# US 2012/0236771 A1 · Uplink control channel resource mapping for carrier aggregation

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2012/0236771 A1
- Document ID: US20120236771A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/232,934
- Filed: 2011-09-14
- Published: 2012-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-17
- Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Inventors: Xiliang Luo; Peter Gaal; Wanshi Chen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120236771A1

## CPC

- H04L 1/1607: Details of the supervisory signal
- H04L 1/1861: {Physical mapping arrangements (for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053)}
- H04L 5/0053: {Allocation of signalling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals}
- H04L 2001/0096: {Channel splitting in point-to-point links}
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

In a multi-carrier wireless communication system, component carrier configuration and reconfiguration uses uplink control channel resource mapping with fallback configurations to maintain alignment between a user equipment and a base station during reconfiguration.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of wireless communication, comprising:
determining a first number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on a first configuration of a plurality of component carriers (CCs) configured for a multi-carrier user equipment (UE);
selecting a first mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the first number of ACK/NACK bits, the first mapping comprising a fallback configuration for downlink data transmissions on a single component carrier, wherein the fallback configuration matches a single component carrier configuration for downlink data transmissions in a second mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources;
determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmissions on the first configuration of CCs based on the first mapping; and
sending ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions, on uplink control channel resources based on the first mapping.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a higher-layer command to change from the first configuration of component carriers to a second configuration of component carriers; and
receiving downlink data transmissions on only a single component carrier for a period after the receipt of the higher-layer command.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging downlink data transmissions based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping, after receipt of the higher-layer command; and
sending ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
determining a second number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on the second configuration of component carriers (CCs);
selecting a third mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the second number of ACK/NACK bits;
sending ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on a fallback configuration of the third mapping.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a higher-layer command to change an activation status of at least one carrier in the first configuration of CCs; and
receiving downlink data transmissions on only a single component carrier for a period after the receipt of the higher layer command

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising:
determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging downlink data transmissions based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping, after receipt of the higher-layer command; and
sending ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources, based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising:
determining a second number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on a plurality of activated component carriers;
selecting a third mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the second number of ACK/NACK bits;
sending ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on a fallback configuration of the third mapping;
determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmissions on the plurality of activated CCs based on the third mapping; and
sending ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the plurality of activated CCs on the uplink control channel resources based on the third mapping.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a higher-layer command to change a transmission mode of at least one carrier in the first configuration of CCs; and
receiving downlink data transmissions on only a single component carrier for a period after the receipt of the higher-layer command.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging downlink data transmissions based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping, after receipt of the higher-layer command; and
sending ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources, based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
determining a second number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on a plurality of the configured CCs, including the at least one carrier in a second transmission mode;
selecting a third mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the second number of ACK/NACK bits;
sending ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on a fallback configuration of the third mapping;
determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmission on the plurality of configured CCs based on the third mapping; and
sending ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the uplink control channel resources based on the third mapping.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first number of ACK/NACK bits corresponds to a number of configured codewords on the plurality of component carriers and a detected DTX status of the plurality of component carriers in a subframe.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the ACK/NACK information is represented by two bits of information mapped to a number of uplink control channel resources corresponding to the number of configured codewords and the detected DTX status in the subframe.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of component carriers numbers N component carriers and wherein the number of ACK/NACK bits is greater than or equal to N and less than or equal to 2N.

### Claim 14 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising:
determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmissions on the second configuration of component carriers based on the third mapping; and
sending ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the uplink control channel resources based on the third mapping.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is configured for an uplink control channel format with channel selection, the method further comprising selecting the first mapping of uplink control channel resources based on the uplink control channel format.

### Claim 16

A method in a base station, comprising:
receiving, at the base station, ACK/NACK information from a user equipment (UE) on uplink control channel resources, acknowledging downlink data transmissions;
determining ACK/NACK bits from the ACK/NACK information based on a first mapping of uplink control channel resources corresponding to a configuration of the UE, the first mapping comprising a fallback configuration for downlink data transmissions on a single component carrier, wherein the fallback configuration matches a configuration for downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier in a second mapping of uplink control channel resources to ACK/NACK bits;
transmitting a higher-layer command for a second configuration of downlink component carriers; and
scheduling downlink data transmission to the UE on only a single component carrier for a predetermined period after transmission of the higher-layer command.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the higher-layer command is one of a reconfiguration command, an activation command, a deactivation command and a command to change transmission mode.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising:
receiving ACK/NACK bits on uplink control channel resources corresponding to the fallback configuration during the predetermined period;
transmitting downlink data on the second configuration of component carriers; and
receiving ACK/NACK bits on uplink control channel resources corresponding to the second mapping after the predetermined period.

