U.S. patent application number 12/759383 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-13 for wireless communication system using multiple-serving nodes.
Invention is credited to Sam Zhijun Cai, Rose Qingyang Hu, James Jim Womack, Yi Yu.
Application Number | 20110249619 12/759383 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44760863 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110249619 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yu; Yi ; et al. |
October 13, 2011 |
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING MULTIPLE-SERVING NODES
Abstract
Methods, devices and systems for a wireless communication system
using multiple-serving nodes are provided. In one embodiment, a
method of wireless communication comprises sending from a wireless
device an uplink control signal to a first node via a second node
using a second communication link; receiving by said wireless
device a downlink control signal from said first node using a first
communication link; sending from said wireless device another
uplink control signal to said second node using said second
communication link; and receiving by said wireless device another
downlink control signal from said second node via said first node
using said first communication link.
Inventors: |
Yu; Yi; (Irving, TX)
; Hu; Rose Qingyang; (Allen, TX) ; Cai; Sam
Zhijun; (Euless, TX) ; Womack; James Jim;
(Bedford, TX) |
Family ID: |
44760863 |
Appl. No.: |
12/759383 |
Filed: |
April 13, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/328 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 7/024 20130101;
H04W 72/0406 20130101; H04W 84/047 20130101; H04B 7/0621 20130101;
H04W 88/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/328 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/00 20090101
H04W004/00 |
Claims
1. A method of wireless communication, comprising: sending from a
wireless device an uplink control signal to a first node via a
second node using a second communication link; receiving by said
wireless device a downlink control signal from said first node
using a first communication link; sending from said wireless device
another uplink control signal to said second node using said second
communication link; and receiving by said wireless device another
downlink control signal from said second node via said first node
using said first communication link.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending from said
wireless device an uplink data signal to said first node via said
second node using said second communication link; and receiving by
said wireless device a downlink data signal from said first node
using said first communication link.
3. A method of wireless communication, comprising: sending from a
wireless device an uplink control signal to a first node using a
first communication link; receiving by said wireless device a
downlink control signal from said first node using said first
communication link; sending from said wireless device another
uplink control signal to a second node using a second communication
link; and receiving by said wireless device another downlink
control signal from said second node using said second
communication link.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: receiving by said
wireless device a downlink data signal from said first node using
said first communication link; and sending from said wireless
device an uplink data signal to said first node via said second
node using said second communication link.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first communication link
includes at least one of a physical downlink shared channel
("PDSCH"), a physical downlink control channel ("PDCCH"), a
physical uplink control channel ("PUCCH") and a physical hybrid
automatic repeat request indicator channel ("PHICH").
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said second communication link
includes at least one of a physical uplink shared channel
("PUSCH"), physical downlink control channel ("PDCCH"), a physical
uplink control channel ("PUCCH") and a physical hybrid automatic
repeat request indicator channel ("PHICH").
7. The method of claim 2, wherein said uplink data signal and said
uplink control signal are multiplexed onto a physical uplink shared
channel ("PUSCH") of said second communication link.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein said downlink data signal and
said other downlink control signal are multiplexed onto a physical
downlink shared channel ("PDSCH") of said first communication
link.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said downlink control signal
includes at least one of a downlink grant signal, an uplink grant
signal, a timing adjustment signal and a transmission power control
("TPC") signal; and wherein said other downlink control signal
includes at least one of a downlink grant signal, an uplink grant
signal, a timing adjustment signal and a transmission power control
("TPC") signal.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said uplink control signal
includes at least one of a channel quality indicator ("CQI")
signal, an acknowledgment or no acknowledgment ("ACK/NACK") signal,
a pre-coding matrix indicator ("PMI") signal, a rank indicator
("RI") signal, a downlink grant signal, a scheduling request
indicator ("SRI") signal and a sounding reference signal ("SRS")
signal; and wherein said other uplink control signal includes at
least one of a channel quality indicator ("CQI") signal, an
acknowledgment or no acknowledgment ("ACK/NACK") signal, a
pre-coding matrix indicator ("PMI") signal, a rank indicator ("RI")
signal, a downlink grant signal, a scheduling request indicator
("SRI") signal and a sounding reference signal ("SRS") signal.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein said first node and said second
node are the same node.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein said first node and said second
node are time synchronized.
13. The method of claim 2, further comprising: selecting said first
node to provide said downlink data signal using at least one of
received signal strength, bit error rate and word error rate.
14. The method of claim 2, further comprising: selecting said
second node to send said uplink data signal using at least one of
received signal strength, bit error rate and word error rate.
15. A wireless device in a wireless communication system,
comprising: a processor coupled to a memory containing
processor-executable instructions, wherein said processor is
operable to: receive a downlink control signal from a first node
using a first communication link; send an uplink control signal to
said first node via a second node using a second communication
link; receive another downlink control signal from said second node
via said first node using said first communication link; and send
another uplink control signal to said second node using said second
communication link.
16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said processor is
further operable to: receive a downlink data signal from said first
node using said first communication link; and send an uplink data
signal to said first node via said second node using said second
communication link.
17. A wireless device in a wireless communication system,
comprising: a processor coupled to a memory containing
processor-executable instructions, wherein said processor is
operable to: send an uplink control signal to a first node using a
first communication link; receive a downlink control signal from
said first node using said first communication link; send another
uplink control signal to a second node using a second communication
link; and receive another downlink control signal from said second
node using said second communication link.
18. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein said processor is
further operable to: send an uplink data signal to said first node
via said second node using said second communication link; and
receive a downlink data signal from said first node using said
first communication link.
19. A system of wireless communication, comprising: a wireless
device; a first node communicatively linked to said wireless device
using a first communication link; a second node communicatively
linked to said wireless device using a second communication link
and to said first node using a third communication link; wherein
said first node sends a downlink control signal to said wireless
device using said first communication link and forwards another
downlink control signal from said second node to said wireless
device using said third communication link and said first
communication link; and wherein said second node receives an uplink
control signal from said wireless device and forwards another
uplink control signal from said wireless device to said first node
using said second communication link and said third communication
link.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein said first node sends a
downlink data signal to said wireless device using said first
communication link; and wherein said second node forwards an uplink
data signal from said wireless device to said first node using said
second communication link and said third communication link.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] There are no related applications.
