Resource allocation in packet-format communication

• US 20020105940A1
• Filed: 01/25/2002
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Rajala, Jussi, Forssell, Mika
• Granted Patent: US 7,227,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/349
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1635 Cumulative acknowledgement, i.e. the acknowledgement message applying to all previous messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1854 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1263 Mapping of traffic onto schedule, e.g. scheduled allocation or multiplexing of flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for arranging the transmission of packets between a mobile communication device (MS) and a mobile communication network (NW). In the method, at least one temporary block flow (UL TBF, DL TBF) is set up, in which data is transmitted in packets in one or more packet data traffic channels (PDTCH) in a first direction from the mobile communication device (MS) to the mobile communication network (NW). At the end of the transmission in the block flow, information is set in the last packet (307) to be transmitted about the end of the block flow, wherein the receiver of the packets acknowledges (312) the reception of the packets. In the method, after the end of the transmission of packets in said first direction, a determined time is waited until an acknowledgement (312) is transmitted. If, during the waiting time, the mobile communication network (NW) detects a need for transmission of packets in the second direction from the mobile communication network (NW) to the mobile communication device (MS), at least one packet data traffic channel (PDTCH) is set up (311) for data transmission in said second direction.

Claims

1. A method for arranging the transmission of packets between a mobile communication device (MS) and a mobile communication network (NW), in which method, for transmitting packets between the mobile communication device (MS) and the mobile communication network (NW), at least one temporary block flow (UL TBF, DL TBF) is set up, in which data is transmitted in packets on one or more packet data traffic channels (PDTCH) in a first direction from the mobile communication device (MS) to the mobile communication network (NW), and in which method, at the end of the transmission in the block flow, information is set in the last packet (307) to be transmitted about the end of the packet flow, wherein the receiver of the packets acknowledges (312) the reception of the packets, characterized in that after the end of the transmission of packets in said first direction, a determined time is waited until the transmission of said acknowledgement (312), and if, during the waiting time, the mobile communication network (NW) detects a need for transmission of packets in the second direction from the mobile communication network (NW) to the mobile communication device (MS), at least one packet data traffic channel (PDTCH) is set up (311) for data transmission in said second direction.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the setting up of temporary block flows is performed in one or several control channels (PCCCH, CCCH, PACCH) by means of signalling data to be transmitted.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the setting up (311) of at least one packet data traffic channel (PDTCH) in said second direction is performed on a control channel (PACCH) corresponding to the temporary block flow (UL TBF, DL TBF) set up in the first direction.

4. The method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the processing of information to be transmitted takes place according to a protocol stack comprising at least an RLC/MAC layer.

5. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that said acknowledgement (312) is transmitted substantially immediately after the setting up of said at least one packet data traffic channel (PDTCH).

6. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that said acknowledgement (312) is transmitted substantially immediately after the waiting time has expired.

7. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the first direction of data transmission, the information used for ending of the packet flow is a countdown value (CV).

8. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in the method, the time taken in setting up of a temporary packet connection is controlled and determined a maximum time, wherein said waiting time is set shorter than said maximum time.

9. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in the method, the acknowledgement message with which all the data packets are acknowledged as received, is delayed.

10. A communication system in which information is arranged to be transmitted in packet format between a mobile communication device (MS) and a mobile communication network (NW) and which communication system comprises means (RF, BTS) for packet transmission between the mobile communication device (MS) and the mobile communication network (NW) in at least one temporary block flow (UL TBF, DL TBF), in which information is arranged to be transmitted in one or several packet data traffic channels (PDTCH) in a first direction from the mobile communication device (MS) to the mobile communication network (NW), means for setting information on the end of the block flow in the packet (307) to be transmitted when data transmission is at end in the block flow, and means (PCU) for acknowledging the receipt of packets, characterized in that the communication system also comprises at least means (TimerX) for waiting a certain time after the end of transmission of packets in said first direction before transmitting said acknowledgement (312), means (PCU) for receiving packets addressed to the mobile communication device (MS), and means (BTS) for setting up at least one packet data traffic channel (PDTCH) for data transmission in a second direction from the mobile communication network (NW) to the mobile communication device (MS), wherein if the mobile communication network (NW) has, during the waiting time, detected a need for packet transmission, said at least one packet data traffic channel (PDTCH) is arranged to be set up in said second direction before the transmission of said acknowledgement (312).

11. The communication system according to claim 10, characterized in that the setting up of temporary block flows is arranged to be performed by means of signalling data to be transmitted in one or several control channels (PCCCH, CCCH, PACCH).

12. The communication system according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the setting up of temporary block flows in said second direction is arranged to be performed in a control channel (PACCH) corresponding the temporary block flow (UL TBF, DL TBF) in the first direction.

13. The communication system according to claim 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that the mobile communication device (MS) and the mobile communication network (NW) are provided with a protocol stack for processing information to be transmitted, the protocol stack comprising at least an RLC/MAC layer.

14. The communication system according to claim 10, 11, 12, or 13, characterized in that said acknowledgement (312) is arranged to be transmitted substantially immediately after the formation (311) of said at least one packet data traffic channel (PDTCH).

15. The communication system according to claim 10, 11, 12, or 13, characterized in that said acknowledgement (312) is arranged to be transmitted substantially immediately after the expiry of a waiting time.

16. The communication system according to any of the claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the mobile communication network is a GPRS packet network.

17. The communication system according to any of the claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the means for receiving packets addressed to the mobile communication device (MS) comprise a packet control unit (PCU).

18. The communication system according to claim 17, comprising a base station controller (BSC), characterized in that the packet control unit (PCU) is placed in the base station controller (BSC).

19. The communication system according to claim 17, comprising a base transceiver station (BTS), characterized in that the packet control unit (PCU) is placed in the base transceiver station (BTS).

20. The communication system according to claim 17, comprising a serving support node (SGSN), characterized in that the packet control unit (PCU) is placed in the serving support node (SGSN).

21. The communication system according to any of the claims 10 to 20, characterized in that in the first direction of data transmission, the information used on the end of the block flow is arranged to be a countdown value (CV).

22. The communication system according to any of the claims 10 to 21, characterized in that in the communication system, the time taken in the formation of a temporary packet connection is arranged to be controlled and is allocated a maximum time, wherein said waiting time is arranged to be shorter than said maximum time.

23. The communication system according to any of the claims 10 to 22, characterized in that in the communication system, the acknowledgement with which all data packets are acknowledged as received, is arranged to be delayed.

24. A network element (PCU) to be used in a communication system in which information is arranged to be transmitted in packet form between a mobile communication device (MS) and a mobile communication network (NW), the communication system comprising means (RF, BTS) for packet transmission between the mobile communication device (MS) and the mobile communication network (NW) in at least one temporary block flow (UL TBF, DL TBF), in which information is arranged to be transmitted in one or several packet data traffic channels (PDTCH) in a first direction from the mobile communication device (MS) to the mobile communication network (NW), means for setting information on the end of the block flow in the packet (307) to be transmitted when data transmission is at end in the block flow, and means (PCU) for acknowledging the receipt of packets, characterized in that the network element (PCU) also comprises at least means (TimerX) for waiting a certain time after the end of transmission of packets in said first direction before transmitting said acknowledgement (312), means (PCU) for receiving packets addressed for the mobile communication device (MS), and means (BTS) for setting up at least one packet data traffic channel (PDTCH) for data transmission in a second direction from the mobile communication network (NW) to the mobile communication device (MS), wherein if the network element (PCU) has, during the waiting time, detected a need for packet transmission, said at least one packet data traffic channel (PDTCH) is arranged to be set up in said second direction before the transmission of said acknowledgement (312).