U.S. patent application number 14/063430 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-20 for method and apparatus for selectively enabling reception of downlink signaling channels.
This patent application is currently assigned to InterDigital Technology Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is InterDigital Technology Corporation. Invention is credited to Stephen G. Dick, Stephen E. Terry, Guodong Zhang.
Application Number | 20140050171 14/063430 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34749089 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140050171 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Terry; Stephen E. ; et
al. |
February 20, 2014 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY ENABLING RECEPTION OF DOWNLINK
SIGNALING CHANNELS
Abstract
In a wireless communication system including a wireless
transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and at least one Node-B, a method and
apparatus is used to selectively enable reception of at least one
downlink (DL) enhanced uplink (EU) signaling channel established
between the WTRU and the Node-B(s). During the operation of an
enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH), the WTRU monitors at least one
DL EU signaling channel established between the WTRU and the
Node-B(s) only when it is necessary, based on the WTRU's knowledge
of at least one established standard procedure. The WTRU
coordinates and consolidates DL signaling channel reception
requirements of a plurality of channel allocation and/or data
transmission procedures carried out by the WTRU in accordance with
the established standard procedure. The WTRU determines whether to
enable reception of at least one specific DL signaling channel
based on the consolidated DL signaling channel reception
requirements.
Inventors: |
Terry; Stephen E.;
(Northport, NY) ; Zhang; Guodong; (Syosset,
NY) ; Dick; Stephen G.; (Nesconset, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
InterDigital Technology Corporation |
Wilmington |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
InterDigital Technology
Corporation
Wilmington
DE
|
Family ID: |
34749089 |
Appl. No.: |
14/063430 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11095401 |
Mar 31, 2005 |
8570952 |
|
|
14063430 |
|
|
|
|
60566620 |
Apr 29, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 8/24 20130101; H04W
72/0413 20130101; Y02D 30/70 20200801; H04W 74/00 20130101; Y02B
70/30 20130101; H04L 1/16 20130101; H04W 52/0216 20130101; H04W
24/10 20130101; H04W 88/08 20130101; H04W 88/02 20130101; H04W
52/0219 20130101; H04W 84/042 20130101; H04L 1/1812 20130101; H04W
72/0453 20130101; H04W 72/1278 20130101; H04W 76/28 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/329 |
International
Class: |
H04W 76/04 20060101
H04W076/04 |
Claims
1. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising: a
transmitter configured to transmit enhanced uplink data; a receiver
configured to receive an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative
acknowledgment (NACK) on a hybrid automatic repeat request (H-ARQ)
information channel (HICH) during a predetermined period after the
transmission of the enhanced uplink data; the receiver is further
configured to receive configuration information; and a processor
configured to enable the receiver to periodically receive at least
an enhanced uplink absolute grant channel (E-AGCH) and an enhanced
uplink relative grant channel (E-RGCH); the processor configured to
control the receiver to discontinue reception of the E-AGCH and the
E-RGCH based on configuration information and between the periods
that the receiver is enabled to receive the E-AGCH and the
E-RGCH.
2. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured
to control the transmitter to transmit scheduling information
including an amount of enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) data
stored in a buffer.
3. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured
to control the transmitter to transmit scheduling information
including available enhanced uplink transmission power
information.
4. A method for channel resource allocation comprising:
transmitting enhanced uplink data; receiving an acknowledgment
(ACK) or a negative acknowledgment (NACK) on a hybrid automatic
repeat request (H-ARQ) information channel (HICH) during a
predetermined period after the transmission of the enhanced uplink
data; receiving configuration information; receiving at least an
enhanced uplink absolute grant channel (E-AGCH) and an enhanced
uplink relative grant channel (E-RGCH) periodically; and
discontinuing reception of the E-AGCH and the E-RGCH based on
configuration information and between the periods that at least the
E-AGCH and the E-RGCH are received.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising transmitting scheduling
information including an amount of enhanced dedicated channel
(E-DCH) data stored in a buffer.
6. The method of claim 4 further comprising transmitting scheduling
information including available enhanced uplink transmission power
information.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/095,401, filed Mar. 31, 2005, which claims
the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/566,620 filed
Apr. 29, 2004, which are incorporated by reference as if fully set
forth.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is related to a wireless communication
system including a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and at
least one Node-B. More particularly, the present invention is a
method and apparatus for selectively enabling reception of downlink
(DL) enhanced uplink (EU) signaling channels established between
the WTRU and the Node-B(s).
