Method and apparatus for identifying and reporting non-operational enhanced uplink signaling channels

• US 20050243767A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dick, Stephen G., Terry, Stephen E., Zhang, Guodong
• Granted Patent: US 7,773,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1829 Arrangements specially adapted for the receiver end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management

Abstract

A method and apparatus for identifying and reporting a non-operational enhanced uplink (EU) signaling channel. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) sends a channel allocation request for an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) to a Node-B through an uplink (UL) EU signaling channel. In response to the request, the Node-B sends channel allocation information to the WTRU through one or more downlink (DL) EU signaling channels. If the WTRU does not receive the channel allocation information before a predetermined time period established by a request response timer expires, the WTRU reports a non-operational EU signaling channel to a radio network controller (RNC) via the Node-B. The Node-B reports a non-operational EU signaling channel when the Node-B does not receive E-DCH data transmissions after sending the channel allocation information, or receives subsequent E-DCH data transmissions which are inconsistent with the channel allocation information.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system including a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), at least one Node-B and a radio network controller (RNC), wherein the WTRU sends a channel allocation request for an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) data to the Node-B through an uplink (UL) enhanced uplink (EU) signaling channel and the Node-B sends channel allocation information to the WTRU in response to the channel allocation request, and wherein the Node-B sends feedback information to the WTRU through a downlink (DL) EU signaling channel in response to receiving E-DCH data transmissions from the WTRU, a method for identifying and reporting a non-operational EU signaling channel, the method comprising:

(a) the WTRU activating a request response timer when the WTRU sends the channel allocation request to the Node-B; and

(b) the WTRU reporting a non-operational EU signaling channel to the RNC via the Node-B if the WTRU does not receive channel allocation information from the Node-B before the request response timer expires.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the WTRU reports the non-operational EU signaling channel without specifying whether it is the DL EU signaling channel or the UL EU signaling channel that is non-operational.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(c) the Node-B reporting a non-operational EU signaling channel when the Node-B does not receive an E-DCH data transmission from the WTRU after sending the channel allocation information to the WTRU.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(c) the Node-B reporting a non-operational EU signaling channel when the Node-B receives an E-DCH data transmission which is inconsistent from the channel allocation information.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the RNC performing a corrective action after receiving the report of the non-operational EU signaling channel.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the corrective action includes increasing transmit power in the DL EU signaling channel.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the corrective action includes increasing transmit power in the UL EU signaling channel.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the WTRU reports the non-operational EU signaling channel when statistics of non-operation exceed a predetermined threshold.

9. In a wireless communication system including a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), at least one Node-B and a radio network controller (RNC), wherein the WTRU sends a channel allocation request for enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) data to the Node-B through an uplink (UL) enhanced uplink (EU) signaling channel and the Node-B sends channel allocation information to the WTRU in response to the channel allocation request, and the Node-B sends feedback information to the WTRU through a downlink (DL) EU signaling channel in response to receiving E-DCH data transmissions from the WTRU, a method for identifying and reporting a non-operational EU signaling channel, the method comprising:

(a) the WTRU transmitting E-DCH data through the UL EU signaling channel;

(b) the Node-B sending feedback information to the WTRU in response to receiving the E-DCH data; and

(c) the Node-B reporting a non-operational EU signaling channel when the Node-B receives subsequent data which is not consistent with the feedback information.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the feedback information is an acknowledgement (ACK) message and the Node-B reports a non-operational EU signaling channel when the Node-B receives previously transmitted data subsequently.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the feedback information is a non-acknowledgement (NACK) message and the Node-B reports a non-operational EU signaling channel when the Node-B receives new data subsequently.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising the RNC performing a corrective action after receiving the report of the non-operational EU signaling channel.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the corrective action includes increasing transmit power in the DL EU signaling channel.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the Node-B reports the non-operational EU signaling channel when statistics of non-operation exceed a predetermined threshold.

