as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication co) Pub. No.: US 2012/0113811 Al
`
`
`(43) Pub. Date:Baoet al. May 10, 2012
`
`US 20120113811A1
`
`(54) METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR
`NOTIFYING A UE OF MONITORED
`COMPONENT CARRIERS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors:
`
`(73) Assignee:
`
`Wei Bao, Beijing (CN); Li Chen,
`Beijing (CN); Guoging Li, Beijin:
`ying
`>
`Guoging
`LI,
`beijing
`(CN)
`CHINA ACADEMY OF
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS
`TECHNOLOGY,Beijing (CN)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`13/266,758
`
`(22)
`
`.
`PCTFiled:
`
`Apr. 23, 2010
`
`(86) PCTNo.:
`
`PCT/CN2010/072128
`
`§ 371 (c)),
`(2), (4) Date:
`
`Oct. 27, 2011
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`(CN) one 200910083064.1
`Apr. 27,2009
`Publication Classification
`
`Int.cl
`51)
`Cl.
`Int.
`(51)
`(2009.01)
`HO4W 24/00
`(52) US. CD. eeececeeectesesenscneecessescneneeansenees 370/241
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`The present invention provides a methodfor notifying a UE of
`monitored component carriers. The method comprises the
`following steps: an evolved Node B (eNB) sends an monitor-
`ing changing instruction and Component Carriers (CC) cor-
`responding to the instruction to a UE with a Media Access
`Control (MAC) layer control command; according to the
`monitoring changing instruction and the corresponding CC,
`the UEactivates or deactivates monitoring of the correspond-
`ing CC. The present invention allows the MAC PDU for
`instructing the UE to increase, decrease or change the moni-
`tored CC. Therefore, the configuration can be achieved in a
`simple and flexible manner and hashigherreliability.
`
`
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 10,2012 Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 2012/0113811 Al
`
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`Patent Application Publication May 10,2012 Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 2012/0113811 Al
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`entHESSettnRELLELEE Ny
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`Fig. 5
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`3
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 10,2012 Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 2012/0113811 Al
`
`
`
`
`
`lanOB sends a monitoring chinging instruction acd OC correspoadingJ
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`te the instruction to « UB with a MAC layer control comand
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`Patent Application Publication May 10,2012 Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 2012/0113811 Al
`
`200)
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`hotification recetving devicef
`
`notification sending device
`
`110
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`130
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`120
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`Fig. 9
`
`5
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 10,2012 Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 2012/0113811 Al
`
`
`
`sence ene cee ee tee cee ce eee ee ate cee cne ce eee ere cee enone conga eee cee cn cee geese ee see ences cee seers recepecssccesessees
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`6
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`

`

`US 2012/0113811 Al
`
`May 10, 2012
`
`METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR
`NOTIFYING A UE OF MONITORED
`COMPONENT CARRIERS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] The inventionrelates to the field of communication
`technology, in particular to a method, a system and an appa-
`ratus for notifying UE of componentcarriers to be monitored.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`In comparison with a Long Term Evolution (LTE),
`[0002]
`peak rates of a Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) have
`increased greatly, which can reach 1 Gbps of downlink and
`500 Mbps of uplink. However, a single carrier can not meet
`this demand, so Carrier Aggregation (CA) techniqueis intro-
`duced into the LTE-A system. The CA technique enable
`multiple carriers of the same eNB, which have overlapped
`coverage regions in a physical space, to be aggregated for
`serving a UE so asto provide the serve rates which the UE
`needs. The respective carriers involved in the CA are referred
`to as Component Carrier (CC) of the UE. Furthermore, in the
`LTE-A system, each cell of the eNB is defined to have only
`one carrier. Thus, the Carrier Aggregation enables one UE
`transmits data to the network with resources of plural cells
`belonging to one eNB.
`[0003]
`In order to ensure normal operation of LTE UE in
`each LTE-A system, the maximum bandwidth of each carrier
`is required not to exceed 20 MHz in the LTE-A system.FIG.
`1 is a schematic diagram showing the CA technique in the
`LTE-Aofthe prior art. As shown in FIG.1, the eNB transmits
`data with the UE on four CC simultaneously so as to enhance
`throughput of the UE in the system.
