base station:

configuration parameters of a plurality of cells that are grouped into:

a primary group comprising a primary cell configured with a primary control channel; and

a secondary group comprising:

a first secondary cell configured with a secondary control channel; and

a second secondary cell different from the first secondary cell; and

a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer associated with at least one secondary cell of the secondary group;

keep the first secondary cell active based on the second secondary cell being active; and

deactivate the first secondary cell after deactivation of each other secondary cell of the secondary group.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to maintain configuration of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell after the first secondary cell is deactivated.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to restart the deactivation timer after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant or a downlink assignment.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to restart a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on a cell scheduling the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant for the first secondary cell or a downlink assignment for the first secondary cell.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to receive, from the base station, configuration parameters of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to receive, from the base station, information that maps each of a plurality of secondary cells to one of the primary group or the secondary group.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to transmit, via the first secondary cell, at least one of:

channel state information associated with the second secondary cell;

positive acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell;

negative acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell; or

a scheduling request associated with the second secondary cell.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to keep the first secondary cell active further based on a condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell being satisfied.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 44 , wherein the condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell comprises at least one of:

an expiration of a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell;

a medium access control (MAC) control element indicating deactivation of the first secondary cell; or

a radio resource control message.

46. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, configure a base station to:

transmit, to a wireless device:

configuration parameters of a plurality of cells that are grouped into:

a primary group comprising a primary cell configured with a primary control channel; and

a secondary group comprising:

a first secondary cell configured with a secondary control channel; and

a second secondary cell different from the first secondary cell; and

a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer associated with at least one secondary cell of the secondary group;

keep a state of the first secondary cell active based on the second secondary cell being active; and

change the state of the first secondary cell to deactivated after deactivation of each other secondary cell of the secondary group.

47. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 46 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the base station to maintain configuration of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell after the state of the first secondary cell is changed.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 46 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the base station to restart the deactivation timer after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant or a downlink assignment.

49. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 46 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the base station to restart a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on a cell scheduling the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant for the first secondary cell or a downlink assignment for the first secondary cell.

50. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 46 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the base station to transmit, to the wireless device, configuration parameters of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell.

51. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 46 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the base station to transmit, to the wireless device, information that maps each of a plurality of secondary cells to one of the primary group or the secondary group.

52. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 46 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the base station to receive, via the first secondary cell, at least one of:

channel state information associated with the second secondary cell;

positive acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell;

negative acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell; or

a scheduling request associated with the second secondary cell.

53. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 46 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the base station to keep the state of the first secondary cell active by keeping, after a condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell is satisfied, the state of the first secondary cell active for a time interval.

54. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 53 , wherein the condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell comprises at least one of:

an expiration of a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell;

a medium access control (MAC) control element indicating deactivation of the first secondary cell; or

a radio resource control message.

55. A system comprising:

a base station; and

a wireless device,

wherein the base station is configured to:

transmit, to the wireless device:

configuration parameters of a plurality of cells that are grouped into:

 a primary group comprising a primary cell configured with a primary control channel; and

 a secondary group comprising:

 a first secondary cell configured with a secondary control channel; and

 a second secondary cell different from the first secondary cell; and

a deactivation timer value for a deactivation timer associated with at least one secondary cell of the secondary group; and

wherein the wireless device is configured to:

keep the first secondary cell active based on the second secondary cell being active; and

deactivate the first secondary cell after deactivation of each other secondary cell of the secondary group.

56. The system of claim 55 , wherein the wireless device is further configured to maintain configuration of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell after the first secondary cell is deactivated.

57. The system of claim 55 , wherein the wireless device is further configured to restart the deactivation timer after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant or a downlink assignment.

58. The system of claim 55 , wherein the wireless device is further configured to restart a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell after a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on a cell scheduling the first secondary cell indicates an uplink grant for the first secondary cell or a downlink assignment for the first secondary cell.

59. The system of claim 55 , wherein the base station is further configured to transmit, to the wireless device, configuration parameters of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the first secondary cell.

60. The system of claim 55 , wherein the base station is further configured to transmit, to the wireless device, information that maps each of a plurality of secondary cells to one of the primary group or the secondary group.

61. The system of claim 55 , wherein the wireless device is further configured to transmit, via the first secondary cell, at least one of:

channel state information associated with the second secondary cell;

positive acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell;

negative acknowledgement associated with the second secondary cell; or

a scheduling request associated with the second secondary cell.

62. The system of claim 55 , wherein the wireless device is further configured to keep the first secondary cell active further based on a condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell being satisfied.

63. The system of claim 62 , wherein the condition for deactivation of the first secondary cell comprises at least one of:

an expiration of a deactivation timer associated with the first secondary cell;

a medium access control (MAC) control element indicating deactivation of the first secondary cell; or

a radio resource control message.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2022
From: DINAN, ESMAEL HEJAZI
To: OFINNO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 060080/0849 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2022
From: OFINNO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 060080/0939 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16854470 · Apr 21, 2020
Continuation 15927283 · Mar 21, 2018
Continuation In Part 15055612 · Feb 28, 2016
Provisional Application 62130522 · Mar 9, 2015
Related Publication 20210281385A1 · Sep 9, 2021
Cited By (2)
US 12,388,614 US 12,621,029