available under
`Document made
`Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
`
`the
`
`International application number: PCT/SE2010/050674
`
`International filing date:
`
`16 June 2010 (16.06.2010)
`
`Document type:
`
`Certified copy of priority document
`
`Documentdetails:
`
`Country/Office: US
`Number:
`61/220,844
`Filing date:
`26 June 2009 (26.06.2009)
`
`Date of receipt at the International Bureau:
`
`02 July 2010 (02.07.2010)
`
`Remark:
`
`Priority document submitted or transmitted to the International Bureau in
`compliance with Rule 17.1(a),(b) or (b-dis)
`
`
`
`World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - Geneva, Switzerland
`Organisation Mondiale de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OMPI) - Geneve, Suisse
`1
`APPLE 1013
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1013
`
`

`

`SEAo/Sos>4
`
`
`
`PA 7244880
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PUM EMT
`
`
`
`‘SHEZUN
`AMERICA
`
`
`
`oo
`
`
`
`L®ALi,TOWHOMTHESE; PRESENTS; SHAH, COMB:
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`
`June 21, 2010
`
`THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT ANNEXED HERETOIS A TRUE COPY FROM
`
`THE RECORDS OF THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK
`
`OFFICE OF THOSE PAPERS OF THE BELOW IDENTIFIED PATENT
`
`APPLICATION THAT MET THE REQUIREMENTSTO BE GRANTED A
`FILING DATE UNDER 35 USC 111.
`
`APPLICATION NUMBER: 61/220,844
`
`FILING DATE: June 26, 2009
`
`THE COUNTRY CODE AND NUMBER OF YOUR PRIORITY
`
`APPLICATION, TO BE USED FOR FILING ABROAD UNDER THE PARIS
`CONVENTION,IS US61/220,844
`.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`By Authority of the
`
`_ and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
`
`
`
`Certifying Officer
`
`
`
`
`
`UnderSecretary of Commercefor Intellectual Property Patt$AL(aC
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`Electronic AcknowledgementReceipt
`ee
`
`a
`
`
`
`
`
`Title of Invention:
`
`METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT IN A TELECOMMUNICATION SYTEM
`
`ee
`
`Filer Authorized By:
`
`Paymentinformation:
`
`Charge any Additional Fees required under 37 C.F.R. Section 1.21 (Miscellaneous fees and charges)
`
`The Directorof the USPTO is hereby authorized to charge indicated fees and credit any overpaymentas follows:
`Charge any Additional Fees required under 37 C.F.R. Section 1.16 (National applicationfiling, search, and examination fees)
`
`Copyprovided by USPTO from the IFW Image Database on 06/16/2010
`
`3
`
`3
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`Pages
`Multi
`File Size(Bytes)/
`Document Description
`Document
`
`
`
`Number Message Digest|Part/.zip|P (ifappl.)
`P29465-
`US1_2009-06-26_09-7638Pate
`nt_Application.pdf
`
`
`
`Fee Worksheet (PTO-875)
`
`bag
`85190912fb2d1 ce7137ab2aIbasOdectbe|
`
`Multipart Description/PDF files in .zip description
`
`DocumentDescription
`
`2
`
`
`Frown_neeee Pofe
`“pecan Poet
`Drawings-onlyblackandwhitelinedrawings pefe|
`Information:
`
`
`
`
`fee-info.pdf
`ecb4f0988c1 35ebfabbeai66{2162d5a2e2 }
`‘ofa
`
`
`Information:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`New Applications Under35 U.S.C. 111
`
`If a new application is beingfiled and the application includes the necessary componentsfora filing date (see 37 CFR
`
`1.53(b)-(d) and MPEP 506), a Filing Receipt (37 CFR 1.54) will be issued in due course and the date shown onthis
`Acknowledgement Receiptwill establish the filing date of the application.
`
`This AcknowledgementReceipt evidences receipt on the noted date by the USPTOof the indicated documents,
`characterized by the applicant, and including page counts, where applicable. It serves as evidenceof receipt similar to a
`Post Card, as described in MPEP 503.
`
`
`National Stage of an International Application under 35 U.S.C. 371
`
`If a timely submission to enter the national stage of an international application is compliant with the conditions of 35
`U.S.C. 371 and other applicable requirements a Form PCT/DO/EO/903indicating acceptance of the application asa
`national stage submission under35 U.S.C. 371 will be issued in addition to the Filing Receipt, in due course.
`
`
`
`New International Application Filed with the USPTO as a Receiving Office
`
`
`
`If a new international applicationis being filed and the international application includes the necessary componentsfor
`an international filing date (see PCT Article 11 and MPEP 1810), a Notification of the International Application Number
`and of the International Filing Date (Form PCT/RO/105)will be issued in due course, subject to prescriptions concerning
`nationalsecurity, and the date shownon this AcknowledgementReceiptwill establish the international filing date of
`
`the application.
`
`Copy provided by USPTOfrom the IFW image Database on 06/16/2010
`
`4
`
`4
`
`

