Methods for Physical Layer Multi-Point Carrier Aggregation and Multi-Point Feedback Configuration

Abstract

Methods for physical layer multi-point carrier aggregation and feedback configuration are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a UE receives an upper layer configuration includes a first UE-ID associated with a first group of component carriers (CCs) and a second UE-ID associated with a second group of CCs. The UE receives downlink control information via one or more downlink control channels on one or downlink CCs. The UE decodes the downlink control information using the first UE-ID and the second UE-ID. In another embodiment of the invention, the UE receives an upper layer configuration of a first uplink feedback CC associated with a first group of downlink CCs and a second uplink feedback CC associated with a second group of downlink CCs. The UE generates feedback information for the downlink CCs to be carried on their corresponding uplink feedback CC.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving an upper layer configuration, wherein a first uplink feedback component carrier is associated with a first group of downlink component carriers and a second uplink feedback component carrier is associated with a second group of downlink component carriers;   aggregating a set of feedback information of the downlink component carriers associated with the first and the second uplink feedback component carriers, respectively; and   generating uplink feedback channels to carry the aggregated feedback information for the first and the second uplink feedback component carriers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the uplink feedback channels are transmitted on the first and the second uplink feedback component carriers simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the uplink feedback channels are transmitted on either the first or the second uplink feedback component carrier. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback information is a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback information is a Channel State Information (CSI). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first group of downlink component carriers are associated with a first base station with a first UE-ID and the second group of downlink component carriers are associated with a second base station with a second UE-ID. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the uplink feedback channels on the first and the second uplink feedback component carriers are generated with corresponding UE-IDs. 
     
     
         8 . A user equipment (UE), comprising:
 a receiver that receives an upper layer configuration, wherein a first uplink feedback component carrier is associated with a first group of downlink component carriers and a second uplink feedback component carrier is associated with a second group of downlink component carriers;   an aggregation module that aggregates a set of feedback information of the downlink component carriers associated with the first and the second uplink feedback component carriers, respectively; and   a feedback module that generates uplink feedback channels to carry the aggregated feedback information for the first and the second uplink feedback component carriers.   
     
     
         9 . The UE of  claim 8 , wherein the uplink feedback channels are transmitted on the first and the second uplink feedback component carriers simultaneously. 
     
     
         10 . The UE of  claim 8 , wherein the uplink feedback channels are transmitted on either the first or the second uplink feedback component carrier. 
     
     
         11 . The UE of  claim 8 , wherein the feedback information is a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ). 
     
     
         12 . The UE of  claim 8 , wherein the feedback information is a Channel State Information (CSI). 
     
     
         13 . The UE of  claim 8 , wherein the first group of downlink component carriers are associated with a first base station with a first UE-ID and the second group of downlink component carriers are associated with a second base station with a second UE-ID. 
     
     
         14 . The UE of  claim 13 , wherein the uplink feedback channels on the first and the second uplink feedback component carriers are generated with corresponding UE-IDs.