Communicating uplink signalling information

The present invention relates to signaling of scheduling assistance data in a cellular communication system, but is not exclusively related to signaling in a cellular communication system of 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project).

Currently, third-generation cellular communication systems are being deployed to further expand the communication services provided to mobile users. The most widely adopted third generation communication systems are based on CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) or TDD (Time Division Duplex). In CDMA systems, user separation is obtained by assigning different spread and / or scramble codes to different users at the same carrier frequency and at the same time interval. User separation of TDD is achieved by assigning different time slots to different users, similar to TDMA. However, in contrast to TDMA, TDD provides the same carrier frequency used for both uplink and downlink transmissions. An example of a communication system using this principle is UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System). CDMA, especially UMTS WCDMA (Wideband) A further description of CDMA) mode can be found in'WCDMA for UMTS', Harri Holma (edit), Antti Toskala (edit), Wiley & Sons, 2001, ISBN 0471486876.

To provide extended communication services, 3rd generation cellular communication systems are designed for a variety of different services, including packet data communication. Similarly, existing second-generation cellular communication systems such as GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) have been extended to support a larger number of different services. One such extension is GPRS (General Packet Radio System), which is a system developed to enable packet data communication in GSM communication systems. Packet data communication is particularly suitable for data services with dynamically changing communication requirements, such as Internet access.

In cellular mobile communication systems with non-constant data rates of traffic and services, it is efficient to dynamically share radio resources among users according to the needs at a particular point in time. This is in contrast to services with constant data rates, where services with constant data rates can be allocated radio resources appropriate for the service data rate over a long period of time, such as call duration.

Under the current UMTS TDD standard, uplink shared radio resources can be dynamically allocated (scheduled) by the RNC (Radio Network Controller) scheduler. However, in order to operate efficiently, the scheduler needs to recognize the amount of uplink data waiting for uplink transmission by each mobile user. This allows the user to allocate resources to the user who needs them most, and in particular, avoids wasting resources by being allocated to a mobile station that does not have the data to transmit.

A further aspect of efficient scheduling is the consideration of user radio channel conditions. A user whose radio path gain to another cell is similar to the radio path gain to the current serving cell can cause significant interference in the other cell. It can be shown that system efficiency can be significantly improved if the scheduler takes into account the relative path gain from the user to each cell at a particular location on the network. In such a scheme, the transmission power by the user whose path gain to one or more non-serving cells is similar to the path gain to the current serving cell is controlled by the resulting cell-to-cell interference. And restricted to be managed. On the contrary, the transmission power by a user whose path gain to the serving cell is considerably larger than that of the other cells is relatively small because the inter-cell interference per transmission power unit caused by such a user is small.

In a real system, the radio status and the pending data volume status can change very quickly. In order to optimize system efficiency when these changes occur, it is important that the network scheduler be informed of the very latest status so that timely adjustments to the scheduler's behavior can be made. ..

For example, during a typical working session (eg, sending an email, sending a completed internet form, or sending a TCP acknowledgment for a corresponding downlink transfer, such as a web page. If) There is a periodic spurt of uplink data to send. These short packet deliveries are known as packet calls, and their duration can typically range from milliseconds to seconds. During packet calls, uplink resources are frequently allocated, buffer amounts and radio channel information are tied to these uplink transmissions, and it is efficient to continuously update the scheduler for the user's data transmission needs. Is. However, when the packet call is complete (when all the data to be transmitted is transmitted and the transmit buffer is temporarily empty), the uplink resource allocation is suspended. In this situation, there must be a way to notify the scheduler of the arrival of new data (at the start of a new packet call). It is important to minimize any delay in this signaling. The reason for this is that this directly contributes to the transmission speed perceived by the user.

Release 99 of the 3GPP UMTS TDD technical specification specifies Layer 3 messages called PCR (Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) Capacity Request) messages. The logical channel carrying the PCR (SHCCH (called the Shared Channel Control Channel)) may be relayed to different transport channels depending on the presence of available resources. For example, PCR messages are terminated within an RNC. It may be transmitted via (Random Access CHannel). As another example, if resources are available, PCR may also be transmitted via USCH (Uplink Shared CHannel) in some cases.

However, while this technique is suitable for many applications, it is not optimal for many other applications. For example, the defined signaling is intended to provide scheduling information to the RNC based on the scheduler and is designed for this application, especially with dynamic performance and latency suitable for this purpose. There is. Specifically, signaling is relatively slow, and the RNC scheduler's allocation response is via peer-to-peer Layer 3 signaling and the delay associated with communication between the base station and the RNC (on the Iub interface). It is not particularly fast due to the delay of the protocol stack in receiving the PCR and sending the allocation permission message.

In recent years, considerable efforts have been invested in particularly improving the uplink performance of 3GPP systems. One way to do this is to move the scheduling entity from the RNC to the base station so that transmission and retransmission latency can be reduced. As a result, fairly fast and efficient scheduling can be achieved. This, in turn, increases the perceived end-user throughput. In such an implementation, the scheduler at the base station (rather than the RNC) assumes control over the authorization of uplink resources. Fast scheduling responses to user traffic needs and channel conditions are desirable in improving scheduling efficiency and transmission delays for individual UEs.

However, the efficiency of scheduling operations depends on sufficient information available, which makes the requirements for signaling functions even more stringent. Specifically, the existing method of signaling to the RNC by Layer 3 signaling is inefficient and introduces a delay that limits the scheduling performance of the base station scheduler. In particular, using the same techniques as in the prior art (such as using PCR messages) terminates the transport channel used with an RNC (thus, signaling information is terminated with a different network entity than the scheduler exists in). , Further delays are introduced when sending this to the base station scheduler), which makes it unattractive.

For example, in a 3GPP TDD system, the timely update of radio channel status is especially important due to the fact that uplink and downlink radio channels are interrelated. Therefore, if the user can notify the network scheduler of the very latest channel status (measured on the downlink, for example) and the scheduler can respond with minimal delay, the scheduler will take advantage of the interrelationships. It can be assumed that the radio channel situation remains relatively unchanged until the time the uplink transmission is scheduled and transmitted. The channel status that can be reported by the mobile station may have the channel status of the scheduler cell, or may also have the channel status of other cells. This enables fast and efficient scheduling that takes into account the instantaneous situation of other cells and the resulting cell-to-cell interference.

