METHODS AND APPARATUS RELATED TO SELECTING A REQUEST GROUP FOR A REQUEST REPORT

• US 20070253357A1
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Celebi, Samel, Hussain, Yunus, DAS, Arnab
• Granted Patent: US 9,462,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0073 Special arrangements for feedback channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0687 Full feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0693 Partial feedback, e.g. partial channel state information [CSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2027/002 using feedback from a remote receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2602 Signal structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2646 using feedback from receiver for adjusting OFDM transmission parameters, e.g. transmission timing or guard interval length
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0278 using buffer status reports dynamic wireless traffic scheduling definition H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 using signalling between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1221 based on age of data to be sent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/543 based on requested quality, e.g. QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/569 of the traffic information

Abstract

Methods and apparatus related to reporting transmission backlog information are described. A wireless communications device maintains and updates transmission backlog information corresponding to a plurality of different transmission request groups. Different request groups may correspond to different uplink traffic queues. For a request reporting opportunity, the communications device selects a request group from among the plurality of different transmission request groups as a function of: request group changes in backlog with respect to previously reported requests, the changes taking into consideration base station allocation of transmission resources; and request group priority information. A request report is generated conveying backlog information corresponding to the selected request group, and the generated report is transmitted over a wireless communications link.

Claims

1. A method of reporting transmission backlog information, the method comprising:

maintaining backlog information corresponding to a plurality of different transmission request groups; and

selecting a request group from the plurality of different transmission request groups for which backlog information is maintained, wherein said selecting is performed as a function of a request group change in backlog with respect to previously reported backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting includes:

selecting, when at least one of the transmission request groups has a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, the request group having the highest priority from among the request groups having a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein said selected request group corresponds to one of a plurality of supported reporting alternatives of an n-bit size request report format, different reporting alternatives corresponding to different request groups;

and

generating a n-bit size request report in accordance with said, n-bit size request report format and said reporting alternative corresponding to the selected request group.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting the generated n-bit size request report over a wireless communications link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a request group from the plurality of different transmission request groups for which backlog information is maintained, includes:

selecting, when none of the individual request groups have a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular individual request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, a request group from the plurality of request groups according to a round robin selection process.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a request group from the plurality of different transmission request groups for which backlog information is maintained, includes:

selecting, when none of the individual request groups has a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular individual request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, a request group from the plurality of request groups according to a priority ordering selection process.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating said maintained backlog information as a function of at least one of received information to be transmitted, dropped information and transmitted information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each request group corresponds to a request group queue used to store information to be transmitted.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting includes:

selecting, when at least one of the transmission request groups has a positive change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, the request group having the highest priority from among the request groups having a positive change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting includes:

selecting, when at least one of the transmission request groups has a positive backlog and a non-negative change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, the request group having the highest priority from among the request groups having a positive backlog and a non-negative change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

11. A wireless communications device, comprising:

a transmission backlog management module for maintaining backlog information corresponding to a plurality of different transmission request groups; and

a selection module for selecting a request group from the plurality of different transmission requests groups for which backlog information is maintained, wherein said selecting is performed as a function of a request group change in backlog with respect to previously reported backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

12. The wireless communications device of claim 11, wherein said selecting includes:

selecting, when at least one of the transmission request groups has a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, the request group having the highest priority from among the request groups having a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

13. The wireless communications device of claim 11, further comprising:

memory including n-bit size request report format information, said n-bit size request report format information supporting a plurality of reporting alternatives, different reporting alternatives corresponding to different request groups; and

a report generation module for generating a n-bit size request report in accordance with said n-bit size request report format and said reporting alternative corresponding to the selected request group.

14. The wireless communications device of claim 13, further comprising:

a transmission module for transmitting the generated n-bit size request report over a wireless communications link.

15. The wireless communications device of claim 11, wherein said selection module includes a default selection module for selecting, a request group from the plurality of request groups according to a round robin selection process, when none of the individual request groups have a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular individual request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

16. The wireless communications device of claim 11, wherein said selection module includes a default selection module for selecting, a request group from the plurality of request groups according to a priority ordering selection process when none of the individual request groups has a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular individual request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

17. The wireless communications device of claim 11, wherein the transmission backlog management module includes:

a backlog update module for updating the maintained backlog information as a function of at least one of received information to be transmitted, dropped information and transmitted information.

18. The wireless communications device of claim 17, further including:

a plurality of request group queues used to store information to be transmitted, each request group corresponding to a request group queue.

19. The wireless communications device of claim 15, wherein said wireless communications device is a wireless terminal which is a hand held mobile communications device.

