NETWORK NODES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly, to radio communications and related methods, network nodes, and wireless terminals.

BACKGROUND

3 GPP release 14 includes a Work Item "Multicarrier Enhancements for UMTS" (3 GPP TR 25.707 V14.0.0 (2016-06)). One of the objectives of this Work Item is to introduce different ΤΉ (Transmission Time Interval) lengths on the different carriers. The current standard supports only 2ms + 2ms TTIs on the two carriers, but the work item TR 25.707 V14.0.0 introduces 2ms +10ms and 10ms +10ms configurations.

Dual Carrier High Speed Uplink Packet Access (DC-HSUPA) was introduced in Release 9. During the Release 13, Dual Band Dual Carrier HSUPA (DB-DC-HSUPA) was introduced to provide dual band support in uplink Multicarrier scenarios.

As of today, the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System UMTS standard only allows configuration of a 2ms TTI on both carriers for (DB)DC-HSUPA. Moreover, in Release 14, the Work Item entitled "Multicarrier Enhancements for UMTS" has been approved, which is intended to incorporate the 10ms ΤΉ configuration for either one or both carriers in the

(DB)DC-HSUPA scenarios.

Being able to configure up to two different ΤΉ lengths for (DB)DC-HSUPA may open the possibility of having a variety of scenarios. For example, the primary carrier can be configured with a 2ms ΤΉ length, while the secondary carrier may be configured with a 10ms TTI length. This mixed TTI configuration may lead to having different performance on the primary and secondary carriers at the same path loss ratio. In addition, when Dual Band is used along with DC-HSUPA, a mixed TTI configuration may be used to try to compensate for the different propagation properties associated with each band.

Dual-carrier HSUPA may allow a UE to transmit simultaneously on two uplink carriers, effectively doubling a maximum uplink throughput when the UE experiences good radio conditions. Prior to 3 GPP release 13, the two carriers were required to be configured in the same frequency band.

Dual-band dual-carrier HSUPA has been introduced in 3 GPP release 13, and it allows the two carriers to be configured on different frequency bands. High-frequency carriers may provide relatively smaller coverage than low-frequency carriers. Depending on the actual difference in frequency, differences in coverage for different bands can vary substantially, meaning that the two carriers in a dual-band scenario can provide significantly different coverage.

In any dual-carrier scenario, it may be useful/necessary to configure one of the carriers as a primary carrier and one of the carriers as a secondary carrier. One purpose of the primary carrier is to host control channels (e.g., HS-DPCCH) that may be used/needed for dual-carrier operation. For this reason, the primary carrier may be activated at all times while the secondary may be activated and deactivated according to need. When the primary carrier happens to be configured (e.g., for load-sharing reasons) on the high-frequency band and starts to lose coverage, a quality of the primary carrier may be degraded relative to the secondary carrier.

A dual-band system may thus operate using a low frequency band (e.g., 800 MHz or 900) MHz) and a high frequency band (e.g., 1.8 GHz, 1.9 GHz, or 2.1 GHz). In a DB DC HSUPA system, primary and secondary carriers assigned to a UE may thus be separated by 1 GHz, for example. If (e.g., for load-sharing reasons) the primary carrier is provided using a high frequency band and the secondary carrier is provided using a low frequency band, channel conditions for the primary carrier (using the high frequency band) may degrade by 7 dB or more relative to the secondary carriers (using the low frequency band).

Approaches described in the Background section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in the Background section are not prior art to the inventive embodiments disclosed in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in the Background section. Therefore, any description contained in the Background section may be moved to the Detailed Description section.

SUMMARY

According to some embodiments of inventive concepts, a method of operating a wireless terminal in communication with a radio access network may be provided where the RAN supports multi-carrier communications using primary and secondary carriers and using first and second frequencies (with the first and second frequencies being different). The method may include receiving preconfiguration information at the wireless terminal from the radio access network, and the preconfiguration information may define a parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency. First multi-carrier communications may be communicated between the wireless terminal and the radio access network using the primary carrier over the first frequency and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency. An instruction may be received from the radio access network to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency based on the preconfiguration information and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency. Responsive to receiving the instruction, second multi-carrier communications may be communicated between the wireless terminal and the radio access network using the primary carrier over the second frequency and using a secondary carrier over the first frequency based on the preconfiguration information defining the parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency.

According to some other embodiments, a method of operating a node of a radio access network in communication with a wireless terminal may be provided where the node supports multi-carrier communications using primary and secondary carriers and using first and second frequencies (with the first and second frequencies being different). The method may include initiating transmission of preconfiguration information to the wireless terminal, and the preconfiguration information may define a parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency. First multi-carrier communications may be communicated between the radio access network and the wireless terminal using a primary carrier over a first frequency and using a secondary carrier over a second frequency. Transmission of an instruction to the wireless terminal may be initiated to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency. After initiating transmission of the instruction, second multi-carrier communications may be communicated between the wireless terminal and the radio access network using the primary carrier over the second frequency and using a secondary carrier over the first frequency.

According to still other embodiments of inventive concepts, a wireless terminal may be configured to communicate with a radio access network supporting multi-carrier

communications using primary and secondary carriers and using different first and second frequencies. The wireless terminal may include a transceiver configured to provide communications over a radio interface with the radio access network, and a processor coupled with the transceiver, with the processor being configured to communicate through the transceiver with the radio access network. The processor may be configured to receive preconfiguration information at the wireless terminal from the radio access network, with the preconfiguration information defining a parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency. The processor may also be configured to communicate first multi-carrier communications between the wireless terminal (UE) and the radio access network using the primary carrier over the first frequency and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency. The processor may be further configured to receive an instruction from the radio access network to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency based on the preconfiguration information and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency. In addition, the processor may be configured to communicate, responsive to receiving the instruction, second multi-carrier communications between the wireless terminal (UE) and the radio access network using the primary carrier over the second frequency and using a secondary carrier over the first frequency based on the preconfiguration information defining the parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency.

According to yet other embodiments of inventive concepts, a wireless terminal may be configured to communicate with a radio access network supporting multi-carrier

communications using primary and secondary carriers and using different first and second frequencies. The wireless terminal may be adapted to receive preconfiguration information at the wireless terminal from the radio access network, with the preconfiguration information defining a parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency. The wireless terminal may be further adapted to communicate first multi-carrier communications between the wireless terminal and the radio access network using the primary carrier over the first frequency and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency. The wireless terminal may also be adapted to receive an instruction from the radio access network to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency based on the preconfiguration information and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency. In addition, the wireless terminal may be adapted to communicate, responsive to receiving the instruction, second multi-carrier communications between the wireless terminal and the radio access network using the primary carrier over the second frequency and using a secondary carrier over the first frequency based on the preconfiguration information defining the parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency.

According to further embodiments of inventive concepts, a node of a radio access network may be configured to support multi-carrier communications using primary and secondary carriers and using different first and second frequencies. The node may include a transceiver configured to provide communications over a radio interface with a wireless terminal, and a network interface configured to provide communications over a network with a radio network controller. The node may also include a processor coupled with the transceiver and the network interface. The processor may be configured to communicate through the transceiver with wireless terminal and to communicate through the network interface with the radio network controller. In addition, the processor may be configured to initiate transmission of preconfiguration information to the wireless terminal, with the preconfiguration information defining a parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency. The processor may also be configured to communicate first multi-carrier communications between the radio access network and the wireless terminal using a primary carrier over a first frequency and using a secondary carrier over a second frequency. The processor may be further configured to initiate transmission of an instruction to the wireless terminal to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency. After initiating transmission of the instruction, the processor may be configured to communicate second multi-carrier communications between the wireless terminal and the radio access network using the primary carrier over the second frequency and using a secondary carrier over the first frequency.

According to more embodiments of inventive concepts, a node of a radio access network may be configured to support multi-carrier communications using primary and secondary carriers and using different first and second frequencies. The node may be adapted to initiate transmission of preconfiguration information to a wireless terminal, with the preconfiguration information defining a parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency. The node may be further adapted to communicate first multi-carrier communications between the radio access network and the wireless terminal using a primary carrier over a first frequency and using a secondary carrier over a second frequency. The node may also be adapted to initiate transmission of an instruction to the wireless terminal to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency. After initiating transmission of the instruction, the node may be adapted to communicate second multi-carrier communications between the wireless terminal and the radio access network using the primary carrier over the second frequency and using a secondary carrier over the first frequency.