As another example, in a 3GPP FDD system, the buffer volume state of a mobile station is signaled within the uplink transmission itself. The data is contained in the same PDU (Protocol Data Unit) as other uplink payload data, specifically in the MAC-e PDU header. However, this means that the signaling information depends on the performance and characteristics of the uplink data transmission itself.

Also note that in this particular method of transmitting signaling data, both signaling and user data are multiplexed before forward error correction is applied, resulting in both information streams having the same transmission reliability. Should be. Therefore, if the (MAC-e) PDU needs to be retransmitted, this affects both signaling and user data, thus introducing further signaling delays. In addition, data retransmission is common in uplink systems where hybrid and high speed retransmission schemes are used. The reason for this is that optimal link efficiency (in terms of energy required per error-free transmit bit) is achieved when the probability of error in the first transmission is relatively high (eg 10% -50%). This is because that. Therefore, the uplink signaling technology employed in the 3GPP FDD uplink, when applied to a TDD uplink system, is subject to latency that can significantly degrade the performance of the TDD system with respect to a feasible performance level.

Therefore, improved signaling in cellular communication systems is advantageous, especially systems that allow for greater flexibility, reduced signaling delay, improved scheduling, base station scheduling suitability, and / or improved performance. Is advantageous.

<p> Therefore, the present invention preferably aims to alleviate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks alone or in some combination.</p>

