TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for a physical uplink control channel on a secondary cell.

BACKGROUND ART

Wireless communication devices have become smaller and more powerful in order to meet consumer needs and to improve portability and convenience. Consumers have become dependent upon wireless communication devices and have come to expect reliable service, expanded areas of coverage and increased functionality. A wireless communication system may provide communication for a number of wireless communication devices, each of which may be serviced by a base station. A base station may be a device that communicates with wireless communication devices.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

As wireless communication devices have advanced, improvements in communication capacity, speed, flexibility, low complexity and efficiency have been sought. However, improving communication capacity, speed, flexibility, low complexity and efficiency may present certain problems.

For example, wireless communication devices may communicate with one or more devices using multiple cells. However, the multiple cells may only offer limited flexibility and efficiency. As illustrated by this discussion, systems and methods that improve communication flexibility and efficiency may be beneficial.

Solution to Problem

According to the present invention, there is provided a method by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving by the RRC entity of the UE, a PUCCH release request from a lower layer of the UE; and applying a default physical channel configuration for a scheduling request configuration for a concerned secondary cell, upon receiving the PUCCH release request from the lower layers of the UE, wherein the default physical channel configuration for the scheduling request configuration is a release and the PUCCH release request is notified by a Medium Access Control (MAC) entity of the UE in a case that a time alignment timer expires, the time alignment timer is associated with a secondary timing advance group (sTAG) and the concerned secondary cell belongs to the sTAG.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method by an evolved Node B (eNB), comprising: transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a Timing Advance Command Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE); and considering that the UE applies a default physical channel configuration for a scheduling request configuration for a concerned secondary cell, upon receiving the PUCCH release request from the lower layers of the UE, wherein the default physical channel configuration for the scheduling request configuration is a release and the PUCCH release request is notified, to the lower layer of the UE, by a Medium Access Control (MAC) entity of the UE in a case that a time alignment timer expires, the time alignment timer is associated with a secondary timing advance group (sTAG) and the concerned secondary cell belongs to the sTAG.

According to the present invention, there is provided a user equipment (UE), comprising: a processing circuitry configured and/or programmed to: receive by the RRC entity of the UE, a PUCCH release request from a lower layer of the UE; and apply a default physical channel configuration for a scheduling request configuration for a concerned secondary cell, upon receiving the PUCCH release request from the lower layers of the UE, wherein the default physical channel configuration for the scheduling request configuration is a release and the PUCCH release request is notified by a Medium Access Control (MAC) entity of the UE in a case that a time alignment timer expires, the time alignment timer is associated with a secondary timing advance group (sTAG) and the concerned secondary cell belongs to the sTAG.

According to the present invention, there is provided an evolved Node B (eNB), comprising: a processing circuitry configured and/or programmed to: transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a Timing Advance Command Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE); and consider that the UE applies a default physical channel configuration for a scheduling request configuration for a concerned secondary cell, upon receiving the PUCCH release request from the lower layers of the UE, wherein the default physical channel configuration for the scheduling request configuration is a release and the PUCCH release request is notified, to the lower layer of the UE, by a Medium Access Control (MAC) entity of the UE in a case that a time alignment timer expires, the time alignment timer is associated with a secondary timing advance group (sTAG) and the concerned secondary cell belongs to the sTAG.