FIELD
[0002] The invention generally relates to wireless communication
and in particular to a wireless communication system using
multiple-serving nodes.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to
provide, for example, a broad range of voice and data-related
services. Typical wireless communication systems consist of
multiple-access communication networks that allow users to share
common network resources. Examples of these networks are time
division multiple access ("TDMA") systems, code division multiple
access ("CDMA") systems, single-carrier frequency division multiple
access ("SC-FDMA") systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple
access ("OFDMA") systems, or other like systems. An OFDMA system is
adopted by various technology standards such as evolved universal
terrestrial radio access ("E-UTRA"), Wi-Fi, worldwide
interoperability for microwave access ("WiMAX"), ultra mobile
broadband ("UMB"), and other similar systems. Further, the
implementations of these systems are described by specifications
developed by various standards bodies such as the third generation
partnership project ("3GPP") and 3GPP2.
[0004] As wireless communication systems evolve, more advanced
network equipment is introduced that provide improved features,
functionality, and performance. A representation of such advanced
network equipment may also be referred to as long-term evolution
("LTE") equipment or long-term evolution advanced ("LTE-A")
equipment. LTE is the next step in the evolution of high-speed
packet access ("HSPA") with higher average and peak data throughput
rates, lower latency and a better user experience especially in
high-demand urban areas. LTE accomplishes this higher performance
with the use of broader spectrum bandwidth, OFDMA and SC-FDMA air
interfaces, and advanced antenna methods. Uplink ("UL") refers to
communication from a wireless device to a node. Downlink ("DL")
refers to communication from a node to a wireless device.
[0005] For a wireless communication system using a relay node
("RN"), a wireless device may have difficulties selecting between a
base station and the RN due to, for instance, UL and DL power
imbalance. An RN such as an LTE Type-I RN can operate as a smaller
base station. In an LTE system, a wireless device may choose a base
station or RN based on the average DL signal strength, which may
result in lower signal strength on the UL due to the UL/DL power
imbalance. Alternatively, the wireless device may choose the base
station or RN based on both DL and UL signal strengths.
[0006] As described in the LTE-A standard, a Type-I RN can have
full radio resource control ("RRC") functionality. Such RN can
control its cell and can have its own physical cell identifier.
Further, such RN can transmit its own synchronization channel and
reference signal. Also, the wireless device can receive, for
instance, scheduling information and hybrid automatic repeat
request ("HARQ") feedback from the RN and send control information
such as a scheduling request ("SR") signal, channel quality
indicator ("CQI") signal and HARQ feedback signal to the RN.
[0007] In a heterogeneous LTE-A network using a plurality of base
stations and Type-I RNs, such network may have a significant
difference between base station transmission power and RN
transmission power. A wireless device may provide a UL transmission
that is received by a base station and a RN. The received power
from such transmission may be substantially dependent on the
propagation path between the wireless device and the base station,
RN or both. In some circumstances, the wireless device may receive
a stronger DL transmission from the base station, while the RN
receives a stronger UL transmission from the wireless device,
leading to a UL and DL power imbalance. This disclosure describes
various embodiments including for resolving such power imbalance in
a multiple-serving node wireless communication system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] To facilitate this disclosure being understood and put into
practice by persons having ordinary skill in the art, reference is
now made to exemplary embodiments as illustrated by reference to
the accompanying figures. Like reference numbers refer to identical
or functionally similar elements throughout the accompanying
figures. The figures along with the detailed description are
incorporated and form part of the specification and serve to
further illustrate exemplary embodiments and explain various
principles and advantages, in accordance with this disclosure,
where:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a wireless
communication system using multiple-serving nodes in accordance
with various aspects set forth herein.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a channel structure in
a wireless communication system using multiple-serving nodes in
accordance with various aspects set forth herein.
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a channel structure
in a wireless communication system using multiple-serving nodes in
accordance with various aspects set forth herein.
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of an independent control
channel structure in a wireless communication system using
multiple-serving nodes in accordance with various aspects set forth
therein.
[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the independent
control channel structure in a wireless communication system using
multiple-serving nodes in accordance with various aspects set forth
therein.
[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of an independent
control channel structure in a wireless communication system using
multiple-serving nodes in accordance with various aspects set forth
therein.
[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of an independent
control channel structure in a wireless communication system using
multiple-serving nodes in accordance with various aspects set forth
herein.
[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a distributed control
channel structure in a wireless communication system using
multiple-serving nodes in accordance with various aspects set forth
herein.
[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a distributed
control channel structure in a wireless communication system using
multiple-serving nodes in accordance with various aspects set forth
herein.
[0018] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a distributed
control channel structure in a wireless communication system using
multiple-serving nodes in accordance with various aspects set forth
herein.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of
providing data signals in a wireless communication system using
multiple-serving nodes in accordance with various aspects set forth
herein.
[0020] FIG. 12A is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of
providing control signals between a first node and a wireless
device in a wireless communication system using multiple-serving
nodes in accordance with various aspects set forth herein.
[0021] FIG. 12B is a flow chart of another embodiment of a method
of providing control signals between a first node and a wireless
device in a wireless communication system using multiple-serving
nodes in accordance with various aspects set forth herein.
[0022] FIG. 13A is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of
providing control signals between a second node and a wireless
device in a wireless communication system using multiple-serving
nodes in accordance with various aspects set forth herein.
[0023] FIG. 13B is a flow chart of another embodiment of a method
of providing control signals between a second node and a wireless
device in a wireless communication system using multiple-serving
nodes in accordance with various aspects set forth herein.
[0024] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the
accompanying figures are illustrated for clarity, simplicity and to
further help improve understanding of the embodiments, and have not
necessarily been drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Although the following discloses exemplary methods, devices
and systems for use in wireless communication systems, it may be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the teachings
of this disclosure are in no way limited to the examplaries shown.
On the contrary, it is contemplated that the teachings of this
disclosure may be implemented in alternative configurations and
environments. For example, although the exemplary methods, devices
and systems described herein are described in conjunction with a
configuration for aforementioned wireless communication systems,
the skilled artisan will readily recognize that the exemplary
methods, devices and systems may be used in other systems and may
be configured to correspond to such other systems as needed.
Accordingly, while the following describes exemplary methods,
devices and systems of use thereof, persons of ordinary skill in
the art will appreciate that the disclosed examplaries are not the
only way to implement such methods, devices and systems, and the
drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in
nature and not restrictive.
[0026] Various techniques described herein can be used for various
wireless communication systems. The various aspects described
herein are presented as methods, devices and systems that can
include a number of components, elements, members, modules, nodes,
peripherals, or the like. Further, these methods, devices and
systems can include or not include additional components, elements,
members, modules, nodes, peripherals, or the like. In addition,
various aspects described herein can be implemented in hardware,
firmware, software or any combination thereof. It is important to
note that the terms "network" and "system" can be used
interchangeably. Relational terms described herein such as "above"
and "below", "left" and "right", "first" and "second", and the like
may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another
entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any
actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.
