U.S. patent application number 14/508496 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-16 for method and apparatus for controlling carrier frequency in multi-carrier/cell system.
This patent application is currently assigned to HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jun CHEN, Jie MA, Xiaofei MA, Jinlin ZHANG, Yi ZHANG.
Application Number | 20150103779 14/508496 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43526895 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150103779 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MA; Jie ; et al. |
April 16, 2015 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CARRIER FREQUENCY IN
MULTI-CARRIER/CELL SYSTEM
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for controlling a carrier frequency in
a multi-carrier/cell system are provided. The method includes
receiving Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) information of a carrier
frequency reported by a terminal, determining whether to deactivate
or activate the carrier frequency according to the CQI information,
and instructing the terminal to deactivate or activate the carrier
frequency according to a result of the determining. Thus, a certain
carrier frequency is flexibly activated or deactivated in the
multi-carrier/cell system through carrier frequency quality
reporting and threshold comparison.
Inventors: |
MA; Jie; (Beijing, CN)
; ZHANG; Yi; (Shanghai, CN) ; ZHANG; Jinlin;
(Shanghai, CN) ; CHEN; Jun; (Shenzhen, CN)
; MA; Xiaofei; (Shenzhen, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. |
Shenzhen |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO.,
LTD.
Shenzhen
CN
|
Family ID: |
43526895 |
Appl. No.: |
14/508496 |
Filed: |
October 7, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12890246 |
Sep 24, 2010 |
8897234 |
|
|
14508496 |
|
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|
|
PCT/CN2009/070969 |
Mar 24, 2009 |
|
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|
12890246 |
|
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 5/0053 20130101;
H04L 5/0098 20130101; H04L 43/00 20130101; H04W 72/0486 20130101;
H04W 72/0453 20130101; H04L 5/0057 20130101; H04L 5/0055 20130101;
H04W 72/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/329 |
International
Class: |
H04W 72/04 20060101
H04W072/04; H04L 5/00 20060101 H04L005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 25, 2008 |
CN |
200810087694.1 |
Sep 26, 2008 |
CN |
200810161299.3 |
Nov 25, 2008 |
CN |
200810180859.X |
Claims
1. A base station configured to be applied in a multi-carrier/cell
system, the base station comprising: a controller configured to
determine to activate or deactivate a subsidiary carrier frequency
of the multi-carrier/cell system according to a parameter
associated with the subsidiary carrier frequency; and a transmitter
configured to transmit, to a terminal, an activation/deactivation
instruction to activate or deactivate the subsidiary carrier
frequency, the activation/deactivation instruction being carried
through a Media Access Control (MAC) control element.
2. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the
activation/deactivation instruction is carried through a field of
the MAC control element.
3. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the field for the
activation/deactivation instruction is set to 1 to denote
activation of the subsidiary carrier frequency, or set to 0 to
denote deactivation of the subsidiary carrier frequency.
4. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the MAC control
element comprises a MAC controlling Protocol Data Unit (PDU), the
activation/deactivation instruction being carried through a field
of the MAC controlling PDU.
5. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the parameter for
the base station determining the activation/deactivation of the
subsidiary carrier frequency comprises: downlink traffic, or a
channel condition, or any combination of the downlink traffic and
the channel condition.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the parameter for the
base station determining the activation/deactivation of the
subsidiary carrier frequency comprises: an average bit error rate;
or a service power; or channel quality information; or a buffering
status; or a ratio of ACK and NACK; or any combination of two or
more of the average bit error rate, the service power, the channel
quality information, the buffering status, and the ratio of ACK and
NACK.
7. The base station according to claim 1, further comprising a
receiver configured to receive a feedback message about the
activation/deactivation of the subsidiary carrier frequency from
the terminal.
8. A method applied in a multi-carrier/cell system, the method
comprising: determining, by a base station, to activate or
deactivate a subsidiary carrier frequency of the multi-carrier/cell
system according to a parameter associated with the subsidiary
carrier frequency; transmitting, by the base station, an
activation/deactivation instruction to activate or deactivate the
subsidiary carrier frequency to a terminal, the
activation/deactivation instruction being carried through a Media
Access Control (MAC) control element.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the
activation/deactivation instruction is carried through a field of
the MAC control element.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the field for the
activation/deactivation instruction is set to 1 to denote
activation of the subsidiary carrier frequency, or set to 0 to
denote deactivation of the subsidiary carrier frequency.
11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the MAC control
element comprises a MAC controlling Protocol Data Unit (PDU), the
activation/deactivation instruction being carried through a field
of the MAC controlling PDU.
12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the parameter for the
base station determining the activation/deactivation of the
subsidiary carrier frequency comprises: downlink traffic, or a
channel condition, or any combination of the downlink traffic and
the channel condition.
13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the parameter for the
base station determining the activation/deactivation of the
subsidiary carrier frequency comprises: an average bit error rate;
or a service power; or channel quality information; or a buffering
status; or a ratio of ACK and NACK; or any combination of two or
more of the average bit error rate, the service power, the channel
quality information, the buffering status, and the ratio of ACK and
NACK.
14. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: receiving,
by the base station, a feedback message about the
activation/deactivation of the subsidiary carrier frequency from
the terminal.
15. A multi-carrier/cell system comprising: a base station
configured to communicatively connect with a terminal, wherein the
base station is further configured to: determine to activate or
deactivate a subsidiary carrier frequency of the multi-carrier/cell
system, according to a parameter associated with a subsidiary
carrier frequency; and transmit, to the terminal, a
activation/deactivation instruction to activate or deactivate the
subsidiary carrier frequency, the activation/deactivation
instruction being carried through a Media Access Control (MAC)
control element.
16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the
activation/deactivation instruction is carried through a field of
the MAC control.
17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the field for the
activation/deactivation instruction is set to 1 to denote
activation of the subsidiary carrier frequency, or set to 0 to
denote deactivation of the subsidiary carrier frequency.
18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the MAC control
element comprises a MAC controlling Protocol Data Unit (PDU), the
activation/deactivation instruction being carried through a field
of the MAC controlling PDU.
19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the parameter for the
base station determining the activation/deactivation of the
subsidiary carrier frequency comprises downlink traffic, or a
channel condition, or any combination of the downlink traffic and
the channel condition.
20. The system according to claim 15, further comprising:
receiving, by the base station, a feedback message about the
activation/deactivation of the subsidiary carrier frequency from
the terminal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/890,246, filed on Sep. 24, 2010, which is a
continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2009/070969,
filed on Mar. 24, 2009, which claims priority to Chinese Patent
Application No. 200810087694.1, filed on Mar. 25, 2008, Chinese
Patent Application No. 200810161299.3, filed on Sep. 26, 2008, and
Chinese Patent Application No. 200810180859.X, filed on Nov. 25,
2008, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entireties.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication
technology, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for
controlling a carrier frequency in a multi-carrier/cell system.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Existing High-speed Packet Access (HSPA) systems are borne
on a signal frequency point. In order to improve a data
transmission rate of the HSPA system and reduce the delay, so as to
improve the user experience, a solution of binding a plurality of
frequency points to bear HSPA data is proposed. In this solution,
two (or more) carrier frequencies of 5 MHz in a downlink (DL)
direction are bounded together for transmitting the HSPA data. The
most important is to bind the two carrier frequencies, in which the
two carrier frequencies may be considered as frequency points
respectively used by two cells covering the same area. Furthermore,
the number of the carrier frequencies used by uplink (UL) and DL
may be the same or different, but generally, the number of the DL
carrier frequencies is greater than that of the UL carrier
frequencies. In a system for binding a plurality of carrier
frequencies for transmitting HSPA data, two carrier frequencies are
used for DL, and two carrier frequencies are used for UL, which is
so-called a 2*2 mode; or two carrier frequencies are used for DL,
and one carrier frequency is used for UL, which is so-called a 2*1
mode. In the two modes, two carrier frequencies are used for
DL.
[0004] One multi-carrier/cell may support a plurality of carrier
frequencies, and the cells corresponding to the carrier frequencies
generally have a certain correlation in geographical position. The
multi-carrier/cell has two definitions: one refers to a special
cell different from the original single carrier/cell, having its
own cell ID, supporting a plurality of carrier frequencies; and the
other refers to a cell set, in which each cell is an independent
individual like the original single carrier/cell, and the cell IDs
of the cells may be the same or different.
[0005] With the concept of primary carrier frequency introduced, if
only one carrier frequency is used by the UL or DL simultaneously,
the frequency point serves as a primary carrier frequency. If UL
and DL service is borne on a Dedicated Channel (DCH), the frequency
point where the DCH is located serves as the primary carrier
frequency. If two carrier frequencies are used by the UL and the DL
simultaneously, and no service is borne on the DCH, a Radio Network
Controller (RNC) determines to change the primary carrier frequency
according to the 2a event (preferably, carrier frequency change)
reported by a User Equipment (UE). After the primary carrier
frequency is changed each time, the RNC delivers a new measurement
control message to notify the UE of the frequency points for
co-channel switching measurement.
