# US 12,114,369 B2 · Multicarrier communications employing time alignment timers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,114,369 B2 - Document ID: US12114369B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/454,460 - Filed: 2023-08-23 - Published: 2024-02-08 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-25 - Assignees: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Applicants: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Inventors: Esmael Hejazi Dinan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12114369B2 ## CPC - H04W 74/0833: Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access - H04L 5/0055: {Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK (for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861)} - H04L 5/0094: {Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated} - H04L 5/0098: {Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands} - H04L 27/2692: {with preamble design, i.e. with negotiation of the synchronisation sequence with transmitter or sequence linked to the algorithm used at the receiver} - H04W 28/00: Network traffic management; Network resource management - H04W 28/18: Negotiating wireless communication parameters - H04W 36/0072: {of resource information of target access point} - H04W 48/00: Access restriction (access security to prevent unauthorised access H04W12/08); Network selection; Access point selection - H04W 48/20: Selecting an access point - H04W 52/14: Separate analysis of uplink or downlink - H04W 52/146: {Uplink power control} - H04W 52/242: {taking into account path loss} - H04W 52/248: {where transmission power control commands are generated based on a path parameter} - H04W 52/34: TPC management, i.e. sharing limited amount of power among users or channels or data types, e.g. cell loading - H04W 56/00: Synchronisation arrangements - H04W 56/0005: {synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks} - H04W 56/001: {Synchronization between nodes} - H04W 56/0045: {compensating for timing error by altering transmission time} - H04W 72/0446: Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames - H04W 72/20: Control channels or signalling for resource management - H04W 72/23: in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal - H04W 74/002: {Transmission of channel access control information} - H04W 74/006: {in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal} - H04W 76/18: Management of setup rejection or failure - H04J 2011/0096: {Network synchronisation} - H04L 27/32: Carrier systems characterised by combinations of two or more of the types covered by groups H04L27/02, H04L27/10, H04L27/18 or H04L27/26 - H04L 65/1066: Session management - H04W 52/18: TPC being performed according to specific parameters - H04W 52/50: at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment - H04W 76/15: Setup of multiple wireless link connections - H04W 76/27: Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states - H04W 88/02: Terminal devices - H04W 88/08: Access point devices - 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) - H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S) ## Abstract Wireless communications for a plurality of cell groups are described. Uplink transmissions, such as uplink transport blocks, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) transmission, and/or channel state information transmission, may be based on one or more time alignment timers associated with a cell group. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving by a wireless device: a first value for a first time alignment timer (TAT) associated with a primary cell group; and a second value for a second TAT associated with a secondary cell group; and while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: transmitting, for at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group, channel state information; and not performing particular uplink transmissions via the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the not performing particular uplink transmissions comprises not performing, via the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group and while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running, at least one of: re-transmissions of uplink transport blocks or transmissions of new uplink transport blocks. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the not performing particular uplink transmissions comprises not performing, via the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group and while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running, sounding reference signal (SRS) transmissions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, based on the first TAT expiring, at least one of: not performing uplink transport block transmission via a cell of the primary cell group or via a cell of the secondary cell group; or clearing at least one Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) buffer associated with a cell of the primary cell group or associated with a cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: transmitting Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) positive acknowledgements and HARQ negative acknowledgements, wherein the HARQ positive acknowledgements and the HARQ negative acknowledgements correspond to transport blocks received via at least one cell of the primary cell group or of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the channel state information comprises transmitting the channel state information using at least one of: a physical uplink control channel of a primary cell; or uplink control information feedback in a transport block transmitted via a shared data channel of an uplink carrier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, based on the first TAT expiring, at least one of: uplink transmission of at least one random access preamble via a cell of the primary cell group or via a cell of the secondary cell group; or notifying a radio resource control protocol layer to release a sounding reference signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running, at least one of: uplink transmission of at least one random access preamble via a cell of the secondary cell group; or notifying a radio resource control protocol layer to release a sounding reference signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the wireless device, configuration parameters associated with a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of cells comprises the primary cell group and the secondary cell group, and wherein: uplink transmission timing associated with the primary cell group is based on a first cell of the primary cell group; and uplink transmission timing associated with the secondary cell group is based on a second cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: clearing at least one Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) buffer associated with the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: transmitting, for the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group, a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ). ### Claim 12 A wireless device comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to: receive: a first value for a first time alignment timer (TAT) associated with a primary cell group; and a second value for a second TAT associated with a secondary cell group; and while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: transmit, for at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group, channel state information; and not perform particular uplink transmissions via the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to not perform the particular uplink transmissions by not performing, via the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group and while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running, at least one of: re-transmissions of uplink transport blocks or transmissions of new uplink transport blocks. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to not perform the particular uplink transmissions by not performing, via the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group and while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running, sounding reference signal (SRS) transmissions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to, based on the first TAT expiring, at least one of: not perform uplink transport block transmission via a cell of the primary cell group or via a cell of the secondary cell group; or clear at least one Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) buffer associated with a cell of the primary cell group or associated with a cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: transmit Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) positive acknowledgements and HARQ negative acknowledgements, wherein the HARQ positive acknowledgements and the HARQ negative acknowledgements correspond to transport blocks received via at least one cell of the primary cell group or of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to transmit the channel state information by transmitting the channel state information using at least one of: a physical uplink control channel of a primary cell; or uplink control information feedback in a transport block transmitted via a shared data channel of an uplink carrier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to, based on the first TAT expiring, at least one of: perform uplink transmission of at least one random access preamble via a cell of the primary cell group or via a cell of the secondary cell group; or notify a radio resource control