U.S. patent application number 11/581218 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-28 for methods and apparatus related to selecting control channel reporting formats.
Invention is credited to Pablo Alejandro Anigstein, Arnab Das, Junyl Li.
Application Number | 20070149132 11/581218 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38161942 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070149132 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Li; Junyl ; et al. |
June 28, 2007 |
Methods and apparatus related to selecting control channel
reporting formats
Abstract
Methods and apparatus related to the implementation and
selection of alterative control information reporting formats are
described. A control information reporting format, corresponding to
a connection between a wireless terminal and a base station, e.g.,
for an uplink dedicated control channel, is selected, as a function
of at least one of: an application being executed, device
capability information, channel condition information, system
loading information, and user quality of service information.
Different wireless terminals may use different control information
reporting formats at the same time. The same wireless terminal may
use a different control information reporting format at different
times.
Inventors: |
Li; Junyl; (Bedminster,
NJ) ; Das; Arnab; (Summit, NJ) ; Anigstein;
Pablo Alejandro; (Springfield, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STRAUB & POKOTYLO
620 TINTON AVENUE
BLDG. B, 2ND FLOOR
TINTON FALLS
NJ
07724
US
|
Family ID: |
38161942 |
Appl. No.: |
11/581218 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11333792 |
Jan 17, 2006 |
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11581218 |
Oct 13, 2006 |
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60752973 |
Dec 22, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/67.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 88/08 20130101;
H04W 16/28 20130101; H04W 24/10 20130101; H04W 88/085 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/067.11 |
International
Class: |
H04B 17/00 20060101
H04B017/00 |
Claims
1. A method of operating a first communications device to interact
with a second communications device, the method comprising:
determining a set of control information reports to be transmitted,
said set of control information reports corresponding to a
reporting format; generating the determined set of control
information reports; and communicating said generated set of
control information reports.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a set of control
information reports includes selecting between a plurality of
predetermined reporting formats.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of
predetermined reporting formats specifies a plurality of different
types of reports and an ordering of said different types of
reports.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said reporting format further
specifies the control information to be communicated in said
different types of reports.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein said communicating includes:
multiplexing the generated reports of different types in accordance
with said determined reporting format.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: performing a coding
and modulation operation on the multiplexed generated set of
reports to generate a set of coded symbols; and mapping the coded
symbols to segments of a wireless communications channel.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of coding and
modulation includes using a predetermined coding and modulation
scheme corresponding to the determined reporting format, different
coding and modulation schemes being used for at least some of said
plurality of reporting formats.
8. The method of claim 2, further comprising repeating said
determining, generating, and communicating steps.
9. The method of claim 3, wherein said different report types
include at least two of an SNR report, a traffic request report, a
power information report, an interference report, and a delay
report.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining includes:
selecting the reporting format as a function of an application
being executed by one of said first and second communications
devices.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said application is one of a
voice and a data application.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said reporting format selected
in response to a voice application includes a latency report and
wherein said reporting format selected in response to a data
application includes less frequent uplink request reports than a
format used for voice but more bits per uplink request on average
than used for voice.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a reporting format
is performed as a function of at least one of: device capability
information, channel conditions, system loading, and user QoS.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a reporting format
is performed as a function of at least one of a command signal or a
request signal received from said second communications device.
15. The method of claim 6, wherein said first communications device
is a wireless terminal, and wherein said segments are dedicated
control channel segments in an orthogonal frequency division
multiplexing channel structure.
16. A communications device, comprising: a report format selection
module for selecting a reporting format, said reporting format
being one of a plurality of supported reporting formats, said
reporting format indicating a reporting schedule and a set of
report definitions; a report generation module for generating a
sequence of reports in accordance with the selected reporting
schedule and at least some definitions in the set of report
definitions; and a transmitter for transmitting said generated
sequence of reports.
17. The communications device of claim 16, further comprising:
memory for storing information defining said plurality of supported
reporting formats, said plurality of supported reporting formats
being predetermined.
18. The communications device of claim 16, further comprising:
memory for storing report definition information, said report
definition information specifying types of control information to
be communicated in reports generated in accordance with said set of
report definitions.
19. The communications device of claim 18, wherein said report
generation module includes: a multiplexer for multiplexing
generated reports of different types to produce said sequence of
reports in accordance with the selected reporting schedule.
20. The communications device of claim 19, wherein said transmitter
includes: a coding and modulation module for performing a coding
and modulation operation on the generated sequence of reports using
a predetermined coding and modulation scheme corresponding to the
selected reporting format.
21. The communications device of claim 18, wherein said stored
report definitions define at least two of an SNR report format, a
traffic request report format, a power information report format
and an interference report format.
22. The communications device of claim 17, wherein said report
format selection module includes an input for receiving application
information, said reporting format selection module selecting said
report format as a function of an application being executed by one
of said first and second communications devices.
23. The communications device of claim 22, wherein said application
is one of a voice and data application.
24. The communications device of claim 23, wherein the reporting
format stored in said memory that is selected in response to a
voice application includes a latency report and wherein the
reporting format selected in response to a data application
includes less frequent uplink request reports than the format
selected in response to a voice application but more bits per
uplink request on average than used for reports selected in
response to a voice application.
25. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said report
format selection module includes an input for receiving at least
one of device capability information, channel condition
information, system loading information and user quality of service
information; and wherein said report format selection module
selects said report format as a function of at least one of channel
condition information, system loading information and user quality
of service information.
26. The communications device of claim 16, further comprising: a
receiver for receiving a report format selection control signal;
and wherein said report format selection module selects said report
format as a function of the received report format selection
control signal.
27. The communications device of claim 16, wherein said
communications device is a wireless terminal.
28. A communications device, comprising: means for selecting a
reporting format, said reporting format being one of a plurality of
supported reporting formats, said reporting format indicating a
reporting schedule and a set of report definitions; means for
generating a sequence of reports in accordance with the selected
reporting schedule and at least some definitions in the set of
report definitions; and means for transmitting said generated
sequence of reports.
29. The communications device of claim 28, further comprising:
storage means for storing information defining said plurality of
supported reporting formats, said plurality of supported reporting
formats being predetermined.
30. The communications device of claim 28, further comprising:
storage means for storing report definition information, said
report definition information specifying types of control
information to be communicated in reports generated in accordance
with said set of report definitions.
31. The communications device of claim 30, wherein said means for
generating a sequence of reports includes: means for multiplexing
generated reports of different types to produce said sequence of
reports in accordance with the selected reporting schedule.
32. The communications device of claim 31, wherein said means for
transmitting includes: means for performing a coding and modulation
operation on the generated sequence of reports using a
predetermined coding and modulation scheme corresponding to the
selected reporting format.
33. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable
instructions for controlling a first communications device to
implement a method, the method comprising: determining a set of
control information reports to be transmitted, said set of control
information reports corresponding to a reporting format; generating
the determined set of control information reports; and
communicating said generated set of control information
reports.
34. The computer readable medium of claim 33, further embodying
machine executable instructions for selecting between a plurality
of predetermined reporting formats as part of said step of
determining a set of control information reports.
35. The computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein each of said
plurality of predetermined reporting formats specifies a plurality
of different types of reports and an ordering of said different
types of reports.
36. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said
reporting format further specifies the control information to be
communicated in said different types of reports.
37. The computer readable medium of claim 35, further embodying
machine executable instructions for multiplexing the generated
reports of different types in accordance with said determined
reporting format as part of said step of communicating said
generated set of control information reports.
38. A first communications device in a wireless communications
system, the first communications device comprising: a processor
configured to: determine a set of control information reports to be
transmitted, said set of control information reports corresponding
to a reporting format; generate the determined set of control
information reports; and control communication of said generated
set of control information reports.
39. The first communications device of claim 38, wherein said
processor is configured to select between a plurality of
predetermined reporting formats.
40. The first communications device of claim 39, wherein each of
said plurality of predetermined reporting formats specifies a
plurality of different types of reports and an ordering of said
different types of reports.
41. The first communications device of claim 40, wherein said
reporting format further specifies the control information to be
communicated in said different types of reports.
42. The first communications device of claim 40, wherein said
processor is configured to multiplex the generated reports of
different types in accordance with said determined reporting
format.
43. A method of operating a first communications device to interact
with a second communications device, the method comprising:
determining a set of control information reports to be received,
said set of information reports corresponding to a reporting
format; receiving signals conveying said determined set of control
information reports; and recovering control information from said
set of determined control information reports in accordance with
said reporting format.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein determining a set of control
information reports to be received including selecting between a
plurality of predetermined reporting formats.
45. The method of claim 44, wherein each of said plurality of
predetermined reporting formats specifies a plurality of different
types of reports and an ordering of said different types of
reports.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein said reporting format further
specifies the control information to be communicated in said
different types of reports.
47. The method of claim 46, further comprising: performing a
demodulation and decoding operation on said received signals to
generate sets of ordered information bits, each set of ordered
information bits corresponding to a communication segment; and
mapping the ordered bits of a segment to one or more control
information reports.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein said step of performing a
demodulation and decoding operation includes using a predetermined
decoding and demodulation scheme, different decoding and
demodulation schemes being used for at least some of said plurality
of reporting formats.
49. The method of claim 44, further comprising repeating said
determining, receiving, and recovering steps.
50. The method of claim 45, wherein said different report types
includes at least two of a SNR report, a traffic request report, a
power information report, an interference report, and a delay
report.
51. The method of claim 43, wherein said determining includes:
selecting the reporting format as a function of an application
being executed by one of said first and second communications
devices.
52. The method of claim 51, wherein said application is one of a
voice and a data application.
53. The method of claim 52, wherein said reporting format selected
in response to a voice application includes a latency report and
wherein said reporting format selected in response to a data
application includes less frequent uplink request reports than a
format used for voice but more bits per uplink request on average
than used for voice.
54. The method of claim 43, wherein determining a reporting format
is performed as a function of at least one of: device capability
information, channel conditions, system loading, and user QoS.
55. The method of claim 43, wherein determining a reporting format
is performed as a function of at least one of a command signal or a
request signal received from said second communications device.
56. The method of claim 43, wherein said first communications
device is a base station and said second communications device is a
first wireless terminal, the method further comprising: determining
a second set of control information reports to be received, said
second set of information reports corresponding to a second
reporting format; receiving from a second wireless terminal signals
conveying said determined second set of control information
reports; and recovering control information from said second set of
determined control information reports in accordance with said
second reporting format.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein said received signals from said
first and second wireless terminals are received concurrently, and
wherein said reporting format and said second reporting formats are
different.
58. A communications device, comprising: a report format selection
module for selecting a reporting format, said reporting format
being one of a plurality of supported reporting formats, said
reporting format indicating a reporting schedule and a set of
report definitions; a report recovery module for recovering report
information from a sequence of received reports in accordance with
the selected reporting schedule and at least some definitions in
the set of report definitions; and a receiver for receiving said
sequence of reports.
