IP Library Granted Patent US 11,743,853
Granted Patent B2
US 11,743,853 · App. 17/468,176 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Carrier grouping in multicarrier communications

Inventor: Esmael Hejazi Dinan (McLean, VA)
Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
H04W56/0045H04L5/0085H04L5/0098H04L27/2613H04L27/2657H04L27/2666H04L27/2692H04W56/0005H04W72/0453H04W72/20H04W72/21H04W72/23H04W74/0833H04W74/006H04W74/008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,743,853
App. No.
17/468,176
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for wireless communications are described. Uplink signals may be time aligned based on different synchronization signals for different carrier groups. A base station may send, to a wireless device, a time alignment command. Based on the time alignment command, the wireless device may send an uplink signal.

Claims (199)

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a base station, at least one radio resource control message comprising an indication that a carrier is associated with a secondary carrier group of a plurality of carrier groups, wherein the plurality of carrier groups comprises:

a primary carrier group; and

the secondary carrier group, and

wherein uplink signals of the plurality of carrier groups are time aligned based on different synchronization signals as a timing reference for different carrier groups of the plurality of carrier groups;

transmitting, to a wireless device, a time alignment command comprising:

an indication associated with the carrier; and

a time adjustment value associated with the secondary carrier group; and

receiving, via the secondary carrier group and based on the time alignment command, an uplink signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after the transmitting the at least one radio resource control message, transmitting a control command, wherein the control command:

is configured to cause the wireless device to transmit, via the secondary carrier group, a random access preamble;

is scrambled using an identifier of the wireless device; and

comprises:

a preamble index, corresponding to the random access preamble;

a power control command; and

a mask index configured to determine transmission timing, or transmission resources, of the random access preamble.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, via the secondary carrier group and after transmitting a control command, a random access preamble.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, via the primary carrier group and after receiving a random access preamble, a long time alignment command comprising:

a preamble index; and

a long time adjustment value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the different synchronization signals comprise a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one radio resource control message comprises a physical layer parameter, a media access control layer parameter, and a radio link control layer parameter.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the time adjustment value to the uplink signal received via the secondary carrier group.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from the wireless device, a buffer status report, wherein the buffer status report comprises a buffer size indicating an amount of data, in buffers of the wireless device, available for transmission.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, via carriers associated with the plurality of carrier groups, downlink signals that are time aligned.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, by a wireless device, at least one radio resource control message comprising an indication that a carrier is associated with a secondary carrier group of a plurality of carrier groups, wherein the plurality of carrier groups comprises:

a primary carrier group; and

the secondary carrier group, and

wherein uplink signals of the plurality of carrier groups are time aligned based on different synchronization signals as a timing reference for different carrier groups of the plurality of carrier groups;

receiving, from a base station, a time alignment command comprising:

an indication associated with the carrier; and

a time adjustment value associated with the secondary carrier group; and

transmitting, via the secondary carrier group and based on the time alignment command, an uplink signal.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

after the receiving the at least one radio resource control message, receiving a control command, wherein the control command:

is configured to cause the wireless device to transmit, via the secondary carrier group, a random access preamble;

is scrambled using an identifier of the wireless device; and

comprises:

a preamble index, corresponding to the random access preamble;

a power control command; and

a mask index configured to determine transmission timing, or transmission resources, of the random access preamble.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising transmitting, via the secondary carrier group and after receiving a control command, a random access preamble.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving, via the primary carrier group and after transmitting a random access preamble, a long time alignment command comprising:

a preamble index; and

a long time adjustment value.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the different synchronization signals comprise a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one radio resource control message comprises a physical layer parameter, a media access control layer parameter, and a radio link control layer parameter.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

transmitting a buffer status report, wherein the buffer status report comprises a buffer size indicating an amount of data, in buffers of the wireless device, available for transmission.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving, via carriers associated with the plurality of carrier groups, downlink signals that are time aligned.

18. A base station comprising:

one or more processors; and

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

transmit at least one radio resource control message comprising an indication that a carrier is associated with a secondary carrier group of a plurality of carrier groups, wherein the plurality of carrier groups comprises:

a primary carrier group; and

the secondary carrier group, and

wherein uplink signals of the plurality of carrier groups are time aligned based on different synchronization signals as a timing reference for different carrier groups of the plurality of carrier groups;

transmit, to a wireless device, a time alignment command comprising:

an indication associated with the carrier; and

a time adjustment value associated with the secondary carrier group; and

receive, via the secondary carrier group and based on the time alignment command, an uplink signal.

