U.S. patent application number 10/899246 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-26 for apparatus, and associated method, for performing reverse-link traffic measurements in a radio communications system.
Invention is credited to Cheng, Mark W., Hsu, Liangchi.
Application Number | 20050111358 10/899246 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29736218 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050111358 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu, Liangchi ; et
al. |
May 26, 2005 |
Apparatus, and associated method, for performing reverse-link
traffic measurements in a radio communications system
Abstract
Apparatus, and an associated method, for generating a TVMAR
(traffic volume measurement and reporting) report, or other
appropriate report, to facilitate packet scheduling in a
packet-based communication system. A signal is generated at a
network part of a radio communication system indicative of
parameters that the mobile station is to include in the TVMAR
report, subsequently to be generated by the mobile station. The
signal is generated by a signal generator and sent to the mobile
station to be detected thereat by a detector. The communication
indicia is measured by a measurer and the measured values of the
selected parameters are formed into a TVMAR report and returned to
the network part.
Inventors: |
Hsu, Liangchi; (San Diego,
CA) ; Cheng, Mark W.; (San Diego, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Scheef & Stone, L.L.P.
Docket Clerk
Suite 1400
5956 Sherry Lane
Dallas
TX
75225
US
|
Family ID: |
29736218 |
Appl. No.: |
10/899246 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10899246 |
Jul 26, 2004 |
|
|
|
10284601 |
Oct 31, 2002 |
|
|
|
6768715 |
|
|
|
|
60386815 |
Jun 7, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/229 ;
370/429 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 72/1252 20130101;
H04W 72/1284 20130101; H04L 1/0029 20130101; H04W 28/22 20130101;
H04W 24/00 20130101; H04L 1/0027 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/229 ;
370/429 |
International
Class: |
H04L 001/00 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. Radio resource management apparatus for a network part of a
radio communication system in which a mobile station is operable to
communicate, said apparatus comprising: a report confirmation
identifier selectably for identifying at least a first parameter,
values of which are to be contained in a mobile station-generated
report; and a signal generator for generating a signal for
communication to the mobile station, the signal generated by said
signal generator including indications of the first parameter
identified by said report information identifier.
22. The radio resource apparatus of claim 21 wherein the network
part is defined in terms-of-logical layers, including a layer 3
logical layer, and wherein said signal generator is embodied at the
layer 3 logical layer.
23. The radio resource apparatus of claim 22 wherein the signal
generated by said signal generator comprises a layer 3 signal.
24. The radio resource apparatus of claim 22 wherein said report
information identifier is embodied at the layer 3 logical
layer.
25. The radio resource apparatus of claim 22 wherein the layer 3
logical layer comprises a Radio Link Protocol layer and a layer 3
logical layer therebeneath, and wherein said signal generator is
embodied at layer 3 logical layer beneath the Radio Link Protocol
layer.
26. The radio resource apparatus of claim 25 wherein the signal
generated by said signal generator comprises a layer-3, beneath the
Radio Link Protocol Layer, signal.
27. The radio resource apparatus of claim 25 wherein said report
information identifier is embodied at the layer 3 logical layer
beneath the Radio Link Protocol layer.
28. The radio resource apparatus of claim 21 wherein the signal
generated by said signal generator is formatted to include at least
a first field, the first field populated with the values of the
first parameter.
29. The radio resource apparatus of claim 28 wherein the at least
the first parameter further comprises a second parameter, and
wherein the signal generated by said signal generator is further
formatted to include a second field, the second field populated
with values of the second parameter.
30. The radio resource apparatus of claim 21 wherein the radio
communication system provides 1xEV-DV data services, wherein the
radio communication system is defined in terms of logical layers
including a layer 3 logical layer, and wherein the signal generated
by said signal generator comprises a 1xEV-DV layer 3 signal.
31. A method for a radio communication system having a network part
and a mobile station between which communications are effectuable,
said method comprising the operations of: identifying at least a
first parameter, values of which are to be contained in a mobile
station-generated report; and generating a signal for communication
to the mobile station, the signal including indications of the
first parameter identified during said operation of
identifying.
32. The method of claim 31 wherein the radio communication system
provides 1xEV-DV data services, wherein the signal generated during
said operation of generating comprises a 1xEV-DV layer 3
signal.