### Claim 19

An apparatus, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory comprising processor executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, configures the apparatus as a multi-carrier user equipment (UE) to:
determine a first number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on a first configuration of a plurality of component carriers (CCs) configured for the multi-carrier UE;
select a first mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the first number of ACK/NACK bits, the first mapping comprising a fallback configuration for downlink data transmissions on a single component carrier, wherein the fallback configuration matches a single component carrier configuration for downlink data transmissions in a second mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources;
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmissions on the first configuration of CCs based on the first mapping; and
send ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions, on uplink control channel resources based on the first mapping.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
receive a higher-layer command to change from the first configuration of component carriers to a second configuration of component carriers; and
receive downlink data transmissions on only a single component carrier for a predetermined period after the receipt of the higher-layer command.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging downlink data transmissions based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping, after receipt of the higher-layer command; and
send ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
determine a second number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on the second configuration of component carriers (CCs);
select a third mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the second number of ACK/NACK bits;
send ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on a fallback configuration of the third mapping;
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmissions on the second configuration of component carriers based on the third mapping; and
send ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the uplink control channel resources based on the third mapping.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
receive a higher-layer command to change an activation status of at least one carrier in the first configuration of CCs; and
receive downlink data transmissions on only a single component carrier for a period after the receipt of the higher layer command

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging downlink data transmissions based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping, after receipt of the higher-layer command; and
send ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources, based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
determine a second number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on a plurality of activated component carriers;
select a third mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the second number of ACK/NACK bits;
send ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on a fallback configuration of the third mapping;
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmissions on the plurality of activated CCs based on the third mapping; and
send ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the uplink control channel resources based on the third mapping.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
receive a higher-layer command to change a transmission mode of at least one carrier in the first configuration of CCs; and
receive downlink data transmissions on only a single component carrier for a predetermined period after the receipt of the higher-layer command.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging downlink data transmissions based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping, after receipt of the higher-layer command; and
send ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources, based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
determine a second number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on a plurality of the configured CCs, including the at least one carrier in a second transmission mode;
select a third mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the second number of ACK/NACK bits;
send ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on a fallback configuration of the third mapping;
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmission on the plurality of configured CCs based on the third mapping; and
send ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the uplink control channel resources based on the third mapping.

### Claim 29

An apparatus, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory comprising processor executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, configures the apparatus as a base station to:
receive, at the base station, ACK/NACK information from a user equipment (UE) on uplink control channel resources, acknowledging downlink data transmissions;
determine ACK/NACK bits from the ACK/NACK information based on a first mapping of uplink control channel resources corresponding to a configuration of the UE, the first mapping comprising a fallback configuration for downlink data transmissions on a single component carrier, wherein the fallback configuration matches a configuration for downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier in a second mapping of uplink control channel resources to ACK/NACK bits;
transmit a higher-layer command for a second configuration of downlink component carriers; and
schedule downlink data transmission to the UE on only a single component carrier for a predetermined period after transmission of the higher-layer command.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the higher-layer command is one of a reconfiguration command, an activation command, a deactivation command and a command to change transmission mode.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
receive ACK/NACK bits on uplink control channel resources corresponding to the fallback configuration during the predetermined period;
transmit downlink data on the second configuration of component carriers; and
receive ACK/NACK bits on uplink control channel resources corresponding to the second mapping after the predetermined period.

### Claim 32

An article of manufacture, comprising a non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions therein that, when executed by the machine, configure the machine as a multi-carrier user equipment (UE) to:
determine a first number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on a first configuration of a plurality of component carriers (CCs) configured for the multi-carrier UE;
select a first mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the first number of ACK/NACK bits, the first mapping comprising a fallback configuration for downlink data transmissions on a single component carrier, wherein the fallback configuration matches a single component carrier configuration for downlink data transmissions in a second mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources;
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmissions on the first configuration of CCs based on the first mapping; and
send ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions, on uplink control channel resources based on the first mapping.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The article of manufacture of claim 32, wherein the machine is further configured to:
receive a higher-layer command to change from the first configuration of component carriers to a second configuration of component carriers; and
receive downlink data transmissions on only a single component carrier for a predetermined period after the receipt of the higher-layer command.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein the machine is further configured to:
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging downlink data transmissions based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping, after receipt of the higher-layer command; and
send ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping.

### Claim 35 (depends on 33)

The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein the machine is further configured to:
determine a second number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on the second configuration of component carriers (CCs);
select a third mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the second number of ACK/NACK bits;
send ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on a fallback configuration of the third mapping;
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmissions on the second configuration of component carriers based on the third mapping; and
send ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the uplink control channel resources based on the third mapping.