The term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive "or" rather than an
exclusive "or." Further, the terms "a" and "an" are intended to
mean one or more unless specified otherwise or clear from the
context to be directed to a singular form. It is important to note
that the terms "network" and "system" can be used
interchangeably.
[0027] Wireless communication networks typically consist of a
plurality of wireless devices and a plurality of nodes. A node may
also be called a base station, node-B ("NodeB"), base transceiver
station ("BTS"), access point ("AP"), cell, relay node ("RN"),
serving node or some other equivalent terminology. Further, the
term "cell" can include a specific base station, a specific sector
of a base station, a specific antenna of a sector of a base
station. A base station typically contains one or more radio
frequency ("RF") transmitters and receivers to communicate with
wireless devices. Further, a base station is typically fixed and
stationary. For LTE and LTE-A equipment, the base station is also
referred to as an E-UTRAN NodeB ("eNB").
[0028] A wireless device used in a wireless communication network
may also be referred to as a mobile station ("MS"), a terminal, a
cellular phone, a cellular handset, a personal digital assistant
("PDA"), a smartphone, a handheld computer, a desktop computer, a
laptop computer, a tablet computer, a set-top box, a television, a
wireless appliance, or some other equivalent terminology. A
wireless device may contain one or more RF transmitters and
receivers, and one or more antennas to communicate with a base
station. Further, a wireless device may be fixed or mobile and may
have the ability to move through a wireless communication network.
For LTE and LTE-A equipment and for various industry standards, the
wireless device is also referred to as user equipment ("UE").
[0029] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of wireless
communication system 100 using multiple-serving nodes in accordance
with various aspects set forth herein. In FIG. 1, system 100 can
include a wireless device 101, a first node 121 and a second node
141. In FIG. 1, wireless device 101 can include processor 102
coupled to memory 103, input/output devices 104, transceiver 105 or
any combination thereof, which can be utilized by wireless device
101 to implement various aspects described herein. Transceiver 105
of wireless device 101 can include one or more transmitters 106 and
one or more receivers 107. Further, associated with wireless device
101, one or more transmitters 106 and one or more receivers 107 can
be connected to one or more antennas 109.
[0030] In FIG. 1, first node 121 can include processor 122 coupled
to memory 123 and transceiver 125. Transceiver 125 of first node
121 can include one or more transmitters 126 and one or more
receivers 127. Further, associated with first node 121, one or more
transmitters 126 and one or more receivers 127 can be connected to
one or more antennas 129.
[0031] Similarly, second node 141 can include processor 122 coupled
to memory 123 and transceiver 125. Transceiver 125 of second node
141 includes one or more transmitters 126 and one or more receivers
127. Further, associated with second node 141, one or more
transmitters 126 and one or more receivers 127 are connected to one
or more antennas 129.
[0032] In this embodiment, wireless device 101 can communicate with
first node 121 using one or more antennas 109 and 129,
respectively, over first communication link 170, and can
communicate with second node 141 using one or more antennas 109 and
129, respectively, over second communication link 180. Further,
first node 121 can communicate with second node 141 using backhaul
interfaces 128 over third communication link 190. First
communication link 170 supports the communication of signals
between wireless device 101 and first node 121. Second
communication link 180 supports the communication of signals
between wireless device 101 and second node 141. Third
communication link 190 supports the communication of signals
between first node 121 and second node 141. First communication
link 170, second communication link 180 and third communication
link 190 can support, for instance, sending a DL data signal, UL
data signal, DL control signal, UL control signal, other signal or
combination of signals. Further, first communication link 170,
second communication link 180 and third communication link 190 can
include a physical channel, a logical channel, other channel or any
combination thereof. First communication link 170 and second
communication link 180 can use, for instance, any wireless
communication protocol supporting technologies associated with, for
instance, TDMA, CDMA, UMTS, Wi-MAX, LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or
other similar technology. Third communication link 190 can use any
wired communication protocol, wireless communication protocol or
both.
[0033] In this embodiment, first node 121, second node 141 or both
can communicate a DL data signal, UL data signal, DL control
signal, UL control signal, other signal or any combination thereof
with wireless device 101. Therefore, such embodiment can allow
wireless device 101 to use, for instance, the same or different
nodes 121 and 141 to communicate a DL data signal, UL data signal,
DL control signal, UL control signal, other signal or any
combination thereof. Determination of which node 121 and 141 to use
for any such signals can be determined using, for instance, a
received signal strength, data throughput rate, bit error rate
("BER"), word error rate ("WER"), other similar metric or
combination of metrics.
[0034] For example, first node 121 can send a DL control signal to
wireless device 101 using first communication link 170. Once
received, processor 102 of wireless device 101 can process the
received DL control signal, can generate a response, and can
provide such response to first node 121 using, for instance, a UL
control signal of first communication link 170.
[0035] In another example, wireless device 101 can send a UL
control signal to second node 141 using second communication link
180. Once received, processor 142 of second node 141 can forward
such signal to first node 121 using third communication link
190.
[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of channel structure 200
of system 100 in accordance with various aspects set forth herein.
In this embodiment, structure 200 can allow first node 121 to
provide a DL signal 210 to wireless device 101 using first
communication link 170, and can allow wireless device 101 to
provide a UL signal 230 to second node 141 using second
communication link 180. A DL signal can include a DL data signal,
DL control signal, other signal or any combination thereof. An UL
signal can include a UL data signal, UL control signal, other
signal or any combination thereof. For example, first node 121 can
send a DL data signal to wireless device 101 using first
communication link 170. Further, structure 200 can allow wireless
device 101 to send a UL data signal to second node 141 using second
communication link 180. Such configuration can be advantageous when
wireless device 101 is in closer proximity to second node 141 than
first node 121 but still receiving a strong DL signal from node
121, allowing wireless device 101 to, for instance, operate at a
lower transmit power, higher data throughput rate, other benefit or
any combination thereof.
[0037] In another embodiment, structure 200 can allow first node
121 and second node 141 to be one and the same node. In this
configuration, nodes 121 and 141 can act as, for instance, a single
serving node as described in 3rd Generation Partnership Project;
Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Physical
Channels and Modulation (Release 8), 3GPP, or 3GPP TS 36 series of
specifications. It is important to recognize that each node 121 and
141 may send a DL signal to wireless device 101, may receive a UL
signal from wireless device 101 or both and may do the same for
another wireless device. Further, this disclosure can provide the
advantage of allowing full frequency re-use, frequency provisioning
or both for each node 121 and 141.