33. The method of claim 31 wherein said operations of generating
further comprises the operation of formatting the signal to include
at least a first field and populating the first field with values
of the first parameter.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein the at least the first parameter
identified during said operation of identifying further comprises a
second parameter; wherein said operation of formatting further
comprises formatting the signal to include a second field; and
wherein said operation of populating comprises the operation of
populating the second field with values of the second
parameter.
35. The method of claim 31 wherein the network part is defined in
terms of logical layers including a layer 3 logical layer and
wherein the signal generated during said operation of generating is
generated at the layer 3 logical layer.
36. The method of claim 31 wherein the network part is defined in
terms of logical layers including a layer 3 logical layer and
wherein the signal generated during said operation of generating
comprises a layer 3 signal.
37. The method of claim 31 wherein the network part is defined in
terms of logical layers including a layer 3 logical layer and
wherein identification made during said operation of identifying is
made at the layer 3 logical layer.
38. The method of claim 31 wherein the network part comprises a
radio resource manager and wherein said operation of identifying is
performed by the radio resource manager.
39. The method of claim 31 wherein the network part comprises a
radio resource manager and wherein said operation of generating is
performed by the radio resource manager.
40. The method of claim 31 wherein the network part comprises a
base station and wherein said method further comprises the
operation of sending the signal generated during said operation of
generating.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of provisional
patent application No. 60/386,815, filed on 7 Jun., 2002.
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a manner by which
to provide information to facilitate scheduling of packet data
communications in a cellular, or other radio, communication system,
such as a cdma2000 system. More particularly, the present invention
relates to apparatus, and an associated method, by which to
facilitate reverse-link traffic measurement reporting, such as
TVMAR (traffic volume measurement and reporting) reports generated
at a mobile station, to be used to schedule communication of packet
data to the mobile station to effectuate a communication service
therewith.
[0003] The reports provide information, in a timely manner, to
permit the packet data scheduling to be performed. And, the report
also forms a data-rate request to request a selected data rate at
which the packet data is communicated pursuant to the data service.
Parameters contained in the report are selected at the network part
of the communication system. And, the selected parameters are
communicated to the mobile station, causing the mobile station to
report with the values of the selected parameters in a timely
manner so that the reported values can be used in the data
scheduling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A communication system operates to communicate data between
two, or more, communication stations. A communication system is
formed, at a minimum, of a first communication station, forming a
sending station, and a second communication station, forming a
receiving station. The communication stations are interconnected by
way of a communication channel. And, data that is to be
communicated by the first communication station to the second
communication station is sent to the second communication station
by way of the communication channel. The data that is to be
communicated is converted by the first communication station into a
form to permit its communication upon the communication channel.
And, the second communication station operates to detect the data
communicated thereto and to recover the informational content
thereof.
[0005] Many different types of communication systems have been
developed and implemented to effectuate the communication of the
data between the communication stations. And, with continued
advancements in communication technologies, new types of
communication systems, as well as improvements to existing
communication systems, have been, and continue to be, made.
[0006] A radio communication system is an exemplary type of
communication system. A radio communication system utilizes radio
communication channels upon which to communicate the data that is
to be communicated between the communication stations operable
therein. Radio communication channels are defined upon radio links
forming part of the electromagnetic spectrum. As a radio link is
utilized upon which to define the communication channels, the need
otherwise to utilize wireline connections upon which to define
communication channels is obviated. Implementation of a radio
communication system is generally less costly than the
corresponding costs that would be required to construct a
conventional, wireline communication system. And, a radio
communication system can be implemented to form a mobile
communication system.
[0007] A cellular communication system, exemplary of a radio
communication system, has been widely implemented and has achieved
wide levels of usage. A cellular communication system provides for
radio communications with mobile stations. The mobile stations
permit telephonic communication to be effectuated therethrough. A
cellular communication system includes a network part that is
installed throughout a geographical area and with which the mobile
stations communicate by way of radio channels. Base transceiver
stations, forming portions of the network part of the communication
system, are installed at spaced apart locations throughout the
geographical area that is to be encompassed by the communication
system. Each of the base transceiver station defines a cell, formed
of a portion of the geographical area. When a mobile station is
within the cell defined by a base transceiver station,
communications are generally effectuable with the base transceiver
station that defines the cell.