[0006] The UE determines to trigger a 1x/2x event only according to
the primary carrier frequency. But when the measurement report is
reported, only information of the two frequency points needs to be
carried. When the network side determines whether to add the cell
into an activity set (especially when a 1d event is triggered), the
signal quality of the two carrier frequencies should be taken into
consideration.
[0007] In the foregoing description, the measurement event of the
carrier frequency/cell of the non-primary carrier frequency uses a
different frequency event, such as, 2x event, and the measurement
event of the carrier frequency/cell of the carrier frequency uses a
1x event. For example, the primary carrier frequency is
corresponding to a carrier frequency A, and cells 1 and 2; and the
non-primary carrier frequency is corresponding to a carrier
frequency B, and cells 3 and 4. The measurement event of the cells
3 and 4 uses events 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, and the measurement event of
the cells 1 and 2 uses events 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d.
[0008] In the prior art, a multi-carrier/cell can be used for data
transmission, as the environment where the user terminal is located
varies at any time, and accordingly, the carrier frequency quality
also varies with the environment. However, no method for adjusting
the carrier frequency according to the carrier frequency quality is
provided, and thus the optimization of the network quality is
influenced.
SUMMARY
[0009] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method
for controlling a carrier frequency in a multi-carrier/cell system,
which includes the following steps. Channel Quality Indicator (CQI)
information of the carrier frequency reported by a terminal is
received. Determine whether to deactivate or activate the carrier
frequency according to the CQI information. The terminal is
instructed to deactivate or activate the carrier frequency
according to a result of the determining.
[0010] In another aspect, in an embodiment, the present disclosure
provides a network device, which includes an information receiving
module, a carrier frequency determining module, and an instruction
sending module. The information receiving module is adapted to
receive CQI information sent by a terminal. The carrier frequency
determining module is adapted to compare the CQI information
received by the information receiving module with a deactivation
threshold or an activation threshold received by the threshold
receiving module, so as to determine whether to deactivate or
activate the carrier frequency. The instruction sending module is
adapted to send a result of the carrier frequency determining
module to the terminal.
[0011] In another aspect, in an embodiment, the present disclosure
provides a terminal, which includes a condition receiving module,
an information reporting module, and a carrier frequency operation
module. The condition receiving module is adapted to receive
carrier frequency reporting conditions. The information reporting
module is adapted to report CQI information of a carrier frequency
satisfying the carrier frequency reporting conditions received by
the condition receiving module, so as to determine whether to
deactivate or activate the carrier frequency. The carrier frequency
operation module is adapted to deactivate or activate the carrier
frequency according to a result of the deactivation or activation
determination.
[0012] According to an embodiment, the present disclosure adopts
the method of carrier frequency quality information reporting and
threshold determination, such that when two carrier frequencies are
used in DL, and a base station Node B serves as a control center, a
certain carrier frequency is flexibly activated or deactivated.
[0013] In another aspect, in an embodiment, the present disclosure
provides a method for setting up a multi-carrier/cell connection
between a terminal and a network, which includes the following
steps. Information indicating a multi-carrier/cell capability of
the terminal sent by the terminal is received, and a
multi-carrier/cell connection between a terminal and a network is
set up.
[0014] In another aspect, in an embodiment, the present disclosure
provides a method for controlling a carrier frequency in a
multi-carrier/cell system, which includes the following steps.
Determine whether to deactivate or activate the carrier frequency
according to a measurement performance of the carrier frequency;
and the terminal is instructed to deactivate or activate the
carrier frequency according to a result of the determining.
Alternatively, determine whether to the carrier frequency a
subsidiary carrier frequency according to a buffering performance
of a multi-carrier/cell; and the terminal is instructed to
deactivate or activate the subsidiary carrier frequency according
to a result of the determining.
[0015] In another aspect, in an embodiment, the present disclosure
provides a method for controlling a carrier frequency in a
multi-carrier/cell system, which includes the following steps. It
is determined whether to deactivate or activate the carrier
frequency according to a measurement performance of the carrier
frequency or CQI information of the carrier frequency reported by a
terminal; and the terminal is instructed to deactivate or activate
the carrier frequency according to a result of the determining.
Alternatively, determine whether to deactivate or activate a
subsidiary carrier frequency according to a buffering performance
of a multi-carrier/cell; and the terminal is instructed to
deactivate or activate the subsidiary carrier frequency according
to a result of the determining.
[0016] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
certain carrier frequency is flexibly activated and deactivated
through controlling of Node B.
[0017] In another aspect, in an embodiment, the present disclosure
provides a method for controlling and activating a carrier
frequency in a multi-carrier/cell system, which includes the
following steps. A terminal determines whether to activate a UL
carrier frequency/cell according to a determination criteria
notified by an RNC and a traffic volume and channel quality of the
UL carrier frequency. A network determines whether to activate or
deactivate the UL carrier/cell according to a result of the
determining of the terminal in combination with a load of the
network or a DL signal quality feedback of the network.
[0018] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
certain carrier frequency is flexibly activated and deactivated
through controlling of RNC.
[0019] In another aspect, in an embodiment, the present disclosure
provides a network device, which includes a determination module
and an instruction module. The determination module is adapted to
determine whether to deactivate or activate a carrier frequency
according to a measurement performance of the carrier frequency, or
is adapted to determine whether to deactivate or activate a
subsidiary carrier frequency according to a buffering performance
of a multi-carrier/cell. The instruction module is adapted to
instruct the terminal to deactivate or activate the carrier
frequency according to a determination result of the determination
module when the determination module makes the determination
according to the measurement performance of the carrier frequency,
and instruct the terminal to deactivate or activate the subsidiary
carrier frequency according to a determination result of the
determination module when the determination module makes the
determination according to the buffering performance of the
multi-carrier/cell.
[0020] In another aspect, in an embodiment, the present disclosure
provides a method for activating/deactivating a carrier frequency
in a multi-carrier/cell system, which includes the following step.
A terminal is instructed to deactivate or activate a carrier
frequency according to a result of an activation/deactivation
determination of the carrier frequency.
[0021] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
certain carrier frequency is flexibly activated and
deactivated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The accompanying drawings for illustrating the embodiments
of the present disclosure or the prior art are outlined below.
Apparently, the accompanying drawings are for the exemplary purpose
only, and person having ordinary skill in the art can derive other
drawings from such accompanying drawings without any creative
effort.
[0023] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B together show a schematic flow chart of
a method for controlling a carrier frequency in a
multi-carrier/cell system according to embodiment 1 of the present
disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a method for setting up
a multi-carrier/cell connection between a terminal and a network
according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic flow chart of deactivating a carrier
frequency according to embodiment 3 of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a format of Media Access
Control (MAC) controlling Protocol Data Unit (PDU) according to
embodiment 3 of the present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a content of a state
acknowledgement item according to embodiment 3 of the present
disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a data sending situation at a
moment of deactivating a carrier frequency according to embodiment
3 of the present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a data transferring procedure
according to embodiment 3 of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a schematic flow chart of activating a carrier
frequency according to embodiment 4 of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 9 is a schematic flow chart of link replacement
according to embodiment 4 of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 10 is a schematic structural view of a terminal
according to embodiment 6 of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 11 is a schematic structural view of a network device
according to embodiment 7 of the present disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of determination conditions for
activation/deactivation of a Node B according to embodiment 8 of
the present disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of determination conditions for
activation/deactivation of an RNC according to embodiment 9 of the
present disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 14 is a schematic flow chart of a signaling of
activation/deactivation of an RNC according to a embodiment 10 of
the present disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 15 is a schematic flow chart of a signaling indicating
an activation/deactivation state to an RNC after an Node B performs
an activation/deactivation according to an eleventh embodiment;
and
[0038] FIG. 16 is a schematic structural view of a network device
according to a twelfth embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0039] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method
and an apparatus for controlling a carrier frequency in a
multi-carrier/cell system, capable of performing a corresponding
deactivation or activation operation on the carrier frequency in
the multi-carrier/cell system through carrier frequency quality
reporting and threshold determination, so as to optimize network
quality, and improve user experience.
[0040] Hereinafter, the specific implementation of the present
disclosure is further described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0041] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B together show a schematic flow chart of
a method for controlling a carrier frequency in a
multi-carrier/cell system according to embodiment 1 of the present
disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the method includes
the following steps.
[0042] In Step S101, a multi-carrier/cell connection is set up
between a terminal UE and a network.
[0043] Through two DL carrier frequencies and one or two UL carrier
frequencies, the multi-carrier/cell connection is set up.
