SUPPORTING OPERATION ON DEPENDENT CARRIERS IN A MULTI - CARRIER SYSTEM

摘要

Supporting communication on multiple carriers. A user equipment (UE) is configured with a base (anchor, regular, stand-alone) carrier and a dependent (extension) carrier linked (paired) to the base carrier. Data transmission on the dependent carrier is scheduled via a scheduling carrier, which is different from the dependent carrier. The UE receives (714) a scheduling grant on the scheduling carrier and determines whether the scheduling grant is for the base carrier and/ or the dependent carrier. The UE communicates (718), e.g. sends or receives data, on the base carrier and/or the dependent carrier based on the scheduling grant. The scheduling grant may be (i) a separate grant carrying scheduling information for only one carrier, (ii) a common grant carrying scheduling information for both carriers, (iii) a joint grant carrying separate scheduling information for each carrier, or (iv) a composite grant that may be a separate grant, a common grant, or a joint grant. A configuration of the base (anchor) carrier and a dependent (extension) carrier is received from the eNodeB at the UE.