By providing the preconfiguration information before the instruction to switch frequencies of the primary and secondary carriers, the instruction and/or the switch may be performed more efficiently and/or more quickly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate certain non-limiting embodiments of inventive concepts. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a signaling diagram illustrating Radio Resource Control RRC procedures; Figure 2 is a signaling diagram illustrating Fast Transmission Time Interval TTI Switch procedures;

Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a format of an UpLink UL Medium Access Control MAC control information Protocol Data Unit PDU;

Figure 4 is a table illustrating values taken by the MTYPE field of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a table illustrating orders for switching the E-DCH TTI in single carrier and switching the primary carrier in dual cell E-DCH;

Figure 6 is a signaling diagram illustrating switch of a primary carrier;

Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating radio base stations of a Radio Access Network (RAN) in communication with wireless terminals and a radio network controller according to some embodiments of present inventive concepts;

Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating a radio base station of Figure 7 according to some embodiments of present inventive concepts;

Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless terminal of Figure 7 according to some embodiments of present inventive concepts;

Figure 10 is a block diagram illustrating a radio network controller of Figure 7 according to some embodiments of inventive concepts; Figure 11 A is a diagram illustrating primary and secondary uplink carriers used for uplink transmissions from a wireless terminal UE to a radio base station RBS according to some embodiments of inventive concepts;

Figure 1 IB is a diagram illustrating primary and secondary downlink carriers used for downlink transmissions from a radio base station RBS to a wireless terminal UE according to some embodiments of inventive concepts;

Figures 12 and 13 are flow charts illustrating wireless terminal operations according to some embodiments of inventive concepts; and

Figures 14 and 15 are flow charts illustrating radio base station operations according to some embodiments of inventive concepts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Inventive concepts will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which examples of embodiments of inventive concepts are shown. Inventive concepts may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of inventive concepts to those skilled in the art. It should also be noted that these embodiments are not mutually exclusive. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present/used in another embodiment.

For purposes of illustration and explanation only, these and other embodiments of inventive concepts are described herein in the context of operating in a RAN (Radio Access Network) that communicates over radio communication channels with wireless terminals (also referred to as UEs, user equipment, user equipment nodes, mobile terminals, wireless devices, etc.). It will be understood, however, that inventive concepts are not limited to such

embodiments and may be embodied generally in any type of communication network. As used herein, a legacy or non-legacy wireless terminal (also referred to as a UE, user equipment, user equipment node, mobile terminal, wireless device, etc.) can include any device that receives data from and/or transmits data to a communication network, and may include, but is not limited to, a mobile telephone ("cellular" telephone), laptop/portable computer, pocket computer, hand-held computer, an M2M device, IoT (Internet of Things) device, and/or desktop computer. Note that although terminology from 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) LTE (Long Term Evolution) has been used in this disclosure to provide examples of embodiments of inventive concepts, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of inventive concepts to only the aforementioned system. Other wireless systems, including WCDMA, WiMax, UMB and GSM, may also benefit from exploiting ideas/concepts covered within this disclosure.

Also, note that terminology such as Node-B (also referred to as a base station, NB, etc.) and UE (also referred to as user equipment, user equipment node, wireless terminal, mobile terminal, wireless device, etc.) should be considering non-limiting.

Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating elements of a Radio Access Network (RAN) according to some embodiments of present inventive concepts. As shown, communications may be provided between radio base stations and one or more Radio Network Controllers RNC. Each radio base station RBS may communicate over a radio interface (including uplinks and downlinks) with respective wireless terminals UEs in a respective cell or cells supported by the radio base station RBS. By way of example, radio base station RBS-1 is shown in

communication with wireless terminals UE1, UE2, UE3, and UE4, radio base station RBS-2 is shown in communication with wireless terminals UE5 and UE6, and radio base station RBS-n is shown in communication with wireless terminals UE7 and UE8.

Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating elements of a radio base station RBS of Figure 7. As shown, a radio base station RBS may include a transceiver circuit 801 (also referred to as a transceiver, radio interface, or communication interface) configured to provide uplink and downlink radio communications with a plurality of wireless terminals, a network interface circuit 805 (also referred to as a network interface or a communication interface) configured to provide communications with one or more radio network controllers RNCs of the radio access network (RAN), a processor circuit 803 (also referred to as a processor) coupled to the transceiver circuit and the network interface circuit, and a memory circuit 807 (also referred to as memory) coupled to the processor circuit. The memory circuit 807 may include computer readable program code that when executed by the processor circuit 803 causes the processor circuit to perform operations according to embodiments disclosed herein. According to other embodiments, processor circuit 803 may be defined to include memory so that a separate memory circuit is not required. Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating elements of a wireless terminal UE of Figure 7. As shown, a wireless terminal UE may include a transceiver circuit 901 (also referred to as a transceiver) including a transmitter and a receiver configured to provide uplink and downlink radio communications with a radio base station RBS, a processor circuit 903 (also referred to as a processor) coupled to the transceiver circuit, and a memory circuit 907 (also referred to as memory) coupled to the processor circuit. The memory circuit 907 may include computer readable program code that when executed by the processor circuit 903 causes the processor circuit to perform operations according to embodiments disclosed herein. According to other embodiments, processor circuit 903 may be defined to include memory so that a separate memory circuit is not required.

Figure 10 is a block diagram illustrating elements of a radio network controller RNC of Figure 7. As shown, a radio network controller RNC may include a network interface circuit 1001 (also referred to as a network interface or a communication interface) configured to provide communications with radio base station RBSs of the RAN, a processor circuit 1003 (also referred to as a processor) coupled to the network interface circuit, and a memory circuit 1007 (also referred to as memory) coupled to the processor circuit. The memory circuit 1007 may include computer readable program code that when executed by the processor circuit 1003 causes the processor circuit to perform operations according to embodiments disclosed herein. According to other embodiments, processor circuit 1003 may be defined to include memory so that a memory circuit is not separately provided.

In existing solutions for multi-carrier communications, the Transmission Time Intervals TTIs on the primary and secondary carriers may always be 2ms on both carriers. With the introduction of dual-band dual-carrier HSUPA, reconfiguration of the primary carrier from one carrier to another may be useful, and currently, there is no existing procedure with that specific purpose. According to some embodiments of inventive concepts, procedures for a High Speed HS Serving Cell Change could be used to more quickly and/or more efficiently reconfigure the primary carrier from one carrier to another.

According to some embodiments disclosed herein, relatively fast switching of the primary carrier from one carrier to another may be provided in a multi-carrier scenario using primary and secondary carriers. According to some embodiments, methods may include a pre- configuration, a trigger, and a switch that is/are performed using an order to the UE with the specific purpose to change primary carrier.

According to some embodiments disclosed herein, a switch of a primary carrier may be performed using a procedure specifically created for that purpose so that the switch may be performed relatively quickly with relatively low overhead.

Multi-carrier operations may use primary and secondary uplink carriers for uplink UL transmissions from a wireless terminal UE to a radio base station RBS. In multi-carrier scenarios, multiple downlink DL carriers may be served by a single uplink UL carrier. For dual- carrier/multi-carrier uplink (DC HSUPA), an additional carrier is added to the UL. The two carriers are called the primary and the secondary uplink frequencies, and the primary and secondary uplink carriers are paired with two downlink carriers named serving HS-DSCH cell and secondary serving HS-DSCH cell. In the uplink, the primary carrier differs from the secondary carrier in that it takes on the role of the single UL carrier in the "one UL multiple DL" scenario. The HS-DPCCH (Downlink Physical Control Channel for HS-DSCH) is transmitted only on the primary uplink frequency and is used as a feedback channel to acknowledge information transmitted on all downlink carriers as well as to report to the network radio conditions associated with downlink transmissions via CQI reports. Moreover, the RRC (Radio Resource Control) can allocate non-scheduled transmission grants to individual MAC-d flows on the UL to reduce transmission delays. Non-scheduled transmissions may only be allowed on the Primary Uplink Frequency and are typically used to carry Signaling Radio Bearers associated with control plane signaling. For these reasons, the primary carrier cannot be turned off or deactivated. In contrast, the secondary carrier may be activated and deactivated according to the radio condition or the need for UL bandwidth.

As shown in Figure 11 A, primary and secondary uplink carriers may be used for uplink transmissions form a wireless terminal UE to a radio base station RBS, and as shown in Figure 1 IB, primary and secondary downlink carriers may be used for downlink transmission from a radio base station RBS to a wireless terminal UE. In the uplink, the primary uplink carrier may support DPCCH, E-DPCCH, E-DPDCH, and HS-DPCCH, and the secondary uplink carrier may support DPCCH, E-DPCCH, and E DPDCH. In the downlink, both primary and secondary downlink carriers may support F-DPCH, HS-SCCH, HS-PDSCH, E-HIGH, E-AGCH, and E- RGCH. If a single uplink frequency is configured for the wireless terminal UE, then it is the primary uplink frequency used for the primary carrier on the uplink. If more than one uplink frequency is configured for the wireless terminal UE, then the first/primary uplink frequency is the frequency for the primary uplink carrier on which the E-DCH corresponding to the serving E-DCH cell associated with the serving HS-DSCH cell is transmitted. The association between a pair of uplink and downlink frequencies/carriers is indicated by higher layers. A second/secondary uplink frequency is used for a secondary uplink carrier on which an E-DCH corresponding to a serving E-DCH cell associated with a secondary serving HS- DSCH cell is transmitted. The association between a pair of uplink and downlink

frequencies/carriers is indicated by higher layers. If the wireless terminal UE is configured with two uplink frequencies, the secondary serving HS-DSCH cell is the secondary serving HS-DSCH cell that is associated with the secondary uplink frequency. If the UE is configured with a single uplink frequency, the first secondary serving HS-DSCH cell is a secondary serving HS-DSCH cell whose index is indicated by higher layers.

As shown in Figure 11 A, during multi-carrier operation, a High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel HS-DPCCH is provided over the primary carrier on the uplink without providing an HS-DPCCH over the secondary carrier on the uplink. More particularly, the HS- DPCCH may be used to transmit ACK NAK (Acknowledgment/Negative Acknowledgment) feedback messages responsive to downlink transmissions (indicating successful or unsuccessful reception) and Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) over the primary carrier on the uplink whether the secondary carrier on the uplink is in use or not. A Channel Quality Indicator, for example, may include a modulation format, a transport block size, etc.