59. The communications device of claim 58, further comprising:
memory for storing information defining said plurality of supported
reporting formats, said plurality of supported reporting formats
being predetermined.
60. The communications device of claim 58, further comprising:
memory for storing report definition information, said report
definition information specifying types of control information to
be communicated in reports generated in accordance with said set of
report definitions.
61. The communications device of claim 60, wherein said receiver
includes: a decoding and demodulation module for performing a
decoding and demodulation operation on the received sequence of
reports using a predetermined coding and modulation scheme
corresponding to the selected reporting format.
62. The communications device of claim 60, wherein said stored
report definitions define at least two of an SNR report format, a
traffic request report format, a power information report format
and an interference report format.
63. The communications device of claim 59, wherein said report
format selection module includes an input for receiving application
information, said reporting format selection module selecting said
report format as a function of an application being executed by one
of said first and second communications devices.
64. The communications device of claim 63, wherein said application
is one of a voice and data application.
65. The communications device of claim 64, wherein the reporting
format stored in said memory that is selected in response to a
voice application includes a latency report and wherein the
reporting format selected in response to a data application
includes less frequent uplink request reports than the format
selected in response to a voice application but more bits per
uplink request on average than used for reports selected in
response to a voice application.
66. The communications device of claim 58, wherein said report
format selection module includes an input for receiving at least
one of device capability information, channel condition
information, system loading information and user quality of service
information; and wherein said report format selection module
selects said report format as a function of at least one of channel
condition information, system loading information and user quality
of service information.
67. The communications device of claim 58, further comprising: a
receiver for receiving a report format selection control signal;
and wherein said report format selection module selects said report
format as a function of the received report format selection
control signal.
68. The communications device of claim 58, wherein the transmitter
transmits a control selection signal indicating the selection of
the report format selection module.
69. The communications device of claim 58, wherein said
communications device is a base station.
70. The communications device of claim 58, wherein said report
format selection module selects on a per wireless terminal
basis.
71. A communications device, comprising: means for selecting a
reporting format, said reporting format being one of a plurality of
supported reporting formats, said reporting format indicating a
reporting schedule and a set of report definitions; means for
recovering report information from a sequence of received reports
in accordance with the selected reporting schedule and at least
some definitions in the set of report definitions; and means for
receiving said sequence of reports.
72. The communications device of claim 71, further comprising:
storage means for storing information defining said plurality of
supported reporting formats, said plurality of supported reporting
formats being predetermined.
73. The communications device of claim 71, further comprising:
storage means for storing report definition information, said
report definition information specifying types of control
information to be communicated in reports generated in accordance
with said set of report definitions.
74. The communications device of claim 73, wherein said means for
receiving includes: means for performing a decoding and
demodulation operation on the received sequence of reports using a
predetermined coding and modulation scheme correspond to the
selected reporting format.
75. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable
instruction for controlling a first communication device to
implement a method, the method comprising: determining a set of
control information reports to be received, said set of information
reports corresponding to a reporting format; receiving signals
conveying said determined set of control information reports; and
recovering control information from said set of determined control
information reports in accordance with said reporting format.
76. The computer readable medium of claim 75, further embodying
machine executable instructions for selecting between a plurality
of predetermined reporting formats as part of said step of
determining a set of control information reports to be
received.
77. The computer readable medium of claim 76, wherein each of said
plurality of predetermined reporting formats specifies a plurality
of different types of reports and an ordering of said different
types of reports.
78. The computer readable medium of claim 77, wherein said
reporting format further specifies the control information to be
communicated in said different types of reports.
79. The computer readable medium of claim 78, further embodying
machine executable instructions for: performing a demodulation and
decoding operation on said received signals to generate sets of
ordered information bits, each set of ordered information bits
corresponding to a communication segment; and mapping the ordered
bits of a segment to one or more control information reports.
80. A first communications device operable in a wireless
communications system, the first communications device comprising:
a processor configured to: determine a set of control information
reports to be received, said set of control information reports
corresponding to a reporting format; control reception of signals
conveying said determined set of control information reports; and
recover control information from said set of determined control
information reports in accordance with said reporting format.
81. The first communications device of claim 80, wherein said
processor is configured to select between a plurality of
predetermined reporting formats.
82. The first communications device of claim 81, wherein each of
said plurality of predetermined reporting formats specifies a
plurality of different types of reports and an ordering of said
different types of reports.
83. The first communications device of claim 82, wherein said
reporting format further specifies the control information to be
communicated in said different types of reports.
84. The communications device of claim 83, wherein said processor
is configured to: control demodulation and decoding operations on
said received signals to generate sets of ordered information bits,
each set of ordered information bits corresponding to a
communication segment; and map the ordered bits of a segment to one
or more control information reports.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/752,973, filed on Dec.
22, 2005, titled "COMMUNICATIONS METHODS AND APPARATUS", and is a
continuation in part of U.S. Utility Patent Application Ser. No.
11/333,792, filed on Jan. 17, 2006, titled "METHODS AND APPARATUS
OF IMPLEMENTING AND/OR USING A DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNEL" each of
which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to wireless communications
methods and apparatus and, more particularly, to methods and
apparatus for implementing and using control channels.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In multiple access wireless communications systems, multiple
wireless terminals are typically in competition for limited air
link resources. A wireless terminal, operating in a state
supporting uplink and downlink user data traffic signaling,
typically tries to routinely communicate control information to a
base station attachment point. In some systems control information
may be communicated in the form of control information reports
which allow the base station attachment point to obtain information
about the wireless terminal status and effectively allocate
resources. As the popularity and variety of wireless communication
services has increased, the need to support ever larger numbers of
concurrent users has grown. In addition, events and/or time of day
can drive peak concurrent user demand.
[0004] Changes in the number of concurrent users can affect the
demand for control information communication resources. However, it
should also be appreciated that different wireless terminals can
have different needs at different times and that the demand for
resources in many cases is not simply a matter of the total number
of terminals in the system that have the ability to communicate
user data to the base station.
[0005] Different wireless terminals using the same base station
attachment point often have different reporting needs and
priorities. For example, a first wireless terminal operating from a
current stationary position, with no or minimal obstructions
between itself and the base station attachment point, and needing
to communicate small amounts of user data infrequently may have
very different control information reporting needs than another,
e.g., second, wireless terminal, e.g., a mobile node in a moving
automobile, experiencing rapidly changing channel conditions and/or
needing to communicate large amounts of data frequently. Using a
universal single control information reporting format to report
control information to a base station although simple to implement
can result in inefficiencies due to tradeoffs made to accommodate
the wide variety of different types of anticipated concurrent users
with reasonable degree of effectiveness.
[0006] In view of the above, it should be appreciated that there is
a need for methods and apparatus which provide flexibility with
regard to control information reporting, e.g., flexibility in terms
of supported report formats. Improved methods and/or apparatus
which tend to match a wireless terminal's current needs and/or
conditions to a well suited control information report format would
tend to increase efficiency and be beneficial, e.g., in terms of
increasing traffic throughput capability. The ability to change
control information reporting formats, if it could be supported,
could also be useful in some cases.
SUMMARY
[0007] Various embodiments are directed to methods and apparatus
related to control information reporting over wireless
communication channels including control information reporting
format alternatives. Selection between various control reporting
format alternatives is performed, in some embodiments, by a
wireless terminal and/or a base station.
[0008] In some exemplary embodiments, a method of operating a first
communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, to interact with
a second communications device, e.g., a base station, includes:
determining a set of control information reports to be transmitted,
e.g., selecting between a plurality of predetermined reporting
formats where said set of control information reports corresponds
to a reporting format; generating the determined set of control
information reports; and communicating said generated set of
control information reports. In some such embodiments, the control
information reporting format is selected as a function of an
application being executed, e.g., a voice application vs a data
application. In some embodiments, the control information reporting
format is selected as a function of at least one of: device
capability information, channel conditions, system loading, and
user quality of service information. In some embodiments, the
control information reporting format is selected as a function of
at least one of a received command signal and a received request
signal. An exemplary communications device, e.g., wireless
terminal, in accordance with some but not necessarily all
embodiments, includes a report format selection module for
selecting a reporting format. The reporting format is one of a
plurality of supported reporting formats. The reporting format
specifies a set of report definitions, e.g., one or more report
definitions. In some embodiments, the report format also specifies
a reporting schedule as part of the report format. In some
implementations, the communications device further includes a
report generation module for generating a sequence of reports in
accordance with a reporting schedule which is part of a particular
selected reporting format and at least one definition in the set of
report definitions. The communications device may also include a
transmitter for transmitting the generated sequence of reports.
[0009] A method of operating a first communications device, e.g., a
base station, to interact with a second communications device,
e.g., a wireless terminal, in accordance with various embodiments,
includes: determining a set of control information reports, e.g.,
one or more reports, to be transmitted. The set of control
information reports in some embodiments corresponds to a reporting
format. Determining a set of control information reports to be
transmitted may include selecting between a plurality of
predetermined reporting formats. Interacting with the second
communications device may further include generating the determined
set of control information reports; and communicating the generated
set of control information reports, e.g., by transmitting them over
a wireless communications link to the second communications device
The transmission may, but need not be, in a control channel
dedicated to use by the first communications device. An exemplary
communications device, e.g., base station, in accordance with
various exemplary embodiments, includes: a report format selection
module for selecting a reporting format where the selected
reporting format is one of a plurality of supported reporting
formats. The reporting format indicates a set of report definitions
and, in some but not necessarily all embodiments, also indicates a
reporting schedule. The base station may also include a report
recovery module for recovering report information from a sequence
of received reports in accordance with the selected reporting
schedule and at least some definitions in the set of report
definitions. In addition, the base station may include a receiver
for receiving said sequence of reports. In some but not necessarily
all embodiments, the control information reporting format is
selected as a function of an application being executed, e.g., a
voice application vs a data application. In some embodiments, the
control information reporting format is selected as a function of
at least one of: device capability information, channel conditions,
system loading, and user quality of service information. In some
embodiments, the control information reporting format is selected
as a function of at least one of a received command signal and a
received request signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0010] FIG. 1 is drawing of an exemplary wireless communications
system implemented in accordance with various embodiments.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device,
e.g., base station, implemented in accordance with various
embodiments.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device,
e.g., wireless terminal such as a mobile node, implemented in
accordance with various embodiments.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device,
e.g., base station, implemented in accordance with various
embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device,
e.g., a wireless terminal such as a mobile node, in accordance with
various embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a
first communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, to interact
with a second communications device, e.g., a base station.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a
first communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, to interact
with a second communications device, e.g., a base station.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a
first communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, to interact
with a second communications device, e.g., a base station.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a
first communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, which
interacts with a second communications device, e.g., a base
station.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a
first communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, which
interacts with a second communications device, e.g., a base
station.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating features in accordance
with some embodiments in which a base station selects a control
information reporting format for a wireless terminal.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating features in accordance
with some embodiments, in which a wireless terminal selects a
control information reporting format.