`[0004] ForLTE-A and LTE UEs, there are four LTE-A cells
`of the eNB having the same coverage. However, for the
`LTE-A UE,the network can schedule resources of one or
`morecells for serving the UE according to the requirements
`of the serve rate of the UE, and for the LTE UE,the network
`can only schedule resources of one cell for serving the UE.
`[0005] Currently, each activate VE (RRC-CONNECTED
`UE)in the LTE system has just one serving cell, thus the UE
`only needs to monitor one downlink carrier. The monitoring
`mechanism for the downlink carrier in the LTE system of the
`prior art is shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a structural diagram
`showing downlink subframes, each of which consists of
`OFDMsymbols. Thefirst 1-3 OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency
`Division Multiplexing) symbols of the downlink subframe
`are control symbols for bearing downlink control signalling.
`A channelbearing the downlink controlsignalling is referred
`to as PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel). The rest
`of the OFDM symbols bear downlink data, and a physical
`layer channel bearing the downlink data is referred to as
`PDSCH(Physical Downlink Shared Channel). The control
`signalling may comprise: scheduling information of the
`present downlink subframe and a corresponding uplink sub-
`frame and the related HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat
`Request) information etc. The UE determines whether the
`resources are allocated to the corresponding subframe with
`the received control signalling of the downlink subframe. If
`the resourcesare allocated, the UE obtains the time frequency
`position of the resources according to the indication of the
`scheduling signalling and performs data communication.
`[0006]
`Thepriorart has the following disadvantages: as the
`CA technique is introduced into the LTE-A system, which
`
`enable the UE to configuretheplurality ofCC, one LTE-A UE
`may use a plurality of CC for data transmission simulta-
`neously. When the LTE-A UEhasto receive and send relative
`large amountof data, it is required to transmit data on the
`plurality of CC. Meanwhile, the UE monitors PDCCH and
`PDSCHontheplurality of CC. However, it is unnecessary to
`monitortheplurality of CC if there is not too much amountof
`data. Thus, the unused CC is stopped to receive and decode
`data so as to save power for the UE. When the UE has to
`receive and send relative large amount of data, the UE is
`enabled to monitor the corresponding CC.
`[0007] Forthe LTE-A system, UEis required to monitor the
`carrier aggregation scheduled by the network. Therefore, the
`network should notify the UE that it decides to change the
`carriers aggregated for the LTE-A UE, so that the UE can
`activate or deactivate the monitoring ofthe corresponding CC
`in time. Accordingly,flexible configuration is achieved. The
`current LTE-A system still has no corresponding notifying
`mechanism.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0008] The object ofthe invention is to solve one or more of
`the above technical defects.
`
`In order to achieve the above object, a method is
`[0009]
`providedfor notifying monitored componentcarriers accord-
`ing to an embodimentofthe present invention. The method
`includesthe following steps: an evolved Node B (eNB) sends
`an monitoring changing instruction and Component Carriers
`(CC) corresponding to the instruction to a UE with a Media
`Access Control (MAC) layer control command; according to
`the monitoring changing instruction and the corresponding
`CC,the UE activates or deactivates monitoring of the corre-
`sponding CC.
`[0010]
`Furthermore, a system for notifying componentcar-
`riers to be monitoredis provided according to an embodiment
`of the present invention. The system includesa notification
`sending device and a notification receiving device, wherein
`the notification sending device is at eNB side andis config-
`ured for sending an monitoring changing instruction and CC
`corresponding to the instruction to a UE with a MAC layer
`control command; the notification receiving device is at UE
`side and is configured for activating or deactivating monitor-
`ing of the corresponding CC according to the monitoring
`changing instruction and the corresponding CC.
`[0011]
`In addition, an notification sending device is pro-
`vided according to an embodimentof the present invention,
`the notification sending device is at eNB side and comprises
`a MAC layer control command generating module and a
`MAClayer control command sending module, wherein the
`MAClayer control command generating module is config-
`ured for generating a MAC layer control command, which
`contains an monitoring changing instruction and CC corre-
`spondingto the instruction; and the MAClayercontrol com-
`mand sending module is configured for sending the MAC
`layer control command generated by the MAC layer control
`command generating module to the UE.
