Apparatus and method for optionally using secondary frequency assignment in a wireless communication system using multiple bands

Abstract

Methods for operating a Base Station (BS) and a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system using a primary frequency and one or more secondary frequencies, and apparatuses for the BS and UE for carry out the methods, are provided. The method for operating the BS includes determining whether to activate or deactivate at least one of the one or more secondary frequencies, and transmitting a message comprising a bitmap indicating the activation or deactivation of the at least one of the one or more secondary frequencies to the UE. The method for operating the UE includes receiving a message comprising a bitmap indicating activation or deactivation of at least one of the one or more secondary frequencies from the BS, and activating or deactivating the at least one of the one or more secondary frequencies based on the received message.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a wireless access node in a wireless communication system using a plurality of Frequency Assignments (FAs), the method comprising:
 upon occurrence of a first event when communicating at least over a Primary (P)-FA and Secondary (S)-FAs, suspending use of at least one S-FA;   communicating over at least the P-FA and excluding the at least one S-FA; then   upon occurrence of a second event, resuming communicating over at least the P-FA and the at least one S-FA.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in the case of the wireless access node being a mobile station the first event comprises receipt of a first message on the P-FA which requests to suspend the use of the at least one S-FA and the second event is receipt of a second message;   in the case of the wireless access node being a base station node the first event comprises transmission of a first message on the P-FA which requests to suspend the use of the at least one S-FA and the second event is transmission of a second message   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first message is a MAC control message and the second message is a MAC control message. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first message comprises at least one of indication information of the at least one S-FA and off duration of the at least one S-FA, wherein the indication information comprises at least one of frequency information of the at least one S-FA, an index of the at least one S-FA, and an S-FA bitmap representing the at least one S-FA. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first message comprises information requesting to use an FA other than the at least one S-FA and indication information of the other FA. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein in the case of the wireless access node being a mobile station, the first message comprises part of a sleep response message which informs of approval or disapproval on a sleep mode entrance request of the wireless access node. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein in the case of the wireless access node being a mobile station, the method further comprises sending a third message which comprises a response for the request to resume use of the at least one S-FA. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 after sending the third message, preparing to use the at least one S-FA; and   when the preparation is completed, sending an S-FA readiness indicator.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 before sending the third message, preparing to use the at least one S-FA; and   when the preparation is completed, sending the third message to respond to the request to resume use of the at least one S-FA and to inform that use of the at least one S-FA may resume.   
     
     
         10 . A mobile station for operating in a wireless communication system using a plurality of Frequency Assignments (FAs), the mobile station comprising at least a receiver and a controller, the receiver and the controller configured to:
 upon occurrence of a first event when communicating at least over a Primary (P)-FA and Secondary (S)-FAs, suspend use of at least one S-FA;   communicate over at least the P-FA and excluding the at least one S-FA,   upon occurrence of a second event, resume use of the at least one S-FA, and thereafter   control communication over at least the P-FA and the at least one S-FA.   
     
     
         11 . The mobile station of  claim 10 , wherein the first event comprises receipt of a first message on the P-FA which requests to suspend the use of the at least one S-FA and the second event is receipt of a second message. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first message is a MAC control message and the second message is a MAC control message. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile station of  claim 11 , wherein the first message comprises at least one of indication information of the at least one S-FA and off duration of the at least one S-FA, wherein the indication information comprises at least one of frequency information of the at least one S-FA, an index of the at least one S-FA, and an S-FA bitmap representing the at least one S-FA. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile station of  claim 11 , wherein the first message comprises information requesting to use an FA other than at least one S-FA and indication information of the other FA. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile station of  claim 11 , wherein the first message comprises part of a sleep response message which informs of approval or disapproval on a sleep mode entrance request of the mobile station. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile station of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile station further comprises a transmitter, the transmitter configured to send a third message which comprises a response for the request to resume use of the at least one S-FA. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile station of  claim 16 , wherein the controller and the transmitter are further configured to:
 after the third message is transmitted, prepare, by the controller, to use the at least one S-FA; and   when the preparation is completed, send, by the transmitter, an S-FA readiness indicator.   
     
     
         18 . The mobile station of  claim 16 , wherein the controller and the transmitter are further configured to:
 before sending the third message, prepare, by the controller, to use the at least one S-FA; and   
       when the preparation is completed, send, by the transmitter, the third message to respond to the request to resume use of the at least one S-FA and to inform that use of the at least one S-FA may resume. 
     
     
         19 . A base station node operating in a wireless communication system using a plurality of Frequency Assignments (FAs), the base station node comprising at least a transmitter and a controller, the transmitter and the controller configured to:
 when communicating at least over a Primary (P)-FA and Secondary (S)-FAs, send to a mobile station a first message to suspend use of at least one S-FA;   communicate with the mobile station over at least the P-FA and excluding the at least one S-FA,   send a second message to direct the mobile station to resume use of the at least one S-FA, and   continue communication over at least the P-FA and the at least one S-FA.   
     
     
         20 . The base station node of  claim 19 , wherein the first message is a MAC control message and the second message is a MAC control message.