[0022] FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating features in accordance
with some embodiments, in which a base station communicates a
custom control information reporting format to a wireless
terminal.
[0023] FIG. 14 is a drawing illustrating features in accordance
with some embodiments, in which a wireless terminal communicates a
custom control information reporting format to a base station.
[0024] FIG. 15 is a drawing illustrating exemplary custom dedicated
control channel reporting format wireless signals.
[0025] FIG. 16 is a drawing of a table illustrating exemplary
wireless terminals, exemplary factors influencing a reporting
format being used, and exemplary corresponding dedicated control
channel reporting format characteristics.
[0026] FIG. 17 is a drawing of exemplary uplink dedicated control
channel (DCCH) segments in an exemplary uplink timing and frequency
structure in an exemplary orthogonal frequency division
multiplexing (OFDM) multiple access wireless communications
system.
[0027] FIG. 18 is a table of exemplary dedicated control channel
reports.
[0028] FIG. 19 is a table describing the exemplary format of
exemplary 5 bit absolute report of downlink signal to noise ratio
(DLSNR5).
[0029] FIG. 20 is a drawing illustrating exemplary control
information reporting format information for an exemplary recurring
time interval for a given dedicated control channel tone, e.g.,
corresponding to a wireless terminal allocated to use that DCCH
tone.
[0030] FIG. 21 is a drawing of a flowchart of an exemplary method
of operating a base station to interact with one or more wireless
terminals.
[0031] FIG. 22 is a drawing of a flowchart of an exemplary method
of operating a base station to interact with one or more wireless
terminals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] FIG. 1 is drawing of an exemplary wireless communications
system 100 implemented in accordance with various embodiments.
Exemplary wireless communications system 100 is, e.g., an
orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) multiple access
wireless communications system. Exemplary wireless communications
system 100 supports a plurality of different reporting formats for
communicating control information reports, e.g., a plurality of
different dedicated control channel reporting formats for uplink
control information signaling. The particular control information
reporting format used by a particular wireless terminal at a
particular time can be and sometimes is matched to the wireless
terminal, e.g., to achieve efficient use of air resources.
[0033] Exemplary wireless communications system 100 includes a
plurality of base stations (base station 1 102, . . . , base
station M 104). Each base station (102, 104) has a corresponding
wireless coverage area (cell 1 106, cell M 108), respectively.
System 100 also includes network node 118 which is coupled to base
stations (102, 104) via network links (120, 122), respectively.
Network node 118 is also coupled to other network nodes and/or the
Internet via link 124. Network links (120, 122, 124) are, e.g.,
fiber optic links. System 100 may also include cells with multiple
sectors and/or cells using multiple carriers.
[0034] System 100 also includes a plurality of wireless terminals.
At least some of the wireless terminals are mobile node which may
move throughout the communication system. In FIG. 1, wireless
terminals (WT 1 110, WT N 112) are located in cell 1 106 and
coupled to base station 1 102 via wireless links (126, 128),
respectively. In FIG. 1, wireless terminals (WT 1'' 114, WT N''
116) are located in cell M 108 and coupled to base station M 104
via wireless links (130, 132), respectively.
[0035] FIG. 2 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device
200, e.g., base station implemented in accordance with various
embodiments. Exemplary communications device 200 may be any of the
base stations (102, 104) in FIG. 1. Exemplary communications device
200 includes a receiver module 204, a transmitter module 208, a
processor 210, an I/O interface 212 and a memory 214 coupled
together via a bus 216 over which the various elements communicate
data and information.
[0036] Receiver module 204, e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled to
receive antenna 202 via which the communications device 200
receives uplink signals from a plurality of wireless terminals.
Received uplink signals include control channel signals, e.g.,
dedicated control channel signals, conveying control information
reports, e.g., uplink traffic channel request reports, power
reports, SNR reports, interference reports, noise reports, latency
reports, etc. In some embodiments, the received uplink signals
include information conveying a wireless terminal's format
selection for control information reports to be transmitted by the
wireless terminal. Receiver module 204 includes a decoding and
demodulation module 218 for implementing decoding and demodulation
operations on received control channel signals in accordance with
the reporting format being used by the wireless terminal.
[0037] Transmitter module 208, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is
coupled to transmit antenna 206 via which the communications device
transmits downlink signals to wireless terminals. In some
embodiments, the downlink signals include signals conveying, on a
per wireless terminal basis, a selected reporting format to be used
by a particular wireless terminal for uplink control information
reports, e.g., uplink dedicated control channel reports.
[0038] Memory 214 includes routines 220 and data/information 222.
The processor 210, e.g., a CPU, executes the routines 220 and uses
the data/information 222 in memory 214 to control the operation of
the communications device and implement methods. I/O interface 212
couples the communications device 200 to other network nodes, e.g.,
other base stations, routers, AAA nodes, Home Agent nodes, central
control nodes, etc., and/or the Internet.
[0039] Routines 220 include a report format selection module 224
and a report format recovery module 226. The report format
selection module 224 selects, on a per wireless terminal basis, a
reporting format to be used for control information reports, e.g.,
uplink dedicated control information reports. The report format
selection module 224 selects a reporting format from a plurality of
different reporting formats (reporting format 1 info 232, . . .
reporting format N information 234) as a function of at least one
of: received format selection control signal information 250,
application type information 240, user quality of service
information 242, device capability information 244, channel
condition information 246 and system loading information 248.
Selected reporting format 252 is an output of report format
selection module 224 and identifies one of (reporting format 1
information 232, . . . , reporting format N information 234). In
some embodiments, e.g., an embodiment where the communication
device 200 decides upon the reporting format selection as a
function of at least one of application type information 240, user
QoS information 242, device capability information 244, channel
condition information 246, and system loading information 248, the
communications device 200 generates transmit signal information to
convey the selected reporting format 254 to convey the selected
format, and transmits the selection information to the wireless
terminal. In some embodiments, a wireless terminal evaluates and
decides upon a reporting format to use and conveys that information
to communications device 200, which is received as received format
selection control signal information 250. In some such embodiments,
communications device 200 does not include transmit selected format
control signal information 254.
[0040] Report format selection module 224 generates receiver
control signal information 256 and recovery module control signal
information 258. The decoding and demodulation module 218 of
receiver module 204 uses the receiver control signal information
256 to identify and implement the appropriate coding and modulation
scheme corresponding to the selected reporting format 252. Report
format recovery module 226, operating on a per wireless terminal
basis, uses the recovery module control signal information 258 to
identify and implement the appropriate reporting schedule
information, e.g., info 264, set of report definition information,
e.g., info 266, and particular reporting definitions, e.g. some of
info (236, . . . 238) being used for the sequence of uplink control
information reports being communicated from the wireless terminal.
Received control report channel signal information 260 includes
information input to and output from decoding and demodulation
module 218. Recovered control report information 262 includes
information output from report format recover module 226.
[0041] Data/information 222 includes a plurality of sets of
wireless terminal data/information (WT 1 data/information 228, . .
. WT N data/information 230), a plurality of sets of reporting
format information (reporting format 1 information 232, . . . ,
reporting format N information 234), and a plurality of sets of
report definition information (report definition 1 information 236,
. . . , report definition X information 238). WT 1 data/information
228 includes application type information 240, user quality of
service information 242, device capability information 244, channel
condition information 246, system loading information 248, selected
reporting format 252, receiver control signal information 256,
recovery module control signal information 258, received control
report channel signal information 260, and recovered control report
information 262. In some embodiments, WT 1 data/information
includes at least one of a received format selection control signal
information 250 and a transmit selected format control signal
information 254. Reporting format 1 information 232 includes
reporting schedule information 264, set of report definition
information 266, and coding and modulation scheme information
268.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device
300, e.g., wireless terminal such as a mobile node, implemented in
accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary communications
device 300 may be any of the exemplary wireless terminals (110,
112, 114, 116) in FIG. 1. Exemplary communications device 300
includes a receiver module 304, a report format selection module
320, a report generation module 342, a transmitter module 358 and a
memory 324 coupled together.
[0043] The report format selection module 320 selects a reporting
format, said reporting format being one of a plurality of supported
reporting formats, said reporting format indicating a reporting
schedule and a set of report definitions. The report format
selection module 320 includes: an input for receiving application
type information 308, an input for receiving user quality of
service information 312, an input for receiving channel condition
information 314, an input for receiving device capability
information 316, an input for receiving system loading information
318, and an input for receiving a report format selection control
signal 306.
[0044] In some embodiments, report format selection module 320
selects a reporting format as a function of an application being
executed by one of said communications device and another
communications device. In some such embodiments, said application
is one of a voice and a data application. In some embodiments, the
reporting format stored in memory that is selected in response to a
voice application includes a latency report. In some embodiments,
the reporting format stored in memory that is selected in response
to a data application includes less frequent uplink request reports
than the format selected in response to a voice application but
more bits per uplink request on average than used for reports
selected in response to a voice application. For example, a
reporting format used for a voice application may use 1 bit uplink
request reports and a 1 bit uplink request report may be included
in each successive dedicated control channel segment, while a
reporting format used for a data application may use 4 bit uplink
request reports, and a 4 bit uplink request report may be included
in once for every 4 successive dedicated control channel
segments.
[0045] In various embodiments, the report format selection module
320 selects a reporting format as a function of at least one of
device capability information, user quality of service information,
channel condition information 314, and system loading information
318. Device capability information includes, e.g., number of
antennas; number of antennas per channel; device classification
information, e.g., strong receiver, weak receiver, voice capable,
data capable, voice and data capable, stationary device, low
velocity mobile device, high velocity mobile device; rate
capability information; power capability information; remaining
battery power information, etc.
[0046] Receiver module 304 is coupled to receive antenna 302 via
which the communication devices receives signals. In some
embodiments, received signals include a report format selection
control signal 306, e.g., a command from a base station to switch
to a particular reporting format. The received signal 306 is
conveyed to the report format selection module 306 which selects
the format as a function received signal 306.
[0047] The report format selection module 320 is coupled to memory
324 via bus 322. Memory 324 includes a plurality of predetermined
reporting format information sets (reporting format 1 information
326, . . . , reporting format N information 334) and report
definition information (report definition 1 information 336, . . .
, report definition X information 338). Report definition
information, e.g., report definition 1 information 336, specifies a
type of control information and control information to bit mapping
information to be communicated in a report, e.g., an SNR report
format, a traffic request report format, a power information report
format, an interference request format. Report format 1 information
326 includes a reporting schedule 328, a set of report definitions
330, and a coding and modulation scheme 332. The set of report
definitions 330 identifies a subset of set of report definitions
(336, . . . , 338) used when the wireless terminal is operating in
reporting format 1. The reporting schedule 328 includes information
identifying a sequence of reports to be communicated within a
reporting structure, e.g., a predetermined recurring reporting
structure, when using reporting format 1. Coding and modulation
scheme 332 identifies a coding and modulation scheme to be used to
communicate control information reports when using reporting format
1, e.g., BPSK or QPSK, a number of information bits per segment, a
number of coded bits per segment, and a mapping between coded bits
and modulation symbols.