BACKGROUND
[0003] Methods for improving uplink (UL) coverage, throughput and
transmission latency are being investigated in Release 6 (R6) of
the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). In order to
successfully implement these methods, the scheduling and assigning
of UL radio resources have been moved from a radio network
controller (RNC) to a Node-B such that the Node-B can make
decisions and manage UL radio resources on a short-term basis more
efficiently than the RNC, even if the RNC retains overall control
over the Node-B.
[0004] EU operation requires transmitting information such as UL
channel allocations and transmission feedback information to the
WTRU via DL EU signaling channels. The WTRU monitors the DL EU
signaling channels for the reception of channel allocations and
transmission feedback information.
[0005] A method and apparatus is desired for controlling reception
of the DL EU signaling channels such that they are enabled only
when required.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention is a method and apparatus for
selectively enabling reception of at least one DL EU signaling
channel used for EU operation. During the operation of an enhanced
dedicated channel (E-DCH), a WTRU monitors at least one DL EU
signaling channel established between the WTRU and at least one
Node-B only when it is necessary, based on the WTRU's knowledge of
at least one established standard procedure. The WTRU coordinates
and consolidates DL signaling channel reception requirements of a
plurality of channel allocation and/or data transmission procedures
carried out by the WTRU in accordance with the established standard
procedure. The WTRU determines whether to enable reception of at
least one specific DL signaling channel based on the consolidated
DL signaling channel reception requirements.
[0007] In accordance with the present invention, the WTRU does not
have to continuously enable the reception of the DL EU signaling
channel during EU operation. Instead, the WTRU may selectively turn
on and off, (i.e., enable and disable), reception of at least one
specific DL EU signaling channel, thus reducing WTRU processing
requirements and reducing the probability of misinterpretation of
DL signaling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] A more detailed understanding of the invention may be had
from the following description of a preferred example, given by way
of example and to be understood in conjunction with the
accompanying drawing wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system
operating in accordance with the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a process including method steps
for selectively enabling reception of at least one DL EU signaling
channel during EU operation when the WTRU sends an EU channel
allocation request and is expecting to receive scheduling
information in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0011] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a process including method steps
for selectively enabling reception of at least one DL EU signaling
channel when the WTRU sends E-DCH data and is expecting to receive
feedback information in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0012] Hereafter, the terminology "WTRU" includes but is not
limited to a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a fixed or
mobile subscriber unit, a pager, or any other type of device
capable of operating in a wireless environment. When referred to
hereafter, the terminology "Node-B" includes but is not limited to
a base station, a site controller, an access point or any other
type of interfacing device in a wireless environment.
[0013] The features of the present invention may be incorporated
into an integrated circuit (IC) or be configured in a circuit
comprising a multitude of interconnecting components.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system
100 operating in accordance with the present invention. The system
100 includes a WTRU 102, at least one Node-B 104 and an RNC 106.
The WTRU 102 includes an E-DCH data buffer 112, a physical
reception control entity 114, a receiver 116, a transmitter 118, a
processor 120 and a standards database 122.
[0015] The transmitter 118 in the WTRU 102 transmits an EU channel
allocation request, (i.e., a rate request), to the Node-B(s) 104
through a UL EU channel 108 for EU transmission to the Node-B 104.
The EU channel allocation request may include scheduling
information. The scheduling information may include traffic volume
measurement (TVM) information of E-DCH data stored in the buffer
112 of the WTRU 102 and available EU transmit power
information.
[0016] After the EU channel allocation request is transmitted, the
receiver 116 in the WTRU 102 monitors a plurality of DL EU
signaling channels 1101, 1102, . . . , 110N for channel allocation
information via the physical reception control entity 114. The
Node-B(s) 104 responds to the EU channel allocation request with UL
channel allocation information through one of the DL EU signaling
channels 110.sub.1-N.
[0017] The system 100 is configured such that both UL signaling and
E-DCH data are transmitted from the WTRU 102 to the Node-B(s) 104
via the UL EU channel 108. After receiving scheduling information
for channel allocation from the Node-B(s) 104 through at least one
of the DL EU signaling channels 110.sub.1-N, the transmitter 118 in
the WTRU 102 transmits E-DCH data through the allocated UL EU
channel 108. The receiver 116 in the WTRU 102 then monitors the DL
EU signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N for expected E-DCH data
feedback information.
[0018] In response to receiving the E-DCH data, the Node-B(s) 104
transmits E-DCH data feedback information to the WTRU 102 through
the DL EU signaling channels 110.sub.1-N. The feedback information
includes either a positive acknowledgement (ACK) message or a
negative acknowledgement (NACK) message, depending on the success
or failure of the Node-B(s) 104 decoding the E-DCH data sent over
the UL EU channel 108 by the WTRU 102. The Node-B(s) 104 may also
transmit further channel allocation information in response to the
E-DCH data transmission. Such further information may be included
in the feedback information or may be sent as a separate
transmission over the DL EU signaling channels 110.sub.1-N.
[0019] The status of active EU procedures in the WTRU 102 may be
used to provide input to the physical reception control entity 114
of the WTRU 102. The physical reception control entity 114
communicates with a physical layer process to selectively enable
and disable reception of the DL EU signaling channels
110.sub.1-N.
[0020] In accordance with the present invention, the physical
reception control entity 114 in the WTRU 102 disables reception,
(i.e., ceases monitoring), of the DL EU signaling channels 1101-N
when it is not required by EU signaling procedures known to the
WTRU 102. During periods when the WTRU 102 is not required to
receive the DL EU signaling channels 110.sub.1-N, the processing
requirements and power consumption of the WTRU 102 are reduced, and
the possibility of false interpretation of DL signaling is
avoided.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a process 200 including method
steps for selectively enabling reception of at least one DL EU
signaling channel 110.sub.1-N during EU transmission in accordance
with the present invention. In step 202, the WTRU 102 is configured
by the RNC 106 for E-DCH operation, whereby the UL EU channel 108
and the DL EU signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N are established
between the WTRU 102 and the Node-B(s) 104. The WTRU 102 is not
required to enable the reception of its DL EU signaling channel(s)
110.sub.1-N immediately following configuration in the WTRU 102.
Thus, the physical reception control entity 114 in the WTRU 102
disables reception of DL EU signal channel(s) 110.sub.1-N.
[0022] Still referring to FIG. 2, after the WTRU 102 is configured
for E-DCH operation at step 202, the WTRU 102 monitors its buffer
112 of E-DCH data (step 204). If, at step 206, it is determined by
the WTRU 102 that there is no E-DCH data in the buffer 112, the
WTRU 102 continues to monitor the buffer 112, and reception of the
DL EU signaling channels 110.sub.1-N remains disabled at step 204.
If, at step 206, it is determined by the WTRU 102 that there is
E-DCH data waiting (i.e., queued) for transmission via the UL EU
channel 108, the WTRU 102 transmits an EU channel allocation
request with or without E-DCH data to the Node-B(s) 104 via the UL
EU channel 108 and enables reception of at least one DL EU
signaling channel 110.sub.1-N (step 208). The WTRU 102 may
optionally enable reception of DL EU signaling channel(s)
110.sub.1-N after a predetermined or calculated delay. The EU
channel allocation request may include scheduling information such
as TVM information and available EU transmit power information.
[0023] Operation of E-DCH requires radio resource allocations to be
scheduled and signaled by the Node-B(s) 104 to the WTRU 102 in
response to an EU channel allocation request transmitted by the
WTRU 102. According to established signaling procedures, the WTRU
102 keeps track of when E-DCH data transmission scheduling
information including EU channel allocations is required or
expected to be received from the Node-B(s) on at least one DL EU
signaling channel 110.sub.1-N based on information indicating when
the EU channel allocation request was transmitted by the WTRU 102
(step 210).
[0024] In step 212, the WTRU 102 receives the required or expected
scheduling information from the Node-B(s) over the DL EU signaling
channel(s) 110.sub.1-N and then, if not required by any one entity,
the physical reception control entity 114 disables reception of DL
EU signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N. Optionally, in step 214, the
WTRU 102 schedules reception of DL EU signaling channel(s)
110.sub.1-N based on periodically received DL EU signaling channel
scheduling information if configured. Reception of specific DL EU
signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N is enabled, depending on which EU
signaling procedures are active in the WTRU 102.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a process 300 including method
steps for selectively enabling reception of the DL EU signaling
channels 110.sub.1-N when the WTRU 102 sends E-DCH data and is
expecting to receive feedback information in accordance with
another embodiment of the present invention. In step 302, the WTRU
102 is configured by the RNC 106 for E-DCH operation whereby the UL
EU channel 108 and the DL EU signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N are
established between the WTRU 102 and the Node-B(s) 104. The WTRU
102 is not required to enable the reception of its DL EU signaling
channel(s) 110.sub.1-N immediately following the E-DCH operation
configuration of the WTRU 102. Thus, the physical reception control
entity 114 in the WTRU 102 disables reception of DL EU signal
channel(s) 110.sub.1-N.
[0026] Still referring to FIG. 3, after the WTRU 102 is configured
to perform an E-DCH operation at step 302, the WTRU 102 monitors
its buffer 112 of E-DCH data (step 304). If at step 306 it is
determined by the WTRU 102 that there is no E-DCH data in the
buffer 112, the WTRU 102 continues to monitor the buffer 112, and
reception of the DL EU signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N remains
disabled at step 304.
[0027] Steps 308, 310, 312 and 314 of process 300 may be performed
for each of a plurality of several hybrid-automatic repeat request
(H-ARQ) processes operating in parallel in the WTRU. If at step 306
it is determined by the WTRU 102 that there is E-DCH data waiting
(i.e., queued) for transmission via the UL EU channel 108, for each
H-ARQ process, the WTRU 102 transmits E-DCH data with or without an
EU channel allocation request to the Node-B(s) 104 via the UL EU
channel 108 and enables reception of DL EU signaling channel(s)
110.sub.1-N (step 308). The WTRU 102 may optionally enable
reception of DL EU signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N after a
predetermined or calculated delay.
[0028] According to established signaling procedures, the WTRU 102
keeps track of when feedback information is required or expected to
be received from the Node-B(s) 104 for each H-ARQ process (step
310). In step 312, the WTRU receives feedback information from the
Node-B(s) 104 and disables reception of the DL EU signaling
channel(s) 110.sub.1-N if not required by any one entity.
Optionally, in step 314, the WTRU 102 schedules reception of the DL
EU signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N based on periodically received
feedback information if configured. Reception of specific DL EU
signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N is enabled, depending on which EU
signaling procedures are active in the WTRU 102.
[0029] The WTRU 102 keeps track of when scheduling information
including EU channel allocations is expected to be received on DL
EU signaling channels 110.sub.1-N based on information indicating
when the WTRU 102 transmitted the E-DCH data. DL EU signaling
channels 110.sub.1-N are also used to provide the WTRU 102 feedback
information from the Node-B(s) 104 for E-DCH transmissions. Since
feedback transmitted to the WTRU is in response to a specific
action of the WTRU, the time of feedback information reception at
the WTRU can be accurately determined by the WTRU. Feedback
information transmitted by the Node-B(s) 104 via the DL EU
signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N may consist of H-ARQ
acknowledgements and/or UL channel allocation information. One
example of WTRU reception of feedback channels could be H-ARQ
information channels (HICHs) and relative grant channels (RGCHs) or
absolute grant channels (AGCH) in 3GPP.
[0030] The H-ARQ operation may be either synchronous or
asynchronous. In synchronous operation, the WTRU 102 knows exactly
when the WTRU 102 may receive the feedback (ACK or NACK) via DL EU
signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N and the WTRU 102 enables reception
of the DL EU signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N in accordance with a
preconfigured schedule. With asynchronous H-ARQ operation, the WTRU
enables reception of the DL EU signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N for
a predetermined time period following the EU transmission for
receiving the feedback.
[0031] Channel allocation feedback may also be transmitted to the
WTRU 102 from the Node-B(s) 104 on DL EU signaling channel(s)
110.sub.1-N. The WTRU 102 may also enable reception of DL EU
signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N for this channel allocation
feedback information. EU channel allocation procedures known to the
WTRU 102 allow the WTRU 102 to schedule reception of this
information. The channel allocation feedback may either be
synchronized with the H-ARQ feedback, send over a predetermined
period, or have a specified periodic repetition that the WTRU 102
can schedule reception for.
[0032] If the WTRU 102 does not send a channel allocation request
to the Node-B(s) 104, but all previous EU data transmission
requests sent by the WTRU 102 have been serviced by the Node-B(s)
104, and feedback information was received from the Node-B for all
outstanding H-ARQ transmissions, then the WTRU 102 disables the
reception of the DL EU signaling channel(s) 110.sub.1-N.
