Method for allocating resources in the uplink of a wireless communication network and corresponding radio terminal

• US 20020176439A1
• Filed: 05/16/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Demerville, Laurent, Brouet, Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 7,286,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/444
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1221 based on age of data to be sent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria

Abstract

The invention relates notably to a method for allocating resources in the uplink of a wireless communication network supporting real-time packet data services, said wireless communication network comprising a centralized resource allocation module (13) and a plurality of radio terminals (11).

According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of.

generating and storing real-time data blocks at said radio terminals (11);

generating and storing frames encapsulating real-time data blocks or portions of real-time data block at said radio terminals

including in each of said frames generated by said radio terminal an indication (22) on the number of stored real-time data blocks;

transmitting said frames in the uplink of said wireless communication network upon authorization from said resource allocation module (13),

forwarding said indication to said centralized resource allocation module (13); and

allocating resource to said radio terminal (11) depending on said indication (22).

Claims

1. / Method for allocating resources in the uplink of a wireless communication network supporting real-time packet data services, said wireless communication network comprising a centralized resource allocation module and a plurality of radio terminals, said method comprising the steps of:

generating and storing real-time data blocks at said radio terminals;

generating and storing frames encapsulating real-time data blocks or portions of real-time data block at said radio terminals;

including in each of said frames generated by said radio terminal an indication on the number of stored real-time data blocks;

transmitting said frames in the uplink of said wireless communication network upon authorization from said resource allocation module,

forwarding said indication to said centralized resource allocation module; and

allocating resource to said radio terminal depending on said indication.

2. / Method according to claim 1, wherein said indication further takes into account real-time radio blocks that are being generated at said first module.

3. / Method according to claim 1, wherein said frames are generated and transmitted according to a layer-two radio link protocol, the header of said frames comprising a field containing said indication.

4. / Method according to claim 1, wherein said layer-two protocol is the Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol as specified in ETSI GSM04.60, said indication being located in the Countdown Value field of the RLC frame header.

5. / Method according to claim 2, wherein said real-time radio block contain packetized voice.

6. / Radio terminal to be used in a wireless communication network supporting real-time packet data services, said radio terminal comprising a data block source associated to a data block queue for generating and storing real-time data blocks and a frame generator associated to a frame queue for generating and storing frames encapsulating real-time data blocks or portions of real-time data block, said frames being transmitted in the uplink of said wireless communication network upon authorization from a resource allocation module, said radio terminal further comprising:

a counting module for generating an indication on the number of stored real-time data blocks at said first module;

an interface between said counting module and said second module for forwarding said indication to said second module;

a frame generator for including said indication in each frame transmitted by said radio terminal.

7. / Resource allocation module to be used a wireless communication network supporting real-time packet data services for allocating resources in the uplink to radio terminals, said resource allocation module sending authorization to transmit frames, said frames comprising real time data blocks or portions of real time data blocks, said resource allocation module comprising:

a storage medium for storing an indication on the number of stored real-time data blocks at each of said radio terminals;

processing unit for determining the amount of resources to be allocated to each of said radio terminals depending on said indication.