A switch of primary carrier can be designed in different ways. On a high level the switch can be divided into:

A pre-configuration part where the information about the other type of carrier is pre-configured for each carrier/frequency (e.g., the secondary carrier is pre- configured with information used/needed to be a primary carrier instead). This part may be specified as a pre-configuration or specified when a reconfiguration is triggered.

A triggering part that specifies the measurement and the triggering criteria to detect when it would be beneficial to switch a primary carrier. An execution part where/when the actual switch takes place.

The pre-configuration part can be performed using an RRC procedure (e.g., when the multi-carrier is first established or in a reconfiguration procedure during an ongoing multi-carrier connection). The pre-configured information can be included in an RRC message sent for another purpose, but it can also or alternatively be sent in an RRC message only used for the pre- configuration.

The Radio Resource Control RRC protocol is used to establish, maintain, and release the RRC connection between the User Equipment UE and Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network UTRAN as well as establish, reconfigure, and release Radio Bearers RBs and Signaling Radio Bearers SRBs. Configuration of lower level parameters may also be included in RRC messages.

In a multi-carrier scenario, the primary carrier is also the HS (High Speed) serving cell. If the serving cell should be changed, the RRC procedure HS Serving Cell Change may be performed by sending an RRC reconfiguration message to the UE (operation 105 of Figure 1), which responds with an RRC reconfiguration complete message (operation 107 of Figure 1) when the reconfiguration has been completed. Figure 1 illustrates a signaling diagram for a general RRC reconfiguration procedure. Responsive to receiving a trigger for reconfiguration at block 101, Radio Network Controller RNC transmits an RL Reconfiguration Prepare message to Radio Base Station RBS at operation 102, and Radio Base Station RBS responds with an RL Reconfiguration Ready message at operation 103. At operation 104, Radio Network Controller RNC transmits an RL Reconfiguration Commit message to Radio Base Station RBS, and at operation 105, Radio Network Controller RNC transmits an RRC Reconfiguration Message to User Equipment UE. The RRC Reconfiguration Message may include an act time CFN indicating a time at which the reconfiguration should occur, and at operation 106, UE, RBS, and RNC may switch to the new reconfiguration at the designated time (e.g., CFN). At operation 107, UE may transmit an RRC Reconfiguration Complete Message to RNC.

In a single carrier scenario, the TTI length can be changed by either using an RRC reconfiguration procedure or using the enhanced procedure for fast TTI switch as shown in Figure 2. In the enhanced procedure for fast TTI switch of Figure 2, the other TTI length is preconfigured in an RRC procedure at operation 201. When the UE enters bad coverage, a UE Power Headroom UPH report may be triggered at operation 202 of Figure 2, and in response, the UE may send a UE Power Headroom UPH report (included in a MAC Control Information MCI) to the network at operation 203. The RBS may then order the UE to change ΤΉ with an HS- SCCH order at operation 204. At an implicit switch time indicated by the dashed line of operation 205, the UE and RBS may switch to a 10 ms ΤΉ. At operation 206, RBS may transmit a TTI Length Update message to RNC, and RNC may respond at operation 207.

The triggering part can be done in different ways. One way is that the UE may be configured with a certain measurement and the criteria for when it should send a report. When the criteria is/are fulfilled, the UE sends the report. The report can be sent, for example, on MAC level in an MCI (e.g., a UPH measurement included in the MCI could be used), or it can be an RRC level event. The triggering can also be performed using other mechanisms in the network and the network can use these mechanisms to detect when it would be beneficial to switch primary carrier.

In specification 25.321, the signaling of Control Information for an Enhanced Dedicated Channel E-DCH is defined. The scheduling information may be used by a UE to indicate to its serving E-DCH Node-B an amount of resources required, and the MAC Control Information may be used by a UE to indicate to its serving E-DCH Node-B additional UpLink UL control information.

A general format of an UL MAC control information Protocol Data Unit PDU is illustrated in Figure 3, where for each field, the Least Significant Bit LSB is the rightmost bit in Figure 3 and the Most Significant Bit MSB is the leftmost bit. As shown in Figure 3, the UL MAC control information PDU may include a Message Type field (MTYPE). The length of the MTYPE field may be 4 bits, and the MTYPE field indicates a type of Control Information which is being transmitted. The values taken by MTYPE in this version of the specification are shown in the table of Figure 4.

As further shown in Figure 3 , the UL MAC control information PDU may include a DATA field. The length of the DATA field may be 10 bits, and the DATA field carries information, the content of which is dependent on the control information type.

The execution part is when the actual switch of primary carrier takes place. This part can be done in different ways. One fast and efficient solution may be that the network sends an HS- SCCH order instructing the UE to switch the primary carrier. In specification 25.212, High Speed Shared Control Channel HS-SCCH orders are defined. Each HS-SCCH order includes of the following information:

Extended order type (2bits) Xeodt.l, Xeodt,2

Order type (3 bits): x ₀ dt,i, Xodt,2, x ₀ dt,3

Order (3 bits): Xord.l, Xord,2, Xord,3

UE identity (16 bits): Xue.l, Xue,2, . . . , Xue,16

A total of 256 HS-SCCH orders are divided into 32 types. The current practice is to use one HS- SCCH order for a very specific purpose. Some examples are provided below.

• The Enhanced Dedicated Channel E-DCH ΤΉ Switch feature uses one HS-SCCH order for the 2ms to 10ms switch and one HS-SCCH order for the 10ms to 2ms switch.

• The Continuous Packet Connectivity (CPC) feature reserves 8 HS-SCCH orders, but uses 6 for activation and deactivation of Discontinuous transmission DTX, Discontinuous reception DRX and HS-SCCH-less operation.

• The Multi-Carrier features use over 100 HS-SCCH orders for the activation and

deactivation of Secondary serving HS-DSCH cells and Secondary uplink frequency. The large number of HS-SCCH orders used makes it possible to send one HS-SCCH order to activate or deactivate any combination of 1 Secondary uplink frequency and 7 downlink Secondary serving High Speed Downlink Shared Channel HS-DSCH cells.

To date, there are 4 unused HS-SCCH order types and a total of roughly 50 HS-SCCH orders remaining, which includes unused orders in some of the used types.

For example, in the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System UMTS standard there is a table entitled "Orders for switching the E-DCH ΤΤΓ' that contains unused slots, and one or more of these unused slots could be used to add a new HS-SCCH order to instruct the UE to switch its primary carrier. An example of how the new HS-SCCH order could be incorporated to the standard is shown in the table of Figure 5.

Since new HS-SCCH orders to perform a "TTI switching" in Multicarrier scenarios may be added to the standard, the "Primary carrier switching" (also referred to as a "primary carrier switch order") may be added as a separate HS-SCCH order type. For example:

> If the extended Order type x _eo dt,i, Xeodt.2 = "1 1 " and the Order type x ₀ dt,i, Xodt,2,

Xodt,3 = "100", then the mapping for x ₀ rd,i,Xord,2, x ₀ rd,3 may be provided based on an unused order mapping from 3GPP TS 25.212, V13.0.0, subclause 4.6C.2.2.5. Then, the order may be based on an unused order mapping from 3GPP TS 25.212, V13.0.0, subclause 4.6C.2.2.5, as shown, for example, in the table of Figure 5, or as text in a similar way as in the example below.

> If the order is transmitted from the serving HS-DSCH cell or a secondary serving HS-DSCH cell, for this Order type,

> If Xodt,i, Xodt,2, Xodt,3 = Ό00", then the HS-SCCH order is an order to switch the primary carrier.

Upon the reception of the HS-SCCH order, the secondary carrier would become the primary carrier and the primary would become the secondary.

Since a carrier has both an uplink and a downlink part, receiving an order for "switching the primary carrier" implies that both uplink and downlink will perform (i.e., respectively) a switch of their primary carriers.

There may be scenarios where performing a primary carrier switch only for the uplink, or only for the downlink may be beneficial. In that case, two HS-CCH orders could be added to fulfill this purpose. For example:

> If Xodt,i, Xodt,2, Xodt,3 = Ό00", then the HS-SCCH order may be an order to switch frequencies of the primary and secondary uplink carriers in uplink.

> If Xodt,i, Xodt,2, Xodt,3 = '001", then the HS-SCCH order may be an order to switch frequencies of the primary and secondary downlink carriers in downlink.

It is understood that the UE has received the necessary information for the switch in the pre-configuration part. The actual switch can, for example, be performed at a defined offset relative to the Ack to the HS-SCCH order or at some other defined time. The offset or time can be configurable in the RRC message or in any other message or it can be a fixed offset or time defined in the specification.