[0048] Report generation module 342 generates a sequence of reports
354 in accordance with the selected reporting schedule and at least
some definitions in the set of report definitions. Report
generation module 342 includes a plurality of different report type
generation modules (report type 1 generation module 348, . . . ,
report type X generation module 350) and a multiplexer module 352.
Report type 1 generation module 348 implements the report
definition 1 336 mapping report control information 344 to generate
a set of control information report bits 349. For example, consider
that report type 1 is a 4 bit uplink traffic channel request report
which communicates backlog information about queued frames of
information waiting to be communicated. In one such a case module
348 maps a count of frames to a quantization level represented by
one of the sixteen potential 4 bit pattern which can be
communicated by the report. Similarly report type X generation
module 350 implements the report definition X 338 mapping report
control information 346 to generate a set of control information
report bits 351. For example, consider that report type X is a 5
bit SNR report. In one such case module 350 maps a determined SNR
level to a quantization level represented by one of the thirty-two
potential 5 bit patterns which can be communicated by the
report.
[0049] Report format selection module 320 sends report generation
control signal 340 to report generation module 342 to control which
reports are to be generated and the sequencing of the reporting in
accordance with the selected reporting format to be implemented.
For example, control signal 340 enables a sub-set of report
generation modules corresponding to the set of report definition
corresponding to the selected reporting format. Report format
selection module 320 also sends a control signal 356 to the
transmitter module 358 to control the coding and modulation scheme
to be implemented by coding and modulation module 360 corresponding
to the selected reporting format. Coding and modulation module 360
performs a coding and modulation operation on the generated
sequence of reports using a predetermined coding and modulation
scheme corresponding to selected reporting format. For example, in
one exemplary embodiment for one particular reporting format, a
first coding and modulation scheme is used where the sequences of
reports are grouped into sets of 6 information bits and the six
information bits are coded into 21 QPSK modulation symbols. In the
same exemplary embodiment, for another particular reporting format,
a second coding and modulation scheme is used where the sequence of
reports are grouped into sets of 8 information bits, and the eight
information bits are coded into 21 QPSK modulation symbols. In some
embodiments, different reporting formats may correspond to
different modulation constellations, e.g., a BPSK modulation
constellation and a QPSK modulation constellation. Transmitter
module 358, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, transmits OFDM signals
including the sequence of generated reports via transmit antenna
362. The generated sequence of reports, in some embodiments,
corresponds to dedicated control channel reports.
[0050] FIG. 4 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device
400, e.g., base station, implemented in accordance with various
embodiments. Exemplary communications device 400 may be any of the
exemplary base station (102, 104) in FIG. 1. Exemplary
communications device 400 includes a receiver module 404, a
transmitter module 408, a processor 410, an I/O interface 412, and
a memory 414 coupled together via bus 416 over which the various
elements interchange data and information. Memory 414 includes
routines 418 and data/information 420. The processor 410, e.g., a
CPU, executes the routines 418 and uses the data/information 420 in
memory 414 to control the operation of the communications device
400 and implement methods.
[0051] Receiver module 404, e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled to
receive antenna 402 via which the communications device 400
receives uplink signals from a plurality of wireless terminals. The
received uplink signals include control channel signals, e.g.,
dedicated control channel signals conveying dedicated control
channel reports. In some embodiments, the received uplink signals
also include control channel information reporting format
definition information, e.g., control channel format information
corresponding to a custom reporting format determined by a wireless
terminal.
[0052] Transmitter module 408, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is
coupled to transmit antenna 406 via which the communications device
400 transmits downlink signals to a plurality of wireless
terminals. In some embodiments, the transmitted downlink signals
include control channel information reporting format definition
information, e.g., control channel format information corresponding
to a custom reporting format determined by communications device
400, e.g., base station 400.
[0053] In accordance with various embodiments, different wireless
terminals, using communications device 400, e.g., base station 400,
as their point of network attachment can, and sometimes do, use
different custom reporting formats for reporting uplink control
information reports, e.g., different dedicated control channel
reporting formats. For example, each of the customized reporting
formats may be tailored to the current attributes, needs, and/or
conditions of the particular wireless terminal and/or the
environment in which the wireless terminal is currently
operating.
[0054] I/O interface module 412 couples the communications device
400 to other network nodes and/or the Internet. Thus I/O interface
412 couples communications device 400 to a backhaul network
facilitating a WT using base station 400 as its point of network
attachment to participate in a communications session with a peer
node using another base station as its point of network
attachment.
[0055] Routines 418 include a control information report recovery
module 422 and a reporting format control module 424. In some
embodiments, routines 418 include a custom control information
reporting format generation module. The control information report
recovery module 422 is used to process received control information
signals and recover control information report information. The
control information report recovery module 422, which operates on a
per wireless terminal basis, uses the selected reporting format
information corresponding to the wireless terminal to identify
which particular set of stored format information should be
utilized to process the control information report signals from the
wireless terminal. For example, consider that report recovery
module 422 is processing received control information reports
signals 440 from WT 1, if selected reporting format information 438
identifies the custom reporting format, stored control information
reporting format definition information 436 is utilized; however,
if selected reporting format information 438 identifies the default
format, then, stored default reporting format information 434 is
utilized.
[0056] Reporting format control module 424 checks at least one of
device capability information, channel condition information,
application information, quality of service information, system
loading information and a command control signal; and the reporting
format control module 424 controls switching between different
possible formats as a function of the result of the checking.
Reporting format control module 424 includes an evaluation
sub-module 426 and a switching control sub-module 428. Evaluation
sub-module 426 checks at least one of device capability
information, channel condition information, application
information, quality of service information and system loading
information, e.g., against predetermined criteria, and/or checks
for the presence of a command control signal. In some embodiments,
a plurality of sets of stored control information reporting format
definition information 436 have been stored, e.g., corresponding to
a plurality of possible custom reporting formats and evaluation
sub-module 428 is used to select between said plurality of
alternative formats. Switching control sub-module 428 is responsive
to determinations by evaluation sub-module 426, e.g., implementing
a control information reporting format switch from a default
reporting format to a first custom reporting format, from a first
custom reporting format to a second custom reporting format, and/or
from a custom reporting format back to a default reporting format.
Custom control information reporting format generation module 425
generates for a wireless terminal a custom control information
reporting format, e.g., a control information reporting format for
its dedicated control channel signaling tailored to accommodate the
wireless terminal's current application(s), needs, requirements,
conditions, capabilities, and/or environment.
[0057] Data/information 420 includes a plurality of sets of
wireless terminal data/information (WT 1 data/information 430, . .
. , WT N data/information 432), and stored default reporting format
information 434. WT 1 data/information includes stored control
information reporting format information 436, selected reporting
format information 438, received control information reports
information 440 and recovered control information reports
information 442. WT 1 data/information 430 includes at least one of
received control information reporting format information 456,
e.g., e.g., a customized control information reporting format
determined by WT 1 for uplink control information reports, and
transmitted control information reporting format information 458,
e.g., a customized control information reporting format determined
by BS 400 to be used by WT 1 for uplink control information
reports. At least some of the stored control information reporting
format information 436 corresponds to one of information 456 and
information 458.
[0058] Stored control information reporting format definition
information 436, e.g., custom reporting format definition
information, includes a plurality of report definition information
(report 1 definition information 444, report X definition
information 446, set of reports information 448, reporting schedule
information 450, e.g., information indicating a sequence in which
reports are to be transmitted by WT 1, and coding and modulation
scheme information 452, e.g., information specifying a coding and
modulation scheme to be applied to the set of control information
reports being communicated. Report 1 definition information 444
includes mapping information 454. Mapping- information 454 defines
a mapping between information communicated in said report and
possible report values. Selected reporting format 438, e.g.,
indicates whether WT 1 is using custom reporting format definition
information 436 or stored default reporting format information 434.
Selected reporting format information 438 represents a control
input used by control information report recovery module 422 when
processing received control information reports 440 to determined
recovered control information reports information 442.
[0059] In some embodiments, a wireless terminal generates control
information reporting format information, e.g., a custom control
information reporting format, and communicates the information to a
base station, which will be receiving the control information
reports in accordance with the custom reporting format. In some
embodiments, the base generates control information reporting
format information, e.g., a custom control information reporting
format, and communicates the information to a wireless terminal,
which will be generating control information reports in accordance
with the custom reporting format. Thus, in accordance with various
embodiments, a base station may be, and sometimes is receiving
control information reports, e.g., dedicated control channel
information reports, from a plurality of different wireless
terminals, with at least some of the plurality of different
wireless terminals using different custom reporting formats. In
addition, the same wireless terminal may, and sometimes does, use
different custom reporting formats at different times, e.g., with
the particular report being tailored to accommodate current device
capability information, system loading conditions, needs,
applications, quality of service information and/or channel
conditions.
[0060] FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device,
e.g., a wireless terminal such as a mobile node, in accordance with
various embodiments. Exemplary communications device 500 may be any
of the exemplary wireless terminals (110, 112, 114, 116) of FIG. 1.
In this exemplary embodiment, the wireless terminal supports a
default control information reporting format and at times supports
addition reporting format(s), e.g., one or more custom control
reporting formats. For example a custom reporting format may be
determined by a base station and downloaded to communications
device 500 for subsequent use and/or a custom control information
reporting format may be determined by communications device 500 and
transmitted to a base station such that the base station can use
the information for interpretation of subsequent control
information reports. In various embodiments, the control
information reporting format applies to uplink dedicated control
channel reports. Exemplary communications device 500 includes a
receiver module 504, a transmitter module 508, a processor 510, and
a memory 512 coupled together via a bus 514 over which the various
elements interchange data and information. Memory 512 includes
routines 516 and data/information 518. The processor 510, e.g., a
CPU, executes the routines 516 and uses the data/information 518 in
memory 512 to control the operation of the communications device
and implement methods.
[0061] Receiver module 504, e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled to
receive antenna 502, via which the communications device receives
signals, e.g., downlink signals from a base station. In some
embodiments, the received signals include received control
information reporting format definition information. Transmitter
module 508, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupled to transmit
antenna 506 via which the communications device 500 transmits
signals, e.g., uplink signals to a base station. In some
embodiments, the transmitted signals include control channel
reports, e.g., dedicated control channel reports, in accordance
with a stored reporting format. For example, the stored reporting
format is, at times, a default reporting format; while at other
times the reporting format is a custom reporting format. In some
embodiments, another node, e.g., a base station determines a custom
reporting format for the communications device 500 to use and
transmits control information reporting format definition
information to communications device 500 which is received via
receiver module 504 as received control information reporting
format definition information 546. In some embodiments,
communications device 500 determines a custom reporting format for
the communications device 500 to use and transmits control
information reporting format definition information 548 to another
node, e.g., a base station. In this way the communications device
500 and the other node, e.g., base station, both can apply the same
custom control information reporting format definition to control
information reports being communicated, e.g., dedicated control
channel reports.
