Integrated circuit that controls a search space setting process

Abstract

An integrated circuit, for example, included in a wireless communication base station, controls a process that includes mapping a first downlink control channel to control channel element(s) (CCE(s)) in a first search space comprised of a first plurality of CCEs, the first downlink control channel including resource assignment information, which indicates a resource allocated to a terminal in a component carrier n (CC.sub.n) out of one or more component carrier(s) (CC(s)), and mapping a second downlink control channel to CCE(s) in a second search space comprised of a second plurality of CCE(s), the second downlink control channel including resource assignment information, which indicates a resource allocated to the terminal in a component carrier n+1 (CC.sub.n+1) out of the CC(s), the first plurality of CCEs and the second plurality of CCEs are consecutive. The process also includes transmitting the first and the second downlink control channels to the terminal.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit comprising: reception circuitry which, in operation, receives a first downlink control channel transmitted on one or more control channel element(s) (CCE(s)) in a first search space that is comprised of a first plurality of CCEs, the first downlink control channel including resource assignment information, which indicates a resource allocated to a terminal apparatus in a component carrier n (CCn) out of one or more CC(s) and receives a second downlink control channel transmitted on one or more CCE(s) in a second search space that is comprised of a second plurality of CCE(s), the second downlink control channel including resource assignment information, which indicates a resource allocated to the terminal apparatus in a component carrier n+1 (CCn+1) out of said one or more CC(s), wherein the first plurality of CCEs and the second plurality of CCEs are consecutive; one or more inputs coupled to the reception circuitry, which, in operation, receive downlink control channel signals; and transmission circuitry which, in operation, transmits an ACK/NACK signal on an uplink control channel.

2. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein a number of CC(s) configured for downlink is greater than a number of CC(s) configured for uplink.

3. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more CC(s) configured for downlink is also configured for uplink.

4. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first search spaces and the second search space neighbor each other.

5. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein a CCE number Sn+1, which defines a start position of the second search space, is set as (Sn+L) mod NCCE, where a CCE number Sn defines a start position of the first search space, L is a number of the first plurality of CCEs, and NCCE is a total number of CCEs within the CCn.

6. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein a difference between CCE numbers that respectively define start positions of the first search space and the second search space, varies among a plurality of terminals.

7. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first search space and the second search space are set independently of each other.

8. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting section is configured to transmit multiple ACK/NACK signals, which are for the CC and the CCn+1, in one of the CC and the CCn+1.

9. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first plurality of CCEs and the second plurality of CCEs correspond to downlink control channel candidates to be decoded by the terminal apparatus.

10. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein each of the first search space and the second search space is comprised of a plurality of CCEs having consecutive CCE numbers.

11. The integrated circuit of claim 1, comprising: circuitry, which in operation, controls the process; one or more inputs coupled to the circuitry, which, in operation, receive downlink control channel signals; and one or more outputs coupled to the circuitry, which, in operation, output ACK/NACK signals.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a base station according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating PUCCH resources associated with each CCE according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating component bands set in the terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of setting a search space of each component band according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a method of setting a search space of each component band according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of setting a search space of each component band according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a method of setting a search space start position of each component band according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention; and

(9) FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another method of setting a search space start position of each component band according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same components between embodiments will be assigned the same reference numerals and overlapping explanations will be omitted.

(11) (Embodiment 1)

(12) FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of base station 100 according to the present embodiment.

(13) In base station 100 shown in FIG. 1, setting section 101 sets (configures) one or a plurality of component bands to use for an uplink and a downlink per terminal according to a required transmission rate and amount of data transmission or the like. Setting section 101 then outputs setting information including the component band set in each terminal to control section 102, PDCCH generation section 103 and modulation section 106.

(14) Control section 102 generates uplink resource allocation information indicating uplink resources (e.g., PUSCH) to which uplink data of a terminal is allocated and downlink resource allocation information indicating downlink resources (e.g., PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel)) to which downlink data directed to the terminal is allocated. Control section 102 then outputs the uplink resource allocation information to PDCCH generation section 103 and extraction section 116 and outputs the downlink resource allocation information to PDCCH generation section 103 and multiplexing section 108. Here, control section 102 allocates uplink resource allocation information and downlink resource allocation information to PDCCHs arranged in downlink component bands set in each terminal based on the setting information inputted from setting section 101. To be more specific, control section 102 allocates the downlink resource allocation information to PDCCHs arranged in the downlink component bands to be subjected to resource allocation indicated in the downlink resource allocation information. Furthermore, control section 102 allocates uplink resource allocation information to PDCCHs arranged in downlink component bands associated with the uplink component bands to be subjected to resource allocation indicated in the uplink allocation information. A PDCCH is made up of one or a plurality of CCEs.

(15) PDCCH generation section 103 generates a PDCCH signal including the uplink resource allocation information and downlink resource allocation information inputted from control section 102. Furthermore, PDCCH generation section 103 adds a CRC bit to the PDCCH signal to which the uplink resource allocation information and downlink resource allocation information have been allocated and further masks (or scrambles) the CRC bit with the terminal ID. PDCCH generation section 103 then outputs the masked PDCCH signal to modulation section 104.

(16) Modulation section 104 modulates the PDCCH signal inputted from PDCCH generation section 103 after channel coding and outputs the modulated PDCCH signal to allocation section 105.