Figure 6 is a signaling diagram illustrating an example of how a switch of primary carrier can be performed. At operation 601, preconfiguration information may be communicated from the radio access network (e.g., from RBS and/or RNC) to wireless terminal UE, for example, using an RRC reconfiguration/preconfiguration procedure. The preconfiguration information may include one or more parameters to be used by the primary uplink carrier after switching frequencies of the primary and secondary uplink carriers. By way of example, parameters to be used by the primary uplink carrier may include: • Parameters for HS-DPCCH, including

CQI reporting parameters, and/or

- Power control parameters for the CQI reporting and HS-DSCH ACK NACK; and/or

• Parameters for Non-Scheduled transmission and configuration of the SRB on non- scheduled transmission,

Non-scheduled transmission grant information,

RLC (Radio Link Protocol) information for the SRBs (Not specific to the primary , impacted only through the configuration of the SRB on non-scheduled TX), and/or RB (Resource Block) mapping information for the SRBs (Not specific to the primary, impacted only through the SRB).

CQI reporting parameters may include: CQI Feedback cycle, k; HS-DPCCH reduction configuration; HS-DPCCH reduction type; CQI Feedback cycle2, k; CQI cycle switch timer; CQI repetition factor; CQI repetition factor for Multiflow assisting cells; and/or DeltaCQI.

Power control parameters for the CQI reporting may include: DeltaACK; DeltaNACK; and/or Ack-Nack repetition factor.

Non-scheduled transmission grant info may include: CHOICE mode MP; FDD; Max MAC-e PDU contents size MP; and/or 2ms non-scheduled transmission grant HARQ process allocation MD.

RLC information may include: CHOICE Uplink RLC mode OP; AM RLC; Transmission RLC discard MP; Transmission window size MP; Timer RST MP; Max RST MP; Polling info OP; UM RLC; Transmission RLC discard CV-CS-HSPA; CHOICE Downlink RLC mode OP; AM RLC; CHOICE DL RLC PDU size MP; Fixed size; DL RLC PDU size MP; Flexible size; Length indicator size MP; In-sequence delivery MP; Receiving window size MP; Downlink RLC status Info MP; UM RLC; DL UM RLC LI size MP; and/or DL Reception Window Size CV- Not-SIB16o.

RB mapping information may include: Information for each multiplexing option MP; RLC logical channel mapping indicator CV-UL-RLCLogicalChannels; Number of uplink RLC logical channels CV-UL-RLC info; CHOICE Uplink transport channel type; DCH, RACH, USCH; Uplink transport channel type MP; ULTransport channel identity CV-UL-DCH/USCH; Logical channel identity OP; CHOICE RLC size list MP; All; Configured; Explicit List; RLC size index MP; E-DCH; Logical channel identity MP; E-DCH MAC-d flow identity MP; CHOICE RLC PDU size MP; Fixed size; DDI MP; RLC PDU size list MP; RLC PDU size MP; Flexible size; Length indicator size CV-UL-RLC AM mode; Minimum UL RLC PDU size MP; Largest UL RLC PDU size MP; Include in Scheduling Info MP; MAC logical channel priority MP; Downlink RLC logical channel info CV-DL-RLC info; Number of downlink RLC logical channels MD; Downlink transport channel type MP; DL DCH Transport channel identity (CV- DL-DCH); DL DSCH Transport channel identity (CV-DL-DSCH); CHOICE DL MAC header type (CV-DL-HS-DSCH); MAC-hs; DL HS-DSCH MAC-d flow identity MP; MAC-ehs; DL HS-DSCH MAC-ehs Queue Id MP; and/or Logical channel identity OP.

At operation 602, first multi-carrier communications may be provided between wireless terminal UE and radio base station RBS using the primary carrier over a first frequency and using a secondary carrier over a second frequency. In the uplink, for example, uplink transmissions may be transmitted from the wireless terminal UE to the radio base station using the primary uplink carrier over a first uplink frequency and using a secondary uplink carrier over a second uplink frequency.

At operation 603, a report may be triggered at the wireless terminal UE, for example, based on and/or responsive to a channel quality measurement (e.g., a power headroom measurement). Responsive to the report being triggered at block 603, wireless terminal UE may transmit a report at operation 604 to initiate switching the primary carrier to the second frequency and switching the secondary carrier to the first frequency. The report, for example, may include a power headroom measurement.

Responsive to receiving the report at operation 604, radio base station RBS may transmit a second report to radio network controller RNC to request switching at operation 605, and responsive to receiving the second report at operation 605, radio network controller RNC may decide to allow switching at operation 606 and transmit a third report acknowledging switching at operation 607.

Responsive to receiving the third report acknowledging switching at operation 607, radio base station RBS may transmit an instruction (e.g., using an HS-SCCH order) for the wireless terminal to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency at operation 608. At operation 609, wireless terminal UE may transmit an acknowledgment responsive to the instruction of operation 608. At operation 610, wireless terminal UE and radio base station RBS may switch to allow second multi-carrier communications using the using the primary carrier over the second frequency and using a secondary carrier over the first frequency. The switch of operation 610 may occur at a specified time after the instruction of operation 608 or after the acknowledgment of operation 609. At operation 611, second multi-carrier communications may be provided between wireless terminal UE and radio base station RBS using the primary carrier over the second frequency and using the secondary carrier over the first frequency. In the uplink, for example, uplink transmissions may be transmitted from the wireless terminal UE to the radio base station using the primary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency and using a secondary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency.

According to some other embodiments, a short RRC message may be sent to the UE with an indication to switch the primary carrier at operation 608. All reconfiguration information does not have to be included in the RRC message as it has already been pre-configured (e.g., at operation 601). The indication to switch the primary carrier could be just an indication with, for example, the values 0/1 , TRUE/FALSE or similar signaling, or indication may be some other type of information which makes the UE understand that it should switch the primary carrier (e.g., the frequency or TTI length of the carrier that should be the primary carrier).

According to some embodiment disclosed herein, a switching of frequencies for primary and secondary carriers may be performed more quickly and/or more efficiently.

Operations of a wireless terminal UE will now be discussed with reference to the flow chart of Figure 12. For example, modules may be stored in wireless terminal memory 907 of Figure 12, and these modules may provide instructions so that when the instructions of a module are executed by wireless terminal processor 903, processor 903 performs respective operations of the flow chart of Figure 12.

As shown in Figure 9, processor 903 of wireless terminal UE may communicate through transceiver 901 over a radio interface with radio base station RBS and/or radio network controller RNC (e.g., through RBS).

Figure 12 illustrates some embodiments of operating a wireless terminal UE in communication with a radio access network RAN supporting multi-carrier communications using primary and secondary carriers and using first and second frequencies, with the first and second frequencies being different. At block 1201, processor 903 may receive configuration/preconfiguration information from the radio access network through transceiver 901, with the preconfiguration information defining a parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency (e.g., using a preconfiguration reception module). At block 1201, processor 903 may also receive

configuration information from the radio access network through transceiver 901, with the configuration information defining parameters for use during first multi-carrier communications using the primary carrier over the first frequency and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency (e.g., using a configuration reception module). The parameters may be for wireless terminal measurement, for wireless terminal reporting criteria, and for wireless terminal reporting procedures. The wireless terminal measurement may be a filtered wireless terminal power headroom report.

At block 1215, processor 903 may communicating first multi-carrier communications between the wireless terminal UE and the radio access network through transceiver 901 using the primary carrier over the first frequency and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency (e.g., using a communication module).

Responsive to triggering a report at block 1203 (e.g., based on a power headroom measurement), processor 903 may transmit a report through transceiver 901 to the radio access network to initiate switching the primary carrier to the second frequency and switching the secondary carrier to the first frequency (e.g., using a report transmission module). The report may include a power headroom measurement.

At block 1207, processor 903 may receive an instruction from the radio access network to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency based on the preconfiguration information and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency (e.g., using an instruction reception module). Responsive to receiving the instruction, processor 903 may transmit an

acknowledgment of the instruction at block 1209 (e.g., using an acknowledgment transmission module). At operation 1211, processor 903 may switch frequencies of the primary and secondary carriers (e.g., using a frequency switching module), for example, at a specified time after transmitting the acknowledgment.

After switching frequencies of the primary and secondary carriers, processor 903 may communicating second multi-carrier communications between the wireless terminal UE and the radio access network through transceiver 901 using the primary carrier over the second frequency and using a secondary carrier over the first frequency based on the preconfiguration information defining the parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency (e.g., using the communication module).

According to some embodiments of Figure 12, the instruction of block 1207 may instruct processor 903 to switch frequencies of primary and secondary uplink carriers. According to such embodiments, the first frequency is a first uplink frequency, the second frequency is a second uplink frequency, the primary carrier is a primary uplink carrier for uplink transmission from the wireless terminal UE to the radio access network, and the secondary carrier is a secondary uplink carrier for uplink transmission from the wireless terminal UE to the radio access network.

Communicating the first multi-carrier communications at block 1215 (before receiving the instruction of block 1207) thus includes transmit the first multi-carrier communications from the wireless terminal UE to the radio access network using the primary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary carrier for uplink transmission over the second uplink frequency. Communicating the second multi-carrier communications at block 1215 (after receiving the instruction of block 1207) thus include transmitting the second multi-carrier communications from the wireless terminal UE to the radio access network using the primary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary carrier for uplink transmission over the first uplink frequency.