`[0012] An notification receiving deviceis further provided
`according to an embodimentof the present invention, the
`notification receiving device is at UE side and comprises a
`receiving module and a monitoring control module, wherein
`the receiving module is configured for receiving an monitor-
`ing changing instruction and CC correspondingto the instruc-
`tion sent from the eNB with an MAClayer control command;
`the monitoring control module is configured for activating or
`
`7
`
`

`

`US 2012/0113811 Al
`
`May 10, 2012
`
`deactivating monitoring of the corresponding CC according
`to the monitoring changing instruction and the corresponding
`CC.
`
`[0013] The embodimentsofthe present invention allow the
`MAC PDUforinstructing the UE to increase, decrease or
`change the monitored CC. Therefore, the configuration can
`be achieved in a simple and flexible manner and has higher
`reliability.
`[0014] Theadditional aspects and advantagesofthe present
`invention will be given in the following description and a part
`ofthem becomeapparently from the following description or
`understandable through practice of the present invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0015] The above and/or additional aspects and advantages
`of the present invention will become apparent and easily
`understandable in the following description of the embodi-
`ments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
`which
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing CA tech-
`[0016]
`nique in the LTE-Aofthe prior art.
`[0017]
`FIG. 2 is a structural diagram showing downlink
`subframes according to an embodimentofthe present inven-
`tion.
`FIG. 3 is schematic structural diagram showing
`[0018]
`MAC PDUaccording to an embodimentofthe present inven-
`tion.
`
`In order to understand the present invention com-
`[0027]
`pletely, a basic structure and characteristics ofthe MAC PDU
`(Media Access Control Protocol Data Unit) will be described
`simply in the following.
`[0028]
`FIG. 3 is schematic structural diagram showing
`MACPDUaccording to an embodimentofthe present inven-
`tion. As shown in FIG. 3, one MAC PDU may comprise a
`MAChead, a MAC SDU, a MAC CE (MACControl Ele-
`ment) and padding. The MAC headis formed of one or more
`MACsubheaders. The MAC subheaders, the MAC SDU and
`the MAC CEall require byte alignment, and the lengths ofthe
`MAC head and MAC SDUare variable. One MAC head
`includes one or more MAC subheaders, each of which corre-
`sponds to one MAC SDU, MAC CEor padding. A MAC
`control commandincludes the MAC subheader and the MAC
`CE. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the MAC subheaders of the
`LTE system may have two formats. The MAC subheadersare
`configured for indicating a type and a length of the corre-
`sponding MAC CE or MAC SDU.An LCID (Logical Chan-
`nel ID)field is configured for identifying the type ofthe MAC
`CE andthe logical channel to which a MAC SDUbelongs. An
`L field is configured for indicating the length of the corre-
`sponding MAC CE or MAC SDU. MAC CE is configured for
`bearing a control message. The MAC CEis definedas a fixed
`format in the LTE system,andthe length is an integral number
`of bytes.
`FIG. 6 isa flowchart showing a methodfor notifying
`[0029]
`the component carriers to be monitored according to an
`embodimentof the present invention, wherein the method
`comprises the following steps:
`[0030]
`Step S601, an eNB sends a monitoring changing
`instruction and CC correspondingto the instruction to a UE
`with a MAClayer control command.
`[0031]
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the
`eNBadds one MAC CE,whichis referred to as a component
`carrier indication MAC CE in the following embodiments
`and bears the instruction and the corresponding CC,into the
`MAC PDU,andaddsan identifier indicating existence of the
`MAC CE ina MAChead ofthe MAC PDU.The eNBcan send
`
`FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams showing
`[0019]
`MACsubheaders with two formats in the LTE system accord-
`ing to an embodimentofthe present invention.
`[0020]
`FIG. 6 isa flowchart showing a methodfor notifying
`the component carriers to be monitored according to an
`embodimentof the present invention.
`[0021]
`FIG.7 is a structural diagram showing component
`carrier indication MAC CEaccording to an embodimentof
`the present invention.
`[0022]
`FIG. 8 is a structural diagram showing component
`carrier indication MAC CEaccording to another embodiment
`of the present invention.
`the componentcarrier indication MAC CEto the VE on any
`
`[0023] FIG.9is a structural diagram showing a system for
`activated CC, andthe priority of the componentcarrierindi-
`notifying componentcarriers to be monitored according to an
`cation MAC CEis higher that of the MAC SDU.Thespecific
`embodimentof the present invention.