`

`US PatentendTradamantOfice,US eons,OMBOshtz
`Underthe Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persona arerequired to raspond to a collection ofinformailon undassht displays a waid OMSomenneece
`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT COVER SHEET — Page 1 of 2
`This is a request for filing a PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT under37 CFR 1.53{c).
`
`Express Mall Label No.TmnsmitiedViaEFS-Wap
`
`PTO/SB/16 (10-0
`
`SEN TTD
`
`and either State or Foreign Count
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`aA
`ae
`
`eee
`
`
`separately numbered shests attached hereto
`dditional inventors are being named on the
`TITLE OF THE INVENTION (600 characters max):
`
`METHOD AND ARRANGEMENTIN A TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
` Direct ali correspondence to:
`
`
`a
`27045
`The address corresponding to Customer Number:
`.
`
`
`
`
`Individual Name
`Address
`
`
`
`aCe
`Taine eat
`ENCLOSED APPLICATION PARTS (checkall that apply)
`
`
`
`Oo CD(s), Number of CDs
`(] Application Data Sheet. See 37 CFR 1.76
`OO Other(specify
`iv) Orawing(s) Number of Sheets 3
`
`
`Specification (e.g. dascription of the invention) Number of Pages 8
`Fees Due: Filing Fee of $220 ($105 for small entity).
`‘ti the specification and dréw ngs exceed 100 sheets Of paper, an appiication sizefee is
`algo dug, which is $270 ($130 for small entity) for each additional $0 sheets or fraction thereof. See 35 U.S.C. 41(a)(1)(G) and 37 CFR 1.16(s).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT OF TME FILING FEE ANO APPLICATION SIZE FEE FOR THIS PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT
`
`LJ Applicant claims smail entity status. See 37 CFR 1.27.
`.
`= A check or money orderis enclosed to coverthe filing fee and application size fee {if applicable).
`TOTAL FEE AMOUNT (3)
`Payment bycredit card. Form PTO-2036 is attached
`The Director is haraby authorized to chargetha filing fee and application size fee (if applicable) or credit any overpayment ta Deposit
`Account Number: 50-1379sss.0SA dupiicative copy of this form is enctosedfor tee processing.
`USE ONLY FOR FILING A PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT
`This coltection of information Is required by 37 CFR 1.51. The informationIs required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which Is to file (and by tha USPTO
`te process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1,11 and 1.14, This collection Is estimated to take 8 hours to complete.
`induding gathering. preparing, and submitting the compisted application form to tha USPTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any comments
`on the amount of time you require te complete this form and/or suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sem! to the Chief information Officer, U.S. Patent
`and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMSTO THIS
`ADDRESS. SEND TO: Commissionerfor Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
`ifyou need assistance in completing the form. call 1-800-PTO-9189 end select option 2.
`
`
`
`Copy provided by USPTOfrom the IFW Image Database on 06/16/2010
`
`5
`
`5
`
`