According to some embodiments of Figure 12, the instruction of block 1207 may instruct processor 903 to switch frequencies of primary and secondary downlink carriers. According to such embodiments, the first frequency is a first downlink frequency, the second frequency is a second downlink frequency, the primary carrier is a primary downlink carrier for downlink reception at the wireless terminal UE from the radio access network, and the secondary carrier is a secondary downlink carrier for downlink reception at the wireless terminal UE from the radio access network. Communicating the first multi-carrier communications at block 1215 (before receiving the instruction of block 1207) thus includes receiving the first multi-carrier communications at the wireless terminal UE from the radio access network using the primary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency. Communicating the second multi-carrier communications at block 1215 (after receiving the instruction of block 1207) thus includes receiving the second multi-carrier communications at the wireless terminal UE from the radio access network using the primary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency.

According to some embodiments of Figure 12, the same instruction of block 1207 may instruct processor 903 both to switch frequencies of primary and secondary uplink carriers and to switch frequencies of primary and secondary downlink carriers.

Various operations of Figure 12 and/or related modules may be optional with respect to some embodiments of wireless terminals and related methods. Regarding methods of example embodiment 1 (set forth below), for example, operations of blocks 1203, 1205, 1209, and 1211 of Figure 12 (and related modules) may be optional.

Figure 13 illustrates some other embodiments of operating a wireless terminal UE in communication with a radio access network RAN supporting multi-carrier communications using primary and secondary carriers and using first and second frequencies, with the first and second frequencies being different. In Figure 13, different instructions are used to switch frequencies for primary and secondary uplink carriers and to switch frequencies for primary and secondary downlink carriers. Moreover, the radio access network supports multi-carrier uplink communications using primary and secondary uplink carriers and using first and second uplink frequencies with the first and second uplink frequencies being different, and the radio access network supports multi-carrier downlink communications using primary and secondary downlink carriers and using first and second downlink frequencies with the first and second downlink frequencies being different.

At block 1301, processor 903 receives configuration/preconfiguration information through transceiver 901 from the radio access network (e.g., using a

configuration/preconfiguration module), and the configuration/preconfiguration information may define a parameter to be used by the primary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency. The configuration/preconfiguration information may also define a parameter to be used by the primary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency. The

configuration/preconfiguration information may also define parameters for use during multi- carrier uplink communications using the primary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency, wherein the parameters are for wireless terminal measurement, for wireless terminal reporting criteria, and for wireless terminal reporting procedures. At block 1215, processor 903 may transmit multi-carrier uplink communications through transceiver 901 to the radio access network (e.g., using communication module) using the primary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency, and processor 903 may receive multi-carrier downlink

communications from the radio access network through transceiver 901 using the primary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency.

Responsive to triggering an uplink report at block 1303 (e.g., based on a power headroom measurement), processor 903 may transmit an uplink report through transceiver 901 to the radio access network at block 1305 to initiate switching the primary uplink carrier to the second uplink frequency and switching the secondary uplink carrier to the first uplink frequency (e.g., using a UL report transmission module). The report may include a power headroom measurement.

At block 1307, processor 903 may receive an UL instruction from the radio access network through transceiver 901 (e.g., using a UL instruction reception module), with the UL instruction being an instruction to switch the primary uplink carrier to the second uplink frequency based on the preconfiguration information and to switch the secondary uplink carrier to the first uplink frequency. Responsive to receiving the UL instruction, processor 903 may transmit an UL acknowledgment of the UL instruction at block 1309 (e.g., using an UL acknowledgment transmission module). At operation 1311, processor 903 may switch frequencies of the primary and secondary uplink carriers (e.g., using a UL frequency switching module), for example, at a specified time after transmitting the UL acknowledgment.

At block 1215 (after frequencies at block 1311), processor 903 may transmitting multi- carrier uplink communications through transceiver 901 to the radio access network at block 1215 (e.g., using communication module) using the primary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency based on the preconfiguration information defining the parameter to be used by the primary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency, and processor 903 may continue receiving multi-carrier downlink communications using the primary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency.

Responsive to triggering a downlink report at block 1333, processor 903 may transmit a downlink report through transceiver 901 to the radio access network at block 1335 to initiate switching the primary downlink carrier to the second downlink frequency and switching the secondary downlink carrier to the first downlink frequency (e.g., using a DL report transmission module).

At block 1337, processor 903 may receive a DL instruction from the radio access network through transceiver 901 (e.g., using a DL instruction reception module), with the DL instruction being an instruction to switch the primary downlink carrier to the second downlink frequency and to switch the secondary downlink carrier to the first downlink frequency.

Responsive to receiving the DL instruction, processor 903 may transmit a DL acknowledgment of the DL instruction at block 1339 (e.g., using an DL acknowledgment transmission module). At operation 1341, processor 903 may switch frequencies of the primary and secondary downlink carriers (e.g., using a DL frequency switching module), for example, at a specified time after transmitting the DL acknowledgment.

At block 1215 (after frequencies at block 1311), processor 903 may transmitting multi- carrier uplink communications through transceiver 901 to the radio access network at block 1215 (e.g., using communication module) using the primary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency, and processor 903 may receive multi-carrier downlink communications using the primary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency.

Various operations of Figure 13 and/or related modules may be optional with respect to some embodiments of wireless terminals and related methods. Regarding methods of example embodiment 1 (set forth below), for example, operations of blocks 1303, 1305, 1309, 1311, 1333, 1335, 1339, and 1341 (and related modules) may be optional.

Operations of a radio base station RBS will now be discussed with reference to the flow chart of Figure 14. For example, modules may be stored in radio base station controller memory 807 of Figure 8, and these modules may provide instructions so that when the instructions of a module are executed by RBS processor 803, processor 803 performs respective operations of the flow chart of Figure 14.

As shown in Figure 8, processor 803 of radio base station RBS may communicate through transceiver 801 over a radio interface with wireless terminal UE, and/or processor 803 may communicate through network interface 805 with radio network controller RNC. Figure 14 illustrates some embodiments of operating a node (e.g., a radio base station RBS) of a radio access network (RAN) in communication with a wireless terminal (UE), with the node support multi-carrier communications using primary and secondary carriers and using first and second frequencies, with the first and second frequencies being different.

At block 1401, processor 803 may transmit configuration/preconfiguration information through transceiver 801 to the wireless terminal UE (e.g., using a configuration/preconfiguration transmission module) with the preconfiguration information defining a parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency. In addition, the configuration/preconfiguration information may defines parameters for use during first multi-carrier communications using the primary carrier over the first frequency and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency, wherein the parameters are for wireless terminal measurement, for wireless terminal reporting criteria, and for wireless terminal reporting procedures.

At block 1415, processor 803 may communicate first multi-carrier communications through transceiver 801 between the radio access network and the wireless terminal UE (e.g., using a communication module) using the primary carrier over the first frequency and using a secondary carrier over the second frequency.

At block 1403, processor may receive a first report from the wireless terminal UE through transceiver 803 (e.g., using a first report reception module) to initiate switching the primary carrier to the second frequency and switching the secondary carrier to the first frequency. Responsive to receiving the report from the wireless terminal UE at block 1403, processor 803 may transmit a second report through network interface 805 to radio network controller RNC at block 1405 (e.g., using a second report transmission module) to initiate switching the primary carrier to the second frequency and switching the secondary carrier to the first frequency. After transmitting the second report, processor 803 may receive a third report from the radio network controller at block 1407 through network interface 805 (e.g., using a third report reception module) to acknowledge switching the primary carrier to the second frequency and switching the secondary carrier to the first frequency.

Responsive to receiving the third report, processor 803 may transmit an instruction to the wireless terminal UE at block 1409 (e.g., using an instruction transmission module) to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency. After transmitting the instruction, processor may communicate second multi-carrier communications through transceiver 801 between the wireless terminal UE and the radio access network at block 1415 (e.g., using communication module) using the primary carrier over the second frequency and using a secondary carrier over the first frequency.

Various operations of Figure 14 and/or related modules may be optional with respect to some embodiments of radio base stations and related methods. Regarding methods of example embodiment 26 (set forth below), for example, operations of blocks 1403, 1405, 1407, and 1411 of Figure 14 (and related modules) may be optional.

Figure 15 illustrates some other embodiments of operating a node (e.g., a radio base station RBS) of a radio access network (RAN) in communication with a wireless terminal (UE), with the node supporting multi-carrier uplink communications using primary and secondary uplink carriers and using first and second uplink frequencies with the first and second uplink frequencies being different, and with the node supporting multi-carrier downlink

communications using primary and secondary downlink carriers and using first and second downlink frequencies with the first and second downlink frequencies being different.

At block 1501, processor 803 may transmit configuration/preconfiguration information through transceiver 801 to the wireless terminal UE (e.g., using a configuration/preconfiguration transmission module) with the preconfiguration information defining a parameter to be used by the primary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency. In addition, the

configuration/preconfiguration information may define parameters for use during multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency, wherein the parameters are for wireless terminal measurement, for wireless terminal reporting criteria, and for wireless terminal reporting procedures.

At block 1515, processor 803 may receive multi-carrier uplink communications from wireless terminal UE through transceiver 801 using the primary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary carrier uplink over the second uplink frequency, and processor 803 may transmit multi-carrier downlink communications through transceiver 801 to wireless terminal UE using the primary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency, (e.g., using a communication module) At block 1503, processor may receive a first UL report from the wireless terminal UE through transceiver 803 (e.g., using a first UL report reception module) to initiate switching the primary uplink carrier to the second uplink frequency and switching the secondary uplink carrier to the first uplink frequency. Responsive to receiving the first UL report from the wireless terminal UE at block 1503, processor 803 may transmit a second UL report through network interface 805 to radio network controller RNC at block 1505 (e.g., using a second UL report transmission module) to initiate switching the primary uplink carrier to the second uplink frequency and switching the secondary uplink carrier to the first uplink frequency. After transmitting the second UL report, processor 803 may receive a third UL report from the radio network controller at block 1507 through network interface 805 (e.g., using a third UL report reception module) to acknowledge switching the primary uplink carrier to the second uplink frequency and switching the secondary uplink carrier to the first uplink frequency.

