Dynamic channel quality measurement procedure implemented by user equipment for adaptive modulation and coding techniques

• US 20040185789A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zeira, Eldad, Dick, Stephen G., Terry, Stephen E., Miller, James M., Zeira, Ariela
• Granted Patent: US 7,127,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/24 with feedback of measurements to the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/382 for resource allocation, admission control or handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0009 by adapting the channel coding H04L1/1812 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0027 Scheduling of signalling, e.g. occurrence thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/543 based on requested quality, e.g. QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria

Abstract

A wireless digital communication method for a plurality of user equipment mobile terminals (UEs) to communicate with a base station. Adaptive modulation and coding (AM&C) is used to achieve improved radio resource utilization and provide optimum data rates for user services. Blocks of downlink (DL) data are received by the base station which requests downlink DL channel quality measurements only from those mobile terminals (UEs) with pending downlink transmissions. The UEs respond to the request by measuring and reporting DL channel quality to the base station, which then allocates resources such that the UEs will make best use of radio resources. The base station notifies the UEs of the physical channel allocation indicating the modulation/coding rate and allocated slots followed by transmission of blocks of downlink data which are transmitted to the UEs.

Claims

1. A method for a plurality of user equipment mobile terminals (UEs) which optimize radio resource utilization and adjust data rates, the method comprising:

(a) each UE receiving a request for a channel quality measurement;

(b) each UE transmitting the results of the channel quality measurement;

(c) allocating radio resources used by the UEs in response to the results of the channel quality measurements; and

(d) each UE receiving a communication signal in accordance with said allocation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication signal indicates a particular coding rate, modulation type and at least one allocated slot.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the results of the channel quality measurements are used to determine which of a plurality of time slots are to be used.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) includes allocating time slots responsive to the results of the channel quality measurements.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein each of the UEs prepare for reception of downlink data in response to said allocation.

6. A plurality of user equipment mobile terminals (UEs) which optimize radio resource utilization and adjust data rates, each UE comprising:

(a) means to receive a request for a channel quality measurement;

(b) means to report the quality of a downlink channel used by the UE to a base station;

(c) means to respond to receipt of the channel allocation and modulation/coding rate information to prepare for reception of downlink data according to specified channel allocation and modulation/coding rate; and

(d) means to receive the modulation/coding rate.

7. A plurality of user equipment mobile terminals (UEs) which optimize radio resource utilization and adjust data rates, each UE comprising:

(a) means for receiving a request for a downlink channel quality measurement;

(b) means for measuring and reporting the results of the downlink channel quality measurement;

(c) means for receiving a downlink physical channel allocation signal;

(d) means for establishing transmission parameters based on the downlink physical channel allocation signal; and

(e) means for receiving blocks of downlink data in accordance with the established transmission parameters.

8. The UEs of claim 7 wherein the allocation signal indicates a particular coding rate, modulation type and at least one allocated slot.

9. A method for a plurality of user equipment mobile terminals (UEs) to optimize radio resource utilization and adjust data rates, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a request for a downlink channel quality measurement;

(b) measuring and reporting the results of the downlink channel quality measurement;

(c) receiving a downlink physical channel allocation signal;

(d) establishing transmission parameters based on the downlink physical channel allocation signal; and

(e) receiving blocks of downlink data in accordance with the established transmission parameters.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the allocation signal indicates a particular coding rate, modulation type and at least one allocated slot.