Secondary Cell Deactivation Timer Handling in LTE

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the LTE system, there is a lack of clear handling for the deactivation timer of a secondary cell (SCell) when its physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) is released, leading to inconsistencies between the network and user equipment (UE) in managing the timer.

Innovation Solution

A communication device and method that configures a secondary cell and its PUCCH, releases the PUCCH, and starts a deactivation timer upon receiving a specific command from the network, ensuring both the network and UE have a synchronized understanding of the timer's status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE disables the deactivation timer for the SCell configured with PUCCH according to prior art, then the PUCCH configuration can be maintained, but the network and UE become uncertain about how to handle the deactivation timer when PUCCH is released and SCell is still activated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetimer management consistencyVSAvoidtimer status uncertainty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by defining in advance that when the network releases PUCCH configuration, it should simultaneously send a deactivation command for the SCell or start the deactivation timer. This pre-defined action sequence eliminates the uncertainty about timer handling that existed in prior art, ensuring both network and UE follow the same procedure when PUCCH is released.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by requiring the network to explicitly signal timer-related information to the UE through PDCCH orders or MAC control elements. This feedback mechanism ensures the UE receives clear instructions about whether to start, stop, or reset the deactivation timer, eliminating the information loss and uncertainty present in the prior art approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the network configures deactivation timer for SCell but UE disables it when PUCCH is configured, then PUCCH operation is simplified, but coordinated timer management between network and UE is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePUCCH configuration simplicityVSAvoidcoordinated timer management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the network explicitly controls the deactivation timer through PDCCH orders and MAC control elements. This intermediary signaling ensures that both network and UE maintain consistent understanding of timer status, resolving the coordination loss that occurred when UE unilaterally disabled the timer in prior art.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9794800B2Device and method of handling deactivating timer for secondary cell

Publication Date: 2017.10.17 HTC CORP

AI summary

A communication device for handling a deactivation timer comprises a storage unit for storing instructions and a processing circuit coupled to the storage unit. The processing circuit is configured to execute the instructions stored in the storage unit. The instructions comprise being configured a secondary cell (SCell) and a physical uplink (UL) control channel (PUCCH) of the SCell by a network; being configured to release the PUCCH of the SCell by the network; and starting a deactivation timer for the SCell after receiving a PDCCH from the network, when the PUCCH is released.