Terminal Device Secondary Cell Activation via MAC Control Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for a terminal device to transmit a scheduling request to a base station in a secondary cell, other than the primary cell, are not adequately addressed, particularly when a physical uplink control channel is involved.
Innovation Solution
A terminal device is designed with a medium access control (MAC) layer processing unit that deactivates a secondary cell based on a timer expiration after an RRC connection is established, and a transmission unit that uses a configured resource for the physical uplink control channel in the secondary cell to transmit scheduling requests, with the timer not applied when the PUCCH resource is configured in the secondary cell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a timer is applied to deactivate a secondary cell after RRC connection establishment, then resource management efficiency is improved, but scheduling request transmission capability in the secondary cell deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different timer management rules to different types of secondary cells based on their specific functions. PUCCH secondary cells that are configured to carry scheduling requests are excluded from timer-based deactivation, while other secondary cells remain subject to normal timer management. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by preserving scheduling request capability in cells where it is needed while maintaining resource management efficiency in other cells.
2Loss of energy
If a secondary cell is deactivated based on timer expiration, then energy consumption is reduced, but communication reliability in that cell deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a local exception for PUCCH secondary cells in the otherwise uniform timer-based deactivation mechanism. These specific cells are exempt from deactivation due to their critical role in carrying scheduling requests, thereby maintaining communication reliability for control signaling while allowing energy savings through deactivation of other non-critical secondary cells.
3Reliability
If the timer is not applied to secondary cells with PUCCH resources, then scheduling request transmission is ensured, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a simple configuration parameter to identify PUCCH secondary cells, creating a clear local exception rule. This approach ensures scheduling request transmission reliability in designated cells while avoiding the need for complex dynamic decision-making mechanisms. The exception is based on pre-configured cell properties rather than runtime conditions, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity to a manageable level.
Data Source
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AI summary
A terminal device is configured to activate and deactivate, on the basis of a MAC control element, a serving cell other than a primary cell, when a resource for a physical uplink control channel for a scheduling request used for requesting a UL-SCH resource for an initial transmission is not configured in the serving cell other than the primary cell. When the resource for the physical uplink control channel for the scheduling request is configured in the serving cell other than the primary cell, the serving cell other than the primary cell is always activated.