[0044] When the multi-carrier/cell connection is set up through two
DL carrier frequencies and one UL carrier frequency, a Fractional
Dedicated Physical Channel (F-DPCH) is set up on the DL carrier
frequencies corresponding to the UL carrier frequency for
performing power control of a UL physical channel, and data is sent
through a High-Speed Down Share Channel (HS-DSCH); and on the rest
DL carrier frequencies, data is sent through the HS-DSCH.
[0045] For detailed description of the step and added fields to be
written into each signaling, see a subsequent embodiment 2 of the
present disclosure.
[0046] In Step S102, an RNC sends carrier frequency deactivation
and activation conditions and carrier frequency reporting
conditions to a Node B.
[0047] Specifically, the conditions are a deactivation threshold,
an activation threshold, and carrier frequency reporting
conditions.
[0048] In Step S103, the RNC sends the carrier frequency reporting
conditions to the terminal UE through forwarding by the Node B.
[0049] The terminal UE receives the carrier frequency reporting
conditions sent by the RNC through the forwarding by the Node B, in
which the carrier frequency reporting conditions specify a
measurement semaphore, a measurement start time, a measurement end
time, measurement conditions, and a report time of measurement
result.
[0050] In Step S104, the Node B feeds back response information to
the RNC.
[0051] It should be noted that the sequence of Steps S103 and S104
can be exchanged, and the changes in the sequence will not
influence the protection scope of the present disclosure.
[0052] In Step S105, the terminal UE feeds back response
information to the RNC through the forwarding by the Node B.
[0053] In Step S106, the terminal UE reports CQI information of
carrier frequencies A and B satisfying the carrier frequency
reporting conditions to the Node B.
[0054] The report method includes: reporting the CQI information by
carrying the CQI information by an MAC PDU; or reporting the CQI
information by carrying the CQI information by a physical layer
signaling.
[0055] In Step S107, the Node B compares the CQI information with
the deactivation threshold, determines that the quality of the
carrier frequency B is lower than the deactivation threshold, and
determines to deactivate the carrier frequency B.
[0056] In Step S108, the Node B sends an instruction of
deactivating the carrier frequency B to the terminal UE, so as to
deactivate the carrier frequency B.
[0057] The method for sending the instructing includes: carrying a
deactivation instruction by an MAC controlling PDU, or carrying a
deactivation instruction by a physical layer signaling.
[0058] In Step S109, the terminal UE sends a feedback of
deactivating the carrier frequency B to the Node B.
[0059] In Step S110, the terminal UE reports the CQI information of
the carrier frequencies A and B satisfying the carrier frequency
reporting conditions to the Node B.
[0060] The report method includes: reporting the CQI information by
carrying the CQI information by the MAC controlling PDU; or
reporting the CQI information by carrying the CQI information by
the physical layer signaling for reporting.
[0061] In the step, the carrier frequency B has been deactivated,
but is still a carrier frequency satisfying the carrier frequency
reporting conditions, so the CQI information of the carrier
frequency B is still reported.
[0062] In Step S111, the Node B compares the CQI information with
the activation threshold, determines that the quality of the
carrier frequency B is higher than the activation threshold, and
determines to activate the carrier frequency B.
[0063] In Step S112, the Node B sends an instruction of activating
the carrier frequency B to the terminal UE, so as to activate the
carrier frequency B.
[0064] The carrier frequency B is activated through the activation
instruction carried through the MAC controlling PDU.
[0065] Alternatively, the carrier frequency B is activated through
the activation instruction carried through the physical layer
signaling.
[0066] In Step S113, the terminal UE sends a feedback of activating
the carrier frequency B to the Node B.
[0067] It should be further noted that when only the deactivation
threshold and the carrier frequency reporting conditions are sent
in Step S102 of this embodiment, Steps S101 to S109 form a carrier
frequency deactivation process; and when only the activation
threshold and the carrier frequency reporting conditions are sent
in Step S102, Steps S101 to S105 and S110 to S113 form a carrier
frequency activation process.
Embodiment 2
[0068] In order to illustrate the technical solutions of the
present disclosure in detail, as shown in FIG. 2, a process of
setting up a multi-carrier/cell connection between a terminal UE
and a network is described with the embodiment 2 of the present
disclosure.
[0069] A cell with a multi-carrier/cell capability broadcasts the
multi-carrier/cell capability or a collaboration capability between
the multi-carrier/cell, for example, a Node B has three frequency
points arranged therein, each frequency point has two cells, and
cells of different carrier frequencies among the cells can
collaborate with one another. The terminal UE with
multi-carrier/cell capability reports the capability in a Radio
Resource Control (RRC) connection setup request (in this
embodiment, taking an RRC connection setup request message as an
example). A network UTRAN receives the RRC connection setup request
message of the terminal UE and knows the multi-carrier/cell
capability of the terminal UE and an approximate service type
requested by the terminal UE, and then assigns the terminal UE to
use a multi-carrier/cell receiving capability and/or a
multi-carrier/cell sending capability in an RRC connection setup
(representing that the RRC connection setup is completed)
message.
[0070] When the terminal UE is in a connection state, and the
terminal UE or the network initiates a new service, the network
knows that both the terminal UE and the cell have the
multi-carrier/cell capability, so the network notifies the terminal
UE of using the multi-carrier/cell receiving capability and/or the
multi-carrier/cell sending capability through various
reconfiguration messages. The UTRAN configures a corresponding UEID
for use of each carrier/cell. For example, the terminal UE can use
two DL carrier/cells and one UL carrier/cell, and accordingly, the
terminal UE should have two HS-DSCH Radio Network Identifiers
(H-RNTIs), and one Primary Enhanced Radio Network Identifier
(E-RNTI). The terminal UE uses two DLs and two ULs, and
accordingly, the terminal UE should have two H-RNTIs and two
Primary E-RNTIs.
[0071] The network sets up the multi-carrier/cell connection with
the terminal through a plurality of DL carrier frequencies and a
plurality of UL carrier frequencies. The number of the DL carrier
frequencies is greater than or equal to that of the UL carrier
frequencies, for example, when the multi-carrier/cell connection is
set up through M DL carrier frequencies and N UL carrier
frequencies, and M is greater than N, the F-DPCH is set up on the N
DL carrier frequencies corresponding to the UL carrier frequencies
for performing power control of the UL physical channel, data is
sent though an HS-DSCH, and on the rest M-N DL carrier frequencies,
data is sent through the HS-DSCH. For example, if only one of the
UL carrier/cells of the terminal UE is used, data is sent through
the HS-DSCH on the two DL frequency points. Moreover, the F-DPCH
may be only set up on the corresponding DL frequency point for
performing power control of the UL physical channel, and as the
other DL frequency point has no corresponding UL physical channel,
only HS-DSCH is set up without setting up the DL physical channel
for performing power control on the UL.
[0072] A process of setting up the multi-carrier/cell connection
between the terminal UE and the network includes the following
steps.
[0073] In Step s201, the network receives the information of the
multi-carrier/cell capability sent by the terminal.
[0074] Specifically, after receiving the capability information of
the terminal, the network sends feedback information to the
terminal.
[0075] In Step s202, the network sets up the multi-carrier/cell
connection.
[0076] Specifically, after the network sets up the
multi-carrier/cell connection, the process further includes Step
s203.
[0077] In Step s203, the network configures a corresponding
terminal identifier for each multi-carrier/cell.
[0078] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
certain carrier frequency is flexibly activated and
deactivated.
