HARQ Timing scheme for single-carrier uplink control information with inter-site carrier aggregation

A method comprising:

• determining a pattern for downlink almost blank subframes for a first network node operating in a first component carrier;
• and
• for a user equipment operating with the first network node on the first component carrier and also with a second network node on the second component carrier, at least one of:
• scheduling the user equipment on the first component carrier such that no uplink control information from the user equipment is scheduled for any uplink subframe in the first component carrier which maps from any of the almost blank subframes;
• and
• scheduling the user equipment on the second component carrier such that uplink control information from the user equipment is scheduled only for an uplink subframe in the second component carrier which maps from any of the almost blank subframes;
• in which:
• the pattern for the downlink almost blank subframes is on the first component carrier;
• each nth downlink almost blank subframe maps to a (n+x)th uplink subframe, in which x is a positive integer;
• and
• the uplink control information comprises at least one of acknowledgements and negative acknowledgements corresponding to data sent downlink to the user equipment.

A computer-readable memory tangibly storing computer program code for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising:

• code for determining a pattern for downlink almost blank subframes for a first network node operating in a first component carrier;
• and
• for a user equipment operating with the first network node on the first component carrier and also with a second network node on the second component carrier, at least one of:
• code for scheduling the user equipment on the first component carrier such that no uplink control information from the user equipment is scheduled for any uplink subframe in the first component carrier which maps from any of the almost blank subframes;
• and
• code for scheduling the user equipment on the second component carrier such that uplink control information from the user equipment is scheduled only for an uplink subframe in the second component carrier which maps from any of the almost blank subframes;
• in which:
• the pattern for the downlink almost blank subframes is on the first component carrier;
• each nth downlink almost blank subframe maps to a (n+x)th uplink subframe, in which x is a positive integer;
• and
• the uplink control information comprises at least one of acknowledgements and negative acknowledgements corresponding to data sent downlink to the user equipment.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory containing computer program code, in which the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
• establish communications with a first network node on a first component carrier and also with a second network node on a second component carrier;
• receive scheduling from the first network node on the first component carrier and map uplink control information therefrom such that no uplink control information is scheduled for any uplink subframe in the first component carrier which maps from any downlink almost blank subframe of the first network node on the first component carrier;
• and
• receive scheduling from the second network node on the second component carrier and map uplink control information therefrom such that uplink control information is scheduled only for an uplink subframe in the second component carrier which maps from any of the downlink almost blank subframes on the first component carrier;
• in which
• each nth downlink almost blank subframe maps to a (n+x)th uplink subframe, in which x is a positive integer;
• and
• the uplink control information comprises at least one of an acknowledgement and a negative acknowledgement corresponding to downlink data.

A method comprising:

• establishing communications with a first network node on a first component carrier and also with a second network node on a second component carrier;
• receiving scheduling from the first network node on the first component carrier and mapping uplink control information therefrom such that no uplink control information is scheduled for any uplink subframe in the first component carrier which maps from any downlink almost blank subframe of the first network node on the first component carrier;
• and
• receiving scheduling from the second network node on the second component carrier and mapping uplink control information therefrom such that uplink control information is scheduled only for an uplink subframe in the second component carrier which maps from any of the downlink almost blank subframes on the first component carrier;
• in which
• each nth downlink almost blank subframe maps to a (n+x)th uplink subframe, in which x is a positive integer;
• and
• the uplink control information comprises at least one of an acknowledgement and a negative acknowledgement corresponding to downlink data.

A computer-readable memory tangibly storing computer program code for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising:

• code for establishing communications with a first network node on a first component carrier and also with a second network node on a second component carrier;
• code for receiving scheduling from the first network node on the first component carrier and mapping uplink control information therefrom such that no uplink control information is scheduled for any uplink subframe in the first component carrier which maps from any downlink almost blank subframe of the first network node on the first component carrier;
• and
• code for receiving scheduling from the second network node on the second component carrier and mapping uplink control information therefrom such that uplink control information is scheduled only for an uplink subframe in the second component carrier which maps from any of the downlink almost blank subframes on the first component carrier;
• in which
• each nth downlink almost blank subframe maps to a (n+x)th uplink subframe, in which x is a positive integer;
• and
• the uplink control information comprises at least one of an acknowledgement and a negative acknowledgement corresponding to downlink data.