Responsive to receiving the third UL report, processor 803 may transmit a UL instruction to the wireless terminal UE at block 1509 (e.g., using a UL instruction transmission module) to switch the primary uplink carrier to the second uplink frequency and to switch the secondary uplink carrier to the first uplink frequency. After transmitting the UL instruction, processor 803 may receive multi-carrier uplink communications through transceiver 801 from the wireless terminal UE at block 1415 (e.g., using communication module) using the primary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency, while continuing to transmit multi-carrier downlink communications to wireless terminal UE through transceiver 801 using the primary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency.

At block 1533, processor may receive a first DL report from the wireless terminal UE through transceiver 803 (e.g., using a first DL report reception module) to initiate switching the primary downlink carrier to the second downlink frequency and switching the secondary downlink carrier to the first downlink frequency. Responsive to receiving the first DL report from the wireless terminal UE at block 1533, processor 803 may transmit a second DL report through network interface 805 to radio network controller RNC at block 1535 (e.g., using a second DL report transmission module) to initiate switching the primary downlink carrier to the second downlink frequency and switching the secondary downlink carrier to the first downlink frequency. After transmitting the second DL report, processor 803 may receive a third DL report from the radio network controller at block 1537 through network interface 805 (e.g., using a third UL report reception module) to acknowledge switching the primary downlink carrier to the second downlink frequency and switching the secondary downlink carrier to the first downlink frequency.

Responsive to receiving the third DL report, processor 803 may transmit a DL instruction to the wireless terminal UE at block 1539 (e.g., using a DL instruction transmission module) to switch the primary downlink carrier to the second downlink frequency and to switch the secondary downlink carrier to the first downlink frequency. After transmitting the DL instruction, processor 803 may receive multi-carrier uplink communications through transceiver 801 from the wireless terminal UE at block 1415 (e.g., using communication module) using the primary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency, while transmit multi-carrier downlink communications to wireless terminal UE through transceiver 801 using the primary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency.

Various operations of Figure 15 and/or related modules may be optional with respect to some embodiments of radio base stations and related methods. Regarding methods of example embodiment 26 (set forth below), for example, operations of blocks 1503, 1505, 1507, 1511, 1533, 1535, 1537, and 1541 of Figure 15 (and related modules) may be optional.

ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviation Explanation

CFN Connection Frame Number

CPC Continuous Packet Connectivity

DPCCH Dedicated Physical Control Channel

DRX Discontinuous Reception

DTX Discontinuous Transmission

E-AGCH E-DCH Absolute Grant Channel

E-DCH Enhanced Dedicated Channel

E-DPCCH E-DCH Dedicated Physical Control Channel

E-DPDCH E-DCH Dedicated Physical Data Channel

E-HICH E-DCH Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channel

E-RGCH E-DCH Relative Grant Channel EUL Enhanced Uplink

F-DPCH Fractional Dedicated Physical Channel

HS High Speed

HS-DSCH High Speed Downlink Shared Channel

HS-DPCCH High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel

HS-PDSCH High Speed Physical Downlink Shared Channel

HS-SCCH High Speed Shared Control Channel

HSUPA High Speed Uplink Packet Access

LSB Least Significant Bit

MAC Medium Access Control

MCI MAC Control Information

MSB Most Significant Bit

PDU Protocol Data Unit

RB Radio Bearer

RBS Radio Base Station

RL Radio Link

RNC Radio Network Controller

RRC Radio Resource Control

RTT Round Trip Time

SRB Signaling Radio Bearer

TTI Transmission Time Interval

UE User Equipment

UL UpLink

UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System

UPH UE Power Headroom

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS:

1. A method of operating a wireless terminal (UE) in communication with a radio access network (RAN) supporting multi-carrier communications using primary and secondary carriers and using first and second frequencies, and wherein the first and second frequencies are different, the method comprising: receiving (1201, 1301) preconfiguration information at the wireless terminal (UE) from the radio access network, wherein the preconfiguration information defines a parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency; communicating (1215) first multi-carrier communications between the wireless terminal (UE) and the radio access network using the primary carrier over the first frequency and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency; receiving (1207, 1307, 1337) an instruction from the radio access network to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency based on the preconfiguration information and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency; and responsive to receiving the instruction, communicating (1215) second multi-carrier communications between the wireless terminal (UE) and the radio access network using the primary carrier over the second frequency and using a secondary carrier over the first frequency based on the

preconfiguration information defining the parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency.

2. The method of Embodiment 1 , wherein the first frequency is a first uplink frequency, wherein the second frequency is a second uplink frequency, wherein the primary carrier is a primary uplink carrier for uplink transmission from the wireless terminal (UE) to the radio access network, and wherein the secondary carrier is a secondary uplink carrier for uplink transmission from the wireless terminal (UE) to the radio access network, wherein communicating the first multi-carrier communications comprises transmitting the first multi-carrier communications from the wireless terminal (UE) to the radio access network using the primary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary carrier for uplink transmission over the second uplink frequency, and wherein communicating the second multi-carrier communications comprises transmitting the second multi-carrier communications from the wireless terminal (UE) to the radio access network using the primary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary carrier for uplink transmission over the first uplink frequency.

3. The method of Embodiment 2, wherein transmitting the first multi-carrier

communications comprises transmitting the first multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier with an ACK/NACK message over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier without an ACK NACK message over the second uplink frequency, and wherein transmitting the second multi-carrier communications comprises transmitting the second multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier with an ACK/NACK message over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier without an ACK/NACK message over the first uplink frequency. 4. The method of Embodiment 2, wherein transmitting the first multi-carrier communications comprises transmitting the first multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier with channel quality information over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency without channel quality information, and wherein transmitting the second multi-carrier communications comprises transmitting the second multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier with channel quality information over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier without channel quality information over the first uplink frequency.

5. The method of Embodiment 2, wherein transmitting the first multi-carrier communications comprises transmitting the first multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier with a dedicated physical control channel including an ACK/NACK message and/or channel quality information over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier without a dedicated physical control channel over the second uplink frequency, and wherein transmitting the second multi-carrier communications comprises transmitting the second multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier with a dedicated physical control channel including an ACK NACK message and/or channel quality information over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier without a dedicated physical control channel over the first uplink frequency.

6. The method of any of Embodiments 2-5, further comprising: before receiving the instruction, receiving (1215) third multi -carrier communications at the wireless terminal (UE) from the radio access network using a primary downlink carrier for downlink reception over a first downlink frequency and using a secondary downlink carrier for downlink reception over a second downlink frequency; and responsive to receiving the instruction, receiving (1215) fourth multi-carrier communications at the wireless terminal (UE) from the radio access network using the primary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency.

7. The method of any of Embodiments 2-5, wherein the instruction is a first instruction, the method further comprising: receiving (1215) third multi-carrier communications at the wireless terminal (UE) from the radio access network using a primary downlink carrier for downlink reception over a first downlink frequency and using a secondary downlink carrier for downlink reception over a second downlink frequency; after communicating the third multi- carrier communications, receiving (1337) a second instruction at the wireless terminal (UE) from the radio access network to switch the primary downlink carrier to the second downlink frequency and to switch the secondary downlink carrier to the first downlink frequency; and responsive to receiving the second instruction, receiving (1215) fourth multi-carrier

communications at the wireless terminal (UE) from the radio access network using the primary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency.

8. The method of Embodiment 1, wherein the first frequency is a first downlink frequency, wherein the second frequency is a second downlink frequency, wherein the primary carrier is a primary downlink carrier for downlink reception at the wireless terminal (UE) from the radio access network, and wherein the secondary carrier is a secondary downlink carrier for downlink reception at the wireless terminal (UE) from the radio access network, wherein communicating the first multi-carrier communications comprises receiving the first multi-carrier communications at the wireless terminal (UE) from the radio access network using the primary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency, and wherein communicating the second multi-carrier communications comprises receiving the second multi-carrier communications at the wireless terminal (UE) from the radio access network using the primary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency.

9. The method of any of Embodiments 1 -9, wherein receiving the instruction to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency comprises receiving the instruction as a High Speed Shared Control Channel, HS- SCCH, order from the radio access network.

10. The method of Embodiment 9, wherein the HS-SCCH order to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency includes an order type and an extended order type defining orders for switching an Enhanced Dedicated Channel, E-DCH, Transmission Time Interval, TTI, and an order mapping greater than "001".

11. The method of Embodiment 9, wherein the HS-SCCH order includes definition of an order type "11" and an extended order type "100" defining orders for switching frequencies of the primary and secondary carriers and an order mapping greater than or equal to "000". 12. The method of Embodiment 7 wherein the first instruction comprises a first High- Speed Shared Control Channel, HS-SCCH, order, and wherein the second instruction comprises a second HS-SCCH order.

