CIF-Value to Component Carrier Mapping Reconfiguration

Abstract

A radio network node in a multi-carrier radio communication system reconfigures mappings of Carrier Indicator Field values (CIF-values) to component carriers. Each CIF-value is mapped to a respective component carrier comprising a respective shared data channel and a downlink control channel that addresses the shared data channel. The reconfiguring comprises maintaining a first mapping between a first CIF-value and a first component carrier. The downlink control channel of the first component carrier carries the first CIF-value and a second CIF-value. The reconfiguring further comprises changing a second mapping of the second CIF-value to a second component carrier. The radio network node sends the changed second mapping to a user equipment (UE) comprised in the multi-carrier radio communication system. The UE receives the reconfigured mappings and reconfigures the UE to use the mappings for communication in the multi-carrier radio communication system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, implemented by a radio network node in a multi-carrier radio communication system, the method comprising:
 reconfiguring mappings of Carrier Indicator Field values (CIF-values) to component carriers, each CIF-value being mapped to a respective component carrier comprising a respective shared data channel and a downlink control channel that addresses the shared data channel, the reconfiguring comprising:
 maintaining a first mapping between a first CIF-value and a first component carrier, the downlink control channel of the first component carrier carrying the first CIF-value and a second CIF-value; and 
 changing a second mapping of the second CIF-value to a second component carrier; 
   sending the changed second mapping to a user equipment comprised in the multi-carrier radio communication system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first component carrier corresponds to a primary cell and is managed by the radio network node. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first CIF-value is equal to zero. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending the changed second mapping comprises refraining from sending the maintained first mapping to the user equipment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the downlink control channel of the first component carrier is a Physical Downlink Control Channel and the shared data channel of the first component carrier is a Physical Downlink Shared Channel or a Physical Uplink Shared Channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sending of the changed second mapping is performed using Radio Resource Control protocol. 
     
     
         7 . An arrangement comprised in a radio network node configured to operate in a multi-carrier radio communication system, the arrangement comprising:
 processing circuitry configured to reconfigure mappings of Carrier Indicator Field values (CIF-values) to component carriers, each CIF-value being mapped to a respective component carrier comprising a respective shared data channel and a downlink control channel that addresses the shared data channel, wherein to reconfigure the mapping, the processing circuitry is configured to:
 maintain a first mapping between a first CIF-value and a first component carrier, the downlink control channel of the first component carrier carrying the first CIF-value and a second CIF-value; and 
 change a second mapping of the second CIF-value to a second component carrier; 
   a transceiver communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry and configured to send the changed second mapping to a user equipment comprised in the multi-carrier radio communication system.   
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the first component carrier corresponds to a primary cell managed by the radio network node. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the first CIF-value is equal to zero. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein to send the changed second mapping, the transceiver is configured to refrain from sending the maintained first mapping to the user equipment. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the downlink control channel of the first component carrier is a Physical Downlink Control Channel and the shared data channel of the first component carrier is a Physical Downlink Shared Channel or a Physical Uplink Shared Channel. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein to send the changed second mapping, the transceiver is configured to use Radio Resource Control protocol. 
     
     
         13 . A method, implemented in a User Equipment (UE) in a multi-carrier radio communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving mappings of Carrier Indicator Field values (CIF-values) to component carriers, each CIF-value being mapped to a respective component carrier comprising a respective shared data channel and a downlink control channel that addresses the shared data channel, the mappings having been reconfigured by a radio network node in the multi-carrier radio communication system such that:
 a first mapping between a first CIF-value and a first component carrier is maintained, the downlink control channel of the first component carrier carrying the first CIF-value and a second CIF-value; and 
 a second mapping of the second CIF-value is changed to a second component carrier; 
   reconfiguring the UE to use the reconfigured mappings for communication in the multi-carrier radio communication system.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first CIF-value corresponds to a primary cell managed by the radio network node. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first CIF-value is equal to zero. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the downlink control channel of the first component carrier is a Physical Downlink Control Channel and the shared data channel of the first component carrier is a Physical Downlink Shared Channel or a Physical Uplink Shared Channel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein receiving the reconfigured mapping is performed using Radio Resource Control protocol. 
     
     
         18 . A User Equipment (UE) configured to operate in a multi-carrier radio communication system, the UE comprising:
 receiver circuitry configured to receive mappings of Carrier Indicator Field values (CIF-values) to component carriers, each CIF-value being mapped to a respective component carrier comprising a respective shared data channel and a downlink control channel that addresses the shared data channel, the mappings having been reconfigured by a radio network node in the multi-carrier radio communication system such that:
 a first mapping between a first CIF-value and a first component carrier is maintained, the downlink control channel of the first component carrier carrying the first CIF-value and a second CIF-value; and 
 a second mapping of the second CIF-value is changed to a second component carrier; 
   processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the receiver circuitry and configured to reconfiguring the UE to use the reconfigured mappings for communication in the multi-radio communication system.   
     
     
         19 . The UE of  claim 18 , wherein the first CIF-value corresponds to a primary cell managed by the radio network node. 
     
     
         20 . The UE of  claim 18 , wherein the first CIF-value is equal to zero. 
     
     
         21 . The UE of  claim 18 , wherein the downlink control channel of the first component carrier is a Physical Downlink Control Channel and the shared data channel of the first component carrier is a Physical Downlink Shared Channel or a Physical Uplink Shared Channel. 
     
     
         22 . The UE of  claim 18 , wherein to receive the mappings, the receiver circuitry is configured to use Radio Resource Control protocol.