Method and apparatus for defining HARQ functionality for cells having different time division duplex subframe configurations

摘要

Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for defining the HARQ functionality for primary and secondary cells having different TDD UL/DL subframe configurations so as to reduce or eliminate instances in which the feedback is blocked and the UL grant is missed. For example, a method is provided that includes providing for communications via a primary cell and at least one secondary cell in a time division duplex (TDD) network that supports carrier aggregation in accordance with different TDD uplink (UL)/downlink (DL) subframe configurations. In this example, the method also defines at least one of: (i) UL or DL hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) timing, (ii) a maximum number of DL HARQ processes, (iii) a number of UL HARQ processes or (iv) an UL HARQ process mapping to be the same for each of the primary and secondary cells having different TDD UL/DL subframe configurations.