<p> According to the first aspect of the present invention, a device for transmitting uplink signaling information is provided in a cellular communication system, which is a means for generating scheduling support data for a base station type scheduler, and the scheduling support data is a user device UE. It has a means for transmitting uplink packet data from and a means for transmitting scheduling support data from the UE with the first physical resource of the uplink radio interface, and the first physical resource is not managed by the base station type scheduler.</p><p> INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, improved scheduling by a base station type scheduler is possible, and improved performance of a cellular communication system as a whole can be produced. The present invention may enable improved performance perceived by the end user. The present invention may provide, for example, additional capacity, reduced latency and / or more efficient throughput. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, flexible signaling may be possible, and scheduling support data may be provided with a short delay. In particular, the present invention may provide a particularly suitable signaling of scheduling support data to a base station based scheduler.</p><p> The data for the first physical resource is not scheduled by the base station scheduler. Rather, the data of the first physical resource may be scheduled, for example, by the RNC scheduler that supports the base station of the base station type scheduler. The first physical resource may be a resource for which the base station scheduler does not control relationships and / or information. For example, a physical resource may be a group of one or more physical channels in a cellular communication system. The UE uplink packet data transmission may be for shared uplink packet data services and / or channels.</p><p> The device that receives the uplink signaling information may be a user device.</p><p> According to an optional feature of the present invention, the means of transmission are configured to transmit scheduling assistance data on a first transport channel supported by a first physical resource.</p><p> This allows for efficient implementation and may provide compatibility with many existing cellular communication systems.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the first transport channel is a base station-terminated transport channel that is terminated by the base station of the base station type scheduler.</p><p> This allows for improved scheduling, and in particular, less complex and faster signaling of scheduling support data. In particular, existing cellular communication systems may introduce new transport channels that are particularly suitable for scheduling performed at base stations.</p><p> According to an optional feature of the present invention, the means of transmission is configured to transmit other data in a second transport port channel that is multiplexed with the first physical resource along with the first transport channel. To.</p><p> This may allow for additional flexibility, efficiency and / or performance. This feature allows for the practical use of physical resources and may allow efficient signaling of scheduling assistance data using physical resources that may be used for other purposes. As an alternative, or in addition, by reducing the constraints imposed by other data transmission requirements, it may be possible to optimize the transmission characteristics of scheduling support data.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the first transport channel has a different termination point than the second transport channel.</p><p> The first transport channel may be terminated by a different network entity than the second transport channel. For example, the second transport channel may be terminated at RNC and the first transport channel may be terminated at the base station. This feature enables a fairly suitable signaling system and enables high-speed signaling of scheduling support data. This can enable efficient sharing of resources with other communications managed from different locations, as well as improved scheduling.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the second transport channel uses the retransmission method and the first transport channel does not use the retransmission method.</p><p> This enables improved performance, and in particular, can enable efficient communication of other data while ensuring high-speed transmission of scheduling support data.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the first transport channel is encoded according to the first transmission scheme and the second transport channel is encoded according to a different second transmission scheme.</p><p> The first and second transport channels may be transmitted with different transmission credibility so that the error rate differs between the scheduling support data and the other uplink data. This, in particular, can enable efficient scheduling by reducing delays while allowing efficient use of wireless interface resources for other data.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the first transmission method and the second transmission method have different error correction characteristics.</p><p> This may allow for improved performance and practical implementation.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the means of transmission is configured to perform rate matching between the first transport channel and the second transport channel.</p><p> Rate matching may be performed to coordinate the error correction function of the first and second transport channels. This may allow for improved performance and practical implementation.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the device selects between the means for transmitting scheduling support data using the second physical resource and the first physical resource and the second physical resource. It also has a selection means.</p><p> This can improve performance and allow communication of scheduling assistance data that is particularly suitable for the current status and characteristics of physical resources. For example, in a 3GPP system, the device may choose between physical random access channels (eg PRACH), individual physical channels (eg DPCH) and / or uplink channels scheduled by a base station scheduler.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the selection means selects between the first physical resource and the second physical resource according to the availability of the first physical resource and the second physical resource. It is configured as follows.</p><p> This allows for efficient signaling, for example, scheduling support data can be communicated with currently available resources. This allows for a dynamic system in which scheduling support data is communicated on different resources as long as it is available. Such a configuration, in particular, can make it possible to substantially reduce signaling delays. For example, in a 3GPP system, the device can be between random access physical channels (eg PRACH), individual physical channels (eg DPCH) and / or uplink channels scheduled by the base station scheduler, which of these channels. May be selected depending on whether is currently set. Availability may be, for example, the duration of availability of physical resources.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the selection means selects between the first physical resource and the second physical resource according to the traffic load of the first physical resource and the second physical resource. It is configured as follows.</p><p> This enables efficient signaling, for example, scheduling support data can be communicated with physical resources having extra capacity. For example, in a 3GPP system, the device can be between physical random access channels (eg PRACH), individual physical channels (eg DPCH) and / or uplink channels scheduled by the base station scheduler, which of these channels. May be selected depending on whether it has extra capacity.</p><p> According to an optional feature of the present invention, the selection means, the first physical resource and the second physical re depending on latency characteristic associated with the source, the first physical resource and the second physical resource It is configured to select between.</p><p> This enables efficient signaling, for example, it may be possible for scheduling support data to be communicated with physical resources that cause the least delay in scheduling support data. This may provide improved performance and scheduling due to the reduced delay. The latency characteristic may be, for example, an estimated, hypothetical, or computational delay for the transmission of scheduling support data on each physical resource.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the second physical resource is a physical resource managed by the base station type scheduler.</p><p> The second physical resource may support data scheduled by the base station scheduler. The second physical resource may specifically support a user data channel for which the base station scheduler schedules information. For example, in a 3GPP system, this device can be used between physical random access channels (eg PRACH), individual physical channels controlled by RNC (eg DPCH) and / or packet data uplink channels scheduled by a base station scheduler. You may choose.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the first physical resource is related to the first transport channel, the second physical resource is related to the second transport channel, and the selection means is the scheduling support data. Is configured to allocate scheduling assistance data by associating with a first or second transport channel.</p><p> This can provide a fairly advantageous approach and, in particular, allow efficient selection of optimal physical resources while allowing individual optimization of the transmission characteristics of scheduling assistance data. The transport channel may be selected according to the characteristics associated with the physical resources of the transport channel.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the first physical resource is a random access channel. Random access channels can be used when other physical channels are not available, so they can provide particularly suitable channels. According to the present invention, it is possible that the scheduling support data of the base station scheduler can be signaled by a random access channel that is not controlled by the base station scheduler but is controlled by, for example, the RNC scheduler.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the scheduling support data has an indication of the amount of data pending transmission and / or an indication of the radio interface channel status of the UE. Alternatively or further, the scheduling assistance data may have instructions on the relative transmit power of the UE's uplink transmission and / or instructions on user identification information associated with the UE. Such information can allow for particularly advantageous scheduling.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the cellular communication system is a 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) system. The 3GPP system may be, in particular, a UMTS cellular communication system. The present invention may enable improved performance in 3GPP cellular communication systems.</p><p> According to the optional feature of the present invention, the cellular communication system is a time division bidirectional (TDD) system. The present invention enables improved performance in TDD cellular communication systems, and in particular, improved scheduling by utilizing improved signaling of channel status information applicable to both uplink and downlink channels. Can be.</p><p> According to the second aspect of the present invention, a device for receiving uplink signaling information is provided in a cellular communication system, and scheduling support data for a base station type scheduler from a UE is provided as a first physical resource of an uplink wireless interface. The scheduling support data has a means for transmitting uplink packet data from the user apparatus, and the first physical resource is not managed by the base station type scheduler.</p><p> The optional features, comments and / or advantages described above with respect to the device transmitting the uplink signaling information also apply to the device receiving the uplink signaling information, and the optional features are uploaded individually or in some combination. It can be seen that it may be included in the device that receives the link signaling information.</p><p> The device that receives the uplink signaling information may be a base station.</p><p> According to the third aspect of the present invention, a method of transmitting uplink signaling information in a cellular communication system is provided, scheduling support data for a base station type scheduler is generated, and the scheduling support data is uploaded from the user apparatus UE. Regarding link packet data transmission, the first physical resource of the uplink wireless interface has scheduling support data transmitted from the UE, and the first physical resource is not managed by the base station scheduler.</p><p> The optional features, comments and / or advantages described above with respect to the device transmitting the uplink signaling information also apply to the method of transmitting the uplink signaling information, and the optional features are uploaded individually or in some combination. It can be seen that it may be included in the method of transmitting link signaling information.</p><p> For example, according to the optional feature of the present invention, scheduling assistance data is transmitted on a first transport channel supported by a first physical resource.</p><p> As another example, according to the optional feature of the present invention, the first transport channel is terminated at the base station of the base station scheduler.</p><p> As another example, according to the optional feature of the present invention, this method transmits other data in a second transport port channel that is multiplexed with a first physical resource along with a first transport channel. Have more.</p><p> As another example, according to the optional feature of the present invention, the first transport channel is coded according to the first transmission method and the second transport channel is coded according to a different second transmission method. To.</p><p> As another example, according to the optional feature of the present invention, this method uses a second physical resource to transmit scheduling assistance data between the first and second physical resources. Further has to choose.</p><p> As another example, according to the optional feature of the present invention, the second physical resource is a physical resource managed by a base station scheduler.</p><p> As another example, according to the optional feature of the present invention, the first physical resource is a random access channel.</p><p> A fourth feature of the present invention provides a method of receiving uplink signaling information in a cellular communication system, which is the first physical resource of the uplink radio interface and is the scheduling support data from the UE for the base station scheduler. The scheduling support data is related to the uplink packet data transmission from the user equipment, and the first physical resource is not managed by the base station type scheduler.</p><p> The optional features, comments and / or advantages described above with respect to the device transmitting the uplink signaling information also apply to the method of receiving the uplink signaling information, and the optional features are uploaded individually or in some combination. It can be seen that it may be included in the method of receiving link signaling information.</p>

<figref num="1">An example of a cellular communication system 100 in which an embodiment of the present invention can be used.</figref><figref num="2">UEs, RNCs and base stations according to certain embodiments of the present invention</figref><figref num="3a">Example of switching a single transport channel between uplink physical resource formats</figref><figref num="3b">Example of switching a signaling information stream to two or more transport channels, each with a fixed association with the physical resource format</figref><figref num="4">An example of a signaling system according to an embodiment of the present invention</figref>

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the examples described below and will be described with reference to the examples.

Examples of the present invention will be described as only one example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The following detailed description focuses on embodiments of the present invention applicable to UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) cellular communication systems and in particular UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) operating in TDD (Time Division Duplex) mode. .. However, the present invention is not limited to this application, and can be applied to many other cellular communication systems including, for example, a GSM (Global System for Mobile communication system) cellular communication system.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a cellular communication system 100 in which an embodiment of the present invention can be used.

