Method and Arrangement for Reconfiguring Mapping of Carrier Indicator Field to Component Carrier

Abstract

A method and an arrangement in a radio network node for reconfiguring mappings from Carrier Indicator Field-values to component carriers are provided. Each CIF-value is mapped to a respective component carrier comprising a respective shared data channel. Each respective shared data channel corresponds to at least one downlink control channel carrying said each CIF-value. The radio network node reconfigures mappings from CIF-values to component carriers, while at least one mapping of CIF-value to component carrier is maintained. The component carrier of said at least one mapping from CIF-value to component carrier comprises said at least one downlink control channel and a shared data channel corresponding to said at least one downlink control channel. The radio network node sends at least one of the reconfigured mappings from CIF-values to component carriers to the user equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method in a radio network node for reconfiguring mappings from Carrier Indicator Field-values, referred to as “CIF-values”, to component carriers, wherein each CIF-value is mapped to a respective component carrier comprising a respective shared data channel, wherein each respective shared data channel corresponds to at least one downlink control channel carrying said each CIF-value, and the component carriers are managed by the radio network node, wherein the radio network node and the user equipment are comprised in a multi-carrier radio communication system, wherein the method comprises
 reconfiguring mappings from CIF-values to component carriers, while maintaining at least one mapping of CIF-value to component carrier and changing at least one mapping of CIF-value to component carrier to a mapping to another component carrier, wherein the component carrier of said at least one mapping from CIF-value to component carrier comprises said at least one downlink control channel and a shared data channel corresponding to said at least one downlink control channel, and 
 sending at least one of the reconfigured mappings from CIF-values to component carriers to the user equipment. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the component carrier of said at least one maintained mapping from CIF-value to component carrier corresponds to a primary cell, wherein the primary cell is one of the component carriers managed by the radio network node. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the CIF-value of said at least one maintained mapping from CIF-value to component carrier is equal to zero. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein sending the configured mapping further comprises
 refraining from sending said at least one maintained mapping from CIF-value to component carrier to the user equipment.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the control channel is PDCCH and the shared data channel is PDSCH or PUSCH. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of sending at least some of the reconfigured mappings is performed using Radio Resource Control protocol. 
     
     
         7 . An arrangement in a radio network node for reconfiguring mappings from Carrier Indicator Field-values, referred to as “CIF-values”, to component carriers, wherein each CIF-value is mapped to a respective component carrier comprising a respective shared data channel, wherein each respective shared data channel corresponds to at least one downlink control channel carrying said each CIF-value, and the component carriers are managed by the radio network node, wherein the radio network node and the user equipment are comprised in a multi-carrier radio communication system, wherein the arrangement comprises
 a reconfiguring circuit configured to reconfigure mappings from CIF-values to component carriers, while maintaining at least one mapping of CIF-value to component carrier and changing at least one mapping of CIF-value to component carrier to a mapping to another component carrier, wherein the component carrier of said at least one mapping from CIF-value to component carrier comprises said at least one downlink control channel and a shared data channel corresponding to said at least one downlink control channel, and 
 a transceiver configured to send at least one of the reconfigured mappings from CIF-values to component carriers to the user equipment. 
 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein the component carrier of said at least one maintained mapping from CIF-value to component carrier corresponds to a primary cell, wherein the primary cell is one of the component carriers managed by the radio network node. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein the CIF-value of said at least one maintained mapping from CIF-value to component carrier is equal to zero. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein the transceiver further is configured to refrain from sending said at least one maintained mapping from CIF-value to component carrier to the user equipment. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein the control channel is PDCCH and the shared data channel is PDSCH or PUSCH. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein the transceiver is configured to use Radio Resource Control protocol when sending at least some of the reconfigured mappings to the user equipment. 
     
     
         13 . A method in a User Equipment, UE, for reconfiguring mappings from Carrier Indicator Field-values, referred to as “CIF-values”, to component carriers wherein each CIF-value is mapped to a respective component carrier comprising a respective shared data channel, wherein each respective shared data channel corresponds to at least one downlink control channel carrying said each CIF-value, wherein the UE and a radio network node, which manages the component carriers, are comprised in a multi-carrier radio communication system, wherein the method comprises:
 receiving reconfigured mappings from CIF-values to component carriers, wherein the reconfigured mappings include at least one maintained mapping of CIF-value to component carrier and at least one changed mapping of CIF-value to component carrier, from the radio network node, wherein the component carrier of at least one mapping from CIF-value to component carrier comprises said at least one downlink control channel and a shared data channel corresponding to said at least one downlink control channel, and 
 reconfiguring the mappings from CIF-values to component carriers according to the received reconfigured mappings. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one maintained mapping of CIF-value to component carrier, which are included in the received reconfigured mappings, corresponds to a primary cell, wherein the primary cell is one of the component carriers which are managed by the radio network node. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the CIF-value of the at least one maintained mapping of CIF value to component carrier, which are included in the received reconfigured mappings, is equal to zero. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the control channel is PDCCH and the shared data channel is PDSCH or PUSCH. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein receiving the reconfigured mapping is performed using Radio Resource Control protocol. 
     
     
         18 . A User Equipment, UE, configured for reconfiguring mappings from Carrier Indicator Field-values, referred to as “CIF-values”, to component carriers wherein each CIF-value is mapped to a respective component carrier comprising a respective shared data channel, wherein each respective shared data channel corresponds to at least one downlink control channel carrying said each CIF-value, wherein the UE and a radio network node, which manages the component carriers, are comprised in a multi-carrier radio communication system, wherein the UE comprising:
 a receiver circuit configured to receiving reconfigured mappings from CIF-values to component carriers wherein the reconfigured mappings include at least one maintained mapping of CIF-value to component carrier and at least one changed mapping of CIF-value to component carrier, from the radio network node, wherein the component carrier of at least one mapping from CIF-value to component carrier comprises said at least one downlink control channel and a shared data channel corresponding to said at least one downlink control channel, and 
 a reconfiguring circuit configured to reconfiguring the mappings from CIF-values to component carriers according to the received reconfigured mappings which include at least one maintained mapping of CIF-value to component carrier and at least one changed mapping of CIF-value to component carrier. 
 
     
     
         19 . The UE according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one maintained mapping of CIF-value to component carrier, which are included in the received reconfigured mappings received by the receiver circuit, corresponds to a primary cell, wherein the primary cell is one of the component carriers which are managed by the radio network node. 
     
     
         20 . The UE according to  claim 18 , wherein the CIF-value of the at least one maintained mapping of CIF-value to component carrier, which are included in the received reconfigured mappings received by the receiver circuit, is equal to zero. 
     
     
         21 . The UE according to  claim 18 , wherein the control channel is PDCCH and the shared data channel is PDSCH or PUSCH. 
     
     
         22 . The UE according to  claim 18 , wherein the receiver circuit is configured for receiving the reconfigured mapping by using Radio Resource Control protocol.