`

`
`
`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION COVER SHEET
`Page 2 of 2
`
`PTO/SB/16 (10-07)
`Approved for use through 08/30/2010. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S.Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. OEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Aci of 1995. no persons are required to respond fo a collection of information uniassit disptays a valid OMB control number,
`
`The invention was made by an agency of the United States Governmentor under a contract with an agency of the United States Government.
`No.
`
`C Yes, the name of the U.S. Government agency and the Government contract numberare:
`
`WARNING:
`Petitioner/applicant is cautioned to avoid submitting personalinformation in documentsfiled in a patent application that may
`contribute to identity theft. Personal information such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, or credit card
`numbers (other than a check or credit card authorization form PTO-2038 submitted for payment purposes) is never required by
`the USPTO to support a petition or an application.
`If this type of personal! information is included in documents submitted to
`the USPTO,petitioners/applicants should consider redacting such personal information fram the documents before submitting
`them to the USPTO. Petilioner/applicant is advised that the record of a patent application is available to the public after
`publication of the application (unless a non-publication request in compliance with 37 CFR 1.213(a) is made in the appiication)
`or issuance of a patent. Furthermore, the record from an abandoned application may also be available to the public if the
`application is referenced in a published application or an issued patent (see 37 CFR 1.14). Checks and credit card
`authorization forms PTO-2039
`submitted for payment purposes are nol retained in the application file and therefore are not
`
`publicly available. SIGNATURE
`
`TYPED or PRINTED NAME Thomas Bethea, Jr.
`
`Date June 26, 2009
`
`REGISTRATION NO. 53,987
`(if appropriate)
`
`.
`
`
`TELEPHONE 972-583-4859
`
`Docket Number: P29465-US1
`
`Copy provided by USPTO from the IFW Image Database on 06/16/2010
`
`6
`
`6
`
`

`

`Provisional Patent Application
`P29465-US1
`
`METHOD AND ARRANGEMENTIN A TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a method and arrangementin a telecommunication
`
`system,in particular to methods and arrangements for carrier aggregation in LTE.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`The long-term evolution of the UTRAN, E-UTRAN, also denoted LTE has recently
`been standardized in Release 8 of the 3GPP specifications. This release supports
`
`bandwidths up to 20 MHz; however, in order to meet the upcoming IMT-Advanced
`
`10
`
`requirements, 3GPP has initiated continued work on LTE, whereby one aspect
`
`concems supporting bandwidths larger than 20 MHz. One important requirement on
`
`these future releases is to assure backward compatibility with LTE Rel-8. This
`
`includesinter alia spectrum compatibility which implies that an LTE-Advanced carrier
`
`wider than 20 MHz appears as a numberof LTE carriers to an LTE Rel-8 terminal.
`
`15
`
`Each such carrier can be referred to as a componentcarrier. In particular for early
`
`deployments of future LTE-releases it can be expected that there will be a smaller
`
`number of advanced terminals compared to many LTE legacy terminals. Therefore it
`
`is necessary to assure an efficient use of a wide carrier also for legacy terminals,i.e.
`
`it shall be possible to implement carriers where legacy terminals can be scheduledin
`
`20
`
`all parts of the wideband LTE-Advanced carrier. The straightforward way to obtain
`this would be by meansof carrier aggregation. Carrier aggregation implies that an
`
`LTE-Advanced terminal can receive multiple component carriers, where the
`
`component carriers have, or at least the possibility to have, the same structure as a
`
`Rel-8 carrier. Carrier aggregationisillustrated in figure 1.
`
`EUS/GJ/P:09-7638
`
`10f6
`
`Copy provided by USPTO from the IFW Image Database on 06/16/2010
`
`7
`
`7
`
`

`

`Provisional Patent Application
`P29465-US1
`
`The number of aggregated component carriers as well as the bandwidth of the
`individual component carrier may be different for Uplink (UL) and Downlink (DL). A
`symmetric configuration refers to the case where the number of componentcarriers in
`DL and ULis the same whereas an asymmetric configuration refers to the case that
`the number of componentcarriers is different. It is important to note that the number
`of component carriers configured in a cell may be different from the number of
`component carriers seen by a terminal: A terminal may for example support more DL
`component carriers than UL componentcarriers, even though the cell is configured
`with the same number of UL and DL componentcarriers.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`LTE applies DFTS-OFDM for modulation in the UL. DFTS-OFDMis a special kind of
`Frequency Division Multiplex (FDM) where different users are assigned different
`portions of the spectrum. Orthogonality among different users relies on the time-
`aligned arrival of the UL signals of the various users. In LTE a cyclic prefix is used
`
`which relaxes the requirement on timing alignmentslightly; it is sufficient if the signals
`
`are aligned within a fraction of the cyclic prefix. The normal cyclic prefix in LTE is
`around 5 ys; signals from different users should then be aligned within a ps or so.
`
`Terminals synchronize their DL timings to DL signals transmitted from an eNodeB.
`
`Signals used for this purpose are — but notlimited to — synchronization signals and
`
`reference signals. After established downlink synchronization a terminal can start to
`
`20
`
`transmit signals in the UL from the terminal to the eNodeBat a well defined offset
`
`relative to the DL timing. However, due to varying terminal-eNodeB distances among
`terminals the synchronization signals arrive at different time instances at the terminals
`
`creating terminal specific DL timings at each terminal. This results in different
`
`transmission instances among the terminals. Terminals close to the eNodeB receive
`
`25
`
`the synchronization signal early and thus also start to transmit early; their respective
`
`UL signals require furthermore only a short propagation time to arrive at the eNodeB.
`
`Terminals far away from an eNodeB ontheotherside start to transmit later and their
`
`UL signals require also more time to traverse the distance to the eNodeB resulting in
`
`EUS/GJ/P:09-7638
`
`2 of 6
`
`Copy provided by USPTO from the IFW Image Database on 06/16/2010
`
`8
`
`
`
`8
`
`