[0062] Routines 516 include a control information report generation
module 524 and a reporting format control module 526. In some
embodiments, routines 516 include a custom control information
reporting format generation module 527. The reporting format
control module 526 includes an evaluation sub-module 528 and a
switching control sub-module 530. Control information report
generation module 524 generates a control information report in
accordance with at least one of i) received reporting format
definition information and ii) transmitted reporting format
definition information.
[0063] Data/information 518 includes stored control information
reporting format definition information 532 and stored default
reporting format information 534. Data/information 518 includes at
least one of received control information reporting format
definition information 546 and transmitted control information
reporting format definition information 548. Information 546 and/or
information 548 corresponds to at least some of the information in
stored control information reporting format definition information
532. Stored control information reporting format definition
information 532, e.g., a custom reporting format to be used by
wireless terminal 500, includes a plurality of report definition
information (report 1 definition information 536, . . . , report X
definition information 538), a set of reports information 540,
reporting schedule information 542, and coding and modulation
information 544.
[0064] Report 1 definition information 536 includes information
corresponding to a particular type of report with a particular
information bit size, e.g., a 4 bit uplink request report, a 5 bit
SNR report, a 5 bit delay information report, etc. Report 1
definition information 536 includes mapping information 546 which
maps a particular type of control information to one of a plurality
of information bit patterns. Thus mapping information 546 defines a
mapping between information to be included in a generated report
and possible report values. Set of reports information 540 includes
information identifying the different types of reports used for the
custom reporting format. Reporting schedule information 542
includes information indicating a sequence in which reports of
different types are to be transmitted. For example, the reporting
schedule information 542 may identify an ordered sequence of report
types in a predetermined reporting schedule. Alternatively, or in
addition, the reporting schedule information may include
information identifying time intervals for reports to be
communicated, e.g., which OFDM symbol transmission time intervals
are to be used to carry the sequence of control information reports
to be transmitted. Coding and modulation scheme information 544
includes information identifying coding rates, modulation schemes,
and/or modulation constellations used. Coding and modulation scheme
information 544 includes information specifying a coding and
modulation scheme to be applied to the defined set of reports to be
communicated when using this reporting format.
[0065] Stored default reporting format information 534 includes a
similar set of information to information 532. The default
reporting formation information 534 is, in some embodiments, to be
used, when communicating with another communications device, e.g.,
another base station, prior to receiving control information
reporting format information from said another device or
transmitting control information reporting format definition
information to said another device. In some such embodiments, the
stored default report format information 534 is used for an initial
communication with said another communications device.
[0066] Reporting format control module 526 is used for checking at
least one of device capability information, channel condition
information, application information, quality of service
information, system loading information and a command control
signal and for controlling switching to another format as a result
of said checking, e.g., switching to a custom reporting format,
defined by information 532, which has been received or transmitted.
Evaluation sub-module 528 checks at least one of device capability
information, channel condition information, application
information, quality of service information and system loading
information, e.g., against predetermined criteria, and/or checks
for the presence of a command control signal. In some embodiments,
a plurality of sets of stored control information reporting format
definition information 532 have been stored, e.g., corresponding to
a plurality of possible custom reporting formats and evaluation
sub-module 528 is used to select between said plurality of
alternative formats. Switching control sub-module 530 is response
to determinations by evaluation sub-module 530, e.g., implementing
a control information reporting format switch from a default
reporting format to a first custom reporting format, from a first
custom reporting format to a second custom reporting format, and
from a custom reporting format back to a default reporting
format.
[0067] Custom control information reporting format generation
module 527 generates for wireless terminal 500 a custom control
information reporting format, e.g., a control information reporting
format to be used subsequently for its dedicated control channel
signaling, the generated custom control information reporting
format tailored to accommodate the wireless terminal's current
application(s), needs, requirements, conditions, capabilities,
and/or environment.
[0068] FIG. 6 is a flowchart 600 of an exemplary method of
operating a first communications device to interact with a second
communications device. For example, the first communications device
may be a wireless terminal and the second communications device may
be a base station, said first and second communication devices
being included in a multiple access wireless communications system,
e.g., an OFDM multiple access wireless communications system.
[0069] Operation starts in step 602, where the first communications
device is powered on and initialized. Operation proceeds from start
step 602 to step 604. In step 604, the first communication device
determines a set of control information reports to be transmitted,
said set of control information reports corresponding to a first
reporting format. Step 604 includes sub-step 606, in which the
first communications device selects between a plurality of
predetermined reporting formats. In some embodiments, each of said
plurality of predetermined reporting formats specifies a plurality
of different types of reports and an ordering of said different
types of reports. In various embodiments, the different report
types includes at least two of a SNR report, a traffic request
report, a power information report and an interference report. In
some such embodiments, the reporting format further specifies the
control information to be communicated in said different types of
reports, e.g., report parameter, report parameter units,
quantization level information, and/or bit mapping information.
Operation proceeds from step 604 to step 608.
[0070] In step 608, the first communications device generates the
determined set of reports, and then in step 610, the first
communications device communicates the generated set of reports.
Step 610 includes sub-steps 612, 614 and 616. In sub-step 612, the
first communications device multiplexes the generated reports of
different types in accordance with the determined reporting format.
Operation proceeds from sub-step 612 to sub-step 614. In sub-step
614, the first communications device performs a coding and
modulation operation on the multiplexed generated set of reports to
generate a set of coded symbols. In some embodiments, the step of
coding and modulation includes using a predetermined coding and
modulation scheme corresponding to the determined reporting format,
with different coding and modulation schemes being used for at
least some of said plurality of reporting formats. Then, in
sub-step 616, the first communications device maps the coded
symbols to segments of a wireless communications channel. For
example, a set of ordered coded modulation symbols such as BPSK or
QPSK modulation symbols are mapped to an ordered sequence of
dedicated control channel segments. Operation proceeds from step
610 to step 604, where the first communications device determines
another set of control information reports to be transmitted.
[0071] FIG. 7 is a flowchart 700 of an exemplary method of
operating a first communications device to interact with a second
communications device. For example, the first communications device
may be a wireless terminal and the second communications device may
be a base station, said first and second communication devices
being included in a multiple access wireless communications system,
e.g., an OFDM multiple access wireless communications system.
[0072] Operation starts in step 702, where the first communications
device is powered on and initialized. Operation proceeds from start
step 702 to step 704. In step 704, the first communication device
determines a set of control information reports to be transmitted,
said set of control information reports corresponding to a first
reporting format. Step 704 includes sub-step 706, in which the
first communications device selects the reporting format as a
function of an application being executed by one of said first and
second communications devices.
[0073] In some embodiments, the application is one of a voice and
data application. In some such embodiments, a reporting format
selected in response to a voice application includes a latency
report and a reporting format selected in response to a data
application includes less frequency uplink request reports than a
format used for voice but more bits per uplink request on average
than used for voice.
[0074] In some embodiments, each of said plurality of predetermined
reporting formats specifies a plurality of different types of
reports and an ordering of said different types of reports. In
various embodiments, the different report types includes at least
two of a SNR report, a traffic request report, a power information
report, an interference report, and a delay report. In some such
embodiments, the reporting format further specifies the control
information to be communicated in said different types of reports,
e.g., report parameter, report parameter units, quantization level
information, and/or bit mapping information. Operation proceeds
from step 704 to step 708.
[0075] In step 708, the first communications device generates the
determined set of reports, and then in step 710, the first
communications device communicates the generated set of reports.
Operation proceeds from step 710 to step 704, where the first
communications device determines another set of control information
reports to be transmitted.
[0076] FIG. 8 is a flowchart 800 of an exemplary method of
operating a first communications device to interact with a second
communications device. For example, the first communications device
may be a wireless terminal and the second communications device may
be a base station, said first and second communication devices
being included in a multiple access wireless communications system,
e.g., an OFDM multiple access wireless communications system.
[0077] Operation starts in step 802, where the first communications
device is powered on and initialized. Operation proceeds from start
step 802 to step 804. In step 804, the first communication device
determines a set of control information reports to be transmitted,
said set of control information reports corresponding to a first
reporting format. Step 804 includes sub-step 806, in which the
first communications device determines a reporting format as a
function of at least one of: device capability information, channel
conditions, system loading, and quality of service information.
Device capability information includes, e.g., information regarding
number of antennas, information regarding number of receiver
chains, power information, data rates supported, modulation schemes
supported, receiver sensitivity, self noise information, and
application support. For example, wireless terminals may be
classified in sub-groups as a function of device capability, e.g.,
voice capable cellphones, voice and data capable cell phones, data
terminals, voice and data terminals. Another exemplary
classification may be in terms of mobility capability. Some
wireless terminals may be suitable for stationary operation but not
intended for dynamic operations, others may be suitable for mobile
operation at up to a first rate of motion, and still others may be
suitable for mobile operations at upto a second rate of motion,
said second rate being higher than said first rate. Power
information is also used in some embodiments to determine a
reporting format to be used. Power information may include, power
source information, e.g., battery vs external source, different
power modes, e.g., a normal communications mode and a power saving
mode, remaining battery power information, transmission power level
information, rate of usage of battery power, etc.
[0078] In some embodiments, each of said plurality of predetermined
reporting formats specifies a plurality of different types of
reports and an ordering of said different types of reports. In
various embodiments, the different report types includes at least
two of a SNR report, a traffic request report, a power information
report format, an interference report, and a delay report. In some
such embodiments, the reporting format further specifies the
control information to be communicated in said different types of
reports, e.g., report parameter, report parameter units,
quantization level information, and/or bit mapping information.
Operation proceeds from step 804 to step 808.
[0079] In step 808, the first communications device generates the
determined set of reports, and then in step 810, the first
communications device communicates the generated set of reports.
Operation proceeds from step 810 to step 804, where the first
communications device determines another set of control information
reports to be transmitted.
[0080] FIG. 9 is a flowchart 900 of an exemplary method of
operating a first communications device which interacts with a
second communications device. For example, the first communications
device may be a wireless terminal and the second communications
device may be a base station, said first and second communication
devices being included in a multiple access wireless communications
system, e.g., an OFDM multiple access wireless communications
system.
[0081] Operation starts in step 902, where the first communications
device is powered on and initialized. Operation proceeds from start
step 902 to step 904. In step 904, the first communication device
uses a default reporting format when communicating with said second
communications device. Then, in step 906, the first communications
device performs at least one of receiving and transmitting control
information reporting format definition information via a wireless
communications link. The reporting format definition information
communicated over the wireless communications link, in some
embodiments, is sufficient to define the reporting format. For
example, the reporting format definition information communicated
over the wireless link may include individual report format
information corresponding to a plurality of different types of
reports and reporting sequence information. The reporting format
definition information communicated over the wireless
communications link, in some embodiments, is used in combination
with pre-stored information to define the reporting format. For
example, the first and second communication devices may have
pre-stored a plurality of individual report format definitions
corresponding to a plurality of different types of reports, and the
reporting format definition information communicated over the
wireless link may include information identifying a subset of those
different types of reports and an ordered sequence of reports
corresponding to members of the identified subset Operation
proceeds from step 906 to step 908. In step 908, the first
communications device generates a control information report in
accordance with one of the received and transmitted reporting
format definition information.
