Pilot grouping and route protocols in multi-carrier communication systems

• US 10,075,313 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2017
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Peter John
• Primary Examiner(s): Cai, Wayne H
• Application Number:
  US15/584,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20170237589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1671 the supervisory signal being transmitted together with control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/261 Details of reference signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2613 Structure of the reference signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/005 of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0069 in case of dual connectivity, e.g. decoupled uplink/downlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/185 using make before break
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for pilot grouping, route protocols, and scheduling in multi-carrier communication systems. In an embodiment, an access terminal may group a plurality of pilot signals characterized by different frequencies into one or more pilot groups, each pilot grouping being identified by a plurality of parameters (e.g., a PN offset and a group ID). Each pilot group may include pilot signals having substantially the same coverage area. The access terminal may further select a representative pilot signal from each pilot group for pilot strength reporting. The access terminal may also use the pilot grouping for effective set management.

Claims

1. A method in a multi-carrier communication system, comprising:

receiving a plurality of pilot signals;

grouping the plurality of pilot signals into one or more scheduler groups in accordance with sequence numbers of the pilot signals, the pilot signals characterized by a plurality of frequencies;

associating each scheduler group with a transmission queue; and

transmitting at least a pilot strength report for a representative pilot signal in each scheduler group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each scheduler group includes one or more pilot signals having a same sequence number.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sequence number is associated with detecting gaps in a received data packet.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the sequence number is associated with detecting gaps in a data packet received through a single carrier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each scheduler group includes one or more pilot signals associated with a sub-active set of an access terminal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more pilot signals in each scheduler group are associated with a plurality of sectors in a softer handoff.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the sub-active set includes potential sectors to which the access terminal points a data rate control cover.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating a scheduler tag with the plurality of pilot signals, wherein the scheduler tag is same for each of the plurality of pilot signals in a scheduler group.

9. An apparatus adapted for multi-carrier communications, comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of pilot signals;

means for grouping the plurality of pilot signals into one or more scheduler groups in accordance with sequence numbers of the pilot signals, the pilot signals characterized by a plurality of frequencies;

means for associating each scheduler group with a transmission queue; and

means for transmitting at least a pilot strength report for a representative pilot signal in each scheduler group.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each scheduler group includes one or more pilot signals having a same sequence number.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sequence number is associated with detecting gaps in a received data packet.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each scheduler group includes one or more pilot signals associated with a sub-active set of an access terminal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more pilot signals in each scheduler group are associated with a plurality of sectors in a softer handoff.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sub-active set includes potential sectors to which the access terminal points a data rate control cover.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for associating a scheduler tag with the plurality of pilot signals, wherein the scheduler tag is same for each of the plurality of pilot signals in a scheduler group.

16. An apparatus adapted for multi-carrier communications, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, and wherein the processor is configured to;

receive a plurality of pilot signals

group the plurality of pilot signals into one or more scheduler groups in accordance with sequence numbers of the pilot signals, the pilot signals characterized by a plurality of frequencies;

associate each scheduler group with a transmission queue; and

transmit at least a pilot strength report for a representative pilot signal in each scheduler group.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor further configures each scheduler group to include one or more pilot signals having a same sequence number.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to associate the sequence number with detecting gaps in a received data packet.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor further configures each scheduler group to include one or more pilot signals associated with a sub-active set of an access terminal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to associate the one or more pilot signals in each scheduler group with a plurality of sectors in a softer handoff.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configures the sub-active set to include potential sectors to which the access terminal points a data rate control cover.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

associate a scheduler tag with the plurality of pilot signals, wherein the scheduler tag is same for each of the plurality of pilot signals in a scheduler group.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable code for multi-carrier communications that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a plurality of pilot signals

group the plurality of pilot signals into one or more scheduler groups in accordance with sequence numbers of the pilot signals, the pilot signals characterized by a plurality of frequencies;

associate each scheduler group with a transmission queue; and

transmit at least a pilot strength report or a representative pilot signal in each scheduler group.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein each scheduler group includes one or more pilot signals having a same sequence number.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the sequence number is associated with detecting gaps in a received data packet.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the sequence number is associated with detecting gaps in a data packet received through a single carrier.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein each scheduler group includes one or more pilot signals associated with a sub-active set of an access terminal.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the one or more pilot signals in each scheduler group are associated with a plurality of sectors in a softer handoff.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the sub-active set includes potential sectors to which the access terminal points a data rate control cover.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising:

code for associating a scheduler tag with the plurality of pilot signals, wherein the scheduler tag is same for each of the plurality of pilot signals in a scheduler group.