19. The base station of claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the base station to:

after transmitting the at least one radio resource control message, transmit a control command, wherein the control command:

is configured to cause the wireless device to transmit, via the secondary carrier group, a random access preamble;

is scrambled using an identifier of the wireless device; and

comprises:

a preamble index, corresponding to the random access preamble;

a power control command; and

a mask index configured to determine transmission timing, or transmission resources, of the random access preamble.

20. The base station of claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the base station to:

receive, via the secondary carrier group and after transmitting a control command, a random access preamble.

21. The base station of claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the base station to:

transmit, via the primary carrier group and after receiving a random access preamble, a long time alignment command comprising:

a preamble index; and

a long time adjustment value.

22. The base station of claim 18 , wherein the different synchronization signals comprise a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal.

23. The base station of claim 18 , wherein the at least one radio resource control message comprises a physical layer parameter, a media access control layer parameter, and a radio link control layer parameter.

24. The base station of claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the base station to:

apply the time adjustment value to the uplink signal received via the secondary carrier group.

25. The base station of claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the base station to:

receive, from the wireless device, a buffer status report, wherein the buffer status report comprises a buffer size indicating an amount of data, in buffers of the wireless device, available for transmission.

26. The base station of claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the base station to:

transmit, via carriers associated with the plurality of carrier groups, downlink signals that are time aligned.

27. A wireless device comprising:

one or more processors; and

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

receive at least one radio resource control message comprising an indication that a carrier is associated with a secondary carrier group of a plurality of carrier groups, wherein the plurality of carrier groups comprises:

a primary carrier group; and

the secondary carrier group, and

wherein uplink signals of the plurality of carrier groups are time aligned based on different synchronization signals as a timing reference for different carrier groups of the plurality of carrier groups;

receive, from a base station, a time alignment command comprising:

an indication associated with the carrier; and

a time adjustment value associated with the secondary carrier group; and

transmit, via the secondary carrier group and based on the time alignment command, an uplink signal.

28. The wireless device of claim 27 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the wireless device to:

after receiving the at least one radio resource control message, receive a control command, wherein the control command:

is configured to cause the wireless device to transmit, via the secondary carrier group, a random access preamble;

is scrambled using an identifier of the wireless device; and

comprises:

a preamble index, corresponding to the random access preamble;

a power control command; and

a mask index configured to determine transmission timing, or transmission resources, of the random access preamble.

29. The wireless device of claim 27 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the wireless device to:

transmit, via the secondary carrier group and after receiving a control command, a random access preamble.

30. The wireless device of claim 27 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the wireless device to:

receive, via the primary carrier group and after transmitting a random access preamble, a long time alignment command comprising:

a preamble index; and

a long time adjustment value.

31. The wireless device of claim 27 , wherein the different synchronization signals comprise a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal.

32. The wireless device of claim 27 , wherein the at least one radio resource control message comprises a physical layer parameter, a media access control layer parameter, and a radio link control layer parameter.

33. The wireless device of claim 27 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the wireless device to:

transmit a buffer status report, wherein the buffer status report comprises a buffer size indicating an amount of data, in buffers of the wireless device, available for transmission.

34. The wireless device of claim 27 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the wireless device to:

receive, via carriers associated with the plurality of carrier groups, downlink signals that are time aligned.

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

transmit at least one radio resource control message comprising an indication that a carrier is associated with a secondary carrier group of a plurality of carrier groups, wherein the plurality of carrier groups comprises:

a primary carrier group; and

the secondary carrier group, and

wherein uplink signals of the plurality of carrier groups are time aligned based on different synchronization signals as a timing reference for different carrier groups of the plurality of carrier groups;

transmit, to a wireless device, a time alignment command comprising:

an indication associated with the carrier; and

a time adjustment value associated with the secondary carrier group; and

receive, via the secondary carrier group and based on the time alignment command, an uplink signal.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the base station to:

after transmitting the at least one radio resource control message, transmit a control command, wherein the control command:

is configured to cause the wireless device to transmit, via the secondary carrier group, a random access preamble;

is scrambled using an identifier of the wireless device; and

comprises:

a preamble index, corresponding to the random access preamble;

a power control command; and

a mask index configured to determine transmission timing, or transmission resources, of the random access preamble.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the base station to:

transmit, via the primary carrier group and after receiving a random access preamble, a long time alignment command comprising:

a preamble index; and

a long time adjustment value.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the base station to:

apply the time adjustment value to the uplink signal received via the secondary carrier group.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the base station to:

transmit, via carriers associated with the plurality of carrier groups, downlink signals that are time aligned.

