Uplink control information signaling in inter-site downlink carrier aggregation scenarios

1. A method of a device providing primary cell functionality for communication in inter-site carrier aggregation mode aggregating a primary carrier and at least one secondary carrier, comprising

transmitting a downlink transmission, and using a time of said downlink transmission as a timing reference;

receiving from a user equipment (UE) an uplink transmission comprising at least a time difference value;

calculating a first receiving timing based on an estimated second receiving timing at said device, said time difference value and a predetermined timing advance value; and

transmitting a first inter-site control transmission comprising at least a difference between said calculated first receiving timing and the timing reference; wherein:

said first receiving timing is for uplink signaling from the UE. to he received at another device providing secondary cell functionality; and

the estimated second receiving timing is for uplink signaling, from the UE to be received at the device providing primary cell functionality.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

transmitting a second inter-site control transmission comprising at least detection information for detection of certain downlink transmission resources of a downlink control transmission to the UE on said primary carrier, said certain downlink transmission resources being indicative of at least uplink transmission resources for an uplink control information transmission from the UE on said primary carrier.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a third inter-site control transmission comprising at least uplink transmission resources for an uplink control information transmission on said primary carrier.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in relation to said calculating said method further comprises

computing said first receiving timing UL_Rx_PCell_at_pico based on said estimated second receiving timing at said device UL_Rx_PCell_at_macro, said time difference value T_diff and said predetermined timing advance value TA using the formula

ULRx_PCell — at_pico =UL_Rx_PCell — at macro - T_diff -TA +4ms.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the method is operable at or by a base station or access node operating in at least one of a LTE and a LTE-A cellular system, and

each of said inter-site control transmissions is a X 2 signaling.

6. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to provide primary cell functionality for communication in inter-site carrier aggregation mode aggregating a primary carrier and at least one secondary carrier, by performing at least the following:

transmit a downlink transmission, and use a time of said downlink transmission as a timing reference;

receive from a user equipment (UE) an uplink transmission comprising at least a time difference value; and

calculate a first receiving timing based on an estimated second receiving timing at said apparatus, said time difference value and a predetermined timing advance value; wherein said connection controller is further configured to transmit a first inter-site control transmission comprising at least a difference between said calculated first receiving timing and the timing reference, and wherein:

said first receiving timing is for uplink signaling from the UE to be received at another device providing secondary cell functionality; and

the estimated second receiving timing is for uplink signaling from the UE to be received at the apparatus providing primary cell functionality.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

transmit a second inter-site control transmission comprising at least detection information for detection of certain downlink transmission resources of a downlink control transmission on said primary carrier, said certain downlink transmission resources being indicative of at least uplink transmission resources for an uplink control information transmission on said primary carrier.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

transmit a third inter-site control transmission comprising at least uplink transmission resources for an uplink control information transmission on said primary carrier.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:

said first receiving timing UL_Rx_PCell_at_pico is calculated based on said estimated second receiving timing at said apparatus UL_Rx_PCell_at_macro, said time difference value T_diff and said predetermined timing advance value TA using the formula

UL_Rx_PCell — at_pico =UL_Rx_PCell_at_macro-T_diff-TA ÷4 ms.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:

the apparatus is a base station or access node operating in at least one of a LTE and a LTE-A cellular system, and

each of said inter-site control transmissions is a X 2 signaling.

11. An apparatus comprising

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to provide secondary cell functionality for communication in inter-site carrier aggregation mode aggregating a primary carrier and at least one secondary carrier by performing at least the following:

obtain uplink transmission resources for an uplink control information transmission by a user equipment (UE) on said primary carrier;

derive a receiving timing at which time said uplink control information transmission from the UE is to be received at the apparatus;

detect said uplink control information transmission on said primary carrier based on said uplink transmission resources and said receiving timing; and

decode uplink control information from said uplink control information transmission.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor; to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

transmit a downlink transmission, and use a time of said downlink transmission as a timing reference; and to

receive a first inter-site control transmission comprising at least a time difference value; and

calculate said receiving timing at said apparatus, wherein said receiving timing is calculated as a sum of said timing reference and said time difference value.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

receive a second inter-site control transmission comprising at least uplink channel configuration information;

receive a third inter-site control transmission comprising at least detection information for detection of certain downlink transmission resources of a downlink control transmission on said primary carrier, said certain downlink transmission resources being indicative of at least said uplink transmission resources;

receive said downlink control transmission on said primary carrier;

detect said certain downlink transmission resources of said downlink control transmission based on said detection information; and

determine said uplink transmission resources based on said certain downlink transmission resources and said uplink channel configuration information.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

receive a fourth inter-site control transmission comprising at least said uplink transmission resources; and

decode said uplink transmission resources from said inter-site control transmission.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein:

the apparatus is a base station or access node operating in at least one of a LTE and a LTE-A cellular system, and

each of said inter-site control transmissions is a X 2 signaling.