(17) Allocation section 105 allocates a PDCCH signal of each terminal inputted from modulation section 104 to CCEs in a search space per terminal. Here, allocation section 105 sets different search spaces for the plurality of downlink component bands in a terminal that communicates using a plurality of downlink component bands and uplink component bands which are fewer than the plurality of downlink component bands. For example, allocation section 105 calculates a search space for each of the plurality of downlink component bands set in each terminal from CCE number calculated using a terminal ID of each terminal and a hash function for performing randomization and the number of CCEs (L) making up the search space. Allocation section 105 then outputs the PDCCH signal allocated to the CCEs to multiplexing section 108. Furthermore, allocation section 105 outputs information indicating the CCE to which the PDCCH signal (resource allocation information) is allocated to ACK/NACK receiving section 119.

(18) Modulation section 106 modulates the setting information inputted from setting section 101 and outputs the modulated setting information to multiplexing section 108.

(19) Modulation section 107 modulates inputted transmission data (downlink data) after channel coding and outputs the modulated transmission data signal to multiplexing section 108.

(20) Multiplexing section 108 multiplexes the PDCCH signal inputted from allocation section 105, the setting information inputted from modulation section 106 and the data signal (that is, PDSCH signal) inputted from modulation section 107. Here, multiplexing section 108 maps the PDCCH signal and data signal (PDSCH signal) to each downlink component band based on the downlink resource allocation information inputted from control section 102. Multiplexing section 108 may also map the setting information to a PDSCH. Multiplexing section 108 then outputs the multiplexed signal to IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) section 109.

(21) IFFT section 109 transforms the multiplexed signal inputted from multiplexing section 108 into a time waveform and CP (Cyclic Prefix) adding section 110 adds a CP to the time waveform and thereby obtains an OFDM signal.

(22) RF transmitting section 111 applies radio transmitting processing (up-conversion, digital/analog (D/A) conversion or the like) to the OFDM signal inputted from CP adding section 110 and transmits the OFDM signal via antenna 112.

(23) On the other hand, RF receiving section 113 applies radio receiving processing (down-conversion, analog/digital (A/D) conversion or the like) to the received radio signal received in a reception band via antenna 112 and outputs the received signal obtained to CP removing section 114.

(24) CP removing section 114 removes a CP from the received signal and FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) section 115 transforms the received signal after the CP removal into a frequency domain signal.

(25) Extraction section 116 extracts uplink data from the frequency domain signal inputted from FFT section 115 based on the uplink resource allocation information inputted from control section 102. IDFT (Inverse Discrete Fourier transform) section 117 then transforms the extracted signal into a time domain signal and outputs the time domain signal to data receiving section 118 and ACK/NACK receiving section 119.

(26) Data receiving section 118 decodes the time domain signal inputted from IDFT section 117. Data receiving section 118 outputs the decoded uplink data as received data.

(27) ACK/NACK receiving section 119 extracts an ACK/NACK signal from each terminal corresponding to downlink data (PDSCH signal) of the time domain signal inputted from IDFT section 117 from a PUCCH associated with a CCE used to allocate the downlink data. ACK/NACK receiving section 119 then makes an ACK/NACK decision on the extracted ACK/NACK signal. Here, when base station 100 (allocation section 105) allocates a PDCCH signal including downlink resource allocation information of downlink data (PDSCH signal) of a plurality of component bands to CCEs of downlink component bands of a plurality of component bands, ACK/NACK receiving section 119 extracts a plurality of ACK/NACK signals from PUCCHs associated with CCE numbers of the respective CCEs.

(28) FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of terminal 200 according to the present embodiment. Terminal 200 receives a data signal (downlink data) using a plurality of downlink component bands and transmits an ACK/NACK signal for the data signal to base station 100 using a PUCCH of one uplink component band.

(29) In terminal 200 shown in FIG. 2, RF receiving section 202 is configured to be able to change a reception band and changes the reception band based on band information inputted from setting information receiving section 206. RF receiving section 202 applies radio receiving processing (down-conversion, analog/digital (A/D) conversion or the like) to the received radio signal (here, OFDM signal) received in the reception band via antenna 201 and outputs the received signal obtained to CP removing section 203.

(30) CP removing section 203 removes a CP from the received signal and FFT section 204 transforms the received signal after the CP removal into a frequency domain signal. The frequency domain signal is outputted to demultiplexing section 205.

(31) Demultiplexing section 205 demultiplexes the signal inputted from FFT section 204 into a control signal (e.g., RRC signaling) of a higher layer including setting information, PDCCH signal and data signal (that is, PDSCH signal). Demultiplexing section 205 outputs the control information to setting information receiving section 206, outputs the PDCCH signal to PDCCH receiving section 207 and outputs the PDSCH signal to PDSCH receiving section 208.

(32) Setting information receiving section 206 reads information indicating uplink component bands and downlink component bands set in the terminal from the control signal inputted from demultiplexing section 205 and outputs the read information to PDCCH receiving section 207, RF receiving section 202 and RF transmitting section 215 as band information. Furthermore, setting information receiving section 206 reads information indicating the terminal ID set in the terminal from the control signal inputted from demultiplexing section 205 and outputs the read information to PDCCH receiving section 207 as terminal ID information.