[0079] Tables 1-5 list information units indicating the terminal UE
to use the multi-carrier/cell receiving capability and/or the
multi-carrier/cell sending capability in the message. The following
tables are merely a specific demonstration, and modifications on
the tables based on the technical spirit will not affect the
protection scope of the present disclosure.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 RRC connection setup Information
Element/Group name Need Message Type MP UE Information Elements
Initial UE identity MP RRC transaction identifier MP Activation
time MD New U-RNTI MP New C-RNTI OP New H-RNTI OP CHOICE mode MP
>FDD >>New Primary E-RNT OP >>New Secondary E-RNTI
OP >TDD >>New E-RNTI RRC State Indicator MP UTRAN DRX
cycle length coefficient MP Capability update requirement MD CHOICE
specification mode MP >Complete specification RB Information
Elements >>Signalling RB information to setup list MP
>>>Signalling RB information to setup MP TrCH Information
Elements Uplink transport channels list (1 to max Frequency (newly
added cell information) number) >Frequency id Indication
frequency (newly added cell information) point information
>>UL Transport channel information OP common for all
transport channels >>Added or Reconfigured TrCH information
list MP OP >>>Added or Reconfigured UL TrCH information MP
Downlink transport channels list (1 to max Frequency number)
>Frequency id (newly added cell information) Indication
frequency point information >>DL Transport channel
information common OP for all transport channels >>Added or
Reconfigured TrCH MP information list OP >>>Added or
Reconfigured DL TrCH information MP >Preconfiguration
>>CHOICE Preconfiguration mode MP >>>Predefined
configuration identity MP >>>Default configuration
>>>>Default configuration mode MP
>>>>Default configuration identity MP PhyCH information
elements Frequency info OP Multi-frequency Info OP DTX-DRX timing
information OP DTX-DRX Information OP HS-SCCH less Information OP
Uplink radio resources list (1 to max Frequency (newly added cell
information) number) >Frequency id Indication frequency (newly
added cell information) point information Maximum allowed UL TX
power MD Uplink DPCH info OP E-DCH Info OP Downlink radio resources
list (1 to max Frequency (newly added cell information) number)
>Frequency id (newly added cell information) Indication
frequency point information Downlink HS-PDSCH Information OP (Table
2) Downlink information common for all radio links OP( ) Downlink
information per radio link list OP >Downlink information for
each radio link MP (Table 5)
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Downlink HS-PDSCH Information Information
Element/ Type and Semantics Group name Need Multi reference
description Version HS-SCCH OP HS-SCCH Info (for REL-5 Info
10.3.6.36a modificatins, see Table 3) Measure- OP Measurement (for
REL-5 ment Feed- Feedback Info modificatins, back Info 10.3.6.40a
see Table 4) CHOICE MP REL-5 mode >FDD >>Downlink OP
Enumerated Absence of REL-7 64QAM (TRUE) this IE means configured
that the HS- SCCH does not use the 64QAM format.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 HS-SCCH INFO Information Element/ Type and
Semantics Group name Need Multi reference description Version
CHOICE mode MP REL-5 >FDD REL-5 >>Frequency id MP 1 to
Indication (added cell <maxFrequencynumber> frequency point
information) information >>>DL Scrambling MD Secondary DL
Scrambling REL-5 Code scrambling code to be code applied for
10.3.6.74 HS-DSCH and HS-SCCH. Default is same scrambling code as
for the primary CPICH. >>>HS-SCCH MP 1 to REL-5
Channelisation Code <maxHSSCCHs> Information
>>>>HS-SCCH MP Integer REL-5 Channelisation Code (0 . .
. 127)
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Measurement Feedback Info Information
Element/ Type and Semantics Group name Need Multi reference
description Version CHOICE mode MP REL-5 >FDD REL-5
>>Frequency id MP 1 to Indication (added cell
<maxFrequencynumbers> frequency point information)
information >>Measurement MP Real (-6 . . . 13 The REL-5
Power Offset by step of 0.5) measurement power offset, .GAMMA., in
dB, as described in [29]. >>CQI Feedback MP Integer In
milliseconds. REL-5 cycle, k ( (0, 2, 4, 8, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160,
16, 32, 64) In milliseconds. REL-7 >>CQI repetition MP
Integer REL-5 factor (1 . . . 4) >>CQI (power MP Integer
Refer to REL-5 offset) (0 . . . 8) quantization of the power offset
in [28]
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Downlink information for each radio link
Information Element/ Type and Semantics Group name Need Multi
reference description Version CHOICE mode MP >FDD >Frequency
MP 1 to Indication id (added cell <maxFrequencynumbers>
frequency information) point information >>Primary MP Primary
CPICH info CPICH info 10.3.6.60 >>Cell ID OP Cell ID REL-4
10.3.2.2 >>Serving MP Boolean The value REL-5 HS-DSCH TRUE
radio link indicates indicator that this radio link is the serving
HS-DSCH radio link >>Serving MP Boolean The value REL-6 E-DCH
radio TRUE link indicator indicates that this radio link is the
serving E-DCH radio link >TDD >>Primary MP Primary CCPCH
info CCPCH info 10.3.6.57 CHOICE OP REL-6 DPCH info >Downlink MP
Downlink DPCH info DPCH info for each RL for each RL 10.3.6.21
>Downlink MP Downlink REL-6 F-DPCH info F-DPCH for each RL info
for each RL 10.3.6.23ob E-AGCH Info OP E-AGCH Info REL-6 (E-AGCH
10.3.6.100 information) CHOICE mode REL-7 >FDD REL-7
>>CHOICE E-HICH OP REL-6 Information >>>E-HICH MP
E-HICH Info REL-6 Information 10.3.6.101 >>>E-HICH (no
data) REL-6 release indicator >>CHOICE E-RGCH OP REL-6
Information >>>E-RGCH MP E-RGCH Info REL-6 Information
10.3.6.102 (E-RGCH information) >>>E-RGCH release (no
data) REL-6 indicator >TDD (no data) REL-7 >>E-HICH OP
E-HICH Info REL-7 Information 10.3.6.101 (E-HICH information)
Embodiment 3
[0080] As shown in FIG. 3, a process of determining to deactivate a
carrier frequency is described in detail with embodiment 3 of the
present disclosure. The process includes the following steps.
[0081] In Step S301, a terminal UE receives carrier frequency
reporting conditions.
[0082] This message specifies a measurement semaphore, a
measurement start time, a measurement end time, measurement
conditions, and a report time of measurement result.
[0083] In Step S302, the terminal UE reports CQI information of the
carrier frequency to a Node B.
[0084] It should be specified in the step that the method for
reporting measurement values of the terminal UE deactivating the
carrier/cell to the Node B, measurements through which the Node B
obtains quality and power of a radio link of a certain carrier/cell
and other information. Currently, the terminal UE reports the CQI
in a High-Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel (HS-DPCCH), in
which the value may serve as an input amount of the Node B for
decision. A Node B receiver reports a received Block Error Rate
(BLER) value to a Node B scheduler, so as to enable the Node B to
make a decision.
[0085] In Step S303, the Node B compares the CQI information with
the deactivation threshold, and determines whether to deactivate
the carrier frequency.
[0086] In the step, the deactivation threshold is sent to the Node
B by an RNC.
[0087] The deactivation occurs on the following conditions: a
signal quality of the carrier/cell is lower than a threshold
(Ec/N0); and/or a Received Signal Code Power (RSCP) of the
carrier/cell is lower than a threshold; and/or a BLER of data
transferred on the carrier/cell is higher than a threshold; and/or
a data transmission power on the carrier/cell is higher than a
threshold; and/or times of data retransmission on the carrier/cell
is higher than a threshold; and/or synchronization loss of a
certain link of the Node B and the terminal UE. The duration of the
condition may be a duration that must be maintained for a certain
length of time for making a decision, or may be a duration that a
decision is made immediately, which depends on the purpose and
requirements of use of the UTRAN on each carrier/cell. The
condition is notified to the Node B by the RNC, and the terminal UE
need not know the condition. The method of notifying the Node B by
the RNC includes adding a dedicated signaling into an Iub interface
or carrying the condition in a radio link setup reconfiguration
message.
[0088] In S304, the Node B sends an instruction of deactivating the
carrier frequency to the UE, so as to deactivate the carrier
frequency. Hereinafter, the process of deactivating the carrier
frequency is further described, which includes the following
steps.
[0089] In Step 1, the Node B determines to deactivate a certain
carrier frequency.
[0090] In Step 2, the Node B sends the instruction of deactivating
the carrier frequency to the terminal UE, so as to deactivate the
carrier frequency.
[0091] After making the determination, the Node B notifies the
terminal UE of deactivating the certain carrier/cell, which
includes the following two methods.
[0092] In method A, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a field of the MAC
controlling PDU is adapted to notify the terminal UE. The field
contained in the MAC controlling PDU includes a C/T PDU indicator
bit, a carrier frequency control item, a signal quality item, a
state acknowledgement item, a carrier frequency activation bit, a
signal quality content bit, and a state acknowledgement content
bit.
[0093] The C/T PDU indicator bit is adapted to indicate that the
PDU is a controlling PDU or a data PDU.
[0094] The carrier frequency control item is adapted to indicate
whether the PDU contains the carrier frequency control item.
[0095] The signal quality item is adapted to indicate whether the
PDU contains a signal quality CQI report item.
[0096] The state acknowledgement item is adapted to indicate
whether the PDU contains the state acknowledgement item, for
example, whether an acknowledgement to the control instruction
received by the opposite end exists.
[0097] The carrier frequency activation bit is adapted to instruct
to activate or deactivate the carrier/cell, in which each carrier
frequency occupies 1 bit; when the bit is set to be 1, it indicates
to activate the carrier/cell, and when the bit is set to be 0, it
indicates to deactivate the carrier/cell.
[0098] The signal quality content bit contains the signal quality
of all the carrier frequencies.
[0099] The state response content bit makes the acknowledgement to
activation/deactivation, in which each carrier frequency occupies 1
bit. When activation/deactivation is performed on the carrier
frequency, an acknowledge character (ACK) is returned, and when no
activation/deactivation is performed on the carrier frequency, a
non acknowledge character (NACK) is returned.
