Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 1 of 20 PageID #: 36
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Exhibit “B”
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 2 of 20 PageID #: 37
`111111
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US008848556B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Wu et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,848,556 B2
`Sep.30,2014
`
`(54) CARRIER AGGREGATION WITH POWER
`HEADROOM REPORT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Chunli Wu, Beijing (CN); Benoist
`Pierre Sebire, Tokyo (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: Cellular Communications Equipment
`LLC, Plano, TX (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 743 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/164,266
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun.20,2011
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2011/0310760Al
`
`Dec. 22, 2011
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60)
`
`Provisional application No. 61/356,867, filed on Jun.
`21, 2010.
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04L 1100
`H04L 12126
`U.S. Cl.
`USPC .......................................................... 370/252
`Field of Classification Search
`CPC ................................ H04L 47/10; H04L 43/50
`USPC .......................................................... 370/252
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2011/0092217 A1 * 4/2011 Kim eta!. ..................... 455/450
`2011/0243016 A1 * 10/2011 Zhang et al ................... 370/252
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`wo
`wo
`wo
`
`2013-509759 A
`2010/065759 A2
`wo 20111050921
`2010/073191 A1
`
`3/2013
`6/2010
`5/2011
`6/2011
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell et al., 3GPP TSG-RANWG2 Meeting
`#70, Rl-102879, "Considerations on PHR for CA", May 2010, pp.
`1-3.
`Potevio, 3GPP TSG RANWG2 #70, Rl-102770, "Remaining Issues
`on PHR for CA", May 2010, pp. 1-3.
`3GPP TS 36.321 V8.8.0, 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Tech(cid:173)
`nical Specification Group radio Access Network; Evolved Universal
`Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) Medium Access Control (MAC)
`Protocol specification (Release 8), Dec. 2009, pp. 1-44.
`International Search Report application No. PCT/EP2011/060118
`dated Sep. 2, 2011.
`Japanese Office Action Notice of Reasons application No. 2013-
`515821 dated Jan. 6, 2014.
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner- Ronald Abelson
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm- Martin & Ferraro, LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Methods, apparatuses, and software can be used for providing
`power headroom reporting in a telecommunication system. A
`method can include configuring a user equipment to send a
`power headroom report control element in uplink, wherein
`the power headroom report control element includes a bitmap
`indicating which power headroom reports are being reported.
`The method can further include receiving the power head(cid:173)
`room report control element from the user equipment. The
`method additionally can include processing the received
`power headroom report control element based on the configu(cid:173)
`ration of the user equipment.
`
`24 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`processlng635thereceivedpower
`headroomre!XIrloontrolelemen~whereln
`thabitmaplncludesailrstbltiora
`userequ1pmentpowerheadroomre!Xlrt,
`asecondbitforatype1power
`headroomreportforapnmaryservmgcell,
`athirdbitforatype2powerhsadroomraport
`forthepnmaryserv1ngcell,iourth
`throughseventhbitsforpowerheadroom
`reportsforiourseoondarycellsandareservedbit
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 3 of 20 PageID #: 38
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`L TE-Advanced system bandwidth
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`5 x 20 MHz component carriers
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`Figure 1: Basic illustration of Component Carriers to form LTE-Advanced system
`bandwidth
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`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 4 of 20 PageID #: 39
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.30,2014
`
`Sheet 2 of 13
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`US 8,848,556 B2
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`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 5 of 20 PageID #: 40
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 30, 2014
`
`Sheet 3 of 13
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`US 8,848,556 B2
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`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 6 of 20 PageID #: 41
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep.30,2014
`
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`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 7 of 20 PageID #: 42
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`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 8 of 20 PageID #: 43
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.30,2014
`
`Sheet 6 of 13
`
`US 8,848,556 B2
`
`an eNB configuring 610 power headroom reporting for a user equipment
`
`using 639 a logical channel identifier
`for Type 2 power headroom report,
`while for Type 1 the format can
`correspond to a release 8 format
`
`1--
`
`a power headroom report can be triggered 620
`
`determining 630 which type of power headroom report and the power
`headroom of which component carrier(s) should be included in the power
`
`indicating 640 with the bitmap the type of power headroom report and the
`power headroom reports of at least one component carrier
`
`indicating 637, in the bitmap, for a
`primary serving cell, type 1 and type 2
`power headroom reports via an R bit in
`the power headroom report payload
`
`I -
`
`receiving 650 the power headroom report control element at the base