[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of channel structure
300 of system 100 in accordance with various aspects set forth
herein. In FIG. 3, structure 300 can allow first node 121 to send a
DL data signal to wireless device 101 using, for instance, a
physical DL shared channel ("PDSCH") 310 of first communication
link 170. Similarly, system 300 can allow wireless device 101 to
send a UL data signal to second node 141 using, for instance,
physical UL shared channel ("PUSCH") 320 of second communication
link 180. Such configuration can be advantageous by allowing the
assignment of PDSCH 310, PUSCH 320 or both based on, for instance,
the quality of the associated communication link. However,
assigning the sending of a UL data signal and the sending of a DL
data signal to different nodes can impact, for instance, the
control channel structure of system 300. For example, the control
channel structure used in LTE Release 8 is designed for a wireless
communication system using single-serving nodes and would need to
be modified, as described by this disclosure, to support
multiple-serving node wireless communication system 100. For
instance, first node 121 may provide a UL grant signal, DL grant
signal or both to wireless device 101 using a DL control channel of
first communication link 170. Under system 100, such grants may be
provided from different nodes 121 and 141, as opposed to the same
node. Further, any timing requirements such as the UL timing
alignment procedure described in LTE Release 8 may not be supported
in system 100 since the transmission of DL signals, UL signals or
both may be associated with different nodes. Other issues may
exist, for instance, with the configuration and use of UL control
channels and DL control channels, including defining the proper
control channel to send an acknowledgment or no acknowledgment
("ACK/NACK") signal, sounding reference signal ("SRS") signal,
other signal or combination of signals.
[0039] This disclosure includes describing two alternative control
channel structures to resolve the aforementioned issues. Such
alternatives are associated with an independent control channel
structure and a distributed control channel structure. FIG. 4
illustrates one embodiment of independent control channel structure
400 of system 100 in accordance with various aspects set forth
therein. In FIG. 4, first communication link 170 can include PDSCH
310, physical DL control channel ("PDCCH") 430, physical UL control
channel ("PUCCH") 450, physical hybrid automatic repeat request
indicator channel ("PHICH") 470, other channel or any combination
thereof. Second communication link 180 can include PUSCH 320, PDCCH
440, PUCCH 460, physical hybrid automatic repeat request ("HARQ")
indicator channel ("PHICH") 480 or any combination thereof. For
communication of data signals, structure 400 can allow first node
121 to provide a DL data signal to wireless device 101 using, for
instance, PDSCH 310 of first communication link 170. Further,
wireless device 101 can provide a UL data signal to second node 141
using, for instance, PUSCH 320 of second communication link 180.
For communication of control signals, structure 400 can allow first
node 121 and second node 141 each to have the same or different
control channel structure. For example, first node 121 can provide
a DL control signal to wireless device 101 using, for instance,
PDCCH 430 of first communication link 170. Wireless device 101 can
provide a UL control signal to first node 121 using, for instance,
PUCCH 450 of first communication link 170. Further, second node 141
can provide a DL control signal to wireless device 101 using, for
instance, PDCCH 440, PHICH 480 or both of second communication link
180. Further, wireless device 101 can provide a UL control signal
to second node 141 using, for instance, PUCCH 460 of second
communication link 180.
[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of independent control
channel structure 500 of system 100 in accordance with various
aspects set forth therein. In FIG. 5, structure 500 can allow first
node 121 to provide wireless device 101 a DL control signal using,
for instance, PDCCH 430 of first communication link 170. Similarly,
structure 500 can allow second node 141 to provide wireless device
101 a DL control signal using, for instance, PDCCH 440 of second
communication link 180. It is important to recognize that the DL
control signal provided by first node 121 and the DL control signal
provided by second node 141 are independent of each other. First
node 121 can manage, control, coordinate, schedule or any
combination thereof the transmission of a DL data signal to
wireless device 101 using, for instance, PDSCH 310 of first
communication link 170. Further, second node 141 can manage,
control, coordinate, schedule or any combination thereof the
transmission of a UL data signal from wireless device 101 using,
for instance, PUSCH 320 of second communication link 180. For
example, first node 121 can provide a DL grant signal to wireless
device 101 using, for instance, PDCCH 430 of first communication
link 170. Further, second node 141 can provide a UL grant signal to
wireless device 101 using, for instance, PDCCH 440 of second
communication link 180. A DL grant signal can provide permission
for first node 121 to send a DL data signal to wireless device 101
using, for instance, PDSCH 310 of first communication link 170. A
UL grant signal can provide permission for wireless device 101 to
send a UL data signal to second node 141 using, for instance, PUSCH
320 of second communication link 180.
[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of independent control
channel structure 600 of system 100 in accordance with various
aspects set forth therein. In FIG. 6, structure 600 can allow first
communication link 170 to include PDSCH 310, PDCCH 430, PUCCH 450,
other channel or any combination thereof. For instance, wireless
device 101 can provide a UL control signal to first node 121 using,
for instance, PUCCH 450 of first communication link 170. Such UL
control signal can include, for instance, a channel quality
indicator ("CQI") signal, pre-coding matrix indicator ("PMI")
signal, rank indication ("RI") signal, ACK/NACK signal, other
signal or combination of signals. The CQI, PMI, RI and ACK/NACK
signals can be used to support, for instance, the transmission from
first node 121 of a DL data signal to wireless device 101 using,
for instance, PDSCH 310 of first communication link 170. Further,
power control signals can be used to support, adjust, adapt,
coordinate or any combination thereof the transmission of UL
signals from wireless device 101 to first node 121. First node 101
can provide a DL control signal to wireless device 101 using, for
instance, PDCCH 430 of first communication link 170, wherein the DL
control signal can include a power control signal such as a
transmission power control command ("TPC") signal.
