HK1164017A - Method and apparatus for utilizing a plurality of uplink carriers and a plurality of downlink carriers - Google Patents

Description

Method and apparatus for using multiple uplink carriers and multiple downlink carriers

Technical Field

The present application relates to wireless communications.

Background

Wireless communication systems continue to evolve to meet the need to provide continuous and faster access to data networks. To meet these needs, wireless communication systems may use multiple carriers for data transmission. A wireless communication system using multiple carriers for data transmission may be referred to as a multi-carrier system. The use of multiple carriers is extended in both cellular and non-cellular wireless systems.

Multicarrier systems may increase the bandwidth available in a wireless communication system. For example, a dual carrier system may double the bandwidth compared to a single carrier system, a tri-carrier system may triple the bandwidth compared to a single carrier system, and so on. In addition to this throughput gain, diversity and joint scheduling gains can be achieved. This may lead to an improvement in the quality of service (QoS) of the end user. Further, the use of multiple carriers may be used in conjunction with Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO).

For example, in the case of the third generation partnership project (3GPP) system, dual cell high speed downlink packet access (DC-HSDPA) is included in release 8 of the 3GPP specifications. With DC-HSDPA, a base station (also referred to as a node B) communicates with a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) over two downlink carriers simultaneously. This may double the bandwidth and peak data rate available to the WTRU and also has the potential to increase the efficiency of the network by means of fast scheduling and fast channel feedback via both carriers.

For DC-HSDPA operation, each WTRU may be allocated two downlink carriers: anchor (anchor) carriers (primary) and secondary (supplemental) carriers). The anchor carrier may carry dedicated and shared control channels for high speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH), enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH), and Dedicated Channel (DCH) operations (e.g., local dedicated physical channel (F-DPCH), E-DCH HARQ indicator channel (E-HICH), E-DCH relative grant channel (E-RGCH), E-DCH absolute grant channel (E-AGCH), common pilot channel (CPICH), high speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH), and high speed physical downlink shared channel (HS-PDSCH), etc.). The secondary carrier may carry the CPICH, HS-SCCH, and HS-PDSCH for the WTRU. As with current systems, uplink transmissions remain on a single carrier. High speed dedicated physical control channel (HS-DPCCH) feedback information may be provided to the node B on the uplink carriers, including information for each downlink carrier.

Fig. 1 shows a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer structure for DC-HSDPA operation. The MAC-ehs entity comprises one hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) entity in each HS-DSCH transport channel. If each HS-DSCH transport channel has a fixed mapping to physical channel resources, HARQ retransmissions may occur on the same transport channel and may thereby reduce the benefits of frequency diversity that may be brought about by the use of multiple carriers. However, it has been suggested that the mapping between the HS-DSCH and the physical resources (e.g., code and carrier frequencies) may be dynamically adjusted to provide diversity gain.

Multi-carrier or multi-cell uplink transmission may be implemented to increase data rate and capacity in the uplink. For example, the use of multi-cell uplink transmissions may improve data processing and power consumption of the WTRU. However, even during periods of inactivity, WTRU battery life may be significantly reduced due to the multiple uplink carriers being continuously transmitted on the uplink. In addition, continuous DPCCH transmission on any number of uplink carriers may negatively impact system capacity.

There is a need for methods and apparatus for power control for multi-carrier uplink communications when performing Continuous Packet Connectivity (CPC) operation for single carrier uplink transmissions to help a WTRU reduce power loss while in CELL _ DCH.

Disclosure of Invention

A method and apparatus for using multiple uplink carriers and multiple downlink carriers is disclosed. The WTRU activates the primary uplink carrier and the primary downlink carrier and activates or deactivates the secondary uplink carrier based on a command from the network or upon detecting a preconfigured condition. Such an order may be a physical layer signal such as an HS-SCCH order.

Once the secondary uplink carrier is deactivated, the WTRU may deactivate the secondary downlink carrier and vice versa. Once the secondary downlink carrier is activated, the WTRU may activate the secondary uplink carrier. Upon activation/deactivation of Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) on the primary uplink carrier, the WTRU may deactivate/activate the secondary uplink carrier. Such an order may be transmitted via an HS-SCCH order or an E-AGCH message. The WTRU may deactivate the secondary uplink carrier based on inactivity of the E-DCH transmission, buffer status, channel conditions, power limitations, or other similar triggers.

When the secondary uplink carrier is activated, a DPCCH transmission may be initiated on the secondary uplink carrier a predetermined time period before initiating the E-DCH transmission. The initial DPCCH transmission power on the secondary uplink carrier may be set based on the DPCCH transmission power on the primary uplink carrier or may be set to a value signaled by the network. A default value may be used for E-DCH transmission on the secondary uplink carrier after the secondary uplink carrier is activated.

The same DTX status configured for the primary uplink carrier may be used for the secondary uplink carrier after the secondary uplink carrier is activated. The DTX patterns for the primary and secondary uplink carriers may be independently adjusted or configured.

Drawings

A more particular understanding can be obtained from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a MAC layer structure for DC-HSDPA operation;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary wireless communication system;

figure 3 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary WTRU and an exemplary node-B in the wireless communication system shown in figure 2;

figure 4 illustrates an exemplary WTRU configured to transmit two uplink carriers to a UTRAN, in accordance with one embodiment;

figure 5 shows an exemplary WTRU configured to transmit two uplink carriers to a UTRAN, in accordance with another embodiment;

figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating dynamic carrier adjustment in a WTRU;

figure 7 shows an exemplary transition between various states of carrier activation/deactivation according to the HS-SCCH order;

figure 8 shows signaling indicating secondary uplink carrier activation/deactivation using NBAP;

fig. 9 shows signaling indicating secondary uplink carrier activation/deactivation using NBAP and RNSAP;

figure 10 is a flow chart illustrating a method of autonomous dynamic carrier adjustment in a WTRU;

fig. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a process related to deactivating a secondary uplink carrier; and

fig. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure related to activating a secondary uplink carrier.

Detailed Description

When referred to hereafter, the term "WTRU" includes but is not limited to a User Equipment (UE), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a pager, a cellular telephone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a computer, a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, a sensor, or any other type of device capable of operating in a wireless environment. When referring hereinafter to the term "node B," this includes, but is not limited to, a base station, a site controller, an Access Point (AP), or any other type of interfacing device capable of operating in a wireless environment.

The network may allocate at least one downlink and/or at least one uplink carrier as an anchor downlink carrier and an anchor uplink carrier, respectively. In multi-carrier operation, a WTRU may be configured to operate using two or more carriers (also referred to as frequencies). Each of these carriers may have unique characteristics and logical associations with the network and the WTRUs, and the operating frequencies may be grouped and referred to as anchor (or primary) carriers and secondary (or secondary) carriers. Hereinafter, the terms "anchor carrier" and "primary carrier", and "secondary carrier", respectively, may be used interchangeably. If more than two carriers are configured, the WTRU may include multiple primary carriers and/or multiple secondary carriers. The embodiments described herein are applicable and can also be extended to these scenarios. For example, an anchor carrier may be defined as a carrier that carries one special set of control information for downlink/uplink transmissions. Any carrier that is not assigned as an anchor carrier may be used as a secondary carrier. Alternatively, the network may not allocate an anchor carrier and not give any downlink or uplink carrier priority, preference, or default status. For multi-carrier operation, there may be multiple secondary or sub-carriers.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary wireless communication system 100, the system 100 including a plurality of WTRUs 110, a node B120, a Controlling Radio Network Controller (CRNC)130, a Serving Radio Network Controller (SRNC)140, and a core network 150. The node B120 together with the CRNC 130 and the SRNC140 may be collectively referred to as a UTRAN.

