Methods and apparatus for communicating information utilizing a plurality of dictionaries

• US 20070149138A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Das, Arnab
• Granted Patent: US 9,473,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0045 Arrangements at the receiver end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0072 Error control for data other than payload data, e.g. control data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for communicating information using a plurality of report dictionaries are described. A plurality of request dictionaries are implemented for a wireless terminal to use for multi-bit uplink transmission backlog request reports communicated via the dedicated control channel. Each dictionary defines a different bit mapping interpretation for a set of multi-bit uplink transmission backlog request reports, e.g. a 3 bit uplink request report and a 4 bit uplink request report. The plurality of request dictionaries includes a default dictionary and additional dictionaries. The implementation of a plurality of alternative request dictionaries expands the reporting possibilities allowing a wireless terminal to use a reporting format well-suited to its current needs. The default dictionary is mandated to be used under certain predefined conditions, e.g., upon entry into the active state. Rules for transitioning between different dictionaries and continuing to use a selected dictionary are described.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless terminal to communicate information to another device, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of report dictionaries, each report dictionary indicating a mapping between information to be reported in a first type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported, at least some different report dictionaries indicating for at least some bit patterns which are the same different information for the first type of report;

determining, for a first point in time, the dictionary to be used to report information; and

determining from said determined dictionary and a first set of information to be communicated, a bit pattern for conveying said first set of information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of report dictionaries also indicate a mapping between information to be reported in a second type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported in a second type report.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first type of report is a report of a first size and said second type of report is a report of a second size.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first type of report and second type of report each provide uplink transmission backlog information.

5. The method of claim 4,

storing uplink report transmission scheduling information indicating when reports of said first and second type are to be transmitted.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said another device is a base station;

and

wherein the first type of report and the second type of report are 3 and 4 bit reports, respectively.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said dictionaries is a default dictionary, the method further comprising:

storing in said wireless terminal information indicating when the use of said default dictionary for reports is mandated by the occurrence of a condition.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said dictionaries is a default dictionary, the method further comprising:

using said default dictionary for a report when a predetermined condition occurs.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said predetermined condition is entry into an active state of wireless terminal operation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said active state of wireless terminal operation includes both of an active on state and an active hold state of operation.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring to detect a signal from a base station indicating that said wireless terminal should use a particular dictionary for a subsequent report.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining from the detected signal when to begin using the particular dictionary for generation of reports.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in response to detecting a signal from a base station indicating that said wireless terminal should use a particular dictionary for a subsequent report,

generating a report using the indicated dictionary; and

transmitting the generated report to the base station.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transitioning from an active on state of operation to an active hold state of operation and then back to the active on state of operation without changing the request dictionary being used during a first period of time.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless terminal does not receive an explicit signal to change the dictionary to be used during said first period of time.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

while being in said active on state of operation, preceding or following said first period of time, receiving an explicit signal to use a different dictionary; and

changing to the different dictionary.

17. The method of claim 1, further including:

storing information in a memory indicating a dictionary being used during an active state of operation; and

clearing the stored information in the memory indicating the dictionary being used during the active state of operation when leaving the active state of operation.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

completing a handoff from a first base station to a second base station;

continuing to use a report dictionary used to report information to the first base station to report information to the second base station following the handoff.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first type of report is a transmission backlog report.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

changing the report dictionary in response to a signal received from the second base station.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

completing a handoff from a first base station to a second base station; and

switching to a default report dictionary.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

changing from the default report dictionary to another report dictionary in response to a received signal from a base station indicating that the wireless terminal should use a particular reporting dictionary for a subsequent report.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

performing at least one handoff operation from a first base station to a second base station;

receiving, before the handoff is completed, an indication from the second base station indicating a report dictionary to be used after the handoff.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

changing the report dictionary in response to a signal received from the second base station.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing user state information indicating which one of a plurality of reporting dictionaries is to be used for a primary link.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein if handoff is occurring from a first base station attachment point corresponding to the primary link to a second base station attachment point, the user state information indicating which one of a plurality of reporting dictionaries is to be used for the primary link is passed to the second base station attachment point.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless terminal can support a plurality of simultaneous communications links including a first link and a second link and wherein the determined dictionary applies with respect to the first link, the method further comprising:

determining a second reporting dictionary to be used to report information corresponding to the second link.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first and second determined reporting dictionaries are different.