[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of independent control
channel structure 700 of system 100 in accordance with various
aspects set forth herein. In FIG. 7, structure 700 can allow second
communication link 180 to include PUSCH 420, PDCCH 440, PUCCH 460
and PHICH 480, other channel or any combination thereof. In FIG. 7,
structure 700 can allow wireless device 101 to provide a UL control
signal to second node 141 using, for instance, PUCCH 460 of second
communication link 180. Further, second node 141 can manage,
support, coordinate or any combination thereof receiving a UL data
signal from wireless device 101 using, for instance, PUSCH 320 of
second communication link 180 by providing a DL control signal to
wireless device 101 using, for instance, PDCCH 440, PHICH 480 or
both of second communication link 180. For example, PHICH 480 of
second communication link 180 can be used to deliver, for instance,
an ACK/NACK signal from second node 141 to wireless device 101, and
PDCCH 440 can be used to deliver, for instance, a UL grant signal,
ACK/NACK signal, TPC signal, timing adjustment command signal,
other signal or any combination thereof from second node 141 to
wireless 101. Further, PUCCH 460 can be used to deliver, for
instance, scheduling request ("SR") signal, SRS signal, other
signal or any combination thereof from wireless device 101 to
second node 141. For example, an SR signal can include the
scheduling request indicator ("SRI") signal associated with
sending, for instance, a UL data signal from wireless device 101 to
second node 141. Further, wireless device 101 can send an SRS
signal to second node 141 to allow for timing adjustment, UL
transmission adaptation, other benefit or any combination thereof
between wireless device 101 and second node 141. It is important to
recognize that the transmission of a dedicated SRS signal from
wireless device 101 to first node 121 may not be required, since
any timing alignment is intended for UL transmissions from wireless
device 101 to second node 141. However, the timing alignment
required for first node 121 may cause interference with other
wireless devices transmitting to first node 121. Knowledge of the
UL transmission timing may be useful to mitigate such interference.
Therefore, such transmission timing can be estimated using, for
instance, the timing of PUCCH 460 transmissions from wireless
device 101 to second node 141.
[0043] In another embodiment, wireless device 101 may multiplex
control signals with data signals using, for instance, PUSCH 320 of
second communication link 180, PDSCH 310 of first communication
link 170 or both. For example, after receiving a UL data signal and
a UL control signal using PUSCH 320, second node 141 may forward
the UL control signal to first node 121 using, for instance,
backhaul link 330 of third communication link 190. If the UL
control signal is an ACK/NACK signal, backhaul link 330 may
increase the HARQ re-transmission delay. In order to avoid wasting
DL bandwidth, the number of HARQ re-transmission procedure-related
processes can be increased to accommodate longer HARQ
re-transmission round trip time ("RTT"). For example, the control
signals used for independent control channel structure 600 of first
communication link 170 are provided in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 CONTROL CHANNEL CONTROL SIGNAL PDCCH 430 DL
grant signal, TPC signal PUCCH 450 ACK/NACK signal, CQI signal, PMI
signal, RI signal PHICH 470 ACK/NACK signal
[0044] Further, control signals for independent control channel
structure 700 of second communication link 180 are provided in
Table 2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 CONTROL CHANNEL CONTROL SIGNAL PDCCH 440 UL
grant signal, TPC signal, ACK/NACK signal PUCCH 460 SR signal, SRS
signal PHICH 480 ACK/NACK signal
[0045] FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of distributed control
channel structure 800 of system 100 in accordance with various
aspects set forth herein. In this embodiment, first node 121 can
schedule DL transmissions and second node 141 can schedule UL
transmissions for wireless device 101. Further, structure 800 can
allow first node 121 to send a DL signal to wireless device 101
using first communication link 170. However, wireless device 101
cannot send a UL signal to first node 121 using first communication
link 170. Instead, wireless device 101 can send a UL signal to
first node 121 via second node 141 using second communication link
180 and third communication link 190. Similarly, structure 800 can
allow wireless device 101 to send a UL signal to second node 141
using second communication link 180. However, second node 141
cannot send a DL signal to wireless device 101 using second
communication link 180. Instead, second node can send a DL signal
to wireless device 101 via first node 121 using third communication
link 190 and first communication link 170. To summarize, any
transmission between first node 121 and wireless device 101 using
first communication link 170 may only be the transmission of a DL
signal from first node 121 to wireless device 101. Further, any
transmission between second node 141 and wireless device 101 using
second communication link 180 may only be the transmission of a UL
signal from wireless device 101 to second node 141. In this
embodiment, wireless device 101 can be assigned first node 121,
second node 141 or both based on the quality of the corresponding
communication link 170 and 180, wherein the quality of
communication link 170 and 180 can be determined using, for
instance, the received signal strength, signal quality, data
throughput rate, bit error rate ("BER"), word error rate ("WER"),
other similar metric or any combination thereof. In some
embodiments, first node 121 and second node 141 may be the same
node.
[0046] In FIG. 8, structure 800 can allow wireless device 101 to
send a UL control signal to first node 121 via second node 141
using second communication link 180 and third communication link
190, wherein the UL control signal can include, for instance, an
ACK/NACK signal, CQI signal, PMI signal, RI signal, other signal or
any combination thereof. For example, wireless device 101 can send
a UL control signal to second node 141 using, for instance, PUCCH
460 of second communication link 180. Further, second node 141 can
forward the UL control signal to first node 121 using, for
instance, backhaul channel 330 of third communication link 190.
[0047] In FIG. 8, structure 800 can allow second node 141 to send a
DL control signal to wireless device 101 via first node 121 using
third communication link 190 and first communication link 170,
wherein the DL control signal can include, for instance, a UL grant
signal, ACK/NACK signal, TPC signal, other control signal or any
combination thereof. For example, second node 141 can send a DL
control signal to first node 121 using, for instance, backhaul
channel 330 of third communication link 190. Further, first node
121 can forward the DL control signal to wireless device 101 using,
for instance, PDCCH 430, PHICH 470 or both of first communication
link 170. It is important to recognize that careful coordination,
management, assignment or any combination thereof of the DL and UL
control signals may be required to deliver the correct control
signal to the correct node.
[0048] FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of distributed control
channel structure 900 of system 100 in accordance with various
aspects set forth herein. In FIG. 9, structure 900 can allow first
node 121 to schedule the transmission of a DL signal from first
node 121 to wireless device 101 using first communication link 170
and can allow second node 141 to schedule the transmission of a UL
signal from wireless device 101 to second node 141 using second
communication link 180. For instance, first node 121 can send a DL
signal to wireless device 101 using first communication link
170.
[0049] In another embodiment, second node 141 can determine the
scheduling of the transmission of a UL signal by wireless device
101 to second node 141 using second communication link 180 and
provide such scheduling to first node 121, where first node 121 can
provide a corresponding UL grant signal to wireless device 101
using, for instance, PDCCH 430 of first communication link 170. It
is important to recognize that the scheduling of the transmission
of a UL signal from wireless device 101 to second node 141 using
second communication link 180 is determined by second node 141 but
sent to wireless device 101 via first node 121 using, for instance,
PDCCH 430 of first communication link 170.