[0008] As a mobile station travels between cells defined by
different ones of the base transceiver stations, communication
handoffs are effectuated to permit continued communications by, and
with, the mobile station. Through appropriate positioning of the
base transceiver stations, only relatively low-powered signals need
to be generated to effectuate communications between a mobile
station and a base transceiver station. Hand-offs of communications
between successive base transceiver stations, as the mobile station
moves between cells permit the continued communications without
necessitating increase in the power levels at which the
communication signals are transmitted. And, because only relatively
low-powered signals need to be generated to effectuate
communications, the same radio channels can be reused at different
locations of the same cellular communication system. Efficient
utilization of the frequency-spectrum allocation to the cellular
communication system is thereby possible.
[0009] Various operating specifications have been promulgated that
define operational parameters by which cellular, as well as other,
communication systems are to be operable. Successive generations of
cellular communication systems, incorporating technological
advancements, as such advancements become available, have been
defined by successive generations, or updates to, operational
specifications. First-generation and second-generation systems have
been widely implemented and have achieved significant levels of
usage. And, installation of third-generation and
successor-generation systems have been proposed. An exemplary
operating specification, referred to as the cdma2000 specification,
sets forth the operating parameters of an exemplary,
third-generation communication system. The cdma2000 operating
specification, as well as other third-generation operating
specification, provides for packet-based, data communication
services.
[0010] To effectuate such packet-based data services, a packet
scheduler that schedules the communication of the data packets to
effectuate the communication service is utilized. To schedule
properly the communication of the data packets, the scheduler must
receive indications of communication conditions upon the radio
channels upon which the packet data is to be communicated. In a
proposal for the cdma2000 operating specification, a reverse link
traffic volume and measurement and reporting (RL-TVMAR) report is
specified, e.g., 3GPP specification, document No. TS 25.331 [1].
The purpose for the traffic measure ments and reporting is to
perform efficiently reverse link packet data scheduling by the
scheduler at the network part of the communication system.
[0011] Feedback information includes, for instance, a buffer status
of a buffer at the mobile station at which packet data is buffered,
prior to its transmission. And, information also includes
reverse-link activity indications.
[0012] Existing TVMAR-report proposals are deficient in several
regards. The existing proposals generally provide for 1-bit status
reports, to be communicated variously, upon a dedicated channel, a
common channel, or a time-multiplexed subchannel, along with
another reverse channel. Such single-bit status report is to be
reported, variously by way of a per radio frame basis or an
on-demand basis.
[0013] The single-bit status report provides only very limited
information, both prospectively and historically. And, the existing
proposals set forth the communication of the single-bit status
report on an unsolicited basis. If the status report is sent at a
time during which the network part cannot properly make use of the
report, the status report is of, essentially, no utility. And, the
measurement format, measurement period, and reporting triggers are
not necessarily based upon network-part determinations, thereby
limiting the optimality of the system efficiency.
[0014] An improved reporting mechanism for providing a resource
manager, such as a packet scheduler, with TVMAR, and other
analogous reports, would therefore be advantageous.
[0015] It is in light of this background information related to
packet-based communication services in an advanced-generation
cellular, or other radio, communication system, that the
significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides
apparatus, and an associated method, by which to provide
information to facilitate scheduling of packet data communicated in
a cellular, or other radio, communication system.
[0017] Through operation of an embodiment of the present invention,
reverse-link, traffic measurement reporting is facilitated.
Reports, such as TVMAR (traffic volume measurement and reporting)
reports, generated at a mobile station are used to schedule
communication of packet data with the mobile station to effectuate
a communication service therewith.
[0018] Timely reports are generated that provide information to
permit the packet data scheduling to be performed. The report also
forms a data-rate request to request a selective data rate at which
the packet data is communicated pursuant to the data service.
Parameters contained in the report are selected at the network part
of the communication system. The selected parameters are
communicated to the mobile station, causing the mobile station to
report with the values of the system parameters in a timely manner
so that the reported values can be used in the data scheduling.
[0019] In one aspect of the present invention, the network part of
the radio communication system selects the parameters that are to
be contained in a TVMAR report, subsequently to be used to schedule
packet-based communication services with a mobile station. Because
the determination is made at the network part as to what parameters
shall be contained in the TVMAR report, the information required to
determine best the packet scheduling in an optimal manner is better
assured.