As shown in fig. 2, the WTRU110 communicates with the node B120, and the node B120 communicates with the CRNC 130 and the SRNC 140. Communication between the WTRU110 and the node B120 may be performed via multiple downlink carriers (e.g., at least one primary downlink carrier and at least one secondary downlink carrier) and multiple uplink carriers (e.g., at least one primary uplink carrier and at least one secondary uplink carrier). Although three WTRUs 110 and one node B120, one CRNC 130, and one SRNC140 are shown in fig. 2, it should be noted that any combination of wireless and wired devices may be included in the wireless communication system 100.

Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of a WTRU110 and a node-B120 in the wireless communication system 100 shown in figure 2. As shown in fig. 3, the WTRUs 110 are in communication with the node-B120 and are each configured to perform a method for performing uplink transmissions using multiple uplink carriers. The WTRU110 includes a processor 115, a receiver 116, a transmitter 117, a memory 118, an antenna 119, and other components (not shown) that may be found in a typical WTRU. Memory 118 is provided for storing software including an operating system, application programs, and the like. The processor 115 is provided for performing, alone or in combination with software, a method of performing uplink transmission using multiple uplink carriers. The receiver 116 and the transmitter 117 are in communication with the processor 115. The receiver 116 and/or the transmitter 117 may be configured to simultaneously receive and/or transmit on multiple carriers, respectively. Alternatively, the WTRU110 may include multiple receivers and/or transmitters. An antenna 119 is in communication with the receiver 116 and the transmitter 117 to facilitate the transmission and reception of wireless data.

The node B120 includes a processor 125, a receiver 126, a transmitter 127, an antenna 128, and other components (not shown) that may be found in a typical base station. The processor 125 is provided to perform a method of performing uplink transmission using multiple uplink carriers, alone or in combination with software. The receiver 126 and the transmitter 127 are in communication with the processor 125. The receiver 126 and/or the transmitter 127 may be configured to simultaneously receive and/or transmit on multiple carriers, respectively. Alternatively, the node B120 may include multiple receivers and/or transmitters. The antenna 128 is in communication with the receiver 126 and the transmitter 127 to facilitate the transmission and reception of wireless data.

It should be noted that although the embodiments described herein are described with reference to HSPA + related channels, the embodiments may be applied to any other multi-carrier system (and channels used therein), such as LTE release 8 or later, and LTE-advanced, and any other type of wireless communication system, and channels used therein. It should also be noted that the embodiments described herein may be applied in any order or in any combination.

Embodiments of activation and deactivation of secondary uplink carriers and Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) on secondary uplink carriers will be disclosed below. The embodiments described hereinafter may be used alone or in combination with other embodiments. It should be appreciated that even though the embodiments disclosed below are described in terms of two uplink carriers (one primary carrier and one secondary carrier), the embodiments may be extended to any number of uplink carriers. The secondary uplink carrier may be referred to as a secondary serving enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) cell. The secondary downlink carrier may be referred to as a secondary HS-DSCH serving cell.

Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary WTRU configured to transmit multiple uplink carriers to a UTRAN according to one embodiment. The WTRU110 may transmit a data channel (e.g., an E-DCH dedicated physical data channel (E-DPDCH)) and a pilot and other control channels (e.g., a DPCCH, an E-DCH dedicated physical control channel (E-DPCCH), and/or an HS-DSCH dedicated physical control channel (HS-DPCCH)) on an anchor uplink carrier and a data channel (e.g., an E-DPDCH) and a pilot channel on a secondary uplink carrier.

The anchor uplink carrier may carry all or most of the uplink control signaling sent to the UTRAN. Examples of control signaling may include, but are not limited to: (1) feedback for downlink channels (e.g., HS-DPDCH), including Channel Quality Information (CQI), Precoding Control Indication (PCI), ACK/NACK HARQ information; (2) downlink radio link control information, (e.g., uplink DPCCH), including uplink pilot symbols, feedback information (FBI), and Transmit Power Control (TPC) commands; or (3) E-DCH control information, (e.g., E-DPCCH), including a Retransmission Sequence Number (RSN) for HARQ processing, E-DCH transport format combination index (E-TFCI) information indicating a size of a transport block to be transmitted, and happy bit (happy bit). As shown in fig. 4, a data channel (e.g., E-DPDCH) may carry user traffic on the anchor uplink carrier.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 5, the secondary uplink carrier may also carry E-DCH control information related to the secondary uplink carrier transmission. The E-DCH control information transmitted on the anchor uplink carrier may be related to data transmission on the anchor uplink carrier. A separate E-DPCCH may be sent on the secondary uplink carrier for transmitting E-DCH control information in addition to data and pilot signals (in a similar manner to single carrier operation).

Figure 6 is a flow chart illustrating dynamic carrier adjustment in the WTRU 110. The WTRU110 may be configured to perform this dynamic carrier adjustment as part of a power control procedure to reduce data processing load in the WTRU110, for traffic control in a communication network, or other defined network or predetermined reason. As shown in fig. 6, the WTRU110 receives a signal indicating to the WTRU110 to activate or deactivate a secondary carrier. In another alternative, the signal may indicate to the WTRU110 to adjust the operating characteristics of the secondary carriers, such as transmit power adjustment, or DTX mode or period adjustment. The signal may be sent explicitly or implicitly. Upon receiving the signal, the WTRU110 determines which carriers to activate, deactivate or modify and then performs the appropriate secondary activation, deactivation or modification procedures. This may include specifying an ongoing or scheduled transmission on the carrier. Upon activation, deactivation, or modification of the secondary carriers, the WTRU110 is configured to adjust the DTX mode. Although the described embodiments are directed to controlling the secondary carriers, it should be understood that the described methods may also be applied to the anchor carrier.

According to one embodiment, the WTRU110 may be configured to receive an explicit signal from the network informing the WTRU110 to activate or deactivate the secondary uplink carrier. The explicit signal may include, but is not limited to, layer 1 signaling (e.g., HS-SCCH order, E-AGCH signals), layer 2 signaling (e.g., messages in a MAC-ehs Protocol Data Unit (PDU), E-RNTI, or MAC header), or layer 3 signaling (e.g., RRC messages). Based on the signaling, the WTRU110 may activate or deactivate its secondary carriers. By performing dynamic control of the secondary uplink carrier, the WTRU110 is able to save transmission power.

In one embodiment, the network may explicitly signal the WTRU110 to activate or deactivate the secondary uplink carrier via a legacy layer 1 signal (e.g., a high speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH) order) or a new layer 1 signal. For example, the HS-SCCH order may be defined as activating or deactivating a secondary uplink carrier. The HS-SCCH order may be sent via the primary and/or secondary serving HS-DSCH cell. Upon receiving the layer 1 signal (e.g., HS-SCCH order), the WTRU110 activates or deactivates transmission on the secondary uplink carrier. The receipt of the HS-SCCH order may also be an implicit indication that the WTRU110 stops monitoring downlink control signaling, such as E-HICH, E-RGCH, E-AGCH (if applicable) associated with the secondary uplink carrier. The HS-SCCH order may optionally instruct the WTRU110 to stop monitoring the secondary downlink carrier.

The HS-SCCH order signal may include an order type bit x_odt，1，x_odt，2，x_odt，3And a command bit x_ord，1，x_ord，2，x_ord，3. For example, if the command type bit x_odt，1，x_odt，2，x_odt，3001', then x_ord，1，x_ord，2，x_ord，3The mapping of (d) may be defined as follows:

x_ord，1，x_ord，2，x_ord，3may be included in:

-reserved (1 bit): x is the number of_ord，1＝x_res，1

Secondary serving E-DCH cell activation (1 bit): x is the number of_ord，2＝x_{E-DCH_sec ondary，1}

Secondary serving HS-DSCH cell activation (1 bit): x is the number of_ord，3＝x_{sec ondary，1}

If x_{E-DCH_sec ondary，1}If '0', then the HS-SCCH order may be a secondary serving E-DCH cell deactivation order;

if x_{E-DCH_sec ondary，1}If '1', then the HS-SCCH order may be a secondary serving E-DCH cell activation order;

if x_{sec ondary，1}If '0', then the HS-SCCH order may be a secondary serving HS-DSCH cell deactivation order; and

if x_{sec ondary，1}The HS-SCCH order may be a secondary serving HS-DSCH cell activation order, 1'.