In a cellular communication system, a geographic area is divided into a plurality of cells, each provided by a base station. The base stations are interconnected by a fixed network capable of communicating data between the base stations. The mobile station is serviced via a wireless communication link by the base station of the cell in which the mobile station resides.

When a mobile station moves, it may move from one base station's service area to another (ie, from one cell to another). As the mobile station approaches the base station, it enters the area of the overlapping service area of the two base stations, and within this overlapping range, it changes to be supported by the new base station. As the base station moves further into the new cell, it will continue to be supported by the new base station. This is known as mobile station handover or handover between cells.

A typical cellular communication system typically extends the service area nationwide and has hundreds or thousands of cells supporting thousands or millions of mobile stations. Communication from a mobile station to a base station is known as an uplink, and communication from a base station to a mobile station is known as a downlink.

In the example of FIG. 1, the first user apparatus (UE) 101 and the second UE 103 are in the first cell supported by the base station 105. The UE may be any communication element that communicates, for example, with a remote unit, mobile station, communication terminal, personal digital assistant, laptop computer, embedded communication processor, or wireless interface of a cellular communication system.

Base station 105 is coupled to RNC107. The RNC performs a number of control functions on the radio interface, including radio resource management and relaying data to and from the appropriate base station.

RNC107 is coupled to core network 109. The core network can interconnect RNCs and operate to relay data between any two RNCs. This allows the remote unit of the cell to communicate with the remote unit of another cell. Furthermore, the core network has a gateway function that interconnects to an external network such as a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). This allows the mobile station to communicate with landline telephones and other communication terminals connected by landline. Further, the core network has most of the functions necessary for managing a normal cellular communication network, including the function of relaying data, permission control, resource allocation, subscriber billing, mobile station authentication, and the like.

For clarity and brevity, only certain elements of the cellular communication system necessary for the description of some embodiments of the present invention are shown, and the cellular communication system includes other base stations and RNCs and SGSN, It can be seen that it may have many other elements, including with other network entities such as GGSN, HLR, VLR, etc.

Normally, RNC performs the scheduling of data on the wireless interface. However, recently, packet data services have been proposed that try to take advantage of fluctuating channel conditions when scheduling data on shared channels. Specifically, HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) is currently standardized by 3GPP. HDDPA allows scheduling to be performed taking into account the status of individual UEs. Therefore, UE data may be scheduled when channel propagation allows the UE to communicate with low resource usage. However, to allow this scheduling to be fast enough to follow dynamic changes, HSDPA requires that the scheduling be performed at the base station rather than at the RNC. Placing the scheduling function at the base station removes the requirement for communication at the base station-to-RNC interface (Iub interface), thereby reducing the associated significant delay.

For scheduling to be effective, the base station scheduler needs current information on channel status. Therefore, in a TDD HSDPA system, the mobile station provides the information by transmitting the information to the base station using a channel controlled by the downlink scheduler. When the UE receives an assignment of downlink HSDPA data, the uplink resource (indicated by HS-SICH) is implicitly allocated, which causes the acknowledgment of the downlink data to be a base station downlink. Can be replied to the scheduler. In addition to transmitting acknowledgment information on the implicitly assigned uplink physical resource, the UE also has current information on the channel status. Therefore, the information is transmitted to the scheduler by HS-SICH, which is set and controlled by the scheduler that controls HSDPA communication.

It has recently been proposed to introduce an uplink packet data service similar to HSDPA. In particular, such services utilize a base station scheduler to schedule user data on the uplink packet channel. However, in order for such a system to operate efficiently, the scheduler needs to be provided with information by the UE with minimal delay. It has been proposed to provide this information by including the information along with the uplink user data. Specifically, it has been proposed to include such data in the MAC-e header of the uplink user data PDU (Packet Data Unit) to tie it with the data of the used data packet.

However, measures to transmit signaling data on physical resources whose data is scheduled by the base station scheduler are suboptimal in many situations. In particular, the scheduler must ensure that data packets are transmitted sufficiently frequently to allow signaling information to be transmitted, resulting in an inflexible system and limiting possible scheduling. Therefore, while this measure can be practical in scenarios where there is sufficiently frequent uplink transmissions, it is not suitable in scenarios where the UE does not send packet data over a relatively long period of time.

FIG. 2 shows in detail UE101, RNC107, and base station 105 in the example of FIG. In this example, the RNC 107 has an RNC scheduler 201 that serves to schedule regular 3GPP physical channels, such as DPCH (Dedicated Physical CHannel) known to those of skill in the art. Therefore, the RNC scheduler 201 schedules data to communicate on the wireless interface specified in Release 99 of the 3GPP Technical Specification.

In the example of FIG. 2, base station 105 has an RNC interface 203 that serves to communicate with the RNC 107 on the Iub interface. The RNC interface 203 is coupled to a base station controller 205 that controls the operation of the base station 105. Base station controller 205 is coupled to transceiver 207, which can operate to communicate with UE 101 on a wireless interface. The base station controller 205 performs all functions necessary to transmit the data received from the RNC107 to the UE101 and to receive the data received from the UE101 and transfer it to the RNC107.

Base station 105 further includes base station scheduler 209 coupled to base station controller 205. The base station scheduler 209 serves to schedule the data of the uplink shared packet data service. Specifically, the base station scheduler 209 schedules user data in the shared transport channel of the shared physical resource and generates resource allocation information of the shared physical resource. The allocation information is supplied to the base station scheduler 209 and transmitted to UE101 and 103 via the wireless interface.

Since base station scheduler 209 is located at base station 105, data can be scheduled without the additional delay required for communication of allocation information on the Iub interface (required for RNC scheduler 201).

Base station scheduler 209 schedules uplink transport channel data based on different information. In particular, base station scheduler 209 may schedule data according to the individual radio interface channel propagation characteristics of the UE and current transmit buffer requirements. Therefore, this information is preferably obtained from the scheduling support data transmitted from UE 101, 103 to base station 105. Scheduling assistance data is preferably received with small delays and frequent intervals in order to have efficient scheduling. Therefore, it is desirable that the scheduling support data is provided to the base station scheduler 209 without first transmitting the scheduling support data to the RNC107 on the Iub interface and receiving it from the RNC107.

