Time and frequency synchronization for LTE-advanced new carrier type

摘要

A particular kind of component carrier that may be used as a secondary cell in an LTE system is a new type carrier that has reduced or eliminated legacy control signaling such as the omission of CRSs. Alternative techniques are described for performing timing and frequency synchronization in the downlink between an eNB and a UE when CRSs are not present in a component carrier. These techniques involve using either channel state information reference signals or UE-specific reference signals.

主权项

1. A device for a user equipment (UE), comprising:
an RF transceiver for providing an LTE air interface for communicating with a base station operating as an enhanced/evolved Node B (eNB); processing circuitry configured to attach to the eNB via component carriers configured as primary and secondary cells (PCells and SCells), wherein the secondary cell carrier does not include cell-specific reference signals (CRSs); wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to receive channel state information reference signals (CSI reference signals) over the SCell carrier and further configured to use the CSI reference signals for time and frequency synchronization; and, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to estimate a timing offset by measuring a phase shift of the CSI reference signals across different subcarrier frequencies and configured to estimate a frequency offset by measuring the phase shift of the CSI reference signals at different times.