29. A wireless terminal comprising:

a memory for storing a plurality of report dictionaries, each report dictionary indicating a mapping between information to be reported in a first type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported, at least some different report dictionaries indicating for at least some bit patterns which are the same different information for the first type of report,

a dictionary determination module for determining the dictionary to be used to report information at a point in time; and

a report generation module for generating a report including a bit pattern for conveying a first set of information, said report generation module determining said bit pattern from said determined dictionary and the first set of information to be communicated.

30. The wireless terminal of claim 29, wherein at least some of said plurality of report dictionaries include information indicating a mapping between information to be reported in a second type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported in the second type report.

31. The wireless terminal of claim 30, wherein said first type of report is a report of a first size and said second type of report is a report of a second size.

32. The wireless terminal of claim 31, wherein the first type of report and second type of report each provide uplink transmission backlog information.

33. The wireless terminal of claim 32,

wherein said memory further includes stored uplink report transmission scheduling information indicating when reports of said first and second type are to be transmitted.

34. The wireless terminal of claim 33, wherein the first type of report and the second type of report are 3 and 4 bit reports, respectively.

35. The wireless terminal of claim 29, wherein one of said dictionaries is a default dictionary, the wireless terminal further comprising:

stored information indicting when the use of said default dictionary for reports is mandated by the occurrence of a condition.

36. The wireless terminal of claim 29,

wherein one of said dictionaries is a default dictionary;

and

wherein said dictionary determination module requires use of said default dictionary for a report when a predetermined condition occurs.

37. The wireless terminal of claim 36, wherein said predetermined condition is entry into an active state of wireless terminal operation;

and

wherein said wireless terminal further comprises;

a state transition module for detecting when a transition into an active state of wireless terminal occurs.

38. The wireless terminal of claim 37, wherein said active state of wireless terminal operation includes both of an active on state and an active hold state of operation.

39. The wireless terminal of claim 29, further comprising:

a dictionary change signal monitoring module for monitoring for a signal from a base station indicating that said wireless terminal should use a particular dictionary for a subsequent report.

40. The wireless terminal of claim 39, wherein said dictionary determination module is responsive to dictionary change signals detected by said monitoring device to change the dictionary being used.

41. The wireless terminal of claim 29, further including:

a dictionary reset module for clearing stored information in the memory indicating the dictionary being used during an active state of operation when leaving the active state of operation.

42. A wireless terminal, comprising:

means for storing a plurality of report dictionaries, each report dictionary indicating a mapping between information to be reported in a first type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported, at least some different report dictionaries indicating for at least some bit patterns which are the same different information for the first type of report,

means for determining, for a first point in time, the dictionary to be used to report information; and

means for determining from said determined dictionary and a first set of information to be communicated, a bit pattern for conveying said first set of information.

43. The wireless terminal of claim 42, wherein at least some of said plurality of report dictionaries also indicate a mapping between information to be reported in a second type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported in a second type report.

44. The wireless terminal of claim 43, wherein said first type of report is a report of a first size and said second type of report is a report of a second size.

45. The wireless terminal of claim 44, wherein the first type of report and second type of report each provide uplink transmission backlog information.

46. The wireless terminal of claim 45, further comprising:

means for storing uplink report transmission scheduling information indicating when reports of said first and second type are to be transmitted.

47. The wireless terminal of claim 46, wherein the first type of report and the second type of report are 3 and 4 bit reports, respectively.

