# US 12,010,639 B2 · Secondary cell activation

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- Number: US 12,010,639 B2
- Document ID: US12010639B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/617,461
- Filed: 2019-07-09
- Published: 2022-07-14
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-07-09
- Assignees: Nokia Technologies Oy
- Applicants: Nokia Technologies Oy
- Inventors: Tao Yang; Karol Schober
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010639B2

## CPC

- H04W 56/001: {Synchronization between nodes}
- H04L 5/005: {of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals}
- H04L 5/0051: {of dedicated pilots, i.e. pilots destined for a single user or terminal}
- H04L 5/0053: {Allocation of signalling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals}
- H04L 5/0055: {Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK (for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861)}
- H04L 5/0098: {Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands}
- H04L 5/0007: {the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A) or DMT}
- H04W 80/02: Data link layer protocols
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to secondary cell activation. A method comprises transmitting, from a first apparatus and on a serving cell in an active status, a MAC layer command for activating at least one secondary cell to a second apparatus, the MAC layer command indicating a configuration on a procedure for activating the at least one secondary cell. The method further comprises receiving an acknowledgement for the MAC layer command from the second apparatus. The method further comprises causing the second apparatus to synchronize, based on at least the configuration and the acknowledgement, with the first apparatus on the at least one secondary cell. As such, the time for activating a Scell can be greatly shortened.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A first apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program codes;
the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to:
transmit, on a serving cell in an active status, a Media Access Control (MAC) layer command for activating at least one secondary cell to a second apparatus, the MAC layer command indicating a configuration on a procedure for activating the at least one secondary cell;
receive an acknowledgement for the MAC layer command from the second apparatus;
cause the second apparatus to synchronize, based on at least the configuration and the acknowledgement, with the first apparatus on the at least one secondary cell; and
wherein the configuration indicates that an aperiodic tracking reference signal is to be used by the second apparatus for synchronizing with the first apparatus on the at least one secondary cell, and wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to:
in response to a first time offset between reception of the acknowledgement and transmission of the aperiodic tracking reference signal being indicated to the second apparatus,
determine, based on the first time offset and the reception of the acknowledgement, a first slot for transmitting the aperiodic tracking reference signal;
transmit, in the first slot, the aperiodic tracking reference signal to the second apparatus on the at least one secondary cell; and
wait for a time period after transmitting the aperiodic tracking reference signal, such that the second apparatus is synchronized, based on the aperiodic tracking reference signal, with the first apparatus on the at least one secondary cell.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to:
prior to transmitting the MAC layer command, transmit a first indication of the first time offset to the second apparatus.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codes are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to:
obtain channel state information for the at least one secondary cell from the second apparatus.