In the example of FIG. 2, the UE 101 has a transceiver 211 that can operate to communicate with the base station 105 on a wireless interface in accordance with the 3GPP technical specifications. UE101 further has the functions required or desired for the UE of the 3GPP cellular communication system.

UE101 has a channel controller 213 that can operate to allocate data to individual physical resources and transport channels in response to the 3GPP technical specification. For example, UE101 may be involved in circuit-switched normal Release 99 communications. Therefore, the UE may have a separate data source 215 that produces the user data sent to the RNC 107. The channel controller 213 may be coupled to a separate data source 215 and assign individual data to an appropriate channel such as a DCH (Dedicated CHannel). Further, the channel controller 213 may control this transmission to the base station with an appropriate physical channel such as DPCH (Dedicated Physical CHannel).

In this example, UE101 is further involved in packet data communication. For example, UE101 may be involved in an Internet access application supported by the uplink packet data service. In the example of FIG. 1, UE101 has a packet data transmission buffer 217 that stores packet data until scheduled for transmission on a shared uplink channel. This scheduling is performed by the base station scheduler 209 instead of the RNC scheduler 210.

The packet data transmission buffer 217 is coupled to the scheduling support data generator 219 that generates the scheduling support data to be transmitted to the base station 105. In particular, the scheduling support data is available in UE101 and pertains to the information that can be used by the base station scheduler 209 when scheduling the data.

In particular, in FIG. 2, the scheduling support data generator 219 is coupled to the packet data transmission buffer 217 and acquires dynamic information of the current buffer load from it. Therefore, the scheduling support data generator 219 determines how much data is currently stored in the packet data transmission buffer 217 that is pending transmission on the uplink channel.

The scheduling support data generator 219 has an indication of this pending transmission data amount of the scheduling support data. Further, the scheduling support data generator 219 may be provided with information indicating the current propagation status, and may include this information in the scheduling support data. The propagation status of the shared physical resource may be determined, for example, by measuring the signal level of the received signal. In the example of the TDD system, since both the uplink and the downlink use the same frequency, it can be considered that this downlink propagation data is similarly applicable to the uplink propagation data.

The scheduling assistance data generator 219 is coupled to a channel controller 213 configured to send scheduling assistance data from the UE 101 on the first physical resource of the uplink radio interface. Therefore, the channel controller 213 receives the scheduling support data from the scheduling support data generator 219 and transmits the scheduling support data to the base station using the physical resources of the wireless interface.

In the example of FIG. 2, the channel controller 213 transmits scheduling support data with a physical resource that is not managed by the base station type scheduler. In particular, channel controller 213 selects physical channels that are not controlled by RNC scheduler 201.

As an example, the channel controller 213 may transmit scheduling support data with individual physical resources used for circuit-switched voice telephones. In particular, the channel controller may combine the DPDCH set and controlled by the RNC scheduler 201 with the scheduling support data on the DPCH physical resource allocated to be set and controlled by the RNC scheduler 201. As another example, the channel controller may send scheduling assistance data over a random access channel (PRACH channel).

When the communication is received by the base station 105, in the example of FIG. 2, the base station controller 205 is configured to extract the scheduling support data and supply it to the base station scheduler 209. For example, the base station controller 205 may monitor the DPDCH and / or the PRACH, and when it detects that the scheduling support data has been received, it may decode this data and send it to the base station scheduler 209.

In some embodiments, the RNC scheduler 201 may specifically allocate segments of physical resources for communication of scheduling assistance data, even if information identifying these segments is communicated to both base station 105 and UE 101. Good.

Therefore, in this example, scheduling assistance data is received on physical resources shared by other services supported by scheduling on the RNC. In some embodiments, scheduling assistance data may be received on physical resources supported by different schedulers at base station 105, as in the case of HSDPA HS-SICH. In particular, these services may be regular Release 99, Release 4 or Release 5 services. Therefore, while maintaining backward compatibility and avoiding the requirement that the base station scheduler 209 allocate resources for scheduling support data, efficient and flexible communication of scheduling support data is realized. Rather, in many situations, unused resources of RNC-scheduled physical resources can be used to communicate scheduling assistance data.

In addition, the system of FIG. 2 allows for very high speed communication of scheduling support data, as signaling avoids the delay inherent in communication between base station 105 and RNC107 on the Iub interface.

In this example, the base station scheduler 209 is provided with scheduling assistance data that indicates the radio interface channel status and the transmit data requirements of UE101, 103 with very small delays at frequent intervals (for efficient resource utilization). You may. This enables fairly high-speed scheduling in consideration of the characteristics that change at high speed, resulting in considerably improved scheduling. This results in improved resource utilization and increased capacity of the cellular communication system as a whole.

In the example of Figure 2, scheduling support data is communicated over the transport channel. The transport channel may be a channel that carries PDUs to the physical and MAC layers. Physical channels carry bits on wireless interfaces. Physical channels are, in particular, Layer 1 (Physical Layer) channels. Logical channels carry PDUs between the MAC layer and the RLC (Radio Link Control) layer.

In particular, in a 3GPP system, the transport channel is the communication interface between the 3GPP Multiple Access Control (MAC) entity and the 3GPP physical layer entity. A physical channel is a unit of transmission resource defined in 3GPP as a period occupancy in a particular spreading code and radio interface. The logical channel is an information transmission interface at the transmission input to the MAC.

In a particular example, a physical resource supports two or more transport channels that are multiplexed on the same physical resource. In particular, a new transport channel may be defined for the communication of scheduling assistance data, which is multiplexed with one or more DCHs and one or more DPCH channels on which the DCHs are carried in the 3GPP system. You may.

In a 3GPP system, two or more separate streams of information may be multiplexed into a common set of physical resources in multiple ways:

-Physical layer field multiplexing In physical layer field multiplexing, multiple streams of information are encoded separately (if necessary) and occupy mutually exclusive (usually contiguous) parts of the transmit payload. Inverse multiplexing is realized by extracting the relevant parts of the transmit payload for each stream and handling them later independently.