### Claim 36 (depends on 32)

The article of manufacture of claim 32, wherein the machine is further configured to:
receive a higher-layer command to change an activation status of at least one carrier in the first configuration of CCs; and
receive downlink data transmissions on only a single component carrier for a predetermined period after the receipt of the higher layer command.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein the machine is further configured to:
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging downlink data transmissions based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping, after receipt of the higher-layer command; and
send ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources, based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping.

### Claim 38 (depends on 36)

The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein the machine is further configured to:
determine a second number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on a plurality of activated component carriers;
select a third mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the second number of ACK/NACK bits;
send ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on a fallback configuration of the third mapping;
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmissions on the plurality of activated CCs based on the second mapping; and
send ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the uplink control channel resources based on the third mapping.

### Claim 39 (depends on 32)

The article of manufacture of claim 32, wherein the machine is further configured to:
receive a higher-layer command to change a transmission mode of at least one carrier in the first configuration of CCs; and
receive downlink data transmissions on only a single component carrier for a period after the receipt of the higher-layer command.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The article of manufacture of claim 39, wherein the machine is further configured to:
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging downlink data transmissions based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping, after receipt of the higher-layer command; and
send ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources, based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping.

### Claim 41 (depends on 39)

The article of manufacture of claim 39, wherein the machine is further configured to:
determine a second number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on a plurality of the configured CCs, including the at least one carrier in a second transmission mode;
select a third mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the second number of ACK/NACK bits;
send ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on a fallback configuration of the third mapping;
determine uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmission on the plurality of configured CCs based on the third mapping; and
send ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the uplink control channel resources based on the third mapping.

### Claim 42

A apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
means for determining a first number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on a first configuration of a plurality of component carriers (CCs) configured for a multi-carrier user equipment (UE);
means for selecting a first mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the first number of ACK/NACK bits, the first mapping comprising a fallback configuration for downlink data transmissions on a single component carrier, wherein the fallback configuration matches a single component carrier configuration for downlink data transmissions in a second mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources;
means for determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmissions on the first configuration of CCs based on the first mapping; and
means for sending ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions, on uplink control channel resources based on the first mapping.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising:
means for receiving a higher-layer command to change from the first configuration of component carriers to a second configuration of component carriers; and
means for receiving downlink data transmissions on only a single component carrier for a predetermined period after the receipt of the higher-layer command.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising:
means for determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging downlink data transmissions based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping, after receipt of the higher-layer command; and
means for sending ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping.

### Claim 45 (depends on 43)

The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising:
means for determining a second number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on the second configuration of component carriers (CCs);
means for selecting a third mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the second number of ACK/NACK bits;
means for sending ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on a fallback configuration of the third mapping;
means for determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmissions on the second configuration of component carriers based on the third mapping; and
means for sending ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the uplink control channel resources based on the third mapping.

### Claim 46 (depends on 42)

The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising:
means for receiving a higher-layer command to change an activation status of at least one carrier in the first configuration of CCs; and
means for receiving downlink data transmissions on only a single component carrier for a predetermined period after the receipt of the higher layer command.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising:
means for determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging downlink data transmissions based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping, after receipt of the higher-layer command; and
means for sending ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources, based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping.

### Claim 48 (depends on 46)

The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising:
means for determining a second number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on a plurality of activated component carriers;
means for selecting a third mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the second number of ACK/NACK bits;
means for sending ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on a fallback configuration of the third mapping;
means for determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmissions on the plurality of activated CCs based on the third mapping; and
means for sending ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the uplink control channel resources based on the third mapping.

### Claim 49 (depends on 42)

The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising:
means for receiving a higher-layer command to change a transmission mode of at least one carrier in the first configuration of CCs; and
means for receiving downlink data transmissions on only a single component carrier for a predetermined period after the receipt of the higher-layer command.

### Claim 50 (depends on 49)

The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:
means for determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging downlink data transmissions based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping, after receipt of the higher-layer command; and
means for sending ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources, based on the fallback configuration of the first mapping.

### Claim 51 (depends on 49)

The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:
means for determining a second number of ACK/NACK bits for acknowledging downlink data transmissions on a plurality of the configured CCs, including the at least one carrier in a second transmission mode;
means for selecting a third mapping of ACK/NACK bits to uplink control channel resources based on the second number of ACK/NACK bits;
means for sending ACK/NACK information, for the downlink data transmissions on the single component carrier, on uplink control channel resources based on a fallback configuration of the third mapping;
means for determining uplink control channel resources for acknowledging the downlink data transmission on the plurality of configured CCs based on the third mapping; and
means for sending ACK/NACK information for the downlink data transmissions on the uplink control channel resources based on the third mapping.