`

`
`
`Provisional Patent Application
`P29465-US1
`
`later signalarrival times at the eNodeB. The time difference betweenarriving signals
`
`from two terminals is the difference in round trip time between these two terminals.
`
`Roundtrip time is defined as the time duration that is needed for a signal to traverse
`
`the distance eNodeB-terminal and back (assuming zero processing delay at the
`
`terminal) and is calculated as twice the distance eNodeB-terminal divided by the
`
`speed oflight.
`
`In order to align the arrival times of UL signals from different terminals the eNodeB
`
`measures the arrival times of the different signals relative to a desired arrival time
`
`reference and informs the terminals by how muchthey have to advance/delay their
`
`10
`
`UL transmission timings (relative to their UE specific DL timings). This process is
`
`called timing alignment procedure and the commandusedto notify the terminal about
`
`the required correctionis called timing advance command.
`
`In case of a terminal! with completely unsynchronized UL timing the terminal does not
`
`transmit a regular UL signal but a random accesssignal. This signal is specifically
`
`15
`
`designed for UL timing unsynchronized terminals. After the eNodeB has determined
`
`the required correction of UL transmit timing it transmits a corresponding timing
`
`advance command to the terminal which corrects its UL timing accordingly. After that
`
`the terminal can now start to transmit regular UL signals which assumealigned arrival
`
`timings. The eNodeB continuously monitors UL signal arrival timings and sends
`
`20
`
`timing advance commandsto maintain a valid ULtiming. !f a terminal is not active in
`
`the ULfor a long time or looses UL synchronization for another reason a new random
`access needsto be performedto establish a valid UL timing again.
`
`In case of UL carrier aggregation all UL signals within a component carrier and
`possibly across contiguous component carriers need to be timing aligned to maintain
`
`25
`
`orthogonality. Inter-band UL carrier aggregation does not require alignment across
`
`bands,at least not from an orthogonality point of view.
`
`EUS/GJ/P:09-7638
`
`3 of 6
`
`Copy provided by USPTO from the IFW Image Database on 06/16/2010
`
`9
`
`9
`
`

