Carrier Aggregation Cell Status Control via Master Base Station
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing the activation or deactivation of serving cells that belong to multiple base stations during carrier aggregation in LTE-A systems is a challenge, as existing technologies lack effective methods for coordinating these actions between different base stations.
Innovation Solution
A cell status changing method where user equipment receives indications from both master and secondary base stations to activate or deactivate cells, using Media Access Control (MAC) control elements to determine the status of cells and perform necessary actions, ensuring that all serving cells can be managed effectively during carrier aggregation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carrier aggregation is implemented between multiple base stations to improve spectral efficiency and user throughput, then system performance is improved, but coordination and management of serving cell activation/deactivation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The master base station acts as an intermediary that receives activation/deactivation indications from the secondary base station and forwards them to the user equipment. This mediator approach allows coordinated multi-base station carrier aggregation while keeping the UE's processing relatively simple, as the master base station handles the coordination complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the cell status management functions of multiple base stations into a unified indication mechanism. The master base station merges the activation/deactivation commands from both itself and the secondary base station into a single set of indications sent to the UE, simplifying the overall management architecture.
2Measurement precision
If separate activation/deactivation indications are sent for each serving cell to ensure precise control, then cell status management accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The indication mechanism is segmented by using distinct indication types: one for activation and another for deactivation. This segmentation allows precise control over cell status changes while optimizing signaling by only sending indications when status changes are needed, rather than continuous status reporting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial action by only transmitting activation or deactivation indications when actual status changes occur, rather than sending complete status information for all cells continuously. This reduces signaling overhead while maintaining precise control over cell status transitions.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclose a cell status changing method. The method includes receiving, by user equipment, a first indication sent by a master base station, where the first indication is used to indicate a status change of a first cell of the master base station or a status change of a second cell of a secondary base station; and performing activation on the first cell or the second cell according to the first indication, or performing deactivation on the first cell or the second cell according to the first indication. In embodiments, both the master base station and the secondary base station serve the UE and undergo carrier aggregation, and the UE may obtain, by using the received first indication sent by the master base station, an active state or an inactive state of a serving cell that belongs to a base station that serves the UE.