Sounding mechanism and configuration under carrier aggregation

Abstract

A method of multi-set RRC signaling for ap-SRS configuration is provided to enhance ap-SRS flexibility. An eNB transmits a plurality of sets of UE-specific SRS parameters to a UE via upper layer messaging in a multi-carrier wireless communication system. The eNB also determines triggering information of a selected set of UE-specific SRS parameters and an indicated carrier for the UE. The eNB then transmits an uplink or downlink grant over a primary carrier, the grant comprises triggering information for the UE to send an ap-SRS over the indicated carrier using the selected set of UE-specific SRS parameters. In one embodiment of joint signaling, the plurality of sets of UE-specific SRS parameters are signaled together in a single RRC transmission. In another embodiment of separate signaling, each set of UE-specific SRS parameters is signaled independently.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 transmitting a plurality of sets of UE-specific sounding reference signal (SRS) parameters associated with aperiodic SRS (ap-SRS) transmission over different carriers to a user equipment via upper layer messaging in a multi-carrier wireless communication system, wherein the plurality of sets of UE-specific SRS parameters are jointly signaled together via a single radio resource control (RRC) message; 
 determining a selected set of UE-specific SRS parameters and an indicated carrier for the UE; and 
 transmitting a grant to the UE over a primary carrier, wherein the grant comprises information for the UE to send an aperiodic SRS (ap-SRS) over the indicated carrier using the selected set of UE-specific SRS parameters, and wherein the grant further comprises a carrier indicator field indicating the indicated carrier. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each set of UE-specific SRS parameters comprises an SRS bandwidth, a frequency domain position, a transmission comb, a cyclic shift, and a number of antenna ports. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sets of UE-specific SRS parameters are configured as part of physical parameters of the RRC message, and wherein the RRC message configures ap-SRS for multiple secondary carriers. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the grant is transmitted in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that supports multiple downlink control information (DCI) formats, and wherein each DCI format corresponds to one or more sets of predefined UE-specific SRS parameters configured via upper layer messaging. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SRS parameters are transmitted via direct signaling or delta signaling. 
     
     
       6. A base station, comprising:
 an information encoding module that encodes a plurality of sets of UE-specific SRS parameters associated with aperiodic SRS (ap-SRS) transmission over different carriers for a user equipment (UE); and 
 a transmitter that transmits the plurality of sets of UE-specific SRS parameters via upper layer messaging over a primary carrier, wherein the plurality of sets of UE-specific SRS parameters are jointly signaled together via a single radio resource control (RRC) message, wherein the transmitter also transmits a grant to the UE over the primary carrier, and wherein the grant comprises triggering information for the UE to send an aperiodic SRS (ap-SRS) over an indicated carrier using a selected set of UE-specific SRS parameters, and wherein the grant further comprises a carrier indicator field indicating the indicated carrier. 
 
     
     
       7. The base station of  claim 6 , wherein each set of UE-specific SRS parameters comprises an SRS bandwidth, a frequency domain position, a transmission comb, a cyclic shift, and a number of antenna ports. 
     
     
       8. The base station of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of sets of UE-specific SRS parameters are configured as part of physical parameters of the RRC message, and wherein the RRC message configures ap-SRS for multiple secondary carriers. 
     
     
       9. The base station of  claim 6 , wherein the grant is transmitted in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that supports multiple downlink control information (DCI) formats, and wherein each DCI format corresponds to one or more sets of predefined UE-specific SRS parameters configured via upper layer messaging. 
     
     
       10. The base station of  claim 6 , wherein the SRS parameters are transmitted via direct signaling or delta signaling. 
     
     
       11. A method comprising:
 receiving, by a user equipment, a plurality of sets of UE-specific sounding reference signal (SRS) parameters from a base station via upper layer messaging in a multi-carrier wireless communication system, wherein the plurality sets of UE-specific SRS parameters are associated with aperiodic SRS (ap-SRS) transmission over different carriers by the UE, and wherein the plurality of sets of UE-specific SRS parameters are jointly signaled together via a single radio resource control (RRC) message; 
 receiving a grant from the base station over a primary carrier, wherein the grant comprises triggering information for the UE to send an aperiodic SRS (ap-SRS) over an indicated carrier using a selected set of UE-specific SRS parameters, and wherein the grant further comprises a carrier indicator field indicating the indicated carrier; and 
 transmitting the ap-SRS over the indicated carrier using the selected set of UE-specific SRS parameters. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein each set of UE-specific SRS parameters comprises an SRS bandwidth, a frequency domain position, a transmission comb, a cyclic shift, and a number of antenna ports. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sets of UE-specific SRS parameters are configured as part of physical parameters of the RRC message, and wherein the RRC message configures ap-SRS for multiple secondary carriers. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the grant is transmitted in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that supports multiple downlink control information (DCI) formats, and wherein each DCI format corresponds to one or more sets of predefined UE-specific SRS parameters configured via upper layer messaging. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the SRS parameters are transmitted via direct signaling or delta signaling. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein each SRS parameter is signaled directly without further processing. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein a part of the SRS parameters are signaled in a differential way as compared to a reference point. 
     
     
       18. A user equipment (UE) comprising:
 a receiver that receives a plurality of sets of UE-specific sounding reference signal (SRS) parameters from a base station via upper layer messaging in a multi-carrier wireless communication system, wherein the plurality sets of UE-specific SRS parameters are associated with aperiodic SRS (ap-SRS) transmission over different carriers by the UE, wherein the plurality of sets of UE-specific SRS parameters are jointly signaled together via a single radio resource control (RRC) message, wherein the UE also receives a grant from the base station over a primary carrier, wherein the grant comprises triggering information for the UE to send an aperiodic SRS (ap-SRS) over an indicated carrier using a selected set of UE-specific SRS parameters, and wherein the grant further comprises a carrier indicator field indicating the indicated carrier; and 
 a transmitter that transmits the ap-SRS over the indicated carrier using the selected set of UE-specific SRS parameters. 
 
     
     
       19. The UE of  claim 18 , wherein each set of UE-specific SRS parameters comprises an SRS bandwidth, a frequency domain position, a transmission comb, a cyclic shift, and a number of antenna ports. 
     
     
       20. The UE of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of sets of UE-specific SRS parameters are configured as part of physical parameters of the RRC message, and wherein the RRC message configures ap-SRS for multiple secondary carriers. 
     
     
       21. The UE of  claim 18 , wherein the grant is transmitted in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that supports multiple downlink control information (DCI) formats, and wherein each DCI format corresponds to one or more sets of predefined UE-specific SRS parameters configured via upper layer messaging. 
     
     
       22. The UE of  claim 18 , wherein the SRS parameters are transmitted via direct signaling or delta signaling. 
     
     
       23. The UE of  claim 18 , wherein each SRS parameter is signaled directly without further processing. 
     
     
       24. The UE of  claim 18 , wherein a part of the SRS parameters are signaled in a differential way as compared to a reference point.