Figure 7 shows an exemplary transition between various states of carrier activation/deactivation according to the HS-SCCH order. The HS-SCCH order '000' causes a state transition to a state where both the secondary serving E-DCH cell and the secondary HS-DSCH cell are deactivated. The HS-SCCH order '001' causes a state transition to a state where the secondary serving E-DCH cell is deactivated and the secondary HS-DSCH cell is activated. The HS-SCCH order '011' causes a state transition to a state where both the secondary serving E-DCH cell and the secondary HS-DSCH cell are activated. A state (not shown in fig. 7) may be defined in which the secondary serving E-DCH cell is activated and the secondary HS-DSCH cell is deactivated and may be transitioned to this state using HS-SCCH order '010'.

Alternatively, a new command type may be defined for this purpose. This alternative may be scalable to multiple uplink carriers. For example, if the command type bit x_odt，1，x_odt，2，x_odt，3010', then x_ord，1，x_ord，2，x_ord，3The mapping of (d) may be defined as follows:

x_ord，1，x_ord，2，x_ord，3may be included in:

-reserved (2 bits): x is the number of_ord，1，x_ord，2＝x_res，1，x_res，2

Secondary serving E-DCH cell activation (1 bit): x is the number of_ord，3＝x_{E-DCH_sec ondary，1}

If x_{E-DCH_sec ondary，1}If '0', then the HS-SCCH order may be a secondary serving E-DCH cell deactivation order; and

if x_{E-DCH_sec ondary，1}The HS-SCCH order may be a secondary serving E-DCH cell activation order, 1'.

In another embodiment, the command received by the WTRU110 may be used as explicit signaling to activate or deactivate any secondary uplink carrier. For example, an HS-SCCH order for activating or deactivating a secondary downlink carrier may be used for activating or deactivating a secondary uplink carrier. The HS-SCCH order to deactivate the secondary downlink carrier may implicitly order the WTRU110 to also deactivate the secondary uplink carrier. Thus, when the secondary downlink carrier is deactivated by the network, the WTRU110 may also deactivate the secondary uplink carrier. However, the HS-SCCH order that activates the secondary downlink carrier may not also implicitly activate the secondary uplink carrier. Alternatively, the WTRU110 may be configured to activate the secondary uplink carrier upon activation of the secondary downlink carrier.

In another embodiment, the WTRU110 may receive a DTX activation order for the primary uplink carrier, which may implicitly deactivate the secondary uplink carrier. DTX deactivation may reactivate secondary uplink carriers. Alternatively, an explicit activation command may be used to reactivate the secondary uplink carrier.

According to another embodiment, the E-AGCH may be used to explicitly inform the WTRU110 to deactivate or activate the secondary uplink carrier. For example, the node B120 may use the E-AGCH associated with the secondary uplink carrier (or alternatively the E-AGCH associated with the primary carrier) to signal that the absolute grant value is set to 'INACTIVE', the absolute grant range is set to 'all HARQ processes', or alternatively the absolute grant value is set to 0. Alternatively, a special absolute grant value or a combination of absolute grant values and absolute grant ranges may be reserved to signal deactivation or activation of the secondary uplink carrier. Upon receiving the absolute grant message, the WTRU110 deactivates the secondary uplink carrier.

Alternatively, an extra field may be added to the absolute grant message. For example, the field may include a bit to indicate to the WTRU110 to activate or deactivate the secondary uplink carrier. If the bit is set, the WTRU110 may deactivate the secondary uplink carrier. This may be signaled on any E-AGCH used to control the scheduling of the primary or secondary uplink carrier. Optionally, the bit is not set for the primary uplink carrier on the E-AGCH when the secondary uplink carrier is deactivated, which may indicate to the WTRU110 that the secondary uplink carrier is activated. In another embodiment, multiple bits may be added to the absolute grant, each bit corresponding to one or more secondary carriers. Alternatively, other methods described herein may be used to activate the secondary uplink carrier.

Alternatively, a special value of the absolute grant value field may be used to indicate deactivation or activation of the secondary uplink carrier.

Alternatively, the absolute grant range bit may be re-interpreted as indicating activation or deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

Alternatively, the WTRU110 may deactivate or activate the secondary uplink carrier using layer 2 messages. The layer 2 message may be included in a MAC-ehs Protocol Data Unit (PDU). For example, a special value of the logical channel identification (LCH-ID) field may be used to indicate the presence of the message, optionally followed by four (4) idle bits, where two of the four idle bits are reserved for indicating activation or deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

Alternatively, a separate E-RNTI may be allocated to the WTRU and used to indicate deactivation or activation of the secondary uplink carrier on the E-AGCH. The E-AGCH may be masked (mask) with the special E-RNTI if the secondary uplink carrier is activated or deactivated. Upon detecting the E-AGCH with the special E-RNTI, the WTRU110 activates or deactivates the secondary uplink carrier. The absolute grant value in the E-AGCH transmission may be set to "0" or "inactive", for example, when a deactivation command is signaled. The absolute grant value in the E-AGCH transmission may be set to a value that the network allocates to the WTRU110 when the secondary uplink carrier is re-enabled for initial E-DCH transmission when the secondary uplink carrier is activated.

An indication to deactivate or activate a secondary uplink carrier using layer 1 or layer 2 signaling may be generated from the serving node B120. Since other node bs in the WTRU110 active set may also monitor the secondary uplink carrier from the WTRU, other node bs will benefit from an indication that instructs the WTRU110 to deactivate or activate the secondary uplink carrier. The deactivation or activation indication may be an acknowledgement of a deactivation or activation command from the network, or a WTRU initiated or WTRU assisted deactivation or activation indication. According to one embodiment, the WTRU110 may send an indication in the uplink indicating that the secondary uplink carrier is deactivated or activated.

The indication may be accomplished in any of the following ways. One special or reserved value in an E-DCH transport format combination index (E-TFCI) may be transmitted via the E-DPCCH in the uplink. The WTRU110 may send the special E-TFCI when no data is transmitted on the corresponding uplink carrier (i.e., the E-DPDCH is not transmitted).

Alternatively, a happy bit for the E-DPCCH in the secondary uplink carrier may be used to signal the indication. The happy bit may be implemented as a flag associated with rate request and Scheduling Information (SI) on a control channel, such as E-DPCCH. The happy bit may be transmitted within the band (e.g., on the E-DCH). The happy bit may be reused or reinterpreted to indicate deactivation or activation of the secondary uplink carrier. For example, a happy bit sent on a channel of a secondary uplink carrier (e.g., E-DPCCH) may indicate to other node bs that the secondary carrier may be deactivated, rather than indicating a happy status (a state of happy), as an indication of the happy may be sent via the anchor carrier, or alternatively via another secondary carrier. In a multi-carrier system with more than two carriers, one or more happy bits may be used.

Alternatively, a special value of Scheduling Information (SI) may be used to indicate that the WTRU110 has deactivated or is about to deactivate the secondary uplink carrier. For example, a value of total E-DCH buffer status (TEBS) set to 0 may be used to report implicit deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier. Alternatively, the WTRU110 may use a zero power headroom (headroom) to indicate implicit deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier. If there are two power headroom fields in the SI field, the WTRU110 may report a power headroom of 0 for the secondary uplink carrier. Alternatively, a TEBS value, which may be below a preconfigured threshold, may also signal deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier. Alternatively, a special reservation value of the highest logical channel identification (HLID) or highest priority logical channel buffer status (HLBS) may be used to indicate deactivation or activation of the secondary uplink carrier.