[0100] One item for the controlling PDU is defined as whether to
use a certain DL carrier/cell, and another item is defined as
whether to use a certain UL carrier/cell. The two items may occupy
a bit respectively, and when the bit is set to be 0, it indicates
to use the carrier/cell. When the bit is set to be 1, it indicates
not to use the carrier/cell. The number of bits of whether to
deactivate the carrier/cell is controlled to be equal to the number
of the UL plus DL carrier/cells, or to be equal to the number of
carrier/cells used at most. The sequence of the bits is the same as
the list sequence of the carrier/cells when the terminal UE
receives the connection setup or reconfiguration message.
[0101] After determining to disable a carrier/cell, the Node B
should send the MAC controlling PDU to the terminal UE, and the DL
carrier/cell not being disabled is used preferably to send the MAC
PDU, so as to ensure that the control message is received reliably.
After receiving the disable notification, the terminal UE should
respond to the Node B and indicate that it has received the
notification information. The acknowledgement message may be in the
form of ACK of Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARM) or an
acknowledgement of the MAC layer controlling PDU. FIG. 5 is a
schematic view of a content of a state acknowledgement item. The
response should be sent by using preferably the UL carrier/cell not
being disabled.
[0102] Hereinafter, the method and procedure of deactivating a
carrier frequency is further described with reference to FIGS. 6
and 7.
[0103] After the Node B determines to deactivate a carrier/cell,
for example, to disable a carrier/cell B, and if the carrier/cell B
is a DL carrier/cell, the Node B transfers the data that is ready
to be sent by the carrier/cell B back to a carrier/cell A for
sending, and as for packets that have been sent but having no HARQ
acknowledgement response of the terminal UE received, the Node B
waits for the HARQ acknowledgement of the terminal UE. If no
acknowledgement of the terminal UE is received when the
acknowledgement time expires or the acknowledgement is NACK, the
data will not be resent on the carrier/cell B, but is transferred
to the carrier/cell A for resending. The resent data may be resent
preferably on the carrier/cell A. The packets transferred from the
carrier/cell B to the carrier/cell A for resending may be sequenced
and sent according to a sequence number of the RLC layer of the
data, but not directly disposed at the tail of the data sequence in
the carrier/cell A. FIG. 5 shows the data sending states of two
carrier/cells when the carrier/cell B is disabled, and FIG. 7 is a
schematic view of transferring the data in a corresponding queue of
the carrier/cell B into the carrier/cell A for sending after the
carrier/cell B is disabled. If the two carrier/cells share an
MAC-hs/ehs queue, only the data to be resent is processed, and
transfer and insertion procedures of the queue are omitted.
[0104] When the Node B determines to deactivate a UL carrier/cell,
for example, to disable a carrier/cell C, the Node B should provide
an acknowledgement of the terminal UE through an E-DCH HARQ
Acknowledgement Indicator Channel (E-HICH) for the packets that has
been received but has not been acknowledged, and the Node B should
complete receiving the data of the terminal UE scheduled before
being notified for disabling, and stop scheduling the carrier/cell
C.
[0105] After receiving the MAC controlling PDU, the terminal UE
finds out that the MAC controlling PDU instructs the terminal UE to
disable a certain carrier/cell through resolution, and the terminal
UE will perform the following processes on the data on the
carrier/cell.
[0106] 1) When the disabled carrier/cell is a DL carrier/cell, the
terminal UE performs a Cyclical Redundancy Check (CRC) on the
packets (not the MAC PDU) received by the disabled carrier/cell,
and if a check result is correct, the terminal UE returns ACK to
the Node B, and if the check result is error, the terminal UE
returns NACK. If no packet is to be received at this time, the
terminal UE directly stops receiving the carrier/cell and deletes a
timer and a counter related to the carrier/cell.
[0107] 2) When the disabled carrier/cell is a UL carrier/cell, the
terminal UE firstly uses up the resource scheduled on the
carrier/cell, then stops sending the data on the carrier/cell, and
transfers the data that is ready to be sent on the disabled
carrier/cell originally to another carrier/cell for sending. For
the data that needs to be resent on the disabled carrier/cell, the
data need preferably be sent by the terminal UE on another
carrier/cell; and the transferred data needs to be inserted into
another carrier/cell for sending according to the data sequence of
a radio link control protocol, and cannot directly be inserted at
the tail.
[0108] In another aspect, if the cell deactivation conditions of a
primary carrier frequency are satisfied, and when the cell is
deactivated as a service cell in the primary carrier frequency, the
Node B needs to notify the RNC that the cell cannot be deactivated
immediately, and a decision of the RNC needs to be waited. The
decision of the RNC includes the deactivation, that is, the
terminal UE will not maintain any radio link; and a new cell that
is added into the primary carrier frequency, in which a connection
is set up between the terminal UE and the new cell for performing
data transmission, and the newly added cell is a service cell. The
subsidiary carrier frequency is replaced with the primary carrier
frequency.
[0109] It should be further noted that as the carrier frequency
only having data sending in the embodiment 2 does not have the
corresponding UL physical channel and F-DPCH for performing
inner-loop power control, the Node B cannot notify the RNC that the
radio link corresponding to the carrier frequency is available or
failed through monitoring the synchronization and loss of
synchronization of the UL link as that in the prior art, so as to
realize dismantlement of the radio link or link maintenance.
Therefore, it is a preferred method that the activation of the
single DL frequency point is reported through the measurement of
the terminal UE (2d/2c event). That is, when 2c event is satisfied,
the radio connection of the carrier frequency is continuously
maintained, and when 2d event occurs, the connection is
deleted.
[0110] In addition to the method of this embodiment, the control
right of the deactivation of the carrier/cell can also be placed on
the RNC. However, as the information of the RNC or the terminal UE
passes through the Node B and the Iub interface therebetween, and
the process introduces a long delay (200 ms). Furthermore, the Node
B actually can directly obtain the signal quality and transmission
quality of the radio link of each carrier/cell through the CQI
report of the HS-DPCCH and the reception of the UL data. Therefore,
it is feasible that the control right of deactivation of the
carrier/cell is delegated to the Node B and the transmission time
of the Iub interface is reduced, thus the control is more flexible,
and can be realized by using a physical layer signaling or an MAC
layer signaling.
[0111] In a method B, a physical layer signaling is used.
[0112] A High-Speed Shared Control Channel order (HS-SCCH order) is
adapted to instruct to disable a certain DL or UL carrier/cell.
[0113] An E-DCH Absolute Grant Channel (E-AGCH) is adapted to carry
a primary E-RNTI, and all the activation bits are set to be
un-activated, so as to instruct to disable the UL carrier/cell.
[0114] As the two physical layer signalings do not have
corresponding response mechanisms, in order to ensure the
reliability, the Node B can continuously perform the sending for
several times.
[0115] After the disable instruction is issued, the sending
processing of the packets on the originally disabled carrier/cell
of the Node B and the terminal UE are the same as that in the
method A.
[0116] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
certain carrier frequency is flexibly activated and
deactivated.
Embodiment 4
[0117] As shown in FIG. 8, in embodiment 4, a process of activating
a carrier frequency is described in detail.
[0118] When a terminal UE transmits data in a multi-carrier/cell,
the terminal UE continuously monitors the signal quality of an
available carrier cell, and then reports the signal quality. When
the terminal UE or a Node B finds out that the quality of a certain
unused carrier/cell is improved enough to be adapted to transmit
the data, the unused carrier/cell can be added into a transmission
carrier/cell collection. When quality of a new carrier frequency is
superior to that of the carrier frequency, the carrier frequency is
replaced with the new carrier frequency, which is as shown by Steps
S102 to S105 in FIG. 1A and Steps S110 to S113 in FIG. 1B. The
process includes the following steps.
[0119] In Step S801, an RNC instructs a Node B and a terminal UE to
simultaneously measure the signal quality of unused carrier/cells
and notifies the Node B and terminal UE of a measurement policy and
a report policy of a measurement result. The RNC notifies the Node
B of a quality threshold and a data amount threshold for enabling
carrier/cell transmission.
[0120] In Step S802, the terminal UE reports the signal quality and
the data amount of a pilot of an unused frequency point. The report
method includes MAC controlling PDU, and a specific format is as
shown in FIG. 4.
[0121] In Step S803, the Node B compares the signal quality
reported by the terminal UE with a decision threshold value, and
determines whether to add a new carrier/cell for data transmission.
Alternatively, the Node B compares the signal data amount reported
by the terminal UE with a decision threshold value, and determines
whether to add a new carrier/cell for data transmission.
[0122] In Step S804, after determining to add a new carrier/cell
for data transmission, the Node B notifies the terminal UE that the
new carrier/cell is enabled through an MAC controlling PDU or
physical layer signaling.
[0123] (1) The format of the MAC controlling PDU is as that
described in the method A in the deactivation process in embodiment
3. Through the ACK received by a HARQ process, the new carrier/cell
is considered to be activated, and the Node B can schedule and send
the data on the new carrier/cell.