`command for changing monitoring and CC may be deter-
`[0024]
`FIGS. 10A to 10D are schematic diagrams showing
`mined by the eNB based on the data of the UE to be trans-
`corresponding relation between respective bits of MAC CE
`mitted. For example, if there are so many data to be transmit-
`and componentcarriers according to an embodimentof the
`ted, then the numberofthe CC for being monitored by the UE
`present invention.
`will increase, vice versa.
`[0032]
`Inan embodimentofthe present invention,the iden-
`tifier for indicating the existence of the componentcarrier
`indication MAC CE may added into the MAC head ofthe
`invention are
`[0025] The embodiments of the present
`MAC PDU in many manners. For example, the MAC sub-
`described in detail in the following, and all examples of the
`headers corresponding to the component carrier indication
`embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings,
`MACCEmaybe addedinto the MAC headin one embodi-
`wherein the sameor similar reference numbers represent the
`ment of the present invention, and the LCID in the MAC
`sameor similar elements or elements having sameor similar
`subheadersis the identifier for indicating the existence of the
`function throughout. The embodiments will be described as
`componentcarrier indication MAC CE. In particular, after the
`examples with reference to the accompanying drawingsin the
`componentcarrier indication MAC CEhasbeen introduced,
`following andare only used for explaining,rather than being
`an independent LCID, which may beareserved LCID value,
`construed as limiting the present invention.
`is defined to indicate the corresponding MAC CEas the
`[0026] The present invention is mainly to introduce a new
`componentcarrier indication MAC CE.Ifthe LCID indicates
`MAC PDUforinstructing the UE to increase, decrease or
`types ofthe MAC CE,each type ofthe MAC CE corresponds
`change the monitored CC. Therefore, the configuration can
`to one possible value in LCID field. In this embodiment, the
`be achieved in a simple and flexible manner and has higher
`reserved LCID value corresponds to the componentcarrier
`reliability.
`indication MAC CEin the present invention soas to indicate
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT
`INVENTION
`
`8
`
`

`

`US 2012/0113811 Al
`
`May 10, 2012
`
`the existence ofthe component carrier indication MAC CE. If
`the length of the componentcarrier indication MAC CEis
`fixed or can be indicated byitself (as illustrated by FIG. 8),
`then the format of the MAC subheader shown in FIG.5 is
`used, otherwise the format of the MAC subheader shown in
`FIG.4 is used.
`
`In another embodimentof the present invention, the
`[0033]
`identifier, which indicates the existence of the component
`carrier indication MAC CE,is defined in another manner. The
`first MAC subheader of the MAC headbearsthis identifier,
`and the component carrier indication MAC CElocates in
`initial position of MAC PDU payload.Thatis, one R bit ofthe
`subheader corresponding to other MAC CE and MAC SDUin
`the MAC SDU indicates the existence of the component
`carrier indication MAC CE,thus one byte of the MAC sub-
`header is saved. For example, in this embodiment, if the
`componentcarrier indication MAC CE appears in the MAC
`PDU,then it must locate at the initial position of the MAC
`payload, andthe first R bit of the first MAC subheaderin the
`MAC PDUindicates whether the componentcarrier indica-
`tion MAC CEexists in this MAC PDU. Ifthefirst R bit of the
`first MAC subheader in the MAC PDUis 1, then the first
`MAC CEin the MACloadis the componentcarrier indication
`MACCE,otherwise there is no componentcarrier indication
`MACCEin the MAC PDU.
`
`[0034] However, the above two embodiments are alterna-
`tive examples for adding the identifier for indicating the exist-
`ence of the componentcarrier indication MAC CE. A person
`skilled in the art can realize that the identifier for indicating
`the existence of the componentcarrier indication MAC CEis
`added in other manners.
`
`Similarly, the present invention also provides the
`[0035]
`componentcarrier indication MAC CEwith various formats.
`For example, in one embodiment, the componentcarrierindi-
`cation MAC CEhasa fixed length. Each CC available forthe
`UE correspondsto onebit of its componentcarrier indication
`MAC CE,the value of which is a command for the CC
`operation. If the bit is 1, it represents the carrieris activated.
`If the bit is 0, it represents the correspondingcarrier is deac-
`tivated. Alternatively,if the bit is 0, it represents the carrier is
`activated. Ifthebitis 1, it represents the corresponding carrier
`is deactivated.
`
`[0036] The componentcarrier corresponding to each bit is
`sequenced according to one of the following factors: cell
`levels, UElevels, frequencies from low to high or frequencies
`from high to low.