protocol layer to release a sounding reference signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running, at least one of: perform uplink transmission of at least one random access preamble via a cell of the secondary cell group; or notify a radio resource control protocol layer to release a sounding reference signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to receive configuration parameters associated with a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of cells comprises the primary cell group and the secondary cell group, and wherein: uplink transmission timing associated with the primary cell group is based on a first cell of the primary cell group; and uplink transmission timing associated with the secondary cell group is based on a second cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: clear at least one Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) buffer associated with the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the wireless device to, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: transmit, for the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group, a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ). ### Claim 23 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, configure a wireless device to: receive: a first value for a first time alignment timer (TAT) associated with a primary cell group; and a second value for a second TAT associated with a secondary cell group; and while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: transmit, for at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group, channel state information; and not perform particular uplink transmissions via the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the wireless device to not perform the particular uplink transmissions by not performing, via the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group and while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running, at least one of: re-transmissions of uplink transport blocks or transmissions of new uplink transport blocks. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the wireless device to not perform the particular uplink transmissions by not performing, via the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group and while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running, sounding reference signal (SRS) transmissions. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to, based on the first TAT expiring, at least one of: not perform uplink transport block transmission via a cell of the primary cell group or via a cell of the secondary cell group; or clear at least one Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) buffer associated with a cell of the primary cell group or associated with a cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: transmit Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) positive acknowledgements and HARQ negative acknowledgements, wherein the HARQ positive acknowledgements and the HARQ negative acknowledgements correspond to transport blocks received via at least one cell of the primary cell group or of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the wireless device to transmit the channel state information by transmitting the channel state information using at least one of: a physical uplink control channel of a primary cell; or uplink control information feedback in a transport block transmitted via a shared data channel of an uplink carrier. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to, based on the first TAT expiring, at least one of: perform uplink transmission of at least one random access preamble via a cell of the primary cell group or via a cell of the secondary cell group; or notify a radio resource control protocol layer to release a sounding reference signal. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running, at least one of: perform uplink transmission of at least one random access preamble via a cell of the secondary cell group; or notify a radio resource control protocol layer to release a sounding reference signal. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to receive configuration parameters associated with a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of cells comprises the primary cell group and the secondary cell group, and wherein: uplink transmission timing associated with the primary cell group is based on a first cell of the primary cell group; and uplink transmission timing associated with the secondary cell group is based on a second cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 32 (depends on 23) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: clear at least one Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) buffer associated with the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 33 (depends on 23) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the wireless device to, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: transmit, for the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group, a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ). ### Claim 34 A system comprising: a base station; and a wireless device, wherein the base station is configured to transmit: a first value for a first time alignment timer (TAT) associated with a primary cell group; and a second value for a second TAT associated with a secondary cell group, and wherein the wireless device is configured to: receive the first value for the first TAT and the second value for the second TAT; and while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: transmit, for at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group, channel state information; and not perform particular uplink transmissions via the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless device is configured to not perform the particular uplink transmissions by not performing, via the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group and while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running, at least one of: re-transmissions of uplink transport blocks or transmissions of new uplink transport blocks. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless device is configured to not perform the particular uplink transmissions by not performing, via the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group and while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running, sounding reference signal (SRS) transmissions. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless device is configured to, based on the first TAT expiring, at least one of: not perform uplink transport block transmission via a cell of the primary cell group or via a cell of the secondary cell group; or clear at least one Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) buffer associated with a cell of the primary cell group or associated with a cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless device is configured to, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: transmit Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) positive acknowledgements and HARQ negative acknowledgements, wherein the HARQ positive acknowledgements and the HARQ negative acknowledgements correspond to transport blocks received via at least one cell of the primary cell group or of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 39 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless device is configured to transmit the channel state information by transmitting the channel state information using at least one of: a physical uplink control channel of a primary cell; or uplink control information feedback in a transport block transmitted via a shared data channel of an uplink carrier. ### Claim 40 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless device is configured to, based on the first TAT expiring, at least one of: perform uplink transmission of at least one random access preamble via a cell of the primary cell group or via a cell of the secondary cell group; or notify a radio resource control protocol layer to release a sounding reference signal. ### Claim 41 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless device is configured to, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running, at least one of: perform uplink transmission of at least one random access preamble via a cell of the secondary cell group; or notify a radio resource control protocol layer to release a sounding reference signal. ### Claim 42 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless device is configured to receive configuration parameters associated with a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of cells comprises the primary cell group and the secondary cell group, and wherein: uplink transmission timing associated with the primary cell group is based on a first cell of the primary cell group; and uplink transmission timing associated with the secondary cell group is based on a second cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 43 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless device is configured to, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: clear at least one Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) buffer associated with the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group. ### Claim 44 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless device is configured to, while the second TAT is expired and the first TAT is running: transmit, for the at least one activated cell of the secondary cell group, a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ).