Wireless communication method and apparatus for reporting traffic volume measurement information to support uplink data transmissions

ES 2 393 528 T3

DESCRIPTION

Wireless communication method and apparatus for reporting traffic volume measurement information to support enhanced uplink data transmissions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system that includes a wireless transmission / reception unit (WTRU) and a Node-B. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with reporting Enhanced Uplink (EU) Traffic Volume Measurement (TVM) information to support EU data transmissions between the WTRU and Node-B over a signaling channel that has a limited capacity.

BACKGROUND

Methods to improve coverage, peak data throughput, and uplink transmission latency (UL) in a wireless communication system, such as a frequency division duplex (FDD) system, are currently being investigated in the publication 6 (R6) of the third generation cooperation project (3GPP). Instead of programming or planning and assigning the physical uplink channels in a radio network controller (RNC), a Node-B controller (i.e., the base station) is used so that more efficient decisions can be made and the uplink radio resources can be managed in a short term way better than the RNC, even if the RNC retains full control of the system. A similar approach has already been adopted in the downlink for publication 5 (R5) of high speed packet data access (HSDPA) in a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) for both an FDD mode and a full duplex mode. time division (TDD).

In order for the Node-B to make efficient allocation decisions and prioritize between different priority flows, the Node-B must keep track of the TVMs along with the associated priority. However, conventional UL signaling methods have limited capabilities, and thus may not be able to accommodate TVM reporting along with their associated priorities.

An example of prior art Node-B scheduling or scheduling is described in section 7.1 of 3GPP TR25.896 V2.0.0.

COMPENDIUM

The present invention is a wireless communication method and EU TVM information reporting apparatus to support EU data transmissions between a WTRU, (i.e., a mobile station), and a Node-B. . The apparatus can be a wireless communication system, a WTRU, and / or an integrated circuit (IC). The EU data is generated and stored in a WTRU buffer. The WTRU transmits an initial TVM information request message to Node-B indicating that the WTRU has data from the UE to transfer to Node-B. In response to receipt of the initial TVM information request message, the Node-B schedules or schedules one or more UE data transmissions allowed between the WTRU and the Node-B by transmitting a data scheduling or scheduling message from the EU to WTRU.

The WTRU transfers all buffered UE data to Node-B if allowed UE data transmissions are sufficient to support transmission of all buffered UE data. Otherwise, the WTRU can transmit detailed TVM information multiplexed with at least a part of the data from the EU to the Node-B.

The TVM information indicates the amount of EU data stored. The detailed TVM information indicates an amount of buffered UE data associated with each of a plurality of traffic priority classes. The detailed TVM information may be multiplexed into a layer 2 medium access control (MAC) entity, or a layer 3 radio resource control (RRC) or other equivalent layer 3 signaling entity.

The procedure used to transfer the UE data stored in the WTRU buffer may be dependent on whether or not the amount of UE data exceeds a set threshold. The initial TVM information request message can be transmitted to Node-B only after the amount of stored UE data exceeds the set threshold. When the set threshold is not exceeded, the WTRU can transfer all EU data from the WTRU buffer to Node-B without requiring scheduling or scheduling information from Node-B. If the set threshold is set to zero, the WTRU can transfer the stored EU data from the WTRU buffer to the Node-B only after receiving the scheduling or scheduling information from the Node-B.

ES 2 393 528 T3

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING (S)

A more detailed understanding of the invention can be had from the following description of a preferred example, given by way of example and understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 shows a wireless communication system operating in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a signal flow diagram for the system of Figure 1 when more than one UE transmission is necessary to transmit all the UE data stored in the WTRU;

Figure 3 is a signal flow diagram for the system of Figure 1 when only one UE transmission is necessary to transmit all the UE data temporarily stored in the WTRU; Y

Figure 4 is a process flow diagram including method steps for implementing TVM reporting in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT (S)

Hereinafter, the terminology "WTRU" includes but is not limited to a user equipment (UE), mobile station, fixed or mobile subscriber unit, pager, or any other type of device capable of operating in a wireless environment.

When referred to hereinafter, the terminology "Node-B" includes but is not limited to a base station, site controller, access point, or any other type of interface device in a wireless environment.

The present invention may be further applicable to TDD, FDD, and Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), as applied to UMTS, cDmA 2000, and CDMA in general, but is envisioned to be applicable. to other wireless systems as well.

The features of the present invention can be incorporated into an IC or can be configured in a circuit comprising a multitude of interconnect components.

Figure 1 shows a wireless communication system 100 operating in accordance with the present invention. System 100 includes a WTRU 105 and Node-B 110 that communicate with each other via wireless signals 115. WTRU 105 includes at least one buffer 120.

Figure 2 is a signal flow diagram for wireless communication system 100 when UE data transmissions allowed by a first UE data scheduling or scheduling message is not sufficient to transmit all UE data stored in buffer 120 of WTRU 105. Data from EU 205 is generated in WTRU 105 and stored in buffer 120 of WTRU 105. When the amount of UE data in buffer 120 exceeds a set UE data buffer threshold, the WTRU 105 sends an initial TVM information request message 210 to Node-B 110 over a channel. signage of the EU. Due to the limited payload capacity of the UE signaling channel, detailed TVM information cannot be included with the initial TVM information request message 210. The initial TVM information request message 210 may just indicate that the WTRU 105 has the UE data ready to send, and / or it may serve as a speed request to the NodeB 110 including an approximation of the amount of UE data. .