`station from the user equipment
`
`processing 630 the received power headroom report control element
`based on the configuration of the user equipment
`
`processing 631 the received power
`headroom report control element, wherein
`the control element includes the bitmap
`in a media access control subheader
`
`I -r--
`
`processing 633 the received power
`headroom report control element,
`wherein the bitmap is exactly eight bits
`
`processing 635 the received power
`headroom report control element, wherein
`the bitmap includes a first bit for a
`user equipment power headroom report,
`a second bit for a type 1 power
`headroom report for a primary serving cell,
`a third bit for a type 2 power headroom report
`for the primary serving cell, fourth
`through seventh bits for power headroom
`reports for four secondary cells and a reserved bit
`
`I -
`
`Figure 6
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 9 of 20 PageID #: 44
`
`an eNB configuring 710 triggers for
`sending a power headroom report
`
`preparing 720 the power headroom report
`control element, based on the triggers
`
`incorporating 730 a bitmap indicating
`which power headroom reports are being
`reported
`
`preparing 721 the bitmap in a MAC
`subheader or in a payload
`
`preparing 723 the bitmap to be exactly
`eight bits
`
`piepaiing 725 the bitmap to indude a [u-sl bit for a user e4uipment power
`headroom report, a second bit ±Or a type 1 power headroom report ±Or a
`primary serving cell. a third bit for a type 2 power headroom report for the
`primary serving eel~ fourth through seventh bits for power headroom reports
`±Or ±Our secondary cells, and a reserved bit
`
`I
`sending 740 the prepared power headroom
`report control element to the base station
`
`indicating 727, in the bitmap, for a primary serving
`cell, type 1 and type 2 power headroom reports via
`an R bit in the power headroom report payload for
`primarv serving cell
`
`I
`using 729 a logical channel identifier for Type"
`2 power headroom report, while for Type 1 the
`fonnat can correspond to a release 8 fonnat
`
`Figure 7
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`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 10 of 20 PageID #: 45
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.30,2014
`
`Sheet 8 of 13
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`US 8,848,556 B2
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`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 11 of 20 PageID #: 46
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep.30,2014
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`Sheet 9 of 13
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`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 12 of 20 PageID #: 47
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`Sep.30,2014
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`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 14 of 20 PageID #: 49
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`Sep.30,2014
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`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 15 of 20 PageID #: 50
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`Sep.30,2014
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`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 16 of 20 PageID #: 51
`
`US 8,848,556 B2
`
`1
`CARRIER AGGREGATION WITH POWER
`HEADROOM REPORT
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`The present application is related to and claims the priority
`of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/356,867 filed
`Jun. 21, 2011, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated
`herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`2
`element in uplink. The power headroom report control ele(cid:173)
`ment includes a bitmap indicating which power headroom
`reports are being reported. The method further includes
`receiving the power headroom report control element from
`the user equipment. The method additionally includes pro(cid:173)
`cessing the received power headroom report control element
`based on the configuration of the user equipment.
`In another embodiment, a method includes preparing a
`power headroom report control element, based on a trigger
`10 configured by a base station. The trigger determines when a
`power headroom report control element is to be sent in uplink.
`Preparing the control element includes incorporating a bit(cid:173)
`map indicating which power headroom reports are being
`reported. The method further includes sending the prepared
`15 power headroom report control element to the base station.
`A non-transitory computer readable medium, in certain
`further embodiments, is encoded with a computer program
`that, when executed in hardware, causes the hardware to
`perform a process. The process includes configuring a user
`20 equipment to send a power headroom report control element
`in uplink. The power headroom report control element
`includes a bitmap indicating which power headroom reports
`are being reported. The process further includes receiving the
`power headroom report control element from the user equip-
`25 ment. The process additionally includes processing the
`received power headroom report control element based on the
`configuration of the user equipment.
`A non-transitory computer readable medium, in another
`embodiment, is encoded with a computer program that, when
`30 executed in hardware, causes the hardware to perform a pro(cid:173)
`cess. The process can also include preparing a power head(cid:173)
`room report control element, based on a trigger configured by
`a base station. The trigger determines when a power head(cid:173)
`room report control element is to be sent in uplink. Preparing
`35 the control element includes incorporating a bitmap indicat(cid:173)
`ing which power headroom reports are being reported. The
`process further includes sending the prepared power head(cid:173)
`room report control element to the base station.
