Methods, Network Node, and User Equipment Related to Channel Spacing

Abstract

It is presented a method for obtaining a capability of channel spacing between component carriers used in carrier aggregation for a user equipment, UE. The method is performed in a network node and comprises the step of: determining, from a plurality of alternatives, the capability of channel spacing for the UE based on signalling between the UE and the network node, the channel spacing capability comprising at least one of the alternatives of: a multiple of 300 kHz, a multiple of 15 kHz and any other channel spacing. A corresponding network node and UE are also presented.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for obtaining a capability of channel spacing between component carriers used in carrier aggregation for a user equipment, UE, the method being performed in a network node and comprising the step of:
 determining, from a plurality of alternatives, the capability of channel spacing for the UE based on signalling between the UE and the network node, the channel spacing capability comprising at least one of the alternatives of: a multiple of 300 kHz, a multiple of 15 kHz and any other channel spacing.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step, prior to the step of determining, of:
 receiving signalling from the UE, the signalling indicating the capability of channel spacing, the channel spacing capability comprising at least one of the alternatives of: a multiple of 300 kHz, a multiple of 15 kHz, and any other channel spacing.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
 transmitting a request for capability of channel spacing to the UE.   
     
     
         4 . A method for obtaining a capability of channel spacing between component carriers used in carrier aggregation for a user equipment, UE, the method being performed in a network node and comprising the step of:
 determining, from a plurality of alternatives, the capability of channel spacing for the UE based on a pre-defined rule relating a channel spacing to a type of carrier aggregation, the channel spacing capability comprising at least one of the alternatives of: a multiple of 300 kHz, a multiple of 15 kHz and any other channel spacing.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step, prior to the step of determining, of:
 detecting the capability of channel spacing by comparing performance of intra-band carrier aggregation when the UE is connected to different cells, where component carriers in some cells are sent with 300 kHz channel spacing, in other cells with 15 KHz or with any other channel spacing.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the step of detecting the capability of channel spacing comprises comparing the performance of intra-band carrier aggregation with a pre-determined carrier aggregation performance. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of determining the capability of channel spacing comprises determining the capability of channel spacing based on a type of carrier aggregation supported by the UE. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of determining the capability of channel spacing comprises determining the capability of channel spacing for the UE based on a number of IFFT/FFT, Inverse Fast Fourier Transform/Fast Fourier Transforms, which are supported by the UE receiver and/or UE transmitter. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the step of determining the capability of channel spacing comprises determining that the UE supports any channel spacing when the UE supports more than one IFFT/FFT for carrier aggregation. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of determining the capability of channel spacing comprises determining the capability of channel spacing for the UE to be any channel spacing, when non-contiguous carrier aggregation is supported by the UE. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of determining the capability of channel spacing comprises determining the capability of channel spacing for the UE to be any channel spacing, when inter-band carrier aggregation is supported by the UE. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of determining the capability of channel spacing comprises determining the capability of channel spacing for the UE based on the frequency band(s) used for carrier aggregation. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step of storing the capability of channel spacing for the UE, for use in network management or configuration tasks. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step of:
 deciding what channel spacing to use between component carriers in carrier aggregation for the UE, based on the determined capability of channel spacing for the UE.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the step of deciding what channel spacing to use comprises deciding which one of available component carriers to use in carrier aggregation for the UE, based on the determined capability of channel spacing for the UE and based on the channel spacing of available component carriers, where there are several component carriers configurations available in the network of the network node, having channel spacing being a multiple of 300 kHz and channel spacing being a multiple of 15 kHz. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step of:
 configuring the UE to operate in carrier aggregation with a channel spacing between component carriers based on the determined capability of channel spacing for the UE.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step of:
 operating the UE without carrier aggregation when the determined capability of channel spacing for the UE is not supported by the network node.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step of:
 forwarding the determined capability of channel spacing for the UE to another network node.   
     
     
         19 . A network node arranged to obtain a capability of channel spacing between component carriers to be used in carrier aggregation for a user equipment, UE, the network node comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the network node to:   determine, from a plurality of alternatives, the capability of channel spacing for the UE based on a pre-defined rule relating a channel spacing to a type of carrier aggregation, the channel spacing capability comprising at least one of the alternatives of: a multiple of 300 kHz, a multiple of 15 kHz and any other channel spacing.   
     
     
         20 . A method arranged to providing a capability of channel spacing between component carriers to be used in carrier aggregation for a user equipment, UE, the method being performed by the UE and comprising the step of:
 transmitting signalling to the network node, the signalling indicating a capability of channel spacing between component carriers used in carrier aggregation for the UE, the channel spacing capability comprising at least one of the alternatives of: a multiple of 300 kHz, a multiple of 15 kHz, and any other channel spacing.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising the step of:
 receiving a request for capability of channel spacing from the network node, and wherein the step of transmitting is performed in response to the step of receiving a request.   
     
     
         22 . A user equipment, UE, arranged to providing a capability of channel spacing between component carriers to be used in carrier aggregation for the UE, the UE comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the UE to:   transmit signalling to the network node, the signalling indicating a capability of channel spacing between component carriers used in carrier aggregation for the UE, the channel spacing capability comprising at least one of the alternatives of: a multiple of 300 kHz, a multiple of 15 kHz and any other channel spacing.