48. The wireless terminal of claim 42, wherein one of said dictionaries is a default dictionary, the method further comprising:

means for storing in said wireless terminal information indicting when the use of said default dictionary for reports is mandated by the occurrence of a condition.

49. The wireless terminal of claim 42, wherein one of said dictionaries is a default dictionary, the method further comprising:

means for using said default dictionary for a report when a predetermined condition occurs.

50. The wireless terminal of claim 42, further comprising:

means for monitoring to detect a signal from a base station indicating that said wireless terminal should use a particular dictionary for a subsequent report.

51. The wireless terminal of claim 50, further comprising:

means for detecting a signal from a base station indicating that said wireless terminal should use a particular dictionary for a subsequent report,

means for generating a report using the indicated dictionary; and

means for transmitting the generated report to the base station.

52. The wireless terminal of claim 42, further comprising:

means for transitioning from an active on state of operation to an active hold state of operation and then back to the active on state of operation without changing the request dictionary being used during a first period of time.

53. The wireless terminal of claim 42, further including:

means for storing information in a memory indicating a dictionary being used during an active state of operation; and

means clearing the stored information in the memory indicating the dictionary being used during the active state of operation when leaving the active state of operation.

54. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a wireless terminal to implement a method of communicating information to a base station, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of report dictionaries, each report dictionary indicating a mapping between information to be reported in a first type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported, at least some different report dictionaries indicating for at least some bit patterns which are the same different information for the first type of report;

determining, for a first point in time, the dictionary to be used to report information; and

determining from said determined dictionary and a first set of information to be communicated, a bit pattern for conveying said first set of information.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein at least some of said plurality of report dictionaries also indicate a mapping between information to be reported in a second type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported in a second type report.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 55, wherein said first type of report is a report of a first size and said second type of report is a report of a second size.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 56, wherein the first type of report and second type of report each provide uplink transmission backlog information.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 57 further embodying instructions for:

storing uplink report transmission scheduling information indicating when reports of said first and second type are to be transmitted.

59. A method of operating a base station to communicate with at least one wireless terminal, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of report dictionaries, each report dictionary indicating a mapping between information to be reported by a wireless terminal in a first type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported, at least some different report dictionaries indicating for at least some bit patterns which are the same different information for the first type of report;

determining, for a first wireless terminal for a first point in time, the dictionary to be used by the first wireless terminal to report information;

receiving from the first wireless terminal first signals;

determining from said received first signals a bit pattern conveying a first set of information; and

determining from said determined dictionary and said determined bit pattern the first set of information being communicated.

60. The method of claim 59 further comprising:

determining, for a second wireless terminal for the first point in time, the dictionary to be used by the second wireless terminal to report information;

receiving from the second wireless terminal second signals;

determining from said received second signals a bit pattern conveying a second set of information; and

determining from said determined dictionary corresponding to the second wireless terminal and said determined bit pattern corresponding to the second wireless terminal the second set of information being communicated.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein at least some of said plurality of report dictionaries also indicate a mapping between information to be reported in a second type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported in a second type report.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said first type of report is a report of a first size and said second type of report is a report of a second size.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the first type of report and second type of report each provide uplink transmission backlog information.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

storing uplink report transmission scheduling information indicating when reports of said first and second type are to be transmitted.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the first type of report and the second type of report are 3 and 4 bit reports, respectively.

66. The method of claim 59, wherein one of said dictionaries is a default dictionary, the method further comprising:

storing in said base station information indicating when the use of said default dictionary for reports is mandated by the occurrence of a condition.

67. The method of claim 59, wherein one of said dictionaries is a default dictionary, the method further comprising:

using said default dictionary for a report from said first wireless terminal when a predetermined condition occurs with respect to said first wireless terminal.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein said predetermined condition is entry into an active state of wireless terminal operation.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said active state of wireless terminal operation includes both of an active on state and an active hold state of operation.

70. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

transmitting a signal indicating that said first wireless terminal should use a particular dictionary for a subsequent report.