`In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes at least one
`40 processor and at least one memory including computer pro(cid:173)
`gram code. The at least one memory and computer program
`code are configured to, with at least one processor, cause the
`apparatus at least to configure a user equipment to send a
`power headroom report control element in uplink. The power
`45 headroom report control element includes a bitmap indicating
`which power headroom reports are being reported. The at
`least one memory and computer program code are also con(cid:173)
`figured to, with at least one processor, cause the apparatus at
`least to receive the power headroom report control element
`50 from the user equipment. The at least one memory and com(cid:173)
`puter program code are further configured to, with at least one
`processor, cause the apparatus at least to process the received
`power headroom report control element based on the configu-
`ration of the user equipment.
`An apparatus, in another embodiment, includes at least one
`processor and at least one memory including computer pro(cid:173)
`gram code. The at least one memory and computer program
`code are configured to, with at least one processor, cause the
`apparatus at least to prepare a power headroom report control
`60 element, based on a trigger configured by a base station. The
`trigger determines when a power headroom report control
`element is to be sent in uplink. The at least one memory and
`computer program code are also configured to, with at least
`one processor, cause the apparatus at least to prepare the
`65 control element by incorporating a bitmap indicating which
`power headroom reports are being reported. The at least one
`memory and computer program code are also configured to,
`
`1. Field
`Carrier aggregation (CA) is a technique that is applicable to
`such networks as evolved universal terrestrial radio access
`(E-UTRA) networks (E-UTRAN). E-UTRAN is just one
`example, as the technique may be used in other kinds of
`networks. In carrier aggregation, two or more component
`carriers (CCs) or serving cells can be aggregated in order to
`support wider transmission bandwidths up to, for example,
`100 MHz and for spectrum aggregation. In carrier aggrega(cid:173)
`tion, it is possible to configure a user equipment (UE) to
`aggregate a different number of component carriers or serv(cid:173)
`ing cells originating from the same enhanced node B (eNB)
`and of possibly different bandwidths in the uplink (UL) and
`the downlink (DL).
`2. Description of the Related Art
`In releases 8 and 9 of the third generation partnership
`project (3GPP), without carrier aggregation, a power head(cid:173)
`room report is triggered if any of the following occur, see
`3GPP specification, 36.321, which is hereby incorporated
`herein by reference: a timer called "prohibitPHR-Timer"
`expires or has expired and the path loss has changed more
`than a predetermined amount, "dl-PathlossChange" dB, since
`the transmission of a power headroom report when the user
`equipment has uplink resources for new transmission; a timer
`called "periodicPHR-Timer" expires; or upon configuration
`or reconfiguration of the power headroom reporting function(cid:173)
`ality by upper layers, which is not used to disable the function.
`The "prohibitPHR-Timer," "periodicPHR-Timer," and "dl(cid:173)
`PathlossChange," are configured by a radio resource control(cid:173)
`ler. Similar power headroom report triggering could also be
`applied to carrier aggregation. When power headroom report(cid:173)
`ing is triggered, power headroom reports on all the scheduled
`CC (or serving cells) or configured CC (or configured serving
`cells) should be reported.
`One approach to addressing power headroom reporting is
`to limit each power headroom report (PHR) to the corre(cid:173)
`sponding component carrier. Although such an approach
`minimizes changes, because of potential hybrid automatic
`repeat request (HARQ) retransmission timing differences,
`the eNB cannot obtain a power headroom report from all
`component carriers at the same time. Furthermore, one logi(cid:173)
`cal channel identifier (LCID) is used per reported component
`carrier (or serving cell), increasing overhead.
`Another option is to allow a cross carrier power headroom
`report with a cross carrier indicator for each power headroom 55
`report to indicate which component carrier (or serving cell) it
`is referring to. This approach requires one media access con(cid:173)
`trol (MAC) sub-header for each individual power headroom
`report or a "length" field to indicate the length for such vari(cid:173)
`able size payload. Furthermore, there are only 2 R bits in the
`power headroom report MAC control element (CE) which is
`not enough to indicate 5 component carriers (or serving cells).