Alternatively, layer 2 signaling in the MAC-i header using a special value of the LCH-ID field and using, for example, one or two values of four spare bits, may be used to indicate deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

Alternatively, serving node B120 may signal all cells in the active set that the secondary uplink carrier has been deactivated or may be deactivated after multiple TTIs indicating transmission. As shown in fig. 8 and 9, by way of example, the signaling procedure indicating that the secondary uplink carrier has been deactivated or activated may be implemented using a Node B Application Part (NBAP) (Iub) and a Radio Network Subsystem Application Part (RNSAP) (Iur) protocol.

Fig. 8 shows signaling indicating secondary uplink carrier activation/deactivation using NBAP. In fig. 8, the serving node B sends an activation/deactivation status report to the RNC via the NBAP (iub), indicating that the secondary uplink carrier of a particular WTRU has been activated or deactivated, which the RNC forwards to the non-serving node bs in the active set via the NBAP. Fig. 9 shows signaling indicating secondary uplink carrier activation/deactivation using NBAP and RNSAP. In fig. 9, two Radio Network Subsystems (RNSs) are included. The serving node B sends an activation/deactivation status report to the RNC controlling the serving node B via nbap (iub), indicating that the secondary uplink carrier of a particular WTRU has been activated or deactivated. The RNC then forwards the activation/deactivation status report via the NBAP to the non-serving node bs in the active set controlled by the RNC. The RNC also forwards activation/deactivation status reports via the RNSAP (e.g., Iur interface) to other non-serving node bs in the active set that are controlled by different RNCs.

Alternatively, the activation time may be indicated to all non-serving node bs and optionally also to the WTRU 110. For example, the serving node-B120 may notify other non-serving node-bs of the deactivation or activation command once sent to the WTRU 110. The WTRU110 acts on the received command long enough to ensure that all neighboring node bs receive the indication via Iub. A certain Iub and/or Iur latency requirement may be assumed. Alternatively, the serving node-B120 may first inform the non-serving node-bs and then send commands or other layer 1/layer 2 signaling to the WTRU 110.

Alternatively, if the secondary DPCCH includes some idle bits, the WTRU110 may indicate deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier using one of the idle bits of the secondary DPCCH. This may ensure that even cells that are not part of the E-DCH active set (i.e. DCH active set) may receive the indication.

Alternatively, if SI is sent on both uplink carriers and if the SI in the secondary uplink carrier includes idle bits, the WTRU110 may use these idle bits to signal activation of the secondary uplink carrier.

A problem with using unused idle bits or unused fields in channels belonging to the secondary uplink carrier is that these bits or fields may not be used to indicate reactivation of the secondary uplink carrier. Thus, in this case, the activation of the secondary uplink carrier may be signaled in other ways as described above, which ensures that all node bs can receive the indication on the anchor carrier.

The WTRU110 may send a deactivation indication on any uplink carrier: primary carrier or secondary carrier. Alternatively, the deactivation indication may be transmitted on the primary uplink carrier or on the uplink carrier being deactivated (i.e., the secondary uplink carrier).

Similarly, when the serving node-B120 orders reactivation of transmissions on the secondary uplink carrier, the WTRU110 may send an indication of the secondary uplink carrier reactivation. The reactivation indication may be sent in a similar manner as the deactivation indication. A reactivation indication may be sent on the primary carrier. Alternatively, the serving node B may signal all cells in the active set that the secondary uplink carrier has been activated. By way of example, the signaling procedure to indicate that a secondary carrier has been deactivated may be implemented using nbap (iub) and rnsap (iur) RAN protocols as described above.

Upon sending the deactivation/activation indication to the node-B in the E-DCH active set, the WTRU110 waits for an acknowledgement. Current E-DCH operation allows the WTRU110 to consider the PDU transmission successful upon receiving an ACK from any cell. To ensure that all node bs in the E-DCH active set have received the indication, the WTRU110 may wait to receive an ACK from at least one cell in each Radio Link Set (RLS) (i.e., each node B). The WTRU110 may consider a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) transmission to be successful if an ACK is received from at least one cell per RLS, otherwise a HARQ retransmission is triggered. If no ACK is received from the at least one RLS and the indication exceeds the maximum number of HARQ retransmissions, the WTRU110 may declare the indication transmission unsuccessful and trigger a new transmission of the indication. For example, if SI is used to indicate activation/deactivation and WTRU110 fails to successfully transmit the SI to all node bs according to the criteria detailed above, the SI may be triggered again.

Alternatively, the WTRU110 may be configured to repeatedly send the indication for a pre-configured amount of time. For example, the WTRU110 may send the indication in a determined number of consecutive TTIs to ensure that all node bs receive the indication.

Figure 10 is a flow chart illustrating a method of autonomous dynamic carrier adjustment in the WTRU 110. The WTRU110 may be configured to autonomously or implicitly activate and deactivate any secondary uplink carriers without requiring explicit commands or signals from the network. One trigger indicates to the WTRU110 that the secondary carriers need to be activated, deactivated, or modified (1010). For example, the trigger may be based on an inactivity timer, buffer status, channel conditions, battery usage, or location-based conditions. The WTRU110 determines the affected carriers (1020). For example, in the case of dual carrier, the WTRU110 may automatically know that it only affects the secondary carrier. The WTRU110 then performs a procedure to activate, deactivate, or modify the determined secondary carriers (1030). The WTRU110 informs the network that the carrier has been activated or deactivated (1040). The WTRU then adjusts the carrier and determines a new DTX mode. Alternatively, the DTX mode may be signaled by the network.

The WTRU110 is configured with an inactivity timer or inactivity threshold defined in terms of Transmission Time Intervals (TTIs). The inactivity threshold defines the time or number of consecutive TTIs for which the WTRU110 does not make any E-DCH transmission. When the inactivity state of the E-DCH transmission reaches or exceeds an inactivity threshold or an inactivity timer expires, the WTRU110 deactivates the secondary uplink carrier. Inactivity for E-DCH transmission may refer to no E-DCH transmission on the secondary uplink carrier, or alternatively may refer to no E-DCH transmission on any uplink carrier.

An inactivity timer may be started or an inactivity threshold may be monitored at all times (i.e., even if the WTRU110 is in a continuous transmission mode). Alternatively, the inactivity timer may be monitored if the WTRU110 is in WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _1, or alternatively, after the WTRU110 has changed to WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _ 2. WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _2 is longer than WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _1 and when in WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _1, triggers WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _2 after a configured inactivity period. Alternatively, deactivating the secondary uplink carrier may correspond directly to DTX timing configured for the primary uplink carrier (e.g., using the same timer). In this case, the WTRU110 deactivates the secondary uplink carrier when DTX starts on the primary uplink carrier. Alternatively, when DTX period 2 starts on the anchor carrier, the WTRU110 may deactivate the secondary carrier (i.e., the inactivity timer that started DTX period 2 expires).

Alternatively, the buffer status of the WTRU110 may be an implicit trigger to deactivate or activate the secondary uplink carrier. The WTRU110 may be configured with a predetermined total E-DCH buffer status (TEBS) threshold that the WTRU110 may monitor. The WTRU110 may deactivate the secondary uplink carrier if the buffer status of the WTRU110 is equal to or less than the TEBS threshold. Alternatively, a TEBS threshold may be used in combination with a trigger timer. For example, if the TEBS value is equal to or less than the TEBS threshold during the trigger timer, the WTRU110 may deactivate the secondary uplink carrier.