`[0037]
`Particularly, FIG. 7 is a structural diagram showing
`component carrier indication MAC CE according to an
`embodimentofthe present invention. As shown in FIG.7, the
`component carrier indication MAC CE may have fixed
`length, which depends upon the maximum numberN ofthe
`aggregated carriers allowable to be supported by the current
`cell or the LTE-A system. For example, if N<=8, then the
`length of the componentcarrier indication MAC CEis set to
`1 byte. If 8<N<=16, then the length of the componentcarrier
`indication MAC CEisset to 2 bytes. If 16<N<=24, then the
`length of the componentcarrier indication MAC CEis set to
`3 bytes, and so on. In this embodiment, the CC, which needs
`to be activated and deactivated, is indicated in the form of
`bitmap for the LTE-A UE. For example,the bitmapofthefirst
`byte correspondsto 0-7 CC andthe bitmap of the second byte
`correspondsto 8-15 CC etc. If the bit is set to 1 in the bitmap,
`then the UEis required to activate the monitoring of the CC
`corresponding to the bit, otherwise, the UE deactivates the
`
`monitoring ofthe CC correspondingto the bit. Obviously, the
`above componentcarrier indication MAC CE having the
`fixed length is described as the embodimentof the present
`invention. The componentcarrier indication MAC CE may
`have a variable length indicated by the corresponding MAC
`subheader.
`
`[0038] According to another embodiment of the present
`invention, the componentcarrier indication MAC CE has a
`variable length, and thefirst bit of each byte in the component
`carrier indication MAC CE indicates whether a subsequent
`byte belongs to the componentcarrier indication MAC CE,
`wherein each CC available for the UE correspondsto one of
`otherbits in this byte a value ofwhich is the commandfor the
`CC operation. For example, FIG. 8 is a structural diagram
`showing componentcarrier indication MAC CE accordingto
`another embodimentofthe present invention. In this embodi-
`ment, the component carrier indication MAC CE has the
`variable length, and the length of the MAC CEis indicated by
`E bit. If the E bit is 1, then it represents that the subsequent
`byte also belongs to this componentcarrier indication MAC
`CE. If the E bitis 0, then it represents that the current byteis
`the last byte ofthis componentcarrier indication MAC CE. In
`this embodiment, except for E byte, the rest fields are bit-
`maps. The bitmapofthefirst byte correspondsto 0-6 CC, and
`the bitmap of the second byte corresponds to 7-13 CC,etc. If
`the bit is set to 1 in the bitmap, then the UE is required to
`activate the monitoring of the CC correspondingto this bit,
`otherwise, the UE should deactivate the monitoring ofthe CC
`corresponding to this bit.
`[0039]
`S602, according to a monitoring changing instruc-
`tion and the CC corresponding to the instruction in the com-
`ponentcarrier indication MAC CE,the UEactivates or deac-
`tivates the monitoring of the corresponding CC. Meanwhile,
`an eNBis also required to update monitoring records of the
`corresponding UE. In particular, the eNB updates the moni-
`toring records of the UE according to the sent component
`carrier indication MACCEto ensurethat the records of the
`CC, which is monitored by the UE,at the UEside are con-
`sistent with those at network side.
`
`S603, the eNB transmits data with a set of the
`[0040]
`updated CC monitored by the UE.
`[0041]
`In one preferred embodimentof the present inven-
`tion, after the eNB has sent the componentcarrier indication
`MACCEandthe UE hasreceivedit, if the monitoring chang-
`ing instruction of the componentcarrier indication MAC CE
`indicates the deactivation, then it also needs to determine
`whether Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request is being retrans-
`mitted on the CC corresponding to this instruction. If the
`HARQis being retransmitted on the CC correspondingto the
`instruction, then the eNB and the UE deactivate the corre-
`sponding CC after the HARQ retransmission.
`[0042]
`FIG. 9 is a structural diagram showing a system for
`notifying componentcarriers to be monitored according to an
`embodimentof the present invention. The system includes a
`notification sending device 100 and a notification receiving
`device 200. The notification sending device 100 is ateNB side
`and is configured for sending a monitoring changing instruc-
`tion and CC corresponding to the instruction to UE with a
`MAC layer control command. The notification receiving
`device 200 is at the UE side and is configured foractivating or
`deactivating the monitoring of the corresponding CC accord-
`ing to the monitoring changing instruction and the corre-
`sponding CC.