-Transport channel multiplexing In transport channel multiplexing, the multiplex information streams are encoded separately and a coordinated rate matching scheme is applied to each stream so that the total number of bits after rate matching exactly matches the transmit payload. In general, this is similar to physical layer multiplexing, except that the bits corresponding to each information stream are usually discontinuous in the last transmit payload. In addition, the rate matching scheme is designed to allow the amount of FEC applied to each stream to vary flexibly, allowing a variety of different quality requirements to be met independently for each stream. Inverse multiplexing is possible through a receiver that recognizes the rate matching algorithm applied to the transmitter.

-Logical channel multiplexing In logical channel multiplexing, multiple information streams, along with headers applied to each stream, are multiplexed by the MAC layer prior to error correction coding by the physical layer, allowing demultiplexing at the receiver. Since FEC coding is applied to composite (multiplexed) streams, each stream receives the same transmission reliability.

Physical resources such as DPCH channels are controlled by the RNC scheduler, but it is preferable that the individual transport channel DCH is terminated at RNC107 and the transport channel used for scheduling support data is terminated at base station 105. Understand. Therefore, the transport channel used for scheduling support data and the transport channel used for other data are multiplexed on the same physical resource, but terminate at different entities. This enables particularly efficient and flexible signaling, and in particular can minimize the delay of scheduling support data. Specifically, the delay associated with receiving scheduling support data on the RNC-terminated transport channel and retransmitting it to base station 105 can be avoided.

It can be seen that different physical resources controlled by RNC107 may be used to support the communication of scheduling assistance data.

For example, as mentioned above, DPCH or PRACH physical channels may be used. In some embodiments, the UE 101 and the base station 105 may further have the ability to communicate scheduling support data with physical resources managed by the base station scheduler 209. Therefore, in this example, the UE 101 may have a function of communicating with a plurality of different physical resources. In the example of Figure 2, the appropriate physical resources for communicating scheduling assistance data may be selected according to the current situation and operating environment, and the appropriate physical channel will give the best performance in the current situation. It may be selected to provide.

Therefore, in this example, the signaling used by the base station scheduler 209 to support the enhanced uplink scheduling process is intelligently relayed and relayed by different uplink physical resources according to current preferences and circumstances. Will be sent. In particular, physical resources may be selected based on the presence or absence of these uplink physical resources. Further, scheduling support data may be communicated on a transport channel terminated at base station 105.

In an alternative approach, the signaling used by the base station scheduler 209 to support extended uplink scheduling processing is a different transport channel (thus a physical resource through network-to-UE signaling means in network control). It may be relayed and transmitted by.

The intelligent relay method is shown with reference to an example. Three specific configurations are possible.

Scenario 1 The user device 101 attempts to notify the base station scheduler 209 of its current packet data transmission buffer status or radio status, but the extended uplink resource is not allowed for transmission and other uplink radio resources also exist. Not available or not available. This situation often occurs when UE101 has previously terminated the transmission of a packet call, has been idle for some time, and new data reaches UE101's packet data transmission buffer 217. The user must notify the base station scheduler 209 of the need for transmit resources to transmit new data.

Scenario 2 The user apparatus 101 attempts to update the base station scheduler 209 with new wireless interface status information or buffer information, and the packet data uplink resource scheduled by the base station scheduler 209 is already available. In this case, UE101 may tie uplink signaling using some of the resources allowed to transmit the uplink packet data transmission itself.

Scenario 3 The user apparatus 101 tries to update the base station scheduler 209 with new channel or buffer information, and the packet data uplink resource managed by the base station scheduler 209 is not available, but another RNC-managed uplink resource exists. Is available. In this case, UE101 may tie signaling using some of the existing uplink resources.

Thus, in some embodiments, the channel controller 213 of UE101 and the channel controller 205 of base station 105 have the ability to select between different physical resources. Further, this selection may be made depending on whether different physical resources are available.

As a specific example, the channel controller 213 may first evaluate whether the uplink packet data channel controlled by the base station scheduler 209 is available. If available, this channel is selected to send scheduling assistance data. Otherwise, channel controller 213 may evaluate whether uplink physical channels controlled by RNC scheduler 201 (like DPCH) are configured. If set, scheduling assistance data will be sent on this channel. However, if such a channel is not available, channel controller 213 may continue to send scheduling assistance data using a random access channel (PRACH).

In different embodiments, the selection of physical resources may be made according to different parameters or characteristics. For example, the channel controller 213 and the base station controller 205 may take into account the following parameters. -Existence or lack of uplink physical resource format. -Time when the uplink resource format last existed. For example, a given physical resource may only be selected if it is available within a given time interval. · Traffic load on channels mapped to the uplink resource format. For example, physical resources may be selected when the traffic load is low and there are extra available resources. -Consideration of transmission waiting time for uplink signaling. For example, each physical resource may have a related delay time due to signaling delay, coding, etc., and the physical resource having the lowest waiting time may be selected in preference to other physical resources.

Alternatively or additionally, the selection of physical resources may be performed according to the configuration by the fixed network, especially the RNC. For example, some signaling route may be explicitly allowed or disabled by the fixed network.

The physical resource selection may be made, for example, by selecting a transport channel and then selecting a physical resource to transmit this transport channel. As another example, the selection of physical resources may be made by associating different transport channels with different physical channels and selecting the appropriate transport channel.

FIG. 3 shows the principle between these exemplary switching examples. In particular, Figure 3a shows an example of switching a single transport channel between uplink physical resource formats. Figure 3b shows an example of switching the signaling information stream to two or more transport channels, each with a fixed association with the physical resource format.

In the example of Figure 3a, the scheduling assistance data is contained in a new transport channel (TrCH # 1). The transport channel is switched to a first or second transport channel multiplexer, depending on the desired physical resource format. The selected transport channel multiplexer multiplexes the transport channel with other transport channels that communicate with physical resources.

In the example of FIG. 3b, the scheduling support data is contained in the first transport channel (TrCH # 1) or the second transport channel (TrCH # 2). Each of the transport channels is supported by a different physical resource, and the selected transport channel is multiplexed with the other transport channels before being transmitted on the physical resource. The choice of a particular transport channel for scheduling assistance data may be made according to the characteristics of the physical resources associated with the individual transport channel.

It can be seen that in certain cases transport channel multiplexing is not used. Multiplexing of transport channels provides multiple advantages and options that are particularly suitable for the above embodiment.