13. The method of any of Embodiments 1-8, wherein receiving the instruction comprises receiving the instruction as a Radio Resource Control message from the radio access network.

14. The method of any of Embodiments 2-13 wherein the parameter is for a dedicated physical control channel, DPCCH, to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency on an uplink, wherein the DPCCH provides control information for High-Speed Downlink Shared Channels, and/or wherein the parameter is for a non-scheduled transmission grant for an enhanced dedicated channel, E-DCH, to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency.

15. The method of Embodiment 14 wherein the parameter comprises at least one of a power-control parameter and/or a Channel Quality Indicator, CQI, reporting parameter for the dedicated physical control channel to be used by the primary carrier of the second frequency.

16. The method of any of Embodiments 14-15 wherein the preconfiguration information further provides parameters to configure the first frequency for the secondary carrier and to configure the second frequency for the primary carrier.

17. The method of any of Embodiments 1-16 further comprising: before communicating the first multi-carrier communications, receiving (1201, 1301) configuration information at the wireless terminal (UE) from the radio access network, wherein the configuration information defines parameters for use during the first multi-carrier communications using the primary carrier over the first frequency and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency, wherein the parameters are for wireless terminal measurement, for wireless terminal reporting criteria, and for wireless terminal reporting procedures.

18. The method of Embodiment 17 wherein the wireless terminal measurement is a filtered wireless terminal power headroom measurement.

19. The method of any of Embodiments 1-18 further comprising: before receiving the instruction, transmitting (1205, 1305, 1335) a report from the wireless terminal (UE) to the radio access network to initiate switching the primary carrier to the second frequency and switching the secondary carrier to the first frequency. 20. The method of Embodiment 19, wherein the report includes a power headroom measurement from the wireless terminal (UE).

21. The method of any of Embodiments 19-20, wherein the report is transmitted in an UpLink Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Information message.

22. The method of any of Embodiments 19-20 wherein the report is transmitted as a Radio Resource Control event in a Radio Resource Control Measurement Report.

23. The method of any of Embodiments 1-22 wherein communicating the first multi- carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the first frequency using a 2ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency using a 10ms duration and communicating the second multi-carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the second frequency using the 10ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the first frequency using the 2ms duration, or wherein communicating the first multi-carrier

communications comprises using the primary carrier over the first frequency using a 10ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency using a 2ms duration and communicating the second multi-carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the second frequency using the 2ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the first frequency using the 10ms duration, or wherein communicating the first multi-carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the first frequency using a 10ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency using a 10ms duration and communicating the second multi-carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the second frequency using the 10ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the first frequency using the 10ms duration, or wherein communicating the first multi-carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the first frequency using a 2ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency using a 2ms duration and communicating the second multi-carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the second frequency using the 2ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the first frequency using the 2ms duration.

24. The method of any of Embodiments 1-23 wherein the first frequency is at least 500 MHz greater than the second frequency. 25. The method of any of Embodiments 1-24 wherein communicating the first multi- carrier communications comprises communicating the first multi-carrier communications after receiving the preconfiguration information.

26. A method of operating a node (RBS) of a radio access network (RAN) in

communication with a wireless terminal (UE), wherein the node supports multi-carrier communications using primary and secondary carriers and using first and second frequencies, and wherein the first and second frequencies are different, the method comprising: initiating transmission (1401, 1501) of preconfiguration information to the wireless terminal (UE), wherein the preconfiguration information defines a parameter to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency; communicating (1415) first multi-carrier communications between the radio access network and the wireless terminal (UE) using a primary carrier over a first frequency and using a secondary carrier over a second frequency; initiating transmission (1409, 1509, 1539) of an instruction to the wireless terminal (UE) to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency; and after initiating transmission of the instruction, communicating (1415) second multi-carrier communications between the wireless terminal (UE) and the radio access network using the primary carrier over the second frequency and using a secondary carrier over the first frequency.

27. The method of Embodiment 26, wherein the first frequency is a first uplink frequency, wherein the second frequency is a second uplink frequency, wherein primary carrier is a primary uplink carrier for uplink transmission from the wireless terminal (UE), and wherein the secondary carrier is a secondary uplink carrier for uplink transmission from the wireless terminal (UE), wherein communicating the first multi-carrier communications comprises receiving the first multi-carrier communications from the wireless terminal (UE) using the primary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency, and wherein communicating the second multi-carrier

communications comprises receiving the second multi-carrier communications from the wireless terminal (UE) using the primary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier over the first uplink frequency.

28. The method of Embodiment 27, wherein receiving the first multi-carrier

communications comprises receiving the first multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier with an ACK/NACK message over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier without an ACK/NACK message over the second uplink frequency, and wherein receiving the second multi-carrier communications comprises receiving the second multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier with an ACK/NACK message over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier without an ACK/NACK message over the first uplink frequency.

29. The method of Embodiment 27, wherein receiving the first multi-carrier

communications comprises receiving the first multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier with channel quality information over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier over the second uplink frequency without channel quality information, and wherein receiving the second multi-carrier communications comprises receiving the second multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier with channel quality information over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier without channel quality information over the first uplink frequency.

30. The method of Embodiment 27, wherein receiving the first multi-carrier

communications comprises receiving the first multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier with a dedicated physical control channel including an ACK/NACK message and/or channel quality information over the first uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier without a dedicated physical control channel over the second uplink frequency, and wherein receiving the second multi-carrier communications comprises receiving the second multi-carrier communications using the primary uplink carrier with a dedicated physical control channel including an ACK/NACK message and/or channel quality information over the second uplink frequency and using the secondary uplink carrier without a dedicated physical control channel over the first uplink frequency.

31. The method of any of Embodiments 27-30, further comprising: before initiating transmission of the instruction, initiating transmission (1415) of third multi-carrier

communications to the wireless terminal (UE) using a primary downlink carrier for downlink transmission over a first downlink frequency and using a secondary downlink carrier for downlink transmission over a second downlink frequency; and after initiating transmission of the instruction, initiating transmission of (1415) fourth multi-carrier communications to the wireless terminal (UE) using the primary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency. 32. The method of any of Embodiments 27-30, wherein the instruction is a first instruction, the method further comprising: initiating transmission (1415) of third multi-carrier communications to the wireless terminal (UE) using a primary downlink carrier for downlink transmission over a first downlink frequency and using a secondary downlink carrier for downlink transmission over a second downlink frequency; after communicating the third multi- carrier communications, initiating transmission (1537) of a second instruction to the wireless terminal (UE) to switch the primary downlink carrier to the second downlink frequency and to switch the secondary downlink carrier to the first downlink frequency; and after initiating transmission of the second instruction, initiating transmission (1415) of fourth multi-carrier communications to the wireless terminal (UE) using the primary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency.

33. The method of Embodiment 26, wherein the first frequency is a first downlink frequency, wherein the second frequency is a second downlink frequency, wherein the primary carrier is a primary downlink carrier for downlink transmission to the wireless terminal (UE), and wherein the secondary carrier is a secondary downlink carrier for downlink transmission to the wireless terminal (UE), wherein communicating the first multi-carrier communications comprises initiating transmission of the first multi-carrier communications to the wireless terminal (UE) using the primary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency, and wherein communicating the second multi-carrier communications comprises initiating transmission of the second multi- carrier communications to the wireless terminal (UE) using the primary downlink carrier over the second downlink frequency and using the secondary downlink carrier over the first downlink frequency.

34. The method of any of Embodiments 26-33, wherein initiating transmission of the instruction to switch the primary carrier to the second frequency and to switch the secondary carrier to the first frequency comprises initiating transmission of the instruction as a High Speed Shared Control Channel, HS-SCCH, order to the wireless terminal (UE).

35. The method of Embodiment 34, wherein the HS-SCCH order includes an order type and an extended order type defining orders for switching an Enhanced Dedicated Channel, E- DCH, Transmission Time Interval, ΤΉ, and an order mapping greater than "001". 36. The method of Embodiment 34, wherein the HS-SCCH order includes definition of an order type "11" and an extended order type "100" defining orders for switching frequencies of the primary and secondary carriers and an order mapping greater than or equal to "000".

37. The method of Embodiment 32 wherein the first instruction comprises a first High- Speed Shared Control Channel, HS-SCCH, order, and wherein the second instruction comprises a second HS-SCCH order.

38. The method of any of Embodiments 26-33, wherein initiating transmission of the instruction comprises initiating transmission of the instruction as a Radio Resource Control message.

39. The method of any of Embodiments 27-38 wherein the parameter is for a dedicated physical control channel, DPCCH, to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency on an uplink, wherein the DPCCH provides control information for High-Speed Downlink Shared Channels, and/or wherein the parameter is for a non-scheduled transmission grant for an enhanced dedicated channel, E-DCH, to be used by the primary carrier over the second frequency.

40. The method of Embodiment 39 wherein the parameter comprises at least one of a power-control parameter and/or a Channel Quality Indicator, CQI, reporting parameter for the dedicated physical control channel to be used by the primary carrier of the second frequency.

41. The method of any of Embodiments 39-40 wherein the preconfiguration information further provides parameters to configure the first frequency for the secondary carrier and to configure the second frequency for the primary carrier.