71. The method of claim 59, further including:

storing information in memory indicating a dictionary being used during an active state of operation by said first wireless terminal; and

clearing the stored information in the memory indicating the dictionary being used during the active state of operation by said first wireless terminal when said first wireless leaves the active state of operation.

72. The method of claim 59 further comprising:

sending a signal to a second base station indicating the reporting dictionary currently in use by the first wireless terminal; and

completing a handoff of said first wireless terminal to a second base station, wherein the first wireless terminal continues to use the same report dictionary used to report information to the base station to report information to the second base station following the handoff.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the first type of report is a transmission backlog report.

74. The method of claim 59 further comprising:

completing a handoff of a third wireless terminal from a second base station to the base station; and

wherein the base station starts using a default report dictionary with respect to the third wireless terminal.

75. The method of claim 59 further comprising:

receiving a signal indicating a report dictionary to be used by a third wireless terminal following handoff of the third wireless terminal from a second base station to the base station;

completing the handoff of the third wireless terminal from the second base station to the base station; and

using the indicated report dictionary with respect to the third wireless terminal.

76. A base station comprising:

a memory for storing a plurality of report dictionaries, each report dictionary indicating a mapping between information to be reported in a first type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported, at least some different report dictionaries indicating for at least some bit patterns which are the same different information for the first type of report,

a dictionary determination module for determining, on an individual wireless terminal basis, the dictionary to be used to report information at a point in time for a wireless terminal;

a receiver for receiving signals from the wireless terminal including a report; and

a bit pattern recovery module for recovering a bit pattern conveying a set of information from said received signals from the wireless terminal; and

an information recovery module determining from said recovered bit pattern and from said determined dictionary a set of information communicated in the received report.

77. The base station of claim 76, wherein at least some of said plurality of report dictionaries include information indicating a mapping between information to be reported in a second type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported in the second type report.

78. The base station of claim 77, wherein said first type of report is a report of a first size and said second type of report is a report of a second size.

79. The base station of claim 78, wherein the first type of report and second type of report each provide uplink transmission backlog information.

80. The base station of claim 79,

wherein said memory further includes stored uplink report transmission scheduling information indicating when reports of said first and second type are to be transmitted.

81. The base station of claim 80, wherein the first type of report and the second type of report are 3 and 4 bit reports, respectively.

82. The base station of claim 76, wherein one of said dictionaries is a default dictionary, the base station further comprising:

stored information indicting when the use of said default dictionary for reports from said wireless terminal is mandated by the occurrence of a condition with respect to said wireless terminal.

83. The base station of claim 76,

wherein one of said dictionaries is a default dictionary;

and

wherein said dictionary determination module requires use of said default dictionary for a report from said wireless terminal when a predetermined condition occurs with respect to the wireless terminal.

84. The base station of claim 83, wherein said predetermined condition is entry into an active state of wireless terminal operation;

and

wherein said base station further comprises;

a state transmission module for tracking when a transition into an active state of said wireless terminal occurs.

85. The base station of claim 84, wherein said active state of wireless terminal operation includes both of an active on state and an active hold state of operation.

86. The base station of claim 76, further comprising:

a dictionary change signaling module for generating a signal indicating that said wireless terminal should use a particular dictionary for a subsequent report.

87. The base station of claim 86, wherein said dictionary determination module is responsive to dictionary change signaling module.

88. The base station of claim 76, further including:

a dictionary reset module for clearing stored information in the memory indicating the dictionary being used during an active state of operation by said wireless terminal when said wireless terminal leaves the active state of operation.

89. A base station comprising:

means for storing a plurality of report dictionaries, each report dictionary indicating a mapping between information to be reported in a first type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported, at least some different report dictionaries indicating for at least some bit patterns which are the same different information for the first type of report,

means for determining, on an individual wireless terminal basis, the dictionary to be used to report information at a point in time for a wireless terminal;

means for receiving signals from the wireless terminal including a report; and

means for recovering a bit pattern conveying a set of information from said received signals from the wireless terminal; and

means for determining from said recovered bit pattern and from said determined dictionary a set of information communicated in the received report.