(33) PDCCH receiving section 207 blind-decodes the PDCCH signal inputted from demultiplexing section 205 and obtains a PDCCH signal directed to the terminal. Here, the PDCCH signal is allocated to each CCE (that is, PDCCH) arranged in the downlink component band set in the terminal indicated in the band information inputted from setting information receiving section 206. To be more specific, PDCCH receiving section 207 calculates a search space of the terminal using the terminal ID of the terminal indicated in the terminal ID information inputted from setting information receiving section 206. The search space (CCE numbers of CCEs constituting the search space) calculated here differs between the plurality of downlink component bands set in the terminal. PDCCH receiving section 207 then demodulates and decodes the PDCCH signal allocated to each CCE in the calculated search space. PDCCH receiving section 207 demasks a CRC bit with the terminal ID of the terminal indicated in the terminal ID information for the decoded PDCCH signal and thereby decides the PDCCH signal which results in CRC=OK (no error) to be a PDCCH signal directed to the terminal. PDCCH receiving section 207 performs the above described blind decoding on each component band to which a PDCCH signal has been transmitted and thereby acquires resource allocation information of the component band. PDCCH receiving section 207 outputs downlink resource allocation information included in the PDCCH signal directed to the terminal to PDSCH receiving section 208 and outputs uplink resource allocation information to mapping section 212. Furthermore, PDCCH receiving section 207 outputs the CCE number of the CCE (CCE resulting in CRC=OK) from which the PDCCH signal directed to the terminal is detected to mapping section 212.

(34) PDSCH receiving section 208 extracts received data (downlink data) from the PDSCH signal inputted from demultiplexing section 205 based on the downlink resource allocation information inputted from PDCCH receiving section 207. Furthermore, PDSCH receiving section 208 performs error detection on the extracted received data (downlink data). When the error detection result shows that an error is detected in the received data, PDSCH receiving section 208 generates an NACK signal as the ACK/NACK signal and generates an ACK signal as the ACK/NACK signal when no error is detected in the received data. PDSCH receiving section 208 then outputs the ACK/NACK signal to modulation section 209.

(35) Modulation section 209 modulates the ACK/NACK signal inputted from PDSCH receiving section 208 and outputs the modulated ACK/NACK signal to DFT (Discrete Fourier transform) section 211.

(36) Modulation section 210 modulates the transmission data (uplink data) and outputs the modulated data signal to DFT section 211.

(37) DFT section 211 transforms the ACK/NACK signals inputted from modulation section 209 and the data signal inputted from modulation section 210 into a frequency domain signal and outputs a plurality of frequency components obtained to mapping section 212.

(38) Mapping section 212 maps the frequency component corresponding to the data signal out of the plurality of frequency components inputted from DFT section 211 to a PUSCH arranged in the uplink component band according to the uplink resource allocation information inputted from PDCCH receiving section 207. Furthermore, mapping section 212 maps the frequency components or code resources corresponding to the ACK/NACK signals out of the plurality of frequency components inputted from DFT section 211 to a PUCCH arranged in the uplink component band according to the CCE number inputted from PDCCH receiving section 207.

(39) For example, as shown in FIG. 3, PUCCH resources are defined using a primary spreading sequence (amount of cyclic shift of ZAC (Zero Auto Correlation) sequence) and a secondary spreading sequence (block-wise spread code) such as Walsh sequence). That is, mapping section 212 allocates ACK/NACK signals to primary spreading sequences and secondary spreading sequences associated with the CCE numbers inputted from PDCCH receiving section 207. Furthermore, the PUCCH shown in FIG. 3 is shared between a plurality of downlink component bands. Thus, when PDSCH signals are transmitted in a plurality of downlink component bands, mapping section 212 allocates ACK/NACK signals corresponding to the PDSCH signals transmitted in the respective downlink component bands to PUCCH resources associated with the CCE numbers of CCEs used for allocation of the PDSCH signals. For example, an ACK/NACK signal corresponding to a PDSCH signal allocated using CCE #0 of a downlink component band of component band 1 is allocated to a PUCCH resource corresponding to CCE #0 shown in FIG. 3. Likewise, an ACK/NACK signal corresponding to a PDSCH signal allocated using CCE #2 of a downlink component band of component band 2 is allocated to a PUCCH resource corresponding to CCE #2 shown in FIG. 3.

(40) Modulation section 209, modulation section 210, DFT section 211 and mapping section 212 may be provided for each component band.

(41) IFFT section 213 transforms a plurality of frequency components mapped to the PUSCH into a time domain waveform and CP adding section 214 adds a CP to the time domain waveform.

(42) RF transmitting section 215 is configured to be able to change a transmission band and sets a transmission band based on the band information inputted from setting information receiving section 206. RF transmitting section 215 then applies radio transmitting processing (up-conversion, digital/analog (D/A) conversion or the like) to the CP-added signal and transmits the signal via antenna 201.

(43) Next, details of operations of base station 100 and terminal 200 will be described.

(44) In the following descriptions, setting section 101 (FIG. 1) of base station 100 sets two downlink component bands (component band 1 and component band 2) and one uplink component band (component band 1) in terminal 200 as shown in FIG. 4. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, setting section 101 sets both the uplink component band and the downlink component band for component band 1 in terminal 200, while for component band 2, setting section 101 does not set any uplink component band (unset) but sets only the downlink component band. That is, base station 100 communicates with terminal 200 using two downlink component bands and one uplink component band, which is one component band fewer than the downlink component bands.

(45) Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the PDCCH arranged in each downlink component band is made up of a plurality of CCEs (CCE #1, CCE #2, CCE #3, . . . ). Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, component band 1 and component band 2 share PUCCHs (e.g., FIG. 3) arranged in the uplink component band of component band 1. Thus, terminal 200 transmits an ACK/NACK signal to base station 100 using a PUCCH arranged in the uplink component band of component band 1 associated with the CCE used to allocate the PDSCH signal regardless of the component band in which the PDSCH signal has been received.