In addition, the WTRU110 may activate the secondary uplink carrier using an activate TEBS threshold. For example, the WTRU110 may reactivate the secondary uplink carrier if the TEBS value is above the active TEBS threshold, optionally during a preconfigured time period. This activation trigger may be applied to any of the embodiments disclosed above, regardless of the method used to deactivate the secondary uplink carrier.

Alternatively, the WTRU110 may deactivate the secondary uplink carrier based on channel conditions and/or power constraints. For example, when the WTRU110 moves to the cell edge and becomes power limited, the WTRU110 may autonomously deactivate the secondary uplink carrier. This can be demonstrated by the fact that: if the WTRU110 is limited by its maximum transmission power, there is little or no gain when utilizing a larger bandwidth.

Deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier may be triggered if the uplink power headroom of one, two, any, or a combination of the uplink carriers is below a certain threshold, optionally for a configured amount of time. Alternatively, deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier may be triggered if the common pilot channel (CPICH) power received from the primary downlink carrier is less than a certain threshold. The CPICH power received from any downlink carrier may be used. Alternatively, deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier may also be triggered if the WTRU110 receives a predetermined number of consecutive increasing (i.e., UP) power control commands from the serving node-B120 on one, two, or any number of carriers. Alternatively, if the WTRU110 has sufficient data and grant to fully use the power headroom on the anchor carrier (i.e., the WTRU110 is limited by its maximum transmission power), deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier may be triggered. Alternatively, deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier may be triggered if the power headroom on the secondary uplink carrier is less than the power headroom on the anchor uplink carrier. Alternatively, deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier may be triggered if the WTRU110 is unable to transmit any data on the secondary uplink carrier for a preconfigured amount of time due to power limitations in the secondary uplink carrier. It should be noted that the above-described threshold may be predefined or configured by a higher layer, such as a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer.

Upon autonomously deactivating the secondary uplink carrier, the WTRU110 may send an indication to the network to signal the deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier. This may be performed using one or a combination of the following methods, or additionally using one or a combination of the deactivation indication methods described above. A special value of the SI may be used to indicate that the WTRU110 has deactivated or is about to deactivate the secondary uplink carrier. For example, a value of TEBS set to 0 may be used to report implicit deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier. Alternatively, the WTRU110 may use a zero power headroom to indicate implicit deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier. If there are two power headroom fields in the SI field, the WTRU110 may report a power headroom of 0 for the secondary uplink carrier. Alternatively, a TEBS value below a configured threshold may be used as an indication.

Alternatively, layer 2 signaling in the MAC-i header using a special value of the LCH-ID field and using one or two values, e.g., 4 spare bits, may be used to indicate deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier. Alternatively, a special or reserved value in the E-TFCI may be transmitted on the E-DPCCH. The WTRU110 may send the special E-TFCI when no data is transmitted on the corresponding uplink carrier (i.e., the E-DPDCH is not transmitted).

The WTRU110 may send a deactivation indication on any uplink carrier: the arbitrary uplink carrier may be a primary carrier or a secondary carrier. Alternatively, the deactivation indication may be transmitted on the primary carrier or on the carrier being deactivated (i.e., the secondary uplink carrier).

Alternatively, the WTRU110 may deactivate the secondary uplink carrier without indicating the deactivation to the network.

For all of the embodiments disclosed above, the WTRU110 may deactivate the secondary uplink carrier in a determined number of slots or a determined number of TTIs after receiving an explicit indication or after triggering an implicit criterion. The time of activation or deactivation may take into account the time of sending an acknowledgement or indication to the network and optionally the time of informing all node bs via Iub signaling.

For implicit triggering, where the WTRU110 sends an indication to the network, the WTRU110 may wait until an ACK is received for a given message before deactivating the secondary uplink carrier. Optionally, after receiving the ACK, the WTRU110 may wait for a determined number of slots or a determined number of TTIs before activating or deactivating the secondary uplink carrier. Deactivation may be acknowledged as described above. For example, the WTRU110 may wait to receive ACKs from at least one cell in each RLS.

Uplink and downlink subcarriers may be activated and deactivated in coordination. According to one embodiment, the secondary uplink carrier may be activated after the secondary downlink carrier is activated based on any trigger (e.g., HS-SCCH order) to activate the secondary downlink carrier. This activation may occur even if there is no need to transmit data on the uplink, with the purpose of providing HS-DPCCH feedback for the secondary downlink carrier. The activation may occur a certain number of subframes after the secondary downlink carrier activation.

According to another embodiment, the secondary uplink carrier may be deactivated upon deactivation of the secondary downlink carrier based on any trigger (e.g., an HS-SCCH order) to deactivate the secondary downlink carrier. Deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier may require additional conditions, i.e., no ongoing data transmission in the uplink direction (i.e., E-DCH) on the secondary uplink carrier, and/or the WTRU110 buffer is empty.

According to another embodiment, the secondary downlink carrier may be activated after the secondary uplink carrier is activated according to any previously defined trigger (e.g., an HS-SCCH order) that activates the secondary uplink carrier. This activation may occur even if there is no need to transmit data on the downlink, with the purpose of providing a downlink control channel for the secondary uplink carrier. The activation may occur a certain number of subframes after the secondary uplink carrier activation.

According to another embodiment, the secondary downlink carrier may be deactivated upon deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier based on any trigger (e.g., an HS-SCCH order) that deactivates the secondary uplink carrier. Deactivation of the secondary downlink carrier may require an additional condition that there is no ongoing data transmission in the downlink direction (i.e., HS-DSCH) on the secondary downlink carrier.

According to another embodiment, both uplink and downlink carriers may be activated or deactivated by a single trigger. The trigger may be the receipt of an HS-SCCH order indicating that both carriers are activated or deactivated. This may be achieved, for example, by defining a new HS-SCCH order type. Alternatively, the trigger may be the reception of an E-AGCH signal indicating that both carriers are activated or deactivated. For example, such an E-AGCH signal may include a combination of bits corresponding to "INACTIVE", or a combination corresponding to "0 grant", with the bit range set to "all HARQ processes". A distinct E-RNTI value may be used to indicate that the signal is to activate or deactivate both uplink and downlink carriers. To deactivate both the uplink and downlink carriers, the trigger may be that the uplink buffer status of the WTRU110 has fallen below the threshold (or 0) for a predetermined amount of time and no data has been received on the secondary carrier for the predetermined amount of time. To activate both the uplink and downlink carriers, the trigger may be that the uplink buffer status of the WTRU110 has been above a threshold (or 0) for a predetermined amount of time, or that an amount of data above a predetermined threshold has been received on the anchor downlink carrier for a predetermined amount of time.

Fig. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure related to deactivating a secondary uplink carrier. The method may be applied to all secondary uplink carriers. Alternatively, each secondary uplink carrier may have a separate procedure determined by the WTRU110 or signaled by the network. Upon receiving a signal or trigger, the WTRU110 selects which uplink carrier(s) to deactivate. Transmission on the selected carrier is terminated (1110). The transmission may be terminated (1120) after a predetermined period of time, or immediately after the end of any scheduled transmission prior to the deactivation signal. The WTRU110 then stops monitoring any associated control channels (1130). The WTRU110 may stop transmission of any associated control channels (1140). The WTRU110 may further deactivate the selected downlink carrier, which may be determined based on explicit signaling, implicit signaling, or autonomously (1150). Upon deactivation of the secondary carriers, the WTRU110 may reconfigure the DTX mode (1160).

