AUTONOMOUS TRANSMISSION FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE

• US 20080080424A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Sagfors, Mats Fredrik, TORSNER, Per Johan, ENGLUND, Eva, Parkvall, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 9,882,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0009 by adapting the channel coding H04L1/1812 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0018 based on latency requirement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1819 with retransmission of additional or different redundancy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/189 Transmission or retransmission of more than one copy of a message

Abstract

A user equipment unit (30) and a base station node (28) which is configured for operation with a synchronous HARQ protocol and with capability of sending data on an E-DCH channel either (1) in a nominal mode in single transmission time intervals of a predetermined length, or (2) in an extended mode in a pseudo transmission time interval. The pseudo transmission time interval comprises a first transmission time interval in which the data is transmitted and a second transmission time interval in which the data is re-transmitted. The second transmission time interval is consecutive to the first transmission time interval, and the first transmission time interval and the second transmission time interval are each of the (same) predetermined length.

Claims

1. A user equipment unit configured for operation with a synchronous HARQ protocol and with capability of sending data on a channel either (1) in a nominal mode in single transmission time intervals of a predetermined length, or (2) in an extended mode in a pseudo transmission time interval, the extended mode transmission time interval being of a different length, the different length being a multiple of the predetermined length.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pseudo transmission time interval comprises a first transmission time interval in which the data is transmitted and a second transmission time interval in which the data is re-transmitted, the second transmission time interval being consecutive to the first transmission time interval, the first transmission time interval and the second transmission time interval each also being of the predetermined length.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel is an E-DCH channel, and wherein predetermined length is 2 ms.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user equipment unit is configured for signaling that the second transmission time interval is to be combined at a base station node with the first transmission time interval.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user equipment unit is configured for setting a value on another channel to indicate that the second transmission time interval is to be combined at a base station node with the first transmission time interval.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user equipment unit is configured for using a subset of HARQ processes for the nominal mode, the subset being non-consecutive HARQ processes, at least some and preferably all HARQ processes of the subset being processes being one of odd numbered HARQ processes or at least some and preferably all HARQ processes of the subset being processes being one of even numbered HARQ processes, and wherein the user equipment unit is configured for the extended mode to achieve the pseudo transmission time interval by using a selected HARQ process of the subset and a HARQ process outside the subset which is numerically adjacent the selected HARQ process.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the user equipment unit is configured for signaling use of the extended mode by including energy on the HARQ process which is outside the subset and numerically adjacent the selected HARQ process.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user equipment unit is configured not to mix (1) sending of data on the channel in the nominal mode and (2) sending of data on the channel in the extended mode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user equipment unit is configured to mix (1) sending of data on the channel in the nominal mode and (2) sending of data on the channel in the extended mode.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the user equipment unit is configured for utilizing a first group of HARQ processes for the nominal mode and a second group of HARQ processes for the extended mode.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel is an E-DCH channel, and wherein the user equipment unit comprises:

a MAC-entity for allocating the data to the single transmission time intervals of the E-DCH channel in the nominal mode and for allocating the data to the first transmission time interval and the second transmission time interval in the extended mode;

a mode selector for specifying to the MAC-entity whether the data is to be allocated in the nominal mode or the extended mode;

a transceiver for communicating the data in transmission time intervals to a base station over a radio interface.

12. A base station node of a radio access network (RAN) which receives data on an uplink channel over an air interface from a user equipment unit, the node comprising:

a transceiver for communicating over the air interface with the user equipment unit;

a MAC-entity configured for operation with a synchronous HARQ protocol and with capability of receiving data on the uplink channel either (1) in a nominal mode in single transmission time intervals of a predetermined length, or (2) in an extended mode in a pseudo transmission time interval, the pseudo transmission time interval comprising a first transmission time interval in which the data is transmitted and a second transmission time interval in which the data is re-transmitted, the second transmission time interval being consecutive to the first transmission time interval, the first transmission time interval and the second transmission time interval each also being of the predetermined length;

an ACK/NACK generator for generating an acknowledgement message upon receipt of a pseudo transmission time interval at a point in time at which the acknowledgement message would have been generated had a transmission time interval of the nominal mode instead been received.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the ACK/NACK generator is configured to generate the acknowledgement message point 4.1 ms after receipt of the first transmission time interval of the pseudo transmission time interval.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the uplink channel is an E-DCH channel and wherein the predetermined length is 2 ms.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a signaling handler for notifying the MAC-entity that the second transmission time interval is to be combined with the first transmission time interval.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the signaling handler is configured for notifying the MAC-entity that the second transmission time interval is to be combined with the first transmission time interval when a predetermined value is set on another channel.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the base station further comprises plural HARQ processes;

wherein the MAC-entity is configured for using a subset of HARQ processes for the nominal mode, the subset being non-consecutive HARQ processes, at least some HARQ processes of the subset being processes being one of odd numbered HARQ processes or at least some HARQ processes of the subset being processes being one of even numbered HARQ processes; and

wherein the MAC-entity is configured for the extended mode for using a selected HARQ process of the subset and a HARQ process outside the subset which is numerically adjacent the selected HARQ process.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the base station node is configured for detecting use of the extended mode by detecting energy on the HARQ process which is outside the subset and numerically adjacent the selected HARQ process.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the user equipment unit is configured not to mix (1) sending of data on the uplink channel in the nominal mode and (2) sending of data on the uplink channel in the extended mode.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the MAC-entity is configured to receive a mix of (1) data on the uplink channel in the nominal mode and (2) on the uplink channel in the extended mode.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the MAC-entity is configured for receiving a first group of HARQ processes for the nominal mode and a second group of HARQ processes for the extended mode.