(46) Here, allocation section 105 allocates a PDCCH signal including downlink resource allocation information to CCEs in such a way that PUCCHs (ACK/NACK resources) for ACK/NACK signals do not collide between a plurality of downlink component bands. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a PDCCH signal including downlink resource allocation information (that is, information indicating PDSCH allocation of component band 1) of component band 1 is allocated to CCE #1 of the downlink component band of component band 1. In this case, allocation section 105 allocates a PDCCH signal including downlink resource allocation information (that is, information indicating PDSCH allocation of component band 2) of component band 2 to a CCE other than CCE #1 (CCE #2 in FIG. 4) in the downlink component band of component band 2. On the other hand, when a PDCCH signal including downlink resource allocation information of component band 1 is allocated to a CCE, allocation section 105 allocates a PDCCH signal including downlink resource allocation information of component band 1 to a CCE other than CCE #2 used in the downlink component band of component band 2. Here, the other terminal in which the uplink component band of component band 2 (unset in terminal 200) is set uses a PUCCH arranged in the uplink component band of component band 2 to transmit an ACK/NACK signal to base station 100. Thus, in the PUCCH arranged in the uplink component band of component band 1, no collision occurs between terminal 200 and the other terminal. For this reason, in the downlink component band of component band 2, allocation section 105 may allocate the PDCCH signal including downlink resource allocation information directed to the other terminal to CCE #1 used in component band 1 (not shown).

(47) Furthermore, allocation section 105 sets different search spaces for the plurality of component bands (component band 1 and component band 2 in FIG. 4) set in terminal 200. That is, allocation section 105 sets a plurality of search spaces according to the number of component bands set in terminal 200. Allocation section 105 then allocates the PDCCH signal directed to terminal 200 to CCEs in the search space set for each component band. Hereinafter, methods 1 and 2 of setting a search space in allocation section 105 will be described.

(48) <Setting Method 1 (FIG. 5)>

(49) In the present setting method, allocation section 105 sets different search spaces for every plurality of component bands so that the search spaces of the plurality of component bands set in each terminal neighbor each other.

(50) To be more specific, allocation section 105 calculates CCE number S.sub.n which is a start position of the search space of n-th component band n (n=1, 2, . . . ) from calculation expression h (N.sub.UEID) mod N.sub.CCE,n first. Allocation section 105 then sets CCEs of CCE numbers S.sub.n to (S.sub.n+(L1)) mod N.sub.CCE,n as the search space of component band n. Here, calculation expression h(x) is a hash function for performing randomization assuming input data as x, N.sub.UEID is terminal ID set in terminal 200, N.sub.CCE,n is the total number of CCEs of component band n and L is the number of CCEs making up a search space. Furthermore, operator mod represents a modulo calculation and when the CCE number calculated from each relational expression is greater than the total number of CCEs of each component band, mod is returned to initial CCE number 0 through a modulo calculation. The same applies to the following relational expressions. That is, allocation section 105 sets L consecutive CCEs from the start position of the search space as a search space of component band n of terminal 200.

(51) Next, allocation section 105 sets CCE number S.sub.n+1 which is the start position of the search space of (n+1)-th component band (n+1) in (S.sub.n+L) mod N.sub.CCE,n. Allocation section 105 sets CCEs of CCE numbers S.sub.n+1 to (S.sub.n+1+(L1)) mod N.sub.CCE,n+1 as a search space of component band (n+1).

(52) Thus, CCE number (S.sub.n+(L1)) mod N.sub.CCE,n which is the end position of the search space of component band n and CCE number (S.sub.n+L) mod N.sub.CCE,n which is the start position of the search space of component band (n+1) are consecutive CCE numbers. That is, the search space of component band n and the search space of component band (n+1) are made up of CCEs of different CCE numbers and further the search space of component band n and the search space of component band (n+1) are neighboring each other.

(53) To be more specific, as shown in FIG. 5, a case will be described where CCE number S.sub.1 which is the start position of the search space of component band 1 is calculated to be CCE #3 from hash function h(N.sub.UEID) mod N.sub.CCE,n. Here, a case will be described where assuming the number of CCEs L making up a search space is 6 and the total number of CCEs of component band 1 N.sub.CCE,1 and the total number of CCEs of component band 2 N.sub.CCE,2 are more than 15 (that is, when the modulo calculation is not taken into consideration in FIG. 5).

(54) Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, allocation section 105 sets CCEs #3 to #8 (=(3+(61)) mod N.sub.CCE,1) as the search space of component band 1. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, allocation section 105 sets the CCE number of the start position of the search space of component band 2 to #9(=(3+6) mod N.sub.CCE,n) and sets CCEs #9 to #14 (=(9+(61)) mod N.sub.CCE,2) as the search space of component band 2.

(55) As shown in FIG. 5, the search space (CCEs #3 to #8) of component band 1 and search space (CCEs #9 to #14) of component band 2 are made up of CCEs of different CCE numbers. Furthermore, the search space (CCEs #3 to #8) of component band 1 and search space (CCEs #9 to #14) of component band 2 are neighboring each other.

(56) On the other hand, as with allocation section 105, PDCCH receiving section 207 of terminal 200 identifies the search space of component band 1 (CCEs #3 to #8 shown in FIG. 5) and the search space of component band 2 (CCEs #9 to #14 shown in FIG. 5) based on N.sub.UEID which is terminal ID of terminal 200. PDCCH receiving section 207 then blind-decodes only CCEs in the identified search space of each component band.