`
`SUMMARY
`
`A method, in certain embodiments, includes configuring a
`user equipment to send a power headroom report control
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 17 of 20 PageID #: 52
`
`US 8,848,556 B2
`
`3
`with at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to send
`the prepared power headroom report control element to the
`base station.
`In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes configuring
`means for configuring a user equipment to send a power
`headroom report control element in uplink. The power head(cid:173)
`room report control element includes a bitmap indicating
`which power headroom reports are being reported. The appa(cid:173)
`ratus also includes receiving means for receiving the power
`headroom report control element from the user equipment.
`The apparatus further includes processing means for process(cid:173)
`ing the received power headroom report control element
`based on the configuration of the user equipment.
`An apparatus, according to certain embodiments, includes
`preparing means for preparing a power headroom report con(cid:173)
`trol element, based on a trigger configured by a base station.
`The trigger determines when a power headroom report con(cid:173)
`trol element is to be sent in uplink. Preparing the control
`element includes incorporating a bitmap indicating which
`power headroom reports are being reported. The apparatus
`also includes sending means for sending the prepared power
`headroom report control element to the base station.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`For proper understanding of the invention, reference
`should be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 illustrates carrier aggregation.
`FIG. 2 illustrates an E1/R/LCID sub-header.
`FIG. 3 illustrates a sub-header for power headroom report(cid:173)
`ing.
`FIG. 4 illustrates individual power headroom reports for
`each component carrier.
`FIG. 5 illustrates a power headroom report payload includ(cid:173)
`ing a bitmap for power headroom reporting as the first octet.
`FIG. 6 illustrates a method according to certain embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 illustrates a method according to certain embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the present invention.
`FIG. 8 illustrates a system according to certain embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the present invention.
`FIG. 9 illustrates a format in which a single bit is used to
`indicate whether Type 1 power headroom report or Type 2
`power headroom report is being used.
`FIG. 10 illustrates a format in which Type 1 and Type 2
`power headroom reports are indicated via the R bit in the
`power headroom report payload for PCell.
`FIG. 11 illustrates a format in which a new logical channel
`identifier is used for a Type 2 power headroom report, while
`for Type 1 the format can correspond to a release 8 format.
`FIG. 12 illustrates a format in which each individual power
`headroom report is 6 bits, with R bits for byte alignment when
`the payload is not byte aligned.
`FIG. 13 illustrates a format in which each individual power
`headroom report is 6 bits, without R bits for byte alignment
`when the payload is byte aligned.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT(S)
`
`Certain embodiments of the present invention report power
`headroom using a new power headroom report MAC control
`element which can start with a bitmap indicating which power
`headroom reports are being reported. Each bit of the bitmap
`can be linked to a particular power headroom report (e.g.
`primary serving cell (PCell) PHR, secondary serving cell
`(SCell), such as SCelll, PHR#) and the order in which the bits
`
`4
`are read in the bitmap also defines the order in which the
`power headroom reports follow the bitmap. The bitmap can,
`therefore, indicate the size of the power headroom report
`MAC control element. Thus, the control element can address
`variable power headroom report size and can avoid using one
`sub-header per individual power headroom report.
`It may be beneficial to limit power headroom reporting to
`the serving cells that are scheduled to reduce overhead and
`simplifY power headroom evaluation from user equipment
`10 side. Also, it may be beneficial for the eNB to obtain, at the
`same time, power headroom reports for all the serving cells
`scheduled. Because of potential hybrid automatic repeat
`request (HARQ) retransmission timing differences, schedul(cid:173)
`ing all component carriers with new transmission in the same
`15 transmission time interval (TTl) may not be feasible.
`The principle of carrier aggregation is illustrated in FIG. 1.
`Third generation partnership project (3GPP) release 8 (Rel-8)
`user equipment may be served by a stand-alone component
`carrier or serving cell, while release 10 (Rel-1 0) terminals can
`20 be configured to receive or transmit simultaneously on mul(cid:173)
`tiple component carriers or remote serving cells in the same
`transmission time interval (TTl).