When the secondary uplink carrier is deactivated using one of the embodiments described above or any other method, the WTRU110 may stop transmitting the secondary uplink DPCCH or any uplink control signal for the secondary uplink carrier and/or may stop monitoring and stopping receiving E-HICHs, E-RGCHs, and E-AGCHs (if applicable) associated with the secondary uplink carrier. In addition, the WTRU110 may flush HARQ entities associated with the supplementary carrier. If the WTRU110 is configured to send HS-DPCCH for downlink operation on each uplink carrier, the WTRU110 may stop HS-DPCCH transmission on the secondary uplink carrier. If DC-HSDPA is still active, the WTRU110 may start transmitting HS-DPCCH for the secondary downlink carrier on the primary uplink carrier using a separate HS-DPCCH code, or alternatively start transmitting HS-DPCCH for each carrier on one code using a 3GPP release 8 HS-DPCCH coding format. Optionally, the WTRU110 may also autonomously deactivate the secondary downlink carrier when deactivating the secondary uplink carrier.

In addition, when deactivation occurs through RRC signaling, the following actions may occur. The WTRU110 may stop the E-DCH transmission and reception process on the secondary carrier, flush the HARQ entities associated with the secondary carrier, release the HARQ processes of the HARQ entities associated with the secondary carrier, and/or clear the E-RNTI value associated with the secondary carrier.

Fig. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure related to activating a secondary uplink carrier. The WTRU110 determines any uplink carriers to activate (1210). The WTRU110 determines the initial transmit power of the associated control channel (1220). The WTRU110 determines an initial uplink transmit power for the uplink data channel (1230). The WTRU110 then sets the DTX mode (1240).

When a secondary uplink carrier is activated or initially configured, the WTRU110 may start DPCCH transmission at a determined number of slots or a determined number of TTIs prior to initiating E-DCH transmission on the secondary uplink carrier. The determined number of slots or TTIs may be configured by higher layers. This may allow the WTRU110 to establish the correct power control loop in the secondary uplink carrier and start transmitting at the correct power level. In addition, a post-verification period may be defined to allow the WTRU110 to start the E-DCH transmission before determining synchronization. The duration of the post-verification period may be less than or greater than the post-verification period used in the case of, for example, a conventional synchronization process A, AA or B. A fast activation procedure may be defined for the secondary uplink carrier. This fast activation relies on the fact that the WTRU110 may use the transmission power information from the primary DPCCH carrier when establishing the transmission power on the secondary DPCCH carrier, as described below.

Embodiments for setting the initial DPCCH transmission power after activation of the secondary uplink carrier will be disclosed below.

The initial DPCCH transmission power on the secondary uplink carrier may be set to the same value as the DPCCH transmission power on the primary uplink carrier in a predetermined number (n) of slots (n ≧ 0) before the activation time.

Alternatively, the initial DPCCH transmission power on the secondary uplink carrier may be set to the same value as that obtained by adding or subtracting an offset (dB) from the DPCCH transmission power on the primary uplink carrier in a predetermined number (n) of slots (n ≧ 0) before the activation time. The offset may be a fixed predetermined value. Alternatively, the offset may be a value signaled by the network at the physical layer, MAC layer, or RRC layer. The offset may be broadcast on the system information. The network may determine the value of the offset based (in part) on a relative uplink interference condition between the primary uplink carrier and the secondary uplink carrier. For example, the offset may be a fixed value plus the difference between the interference level of the secondary uplink carrier and the interference level of the primary uplink carrier. Alternatively, the offset value may be derived by the WTRU110 based on the uplink interference value signaled by the network. The network may signal the interference on each uplink carrier on system information block 7(SIB7) via the corresponding downlink carrier. Alternatively, the network may also signal interference on both uplink carriers on the system information block via the primary carrier (or secondary carrier) in order to speed up the acquisition of these values. The network may also signal interference on both uplink carriers using dedicated signaling (PHY, MAC or RRC) along with the activation command or following implicit activation by the WTRU 110. Alternatively, the offset may be determined based on the last observed difference between the DPCCH power levels between the primary and secondary uplink carriers when both uplink carriers are activated. The values may be averaged over a time interval. Alternatively, the offset may be determined as in any of the above methods, or any other method, and the selection of the method is dependent on the amount of time elapsed since the secondary uplink carrier was last activated. Upon deactivation of the auxiliary uplink carrier, the WTRU110 runs a timer and upon expiration of the timer, selects a corresponding method of determining the offset.

The initial DPCCH transmission power on the secondary uplink carrier may be set to a fixed value signaled by the network at the PHY, MAC, or RRC layers, along with an activation command or following implicit activation by the WTRU 110. The initial DPCCH power may be broadcast on system information. The network may determine the initial DPCCH power based (in part) on the relative uplink interference condition between the primary and secondary uplink carriers.

The initial DPCCH transmission power on the secondary uplink carrier may be set to the same value as the initial DPCCH power of the primary uplink carrier notified via RRC signaling.

At the network side, after activating the secondary downlink carrier, the initial DPCCH or F-DPCH transmission power may be determined according to one or a combination of the following. The initial F-DPCH transmission power on the secondary downlink carrier may be set to the same value as the F-DPCH transmission power on the primary downlink carrier in a predetermined number (n) of slots (n ≧ 0) before the activation time.

The initial F-DPCH transmission power on the secondary downlink carrier may be set to the same value as a value obtained by adding an offset (dB) to the F-DPCH transmission power on the primary downlink carrier in a predetermined number (n) of slots (n ≧ 0) before the activation time. The offset may be a fixed predetermined value. Alternatively, the offset may be a value signaled by the WTRU110 on PHY, MAC (e.g., modified scheduling information), or RRC (e.g., measurement report) on the primary uplink carrier after explicit or implicit activation of the secondary uplink carrier. The WTRU110 may determine the offset value based on a measured common pilot channel (CPICH) Ec/No, CPICH Received Signal Code Power (RSCP), Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) on two downlink carriers. Alternatively, the offset may be determined by the network based on measurement reports or other information sent by the WTRU 110. The WTRU110 may trigger transmission of a measurement report immediately upon implicit activation of the secondary uplink carrier or upon receipt of an explicit activation command from the network. Upon implicit or explicit activation of the secondary uplink carrier, the WTRU110 may then trigger transmission of CQI information for two downlink carriers (the primary and secondary downlink carriers corresponding to the uplink carrier to be activated) via the HS-DPCCH of the primary uplink carrier.

When activating the secondary uplink carrier, the WTRU110 may use a default grant value for initial E-DCH transmission, which is a value signaled to the WTRU110 for use when activating the secondary uplink carrier. The default grant value may be signaled to the WTRU110 by RRC signaling after configuring the secondary uplink carrier. Alternatively, the WTRU110 may use the same serving grant as used in the primary uplink carrier when activating the secondary uplink carrier. Alternatively, the WTRU110 may trigger scheduling information and wait for an absolute grant for the secondary uplink carrier. In this case, activation of the secondary uplink carrier may trigger the WTRU110 to send scheduling information.

Upon activation of the secondary uplink carrier, the WTRU110 may then use the same DTX mode as the primary uplink carrier. When the secondary uplink carrier is activated, the WTRU110 may start using the same DTX and/or DRX pattern as in the primary uplink carrier. Alternatively, the WTRU110 may start in a continuous mode for the secondary uplink carrier, or alternatively, may start in WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _1 or WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _ 2.

Embodiments of controlling DTX/DRX patterns to optimize battery power savings and increase capacity with dual downlink carrier operation will be disclosed below. The single carrier WTRU110 has a two-stage DTX mode: physical layer DTX with two DTX periods (WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _1 and WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _2) and MAC layer DTX controlled by the parameter MAC _ DTX _ cycle.

According to one embodiment, the WTRU110 uplink DPCCH transmission pattern and bursts on the secondary uplink carrier may coincide with the uplink DPCCH transmission pattern and bursts on the primary uplink carrier. For example, the network signals a set of DTX/DRX parameters that can be applied to all uplink carriers. The MAC DTX cycle applies to all uplink carriers and may perform E-TFC selection on all uplink carriers simultaneously.