(57) Furthermore, mapping section 212 maps an ACK/NACK signal for a PDSCH signal (downlink data) allocated using CCEs of a downlink component band of each component band to a PUCCH associated with the CCEs. For example, in FIG. 5, mapping section 212 maps the ACK/NACK signal corresponding to the PDSCH signal allocated using one of CCEs #3 to 8 of component band 1 to a PUCCH associated with CCEs #3 to #8 (e.g., PUCCHs #3 to #8 (not shown)). On the other hand, in FIG. 5, mapping section 212 maps the ACK/NACK signal corresponding to the PDSCH signal allocated using one of CCEs #9 to 14 of component band 2 to a PUCCH associated with CCEs #9 to #14 (e.g., PUCCHs #9 to #14 (not shown)).

(58) Thus, mapping section 212 maps the ACK/NACK signal corresponding to a PDSCH signal allocated using CCEs of a downlink component band of each component band to a PUCCH which differs from one component band to another. That is, no collision of ACK/NACK signal occurs between component band 1 and component band 2 set in terminal 200.

(59) Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, suppose, for example, CCEs #0 to #5 of both component band 1 and component band 2 are used for scheduling of BCH or the like and CCEs #7 and #8 of component band 1 and CCEs #13 and #14 of component band 2 are used for terminals other than terminal 200. In this case, only CCE #6 can be allocated to terminal 200 within the search space set in component band 1. Thus, allocation section 105 allocates a PDCCH signal including resource allocation information of component band 1 directed to terminal 200 to CCE #6. On the other hand, CCEs #9 to #12 can be allocated within the search space set in component band 2. Thus, allocation section 105 can allocate a PDCCH signal including resource allocation information of component band 2 directed to terminal 200 to one of CCEs #9 to #12.

(60) That is, in the downlink component band of component band 2, base station 100 can allocate a PDCCH signal to CCEs without limitation of CCE allocation in the downlink component band of component band 1 (limitation that only CCE #6 can be allocated in FIG. 5). That is, base station 100 sets different search spaces for the plurality of downlink component bands set in one terminal. Thus, in the downlink component band of each component band set in terminal 200, it is possible to perform CCE allocation in each downlink component band without being limited by CCE allocation of other different component bands set in terminal 200. This allows base station 100 to reduce the possibility that a PDCCH signal not being allocated to CCEs may limit data transmission.

(61) Thus, according to the present setting method, the base station sets different search spaces for the plurality of downlink component bands set in the terminal. Thus, the terminal can map an ACK/NACK signal corresponding to a PDSCH signal (downlink data) allocated using CCEs (PDCCH) of different downlink component bands to different PUCCHs for the plurality of component bands. Therefore, even when wideband transmission is performed only on the downlink, that is, when narrowband transmission is performed on the uplink, the base station can allocate PDCCH signals to CCEs including resource allocation information without causing collision of ACK/NACK signals to occur between component bands. Therefore, according to the present setting method, it is possible to flexibly allocate CCEs without causing collision of ACK/NACK signals to occur between a plurality of component bands even when wideband transmission is performed only on the downlink.

(62) Furthermore, according to the present setting method, search spaces for the plurality of component bands set in the terminal are neighboring each other. This allows the base station to set search spaces without spacing between CCEs used between a plurality of component bands set in the terminal. For this reason, when, for example, the total number of CCEs per component band is small or when the number of downlink component bands set in the terminal is large, the search space of another component band (e.g., component band 2 shown in FIG. 5) set based on the search space of the component band that serves as a reference (e.g., component band 1 shown in FIG. 5) is repeatedly set from the last CCE to the start CCE. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the other search space will overlap the search space of the reference component band (component band 1 shown in FIG. 5).

(63) <Setting Method 2 (FIG. 6)>

(64) The present setting method will cause CCE spacing between search space start positions of the plurality of component bands set in each terminal (that is, offset of search space start positions) to differ between a plurality of terminals.

(65) As described above, according to setting method 1, search spaces of component bands from other component band 2 (or component band (n+1)) onward are set based on the start position of the search space of component band 1 (or component band n).

(66) Furthermore, setting method 1 in FIG. 5 randomly sets the start position (CCE number) of the search space of component band 1 based on a hash function which receives terminal ID of each terminal as input. Therefore, between a plurality of terminals in which component band 1 is set, the start positions of search spaces of component band 1 set based on a hash function using their respective terminal IDs may coincide with each other.

(67) As a result, among terminals having the same start position of search space of component band 1, not only the search spaces of component band 1 coincides (overlaps), but also all the search spaces of component bands from component band 2 onward coincide with each other. Therefore, CCE allocation in base station 100 is limited and the degree of freedom of CCE allocation decreases.

(68) Thus, according to the present setting method, allocation section 105 causes an offset (CCE spacing) in search space start positions between a plurality of component bands set in respective terminals to differ between the plurality of terminals. This will be described more specifically below.

(69) As in the case of setting method 1, allocation section 105 calculates CCE number S.sub.n which is the start position of a search space of n-th component band n (n=1, 2, . . . ) from hash function h(N.sub.UEID) mod N.sub.CCE,n and sets CCEs of CCE numbers S.sub.n to (S.sub.n+(L1)) mod N.sub.CCE,n as the search space of component band n.

(70) Allocation section 105 then sets CCE number S.sub.n+1 which is the start position of the search space of (n+1)-th component band (n+1) in (S.sub.n+M+L) mod N.sub.CCE,n. Here, (M+L) is an offset of the start position of the search space (CCE spacing between the search space start positions of component band n and component band (n+1)) and M is a random value which differs from one terminal to another. For example, suppose M=(N.sub.UEID) mod (N.sub.CCE,n2L). In this case, since the maximum value of M is N.sub.CCE, n2L1, performing a modulo calculation causes the search space of component band (n+1) to return to CCE #0 never overlapping the search space of component band n.