[0033] In one embodiment, the WTRU 102 sends at least one channel
allocation request to a plurality of Node-Bs 104 via at least one
UL channel 108, and the Node-Bs send channel allocation information
to the WTRU 102 via respective downlink (DL) signaling channels
110.sub.1-N in response to receiving the channel allocation
request.
[0034] The processor 120 in the WTRU 102 coordinates and
consolidates DL signaling channel reception requirements of a
plurality of channel allocation procedures carried out by the WTRU
102 in accordance with at least one established standard procedure
stored in the standards database 122, and determines whether or not
to enable reception of specific ones of the DL signaling channels
110.sub.1-N based on the consolidated DL signaling channel
reception requirements. The standards database 120 is in
communication with the processor 120 and provides the processor 120
with information associated with at least one established standard
procedure. The transmitter 118 is in communication with the
processor 120 and sends at least one channel allocation request to
the Node-Bs 104 via at least one UL channel 108. The receiver 116
is in communication with the processor 120 and receives channel
allocation information from the Node-Bs 104 over the DL signaling
channels 110.sub.1-N. The physical reception control entity 114 is
in communication with the processor 120 and the receiver 116. The
physical reception control entity 114 enables or disables reception
of specific ones of the DL signaling channels 110.sub.1-N based on
the determination made by the processor 120.
[0035] In another embodiment, the WTRU 102 sends at least one data
transmission to a plurality of Node-Bs 104 via at least one UL
channel 108, and the Node-Bs 104 send data transmission feedback
information to the WTRU 102 via respective downlink (DL) signaling
channels 110.sub.1-N in response to receiving the data
transmission.
[0036] The processor 120 in the WTRU 102 coordinates and
consolidates DL signaling channel reception requirements of a
plurality of data transmission procedures carried out by the WTRU
in accordance with at least one established standard procedure
stored in the standards database 122, and determines whether or not
to enable reception of specific ones of the DL signaling channels
110.sub.1-N based on the consolidated DL signaling channel
reception requirements. The E-DCH data buffer 112 is in
communication with the processor 120 and queues data to be included
in at least one data transmission sent by the WTRU 102 to the
Node-Bs 104 via at least one UL channel 108. The transmitter 118 is
in communication with the processor and sends the at least one data
transmission to the Node-Bs 104. The receiver 116 is in
communication with the processor 120 and receives data transmission
feedback information from the Node-Bs 104 over the DL signaling
channels 110.sub.1-N. The physical reception control entity 114 is
in communication with the processor 120 and the receiver 116. The
physical reception control entity 114 enables or disables reception
of specific ones of the DL signaling channels 110.sub.1-N based on
the determination made by the processor 120.
[0037] In yet another embodiment, the WTRU 102 sends at least one
channel allocation request and E-DCH data to a plurality of Node-Bs
104 via at least one UL channel 108, and the Node-Bs send channel
allocation information and data feedback information associated
with the E-DCH data to the WTRU 102 via respective downlink (DL)
signaling channels 110.sub.1-N in response to receiving the at
least one channel allocation request and E-DCH data.
[0038] The processor 120 in the WTRU 102 coordinates and
consolidates DL signaling channel reception requirements of a
plurality of channel allocation procedures and data transmission
procedures carried out by the WTRU 102 in accordance with at least
one established standard procedure stored in the standards database
122, and determines whether or not to enable reception of specific
ones of the DL signaling channels 110.sub.1-N based on the
consolidated DL signaling channel reception requirements. The
standards database 120 is in communication with the processor 120
and provides the processor 120 with information associated with at
least one established standard procedure. The transmitter 118 is in
communication with the processor 120 and sends at least one channel
allocation request and E-DCH data to the Node-Bs 104 via at least
one UL channel 108. The receiver 116 is in communication with the
processor 120 and receives channel allocation information from the
Node-Bs 104 over the DL signaling channels 110.sub.1-N. The
physical reception control entity 114 is in communication with the
processor 120 and the receiver 116. The physical reception control
entity 114 enables or disables reception of specific ones of the DL
signaling channels 110.sub.1-N based on the determination made by
the processor 120.
[0039] Although the features and elements of the present invention
are described in the preferred embodiments in particular
combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the
other features and elements of the preferred embodiments or in
various combinations with or without other features and elements of
the present invention.
* * * * *