15. A system for identifying and reporting a non-operational signaling channel during enhanced uplink (EU) operation, the system comprising:

a radio network controller (RNC) for configuring an EU operation;

at least one Node-B sending channel allocation information via a downlink (DL) EU signaling channel in response to receiving a channel allocation request; and

a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising;

an EU request response timer which is activated when the WTRU sends a channel allocation request to the Node-B via an uplink (UL) EU signaling channel; and

a reporting unit for reporting a non-operational EU signaling channel to the RNC via the Node-B when the WTRU does not receive channel allocation information from the Node-B via the DL EU signaling channel before the request response timer expires.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the reporting unit reports the non-operational EU signaling channel without specifying whether it is the DL EU signaling channel or the UL EU signaling channel that is non-operational.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the Node-B further comprises:

a reporting unit for reporting a non-operational EU signaling channel to the RNC when the Node-B does not receive an E-DCH data transmission from the WTRU after sending the channel allocation information to the WTRU.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the Node-B further comprises:

a reporting unit for reporting a non-operational EU signaling channel to the RNC via the Node-B when the Node-B receives an E-DCH transmission which is inconsistent with the channel allocation information.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the RNC performs a corrective action after receiving the report of the non-operational EU signaling channel.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the corrective action includes increasing transmit power in the DL EU signaling channel.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the corrective action includes increasing transmit power in the UL EU signaling channel.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the WTRU reporting unit reports the non-operational EU signaling channel when statistics of non-operation exceed a predetermined threshold.

23. A system for identifying and reporting a non-operational signaling channel during enhanced uplink (EU) operation, the system comprising:

a radio network controller (RNC) for configuring the EU operation;

a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising;

a hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processor for transmitting and retransmitting data through an EU dedicated channel (E-DCH) in response to receiving feedback information; and

a Node-B comprising;

an H-ARQ processor for sending the feedback information in response to receiving the E-DCH data from the WTRU; and

a reporting unit for reporting a non-operational EU signaling channel when the Node-B receives subsequent data which is not consistent with the feedback information.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the feedback information is an acknowledgement (ACK) message and the reporting unit reports a non-operational EU signaling channel when the Node-B receives previously transmitted data subsequently.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the feedback information is a non-acknowledgement (NACK) message and the reporting unit reports a non-operational EU signaling channel when the Node-B receives new data subsequently.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the RNC performs a corrective action.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the corrective action includes increasing transmit power in the non-operational EU signaling channel.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein the reporting unit reports the non-operational EU signaling channel when statistics of non-operation exceed a predetermined threshold.

29. In a wireless communication system including at least one uplink signaling channel and at least one downlink signaling channel, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:

(a) an EU request response timer which is activated when the WTRU sends a channel allocation request via the uplink signaling channel; and

(b) a reporting unit for wirelessly reporting a non-operational signaling channel to an external entity when the IC does not receive channel allocation information from the downlink signaling channel before the request response timer expires.

30. In a wireless communication system including at least one uplink signaling channel and at least one downlink signaling channel, an integrated circuit (IC) comprising:

(a) an EU request response timer which is activated when the IC sends a channel allocation request via the uplink signaling channel; and

(b) a reporting unit for wirelessly reporting a non-operational signaling channel to an external entity when the IC does not receive channel allocation information from the downlink signaling channel before the request response timer expires.

31. The IC of claim 30 wherein the IC is located in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU).

32. In a wireless communication system including at least one uplink signaling channel and at least one downlink signaling channel, a Node-B comprising:

(a) a hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processor for wirelessly sending data feedback information to an external entity via the downlink signaling channel in response to receiving data from the external entity via the uplink signaling channel; and

(b) a reporting unit for reporting a non-operational signaling channel when the Node-B receives subsequent data from the external entity which is not consistent with the feedback information.

33. In a wireless communication system including at least one uplink signaling channel and at least one downlink signaling channel, an integrated circuit (IC) comprising:

(a) a hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processor for wirelessly sending data feedback information to an external entity via the downlink signaling channel in response to receiving data from the external entity via the uplink signaling channel; and

(b) a reporting unit for reporting a non-operational signaling channel when the IC receives subsequent data from the external entity which is not consistent with the feedback information.

34. The IC of claim 33 wherein the IC is located in a Node-B.