42. The method of any of Embodiments 26-41 further comprising: before

communicating the first multi-carrier communications, initiating transmission (1401, 1501) of configuration information to the wireless terminal from the radio access network, wherein the configuration information defines parameters for use during the first multi-carrier

communications using the primary carrier over the first frequency and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency, wherein the parameters are for wireless terminal

measurement, for wireless terminal reporting criteria, and for wireless terminal reporting procedures.

43. The method of Embodiment 42 wherein the wireless terminal measurement is a filtered wireless terminal power headroom measurement. 44. The method of any of Embodiments 26-43 further comprising: receiving (1403, 1503, 1533) a report from the wireless terminal (UE) to initiate switching the primary carrier to the second frequency and switching the secondary carrier to the first frequency, wherein initiating transmission of the instruction comprises initiating transmission of the instruction responsive to receiving the report.

45. The method of Embodiment 44, wherein the report includes a power headroom measurement from the wireless terminal (UE).

46. The method of any of Embodiments 44-45, wherein the report is communicated using an UpLink Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Information message.

47. The method of any of Embodiments 44-45, wherein the report is communicated using a Radio Resource Control event in a Radio Resource Control Measurement Report.

48. The method of any of Embodiments 44-47, wherein the node comprises a radio base station (RBS), and wherein the report is a first report, the method further comprising: responsive to receiving the first report from the wireless terminal (UE), transmitting (1405) a second report to a radio network controller to initiate switching the primary carrier to the second frequency and switching the secondary carrier to the first frequency; and after transmitting the second report, receiving (1407, 1507, 1537) a third report from the radio network controller to acknowledge switching the primary carrier to the second frequency and switching the secondary carrier to the first frequency; wherein initiating transmission of the instruction comprises transmitting the instruction to the wireless terminal (UE) responsive to receiving the third report from the radio network controller.

49. The method of any of Embodiments 26-48 wherein communicating the first multi- carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the first frequency using a 2ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency using a 10ms duration and communicating the second multi-carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the second frequency using the 10ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the first frequency using the 2ms duration, or wherein communicating the first multi-carrier

communications comprises using the primary carrier over the first frequency using a 10ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency using a 2ms duration and communicating the second multi-carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the second frequency using the 2ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the first frequency using the 1 Oms duration, or wherein communicating the first multi-carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the first frequency using a 1 Oms duration and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency using a 10ms duration and communicating the second multi-carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the second frequency using the 10ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the first frequency using the 10ms duration, or wherein communicating the first multi-carrier

communications comprises using the primary carrier over the first frequency using a 2ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the second frequency using a 2ms duration and communicating the second multi-carrier communications comprises using the primary carrier over the second frequency using the 2ms duration and using the secondary carrier over the first frequency using the 2ms duration.

50. The method of any of Embodiments 26-49 wherein the first frequency is at least 500 MHz greater than the second frequency.

51. The method of any of Embodiments 26-50 wherein initiating transmission of the instruction comprises initiating transmission of the instruction while and/or after communicating the first multi-carrier communications.

52. The method of any of Embodiments 26-51 wherein the preconfiguration information includes, a Transmission Time Interval, TTI, to be used for the primary carrier of the second multi-carrier communications that is different than a ΤΉ that is used for the primary carrier of the first multi-carrier communications and/or that is different than a TTI that is used for the secondary carrier of the first multi-carrier communications, and a TTI to be used for the secondary carrier of the second multi-carrier communications that is different than a ΤΉ that is used for the primary carrier of the first multi-carrier communications and/or that is different than a ΤΉ that is used for the secondary carrier of the first multi-carrier communications.

53. The method of any of Embodiments 1-25 wherein receiving the instruction comprises receiving the instruction while and/or after communicating the first multi-carrier communications.

54. The method of any of Embodiments 1-25 and 53 wherein the preconfiguration information includes, a Transmission Time Interval, TTI, to be used for the primary carrier of the second multi-carrier communications that is different than a TTI that is used for the primary carrier of the first multi-carrier communications and/or that is different than a ΤΉ that is used for the secondary carrier of the first multi-carrier communications, and a TTI to be used for the secondary carrier of the second multi-carrier communications that is different than a ΤΉ that is used for the primary carrier of the first multi-carrier communications and/or that is different than a ΤΉ that is used for the secondary carrier of the first multi-carrier communications.

55. A wireless terminal (UE) configured to communicate with a radio access network (RAN) supporting multi-carrier communications using primary and secondary carriers and using first and second frequencies, and wherein the first and second frequencies are different, the wireless terminal (UE) comprising: a transceiver (901) configured to provide communications over a radio interface with the radio access network: and a processor (903) coupled with the transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to communicate through the transceiver with the radio access network, and wherein the processor is configured to perform according to any of the methods of Embodiments 1-25 and 53-54.

56. A wireless terminal (UE) adapted to perform according to any of Embodiments 1-25 and 53-54.

57. A wireless terminal (UE) including modules adapted to perform according to any of Embodiments 1 -25 and 53-54.

58. A node (RBS) of a radio access network configured to communicate supporting multi-carrier communications using primary and secondary carriers and using first and second frequencies, and wherein the first and second frequencies are different, the node comprising: a transceiver (801) configured to provide communications over a radio interface with a wireless terminal (UE): a network interface (805) configured to provide communications over a network with a radio network controller; and a processor (803) coupled with the transceiver and the network interface, wherein the processor is configured to communicate through the transceiver with wireless terminal (UE), wherein the processor is configured to communicate through the network interface with the radio network controller, and wherein the processor is configured to perform according to any of the methods of Embodiments 26-52.

59. A node (RBS) of a radio access network, wherein the node is adapted to perform according to any of Embodiments 26-52.

60. A node (RBS) of a radio access network, wherein the node includes modules adapted to perform according to any of Embodiments 26-52.

REFERENCES 3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; 25.331; Radio Resource Control (RRC); Protocol specification, V13.2.0.

3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; 25.321; Medium Access Control (MAC); Protocol specification, V13.2.0.

3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; 25.212; Multiplexing and Channel coding; vl3.0.0. 3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Multi-Carrier Enhancements for UMTS (Release 14); 3 GPP TR 25.707 V14.0.0 (2016-06)

FURTHER DEFINITIONS :

When an element is referred to as being "connected", "coupled", "responsive", or variants thereof to another element, it can be directly connected, coupled, or responsive to the other element or one or more intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected", "directly coupled", "directly responsive", or variants thereof to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Like numbers refer to like nodes/elements throughout. Furthermore, "coupled", "connected", "responsive", or variants thereof as used herein may include wirelessly coupled, connected, or responsive. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity. The term "and/or", abbreviated "/", includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

As used herein, the terms "comprise", "comprising", "comprises", "include", "including", "includes", "have", "has", "having", or variants thereof are open-ended, and include one or more stated features, integers, nodes, steps, components or functions but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, nodes, steps, components, functions or groups thereof. Furthermore, as used herein, the common abbreviation "e.g.", which derives from the Latin phrase "exempli gratia," may be used to introduce or specify a general example or examples of a previously mentioned item, and is not intended to be limiting of such item. The common abbreviation "i.e.", which derives from the Latin phrase "id est," may be used to specify a particular item from a more general recitation.

It will be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements/operations, these elements/operations should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element/operation from another

element/operation. Thus a first element/operation in some embodiments could be termed a second element/operation in other embodiments without departing from the teachings of present inventive concepts. Examples of embodiments of aspects of present inventive concepts explained and illustrated herein include their complimentary counterparts. The same reference numerals or the same reference designators denote the same or similar elements throughout the specification.

Example embodiments are described herein with reference to block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations of computer-implemented methods, apparatus (systems and/or devices) and/or computer program products. It is understood that a block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by computer program instructions that are performed by one or more computer circuits. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor circuit (also referred to as a processor) of a general purpose computer circuit, special purpose computer circuit, and/or other programmable data processing circuit to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus, transform and control transistors, values stored in memory locations, and other hardware components within such circuitry to implement the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks, and thereby create means (functionality) and/or structure for implementing the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block(s).

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a tangible computer-readable medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium may include an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductor data storage system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples of the computer-readable medium would include the following: a portable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM) circuit, a read-only memory (ROM) circuit, an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory) circuit, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), and a portable digital video disc readonly memory (DVD/BlueRay).

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer and/or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks. Accordingly, embodiments of present inventive concepts may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) that runs on a processor such as a digital signal processor, which may collectively be referred to as "circuitry," "a module" or variants thereof.

It should also be noted that in some alternate implementations, the functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the flowcharts. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality /acts involved. Moreover, the functionality of a given block of the flowcharts and/or block diagrams may be separated into multiple blocks and/or the functionality of two or more blocks of the flowcharts and/or block diagrams may be at least partially integrated. Finally, other blocks may be added/inserted between the blocks that are illustrated. Moreover, although some of the diagrams include arrows on communication paths to show a primary direction of communication, it is to be understood that communication may occur in the opposite direction to the depicted arrows.

Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of various example combinations and subcombinations of embodiments and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

Other network elements, communication devices and/or methods according to embodiments of inventive concepts will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the present drawings and description. It is intended that all such additional network elements, devices, and/or methods be included within this description, be within the scope of the present inventive concepts. Moreover, it is intended that all embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented separately or combined in any way and/or combination.