[0050] In another embodiment, second node 141 can determine a UL
power control signal associated with, for instance, PUSCH 320,
PUCCH 460, other channel or any combination thereof transmitted by
wireless device 101 to second node 141 using second communication
link 180. Further, second node 141 can provide such UL power
control signal to wireless device 101 via first node 121 using, for
instance, backhaul channel 330 of third communication link 190 and
PDCCH 430 of first communication link 170.
[0051] In another embodiment, transmission delay using backhaul
channel 330 of third communication link 190 may require second node
141 to provide additional time for scheduling the transmission of a
UL signal from wireless device 101 to second node 141 using second
communication link 180. For example, second node 141 can schedule
the transmission of a UL signal by a predetermined amount of time
after second node 141 sends, for instance, a UL grant signal to
wireless device 101 via first node 121, wherein the predetermined
amount of time can correspond to, for instance, processing time,
transmission delay, other delay, or any combination thereof.
[0052] In another embodiment, the resources associated with, for
instance, an SRS signal, PUCCH 460, other channel, or any
combination thereof can be allocated by second node 141 but
delivered to wireless device 101 via first node 121. In this
embodiment, wireless device 101 can provide a UL control signal to
second node 141 using, for instance, PUCCH 460 of second
communication link 180, wherein the UL control signal can include,
for instance, a HARQ feedback signal, CQI signal, PMI signal, RI
signal, SR signal, other signal or any combination thereof. For
example, second node 141 can assign an SRS signal, PUCCH 460, other
resource or any combination thereof for wireless device 101 and
send such resource assignment to first node 141 using backhaul
channel 330 of third communication link 190. First node 121 can
then send the configuration of the HARQ feedback signal, CQI
signal, PMI signal, RI signal, SR signal, other signal or any
combination thereof to wireless device 101 using, for instance, DL
RRC signaling, other signaling or both. To summarize, the resources
for an SRS signal, PUCCH 460, other channel, or any combination
thereof can be allocated by second node 141 and delivered to
wireless device 101 via first node 121.
[0053] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of distributed
channel structure 1000 of system 100 in accordance with various
aspects set forth herein. In this embodiment, first node 121 can
transmit a DL data signal to wireless device 101 using first
communication link 170. In response to such transmission, wireless
device 101 can send a HARQ feedback signal to first node 121 via
second node 141. First node 121 can then determine whether to
re-transmit the DL data signal to wireless device 101. For example,
first node 121 can transmit a DL data signal to wireless device 101
using, for instance, PDSCH 310 of first communication link 170. In
response to such transmission, wireless device 101 can send a HARQ
feedback signal to second node 141 using, for instance, PUCCH 460
of second communication link 180. Further, second node 141 can
forward the HARQ feedback signal to first node 121 using backhaul
channel 330 of third communication link 190. First node 121 can
then determine whether to re-transmit the DL data signal to
wireless device 101 using, for instance, PDSCH 310 of first
communication link 170.
[0054] In another embodiment, transmission delay associated with
forwarding a DL HARQ feedback signal such as an ACK/NAK signal from
second node 121 to first node 141 using, for instance, backhaul
channel 330 of third communication link 190 may require increasing
the number of DL HARQ re-transmission procedure-related processes
to optimize the use of available bandwidth. Further, the DL HARQ
re-transmission procedure can support asynchronous re-transmission
to allow, for instance, first node 121 to schedule a
re-transmission of a DL signal for wireless device 101 upon
receiving the forwarded DL HARQ feedback signal from second node
141.
[0055] In another embodiment, instead of using PHICH 470, a UL
grant signal may be sent by first node 121 to wireless device 101
each time a re-transmission of a UL signal is required. Unlike the
synchronous UL HARQ re-transmission procedure described in, for
instance, LTE Release 8, wireless device 101 may not perform a
re-transmission of a UL signal unless a re-transmission UL grant
signal is received by wireless device 101 from first node 121.
Wireless device 101 can transmit a UL signal to second node 141
after receiving a UL grant signal from second node 141 via first
node 121. Upon receiving the UL signal, instead of sending a UL
HARQ feedback signal such as an ACK/NACK signal to wireless device
101 via first node 121, second node 141 can send a new data
indicator ("NDI") signal to wireless device 101 via first node 121
to indicate the scheduling for transmission of a new UL signal. For
an unsuccessful transmission of a UL signal from wireless device
101, second node 141 can send a new UL grant signal to wireless
device 101 via first node 121 to schedule UL re-transmission for
wireless device 101. The UL grant signal can include a NDI signal,
wherein the NDI signal can be used to indicate whether the UL grant
signal is associated with a new transmission or a re-transmission
of a UL signal. Further, a HARQ process identifier signal may be
included with the UL grant signal. Such method can allow wireless
device 101 to keep the UL signal in, for instance, memory 103, so
that the UL signal is available for a UL HARQ re-transmission
procedure-related process. Such memory may be re-used once a UL
grant signal for a new data transmission is received using, for
instance, PDCCH 430 of first transmission link 170. Further,
avoiding the use of PHICH 470 via first communication link 170 can
simplify the operation of first node 121 by not requiring it to
configure and use PHICH 470 associated with the transmission of
PUSCH 320.
[0056] In another embodiment, wireless device 101 can send to first
node 121 via second node 141 a PMI signal, CQI signal, RI signal,
other signal or any combination thereof associated with the
transmission of a DL signal from first node 121 to wireless device
101 via first communication link 170.
[0057] In another embodiment, for the transmission of a UL signal
by wireless device 101 using second communication link 180, second
node 141 can measure the channel quality using, for instance, the
SRS signal received from wireless device 101. A person of ordinary
skill in the art will recognize that there are many methods of
measuring channel quality using a received reference signal. Using
such channel quality measurement, second node 141 can determine an
appropriate modulation and coding scheme ("MCS") for the
transmission of a UL signal from wireless device 101. Further,
second node 141 may include additional time for scheduling the
transmission of a UL signal from wireless device 101 to compensate
for any delay associated with second node 141 sending the
associated UL grant signal to wireless device 101 via first node
121 using, for instance, backhaul channel 330 of third
communication link 190. This may require second node 141 to perform
the scheduling in advance and have a good estimation of the
transmission delay on backhaul channel 330 of third communication
link 190. Similarly, a TPC signal associated with the transmission
of a UL control signal from wireless device 101 to second node 121
using, for instance, PUCCH 460, PUSCH 320 or both of second
communication link 180 may be determined by second node 141 and
sent to wireless device 101 via first node 121.