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

receive at least one radio resource control message comprising an indication that a carrier is associated with a secondary carrier group of a plurality of carrier groups, wherein the plurality of carrier groups comprises:

a primary carrier group; and

the secondary carrier group, and

wherein uplink signals of the plurality of carrier groups are time aligned based on different synchronization signals as a timing reference for different carrier groups of the plurality of carrier groups;

receive, from a base station, a time alignment command comprising:

an indication associated with the carrier; and

a time adjustment value associated with the secondary carrier group; and

transmit, via the secondary carrier group and based on the time alignment command, an uplink signal.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 40 , wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the wireless device to:

after receiving the at least one radio resource control message, receive a control command, wherein the control command:

is configured to cause the wireless device to transmit, via the secondary carrier group, a random access preamble;

is scrambled using an identifier of the wireless device; and

comprises:

a preamble index, corresponding to the random access preamble;

a power control command; and

a mask index configured to determine transmission timing, or transmission resources, of the random access preamble.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 40 , wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the wireless device to:

transmit a buffer status report, wherein the buffer status report comprises a buffer size indicating an amount of data, in buffers of the wireless device, available for transmission.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 40 , wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the wireless device to:

receive, via carriers associated with the plurality of carrier groups, downlink signals that are time aligned.

44. A system comprising:

a base station comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions; and

a wireless device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions,

wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the base station, when executed by the one or more processors of the base station, configure the base station to:

transmit at least one radio resource control message comprising an indication that a carrier is associated with a secondary carrier group of a plurality of carrier groups, wherein the plurality of carrier groups comprises:

a primary carrier group; and

the secondary carrier group, and

wherein uplink signals of the plurality of carrier groups are time aligned based on different synchronization signals as a timing reference for different carrier groups of the plurality of carrier groups; and

transmit a time alignment command comprising:

an indication associated with the carrier; and

a time adjustment value associated with the secondary carrier group; and

wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the wireless device, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless device, configure the wireless device to:

receive the time alignment command; and

transmit, via the secondary carrier group and based on the time alignment command, an uplink signal.

45. The system of claim 44 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the base station, when executed by the one or more processors of the base station, configure the base station to:

after transmitting the at least one radio resource control message, transmit a control command, wherein the control command:

is configured to cause the wireless device to transmit, via the secondary carrier group, a random access preamble;

is scrambled using an identifier of the wireless device; and

comprises:

a preamble index, corresponding to the random access preamble;

a power control command; and

a mask index configured to determine transmission timing, or transmission resources, of the random access preamble.

46. The system of claim 44 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the base station, when executed by the one or more processors of the base station, configure the base station to:

transmit, via the primary carrier group and after receiving a random access preamble, a long time alignment command comprising:

a preamble index; and

a long time adjustment value.

47. The system of claim 44 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the base station, when executed by the one or more processors of the base station, configure the base station to:

apply the time adjustment value to the uplink signal received via the secondary carrier group.

48. The system of claim 44 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the base station, when executed by the one or more processors of the base station, configure the base station to:

transmit, via carriers associated with the plurality of carrier groups, downlink signals that are time aligned.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2023
From: DINAN, ESMAEL HEJAZI
To: OFINNO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 062793/0775 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2023
From: OFINNO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 062793/0880 →
Continuity (11)
Continuation 16695476 · Nov 26, 2019
Continuation 15201544 · Jul 4, 2016
Continuation 14202102 · Mar 10, 2014
Continuation 14016946 · Sep 3, 2013
Continuation 13887347 · May 5, 2013
Continuation 13759766 · Feb 5, 2013
Continuation 13556165 · Jul 23, 2012
Provisional Application 61556045 · Nov 4, 2011
Provisional Application 61528226 · Aug 27, 2011
Provisional Application 61511544 · Jul 25, 2011
Related Publication 20220061012A1 · Feb 24, 2022
Cited By (2)
US 12,563,501 US 12,563,604