[0020] In another aspect of the present invention, when the
parameters, values of which are to be contained in the TVMAR
report, subsequently to be generated, are determined, a signal is
formed, indicating the parameter-types. The signal is sent by the
network part to the mobile station, to be detected thereat. In one
implementation in which the signal forms a higher layer,
layer-three (L3), a binary large object block (BLOB). The BLOB is
communicated by way of a radio channel to the mobile station.
[0021] In another aspect of the present invention, the mobile
station detects the signal sent thereto by the network part and
extracts therefrom indications of the parameters that are to be
contained in the TVMAR report, subsequently to be generated by the
mobile station. The mobile station operates, responsive thereto, to
measure, or otherwise obtain, values of the selected parameters.
The values measured, or otherwise obtained by the mobile station,
are used to populate a TVMAR report that is generated and returned
to the network part of the communication system. Once received at
the network part, the values contained in the TVMAR are used to
perform packet scheduling to schedule packet data communications to
effectuate the communication service with the mobile station.
[0022] In another aspect of the present invention, the cdma2000
system is defined in terms of protocol layers. The link layer
includes an RLP (radio link protocol) layer. At the RLP layer, RLP
buffer status information and statistics are obtainable. Statistics
measured at the RLP layer are used to form the TVMAR report at the
mobile station that is communicated to the network part of the
communication system to be used thereat for packet scheduling
purposes.
[0023] The TVMAR report is generated, for instance, at selected
intervals or responsive to a triggering condition. When generated
responsive to triggering conditions, the report is, for instance,
generated at selected time period subsequent to the occurrence of
the triggering event.
[0024] In another aspect of the present invention, the TVMAR report
is selectably of a differential report-type or of a full
report-type. The full report is a multi-bit report containing
statistical and status values measured by the mobile station. And,
a differential report is of a reduced number of bits, e.g., a
single bit value, indicating a difference indication of status
values relative to prior reports. The differential report is
interpreted as an up, down, or constant value.
[0025] Because the values reported by the mobile station are of
parameters requested by the network part of the communication
system, the information is more likely to be appropriate for the
scheduling of the packet data communications. And, when the report
is generated responsive to the request of the network part, the
report is more likely to be delivered to the network part during a
time period in which the network part is able to make proper use of
the values contained in the report.
[0026] In these and other aspects, therefore, apparatus, and an
associated method, is provided for a radio communication system.
The radio communication system has a mobile station operable to
communicate with a network part of the communication system.
Communication indicia associated with the mobile station is
reported by the mobile station to the network part pursuant to a
high-data-rate communication service. A communication indicia
parameter detector detects network-provided communication indicia
parameters sent to the mobile station. A communication indicia
measurer is coupled to the communication indicia parameter
detector. The communication indicia measurer measures values of the
communication indicia identified by the network-provided
communication-indicia parameters sent to the mobile station and
detected by the communication indicia parameter detector. A
communication indicia reporter is coupled to the communication
indicia measurer. The communication indicia reporter reports
values, measured by the communication indicia measurer, to the
network part.
[0027] A more complete appreciation of the present invention and
the scope thereof can be obtained from the accompanying drawings
that are briefly summarized below, the following detailed
description of the presently-preferred embodiments of the
invention, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of a
communication system in which an embodiment of the present
invention is operable.
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates a message sequence diagram representative
of signaling generated during operation of an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a protocol layer representation of the
communication system shown in FIG. 1, here also representative of
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates a representation of report values
generated during operation of an embodiment of the present
invention when the reports are generated at periodic, or other
selected, intervals.
[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates a representation, similar to that shown
in FIG. 4, but here of an embodiment of the present invention in
which the reports are generated upon the occurrence of triggering
events.
[0033] FIG. 6 illustrates a method flow diagram listing the method
of operation of an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Referring first to FIG. 1, a communication system, shown
generally at 10, provides for radio communications with mobile
stations, of which the mobile station 12 is representative. The
communication system includes a network part, having inter alia, a
radio part that includes a plurality of fixed-site base transceiver
stations, of which the base transceiver station 14 is
representative. A base transceiver station and mobile station are
interconnected by way of radio channels defined upon a radio link,
here designated at 16. Forward link channels are defined upon which
data is communicated by the base transceiver station to the mobile
station. And, reverse link channels are defined upon which data is
communicated by the mobile station to the base transceiver
station.