[0058] In another embodiment, first node 121 and second node 141
may be closely coupled using, for instance, backhaul channel 330 of
third communication link 190. In such configuration, backhaul
channel 330 of third communication link 190 may experience more
traffic than independent control channel structure 400, 500, 600
and 700. In distributed control channel structure 800, a UL grant
signal, TPC signal or both associated with PUSCH 320, PUCCH 460 or
both may be transferred from second node 141 to first node 121
using, for instance, backhaul channel 330 of third communication
link 190. In addition, a HARQ feedback signal, PMI signal, CQI
signal, RI signal, other signal or any combination thereof may be
transferred from second node 141 to first node 121 using, for
instance, backhaul channel 330 of third communication link 190. In
this embodiment, time delay in sending UL signals using, for
instance, backhaul channel 330 of third communication link 190 may
impact system performance. However, such time delay can be
mitigated by using, for instance, a fiber optic cable between
backhaul interface 128 of first node 121 and second node 141.
[0059] Due to separating UL and DL transmissions between first node
121 and second node 141, time synchronization issues between
wireless device 101 and nodes 121 and 141 may occur. In one
embodiment, nodes 121 and 141 may be time synchronized. Such
requirement may be inherent to various industry standards such as
LTE-A for a Type-I relay network. For example, as described in the
LTE and LTE-A standards, coordinated multi-point ("CoMP")
transmission, reception or both may require network time
synchronization. CoMP transmission, reception or both can be used
by LTE and LTE-A equipment to improve, for instance, data rates,
cell-edge throughput, other benefit or any combination thereof.
Further, such CoMP technique can be applied to multiple-serving
node wireless communication system 100, since first node 121 is on
the routing path and the data information, control information or
both can be transmitted to second node 141 using, for instance,
backhaul channel 330 of third communication link 190. In addition,
as described in the LTE and LTE-A standards, multimedia broadcast
multicast service ("MBMS") may require network time
synchronization. MBMS uses a plurality of base stations, RNs or
both to broadcast the same information to a wireless device. MBMS
may require a synchronized network so that a wireless device only
needs to maintain time synchronization with one node.
[0060] In a synchronized network, wireless device 101 does not need
to maintain separate time synchronization with first node 121 and
second node 141. Such requirement can simplify the design of
wireless device 101. For an unsynchronized network using
independent control channel structure 400, 500, 600 and 700,
wireless device 101 may need to maintain separate time
synchronization with first node 121 and second node 141. For an
unsynchronized network using distributed control channel structure
800, 900 and 1000, wireless device 101 may not need to maintain
time synchronization with second node 141, since second node 141
may not transmit any DL signals to wireless device 101.
[0061] In an OFDM-based wireless communication system, cyclic
prefix ("CP") may be added to an OFDM symbol to, for instance,
reduce inter-symbol interference, maintain orthogonality amongst
the sub-carriers or both. In an LTE system, there can be a normal
CP and an extended CP, wherein the normal CP has a shorter length
than the extended CP. LTE systems can use an extended CP to
support, for instance, larger cell sizes, MBMS service, other
benefit or any combination thereof. While the wireless propagation
path between wireless device 101 and nodes 121 and 141 may comprise
multiple-paths, the length of the normal CP, extended CP or both
should be sufficient to support any delay between such
multiple-paths, as specified for the LTE system.
[0062] In multiple-serving node wireless communication system 100,
wireless device 101 may receive transmissions from both first node
121 and second node 141 at the RRC-Connected state. For such case,
the same CP length may be applied to both nodes 121 and 141.
Geometrically, first node 121 and second node 141 may be placed
within the size of the donor cell. The multiple-path delay spread
between wireless device 101 and first node 121 and wireless device
101 and second node 141 may be different but can be within the
duration of the normal CP length or the extended CP length.
Extended CP length can be used for nodes 121 and 141 to mitigate
any concerns associated with larger multiple-path delay spread.
[0063] Latency in multiple-serving node wireless communication
system 100 may impact quality of service ("QoS"). In system 100,
latency may increase due to, for instance, using backhaul channel
330 of third communication link 190. In another embodiment,
wireless device 101 may directly connect to first node 121 to
transmit both DL and UL signals to reduce latency for a
delay-sensitive network service. In this embodiment, first node 121
can be a base station and second node 141 can be an RN.
[0064] The control plane latency is typically determined as the
transition time from idle state to active state. Even though
multiple serving nodes may be used by wireless device 100, wireless
device 100 may still need to use a random access procedure to
connect to first node 121. In the case that wireless device 101 can
only make channel quality measurements of DL transmissions from
first node 121 during an idle state and may only try to connect to
first node 121 with the strongest received power during a
transition period. After the RRC connection is obtained, first node
121 may negotiate with second node 141 associated with the
transmissions of a UL data signal and transition such UL
transmissions to another node. Therefore, the control plane latency
should not change for multiple-serving node wireless communication
system 100.
[0065] The user plane latency can be defined as the one-way transit
time between a session data unit ("SDU") packet being available at
the internet protocol ("IP") layer in wireless device 101 and being
available at the IP layer in node 121 and 141 or being available at
the IP layer in node 121 and 141 and being available at the IP
layer in wireless device 101. The user plane packet delay can
include delay introduced by, for instance, associated protocols,
control signalling or both. For independent control channel
structure 400, 500, 600 and 700 in a multiple-serving node wireless
communication system 100, there is no additional delay for wireless
device 100 compared to wireless device 101 in a single-serving node
wireless communication system. As discussed previously, two
independent control channel structures 400, 500, 600 and 700 are
maintained for first communication link 100 and second
communication link 200 and no control signals are exchanged using
communication link 300.
[0066] For distributed control channel structure 800, 900 and 1000,
additional delay may occur due to, for instance, the frequent
exchange of control signals between second node 141 and first node
121 via third communication link 190. Such delay may be caused by,
for instance, sending control signals such as a HARQ feedback
signal, CQI signal, PMI signal, RI signal, other control signal or
any combination thereof to first node 121 or second node 141 and
forwarding such signals to second node 141 or first node 121,
respectively. For example, a 4 millisecond ("msec.") delay
associated with sending a control signal from second node 141 to
first node 121 and a 2 msec. delay associated with processing time
at first node 121 may require increasing the packet round trip time
("RTT") from, for instance, eight msec. as specified by "LTE
Release 8" to fourteen msec. Further, the number of HARQ processes
can be increased to accommodate such increase in RTT so that nodes
121 and 141 do not need to wait for the HARQ feedback signal
forwarded from the other node 121 and 141 before transmitting a new
packet. If the packet is not received correctly by wireless device
101, first node 121 or second node 141, then the re-transmission
can occur six msec. later than the re-transmission in a
single-serving node system. In LTE Release 8, typically up to four
re-transmissions are allowed for a voice over IP ("VoIP") service.