90. The base station of claim 89, wherein at least some of said plurality of report dictionaries include information indicating a mapping between information to be reported in a second type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported in the second type report.

91. The base station of claim 90, wherein said first type of report is a report of a first size and said second type of report is a report of a second size.

92. The base station of claim 91, wherein the first type of report and second type of report each provide uplink transmission backlog information.

93. The base station of claim 92, wherein said memory further includes stored uplink report transmission scheduling information indicating when reports of said first and second type are to be transmitted.

94. The base station of claim 93, wherein the first type of report and the second type of report are 3 and 4 bit reports, respectively.

95. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a base station to implement a method of communicating with at least one wireless terminal, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of report dictionaries, each report dictionary indicating a mapping between information to be reported by a wireless terminal in a first type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported, at least some different report dictionaries indicating for at least some bit patterns which are the same different information for the first type of report;

determining, for a first wireless terminal for a first point in time, the dictionary to be used by the first wireless terminal to report information;

receiving from the first wireless terminal first signals;

determining from said received first signals a bit pattern conveying a first set of information; and

determining from said determined dictionary and said determined bit pattern the first set of information being communicated.

96. The computer readable medium of claim 95 further comprising machine executable instructions for:

determining, for a second wireless terminal for the first point in time, the dictionary to be used by the second wireless terminal to report information;

receiving from the second wireless terminal second signals;

determining from said received second signals a bit pattern conveying a second set of information; and

determining from said determined dictionary corresponding to the second wireless terminal and said determined bit pattern corresponding to the second wireless terminal the second set of information being communicated.

97. The computer readable medium of claim 96, wherein at least some of said plurality of report dictionaries also indicate a mapping between information to be reported in a second type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported in a second type report.

98. The computer readable medium of claim 97, wherein said first type of report is a report of a first size and said second type of report is a report of a second size.

99. The computer readable medium of claim 98, wherein the first type of report and second type of report each provide uplink transmission backlog information.

100. The computer readable of claim 99, wherein the first type of report and the second type of report are 3 and 4 bit reports, respectively.

101. An apparatus operable in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

store a plurality of report dictionaries, each report dictionary indicating a mapping between information to be reported in a first type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported, at least some different report dictionaries indicating for at least some bit patterns which are the same different information for the first type of report;

determine, for a first point in time, the dictionary to be used to report information; and

determine from said determined dictionary and a first set of information to be communicated, a bit pattern for conveying said first set of information.

102. The apparatus of claim 101, wherein at least some of said plurality of report dictionaries also indicate a mapping between information to be reported in a second type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported in a second type report.

103. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein said first type of report is a report of a first size and said second type of report is a report of a second size.

104. An apparatus operable in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

store a plurality of report dictionaries, each report dictionary indicating a mapping between information to be reported by a wireless terminal in a first type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported, at least some different report dictionaries indicating for at least some bit patterns which are the same different information for the first type of report;

determine, for a first wireless terminal for a first point in time, the dictionary to be used by the first wireless terminal to report information;

receive from the first wireless terminal first signals;

determine from said received first signals a bit pattern conveying a first set of information; and

determine from said determined dictionary and said determined bit pattern the first set of information being communicated.

105. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine, for a second wireless terminal for the first point in time, the dictionary to be used by the second wireless terminal to report information;

receive from the second wireless terminal second signals;

determine from said received second signals a bit pattern conveying a second set of information; and

determine from said determined dictionary corresponding to the second wireless terminal and said determined bit pattern corresponding to the second wireless terminal the second set of information being communicated.

106. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein at least some of said plurality of report dictionaries also indicate a mapping between information to be reported in a second type of report and bit patterns which can be used to communicate the information to be reported in a second type report.