[0124] (2) Physical layer signaling: for enabling of a DL
carrier/cell: when control channels of High-speed Downlink Packet
Access (HSDPA) is sent on a carrier frequency collectively, as the
format of the HS-SCCH can indicate the data transmission format of
two carrier/cells, the format of data sent by the newly added
carrier/cell is directly indicated in the format of HS-SCCH, so as
to complete activating the new DL carrier/cell, and the indication
method does not need an acknowledgement. The carrier frequency of
the terminal UE is indicated by using the HS-SCCH order to monitor
that another carrier frequency can also complete the activation of
the new DL carrier frequency. After receiving the indication, the
terminal UE monitors an HS-DPSCH transmission format of the
activated carrier frequency on the HS-SCCH channel while receiving
data on the original carrier frequency, so as to start to receive
the data on the new carrier frequency. This method may have an
acknowledgement, for example, a specific CQI value sent by the
HS-DPCCH. For activation of a UL carrier/cell, activation is
realized by using an HS-SCCH order, an E-AGCH, or an E-DCH
Relatively Grant Channel (E-RGCH). The physical layer signaling may
be a signaling borne on a physical layer information E-AGCH, or a
signaling borne on the E-RGCH.
[0125] In another aspect, the UE may also determine whether to
activate a certain UL carrier/cell. The UE obtains the signal
quality through measurement of the DL carrier frequency, and knows
the sending amount of byte. Under a premise that the RNC tells the
UE the decision criteria, the UE makes a decision, and then
requests the network to activate the unused carrier/cell. The
network determines whether to accept the request of the UE
according to the load of itself, the signal quality feedback, and
the data amount of the UE. If the request is accepted, scheduling
is started on the activated carrier frequency; and if the request
is not accepted, a negative acknowledgement is returned on the
original carrier frequency.
[0126] In another aspect, the terminal UE may also determines
whether to activate or deactivate a certain UL carrier/cell.
According to the traffic volume and the channel quality of the UL
carrier frequency, and under the premise that the RNC tells the
terminal UE the decision criteria, the terminal UE makes a
decision, and then requests the network to activate or deactivate
the UL carrier/cell. The requesting mode includes requesting
through a UL physical layer signaling or a UL RNC signaling. The
UTRAN network determines whether to accept the request of the
terminal UE according to the load or the DL signal quality
feedback. If accepting the request, the UTRAN network initiates an
activation/deactivation command.
[0127] It should be further noted that as for the
deactivation/activation determination of the carrier frequency with
a pair of physical channels in the embodiment 2, a 2d/2c (replacing
the primary carrier frequency) (or a 1X event (not replacing the
primary carrier frequency)) event or the radio link synchronization
or loss of synchronization monitoring function of the NB can be
adapted to realize the maintenance and deactivation of the carrier
frequency/cell. However, the deactivation determination has a great
influence on the data transceiving performed by the terminal UE by
using the multi-carrier, so before the current carrier
frequency/cell is deactivated, a radio link with a pair of physical
channels is usually set up in a new carrier frequency/cell. Here,
the terminal UE may actually use at least three radio links, in
which one is a physical channel (a non-carrier frequency) only with
DL, the second one is the original radio link (a cell 1 of the
primary carrier frequency) with a pair of physical channels, and
the third one is the newly setup radio link (a cell 2 of the
primary carrier frequency) with a pair of physical channels. When
such a situation occurs, the data sent by the new and original
radio links with the pair of physical channels is the same. If the
frequency points of the two radio links are the same, the procedure
as shown in FIG. 9 can be adapted to realize the procedure of
replacing the original link with the new link rapidly. The process
includes the following steps.
[0128] In Step S901, the terminal UE reports a measurement report
to report a 1x event, the RNC determines to add a target cell into
an activation set of the primary carrier frequency, and notifies
the terminal UE through an "update activation set", and at the same
time, the RNC and the Node B implement the setup of the radio link
of the new cell of the Node B by using a radio link reconfiguration
procedure of Iub.
[0129] In Step S902, after receiving the update of the activation
set, the terminal UE starts to monitor the pilot channel quality of
the target cell while monitoring the original cell, and reports the
CQI to the Node B.
[0130] In Step S903, after the Node B finds out that the CQI of the
target cell CQI is superior to that of the original cell for a
period of time, the Node B sends an HS-SCCH at the target cell to
instruct the terminal UE to receive the data from the target
cell.
[0131] In Step S904, after receiving the HS-SCCH from the target
cell, the terminal UE starts to receive data at the target cell,
and does not receive the data from the original cell.
[0132] In Step S905, the Node B receives an acknowledgement ACK of
receiving the data sent by the terminal UE, and it is determined
that the terminal UE has been switched to the target cell, so the
RNC is notified that the service cell of the HSDPA of the primary
carrier frequency of the terminal UE is replaced. The notifying
process may use an existing radio link recovery process on the Iub,
and is realized by adding a cell ID into the signaling.
[0133] The function of the HS-SCCH of this embodiment can be
realized by using the E-RGCH.
[0134] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
certain carrier frequency is flexibly activated and
deactivated.
Embodiment 5
[0135] In embodiment 5, in view of the situation that some
switching area scenes or both the two frequency points have larger
signal fading, an operation method of a carrier frequency is set
forth, which is described in the following.
[0136] Firstly, a terminal UE performs measurement at frequency
points besides the used carrier frequencies and the cells besides
the specified cells (cells out of the use set), and reports the
measurement results to an RNC. In this embodiment, the measurement
rule and the rules of measurement control and measurement report
out of the use set are not changed.
[0137] The cells of the use set belong to the same Node B, the
reporting the signal measurement of the cells of the use set to the
RNC may be reduced or canceled, and if necessary, the Node B will
notify the RNC.
[0138] In a switching area, the signal quality of all the frequency
points in the use set is very poor and satisfies the deactivation
conditions, the Node B needs to notify the RNC, such that the RNC
determines whether to maintain one of the frequency points or
delete all the frequency points.
Embodiment 6
[0139] FIG. 10 is a schematic structural view of a terminal
according to embodiment 6 of the present disclosure. As shown in
FIG. 10, the terminal includes a condition receiving module 1, an
information reporting module 2, and a carrier frequency operation
module 3.
[0140] The condition receiving module 1 is adapted to receive
carrier frequency reporting conditions.
[0141] The information reporting module 2 is adapted to report CQI
information of a carrier frequency satisfying the carrier frequency
reporting conditions received by the condition receiving module 1,
so as to make a deactivation or activation determination.
[0142] The carrier frequency operation module 3 is adapted to
deactivate or activate the carrier frequency according to a result
of the deactivation or activation determination.
[0143] The carrier frequency operation module 3 includes a carrier
frequency deactivation sub-module 31 and a carrier frequency
activation sub-module 32.
[0144] The carrier frequency deactivation sub-module 31 is adapted
to deactivate the carrier frequency according to the result of the
deactivation determination.
[0145] The carrier frequency activation sub-module 32 is adapted to
activate the carrier frequency according to the result of the
activation determination.
Embodiment 7
[0146] FIG. 11 is a schematic structural view of a network device
according to embodiment 7 of the present disclosure. As shown in
FIG. 11, the network device includes an instruction sending module
1, an information receiving module 2, a carrier frequency
determining module 3, and an instruction sending module 4.
[0147] The instruction sending module 1 is adapted to send carrier
frequency reporting conditions to a terminal.
[0148] The information receiving module 2 is adapted to receive CQI
information sent by the terminal.
[0149] The carrier frequency determining module 3 is adapted to
compare the CQI information received by the information receiving
module 2 with a deactivation threshold or an activation threshold,
and determine to deactivate or activate the carrier frequency.
[0150] The instruction sending module 4 is adapted to send a result
of the determination of the carrier frequency determining module 3
to the terminal.
[0151] The carrier frequency determining module 3 includes a
numeric value comparing sub-module 31 and a determination
generation sub-module 32.
[0152] The numeric value comparing sub-module 31 is adapted to
compare the CQI information with the deactivation threshold or the
activation threshold.
[0153] The determination generation sub-module 32 is adapted to
generate a determination result to the carrier frequency according
to a comparison result of the numeric value comparing
sub-module.
[0154] An embodiment of the present disclosure, adopts the method
of carrier frequency quality information reporting and threshold
determination, such that when two carrier frequencies are used in
DL, and a Node B serves as a control center, a certain carrier
frequency is flexibly activated or deactivated.
Embodiment 8
[0155] As shown in FIG. 12, a process of making a deactivation or
activation decision by a Node B is described in detail in
embodiment 8. In this embodiment, decision conditions include
carrier frequency deactivation/activation conditions and carrier
frequency reporting conditions, which are sent to the Node B
through an RNC to notify the Node B. In this embodiment, cells A
and B are multi-carrier cells for each other.