Due to the fact that the WTRU110 has two physical layer DTX periods (WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _1 and WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _2) and triggers WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _2 after a configured inactivity period when WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _1, a method of handling consistent DTX modes may be defined. For example, an inactivity period may be applied to both uplink carriers and the definition of the inactivity threshold for WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _2 may be defined as the number of consecutive E-DCH TTIs with no E-DCH transmissions on all uplink carriers, and if there are no E-DCH transmissions on both uplink carriers for the inactivity threshold, the WTRU110 may move from WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _1 to WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _2 on any uplink carrier immediately. Alternatively, the WTRU110 may keep track of E-DCH transmissions on each uplink carrier separately and if one of the uplink carriers has no E-DCH transmissions for the inactivity threshold, the WTRU110 may move both uplink carriers to WTRU DTX _ cycle _ 2. Alternatively, the secondary uplink carrier may move to WTRU DTX cycle 2 if the secondary uplink carrier has been inactive for a configured amount of time. The uplink DPCCH burst pattern may be the same on the uplink carrier.

The activation of DTX/DRX may be signaled via an HS-SCCH order on either downlink carrier and applies to both uplink carriers. This applies to the case where the WTRU110 has the same DTX/DRX status on both uplink carriers. Alternatively, the HS-SCCH order can be used to independently control the DTX/DRX state on the uplink carrier. For example, the downlink and uplink carriers are paired, and any command on the downlink carrier may be applicable to the corresponding uplink carrier.

According to another embodiment, the WTRU110 may use the DTX pattern during the same period of two uplink carriers with different offsets such that the pattern is staggered (i.e., DPCCH transmissions on each uplink carrier do not occur at the same time). This configuration may be combined with another embodiment in which the WTRU110 applies an E-DCH start time restriction (i.e., MAC DTX) on a per carrier basis. This means that the WTRU110 does not perform E-DCH transmission (or E-TFC selection) in every subframe for the assigned uplink carrier. The set of subframes (i.e., pattern) between the uplink carriers in which E-DCH transmissions are allowed may be different (e.g., staggered). The WTRU110 may use the E-DCH start time per carrier restriction pattern consistent with the corresponding DTX per carrier pattern to minimize or eliminate the occurrence of simultaneous E-DCH transmissions on both carriers.

According to another embodiment, the WTRU110 may use separate DTX periods for the primary and secondary uplink carriers. For example, the physical layer DTX periods (WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _1 and WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _2) may have different values for the two uplink carriers. For the purposes of this embodiment, WTRU _ P _ DTX _ cycle _ x and WTRU _ S _ DTX _ cycle _ x are referred to as DTX periods applicable to the primary and secondary uplink carriers, respectively, where x represents period 1 or 2.

The network may independently signal WTRU _ P _ DTX _ cycle _1 or WTRU _ P DTX _ cycle _2, or WTRU _ S _ DTX _ cycle _1 or WTRU _ S _ DTX _ cycle _ 2. The value of WTRU _ S _ DTX _ cycle _ x may be an integer multiple of the value of WTRU _ P _ DTX _ cycle _ x or may be evenly divided by the value of WTRU _ P _ DTX _ cycle _ x. The network may signal a set of DTX periods for the primary uplink carrier, and the WTRU110 determines the period to be used for the secondary uplink carrier based on a factor N, which may be predefined by higher layers or signaled. For example:

WTRU _ S _ DTX _ cycle _ x ═ WTRU _ P _ DTX _ cycle _ x × N equation (1)

Alternatively, one DTX period may be configured for the secondary uplink carrier. For example, the primary uplink carrier may be configured with DTX periods 1 and 2, but the secondary uplink carrier may be configured with one DTX period (WTRU _ S _ DTX _ cycle).

The WTRU110 may receive WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _1 moved into the primary carrier and WTRU _ S _ DTX _ cycle moved into the secondary carrier continuously. The WTRU _ S _ DTX _ cycle may be equal to WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _1, WTRU _ DTX _ cycle _2, or a different network configuration value.

After no E-DCH transmission for the inactivity threshold, the primary uplink carrier may move to DTX period 2 and optionally the secondary carrier may be deactivated without moving to DTX period 2. The WTRU110 may deactivate the secondary uplink carrier because the WTRU110 is considered to be in low E-DCH activity.

The MAC DTX period and pattern may be the same for both uplink carriers. This may allow the WTRU110 to schedule on any uplink carrier if there is E-DCH data, which may optimize grants, power, etc. Alternatively, the mac dtx periods on the two uplink carriers may be similar, but the pattern between the two uplink carriers may be offset by a configured offset value. Alternatively, the MAC DTX period may be a different value for each uplink carrier.

The same method applies to the WTRU110 physical layer DTX period. The WTRU110 DTX pattern for the secondary uplink carrier may be offset from the WTRU110 DTX pattern for the primary uplink carrier by a predetermined or configured offset value.

Alternatively, the WTRU110 may have the same DTX period and offset structure depending on the activity of each uplink carrier. The WTRU110 may be allowed to operate in continuous reception in one uplink carrier and in DTX periods 1 or 2 in the other uplink carriers. Alternatively, the anchor uplink carrier may operate with DTX period 1 and the secondary uplink carrier may operate with DTX period 2. This may allow the WTRU110 to save transmitting DPCCH and other control channels on one of the uplink carriers if no data is transmitted.

For activation of a single uplink carrier, if the WTRU110 activates DTX and E-DCH scheduling data is transmitted, the WTRU110 may monitor E-AGCHs and E-RGCHs from all cells in the active set in an "inactivity threshold for WTRU110 grant monitoring" TTI. For multi-carrier or dual-cell operation, if any E-DCH transmission (independent of the uplink carrier being used) is triggered in the "inactivity threshold for WTRU110 grant monitoring" TTI, the WTRU110 may monitor the E-AGCH and E-RGCH associated with both uplink carriers. Alternatively, the WTRU110 may monitor the E-AGCH and E-RGCH associated with the uplink carrier on which the E-DCH transmission occurs.

Examples

1. A method of using multiple uplink carriers for uplink transmission and multiple downlink carriers for downlink reception.

2. The method of embodiment 1 comprising activating a primary uplink carrier and a primary downlink carrier.

3. The method of embodiment 2 comprising activating or deactivating a secondary uplink carrier based on a command from a network.

4. A method as in any of embodiments 2-3 comprising activating or deactivating a secondary uplink carrier upon detecting a preconfigured condition.

5. The method according to any of embodiments 3-4 wherein the order is received via an HS-SCCH order or an E-AGCH message.

6. The method as in any one of embodiments 3-5, further comprising ceasing to monitor downlink control signaling associated with the secondary uplink carrier if the order indicates deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

7. The method of embodiment 6 wherein the downlink control signaling comprises at least one of an E-HICH, an E-RGCH, or an E-AGCH associated with a secondary uplink carrier.

8. The method as in any one of embodiments 3-7 further comprising ceasing transmission of the secondary uplink DPCCH and the uplink control signal for the secondary uplink carrier if the order indicates deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

9. The method as in any one of embodiments 3-8, further comprising flushing a HARQ entity associated with a secondary uplink carrier if the command indicates deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

10. The method as in any one of embodiments 3-9 further comprising starting DPCCH transmission from a predetermined period before initiating E-DCH transmission on a secondary uplink carrier if the command indicates activation of the secondary uplink carrier.

11. The method of embodiment 10 wherein the initial DPCCH transmission power on the secondary uplink carrier is set to the same value as the DPCCH transmission power on the primary uplink carrier in a predetermined number of slots before the activation time of the secondary uplink carrier plus or minus an offset.

12. The method of embodiment 11, wherein the offset is a fixed value or a value received from a network.

13. The method as in any one of embodiments 3-12 wherein the WTRU uses a default grant value for initial E-DCH transmission on the secondary uplink carrier after activation of the secondary uplink carrier.