(71) Allocation section 105 then sets CCEs of CCE numbers S.sub.n+1 to (S.sub.n+1+(L1)) mod N.sub.CCE,n+1 as search spaces of component band (n+1) as with setting method 1.

(72) To be more specific, as shown in FIG. 6, a case will be described where component band 1 and component band 2 are set in both terminal 1 and terminal 2. Furthermore, suppose CCE number S.sub.1 of the start position of the search space of component band 1 set in terminal 1 and terminal 2 is the same CCE #3. Furthermore, suppose the number of CCEs L that make up the search space is 6, and M set in terminal 1 is 10 and M set in terminal 2 is 18. Thus, suppose offset (M+L) set in terminal 1 is 16 and offset (M+L) set in terminal 2 is 24. Offset (M+L) set in each terminal may be notified to each terminal using, for example, a control channel or PDSCH.

(73) Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, allocation section 105 sets CCEs #3 to #8 (=(3+(61)) mod N.sub.CCE,1) as the search space of component band 1 set in terminal 1 and terminal 2 respectively.

(74) Here, since offset (M+L) set in terminal 1 is 16, allocation section 105 sets the CCE number of the start position of the search space of component band 2 set in terminal 1 to #19 (=(3+10+6) mod N.sub.CCE,n) as shown in FIG. 6. Allocation section 106 then sets CCE #19 to #24 (=(19+(61)) mod N.sub.CCE,2) as the search space of component band 2 set in terminal 1.

(75) On the other hand, since offset (M+L) set in terminal 2 is 24, allocation section 105 sets the CCE number of the start position of the search space of component band 2 set in terminal 2 to #27 (=(3+24) mod N.sub.CCE,n) as shown in FIG. 6. Allocation section 106 then sets CCEs #27 to #32 (=(27+(6-1)) mod N.sub.CCE,2) as the search space of component band 2 set in terminal 2.

(76) Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, even when the start positions of the search spaces of component band 1 set in terminal 1 and terminal 2 are the same (when search spaces (CCEs #3 to #8) of component band 1 overlap each other), the start positions of the search spaces of component band 2 set in terminal 1 and terminal 2 are different. Thus, when, for example, terminal 2 uses all CCEs in the search space of component band 1, terminal 1 cannot use CCEs in the search space of component band 1, whereas terminal 1 can use CCEs in the search space of component band 2.

(77) As shown in FIG. 6, in each terminal, the search space of component band 1 and the search space of component band 2 are made up of CCEs of different CCE numbers as with setting method 1.

(78) On the other hand, as with allocation section 105 according to the present setting method, PDCCH receiving section 207 of terminal 200 identifies a search space of a component band set in the terminal using offset M of the terminal notified from base station 100 and blind-decodes only CCEs in the identified search space of each component band.

(79) By this means, according to the present setting method, the base station causes an offset in the search space start position between a plurality of component bands set in the terminals to differ from one terminal to another. Even when search spaces of some component bands overlap with those of another terminal and CCE allocation is thereby limited, each terminal is more likely to be able to allocate CCEs without the search space of the other component band overlapping the search spaces of the other terminal. That is, according to the present setting method, it is possible to relax limitations on CCE allocation between a plurality of terminals and also relax limitations on CCE allocation between a plurality of component bands set in the respective terminals as with setting method 1. Therefore, according to the present setting method, it is possible to perform CCE allocation more flexibly than arrangement method 1.

(80) The methods 1 and 2 of setting search spaces in allocation section 105 have been described so far.

(81) Thus, according to the present embodiment, even when wideband transmission is performed only on a downlink, it is possible to flexibly perform CCE allocation without collision of ACK/NACK signals between a plurality of component bands.

(82) A case has been described with the present embodiment where the base station sets a search space of another downlink component band with reference to a downlink component band of component band 1 out of a plurality of downlink component bands. However, the present invention may also use an anchor band as a reference component band.

(83) (Embodiment 2)

(84) In the present embodiment, the base station will set search spaces for a plurality of downlink component bands independently of each other.

(85) Setting section 101 of base station 100 (FIG. 1) according to the present embodiment sets different terminal IDs for every plurality of component bands set in each terminal. Setting section 101 then outputs setting information indicating terminal ID of each component band set in each terminal to allocation section 105.

(86) Allocation section 105 sets search spaces for every plurality of component bands set in each terminal using terminal IDs for every plurality of component bands set in each terminal indicated in setting information inputted from setting section 101. To be more specific, allocation section 105 calculates search spaces per component band from CCE numbers calculated using a hash function which receives terminal IDs set per component band as input and the number of CCEs (L) making up the search space.

(87) On the other hand, setting information indicating terminal IDs for every plurality of component bands set in terminal 200 set by setting section 101 of base station 100 is notified to terminal 200 (FIG. 2). PDCCH receiving section 207 of terminal 200 identifies search spaces of respective component bands using terminal IDs per component band set in the terminal as with allocation section 105. PDCCH receiving section 207 blind-decodes CCEs in a search space of each identified component band.

(88) Next, the method of setting search spaces by allocation section 105 will be described in detail. Here, suppose terminal ID of component band n set by setting section 101 is N.sub.UEID,n.

(89) Allocation section 105 calculates CCE number S.sub.n which is the start positions of search spaces of a plurality of component bands n (n=1, 2, . . . ) set in terminal 200 from a hash function h(N.sub.UEID,n) mod N.sub.CCE,n. Allocation section 105 then sets CCEs of CCE numbers S.sub.n to (S.sub.n+(L1)) mod N.sub.CCE,n as a search space of component band n.