[0156] In this embodiment, it is determined whether to deactivate a
carrier frequency according to a measurement performance or
buffering performance of the carrier frequency or CQI information
of the carrier frequency reported by a terminal UE. This embodiment
includes the following sub-embodiments.
[0157] In one sub-embodiment (1), the Node B makes a determination
based on the power load occupied by the HSDPA service of the
carrier frequency. The carrier frequency decision occasion of the
Node B may be triggered by an event or triggered periodically.
[0158] In Step 11, a multi-carrier/cell connection between the
terminal UE and the network is set up.
[0159] In Step 12, the RNC sends the carrier frequency
deactivation/activation conditions and carrier frequency reporting
conditions to the Node B.
[0160] In Step 13, the Node B feeds back response information to
the RNC.
[0161] In Step 14, the cells A and B are in a dual-carrier common
working mode. In a period of time, if this embodiment is in a time
inspection window, the Node B measures the HSDPA service power of
the carrier frequency emitted by the cell, in which the HSDPA
service power of the carrier frequency refers to the power
generated by the HSDPA service bearing the carrier frequency. If
the power load occupied by the HSDPA service of the carrier
frequency of the cell B is higher than a preconfigured power
threshold of power load, an order of deactivating the cell B is
triggered to close the reception of the subsidiary carrier, so as
to deactivate the cell B.
[0162] In Step 15, after the cell B is deactivated, the cell A is
in a single carrier frequency working mode. In a period of time, if
this embodiment is in a time inspection window, and the power load
occupied by the HSDPA service of the carrier frequency of the cell
B is always lower than the preconfigured power threshold of power
load, an order of activating the cell B is triggered to open the
reception of the subsidiary carrier, so as to activate the cell
B.
[0163] In another sub-embodiment (2), the Node B measures a Bit
Error Rate (BER) of the carrier frequency of the DPCCH received by
the cell, and makes a determination based on the average error rate
of the BERs of the carrier frequency. The carrier frequency
decision occasion may be triggered by an event or triggered
periodically.
[0164] In Step 21, a multi-carrier/cell connection between the
terminal UE and the network is set up.
[0165] In Step 22, the RNC sends the carrier frequency
deactivation/activation conditions and carrier frequency reporting
conditions to the Node B.
[0166] In Step 23, the Node B feeds back response information to
the RNC.
[0167] In Step 24, cells A and B are in a dual-carrier frequency
common working mode. In a period of time, this embodiment is in a
time inspection window, if the average error rate of BERs of the
carrier frequency of the cell B is higher than a preconfigured
threshold of average error rate at this state, an order of
deactivating the cell B is triggered.
[0168] In Step 25, after the cell B is deactivated, the cell A is
in a single carrier frequency working mode. According to a timer
set by an upper layer, after the timer expires, an order of
activating the cell B is triggered, so as to activate the cell B.
After the cell B is deactivated, the Node B cannot measure the BER
of the DPCCH of the cell B, so a timer is adapted to perform the
periodic activation.
[0169] In another sub-embodiment (3), the Node B makes a
determination based on the CQI report, and this method has been
described in embodiment 1, and will not repeated herein.
[0170] In another sub-embodiment (4), the Node B side measures the
number of HSDPA service pending bytes of the carrier frequency, and
the HSDPA pending traffic volume of the carrier frequency is saved
in a buffer BUFFER of the Node B. In the multi-carrier/cell, with
respect to the primary carrier frequency, the carrier frequency in
a subordinate position is a subsidiary carrier frequency, and is
the cell B in this embodiment.
[0171] The Node B makes a decision based on the number of current
HSDPA service pending bytes. The carrier frequency decision
occasion may be triggered by an event or triggered
periodically.
[0172] In Step 31, a multi-carrier/cell connection between the
terminal UE and the network is set up.
[0173] In Step 32, the RNC sends the carrier frequency
deactivation/activation conditions and carrier frequency reporting
conditions to the Node B.
[0174] In Step 33, the Node B feeds back response information to
the RNC.
[0175] In Step 34, cells A and B are in a dual-carrier frequency
common working mode. In a period of time, this embodiment is in a
time inspection window, if the number of HSDPA service pending
bytes of the multi-carrier/cell of the current terminal UE of the
cell B is lower than a preconfigured threshold, an order of
deactivating the cell B is triggered to close the reception of the
subsidiary carrier frequency, so as to deactivate the cell B. In
the current multi-carrier/cell, the cell B is a subsidiary carrier
frequency.
[0176] In Step 35, after the cell B is deactivated, the cell A is
in a single carrier frequency working mode. In a period of time,
this embodiment is in a time inspection window, the number of HSDPA
service pending bytes of the multi-carrier/cell of the current
terminal UE of the cell B is higher than a preconfigured threshold,
an order of activating the cell B is triggered to open the
reception of the subsidiary carrier frequency, so as to activate
the cell B.
[0177] In another sub-embodiment (5), the Node B makes a
determination based on the ratio of ACK to NACK of the carrier
frequency of the cell. The carrier frequency decision occasion may
be triggered by an event or triggered periodically.
[0178] After checking or receiving information, the terminal UE
sends response information to the Node B. If the response
information received by the Node B is ACK, it indicates that the
check result or the received information is correct; and if the
response information received by the Node B is NACK, it indicates
that the check result or the received information is error.
[0179] In Step 51, a multi-carrier/cell connection between the
terminal UE and the network is set up.
[0180] In Step 52, the RNC sends the carrier frequency
deactivation/activation conditions and carrier frequency reporting
conditions to the Node B.
[0181] In Step 53, the Node B feeds back response information to
the RNC.
[0182] In Step 54, cells A and B are in a dual-carrier carrier
frequency common working mode. In a period of time, this embodiment
is in a time inspection window, if the ratio of ACK to NACK of the
carrier frequency of the cell B is lower than a preconfigured
threshold, an order of deactivating the cell B is triggered to
close the reception of the subsidiary carrier frequency, so as to
deactivate the cell B.
[0183] In Step 55, the cell A is in a single carrier frequency
working mode, after a timer arranged at the Node B side expires, an
order of activating the cell B is triggered to open the reception
of the subsidiary carrier frequency, so as to activate the cell B.
After the cell B is deactivated, the Node B cannot receive the ACK
and NACK information of the carrier frequency of the cell B, so a
timer is adapted to perform the periodic activation.
[0184] In this embodiment, the Node B determines to deactivate a
carrier/cell, for example, after the carrier/cell B is disabled, if
the carrier/cell B is a DL carrier/cell, the Node B transfers the
data that is ready to be sent by the carrier/cell B back to the
carrier/cell A for sending. As for packets that have been sent but
having no HARQ response of the terminal UE received, the Node B
waits for the HARQ acknowledgement of the terminal UE. If no
response of the terminal UE is received when the response time
expires or the response is NACK, the data will not be resent on the
carrier/cell B, but is transferred to on the carrier/cell A for
resending. The resent data should be resent on the carrier/cell A
preferably. The packets transferred from the carrier/cell B to the
carrier/cell A for resending should be sequenced and sent according
to the sequence number of the RLC layer of the data, but not
directly disposed at the tail of the data sequence in the
carrier/cell A. FIG. 5 shows the data sending states of two
carrier/cells when the carrier/cell B is disabled, and FIG. 7 is a
schematic view of transferring the data in a corresponding queue of
the carrier/cell B into the carrier/cell A for sending after the
carrier/cell B is disabled. If the two carrier/cells share an
MAC-hs/ehs queue, only the data needing to be resent is processed,
and transference and insertion procedures of the queue are
omitted.
[0185] After instructing the terminal to deactivate the subsidiary
carrier frequency, in which the subsidiary carrier frequency is the
cell B in this embodiment, a data operation procedure of
deactivating the subsidiary carrier frequency by the terminal is
performed, which is described in the following.
[0186] A response is waited, for the data sent by the subsidiary
carrier frequency but having no response received.
[0187] The data sent by the subsidiary carrier frequency but having
no response received or having a failed response received in a
response time is resent by other carrier frequencies.
[0188] The data not sent by the subsidiary carrier frequency is
transferred into a sending sequence of other carrier frequencies
according to a sequence number of the data for being sent or
discarded.
[0189] When quality of a new carrier frequency quality is superior
to that of the carrier frequency, the carrier frequency is replaced
with the new carrier frequency, or when the quality of the new
subsidiary carrier frequency quality is superior to that of the
subsidiary carrier frequency, the subsidiary carrier frequency is
replaced with a new subsidiary carrier frequency.
[0190] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
certain carrier frequency is flexibly activated and deactivated
through controlling of Node B.
Embodiment 9
[0191] As shown in FIG. 13, the deactivating or activating the RNC
is described in detail in embodiment 9. The RNC decision occasion
may be triggered by an event or triggered periodically. The RNC
determines whether to deactivate the cell B through determining the
DL error rate of the carrier frequency of the cell.