[0082] In some embodiments, the reporting format provides a
definition mapping information to be included in a control
information report to possible report values, e.g., for a plurality
of different reports. For example, the reporting format may include
a report definition for a 5 bit SNR report, a report definition for
a 1 bit uplink traffic channel request report, a report definition
for a 3 bit uplink traffic channel request report, a report
definition for a 4 bit power report, etc. In various embodiments,
the reporting format defines a reporting schedule according to
which reports are to be transmitted. In some embodiments, the
reporting format defines a set of reports which are to be
transmitted in accordance with the defined reporting schedule. A
reporting format may, and sometime does, specify a coding and
modulation scheme to be applied to a set of reports.
[0083] FIG. 10 is a flowchart 1000 of an exemplary method of
operating a first communications device which interacts with a
second communications device. For example, the first communications
device may be a wireless terminal and the second communications
device may be a base station, said first and second communication
devices being included in a multiple access wireless communications
system, e.g., an OFDM multiple access wireless communications
system.
[0084] Operation starts in step 1002, where the first
communications device is powered on and initialized. Operation
proceeds from start step 1002 to step 1004. In step 1004, the first
communication device uses a default report format as a current
reporting format when communicating with said second communications
device. Then, in step 1006, the first communications device
performs at least one of receiving and transmitting control
information reporting format definition information from a wireless
communications link. In some embodiments, the reporting format
definition information is received from a base station, e.g., the
base station which the first communications device is using as its
current attachment point. In some embodiments, the reporting format
definition information is received from a centralized server.
Operation proceeds from step 1006 to step 1008.
[0085] In step 1008, the first communications device checks at
least one of device capability information, channel conditions,
application information, quality of service information and system
loading. Then, in step 1010, the first communications device
determines if the result of the check of step 1008 indicates that
the reporting format should be changed. If the determination of
step 1010 is that the reporting format should be changed, then
operation proceeds to step 1012; otherwise, operation proceeds to
step 1014. In step 1012, the first wireless terminal switches the
current reporting format to a new reporting format, e.g., said new
reporting format in accordance with said control information
reporting format definition information from a wireless
communications link. Operation proceeds from step 1012 to step
1014. In step 1014, the first communications device generates a
control information report in accordance with the current report
format definition information. Operation proceeds from step 1014 to
step 1008, where the first communication device performs another
check of at least one of device capability information, channel
condition, application information, quality of service information
and system loading.
[0086] In some embodiments, the reporting format provides a
definition mapping information to be included in said report to
possible report values. In various embodiments, the reporting
format further defines a reporting schedule according to which
reports are to be transmitted. In some embodiments, the reporting
format defines a set of reports which are to be transmitted in
accordance with the defined reporting schedule. A reporting format
may, and sometime does, specify a coding and modulation scheme to
be applied to a set of reports.
[0087] FIG. 11 is a drawing 1100 illustrating features in
accordance with some embodiments. First, second, and third rows
(1102, 1104, 1106) illustrate exemplary base station 1108 and
exemplary wireless terminal 1110 in a time sequential manner.
Exemplary base station 1108 may be exemplary base station 200 of
FIG. 2, while exemplary wireless terminal 1110 may be exemplary
wireless terminal 300 of FIG. 3. Row 1102 will now be described.
Exemplary base station 1108 includes dedicated control channel
reporting format information corresponding to a plurality of
predetermined formats (DCCH reporting format 1 information 1112,
DCCH reporting format 2 information 1114, DCCH reporting format 3
information 1116, DCCH reporting format 4 information 1118) and
exemplary wireless terminal 1110 includes dedicated control channel
reporting format information corresponding to a plurality of
predetermined formats (DCCH reporting format 1 information 1120,
DCCH reporting format 2 information 1122, DCCH reporting format 3
information 1124, DCCH reporting format 4 information 1126). In
this exemplary embodiment, the base station 1108 selects a
reporting format from among potential reporting formats as a
function of at least one of: application information, e.g., voice
or data, device capability information, user quality of service
information, channel condition information, system loading
information, and system environment information. In this example,
base station 1108 selects DCCH reporting format 2 as indicated by
arrow 1128. Then the base station 1108 sends a format selection
control signal 1130 to wireless terminal 1110 commanding the
wireless terminal to use DCCH reporting format 2, which wireless
terminal 1110 receives.
[0088] Second row 1104 will now be described. Wireless terminal
1110 processes control command signal 1130 and selects to use DCCH
reporting format 2 as indicated by arrow 1132.
[0089] Third row 1106 will now be described. Wireless terminal 1110
generates a sequence of uplink DCCH reports in accordance with DCCH
reporting format 2 as indicated by generated information 1134.
Wireless terminal transmits DCCH report signals 1136 to base
station 1108. The base station 1108 receives and processes the DCCH
report signals using DCCH reporting format 2 information 1114
obtaining recovered DCCH report information 1138.
[0090] FIG. 12 is a drawing 1200 illustrating features in
accordance with some embodiments. First, second, and third rows
(1202, 1204, 1206) illustrate exemplary base station 1208 and
exemplary wireless terminal 1210 in a time sequential manner.
Exemplary base station 1208 may be exemplary base station 200 of
FIG. 2, while exemplary wireless terminal 1110 may be exemplary
wireless terminal 300 of FIG. 3. Row 1202 will now be described.
Exemplary base station 1208 includes dedicated control channel
reporting format information corresponding to a plurality of
predetermined formats (DCCH reporting format 1 information 1212,
DCCH reporting format 2 information 1214, DCCH reporting format 3
information 1216, DCCH reporting format 4 information 1218), and
exemplary wireless terminal 1210 includes dedicated control channel
reporting format information corresponding to a plurality of
predetermined formats (DCCH reporting format 1 information 1220,
DCCH reporting format 2 information 1222, DCCH reporting format 3
information 1224, DCCH reporting format 4 information 1226). In
this exemplary embodiment, the wireless terminal 1208 selects a
reporting format from among potential reporting formats as a
function of at least one of: application information, e.g., voice
or data, device capability information, user quality of service
information, channel condition information, system loading
information, and system environment information. In this example,
wireless terminal 1208 selects DCCH reporting format 2 as indicated
by arrow 1228. Then the wireless terminal 1210 sends a format
selection control signal 1230 to base station 1208 commanding the
base station to use DCCH reporting format 2, which base station
1208 receives.
[0091] Second row 1204 will now be described. Base station 1208
processes control command signal 1230 and selects to use DCCH
reporting format 2 as indicated by arrow 1232.
[0092] Third row 1206 will now be described. Wireless terminal 1210
generates a sequence of uplink DCCH reports in accordance with DCCH
reporting format 2 as indicated by generated information 1234.
Wireless terminal 1210 transmits DCCH report signals 1236 to base
station 1208. The base station 1208 receives and processes the DCCH
report signals using DCCH reporting format 2 information 1214
obtaining recovered DCCH report information 1238.
[0093] FIG. 13 is a drawing 1300 illustrating features in
accordance with some embodiments. First, second, and third rows
(1302, 1304, 1306) illustrate exemplary base station 1308 and
exemplary wireless terminal 1310 in a time sequential manner.
Exemplary base station 1308 may be exemplary base station 400 of
FIG. 4, while exemplary wireless terminal 1310 may be exemplary
wireless terminal 500 of FIG. 5. Row 1302 will now be described.
Exemplary base station 1308 includes dedicated control channel
(DCCH) default reporting format information 1312 and custom DCCH
reporting format 1 information 1314, and exemplary wireless
terminal 1310 includes DCCH default reporting format information
1316. Custom DCCH reporting format 1 is, e.g., a reporting format
which has been tailored for wireless terminal 1310, e.g., tailored
to accommodate WT 1310 current conditions, needs, situation, etc.
For example, custom reporting format 1 is in some embodiments,
structured as a function of at least one of: application
information, e.g., voice or data, device capability information,
user quality of service information, channel condition information,
system loading information, and system environment information.
Custom reporting format 1, is in some embodiments generated by base
station 1308. Alternatively or in addition, custom DCCH reporting
format 1 is, e.g., a new release format to be conveyed to wireless
terminal 1310, e.g., as part of an upgrade. Then the base station
1308 transmits over a wireless communications channel custom DCCH
reporting format 1 information signals 1318 to wireless terminal
1310, which receives signals 1318. Signals 1318 conveys, e.g., a
set of information defining the custom DCCH reporting format, e.g,
a plurality of individual report definition information,
information identifying a sequence of the plurality of individual
reports, information identifying a coding and modulation scheme,
and information defining a recurring time interval. Alternatively,
signals 1318 convey, e.g., some of the information defining the
custom DCCH reporting format 1, and the set of custom DCCH
reporting format 1 information can be constructed from signals 1318
and some pre-stored information. For example, the wireless terminal
1310 may have pre-stored report definition information
corresponding to a plurality of alternative reports, and signals
1318 convey a definition for an ordered sequence of reports to be
communicated in a recurring structure.
[0094] Second row 1304 will now be described. Wireless terminal
1310 processes received signals 1318 conveying custom DCCH
reporting format 1 information and stores custom DCCH reporting
format 1 information 1320.
[0095] Third row 1306 will now be described. Arrow 1322 pointing to
custom DCCH reporting format 1 information 1320 in wireless
terminal 1310 and arrow 1324 pointing to DCCH custom reporting
format 1 information 1414 in base station 1308 indicate that at
this time both WT 1310 and base station 1308 are using DCCH custom
reporting format 1. Wireless terminal 1310 generates a sequence of
uplink DCCH reports in accordance with custom DCCH reporting format
1 as indicated by information 1326. Wireless terminal 1310
transmits DCCH report signals 1328 to base station 1308. The base
station 1308 receives and processes the DCCH report signals using
custom DCCH reporting format 1 information 1314 obtaining recovered
DCCH report information 1330.
[0096] FIG. 14 is a drawing 1400 illustrating features in
accordance with some embodiments. First, second, and third rows
(1402, 1404, 1406) illustrate exemplary base station 1408 and
exemplary wireless terminal 1410 in a time sequential manner.
Exemplary base station 1408 may be exemplary base station 400 of
FIG. 4, while exemplary wireless terminal 1410 may be exemplary
wireless terminal 500 of FIG. 5. Row 1402 will now be described.