(90) Thus, search spaces for every plurality of component bands set in each terminal are set per terminal and per component band independently of each other (that is, randomly).

(91) For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a case will be described where component band 1 and component band 2 are set for both terminal 1 and terminal 2. Here, setting section 101 sets different terminal IDs for component band 1 and component band 2 set in terminal 1. Likewise, setting section 101 sets different terminal IDs for component band 1 and component band 2 set in terminal 2. In FIG. 7, suppose the number of CCEs L making up a search space is 6.

(92) Allocation section 105 calculates CCE number S.sub.1 which is the start position of the search space of component band 1 set in terminal 1 from a hash function h(N.sub.UEID,1) mod N.sub.CCE,1 (CCE #3 in FIG. 7). Allocation section 105 sets CCEs (CCE #3 to CCE #8 in FIG. 7) of CCE numbers S.sub.1 to (S.sub.1+(L1)) mod N.sub.CCE,1 as the search space of component band 1 set in terminal 1. Likewise, allocation section 105 calculates CCE number S.sub.2 which is the start position of the search space of component band 2 set in terminal 1 from a hash function h(N.sub.UEID,2) mod N.sub.CCE,2 (CCE #9 in FIG. 7). Allocation section 105 then sets CCEs (CCE #9 to CCE #14 in FIG. 7) of CCE numbers S.sub.2 to (S.sub.2+(L1)) mod N.sub.CCE,2 as the search space of component band 2 set in terminal 1. For terminal 2, allocation section 105 likewise sets a search space of component band 1 (CCE #3 to CCE #8 in FIG. 7) and a search space of component band 2 (CCE #0 to CCE #5 in FIG. 7) independently of each other.

(93) When allocation section 105 sets search spaces of component band 1 and component band 2 in both terminal 1 and terminal 2 independently of each other, the search spaces of the respective terminals may overlap each other in a certain component band (component band 1 in FIG. 7) as shown in FIG. 7. However, since allocation section 105 sets search spaces of the respective component bands between terminals and component bands independently (irrelevantly) of each other, it is less likely that search spaces of component bands other than a component band in which search spaces of each terminal overlap each other will also overlap each other. That is, in the search spaces of component bands other than the component bands in which search spaces of each terminal overlap each other, it is more likely that CCEs can be used without being limited by CCE allocation with other terminals or component bands. Thus, the present embodiment can reduce the possibility that data transmission will be limited due to limitations on CCE allocation and thereby improve data throughput.

(94) By this means, according to the present embodiment, the base station sets search spaces for every plurality of component bands set in each terminal per component band independently of each other. Even when wideband transmission is performed only on a downlink, it is thereby possible to flexibly allocate CCEs without collision of ACK/NACK signals between a plurality of terminals and a plurality of component bands.

(95) (Embodiment 3)

(96) The present embodiment will set search spaces of specific downlink component bands out of a plurality of downlink component bands based on output of a hash function used to set the start positions of search spaces of downlink component bands other than the specific downlink component bands.

(97) In the following descriptions, as in the cases of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, CCEs of CCE numbers S.sub.n to (S.sub.n+(L1)) mod N.sub.CCE,n are set as a search space of component band n. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, suppose component bands set in terminal 200 (FIG. 2) are component bands 1 to 3. Hereinafter, a method of setting the start position of a search space per component band will be described.

(98) Allocation section 105 calculates CCE number S.sub.n which is the start position of a search space of component band n set in terminal 200 from hash function h(N.sub.UEID) mod N.sub.CCE,n. Here, suppose the output result of hash function h(N.sub.UEID) is Y.sub.n.

(99) Next, allocation section 105 calculates CCE number S.sub.n which is the start position of a search space of component band (n+1) set in terminal 200 from hash function h(Y.sub.n) mod N.sub.CCE,n+1. Here, suppose the output result of hash function h(Y.sub.n) is Y.sub.n+i.

(100) That is, as shown, for example, in FIG. 8, allocation section 105 sets CCE number S.sub.0 which is the start position of the search space of component band 1 using output Y.sub.0 of hash function h(terminal ID (that is, N.sub.UEID)) in subframe 0. Furthermore, allocation section 105 sets CCE number S.sub.2 which is the start position of the search space of component band 2 using output Y.sub.1 of hash function h(Y.sub.0) and sets CCE number S.sub.3 which is the start position of the search space of component band 3 using output Y.sub.2 of hash function h(Y.sub.1). That is, allocation section 105 sets the search space of a specific component band based on the output of a hash function used to set the start positions of search spaces of component bands other than the specific downlink component band.

(101) Thus, allocation section 105 according to the present embodiment sets a search space per downlink component band using a hash function in the same way as in Embodiment 2. That is, allocation section 105 according to the present embodiment sets search spaces for every plurality of downlink component bands independently of (randomly) each other per downlink component band in the same way as in Embodiment 2. Furthermore, allocation section 105 delivers the output of the hash function used in each component band to another component band and designates the output of the hash function as input of a hash function in another component band between a plurality of component bands (component bands 1 to 3 shown in FIG. 8). For this reason, one terminal ID used as input to the initial (component band 1 of subframe 0 in FIG. 8) hash function suffices as terminal ID to be set in each terminal.

