Carrier-aggregation-based handover method

A communication method comprising:

• transmitting, from a user equipment (UE) through a first component carrier of an eNB, a measurement report, wherein the first component carrier is a primary component carrier and the measurement report comprises measurement results for the first component carrier and a second component carrier of the eNB;
• after transmitting the measurement report, receiving, from the eNB through the first component carrier, a command to use the second component carrier as the primary component carrier;
• and
• after receiving the command, transmitting a preamble from the UE through the second component carrier,
• wherein one or more component carriers, other than the second component carrier, supported by the eNB are deactivated when the preamble is received from the UE.

A communication apparatus, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor operably coupled to the memory,
• wherein the processor, when executing program instructions stored in the memory, is configured to:
• cause the communication apparatus to receive, from a user equipment (UE) through a first component carrier of the communication apparatus, a measurement report, wherein the first component carrier is a primary component carrier and the measurement report comprises measurement results for the first component carrier and a second component carrier of the communication apparatus;
• cause the communication apparatus to, after receiving the measurement report, transmit, to the UE through the first component carrier, a command to use the second component carrier as the primary component carrier;
• and
• cause the communication apparatus to, after transmitting the command, receive a preamble from the UE through the second component carrier,
• wherein one or more component carriers, other than the second component carrier, supported by the communication apparatus are deactivated when the preamble is received from the UE.

A user equipment (UE), comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor operably coupled to the memory,
• wherein the processor, when executing program instructions stored in the memory, is configured to:
• cause the UE to transmit, through a first component carrier of an eNB, a measurement report, wherein the first component carrier is a primary component carrier and the measurement report comprises measurement results for the first component carrier and a second component carrier of the eNB;
• cause the UE to, after transmitting the measurement report, receive from the eNB through the first component carrier, a command to use the second component carrier as the primary component carrier;
• and
• cause the UE to, after receiving the command, transmit a preamble from through the second component carrier,
• wherein one or more component carriers, other than the second component carrier, supported by the eNB are deactivated when the preamble is received from the UE.

A wireless communication device for a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor operably coupled to the memory,
• wherein the processor, when executing program instructions stored in the memory, is configured to:
• cause the UE to transmit, through a first component carrier of an eNB, a measurement report, wherein the first component carrier is a primary component carrier and the measurement report comprises measurement results for the first component carrier and a second component carrier of the eNB;
• cause the UE to, after transmitting the measurement report, receive from the eNB through the first component carrier, a command to use the second component carrier as the primary component carrier;
• and
• cause the UE to, after receiving the command, transmit a preamble from through the second component carrier,
• wherein one or more component carriers, other than the second component carrier, supported by the eNB are deactivated when the preamble is received from the UE.