`When carrier aggregation is configured, the user equip(cid:173)
`ment only has one radio resource control (RRC) connection
`25 with the network. At RRC connection establishment/re-es(cid:173)
`tablishment, one serving cell provides the security input and
`the non-access stratum (NAS) mobility information (e.g. tim(cid:173)
`ing advance information (TAl)) similarly as in Rel-8/9. The
`security input can include one E-UTRAN cell global identi-
`30 fier (ECGI), one physical cell identity (PCI) and one absolute
`radio-frequency channel number (ARFCN).
`This cell that provides the security input and the NAS
`mobility information is referred to as the primary serving cell
`(PCell). In the downlink, the carrier corresponding to the
`35 PCell is the downlink (DL) primary component carrier (DL
`PCC) while in the uplink it is the uplink (UL) primary com(cid:173)
`ponent carrier (UL PCC).
`Depending on user equipment capabilities, secondary
`serving cells (SCells) can be configured to form, together
`40 with the PCell, a set of serving cells. In the downlink, the
`carrier corresponding to an SCell is a downlink secondary
`component carrier (DL SCC) while in the uplink it is an
`uplink secondary component carrier (UL SCC).
`In view of the above, the configured set of serving cells for
`45 a user equipment may always include one PCell and one or
`more SCells. For each SCell, the usage of uplink resources by
`the user equipment in addition to the downlink ones can be
`configurable. The number ofDL SCCs configured can, there(cid:173)
`fore, be set always to be larger or equal to the number ofUL
`50 SCCs and, thus, no SCell can be configured for usage of
`uplink resources only. Additionally, the nnmber of serving
`cells that can be configured can depend upon the aggregation
`capability of the user equipment.
`Furthermore, to assist the scheduler, the eNB can configure
`55 user equipment to send buffer status reports (BSRs) and
`power headroom reports in uplink. BSR can indicate the
`amount of data the user equipment has available for transmis(cid:173)
`sion. A power headroom report can provide the eNB with
`information about the difference between the nominal user
`60 equipment maximnm transmit power and the estimated
`power for uplink synchronization channel (UL-SCH) trans(cid:173)
`miSSIOn.
`A power headroom report can be sent by the user equip(cid:173)
`ment in uplink in the form of PHR media access control
`65 (MAC) control elements in which the "power headroom"
`field indicates the power headroom level. In the context of
`carrier aggregation, per component carrier (or serving cell)
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 1-3 Filed 12/19/14 Page 18 of 20 PageID #: 53
`
`US 8,848,556 B2
`
`5
`power headroom reporting can be used, and, optionally, per
`user equipment power headroom reporting can also be used
`on top of those.
`As mentioned above, a new power headroom report MAC
`control element can be provided, which starts with a bitmap
`indicating which PHRs are being reported. Each bit of the
`bitmap can be linked to a particular power headroom report
`(e.g. PCell PHR, SCelll PHR ... ) and the order in which the
`bits are read in the bitmap can also define the order in which
`the power headroom reports follow the bitmap. The bitmap 10
`therefore indicates the size of the power headroom report
`MAC control element.
`The bit in the bitmap can indicate whether a power head(cid:173)
`room (PH) field is being reported. For example, a bit set to "1"
`can indicate that a power headroom field for a corresponding
`secondary cell is being reported. The bit set to "0", on the
`other hand, can indicate that a power headroom field for a
`corresponding secondary cell is not being reported. Thus, for
`example if the bit for SCell_i is set to zero, the power head(cid:173)
`room field for the secondary cell with secondary cell index i
`is not being reported. Alternatively, the opposite convention
`can be used, wherein "1" indicates that a report is not being
`provided and "0" indicates that a report is being provided.
`For example, the bitmap can be 8 bits long and can be
`organized as follows. A first bit can be used for a user equip(cid:173)
`ment power headroom report (UE-PHR). The use of the first
`bit for UE-PHR is, of course, an optional item. In some
`embodiments, there may be no need for such a PHR in addi(cid:173)
`tion to per-CC PHR.
`A second bit can be used for Type 1 PHR for PCell. A third
`bit can be used for Type 2 PHR for PCell. Fourth through
`seventh bits can be for PHR of SCelll, SCell2, SCell3, and
`SCell4. There can also be one reserved bit. In other embodi(cid:173)
`ments, such as if the first bit is not used for UE-PHR, there can
`be more than one reserved bit.