For example, for physical layer multiplexing, it allows uplink signaling to be multiplexed over traditional channels (eg, channels specified in Release 99) without significantly impacting the 3GPP technical specification. In addition, existing techniques for transport channel multiplexing within 3GPP can be reused with minimal impact on technical specifications, thus achieving improved backward compatibility.

Further, in some embodiments, the use of transport channel multiplexing may be used to optimize the individual performance of individual transport channels. In some embodiments, different transmission schemes are used for different transport channels. In particular, different transmission methods may be used that produce different transmission credibility.

As a specific example, forward error correction coding may be individually selected for each transport channel, for example, forward error correction coding with higher reliability than the transport channel carrying user data carries scheduling support data. It may be selected as the transport channel. This difference in forward error correction coding may be achieved by using different encoders / decoders, or by applying different puncturing or iterative characteristics when performing rate matching. You may.

In particular, one transport channel may use a retransmission method in which the wrong data packet is retransmitted from UE101, while the other transport channel is more reliable rather than using the retransmission method. Send data with a high degree of error coding. Thus, in this example, a single physical resource may have a first transport channel used to transmit delay-insensitive data. Transmissions can have a high data packet error rate of about 10-30%, resulting in a large number of retransmissions, resulting in increased delay but very efficient resource utilization. At the same time, the physical resource may support a second transport channel used to transmit scheduling assistance data, which transport channel may have a very low data rate. This ensures that packet data is received, minimizes delays, and results in improved scheduling by base station scheduler 209.

Further, in some embodiments, the transport channel of the physical resource may be terminated at different points in the fixed network. Specifically, the transport channel may be used for user data communication or terminated at RNC107, while the second transport channel is used for scheduling support data communication at base station 105. It will be terminated. Therefore, the same physical resources may support transport channels that are individually terminated at optimal locations. This can reduce the delay associated with the scheduling support data and improve the scheduling performance of the base station scheduler 209.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a signaling system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the illustrated functionality may be implemented in channel controller 213 of FIG. The operation is described with reference to the three specific exemplary 3GPP UTRAN TDD scenarios described above.

Scenario 1 In scenario 1, base station 105 cannot use this transport channel to carry the required uplink signaling due to the fact that the existing RACH is terminated at RNC107. RACH is not "visible" to base station 105, but simply passes through the base station on the way to RNC. It is possible to send the received information back from RNC to Node-B via new Iub signaling, but this technique is subject to considerable latency included in these multiple transmission intervals.

Non-random access methods (such as cyclic polling) are also conceivable, but such techniques also suffer from increased latency (arrival of data in the user's transmit buffer and uplink resources providing that data). There is a potential significant delay between being allowed for).

According to the example of FIG. 4, a new base station termination random access channel capable of transmitting scheduling support data directly to the base station scheduler 209 is defined.

The new random access channel is E-SACH in the example shown in Figure 4._RCalled "Enhanced Uplink Scheduler Assistance Channel". The subscript "R" relates to the fact that the channel is effectively random access (ie, not scheduled and specifically not scheduled or managed by Base Station Scheduler 209). The channel can carry an indication to the base station scheduler 209 that new data has reached the user's transmit buffer and is actually a request for uplink radio resources, even if it also carries an indication of the current channel status. Often, since the transmission is random access, it may also carry instructions for user identification information so that the base station scheduler 209 recognizes the user to whom the resource is allocated.

Scenario 2 An uplink data payload carried by one transport channel (indicated by E-DCH (Enhanced-Dedicated CHannel)) scheduled by base station scheduler 209, with uplink signaling on separate transport channels (E in Figure 4). -SACH_EIt may be carried by). E-SACH_RLike E-SACH_EIs terminated at base station 105. The subscript "E" is used to indicate that the scheduling assistance information is coupled to the extended uplink transmission scheduled by the base station scheduler 209. However, it is not necessary to carry the user identification information by signaling because it is transmitted by scheduled transmission. Therefore, E-SACH_E The PDU size of the PDU is E-SACH_R It tends to be different from the PDU size of the PDU. Two (or more) transport channels are multiplexed into the same set of physical resources (called CCTrCH). Furthermore, E-SACH_EIt is also possible to adjust the degree of FEC coding applied to the E-DCH and to optimize the transmission reliability of each transport channel as desired. For example, the scheduler information reaches the scheduler with high reliability (usually with a single transmission), and the E-DCH utilizes ARQ (retransmission) efficiency by operating each transmission instance with optimal link reliability. E-SACH so that it can (often involves multiple transmissions per unit of data before it is received without error)_EMay be desirable to be given a higher degree of FEC protection than E-DCH.

Scenario 3 This scenario is similar to scenario 2, but the main difference is that uplink signaling is not directly related to extended uplink transmission and is hugged by uplink resources that are not scheduled by base station scheduler 209. These uplink resources are referred to herein as "auxiliaries." For example, the extended packet data uplink may be used with the HSDPA downlink packet data service. In such cases, it is relevant (typically used to carry high-layer user data such as TCP (Transmit Power Control) acknowledgments and Layer 3 control traffic that controls events (handovers, etc.)). There is an uplink DCH. In such cases, the scheduling assistance data may be transmitted on the uplink DPCH physical resource or other uplink HSDPA channel such as HS-SICH (High Speed-Shared Information Channel).

E-SACH when other uplink transmission resources are not available but update information needs to be sent to the scheduler_RRather than using random access procedures, it may be preferable for the user to tie the uplink signaling of scheduling assistance data to an auxiliary uplink resource (for latency reasons or to gain efficiency savings).

Again, E-SACH to facilitate control of the degree of forward error correction coding applied to auxiliary traffic and uplink signaling, and to allow separate detection of each._DA separate transport channel called is used for uplink signaling. E-SACH as in scenario 2_DIs terminated at base station 105 and, along with other data, is multiplexed into a common set of auxiliary uplink radio resources (auxiliary uplink CCTrCH).

For clarity, it can be seen that the above description describes embodiments of the invention with respect to different functional units and processes. However, it is clear that some appropriate distribution between different functional units or processors may be used without departing from the present invention. For example, functions indicated to be performed by different processors or controllers may be performed by the same processor or controller. Therefore, a reference to a particular functional unit is considered only as a reference to the appropriate means of providing the desired function, rather than indicating a strict logical or physical structure or configuration.