20. The wireless communications device of claim 11, wherein said selecting includes:

selecting, when at least one of the transmission request groups has a positive change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, the request group having the highest priority from among the request groups having a positive change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request groups backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

21. The wireless communications device of claim 11, wherein said selecting includes:

selecting, when at least one of the transmission request groups has a positive backlog and a non-negative change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, the request group having the highest priority from among the request groups having a positive backlog and a non-negative change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

22. A wireless communications device, comprising:

means for maintaining backlog information corresponding to a plurality of different transmission request groups; and

means for selecting a request group from the plurality of different transmission request groups for which backlog information is maintained, wherein said selecting is performed as a function of a request group change in backlog with respect to previously reported backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

23. The wireless communications device of claim 22, wherein said selecting includes:

selecting, when at least one of the transmission request groups has a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, the request group having the highest priority from among the request groups having a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

24. The wireless communications device of claim 22, further comprising:

means for storing n-bit size request report format information, said n-bit size request report format information supporting a plurality of reporting alternatives, different reporting alternatives corresponding to different request groups; and

means for generating a n-bit size request report in accordance with said n-bit size request report format and said reporting alternative corresponding to the selected request group.

25. The wireless communications device of claim 24, further comprising:

means for transmitting the generated n-bit size request report over a wireless communications link.

26. The wireless communications device of claim 22, wherein said means for selecting a request group includes means for selecting, a request group from the plurality of request groups according to a round robin selection process, when none of the individual request groups have a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular individual request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

27. The wireless communications device of claim 22, wherein said means for selecting a request group includes means for selecting, a request group from the plurality of request groups according to a priority ordering selection process when none of the individual request groups has a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular individual request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

28. The wireless communications device of claim 22, wherein the means for maintaining backlog information includes:

means for updating the maintained backlog information as a function of at least one of received information to be transmitted, dropped information and transmitted information.

29. The wireless communications device of claim 28, further including:

means for storing a plurality of request group queues used to store information to be transmitted, each request group corresponding to a request group queue.

30. The wireless communications device of claim 22, wherein said wireless communications device is a wireless terminal which is a hand held mobile communications device.

31. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instruction for controlling a wireless communications device to implement a method, the method comprising:

maintaining backlog information corresponding to a plurality of different transmission request groups; and

selecting a request group from the plurality of different transmission request groups for which backlog information is maintained, wherein said selecting is performed as a function of a request group change in backlog with respect to previously reported backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

selecting, when at least one of the transmission request groups has a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, the request group having the highest priority from among the request groups having a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, as part of said step of selecting a request group from the plurality of different transmission request groups for which backlog information is maintained.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 31,

wherein said selected request group corresponds to one of a plurality of supported reporting alternatives of an n-bit size request report format, different reporting alternatives corresponding to different request groups, the computer readable medium further embodying machine executable instructions for:

generating a n-bit size request report in accordance with said n-bit size request report format and said reporting alternative corresponding to the selected request group.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 33, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

controlling transmission of the generated n-bit size request report over a wireless communications link.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 31, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

selecting, when none of the individual request groups have a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular individual request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, a request group from the plurality of request groups according to a round robin selection process as part of said step of selecting a request group from the plurality of different transmission request groups for which backlog information is maintained.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 31, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

selecting, when none of the individual request groups have a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular individual request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, a request group from the plurality of request groups according to a priority ordering selection process as part of said step of selecting a request group from the plurality of different transmission request groups for which backlog information is maintained.

37. A device comprising:

a processor configured to;

maintain backlog information corresponding to a plurality of different transmission request groups; and

select a request group from the plurality of different transmission request groups for which backlog information is maintained, wherein said selecting is performed as a function of a request group change in backlog with respect to previously reported backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein said processor is further configured to:

select, when at least one of the transmission request groups has a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, the request group having the highest priority from among the request groups having a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources.

39. The device of claim 37,

wherein said selected request group corresponds to one of a plurality of supported reporting alternatives of an n-bit size request report format, different reporting alternatives corresponding to different request groups, and wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate a n-bit size request report in accordance with said n-bit size request report format and said reporting alternative corresponding to the selected request group.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein said processor is further configured to:

control transmission of the generated n-bit size request report over a wireless communications link.

41. The device of claim 37, wherein said processor is further configure to:

select, when none of the individual request groups have a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular individual request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, a request group from the plurality of request groups according to a round robin selection process.

42. The device of claim 37, wherein said processor is further configure to:

select, when none of the individual request groups have a non-zero change in backlog with respect to the last previously reported request report conveying that particular individual request group'"'"'s backlog information after taking into consideration changes in backlog due to base station allocation of transmission resources, a request group from the plurality of request groups according to a priority ordering selection process.