`
`9
`
`

`

`US 2012/0113811 Al
`
`May 10, 2012
`
`[0043] The notification sending device 100 comprises a
`MAClayer control command generating module 110 and a
`sending module 120. The MAC layer control command gen-
`erating module 110 is configured for generating a MAC layer
`control command, which contains a monitoring changing
`instruction and CC corresponding to the instruction. The
`sending module 120 is configured for sending the MAC layer
`control command generated by the MAClayer control com-
`mand generating module 110 to UE.
`[0044]
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the
`MAClayer control command generating module 110 adds the
`component carrier indication MAC CE, which bears the
`instruction and the corresponding CC, into the MAC PDU,
`and addsan identifier indicating existence of the MAC CE in
`a MAChead of the MAC PDU.In particular, the MAC layer
`control command generating module 110 can add the MAC
`subheader corresponding to the componentcarrier indication
`MACCEinto the MAChead, the LCID in the MAC subhead-
`ers is the identifier for indicating the existence of the compo-
`nent carrier indication MAC CE.Thefirst MAC subheader of
`the MACheadbearsthis identifier, and the componentcarrier
`indication MAC CElocatesin initial position of MAC PDU
`payload. In one embodiment of the present invention, the
`componentcarrier indication MAC CEhasthe fixed length.
`Each CC available for the UE correspondsto onebit of its
`componentcarrier indication MAC CE,the value of which is
`a commandfor the CC operation.Ifthe bit is 1, it represents
`the carrier is activated. If the bit is 0, it represents the corre-
`spondingcarrier is deactivated. Alternatively,if the bit is 0, it
`represents the carrieris activated. If the bit is 1, it represents
`the correspondingcarrier is deactivated.
`[0045] According to another embodiment of the present
`invention, the componentcarrier indication MAC CE has a
`variable length, andthefirst bit of each byte in the component
`carrier indication MAC CEindicates whether a subsequent
`byte belongs to the componentcarrier indication MAC CE,
`wherein each CC available for the UE corresponds to one of
`otherbits in this byte a value of which is the commandfor the
`CC operation.
`[0046] According to one embodimentofthe present inven-
`tion, DRX MAC CEbitmapis specified as follows:
`[0047] Given that the UE aggregates five CC, which are
`respectively marked as: CC1/CC2/CC3/CC4/CCS. The CC
`correspondsto 1, 3, 2, 4 and 5 respectively according to cell
`levels. The CC corresponds to 1, 3, 5, 4 and 2 respectively
`according to UE levels. The CC is sequenced as CC1/CC3/
`CC2/CC4/CCSaccordingto the frequency points from low to
`high. Thus, bitmaps of the carrier activating/deactivating
`MACCEhavethe following formats:
`[0048]
`if CC is sequenced accordingto the cell levels, then
`the correspondingrelation between the respective bits and CC
`of the carrier activating/deactivating MAC CE is shown in
`FIG. 10A.
`
`if CC is sequenced according to the UElevels, then
`[0049]
`the correspondingrelation between the respective bits and CC
`of the carrier activating/deactivating MAC CE is shown in
`FIG. 10B.
`
`if CC is sequenced according to the frequencies
`[0050]
`from low to high, then the correspondingrelation between the
`respective bits and CC ofthe carrier activating/deactivating
`MACCEis shown in FIG. 10C.
`
`if CC is sequenced according to the frequencies
`[0051]
`from high to low, then the corresponding relation between the
`respective bits and CC ofthe carrier activating/deactivating
`MACCEis shown in FIG. 10D.
`
`In FIGS. 10A to 10D, R represents unused bits or
`[0052]
`reservedbits.
`
`[0053] The notifying sending module 100 also includes a
`determining module 130, which is configured for determin-
`ing whether HARQretransmission is performing on the CC
`corresponding to an instruction when the changing monitor-
`ing instruction is a deactivating instruction. If the HARQ
`retransmission is performing, the corresponding CCis deac-
`tivated after it.
`
`[0054] The notification receiving device 200 comprises a
`receiving module 210 and a monitoring control module 220.