The present invention may be implemented in any suitable form, including hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof. Optionally, the invention may be at least partially implemented as computer software running on one or more data processors and / or digital signal processors. The elements and components of the embodiments of the present invention may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable manner. In fact, the function may be implemented in a single unit, in multiple units, or as part of another functional unit. Thus, the invention may be implemented in a single unit or physically and functionally distributed between different units and processors.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to some examples, it is not intended to be limited to the particular form shown herein. Rather, the scope of the invention is limited only by the claims. Moreover, although the functionality appears to be described for a particular embodiment, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various features of the described embodiment may be combined in accordance with the present invention. In the claims, the term having does not exclude the existence of other elements or steps.

Further, although described individually, multiple means, elements or steps of method may be implemented, for example, by a single unit or processor. Further, individual features may be included in different claims, which may be advantageously combined in some cases, and inclusion in different claims is not feasible and / or advantageous for the combination of features. It does not mean that there is none. Also, the inclusion of a feature in one claim category does not mean a limitation to this category, but the feature can be applied to other claims categories as needed. Indicates that. Furthermore, the order of the features to the claims does not indicate the particular order in which the features must be operated, in particular the order of the individual steps of the method claims must be performed in this order. It does not indicate that it should not be. Rather, the steps may be performed in any suitable order. Moreover, references to the singular do not exclude multiple. Therefore, references to "one", "first", "second", etc. do not exclude more than one.

The following items will be further disclosed with respect to the above examples.

(1) A device that transmits uplink signaling information in a cellular communication system. It is a means for generating scheduling support data for a base station type scheduler, and the scheduling support data is a means for transmitting uplink packet data from a user apparatus UE and a means for transmitting uplink packet data. As a means for transmitting the scheduling support data from the UE with the first physical resource of the uplink wireless interface. Have, The first physical resource is a device that is not managed by the base station scheduler.

(2) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the transmitting means is configured to transmit the scheduling support data on a first transport channel supported by the first physical resource.

(3) The apparatus according to (2), wherein the first transport channel is a base station-terminated transport channel terminated by the base station of the base station type scheduler.

(4) The transmitting means is configured to transmit other data in a second transport port channel that is multiplexed with the first physical resource together with the first transport channel, (2). Or the device according to (3).

(5) The apparatus according to (4), wherein the first transport channel has a terminal point different from that of the second transport channel.

(6) The apparatus according to (4) or (5), wherein the second transport channel uses a retransmission method and the first transport channel does not use a retransmission method.

(7) Of (4) to (6), the first transport channel is encoded according to the first transmission method, and the second transport channel is encoded according to a different second transmission method. The device according to any.

(8) The apparatus according to (7), wherein the first transmission method and the second transmission method have different error correction characteristics.

(9) The means for transmitting is described in any one of (3) to (8), which is configured to perform rate matching between the first transport channel and the second transport channel. Equipment.

(10) A means for transmitting the scheduling support data using the second physical resource, and A selection means for selecting between the first physical resource and the second physical resource The device according to any one of (1) to (9), further comprising.

(11) The selection means is configured to select between the first physical resource and the second physical resource according to the availability of the first physical resource and the second physical resource. The device according to (10).

(12) The selection means is configured to select between the first physical resource and the second physical resource according to the traffic load of the first physical resource and the second physical resource. The device according to (10) or (11).

(13) The selection means selects between the first physical resource and the second physical resource according to the waiting time characteristics associated with the first physical resource and the second physical resource. The device according to any one of (10) to (12), which is configured as described above.

(14) The device according to any one of (10) to (13), wherein the second physical resource is a physical resource managed by the base station type scheduler.

(15) The first physical resource is associated with the first transport channel and The second physical resource is associated with the second transport channel and The selection means is described in any one of (10) to (14), which is configured to allocate the scheduling support data by associating the scheduling support data with the first or second transport channel. Equipment.

(16) The device according to any one of (1) to (15), wherein the first physical resource is a random access channel.

(17) The device according to any one of (1) to (16), wherein the scheduling support data has an instruction of the amount of data for which transmission is suspended.

(18) The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (17), wherein the scheduling support data has the radio interface channel status of the UE.

(19) The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (18), wherein the cellular communication system is a 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) system.

(20) The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (19), wherein the cellular communication system is a time division bidirectional (TDD) system.

(21) When used, it is a device that receives uplink signaling information in a cellular communication system. It is the first physical resource of the uplink wireless interface and is a means for receiving scheduling support data for the base station type scheduler from the user apparatus UE, and the scheduling support data has means for transmitting uplink packet data from the UE. And The first physical resource is a device that is not managed by the base station scheduler.

(22) A method of transmitting uplink signaling information in a cellular communication system. Scheduling support data for the base station type scheduler is generated, and the scheduling support data is related to uplink packet data transmission from the user apparatus UE. It has the ability to transmit the scheduling support data from the UE with the first physical resource of the uplink wireless interface. A method in which the first physical resource is not managed by the base station scheduler.

(23) The method according to (22), wherein transmitting the scheduling support data comprises transmitting the scheduling support data on a first transport channel supported by the first physical resource.

(24) The method according to (23), wherein the first transport channel is terminated at the base station of the base station type scheduler.

(25) The second transport port channel, further comprising transmitting other data with the first transport channel and the second transport port channel multiplexed on the first physical resource, according to (23) or (24). Method.

(26) The first transport channel is encoded according to the first transmission method and The method of (25), wherein the second transport channel is encoded according to a different second transmission scheme.

(27) The scheduling support data is transmitted using the second physical resource, The method according to any of (22) to (26), further comprising selecting between the first physical resource and the second physical resource.

(28) The method according to (27), wherein the second physical resource is a physical resource managed by the base station type scheduler.

(29) The method according to any one of (22) to (28), wherein the first physical resource is a random access channel.

(30) A method of receiving uplink signaling information in a cellular communication system. The first physical resource of the uplink wireless interface receives scheduling support data for the base station scheduler from the user apparatus UE, and the scheduling support data has a relation to uplink packet data transmission from the UE. A method in which the first physical resource is not managed by the base station scheduler.

100 cellular communication system 101,103 User device 105 base station 107 RNC 109 core network