22. A radio access network comprising:

a user equipment unit configured for operation with a synchronous HARQ protocol and with capability of sending data on a channel either (1) in a nominal mode in single transmission time intervals of a predetermined length, or (2) in an extended mode in a pseudo transmission time interval, the pseudo transmission time interval comprising a first transmission time interval in which the data is transmitted and a second transmission time interval in which the data is re-transmitted, the second transmission time interval being consecutive to the first transmission time interval, the first transmission time interval and the second transmission time interval each also being of the predetermined length; and

a base station node which communicates over an air interface with the user equipment unit and which is configured for receiving the data on the channel either in the nominal mode or in the extended mode and for generating an acknowledgement message upon receipt of a pseudo transmission time interval at a point in time at which the acknowledgement message would have been generated had a transmission time interval of the nominal mode instead been received.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the channel is a E-DCH channel, and wherein the predetermined length is 2 ms.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the user equipment unit is configured for signaling that the second transmission time interval is to be combined at a base station node with the first transmission time interval.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the user equipment unit is configured for setting a value on another channel to indicate that the second transmission time interval is to be combined at a base station node with the first transmission time interval.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the user equipment unit is configured for using a subset of HARQ processes for the nominal mode, the subset being non-consecutive HARQ processes, at least some HARQ processes of the subset being processes being one of odd numbered HARQ processes or at least some HARQ processes of the subset being processes being one of even numbered HARQ processes, and wherein the user equipment unit is configured for the extended mode for using a selected HARQ process of the subset and a HARQ process outside the subset which is numerically adjacent the selected HARQ process.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the user equipment unit is configured for signaling use of the extended mode by including energy on the HARQ process which is outside the subset and numerically adjacent the selected HARQ process.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the user equipment unit is configured not to mix (1) sending of data on the channel in the nominal mode and (2) sending of data on the channel in the extended mode.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the user equipment unit is configured to mix (1) sending of data on the channel in the nominal mode and (2) sending of data on the channel in the extended mode.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the user equipment unit is configured for utilizing a first group of HARQ processes for the nominal mode and a second group of HARQ processes for the extended mode.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the user equipment unit comprises:

a UE MAC-entity for allocating the data to the single transmission time intervals of the channel in the nominal mode and for allocating the data to the first transmission time interval and the second transmission time interval in the extended mode;

a mode selector for specifying to the UE MAC-entity whether the data is to be allocated in the nominal mode or the extended mode;

a UE transceiver for communicating the data in transmission time intervals to a base station over a radio interface;

and wherein the base station node comprises;

a base station transceiver for communicating over the air interface with the user equipment unit;

a base station MAC-entity configured for operation with a synchronous HARQ protocol and with capability of receiving data on the E-DCH channel either in the nominal mode or in the extended mode;

an ACK/NACK generator for generating the acknowledgement message.

32. A method of operating a radio access network (RAN), the method comprising:

over an air interface from a user equipment unit to a base station node on a channel with a synchronous HARQ protocol, selectively sending data in

(1) a nominal mode in single transmission time intervals of a predetermined length, and

(2) an extended mode in a pseudo transmission time interval, the pseudo transmission time interval comprising a first transmission time interval in which the data is transmitted and a second transmission time interval in which the data is re-transmitted, the second transmission time interval being consecutive to the first transmission time interval, the first transmission time interval and the second transmission time interval each also being of the predetermined length; and

receiving the data on the channel at the base station node either in the nominal mode or in the extended mode.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising, at the base station node, generating an acknowledgement message upon receipt of a pseudo transmission time interval at a point in time at which the acknowledgement message would have been generated had a transmission time interval of the nominal mode instead been received.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the channel is a E-DCH channel and wherein the predetermined length is 2 ms.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising signaling from the user equipment unit that the second transmission time interval is to be combined at a base station node with the first transmission time interval.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising, at the user equipment unit, setting a value on another channel to indicate that the second transmission time interval is to be combined at a base station node with the first transmission time interval.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising, at the user equipment unit, using a subset of HARQ processes for the nominal mode, the subset being non-consecutive HARQ processes, at least some HARQ processes of the subset being processes being one of odd numbered HARQ processes or at least some HARQ processes of the subset being processes being one of even numbered HARQ processes, and at the user equipment unit for the extended mode using a selected HARQ process of the subset and a HARQ process outside the subset which is numerically adjacent the selected HARQ process.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising at the user equipment unit signaling use of the extended mode by including energy on the HARQ process which is outside the subset and numerically adjacent the selected HARQ process.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising not mixing (1) sending of data on the E-DCH channel in the nominal mode and (2) sending of data on the channel in the extended mode.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein further comprising mixing (1) sending of data on the channel in the nominal mode and (2) sending of data on the channel in the extended mode.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising utilizing a first group of HARQ processes for the nominal mode and a second group of HARQ processes for the extended mode.