For multiple-serving node wireless communication system 100, two
re-transmissions may be allowed within such timing constraints. To
minimize reliance on the reduced number of re-transmissions, for
instance, a more conservative MCS for the initial transmission by
wireless device 101 can be used so that the packet can be received
correctly with higher probability for the initial transmission.
[0067] In summary, splitting the reception of DL and UL
transmissions from wireless device 101 between first node 121 and
second node 141 should not incur additional control channel delay
if independent control channel structure 400, 500, 600 and 700 is
used. On the other hand, if distributed control channel structure
800, 900 and 1000 is used, the number of maximum re-transmissions
allowed within a certain period can be reduced. More conservative
MCS selection may be considered for the initial transmission in
this case.
[0068] In another embodiment, wireless device 101 may be operated
in conditions such that handoffs, handovers or both may affect its
connection to first node 121, second node 141 or both. For example,
wireless device 101 may be required to handoff from first node 121
to another node, which would change, for instance, the source of
the DL data signal from first node 121 to another node. Similarly,
wireless device 101 may be required to handoff from second node 141
to another node, which would change, for instance, the source of
the UL data signal from second node 141 to another node. Further,
wireless device 101 may be required to handoff from first node 121
and second node 141 to different target nodes. Various handoff
scenarios exist for wireless device 101 in system 100. For
instance, wireless device 101 can handoff from second node 141 to
another second node, and can maintain its connection with first
node 121. Wireless device can handoff from first node 121 to
another first node, and can maintain its connection with second
node 141. Wireless device 101 can handoff from second node 141 to
first node 121. Wireless device 101 can handoff from first node 121
to second node 141. Wireless device 101 can handoff from first node
121 to another first node and can handoff from second node 141 to
another second node. Wireless device 101 can handoff from first
node 121 and second node 141 to the same serving node. First node
121, second node 141 or both may need to indicate to wireless
device 101 which node will be handed-off. This could be signalled
via high layer signalling such as RRC signalling. Further, more
coordination may be required when wireless device 101
simultaneously or contemporaneously handoffs first node 121 and
second node 141.
[0069] FIG. 11 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of
providing data signals in system 100 in accordance with various
aspects set forth herein. In FIG. 11, method 1100 can start at, for
instance, block 1110, where method 1100 can send a DL data signal
from first node 121 to wireless device 101 using first
communication link 170. At block 1120, method 1100 can send a UL
data signal from wireless device 101 to second node 141 using
second communication link 180. At block 1130, method 1100 can send
the UL data signal from second node 141 to first node 121 using
third communication link 190.
[0070] FIG. 12A is a flow chart of one embodiment of method 1200a
of providing control signals between first node 121 and wireless
device 101 in system 100 in accordance with various aspects set
forth herein. In FIG. 12A, method 1200a can start at, for instance,
block 1210, where method 1200a can send a DL control signal from
first node 121 to wireless device 101 using first communication
link 170, wherein the DL control signal may include, for instance,
a DL grant signal, other control signal or both. At block 1220,
method 1200a can send a UL control signal from wireless device 101
to first node 121 using first communication link 170, wherein the
UL control signal can include, for instance, an ACK/NACK signal,
CQI signal, PMI signal, RI signal, other control signal or any
combination thereof.
[0071] FIG. 12B is a flow chart of another embodiment of method
1200b of providing control signals between first node 121 and
wireless device 101 in system 100 in accordance with various
aspects set forth herein. In FIG. 12B, method 1200b can start at,
for instance, block 1230, where method 1200b can send a DL control
signal from first node 121 to wireless device 101 using first
communication link 170, wherein the DL control signal may include,
for instance, a DL grant signal, other control signal or both. At
block 1240 and block 1260, method 1200b can send a UL control
signal from wireless device 101 to first node 121 via second node
141, wherein the UL control signal can include, for instance, an
ACK/NACK signal, CQI signal, PMI signal, RI signal, other control
signal or any combination thereof. At block 1240, method 1200b can
send the UL control signal from wireless device 101 to second node
141 using second communication link 170. At block 1250, method
1200b can send the UL control signal from second node 141 to first
node 121 using third communication link 190.
[0072] FIG. 13A is a flow chart of one embodiment of method 1300a
of providing control signals between second node 141 and wireless
device 101 in system 100 in accordance with various aspects set
forth herein. In FIG. 13A, method 1300a can start at, for instance,
block 1310, where method 1300a can send a UL control signal from
wireless device 101 to second node 141 using second communication
link 180, wherein the UL control signal may include an SR signal,
SRS signal, other control signal or any combination thereof. At
block 1320, method 1300b can send a DL control signal from second
node 141 to wireless device 101 using second communication link
180, wherein the DL control signal may include a UL grant signal,
ACK/NACK signal, TPC signal, other control signal or any
combination thereof.
[0073] FIG. 13B is a flow chart of another embodiment of method
1300b of providing control signals between second node 141 and
wireless device 101 in system 100 in accordance with various
aspects set forth herein. In FIG. 13B, method 1300b can start at,
for instance, block 1330, where method 1300b can send a UL control
signal from wireless device 101 to second node 141 using second
communication link 180, wherein the UL control signal may include
an SR signal, SRS signal, other control signal or any combination
thereof. At block 1340 and block 1350, method 1300b can send a DL
control signal from second node 141 to wireless device 101 via
first node 121, wherein the DL control signal may include, for
instance, a UL grant signal, ACK/NACK signal, TPC signal, other
signal or any combination thereof. At block 1340, method 1300b can
send the DL control signal from second node 141 to first node 121
using third communication link 190. At block 1350, method 1300b can
send the DL control signal from first node 121 to wireless device
101 using first communication link 170.
[0074] Having shown and described exemplary embodiments, further
adaptations of the methods, devices and systems described herein
may be accomplished by appropriate modifications by one of ordinary
skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure. Several of such potential modifications have been
mentioned, and others may be apparent to those skilled in the art.
For instance, the exemplars, embodiments, and the like discussed
above are illustrative and are not necessarily required.
Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should be
considered in terms of the following claims and is understood not
to be limited to the details of structure, operation and function
shown and described in the specification and drawings.
[0075] As set forth above, the described disclosure includes the
aspects set forth below.
* * * * *