System and method for semi-persistent and dynamic scheduling and discontinuous reception control

• US 10,349,349 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Cai, Zhijun, Womack, James Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): Smarth, Gerald A
• Application Number:
  US15/820,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20180146427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1263 Mapping of traffic onto schedule, e.g. scheduled allocation or multiplexing of flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods of combining semi-persistent resource allocation and dynamic resource allocation are provided. Packets, such as VoIP packets, are transmitted on the uplink and downlink using respective semi-persistent resources. For each mobile device, awake periods and sleep periods are defined. The semi-persistent resources are aligned with the awake periods so that most of the time the mobile device can turn off its wireless access radio during the sleep periods. In addition, signalling to request, and to allocate, resources for additional packets are transmitted during the awake periods, and the resources allocated for the additional packets are within the awake windows.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless network, the method comprising:

for each mobile device of a plurality of mobile devices, in order to receive from the mobile device, the wireless network;

receiving uplink packets from the mobile device using a periodic semi-persistent uplink transmission resource that is aligned with discontinuous reception (DRX) awake periods, wherein the semi-persistent uplink transmission resource is scheduled using semi-persistent scheduling;

for each additional uplink packet or sub-packet for the mobile device;

receiving a request for an additional uplink transmission resource to transmit the additional uplink packet or sub-packet;

during one of the awake periods defined for the mobile device, transmitting, by the network, signaling that defines the additional uplink transmission resource to transmit the additional packet or sub-packet, the additional uplink transmission resource being allocated to occur within one of the awake periods, wherein the additional uplink transmission resource is scheduled using dynamic scheduling;

during one of the awake periods defined for the mobile device, receiving the additional uplink packet using the additional uplink transmission resource;

de-allocating the semi-persistent uplink transmission resource.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

receiving uplink packets from the mobile device using a semi-persistent uplink transmission resource that is aligned with awake periods defined for the mobile device comprises receiving uplink VoIP packets during an uplink talk-spurt for a VoIP session involving the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

for each mobile device, transmitting signaling to the mobile device that defines the awake periods and that defines sleep periods of that mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

for each mobile device, transmitting signaling to the mobile device that defines the semi-persistent uplink transmission resource of that mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

for each mobile device, transmitting signaling information on a broadcast channel during one of the awake periods defined for the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the network allocates the additional uplink transmission resource using control channel elements.

7. A method in a mobile device, the method comprising:

controlling a reception capability of the mobile device during a plurality of discontinuous reception (DRX) awake periods and a plurality of sleep periods, the awake periods alternating in time with the sleep periods, such that the reception capability is always on during each of the awake periods, and the reception capability is off for at least some of the sleep periods;

transmitting at the mobile device uplink packets on a periodic semi-persistent uplink transmission resource that is aligned with the plurality of awake periods, wherein the semi-persistent uplink transmission resource is scheduled using semi-persistent scheduling;

for each additional uplink packet or sub-packet for the mobile device;

transmitting a request for an additional uplink transmission resource to transmit the additional uplink packet or sub-packet;

during one of the awake periods, receiving signaling from the network that defines an additional uplink transmission resource to transmit the additional uplink packet or sub-packet, wherein the additional uplink transmission resource is scheduled using dynamic scheduling;

during one of the awake periods, transmitting the additional uplink packet or sub-packet on the additional uplink transmission resource;

determining that the semi-persistent uplink transmission resource has been de-allocated.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein transmitting uplink packets on a semi-persistent uplink transmission resource comprises transmitting VoIP uplink packets during an uplink talk-spurt for a VoIP session involving the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving signaling that defines the awake periods and the sleep periods of the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving signaling that defines the semi-persistent uplink transmission resource of that mobile device.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving signaling information on the broadcast channel during one of the awake periods for that mobile device.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the additional uplink transmission resource is allocated using control channel elements.

13. A wireless network comprising:

a semi-persistent scheduler for allocating a periodic semi-persistent uplink transmission resource that is aligned with discontinuous reception (DRX) awake periods, wherein the semi-persistent uplink transmission resource is scheduled using semi-persistent scheduling;

a receiver configured to, for each mobile device of a plurality of mobile devices, in order to receive from the mobile device;

receive uplink packets from the mobile device using the semi-persistent uplink transmission resource allocated by the semi-persistent scheduler;

for each additional uplink packet or sub-packet for the mobile device;

receive a request for an additional uplink transmission resource to transmit the additional uplink packet or sub-packet;

during one of the awake periods defined for the mobile device, transmit signaling that defines the additional uplink transmission resource to transmit the additional packet or sub-packet, the additional uplink transmission resource being allocated to occur within one of the awake periods defined for the mobile device, wherein the additional uplink transmission resource is scheduled using dynamic scheduling;

during one of the awake periods defined for the mobile device, receive the additional uplink packet using the respective additional uplink transmission resource; and

de-allocate the semi-persistent uplink transmission resource;

a dynamic scheduler that performs said dynamic scheduling.

14. The wireless network of claim 13 wherein the network allocates the additional uplink transmission resource using control channel elements.

15. The wireless network of claim 13 wherein:

receiving uplink packets from the mobile device using a semi-persistent uplink transmission resource that is aligned with awake periods defined for the mobile device comprises receiving uplink VoIP packets during an uplink talk-spurt for a VoIP session involving the mobile device.

16. The wireless network of claim 13 further comprising a transmitter configured to:

for each mobile device, transmit signaling to the mobile device that defines the awake periods and that defines sleep periods of that mobile device.

17. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless access radio;

a radio manager for controlling a reception capability of the wireless access radio during a plurality of discontinuous reception (DRX) awake periods and a plurality of sleep periods, the awake periods alternating in time with the sleep periods, such that the reception capability is always on during each of the awake periods, and the reception capability is off for at least some of the sleep periods;

the mobile device being configured to;

transmit uplink packets on a periodic semi-persistent uplink transmission resource that is aligned with the plurality of awake periods, wherein the semi-persistent uplink transmission resource is scheduled using semi-persistent scheduling;

for each additional uplink packet or sub-packet for the mobile device;

transmit a request for an additional uplink transmission resource to transmit the additional uplink packet or sub-packet;

during one of the awake periods, receive signaling, from the network, that defines an additional uplink transmission resource to transmit the additional uplink packet or sub-packet, wherein the additional uplink transmission resource is scheduled using dynamic scheduling;

during one of the awake periods, transmit the additional uplink packet or sub-packet on the additional uplink transmission resource;

determine that the semi-persistent uplink transmission resource has been de-allocated.

18. The mobile device of claim 17 wherein the additional uplink transmission resource is allocated using control channel elements.

19. The mobile device of claim 17 wherein transmitting uplink packets on a semi-persistent uplink transmission resource comprises transmitting VoIP uplink packets during an uplink talk-spurt for a VoIP session involving the mobile device.

20. The mobile device of claim 17 further configured to:

receive signaling that defines the awake periods and the sleep periods of the mobile device.