[0035] In the exemplary implementation shown in the figure, the
communication system 10 forms a cellular communication system,
generally operable pursuant to a proposed cdma2000 operational
specification. A communication system implemented pursuant to the
standard specification provides for high-data rate communication
services, such as 1xEV-DV communication services. In other
implementations, other types of data services, for example, 1XTREME
and 1xEV-DO data services are instead provided.
[0036] The communication system 10 is also representative of other
types of packet radio communication systems. Accordingly, while the
following detailed description shall describe operation of an
embodiment of the present invention with respect to its
implementation in a cdma2000 system that provides for 1xEV-DV data
communication services, the present invention is analogously also
implementable in cellular, and other, communication systems
operable pursuant to other communication schemes.
[0037] Packet-based data communication services are effectuable
with the mobile station 12, as well as other mobile stations
operable in the communication system. To effectuate efficiently the
data communication service, packet scheduling is required to
schedule the communication of the data packets to effectuate the
communication service. To schedule the data packet communication
properly, information is required, for instance, of a buffer status
at the mobile station at which data is buffered during effectuation
of the communication service.
[0038] The radio part of the network portion of the communication
system includes a radio network controller (RNC) 22 coupled to the
base transceiver station. The radio network controller operates to
perform control functions controlling operations in the radio part
of the communication system. The radio network controller, in turn,
is coupled to a gateway (GWY) 24. The gateway 24 forms a gateway
that connects the radio part of the communication system with a
fixed network, here a packet data network (PDN) 28. Data sources,
such as a data server 32 are coupled to the network 28 and provide
a data source from which data that is to be communicated to the
mobile station pursuant to a data service is sourced. Through the
formation of a communication path between the data server and the
mobile station 12, data packets into which the data is formatted
are communicated to the mobile station.
[0039] The radio part of the communication system also includes a
radio resource manager 36 embodied at the radio network controller
for the base transceiver station, or distributed therebetween. The
radio resource manager includes the apparatus 38 of an embodiment
of the present invention. The apparatus 38 forms a
communication-indicia, parameter-type signal generator 42. The
signal generator 42 operates to form a signal for communication to
the mobile station. The signal generated by the signal generator
indicates the parameters that are to be measured, or otherwise
obtained, by the mobile station for subsequent inclusion in a TVMAR
(traffic volume measurement and reporting) report generated at the
mobile station. Because the radio resource manager identifies the
parameters that are to be contained in a subsequently-generated
TVMAR report, the information required by the radio resource
manager, or other functional structure, of the communication
system, that performs the packet scheduling is likely to be
contained in the TVMAR, or other appropriate, report. Once
generated, the signal generated by the signal generator 42 is
transmitted by the base transceiver station upon a forward link
channel defined upon the radio link 16.
[0040] The mobile station includes transceiver circuitry, here
indicated by a receive part 46 and a transmit part 48. The mobile
station also includes a controller 52 that contains apparatus 38 of
an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 38 includes
functional elements, implementable in any desired fashion, such as
by algorithms executable by processing circuitry.
[0041] The apparatus includes a communication indicia parameter
detector 54 coupled to the receive part 46. The detector operates
to detect delivery at the receive part of the mobile station of the
signal generated by the signal generator 42. Indications of the
parameters detected by the detector are provided to a communication
indicia measurer 56. The communication indicia measurer operates to
measure values of the parameters detected by the detector 54.
Measurement is made, for instance, based upon additional signals
received at the receive part 46. The line 58 is representative of
the connection of the measurer to the receive part.
[0042] The apparatus 38 further includes a communication indicia
reporter 62, coupled to the measurer 56 to receive indications of
the measurements made thereat. The reporter operates to generate
the TVMAR, or other, report containing the values measured by the
measurer 56 of the parameters contained in the signal generated by
the signal generator 42. The TVMAR report is communicated by way of
a reverse-link channel defined upon the radio link 16, to the base
transceiver station 14. The values contained in the TVMAR report
are used to perform packet scheduling to schedule packet-data
communications to effectuate a packet-based communication service
with the mobile station.