`The receiving module 210 is configured for receiving the
`monitoring changinginstruction and CC correspondingto the
`instruction sent from the eNB 100 with the MAClayer control
`command. The monitoring control module 220 is configured
`for activating or deactivating the monitoring of the corre-
`sponding CC according to the monitoring changing instruc-
`tion and the corresponding CC.
`[0055] Thenotification receiving device 200 also includes a
`determining module 230, which is configure for determining
`whether HARQretransmission is performing on the CC cor-
`responding to an instruction when the changing monitoring
`instruction is a deactivating instruction. Ifthe HARQretrans-
`mission is performing, the corresponding CC is deactivated
`after it.
`
`[0056] The present invention allows the MAC PDU for
`instructing the UE to increase, decrease or change the moni-
`tored CC. Therefore, the configuration can be achieved in a
`simple and flexible manner and hashigherreliability.
`[0057] Whereas the embodiments of the present invention
`have been shownand described, for a person skilled in theart,
`it is to be understoodthat these embodiments can be subjected
`to various changes, modifications, replacements and defor-
`mations without departing from the principle andspirits of
`the present invention, and the scopeofthe present inventionis
`limited by the appendedclaimsandtheir equivalents.
`1. A method for notifying a UE of monitored component
`carriers, comprising the following steps:
`an eNB sending an monitoring changing instruction and
`Component Carrier corresponding to the instruction to
`the UE with a MAClayer control command;
`the UEactivating or deactivating monitoring of the corre-
`sponding CC according to the monitoring changing
`instruction and the CC corresponding to the instruction.
`2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the eNB
`sending the monitoring changing instruction and the CC cor-
`responding to the instruction to the UE with the MAClayer
`control command comprises:
`the eNB adding one MAC CE,which bears the instruction
`and the corresponding CC, into the MAC PDU,and
`adding an identifier indicating existence ofthe MAC CE
`ina MACheadof the MAC PDU.
`
`3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of adding an
`identifier indicating existence ofthe MAC CE ina MAC head
`of the MAC PDU comprises:
`adding a MAC subheadercorresponding to the MAC CE
`into the MAC head, and LCID in the MAC subheaderis
`an identifier for indicating the existence ofthe MAC CE;
`or
`
`the step of adding an identifier indicating existence of the
`MAC CEin a MAC head of the MAC PDU comprises:
`the first MAC subheader of the MAC head bearing the
`identifier, and the MAC CElocatingin initial position of
`MAC PDUpayload.
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`US 2012/0113811 Al
`
`May 10, 2012
`
`4. (canceled)
`5. The method of claim 2, wherein the MAC CE hasa fixed
`length, wherein each CC available for the UE corresponds to
`one bit ofthe MAC CE,a value ofwhich is a commandfor the
`CC operation, wherein if the bit is 1, then it represents the
`carriers are activated, andif the bit is 0, then it represents the
`carriers are deactivated, or, if the bit is 0, it represents the
`carriers are activated, and if the bit is 1, it represents the
`carriers are deactivated; or
`the component carriers corresponding to each bit are
`sequenced according to one of the following factors:
`cell levels, UE levels, frequencies from low to high and
`frequencies from high to low.
`6-7. (canceled)
`8. The method of claim 2, wherein the MAC CE has a
`variable length, andthe first bit in each byte of the MAC CE
`is configured for indicating whether a subsequent byte
`belongs to the MAC CE,and each CC available for the UE
`correspondsto oneofotherbits in the byte, a value of which
`is acommandfor the CC operation; or
`the MAC CEhasa variable length, which is indicated by a
`MACsubheader corresponding to the MAC CE, and
`each CC available for the UE correspondsto onebit in
`the MAC CE,a value of which is a commandfor the CC
`operation.
`9. (canceled)
`10. The method of claim 1, wherein if the monitoring
`changing instruction is a deactivating instruction and a
`Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request HARQretransmission is
`performing on the CC correspondingto the instruction, then
`the eNB and the UE deactivate the CC after the HARQ
`retransmission.
`
`the first MAC subheader of the MAChead bears the iden-
`tifier, and the MAC CElocatesin initial position ofMAC
`PDUpayload.
`15. (canceled)
`16. The notification sending device of claim 13, wherein
`the MAC CEhasa fixed length, wherein each CC available
`for the UE correspondsto one bit of the MAC CE,the value
`ofwhich is a commandfor the CC operation, whereinifthe bit
`is 1, then it represents the carriers are activated, and if the bit
`is 0, then it represents the c