Still referring to Figure 2, after receiving the information request message from the initial TVM 210, the Node-B 110 schedules or schedules one or more transmissions of the UE between the WTRU 105 and the Node-B 110 through a first data scheduling or scheduling message from EU 215. In response to receipt of the first data scheduling or scheduling message from the EU 215, the WTRU 105 sends one or more data transmissions from the EU 220 to the Node-B 110 allowed by the first scheduling or data scheduling message from the EU 215 . If the EU data transmissions scheduled or planned by Node-B 110 are not sufficient to transmit all the EU data stored in the WTRU 105, the WTRU 105 sends the EU 220 data transmissions that include the TVM information A detail that indicates the approximate amount of data temporarily stored in the WTRU 105. Optionally, the detailed TVM information may indicate an amount of buffered data associated with each associated traffic priority class or logical channel assigned to the dedicated EU channel (EU-DCH). The detailed TVM information can be multiplexed at Layer 2 or Layer 3 with the EU data. At layer 2, the detailed TVM information can be identified in the MAC header of the EU-DCH, and at layer 3 the detailed TVM information can be signaled within a radio resource control (RRC) or other equivalent L3 signaling entity. EU 220 data transmissions can include several independent physical transmissions.

Node-B 110 can utilize comprehensive knowledge of TVM information and potentially associated priorities and / or logical channels notified via EU 220 data transmissions on the 3

ES 2 393 528 T3 scheduling or scheduling the subsequent uplink. When the WTRU 105 obtains the EU data later, the WTRu 105 may choose to report the updated TVM information to Node-B 110. Node-B 110 then schedules or schedules subsequent EU data transmissions from the WTRU 105 to Node-B110 via subsequent EU data scheduling or scheduling messages 225a-225n.

Figure 3 is a signal flow diagram for wireless communication system 100 when one or more UE data transmissions allowed by a UE data scheduling or scheduling message is sufficient to transmit all UE data stored in the Buffer 120 in WTRU 105. Data from EU 305 is generated in WTRU 105 and stored in buffer 120 of WTRU 105. When the amount of the UE data in the buffer 120 exceeds a set UE data buffer threshold, the WTRU 105 sends an initial TVM information request message 310 to the Node-B 110 via an EU signaling channel.

The UE data transmissions sent by the WTRU 105 are not required to be scheduled or scheduled by the Node-B 110 when the established UE data buffer threshold is not exceeded.

Still referring to Figure 3, after receiving the information request message from the initial TVM 310, the Node-B schedules or schedules one or more EU data transmissions between the WTRU 105 and the Node-B 110 via a data scheduling or scheduling message from the EU 315. In response to receipt of the EU 315 data scheduling or scheduling message, the WTRU 105 sends one or more EU 320 data transmissions allowed by the EU 315 scheduling or data scheduling message. If the UE transmissions allowed by the EU 315 data scheduling or scheduling message are sufficient to transmit all the UE data temporarily stored in the WTRU 105, all the UE data stored in the WTRU 105 buffer 120 will be sent to Node-B. No additional TVM reporting is necessary as WTRU 105 is aware that there is no additional EU data to transmit to Node-B 110.

The data associated with the priority class or the logical channels / MAC-d flows associated with the TVMs can be stored in the Node-B 110 to make the most accurate channel assignments and the most efficient use of radio resources. The Node-B 110 uses the TVMs and associated priorities to set the scheduling or scheduling of the subsequent EU data with greater precision due to the detail of the additional TVM provided by the WTRU 105.

Figure 4 is a flow chart of a process 400 that includes the method steps for transferring user data from WTRU 105 to Node-B 110 in accordance with the present invention. In step 405, the EU data is generated and stored in the buffer 120 of the WTRU 105. In optional step 410, a determination is made as to whether or not the amount of UE data stored in the buffer 120 of the WTRU 105 exceeds a set UE data buffer threshold. When the amount of UE data stored in the WTRU 105 buffer 120 does not exceed the set threshold, UE transmissions are allowed without Node-B scheduling or scheduling, and all stored UE data is transmitted to the Node. -B 110 (step 430). If the amount of stored EU data exceeds the set threshold, WTRU 105 sends an initial TVM information request message to Node-B 110 indicating that WTRU 105 has the EU data to send to Node-B 110 ( step 415).

It should be noted that the set UE data buffer threshold can be set to zero. In this case, storing any amount of UE data in the buffer 120 of the WTRU 105 will always trigger the transmission of an information request message from the initial TVM 210.

Still referring to Figure 4, at step 420, Node-B 110 sends a UE data scheduling or scheduling message, including information about one or more allowed UE data transmissions, for WTRU 105 schedule transmission of the EU data stored temporarily in WTRU 105 to Node-B 110. At step 425, the WTRU 105 determines whether the allowed UE data transmissions are sufficient to transmit all of the buffered UE data. If the UE data transmissions allowed by the current scheduling or scheduling information are sufficient to support the transmission of all UE data stored in buffer 120, all UE data temporarily stored in WTRU 105 is transmitted to the Node -B 110 in allowed EU data transmissions (step 430).

If the UE data transmissions allowed by the current scheduling information are not sufficient to transmit all the UE data stored temporarily in the WTRU 105, the WTRU 105 transmits one or more UE data transmissions that include the UE data transmissions. the detailed TVM multiplexed with a portion of the EU data stored to Node-B 110 (step 435). At step 440, Node-B 110 schedules or schedules and transmits one or more additional UE data transmissions until there is no more UE data temporarily stored in WTRU 105. Another method is described here for the purpose of understanding the invention. The method is carried out in a wireless communication system that includes at least one wireless transmission / reception unit (WTRU) and at least one Node-B, the WTRU including a buffer and

ES 2 393 528 T3 comprising: (a) the WTRU that stores enhanced uplink data (EU) in the WTRU buffer and (b) the WTRU that transmits at least a part of the stored EU data multiplexed with information traffic volume measurement (TVM) detailed to Node-B.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the independent claims.