[0043] The parameters selected by the signal generator 42 is of any
of various parameter-types, e.g., an instantaneous transmit buffer
usage (per each data service instance), e.g., SR_ID, average
transmit buffer usage at the mobile station, e.g., per each data
service instance, and the transmit buffer usage variance are all
parameters that are selectable by the signal generator 42 to be
requested to be contained in the TVMAR report. Additionally, a time
interval required to measure average transmit buffer usage and
transmit buffer usage variance of the buffer of the mobile station
also selectably forms a parameter to be measured.
[0044] Additional parameters include, for instance, TVMAR reporting
trigger types, periodic or event/threshold-based triggers buffer
size threshold values, e.g., low and high threshold values, the
duration/period of full TVMAR reporting in differential TVMAR
reporting the TVMAR report-type, and a TVMAR report-identification
(ID) are all parameters, values of which the signal generator
selectably instructs the mobile station to populate a TVMAR report
with.
[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates a message sequence diagram representative
of signaling generated during operation of the apparatus 38 forming
part of the communication system 10, shown in FIG. 1. Here, in the
exemplary implementation, the communication-indicia parameter-type
signal generator 38 is embodied at the radio resource manager 36
and, as indicated by the block 42, a determination is made of the
TVMAR parameters that the mobile station shall be requested to
obtain and to populate in a TV R report. A signal is generated by
the signal generator and sent, here indicated by the segment 72, to
the mobile station. In the exemplary implementation, the
parameter-type signal is generated as a 1xEV-DV layer-3 (L3)
message. In another implementation, the signal is formatted in a
cdma2000 QOS_BLOB (binary large object block) signal as defined in
an IS-707 specification or, alternately, a newly-specified,
TVMAR-parameter-BLOB on the forward link channel. The formatting of
an L3 message is, for instance: (modified) extended supplemental
channel assignment message; UHDM; the broadcast message (with
system parameters); and any other appropriate messages.
[0046] When delivered to the mobile station and detected by the
detector thereof, the communication indicia measurer 56 measures
values of the parameters contained in the signal delivered to the
mobile station. Once measurements are made, the communication
indicia reporter generates a report signal that is caused to be
returned, here indicated by the segment 74, to the network part of
the communication system. The report signal is generated at
selected intervals or responsive to detection of a select
triggering event.
[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates the communication system 10 in terms of
protocol layers. The radio part 16 of the network portion of the
communication system is defined in terms of protocol layers
including a reverse-link scheduler 76 that operates to schedule the
packet data communications with the mobile station. And, positioned
beneath the scheduler 76 is the reverse-link radio resource manager
36. And, radio channels 78 forming the physical layer are
positioned beneath the radio resource manager.
[0048] The mobile station 12 also includes a physical layer formed
of the radio channel 78. A reverse-link radio resource manager 82
is positioned thereabove. And, a reverse-link protocol/medium
access control (RLP/MAC) layer 84 is positioned above the resource
requester. A packet data application layer 86 is positioned
thereabove. The mobile station here also is indicated to include a
reverse-link TVMAR layer 88.
[0049] The RLP/MAC layer 84 forms the "middle wear" of the packet
data application and of the radio resource entity. The transmit
buffer status and statistics are representative of the reverse-link
traffic volume. In addition, the RLP/MAC entity is close enough to
the radio resource entity so that buffer measurements and reporting
cause minimal impact to the performance of the mobile station.
[0050] As noted previously, the transmit buffer measurement to be
measured at the mobile station includes, amongst others, the
instantaneous buffer usage, the average buffer usage, and the
buffer usage variance.
[0051] The report in quantities are formatted, for instance, in
m*step_size wherein m is a multiplier value and step_size is a
selected step quantity of buffer size. For instance, if step_size
is of a value of 16 kbps, when the instantaneous buffer usage is
reached at 64 kbps, the mobile station reports that m equals 4.
[0052] FIG. 4 illustrates a representation of the number of packets
buffered at the mobile station as a function of time. The number of
packets, as indicated, vary as a function of time, here in an
exemplary manner. The TVMAR reports generated by the mobile station
are generated at selected intervals, here periodic intervals,
indicated by the segments 92.
[0053] FIG. 5 illustrates an analogous representation of the number
of packets buffered at the mobile station, again as a function of
time. Here, the reports generated at the mobile station are
generated responsive to triggering events. Here, the triggering
events are the number of packets buffered exceeding a high
threshold 94 or being less than a low threshold 96. The reports are
generated responsive to occurrence of such triggering events, here
indicated by the segments 98.