Exemplary base station 1408 includes dedicated control channel
(DCCH) default reporting format information 1412, and exemplary
wireless terminal 1410 includes DCCH default reporting format
information 1414 and custom DCCH reporting format 1 information
1416. Custom DCCH reporting format 1 is, e.g., a reporting format
which has been tailored by wireless terminal 1410 for wireless
terminal 1410, e.g., tailored to accommodate WT 1410 current
conditions, needs, situation, etc. For example, custom reporting
format 1 is in some embodiments, structured as a function of at
least one of: application information, e.g., voice or data, device
capability information, user quality of service information,
channel condition information, system loading information, and
system environment information. Then wireless terminal 1410
transmits over a wireless communications channel custom DCCH
reporting format 1 information signals 1418 to base station 1408,
which receives signals 1418. Signals 1418 convey, e.g., a set of
information defining the custom DCCH reporting format 1, e.g., a
plurality of individual report definition information, information
identifying a sequence of the plurality of individual reports,
information identifying a coding and modulation scheme, and
information defining a recurring time interval. Alternatively,
signals 1418 convey, e.g., some of the information defining the
custom DCCH reporting format 1, and the set of custom DCCH
reporting format 1 information can be constructed from signals 1418
and some pre-stored information. For example, the base station 1410
may have pre-stored report definition information corresponding to
a plurality of alternative reports, and signals 1418 convey a
definition for an ordered sequence of reports to be communicated,
e.g., in a recurring structure.
[0097] Second row 1404 will now be described. Base station 1408
processes received signals 1418 conveying custom DCCH reporting
format 1 information and stores custom DCCH reporting format 1
information 1420.
[0098] Third row 1406 will now be described. Arrow 1422 pointing to
custom DCCH reporting format 1 information 1416 in wireless
terminal 1410 and arrow 1424 pointing to DCCH custom reporting
format 1 information 1420 in base station 1408 indicate that at
this time both WT 1410 and base station 1408 are using DCCH custom
reporting format 1. Wireless terminal 1410 generates a sequence of
uplink DCCH reports in accordance with custom DCCH reporting format
1 as indicated by information 1426. Wireless terminal 1410
transmits DCCH report signals 1428 to base station 1408. The base
station 1408 receives and processes the DCCH report signals using
custom DCCH reporting format 1 information 1420 obtaining recovered
DCCH report information 1430.
[0099] FIG. 15 is a drawing illustrating exemplary custom dedicated
control channel reporting format wireless signals 1502, 1504. An
exemplary custom dedicated control channel reporting format
wireless signals representation, e.g., 1502 or 1504, may be any of
custom DCCH reporting format 1 information signals 1318 or FIG. 13
or 1418 or FIG. 14.
[0100] Exemplary DCCH custom reporting format wireless signals 1502
includes a plurality of report type definition information (report
type 1 definition information 1504, . . . , report type N
definition information 1506), reporting schedule information 1508,
and coding and modulation information 1510. Each report type
definition information (1504, 1506) includes mapping information
(1512, 1514), respectively, which defines mapping of control
information to potential information bit patterns used by the
report. Reporting schedule information 1508 includes report
sequencing information 1516, recurring timing structure information
1518, and DCCH segment definition information 1520.
[0101] Exemplary DCCH custom reporting format wireless signals 1504
includes sequence information corresponding to known report types,
e.g., a sequence indicating report C, report A, report B, report J,
report D, . . . , report A, report D. In some embodiments, a
recurring DCCH reporting structure is known, e.g., 40 indexed DCCH
segments in a beaconslot, and the reporting sequence communicated
in signals 1504 is such to identify the report types used for the
segments. In some embodiments, the number and/or type of reports
communicated in the reporting sequence in signals 1504 is used to
identify the number of reports to be communicated and/or the size
of a recurring reporting structure.
[0102] FIG. 16 is a drawing of a table 1600 illustrating exemplary
wireless terminal terminals, exemplary factors influencing a
reporting format being used, and exemplary corresponding dedicated
control channel reporting format characteristics. First column 1602
lists fifteen exemplary wireless terminals (WT 1, . . . , WT 15).
Second column 1604 lists a factor influencing the reporting format
being used for a corresponding WT. Third column 1606 lists a DCCH
reporting format characteristic corresponding to the WT.
[0103] First row 1608 indicates that exemplary WT 1 is using a
voice traffic application, and the DCCH reporting format being used
includes a delay report and frequent small bit size traffic request
reports, e.g., frequent single bit uplink traffic channel request
reports. Second row 1610 indicates that exemplary WT 2 is using a
delay insensitive data traffic application, e.g., a file transfer
protocol (FTP) application, and the DCCH reporting format being
used does not include delay reports, but does include infrequent
large bit size traffic request reports, e.g., infrequent 4 bit
uplink traffic channel request reports. Third row 1612 indicates
that exemplary WT 3 has a need to communicate a mixture of voice
and data traffic, e.g., WT 3 is running a voice application an
Internet gaming application, and the DCCH reporting format being
used includes a mixture of different size traffic request reports,
e.g., a 1 bit uplink traffic channel request report, a 3 bit
traffic channel request report, and a 4 bit traffic channel request
report. Fourth row 1614 indicates that exemplary WT 4 is a multiple
antenna device, and the DCCH reporting format being used includes
additional SNR reports for reporting various alternatives. Fifth
row 1616 indicates that exemplary WT 5 is experiencing low battery
power level, and the DCCH reporting format being used has less
segments per unit time to conserve energy. Sixth row 1618 indicates
that exemplary WT 6 is a stationary device, and the DCCH reporting
format being used less frequently reports SNR and transmission
power information, e.g., transmission power backoff information.
Seventh row 1620 indicates that exemplary WT 7 is a moving high
velocity device, and the DCCH reporting format being used more
frequently reports SNR and transmission power information, e.g.,
transmission power backoff information. Eighth row 1622 indicates
that exemplary WT 8 includes an expensive high quality receiver,
and the DCCH reporting format being used omits self-noise reports.
Ninth row 1624 indicates that exemplary WT 9 is using an isolated
base station, and the DCCH reporting format being used omits
interference reports comparing signals from different base
stations, e.g., beacon ratio reports are not included. Tenth row
1626 indicates that exemplary WT 10 is experiencing very good and
stable channel conditions, and the DCCH reporting format being used
includes an SNR report that has a narrow range around relatively
high values, and the DCCH reporting format being used includes at
least some differential reports, e.g., delta reports with respect
to previously communicated DCCH reports. Eleventh row 1628
indicates that exemplary WT 11 is experiencing poor but stable
channel conditions, and the DCCH reporting format being used
includes an SNR report that has a narrow range around relatively
low values. Twelfth row 1630 indicates that exemplary WT 12 is
experiencing widely varying channel conditions, and the DCCH
reporting format being used include an SNR report that has a wide
reporting range. Thirteenth row 1632 indicates that exemplary WT 13
is using a base station experiencing high system loading, and the
DCCH reporting format being used has less segments allocated to WT
per time interval to free up resources for the other wireless
terminals. Fourteenth row 1634 indicates that exemplary WT 14 has
high QoS requirements, and the DCCH reporting format being used
provides for additional opportunities for traffic requests.
Fifteenth row 1636 indicates that exemplary WT 15 has just recently
accessed the base station, and the DCCH reporting format being used
is a default format.
[0104] FIG. 17 is a drawing 1700 of exemplary uplink dedicated
control channel (DCCH) segments in an exemplary uplink timing and
frequency structure in an exemplary orthogonal frequency division
multiplexing (OFDM) multiple access wireless communications system.
The uplink dedicated control channel is used to send Dedicated
Control Reports (DCR) from wireless terminals to base stations.
Vertical axis 1702 plots logical uplink tone index while horizontal
axis 1704 plots the uplink index of the halfslot within a
beaconslot. In this example, an uplink tone block includes 113
logical uplink tones indexed (0, . . . , 112); there are seven
successive OFDM symbol transmission time periods within a halfslot,
2 additional OFDM symbol time periods followed by 16 successive
half-slots within a superslot, and 8 successive superslots within a
beacon slot. The first 9 OFDM symbol transmission time periods
within a superslot are an access interval, and the dedicated
control channel does not use the air link resources of the access
interval.
[0105] The exemplary dedicated control channel is subdivided into
31 logical tones (uplink tone index 81 1706, uplink tone index 82
1708, . . . , uplink tone index 111 1710). Each logical uplink tone
(81, . . . , 111) in the logical uplink frequency structure
corresponds to a logical tone indexed with respect to the DCCH
channel (0, . . . , 30).
[0106] For each tone in the dedicated control channel there are 40
segments in the beaconslot corresponding to forty columns (1712,
1714, 1716, 1718, 1720, 1722, . . . , 1724). The segment structure
repeats on a beaconslot basis. For a given tone in the dedicated
control channel there are 40 segments corresponding to a beaconslot
1728; each of the eight superslots of the beaconslot includes 5
successive segments for the given tone. For example, for first
superslot 1726 of beaconslot 1728, corresponding to tone 0 of the
DCCH, there are five indexed segments (segment [0] [0], segment [0]
[1], segment [0][2], segment [0][3], segment [0][4]). Similarly,
for first superslot 1726 of beaconslot 1728, corresponding to tone
1 of the DCCH, there are five indexed segments (segment [1][0],
segment [1][1], segment [1][2], segment [1][3], segment [1][4]).
Similarly, for first superslot 1726 of beaconslot 1728,
corresponding to tone 30 of the DCCH, there are five indexed
segments (segment [30][0], segment [30][1], segment [30][2],
segment [30][3], segment [30][4]).
[0107] In this example each segment, e.g., segment [0][0],
comprises one tone for 3 successive half-slots, e.g., representing
an allocated uplink air link resource of 21 OFDM tone-symbols. In
some embodiments, logical uplink tones are hopped to physical tones
in accordance with an uplink tone hopping sequence such that the
physical tone associated with a logical tone may be different for
successive half-slots, but remains constant during a given
half-slot.
[0108] Each logical tone of the dedicated control channel may be
assigned by the base station to a different wireless terminal using
the base station as its current point of attachment. For example,
logical tone (506, 508, . . . , 510) may be currently assigned to
(WT A 1730, WT B 1732, . . . , WT N'' 1734), respectively.
[0109] Each uplink DCCH segment is used to transmit a set of
Dedicated Control Channel Reports (DCRs). A list of exemplary DCRs
is given in table 1800 of FIG. 18. First column 1802 of table 1800
describes abbreviated names used for each exemplary report. The
name of each report ends with a number which specifies the number
of bits of the DCR. Second column 1804 of table 1800 briefly
describes each named report.
[0110] FIG. 19 is a table 1900 describing the exemplary format of
exemplary 5 bit absolute report of downlink signal to noise ratio
(DLSNR5). Column 1902 lists the 32 possible information bit
patterns for the report, and column 1904 lists a corresponding
reported WT measured downlink pilot channel SNR conveyed by the
report. A wireless terminal measures downlink pilot channel SNR,
determines the SNR reported value possibility closest to the
measured value, and then determines the corresponding 5 bit pattern
to be reported in the report. Each report in table 1800 has its own
corresponding mapping information.