14. The method as in any one of embodiments 3-13, further comprising performing DTX on the secondary uplink carrier if the secondary uplink carrier has been inactive for the configured amount of time.

15. The method as in any one of embodiments 3-14 wherein the uplink DPCCH burst patterns for DTX are the same on the primary and secondary uplink carriers.

16. A WTRU configured to use multiple uplink carriers for uplink transmission and multiple downlink carriers for downlink reception.

17. The WTRU of embodiment 16 comprising a transmitter configured to transmit on a primary uplink carrier and at least one secondary uplink carrier.

18. A WTRU as in any one of embodiments 16-17 comprising a receiver configured to receive on a primary downlink carrier and at least one secondary downlink carrier.

19. A WTRU as in any one of embodiments 17-18 comprising a processor configured to activate or deactivate a secondary uplink carrier based on a command from a network.

20. A WTRU as in any one of embodiments 17-18 comprising a processor configured to activate or deactivate a secondary uplink carrier upon detecting a preconfigured condition.

21. The WTRU as in any one of embodiments 19-20 wherein the order is received via an HS-SCCH order or an E-AGCH message.

22. The WTRU as in any one of embodiments 19-21 wherein the processor is configured to stop monitoring downlink control signaling related to a secondary uplink carrier on a condition that the order indicates deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

23. The WTRU of embodiment 22 wherein the downlink control signaling includes at least one of an E-HICH, an E-RGCH, or an E-AGCH associated with a secondary uplink carrier.

24. The WTRU as in any one of embodiments 19-23 wherein the processor is configured to stop transmission of the secondary uplink DPCCH and the uplink control signal for the secondary uplink carrier on a condition that the command indicates deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

25. The WTRU as in any one of embodiments 19-24 wherein the processor is configured to flush HARQ entities associated with a secondary uplink carrier on a condition that the order indicates deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

26. The WTRU as in any one of embodiments 19-25 wherein the processor is configured to start DPCCH transmission from a predetermined time period before initiating E-DCH transmission on a secondary uplink carrier on a condition that the command indicates activation of the secondary uplink carrier.

27. The WTRU of embodiment 26 wherein the processor is configured to set the initial DPCCH transmission power on the secondary uplink carrier to the same value as the DPCCH transmission power on the primary uplink carrier in a predetermined number of slots before the activation time of the secondary uplink carrier plus or minus an offset.

28. The WTRU of embodiment 27 wherein the offset is a fixed value or a value received from a network.

29. The WTRU as in any one of embodiments 19-28 wherein the processor is configured to use a default grant value for initial E-DCH transmission on a secondary uplink carrier upon activation of the secondary uplink carrier.

30. The WTRU as in any one of embodiments 19-29 wherein the processor is configured to perform DTX on the secondary uplink carrier on a condition that the secondary uplink carrier has been inactive for a configured amount of time.

31. The WTRU as in any one of embodiments 19-30 wherein the processor is configured to perform DTX using the same uplink DPCCH burst pattern on the primary uplink carrier and the secondary uplink carrier.

Although features and elements are described above in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the other features or elements or in combination with or without other features or elements. The methods or flow charts provided herein may be implemented by a computer program, software, or firmware incorporated in a computer-readable storage medium. For execution by a general purpose computer or processor. Examples of the computer readable storage medium include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), registers, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks and Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs).

Suitable processors include, by way of example, a general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) circuits, other types of Integrated Circuits (ICs), and/or a state machine.

A processor incorporating software may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for use in a Wireless Transmit Receive Unit (WTRU), User Equipment (UE), terminal, base station, Radio Network Controller (RNC), or any host. The WTRU may be used in conjunction with modules, implemented in hardware and/or software, such as a camera, a video camera module, a videophone, a microphone, a vibrating device, a speaker, a microphone, a television transceiver, a hands-free phone, a keyboard, a bluetooth module, a Frequency Modulated (FM) radio unit, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display unit, an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display unit, a digital music player, a media player, a video game player module, an internet browser, and/or any Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or Ultra Wide Band (UWB) module.

Claims (24)

1. A method of using a plurality of uplink carriers for uplink transmission and a plurality of downlink carriers for downlink reception, the method comprising:

activating a primary uplink carrier and a primary downlink carrier; and

activating or deactivating secondary uplink carriers based on a command from the network or upon detecting a preconfigured condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the order is received via a high speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH) order or an enhanced dedicated channel absolute grant channel (E-AGCH) message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in an instance in which the command indicates deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier, ceasing monitoring for downlink control signaling associated with the secondary uplink carrier.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the downlink control signaling comprises at least one of an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel (E-HICH), an E-DCH relative grant channel (E-RGCH), or an E-DCH absolute grant channel (E-AGCH) associated with the secondary uplink carrier.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in an instance in which the command indicates deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier, ceasing transmission of a secondary uplink Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) and uplink control signals for the secondary uplink carrier.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

flushing a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) entity associated with the secondary uplink carrier where the command indicates deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in a case where the command indicates activation of the secondary uplink carrier, starting Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) transmission from a predetermined period before initiating enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transmission on the secondary uplink carrier.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the initial DPCCH transmission power on the secondary uplink carrier is set to a value that is the same as a value of DPCCH transmission power on the primary uplink carrier in a predetermined number of slots before an activation time of the secondary uplink carrier plus or minus an offset.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the offset is a fixed value or a value received from a network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a default grant value is used for initial enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transmissions on the secondary uplink carrier after activation of the secondary uplink carrier.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) on the secondary uplink carrier if the secondary uplink carrier has been inactive for a configured amount of time.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein uplink Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) burst patterns for Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) are the same on the primary uplink carrier and the secondary uplink carrier.

13. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured to use multiple uplink carriers for uplink transmission and multiple downlink carriers for downlink reception, the WTRU comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit on a primary uplink carrier and at least one secondary uplink carrier;

a receiver configured to receive on a primary downlink carrier and at least one secondary downlink carrier; and

a processor configured to activate or deactivate the secondary uplink carrier based on a command from a network or upon detecting a preconfigured condition.

14. The WTRU of claim 13 wherein the order is received via a high speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH) order or an enhanced dedicated channel absolute grant channel (E-AGCH) message.

15. The WTRU of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to stop monitoring downlink control signaling associated with the secondary uplink carrier on a condition that the order indicates deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

16. The WTRU of claim 15 wherein the downlink control signaling includes at least one of an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel (E-HICH), an E-DCH relative grant channel (E-RGCH), or an E-DCH absolute grant channel (E-AGCH) associated with the secondary uplink carrier.

17. The WTRU of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to stop transmission of a secondary uplink Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) and an uplink control signal for the secondary uplink carrier on a condition that the command indicates deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

18. The WTRU of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to flush a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) entity associated with the secondary uplink carrier on a condition that the command indicates deactivation of the secondary uplink carrier.

19. The WTRU of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to start Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) transmission from a predetermined time period before initiating enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transmission on the secondary uplink carrier on a condition that the command indicates activation of the secondary uplink carrier.

20. The WTRU of claim 19 wherein the processor is configured to set an initial DPCCH transmission power on a secondary uplink carrier to a value that is the same as a DPCCH transmission power on a primary uplink carrier in a predetermined number of slots before an activation time of the secondary uplink carrier plus or minus an offset.

21. The WTRU of claim 20, wherein the offset is a fixed value or a value received from a network.

22. The WTRU of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to use a default grant value for initial enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transmission on the secondary uplink carrier after activating the secondary uplink carrier.

23. The WTRU of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to perform Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) on the secondary uplink carrier on a condition that the secondary uplink carrier has been inactive for a configured amount of time.

24. The WTRU of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to perform Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) on the primary uplink carrier and the secondary uplink carrier using a same uplink Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) burst pattern.