Forming carrier aggregation timing advance groups in a heterogeneous network

摘要

An eNodeB operable to maintain timing advance groups (TAGs) in a heterogeneous network (HetNet) is disclosed. The eNodeB can form a timing advance group (TAG) for one or more serving cells when a same timing advance applies to the one or more serving cells. The eNodeB can map each of the one or more serving cells to the TAG using radio resource control (RRC) signaling from the eNodeB. The eNodeB can assign a timing advance group identifier (TAG ID) to the one or more serving cells mapped to the TAG. A separate timing advance timer can be maintained at a user equipment (UE) for each TAG for a selected period of time.