[0111] FIG. 20 is a drawing 2099 illustrating an exemplary
reporting format information in an exemplary beaconslot for a given
DCCH tone, e.g., corresponding to a wireless terminal. In FIG. 20,
each block (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,
2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019,
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030,
2031, 2032, 2033, 2034, 2035, 2036, 2037, 2038, 2039) represents
one segment whose index s2 (0, . . . , 39) is shown above the block
in rectangular region 2040. Each block, e.g., block 2000
representing segment 0, conveys 6 information bits; each block
comprises 6 rows corresponding to the 6 bits in the segment, where
the bits are listed from the most significant bit to the least
significant bit downwards from the top row to the bottom row as
shown in rectangular region 2043.
[0112] FIG. 20 illustrates one exemplary reporting format, e.g., a
default reporting format. Numerous variations are possible. Some
reporting formats may be additional pre-stored reporting formats.
Some reporting formats may be custom reporting formats, e.g.,
tailored for a particular wireless terminal, set of wireless
terminals, type of wireless terminal, and/or set of conditions.
Some different reporting formats, in some embodiments, use
different numbers of information bits/segment, e.g., 8 information
bit/per segment instead of 6 information bits/segment. Some
different reporting formats, in some embodiments, use different
modulation schemes. Some different reporting formats, in some
embodiment, have a different set of reports used. Some different
reporting formats, in some embodiments, have different orderings
and/or frequencies of reports. Some different reporting formats, in
some embodiment, intentionally omit certain types of reports. Some
different reporting formats, in some embodiments, have a
concentration of certain types of reports. Some different reporting
formats, in some embodiments, use different sets of segments. Some
different reporting formats, in some embodiments, refrain from
transmitting of subsets of segments. Some different reporting
formats, in some embodiments, have different durations, e.g.,
different durations of a recurring pattern.
[0113] Different wireless terminals may be using different control
information reporting formats at the same time. In addition the
same wireless terminal may use different control information
reporting formats at different times.
[0114] FIG. 21 is a drawing of a flowchart 2100 of an exemplary
method of operating a base station to interact with one or more
wireless terminals. Operation starts in step 2102, where the base
station is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step 2104,
for each wireless terminal of some wireless terminals allocated a
dedicated control channel by the base station. At different times
different wireless terminals are allocated dedicated control
channels by the base station. In addition, in the communications
system, some wireless terminal may support a plurality of control
information reporting formats, while some less capable wireless
terminals may support a single control information reporting
format.
[0115] In step 2104, the base station determines a set of control
information reports to be received, said set of control information
reports corresponding to a reporting format. Step 2104 includes
sub-step 2106. In sub-step 2106, the base station selects between a
plurality of predetermined reporting formats. Sub-step 2106
includes one or more of sub-step 2108, 2110, and 2112. In sub-step
2108, the base station selects the control information reporting
format as a function of an application being executed, e.g., by
said base station or said wireless terminal or a peer node in a
communications session with said wireless terminal. In some
embodiments, the application is one of a voice and a data
application. In some such embodiments, a reporting format selected
in response to a voice application includes a latency report or
includes latency information embedded in a traffic channel request
report, and a reporting format selected in response to a data
application includes less frequent uplink request reports than a
reporting format used for voice but more bits per uplink request on
average than used for voice. For example, frequently scheduled 1
bit uplink request reports may be used in an exemplary reporting
format tailored for a voice application, while less frequently
scheduled 3 and/or 4 bit uplink traffic channel request reports may
be used in an exemplary reporting format tailored for a data
application. In sub-step 2110, the base station selects the control
information reporting format as a function of at least one of:
device capability information, channel condition information,
system loading information, and user quality of service (QoS)
information. In sub-step 2112, the base station selects the control
information reporting format as a function of at least one of: a
command signal or a request signal received from said wireless
terminal.
[0116] In some embodiments, each of said plurality of predetermined
reporting formats specifies a plurality of different types of
reports and an ordering of said different types of reports. In some
embodiments, the different reporting types includes at least two of
a SNR report, a traffic request report, a power information report,
an interference report, and a delay report, e.g., a latency report.
In some embodiments, the reporting format specifies the control
information to be communicated in the different types of reports,
e.g., counts of frames of traffic backlog with defined
quanitization, SNR level in dB with defined quantization, power
gain level in dBs with defined quantization, etc.
[0117] Operation proceeds from step 2104 to step 2114. In step
2114, the base station receives signals, e.g., dedicated control
channel segment OFDM signals, conveying said determined set of
reports. Then, in step 2116, the base station performs a
demodulation and decoding operation on said received signals to
generate sets of ordered information bits, each set of ordered
information bits corresponding to a communications segment. Step
2116 includes sub-step 2118. In sub-step 2118, the base station
uses a predetermined decoding and demodulation scheme corresponding
to said reporting format, different decoding and demodulation
schemes being used for at least some of said plurality of reporting
formats. For example, in one exemplary embodiment one exemplary
control information reporting format uses a demodulation and
decoding scheme which obtains 6 information bits from 21 QPSK
modulation symbols corresponding to a dedicated control channel
communications segment; while a different exemplary control
information format uses a demodulation and decoding scheme which
obtains 8 information bits from 21 QPSK modulation symbols
corresponding to a dedicated control channel communications
segment. Operation proceeds from step 2116 to step 2120.
[0118] In step 2110, the base station maps the ordered bits of a
segment to one or more control information reports in accordance
with said reporting format. For example, corresponding to one
exemplary control information reporting format, a first segment in
a recurring structure may convey 6 ordered information bits, and
bits 1-5 convey a 5 bit downlink SNR report, while bit 0 (LSb)
conveys a 1 bit uplink traffic channel request report. Operation
proceeds from step 2120 to step 2122.
[0119] In step 2122, the base station recovers information from
said set of determined control information reports in accordance
with said reporting format. For example, the bit pattern, e.g.,
01110, of a received SNR report may report a pilot channel SNR
measurement value, e.g., 2 dB.
[0120] Operation proceeds from step 2122 to step 2104, where the
base station determines another set of control information reports
to be received by the wireless terminal assuming the wireless
terminal is still allocated a dedicated control channel by the base
station.
[0121] In some embodiments, the received signals, e.g., dedicated
control channel segment signals, from multiple wireless terminal
using the base station are received concurrently, and the control
information reporting format for at least some of the different
wireless terminals, at at least some times is different. For
example, a first wireless terminal communicating with the base
station may be using a control information reporting format
tailored for a voice application, and a second wireless terminal
communicating with the base station may be using a control
information reporting format tailored to delay insensitive data
communications, e.g., file transfers.
[0122] FIG. 22 is a drawing of a flowchart 2200 of an exemplary
method of operating a base station to interact with one or more
wireless terminals. For example, the base station and wireless
terminal may be part of a multiple access OFDM wireless
communications system including a dedicated control channel for
uplink control information reports and using dedicated control
channel segments. Operation starts in step 2202, where the base
station is powered on and initialized. Operation proceeds from
start step 2202 to step 2204, for each wireless terminal of some
wireless terminals allocated a dedicated control channel by a base
station. In step 2204, the base station uses a default format as a
current reporting format when communicating with said wireless
terminal, e.g., as part of an initial communications with the
wireless terminal.
[0123] Operation proceeds from step 2204 to step 2206, where the
base station performs at least one of receiving and transmitting
control information reporting format definition information from a
wireless communications link. In some embodiments, a control
information reporting format includes reporting format definition
information providing definition mapping information to be included
in said report to possible report values. In some embodiments, a
control information reporting format includes reporting format
definition information defining a reporting schedule according to
which reports are to be transmitted. In some embodiments, a control
information reporting format includes reporting format definition
information defining a set of reports which are to be transmitted,
e.g., by a wireless terminal to the base station, in accordance
with the defined reporting schedule. In some embodiments, a control
information reporting format includes reporting format definition
information specifying a coding and modulation scheme to be applied
to the set of reports.
[0124] Then, in step 2208, the base station checks at least one of
device capability information, channel condition information,
application information, quality of service information, system
loading information, and the reception of a control information
format switching command or request from said wireless
terminal.
[0125] In step 2210, the base station decides how to proceed based
on the result of the check of step 2208. If the result of the check
indicates that the reporting format should be changed, operation
proceeds to step 2212; otherwise operation proceeds to step
2214.
[0126] In step 2212, the base station switches the current
reporting format to a new reporting format, e.g., said new
reporting format in accordance with said control information
reporting format definition information received or transmitted
from a wireless communication link of step 2206. Operation proceeds
from step 2212 to step 2214.
[0127] In step 2214, the base station recovers control information
corresponding to a received control information report in
accordance with the current reporting format. Operation proceeds
from step 2214 to step 2208, where the base station perform another
check.
[0128] In some embodiments, reporting format information, e.g.,
corresponding to customized control information reports, is
communicated between a base station and a wireless terminal using
the base station as its attachment point. In some embodiments,
reporting format information corresponding to a wireless terminal
is communicated to and/or stored at a centralized server and/or a
home agent node. In some such embodiments, state information
corresponding to a control information reporting format, for a
wireless terminal is stored, e.g., in a centralized server, home
agent node, and/or base station. In some embodiments such stored
information can, and sometimes is, retrieved and transferred to a
new base station, e.g., as part of a handoff process and/or
initialization process when attaching to a new base station.
[0129] While described in the context of an OFDM system, the
methods and apparatus of various embodiments, are applicable to a
wide range of communications systems including many non-OFDM and/or
non-cellular systems.
[0130] In various embodiments nodes described herein are
implemented using one or more modules to perform the steps
corresponding to one or more methods, for example, signal
processing, beacon generation, beacon detection, beacon measuring,
connection comparisons, connection implementations. In some
embodiments various features are implemented using modules. Such
modules may be implemented using software, hardware or a
combination of software and hardware. Many of the above described
methods or method steps can be implemented using machine executable
instructions, such as software, included in a machine readable
medium such as a memory device, e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. to
control a machine, e.g., general purpose computer with or without
additional hardware, to implement all or portions of the above
described methods, e.g., in one or more nodes. Accordingly, among
other things, various embodiments are directed to a
machine-readable medium including machine executable instructions
for causing a machine, e.g., processor and associated hardware, to
perform one or more of the steps of the above-described
method(s).
[0131] Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus
described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art in
view of the above descriptions. Such variations are to be
considered within scope. The methods and apparatus of various
embodiments may be, and in various embodiments are, used with CDMA,
orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), and/or various
other types of communications techniques which may be used to
provide wireless communications links between access nodes and
mobile nodes. In some embodiments the access nodes are implemented
as base stations which establish communications links with mobile
nodes using OFDM and/or CDMA. In various embodiments the mobile
nodes are implemented as notebook computers, personal data
assistants (PDAs), or other portable devices including
receiver/transmitter circuits and logic and/or routines, for
implementing the methods of various embodiments.
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