Controlling user equipment carrier aggregation configuration with enhanced multimedia broadcast multicast services

Abstract

Provided is a method operating a wireless device in a wireless communication network. The method includes determining a carrier aggregation (CA) configuration for the wireless device to receive eMBMS data on multiple carriers of a dedicated mode type and/or a mixed mode type. The CA configuration is determined based at least partially on at least one of a pre-defined rule that delimits one or more acceptable characteristics for at least a portion of the multiple carriers, a capability of the wireless device that relates to receiving and decoding eMBMS data on multiple carriers, and a pre-defined set of acceptable CA configurations. The method includes configuring the determined CA configuration in the wireless device and performing one or more operational tasks under the configured CA configuration.

1 . A method of operating a wireless device in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
 determining a carrier aggregation (CA) configuration for the wireless device to receive multicast data on a plurality of carriers of a dedicated mode type and/or a mixed mode type, the CA configuration being determined based at least partially on at least one of:
 a pre-defined rule that delimits one or more acceptable characteristics for at least a portion of the plurality of carriers; 
 a capability of the wireless device that relates to receiving and decoding multicast data on a plurality of carriers; and 
 a pre-defined set of acceptable CA configurations; 
   configuring the determined CA configuration in the wireless device; and   performing one or more operational tasks under the configured CA configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the CA configuration comprises sending to another node in the wireless communication network, a wireless device capability that corresponds to the wireless device's capability to support one or CA configurations,
 wherein the wireless device's capability to support one or more CA configurations comprises at least one of a quantity of carriers during a dedicated multicast operation mode and a quantity of mixed cells that include unicast and FeMBSFN subframes.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the CA configuration further comprises:
 determining, at the wireless device, an interest in receiving multicast data on a number of dedicated carriers and/or a quantity of mixed mode carriers; and   transmitting to the other node in the wireless communication network the interest that is determined.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the CA configuration further comprises:
 determining an acceptable CA configuration that includes at least one carrier of the dedicated mode or the mixed mode type; and   configuring the acceptable CA configuration.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining the acceptable CA configuration comprises selecting from a pre-defined set of acceptable CA configurations. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining the acceptable CA configuration is based on an acceptable configuration or characteristics of the acceptable configuration received from the other node. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein configuring the acceptable CA configuration comprises aggregating, by the wireless device, the carriers with multicast data to receive multicast data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein configuring the acceptable CA configuration comprises at least one of:
 modifying a set of CC by deactivating one or more SCells;   replacing a first mode type cell in a set of serving cells with a second mode type cell, wherein the first mode type cell is one of the dedicated mode type and mixed mode type, and   wherein the second mode type cell is the other one of the dedicated mode type and the mixed mode type; and   creating or extending a set of one or more UE-operated carriers with multicast data.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein sending to the other node comprises at least one of providing an indicator of whether or not an adaptation is done for CA configuration and/or for multicast carriers and/or providing information about carriers that have been deconfigured and/or deactivated. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining the acceptable CA configuration is based on at least one of:
 a number of CC's with mixed cells;   a number of CCs having a predefined percentage range of subframes per carrier;   a number of CCs without mixed cells; and   a number of activated or deactivated mixed SCells.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing the one or more operational tasks comprises at least one of:
 receiving multicast data in FeMBSFN subframes;   receiving unicast data in one or more serving cells;   performing a measurement in unicast subframes meeting a pre-defined performance requirement;   performing and/or logging a measurement in FeMBSFN subframes meeting a pre-defined performance requirement; and   transmitting to the other node results of determining the acceptable configuration and/or an adaptation of the set of carriers.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the capability of the wireless device that relates to receiving and decoding multicast data on the plurality of carriers comprises:
 a defined quantity of carriers during dedicated multicast mode and/or with mixed multicast mode of operation.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the capability of the wireless device that relates to receiving and decoding multicast data on the plurality of carriers comprises at least one of:
 a number of carriers and/or bands with mixed cells that are supported;   a number of a total of carriers and/or bands in the CA that are supported;   a number of carriers and/or bands in the CA that are not multicast that are supported;   a number of carriers and/or bands with mixed cells using a different numerology in MBSFN subframes than in unicast subframes in the CA that are supported;   a number of carriers and/or bands for which multicast data can be aggregated; and   a number of MBSFN areas in total or MBSFN areas with specific properties or specific MBSFN configurations in the CA that are supported.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein FeMBMS subframes comprise a subframe transmitting multicast data using a first numerology that includes a subcarrier spacing of 1.25 KHz. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first numerology further comprises a symbol duration of about 800 μsec and a CP length of about 200μ. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein multicast operation and/or data is any one of: a MBMS operation or data and an eMBMS operation or data. 
     
     
         17 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A radio communication network comprising:
 a first radio node that comprises:
 a transceiver to provide wireless communication over a radio interface; 
 at least one processor coupled to the transceiver; and 
 at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing program code that when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: 
 determining a carrier aggregation (CA) configuration for a wireless device to receive multicast data on a plurality of carriers of a dedicated mode type and/or a mixed mode type, the CA configuration being determined based at least partially on at least one of:
 a pre-defined rule that delimits one or more acceptable characteristics for at least a portion of the plurality of carriers; 
 a capability of the wireless device that relates to receiving and decoding multicast data on a plurality of carriers; and 
 a pre-defined set of acceptable CA configurations; 
 
   configuring the determined CA configuration in the wireless device; and   performing one or more operational tasks under the configured CA configuration.   
     
     
         37 . A wireless communication device (UE) comprising:
 a transceiver to provide wireless communication over a radio interface;   at least one processor coupled to the transceiver; and   at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing program code that when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
 determining a carrier aggregation (CA) configuration for the wireless device to receive multicast data on a plurality of carriers of a dedicated mode type and/or a mixed mode type, the CA configuration being determined based at least partially on at least one of:
 a pre-defined rule that delimits one or more acceptable characteristics for at least a portion of the plurality of carriers; 
 a capability of the wireless device that relates to receiving and decoding multicast data on a plurality of carriers; and 
 a pre-defined set of acceptable CA configurations; 
 
 configuring the determined CA configuration in the wireless device; and 
 performing one or more operational tasks under the configured CA configuration. 
   
     
     
         38 . The wireless communication device of  claim 37 , wherein determining the CA configuration comprises sending to another node in a wireless communication network, a wireless device capability that corresponds to the wireless device's capability to support one or CA configurations, wherein the wireless device's capability to support one or more CA configurations comprises at least one of a quantity of carriers during a dedicated multicast operation mode and a quantity of mixed cells that include unicast and FeMBSFN subframes;
 determining, at the wireless device, an interest in receiving multicast on a quantity of dedicated carriers and/or a quantity of mixed mode carriers;   transmitting to the other node in the wireless communication network the interest that is determined;   determining an acceptable CA configuration that includes at least one carrier of the dedicated mode or the mixed mode type; and   configuring the acceptable CA configuration, and   wherein configuring the acceptable CA configuration comprises aggregating the carriers with multicast to receive multicast data.   
     
     
         39 . The wireless communication device of  claim 38 , wherein configuring the acceptable CA configuration comprises at least one of:
 modifying a set of CC by deactivating one or more SCells;   replacing a first mode type cell in a set of serving cells with a second mode type cell, wherein the first mode type cell is one of the dedicated mode type and mixed mode type, and   wherein the second mode type cell is the other one of the dedicated mode type and the mixed mode type; and   creating or extending a set of one or more UE-operated carriers with multicast data.   
     
     
         40 - 42 . (canceled)