`Type 1 and Type 2 power headroom reports may employ
`the following definition. Their presence can be indicated to
`the eNB. Type 1 power headroom report can be computed as:
`P _cmax,c minus PUSCH power. Type 2 power headroom
`report can be computed as: P _cmax,c minus PUCCH power 40
`minus PUSCH power
`There are some additional considerations as well. For
`PCell, if in a TTl there can be either only Type 1 or Type 2
`PHR, one bit in the bitmap can be used to indicate the type.
`Still another possibility for PCell is to indicate Type 1 and
`Type 2 power headroom reports via the R bit in the MAC
`sub-headerfor PCell. This format is illustrated in FIG. 9. Still
`another possibility for PCell is to indicate Type 1 and Type 2
`power headroom reports via the R bit in the power headroom
`report payload for PCell. This format is illustrated in FIG. 10.
`A further alternative is to use a new logical channel identifier
`for Type 2 power headroom report, while for Type 1 the
`format can correspond to a release 8 format. Then, ifthere is
`only a power headroom report for PCell included, the bitmap
`byte is not needed. This format is illustrated in FIG. 11.
`The order of SCells can be according the order in which
`they are configured or according to a cell index or component
`carrier index. If only a power headroom report for one serving
`cell is needed in a TTl, a simplified format could be used.
`The new power headroom report format could use a new
`logical channel identifier (LCID) or make use of one of the R
`bits of the subheader to indicate the occurrence of the bitmap.
`This bit is denoted E1 in FIG. 2. The bitmap could either
`follow the MAC Sub-header for a power headroom report, or
`it can be as the first byte of the power headroom report
`payload. FIG. 3 illustrates the bitmap for the power headroom
`report has a sub-header.
`
`6
`The individual power headroom report for each component
`carrier, each type or per UE PHR can resemble that found in
`Release 8 or Release 9: 1 byte for each component carrier
`with 2 R bits+6 bits PH. This approach is illustrated in FIG. 4.
`Alternatively, each individual power headroom report can be
`6 bits, with R bits for byte alignment when the payload is not
`byte aligned, as shown in FIG. 12; when it is byte aligned, no
`R bit needed, as showninFIG.13. FIG. 5 shows an alternative
`embodiment in which the first octet of the payload is the
`bitmap for the power headroom report.
`Various embodiments of the present invention may provide
`advantageous effects. For example, in certain embodiments,
`there may be no need to have a separate MAC sub-header for
`each individual power headroom report (different type of
`15 power headroom report, per component carrier power head(cid:173)
`room report for each component carrier and per-UE power
`headroom report). Thus, overhead may be reduced. Addition(cid:173)
`ally, issues arising from uncertainty of variable size may be
`avoided or handled. Furthermore, certain embodiments of the
`20 present invention may clearly and efficiently indicate which
`component carriers have power headroom report included,
`without a cross-CC indicator for each individual power head(cid:173)
`room report separately.
`FIG. 6 illustrates a method according to certain embodi-
`25 ments of the present invention. The method can include an
`eNB configuring 610 power headroom reporting for a user
`equipment. In the method, a power headroom report can be
`triggered 620. The method can additionally include determin(cid:173)
`ing 630 which type of power headroom report and the power
`30 headroom of which component carrier(s) should be included
`in the power headroom report MAC control element. The
`method can also include indicating 640 with the bitmap the
`type of power headroom report and the power headroom
`reports of at least one component carrier.
`The method can include receiving 650 the power headroom
`report control element at the base station from the user equip(cid:173)
`ment. The method additionally includes processing 630 the
`received power headroom report control element based on the
`configuration of the user equipment.
`The method can include processing 631 the received power
`headroom report control element, wherein the control ele(cid:173)
`ment includes the bitmap in a media access control subheader
`or in a payload. The method can also include processing 633
`the received power headroom report control element, wherein
`45 the bitmap is exactly eight bits. The method can also include
`processing 635 the received power headroom report control
`element, wherein the bitmap includes a first bit for a user
`equipment power headroom report, a second bit for a type 1
`power headroom report for a primary serving cell, a third bit
`50 for a type 2 power headroom report for the primary serving
`cell, fourth through seventh bits for power headroom reports
`for four secondary cells, and a reserved bit. Because the eight
`bits can include a reserved bit, the power headroom report
`control element can alternatively be said t