[0192] In Step 1, a multi-carrier/cell connection between a
terminal UE and a network is set up.
[0193] In Step 2, an RNC sends carrier frequency reporting
conditions to the terminal UE through forwarding by a Node B.
[0194] In Step 3, the terminal UE feeds back response information
to the RNC through forwarding by the Node B.
[0195] In Step 4, cells A and B are multi-carrier frequency cells
for each other, and are in a dual-carrier frequency working mode.
In a period of time, this embodiment is in a time inspection
window, if the DL error rate of the carrier frequency of the cell B
is higher than a preconfigured threshold of the DL error rate, the
terminal UE reports the event to notify the RNC, and the RNC
triggers an order of deactivating the cell B through the Node B to
close the reception of a subsidiary carrier frequency, so as to
deactivate the cell B. The terminal UE may also periodically report
the error rate of the cell.
[0196] In Step 5, after the cell B is deactivated, the cell A is in
a single carrier frequency working mode. According to a timer set
by an upper layer, the RNC starts a timer, and after the timer
expires, the RNC triggers an order of activating the cell B through
the Node B. After the cell B is deactivated, the terminal UE cannot
report the error rate of the cell B, so a timer is adapted to
perform the periodic activation.
[0197] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
certain carrier frequency is flexibly activated and deactivated
through controlling of RNC.
Embodiment 10
[0198] FIG. 14 is a process of a signaling of
activation/deactivation of a dual-carrier frequency cell after
determination of an RNC.
[0199] In this embodiment, cells A and B are multi-carrier cells
for each other.
[0200] In Step S1401, an RNC sends a control message to a terminal
UE to trigger an activation/deactivation decision. The control
message includes a channel quality threshold, a terminal UE service
threshold, decision conditions, and a report cycle, and the
terminal UE is controlled to report in a manner of event or in a
periodic manner.
[0201] In Step S1402, the terminal UE reports the measurement
result of the channel quality and the service measurement result of
terminal UE, and the RNC makes an activation/deactivation
determination.
[0202] In Step S1403, if the reported signal quality is lower than
the threshold value, a determination result is deactivation, and
the RNC sends a message of controlling to deactivate the cell B to
the Node B. The message includes the following cells: a cell
identifier, a terminal UE identifier, and an
activation/deactivation action.
[0203] In Step S1404, the Node B forwards an order of deactivating
the cell B to the terminal UE.
[0204] In Step S1405, the terminal UE works in a single carrier
cell A.
[0205] In Step S1406, the terminal UE reports the result, and the
RNC makes a determination.
[0206] In Step S1407, if the reported signal quality is higher than
the threshold value, the decision is activation, and the RNC sends
a message of controlling to activate the cell B. The message
includes the following cells: a cell identifier, a terminal UE
identifier, and an activation/deactivation action.
[0207] In Step S1408, the Node B forwards an order of activating
the cell B to the terminal UE.
[0208] In Step S1409, the terminal UE works in multi-carrier cells
A and B.
[0209] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
certain carrier frequency is flexibly activated and deactivated
through controlling of Node B.
Eleventh Embodiment
[0210] FIG. 15 is a process of signaling of reporting
activation/deactivation state to an RNC after a Node B makes an
activation/deactivation determination according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure. Cells A and B are multi-carrier cells for
each other.
[0211] In S1501, the Node B determines to perform an operation of
activating or deactivating the carrier cell B on a terminal UE.
[0212] In S1502, the Node B sends an order of activating or
deactivating the carrier cell B to the terminal UE.
[0213] In S1503, the terminal UE feeds back a success response of
activating or deactivating the carrier cell B to the Node B.
[0214] In S1504, the Node B feeds back an indication message of
activation or deactivation state of the carrier cell B to the RNC
according to the success response of activating or deactivating the
carrier cell B. The message needs to include an identifier of the
activated/deactivated terminal UE. The identifier may be, but not
limited to, identifier types being U-RNTI, H-RNTI, E-RNTI, CRNC
CONTEXT, or Node B CONTEXT.
[0215] After receiving the message, the RNC sets the working mode
variation of the terminal UE to be DUAL CELL dual-carrier frequency
or SINGLE CELL single carrier frequency. If the state indication
message is to activate the carrier cell B, the working mode of the
terminal UE is turned to be DUAL CELL dual-carrier frequency, and
the message of activating the carrier cell B is saved; if the state
indication message is to deactivate the carrier cell B, the working
mode of the terminal UE is turned to be SINGLE CELL single carrier
frequency, and the information of the carrier cell B needs to be
deleted.
[0216] The method of this embodiment further includes the following
steps.
[0217] In S1505, the RNC sends an activation/deactivation state
indication response message to the Node B.
[0218] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
certain carrier frequency is flexibly activated and deactivated
through controlling of RNC.
Twelfth Embodiment
[0219] FIG. 16 is a schematic structural view of a network device.
As shown in FIG. 16, the network device includes a determination
module 1610 and an instruction module 1620.
[0220] The determination module 1610 is adapted to perform a
deactivation or activation determination on a carrier frequency
according to measurement performance of the carrier frequency; or
perform a deactivation or activation determination on a subsidiary
carrier frequency according to a buffering performance of a
multi-carrier/cell.
[0221] The instruction module 1620 is adapted to instruct a
terminal to deactivate or activate a carrier frequency according to
a determination result of the determination module 1610, when the
determination module 1610 makes the determination according to the
measurement performance of the carrier frequency, and instruct the
terminal to deactivate or activate a subsidiary carrier frequency
according to the determination result of the determination module
1610, when the determination module 1610 makes the determination
according to the buffering performance of the
multi-carrier/cell.
[0222] The network device further includes a feedback receiving
module 1630, adapted to receive a feedback of deactivating the
carrier frequency or activating the carrier frequency sent by the
terminal.
[0223] The determination module 1610 further includes a first
determination sub-module 1611, a second determination sub-module
1612, a third determination sub-module 1613, a fourth determination
sub-module 1614, or a fifth determination sub-module 1615.
[0224] The first determination sub-module 1611 is adapted to
compare a power load occupied by an HSDPA of the carrier frequency
with a deactivation threshold or an activation threshold according
to the measured power load occupied by the HSDPA of the carrier
frequency, and perform a deactivation or activation determination
on the carrier frequency.
[0225] The second determination sub-module 1612 is adapted to
compare an average error rate of BERs of the carrier frequency with
a deactivation threshold according to the measured average error
rate of BERs of the carrier frequency, and make a deactivation
determination to the carrier frequency; and activate the carrier
frequency when a preset timer expires after deactivation.
[0226] The third determination sub-module 1613 is adapted to
compare a number of HSDPA service pending bytes of the carrier
frequency with a deactivation threshold or an activation threshold
according to the measured number of HSDPA service pending bytes of
the carrier frequency, and perform a deactivation or activation
determination on a subsidiary carrier frequency, in which the
carrier frequency is a subsidiary carrier frequency.
[0227] The fourth determination sub-module 1614 is adapted to
compare a ratio of ACK to NACK of the carrier frequency with a
deactivation threshold according to the ratio of ACK to NACK of the
carrier frequency reported by a terminal, and make a deactivation
determination to the carrier frequency; and activate the carrier
frequency when a preset timer expires after deactivation.
[0228] The fifth determination sub-module 1615 is adapted to make a
deactivation determination to the carrier frequency based on a DL
error rate of the carrier frequency reported by a terminal; and
activate the carrier frequency when a preset timer expires after
deactivation.
[0229] The instruction module 1620 further includes a first
instruction module 1621 or a second instruction module 1622.
[0230] The first instruction module 1621 is adapted to carry the
determination result through an MAC layer PDU, so as to instruct
the terminal to deactivate or activate the carrier frequency.
[0231] The second instruction module 1622 is adapted to carry the
determination result through a physical layer signaling, so as to
instruct the terminal to deactivate or activate the carrier
frequency.
[0232] In the network device adopted by the embodiments of the
present disclosure, a certain carrier frequency is flexibly
activated and deactivated.
[0233] Through the descriptions of the preceding embodiments, those
skilled in the art may understand that the present disclosure may
be implemented by using hardware only or by using software and a
necessary universal hardware platform. Based on such
understandings, the embodiments of the present disclosure may be
embodied in the form of a software product. The software product
may be stored in a nonvolatile storage medium, which can be a
Compact Disk Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), Universal Serial Bus (USB)
flash drive, or a removable hard drive. The software product
includes a number of instructions that enable a computer device
(personal computer, server, or network device) to execute the
methods provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0234] The above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of
the present disclosure, but not intended to limit the scope of the
present disclosure. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or
improvement made without departing from the spirit and principle of
the present disclosure should fall within the scope of the present
disclosure.
* * * * *