(102) Furthermore, allocation section 105 performs the above processing on each subframe (subframes 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . in FIG. 8). However, as shown in FIG. 8, allocation section 105 calculates a search space start position of component band 0 of subframe 1 using output Y.sub.3 of hash function h (Y.sub.2) which receives output Y.sub.2 of the hash function used to calculate the search space start position of component band 3 of subframe 0 as input. That is, allocation section 105 calculates the start position of the search space of component band 1 of subframe k using the output of the hash function used to calculate the search space start position of component band N of subframe k1. Here, N is the number of component bands set in the terminal. This causes search spaces to be randomly set between component bands and subframes.

(103) By this means, the present embodiment can obtain effects similar to those of Embodiment 2, and also eliminates the necessity of setting a plurality of terminal IDs in each terminal, and can thereby reduce the number of terminal IDs used for each terminal to a necessary minimum. It is thereby possible to allocate a sufficient number of terminal IDs to more terminals in the system. Furthermore, as with LTE, the present embodiment sets search spaces of different component bands and different subframes using one hash function, and can thereby configure a simple base station and terminal.

(104) In the present embodiment, allocation section 105 may also set search spaces per component band as shown in FIG. 9 instead of FIG. 8. To be more specific, as shown in FIG. 9, allocation section 105 calculates the start positions of search spaces of component bands 1 to 3 in subframe 0 as with FIG. 8. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, allocation section 105 uses output of a hash function of an immediately preceding subframe of each component band (that is, subframe 0) as input of a hash function in component bands 1 to 3 of subframe 1. That is, allocation section 105 delivers the output of the hash function between component bands in an initial subframe (subframe 0 in FIG. 9) and delivers the output of the hash function between subframes in the same component band from the next subframe onward (from subframe 1 onward in FIG. 9). In the initial subframe shown in FIG. 9, a case has been described where the output of the hash function is delivered between component bands. However, as the value delivered in the initial subframe, not only the output of the hash function but also a value calculated from terminal Id and a component band number (e.g., value resulting from adding the component band number to terminal ID) may be delivered between component bands. Thus, base station 100 can set search spaces in each subframe between terminals and component bands independently of each other as with the present embodiment (FIG. 8), and can thereby obtain effects similar to those of Embodiment 2.

(105) Embodiments of the present invention have been described so far.

(106) A case has been described in the above embodiments where the number of CCEs occupied by one PDCCH (CCE aggregation level) is one. However, even when one PDCCH occupies a plurality of CCEs (when the CCE aggregation level is 2 or more), it is possible to obtain effects similar to those of the present invention. Furthermore, it is also possible to calculate search spaces according to the CCE aggregation level occupied by one PDCCH and change the number of CCEs L making up a search space depending on the CCE aggregation level.

(107) Furthermore, CCEs described in the above embodiments are logical resources and when CCEs are arranged in actual physical time/frequency resources, CCEs are arranged distributed to all bands in a component band. Furthermore, CCEs may also be arranged in actual physical time/frequency resources distributed to the entire system band (that is, all component bands) as long as CCEs are at least divided per component band as logical resources.

(108) Furthermore, the present invention may use C-RNTI (Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier) as a terminal ID.

(109) The present invention may perform a multiplication between bits (that is, between CRC bits and terminal IDs) or sum up bits and calculate mod 2 of the addition result (that is, remainder obtained by dividing the addition result by 2) as masking (scrambling) processing.

(110) Furthermore, a case has been described in the above embodiments where a component band is defined as a band having a width of maximum 20 MHz and as a basic unit of communication bands. However, the component band may be defined as follows. For example, the downlink component band may also be defined as a band delimited by downlink frequency band information in a BCH (Broadcast Channel) broadcast from the base station, a band defined by a spreading width when a PDCCH is arranged distributed in a frequency domain or a band in which an SCH (synchronization channel) is transmitted in a central part. Furthermore, the uplink component band may also be defined as a band delimited by uplink frequency band information in a BCH broadcast from the base station or a basic unit of communication band having 20 MHz or less including a PUSCH in the vicinity of the center and PUCCHs (Physical Uplink Control Channel) at both ends.

(111) Furthermore, although a case has been described in the above embodiments where the communication bandwidth of a component band is 20 MHz, the communication bandwidth of a component band is not limited to 20 MHz.

(112) Furthermore, band aggregation may also be called carrier aggregation. Furthermore, a component band may also be called unit carrier (component carrier(s)) in LTE. Furthermore, band aggregation is not limited to a case where continuous frequency bands are aggregated, but discontinuous frequency bands may also be aggregated.

(113) Furthermore, a component band of one or a plurality of uplinks set in each terminal by the base station may be called UE UL component carrier set and a component band of a downlink may be called UE DL component carrier set.

(114) Furthermore, the terminal may also be called UE and the base station may also be called Node B or BS (Base Station). Furthermore, the terminal ID may also be called UE-ID.

(115) Moreover, although cases have been described with the embodiments above where the present invention is configured by hardware, the present invention may be implemented by software.

(116) Each function block employed in the description of the aforementioned embodiment may typically be implemented as an LSI constituted by an integrated circuit. These may be individual chips or partially or totally contained on a single chip. LSI is adopted here but this may also be referred to as IC, system LSI, super LSI or ultra LSI depending on differing extents of integration.

(117) Further, the method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI's, and implementation using dedicated circuitry or general purpose processors is also possible. After LSI manufacture, utilization of an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or a reconfigurable processor where connections and settings of circuit cells within an LSI can be reconfigured is also possible.

(118) Further, if integrated circuit technology comes out to replace LSI's as a result of the advancement of semiconductor technology or a derivative other technology, it is naturally also possible to carry out function block integration using this technology. Application of biotechnology is also possible.

(119) The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-281391, filed on Oct. 31, 2008, including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(120) The present invention is applicable to a mobile communication system or the like.