`

`Provisional Patent Application
`P29465-US1
`
`A straight forward extension to the case of carrier aggregation with multiple UL
`carriers would be to use either a common timing advance for all UL component
`
`carriers or an UL componentcarrier specific timing advance.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`It has been observed to be a problem that none of the extensions described above
`
`In
`flexibility to efficiently cover all conceivable scenarios.
`provides sufficient
`particular in case of carrier aggregation and TDD with different UL/DL allocations
`among the aggregated bands, a common UL timing advance cannot be used since
`the different DL/UL allocations require different UL timings.
`
`It is thus an object of embodiments of the present invention to achieve an improved
`time alignment for carrier aggregation with multiple UL carriers.
`
`The present invention relates to a method where UL componentcarriers, which
`originate from one terminal and which should have a common UL receive timing and
`share the same reference timing for their transmission, use a common timing
`
`advance command. The present invention also relates to means for implementing
`
`said method.
`
`Embodiments of the present invention thus enable the usage of a single UL timing
`
`advance command whenpossible and only needs to revert back to multiple UL timing
`
`advance commandsfor certain required cases. This implies the advantage to reduce
`overhead while at the same time simplifying terminal processing if a common UL
`timing advance can be used.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent
`
`from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in
`
`25
`
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
`
`EUS/GJ/P:09-7638
`
`4of6
`
`Copy provided by USPTO fram the IFW image Database on 06/16/2010
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Provisional Patent Application
`P29465-US1
`
`Figure1illustrates an example ofcarrier aggregation.
`Figure2illustrates a terminal receiving two DL componentcarriers and transmitting
`on two UL componentcarriers.
`receiving three DL component carriers and
`Figure 3 illustrates a terminal
`transmitting on two UL componentcarriers.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The arrival
`time of two or more UL component carriers is influenced by the
`transmission timing of each respective UL carrier as well as the propagation delay
`experienced by each UL signal.
`
`In case of contiguous component carriers all component carriers will experience the
`same propagation environment and thus also equal propagation delays.
`In case of
`inter-band carrier aggregation different carriers can theoretically experience different
`propagation environments; for example objects may be transparent at one frequency
`layer but not at another and therefore influence the propagation time. However, such
`
`effects are rather theoretically and are not considered further here.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`The remaining factor is then the transmission timing of the UL componentcarriers. In
`
`case they share a common DLtiming reference — and thus have a common UL
`
`transmit timing —- and UL componentcarriers should have the same ULreceive timing
`
`20
`
`one timing advance commandis sufficient. The same also appliesif they use different
`
`— but well defined with respect to each other — DL timing references. The UL transmit
`
`timings and thus also the UL receive timings will have the same relationship to each
`
`other as the DL transmit timings of the timing references. A common DL timing
`
`reference could be for example the synchronization signal of one DL component
`
`25
`
`carrier. Another example of a common DL timing reference could be synchronization
`
`signals on different componentcarriers if they are synchronized. DL timing references
`that are not the same but anyway share a well defined relation with each other could
`
`EUS/GJ/P:09-7638
`
`5 of 6
`
`Copyprovided by USPTO from the IFW Image Database on 06/16/2010
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`
`
`Provisional Patent Application
`P29465-US1
`
`be synchronization signals on DL componentcarriers where the transmit timings are
`not the same but have a clearly defined offset relative to each other.
`
`Figure 2 illustrates a terminal receiving two DL componentcarriers and transmitting
`on two UL componentcarriers. Both UL componentcarriers derive their transmission
`timings from DL component carrier 1 and share the same UL timing advance
`
`command.
`
`Figure 3 illustrates a terminal receiving three DL componentcarriers and transmitting
`on two UL componentcarriers. UL componentcarrier 1 derives its transmission timing
`from DL componentcarrier 1. UL componentcarrier 2 derives its transmission timing
`from DL componentcarrier 3. The transmission timings of DL componentcarriers 1
`and 3 are not related to each other. In order to guarantee clearly defined UL receive
`
`10
`
`timings for both UL componentcarriers individual UL timing advance commands are
`
`required.
`
`An example where a common UL timing advance does not work is aggregation of
`
`15
`
`multiple TDD carriers with different DL/UL allocations across them. Since TDD DL
`
`transmitters are typically timing aligned with neighboring TDD DL transmitters to
`mitigate interference it is necessary that each of the TDD component carriers can set
`their DL timings individually. Due to possible different DL/UL allocations individual UL
`
`receive timings are required making individual UL timing advance commands
`necessary. More generally one can say that all UL component carriers which UL
`receive timings should have the same relation as their respective DL timing
`references can share the same ULtiming advance command. The validity whether a
`timing advance commandis just valid for a single UL component carrier or multiple
`UL component carriers can either be indicated directly in the timing advance
`commandor can be configured via higher layer signaling, e.g. RRC signaling.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`EUS/GJ/P:09-7638
`
`6 of 6
`
`Copy provided by USPTO from the IFW Image Database on 06/16/2010
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`
`
`|
`
`1/1
`
`'] 20MHz| 20MHz| 20MHz| 20MHz} 20MHz
`
`
`
`Aggregated bandwidth of 100 MHz
`
`Fig. 1
`
`Fig. 2
`
`CommonDLtiming reference
`
` Common ULtiming advance
`JCC 1
`
`
`
`
`UL timing
`advance1
`
`DLtiming
`reference 1
`
`UL timing
`advance 2
`
`DLtiming
`reference 2
`
`
`
`
`Copyprovided by USPTO from the IFW Image Database on 06/16/2010
`
`13
`
`13
`
`