[0054] To prevent "ping-pong" reporting, that is, too frequent
reporting occurrences when the buffer size changes too
significantly in too short of a period of time, the generation of
the report can be delayed for a selected time period. To ensure
that the threshold is exceeded for at least such time period prior
to the generation of the report.
[0055] The TVMAR, or other appropriate, report is of alternate
variance. A full report and a differential report. A full report
includes values of complete status and statistics while the
differential report reports on a different syndication of buffer
usage between a current status and a previous status. This
indication is also used as a reverse link data rate request
indication to the base station, i.e., to increase or to decrease
the data rate at which the packets are communicated with the mobile
station.
[0056] The differential report forms a single bit feedback
generated by the mobile station and transmitted to the base
transceiver station while the full report forms a multiple-bit
feedback report. The report mechanism is provided by way of a
reverse link physical layer signaling, i.e., the report information
is imbedded in the physical-layer data frame. Use of the physical
layer through which to communicate the report best ensures the
delivery of the report in a timely manner. The differential and
full reports can be carried by way of the same, or different,
channels. If both of the reports are sent by way of the same
channel, the coding rate of the channel should be adjusted
accordingly. And, if the reports are sent by way of different
channels, synchronization amongst the reports is necessary. The
full TVMAR report can also be sent as a cdma2000 reverse link
layer-3 message or alternately, the report can be included in the
REQ_BLOB field of a supplemental channel request message (SCRM) or
a supplemental channel request mini message (SCRMM).
[0057] The following illustrates an exemplary TVMAR_BLOB report
message format.
1 Field Length (bits) TIME_INTERVAL 3 NUM_SRID 3 REVERVED 2
[0058] Followed by NUM_SRID occurrences of the following TVMAR
parameters per service instance
2 SR_ID 3 INSTANTANEOUS_BUFFER 4 AVERAGE_BUFFER 4 BUFFER_VARIANCE 4
RESERVED 2
[0059] TIME_INTERVAL--The mobile station shall set this field to
the interval in the number of 20 ms intervals during the
measurement period.
[0060] NUM_SRID--The mobile station shall set this field to the
number of Service instances in the TVMAR_BLOB.
[0061] RESERVED--The mobile station shall set this field to
`00`.
[0062] SR_ID--The mobile station shall set this field to the
service instance ID.
[0063] INSTANTANEOUS_BUFFER--The mobile station shall set this
field to the instantaneous buffer usage in the unit of 16 kbps.
[0064] AVERAGE_BUFFER--The mobile station shall set this field to
the average buffer usage in the unit of 16 kbps.
[0065] BUFFER_VARIANCE--The mobile station shall set this field to
the buffer usage variance in the unit of 16 kbps.
[0066] RESERVED--The mobile station shall set this field to
`00`.
[0067] In one implementation, a series of differential reports are
generated and thereafter a full report is generated. And, the
length of the full report period, i.e., the times between
generation of the full report is a selectable value. The report
period for the differential report is one or more of R-SCH
subframes. And, a subframe of an R-SCH forms, for instance, a power
control group (PCG).
[0068] FIG. 6 illustrates a method, shown generally at 106, by
which the facilitate reporting of communication indicia associated
with a mobile station operable in a radio communication system that
provides for packet-based communication services.
[0069] First, and as indicated by the block 108, a
communication-indicia parameter-type signal is generated for
communication to the mobile station. The signal contains values
representative of selected values of buffer status indicia that are
to be measured at the mobile station. The signal is sent, indicated
by the block 110, to the mobile station to be detected thereat.
[0070] Thereafter, and as indicated by the block 112, selected
values of the buffer status indicia are measured. And, as indicated
by the block 114, a buffer status message is generated for
communication to the network part to report on buffering of the
data at the mobile station buffer.
[0071] Because the mobile station is instructed as to what
parameters are to be measured and reported back for purposes of
packet scheduling, improved packet scheduling is possible.
[0072] The preceding descriptions are of preferred examples for
implementing the invention, in order to make its practice and
application clear to one of ordinary skill in the art. The scope of
the invention, however, should not necessarily be limited by this
description. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined
by the following claims.
* * * * *