Adaptive operational full-duplex and half-duplex FDD modes in wireless networks

• US 20090296609A1
• Filed: 06/02/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bienas, Maik, Hans, Martin, Choi, Hyung-Nam
• Granted Patent: US 8,542,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/281
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/16 Half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals non-automatically inverting the direction of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/121 for groups of terminals or users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria

Abstract

Methods and apparatus that enable a wireless network system to dynamically change between full-duplex FDD operation and half-duplex FDD operation in order to take advantage of operational aspects of both modes. In one embodiment, an alternative duplex mode of operation is disclosed (semi-static half duplex FDD operation) that enables coordination between the client device (e.g., UMTS UE) and the base station in order to centralize control of radio resource control (RRC) to the base station. The disclosed methods and apparatus may also advantageously incorporate hybrid ARQ (HARQ) or comparable timing requirements into their operation.

Claims

1. A method of switching duplex operation in a wireless network, said wireless network comprising a plurality of networking devices, said method comprising:

operating said network in a first duplexing mode;

detecting a trigger event within at least one of said plurality of networking devices operating in said first duplexing mode;

determining a second duplexing mode of operation based at least in part on the detection of said trigger event;

distributing information about said change from said first duplexing mode to said second duplexing mode to at least a portion of said plurality of networking devices; and

operating said networking devices in said second duplexing mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a default mode of operation for said network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of networking devices further comprises a serving station and a plurality of mobile stations.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said serving station broadcasts said default mode of operation to said plurality of mobile stations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode of operation and said second duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex FDD mode of operation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said trigger event is detected at a radio resource control (RRC) unit within said wireless network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said trigger event comprises reaching a threshold value in a timing advance (TA) value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said threshold value is indicative of a change in quality of service for said wireless network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said trigger event comprises a higher quality of service request than said first duplexing mode can provide.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said trigger event is related to a battery status of at least one of said plurality of mobile stations within said network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said trigger event is selected from the group consisting of:

timing advance variables in said network;

data rates in said network; and

battery status of at least a portion of said networking devices.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode of operation and said second duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex FDD mode of operation;

and

said trigger event comprises a rising timing advance (TA) value.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex FDD mode of operation and said second duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode of operation;

and

said trigger event comprises a falling timing advance (TA) value.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a dynamic half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and said second duplexing mode comprises a semi-static half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and

said trigger event comprises a rising timing advance (TA) value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said information comprises a transmission pattern configuration consistent with said semi-static half-duplex FDD mode of operation.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a semi-static half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and said second duplexing mode comprises a dynamic half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and

said trigger event comprises a falling timing advance (TA) value.

17. A client device capable of operating in a plurality of duplexing modes on a wireless network, said client device comprising:

a processing device coupled to a memory;

a radio/modem subsystem coupled to said processing device; and

a computer program resident within said memory that when executed by said processing device, executes the method comprising;

signaling a duplex component, directly or indirectly, resident within said client device to operate in a first duplexing mode of operation; and

substantially in response to a detected trigger event, signaling said duplex component to operate in a second duplexing mode of operation.

18. The client device of claim 17, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a default mode of operation for said wireless network.

19. The client device of claim 18, wherein a serving station broadcasts to said client device information invoking said default mode of operation, said signaling a duplex component being substantially in response to said serving station broadcast.

20. The client device of claim 17, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and said second duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex FDD mode of operation.

21. The client device of claim 17, wherein said trigger event is detected at a radio resource control (RRC) unit within said wireless network and signaled to said radio/modem subsystem of said client device.

22. The client device of claim 17, wherein said trigger event comprises reaching a threshold value in a timing advance (TA) value.

23. The client device of claim 22, wherein said threshold value is indicative of a change in quality of service for said wireless network.

24. The client device of claim 17, wherein said trigger event comprises a higher quality of service (QoS) level than said first duplexing mode can provide.

25. The client device of claim 17, further comprising a battery, wherein said trigger event is related to a charge or energy status of said battery.

26. The client device of claim 17, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode of operation and said second duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex FDD mode of operation;

and

said trigger event comprises a rising timing advance (TA) value.

27. The client device of claim 17, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex FDD mode of operation and said second duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode of operation;

and

said trigger event comprises a falling timing advance (TA) value.

28. The client device of claim 17, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a dynamic half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and said second duplexing mode comprises a semi-static half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and

said trigger event comprises a rising timing advance (TA) value.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a semi-static half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and said second duplexing mode comprises a dynamic half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and

said trigger event comprises a falling timing advance (TA) value.

30. A method of operating a serving station resident within a wireless network, said serving station further comprising a logical connection to a client device, said method comprising:

broadcasting a default duplexing mode of operation to said wireless network;

detecting a trigger event associated with said wireless network;

determining that a different duplexing mode of operation would benefit said wireless network; and

signaling said client device to operate in said different duplexing mode of operation.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said default duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and said different duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex FDD mode of operation.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said trigger event is detected at a radio resource control (RRC) unit within said serving station.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said trigger event comprises reaching a threshold value in a timing advance (TA) value.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said threshold value is indicative of a change in quality of service for said wireless network.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein said trigger event comprises a higher quality of service level than said default duplexing mode can provide.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein said default duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and said different duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex FDD mode of operation.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein said default duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and said different duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex FDD mode of operation;

and

said trigger event comprises a rising timing advance (TA) value.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein said default duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex FDD mode of operation, and said different duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode of operation;

and

said trigger event comprises a falling timing advance (TA) value.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein said default duplexing mode comprises a dynamic half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and said different duplexing mode comprises a semi-static half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and

said trigger event comprises a rising timing advance (TA) value.

40. The method of claim 30, wherein said default duplexing mode comprises a semi-static half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and said different duplexing mode comprises a dynamic half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and

said trigger event comprises a falling timing advance (TA) value.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein said network utilizes hybrid ARQ (HARQ) processing, and said serving station

identifies said use of said HARQ processing;

and

implements only a subset of available duplex modes based at least in part on said identifying.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said serving station communicates configuration information to said client device regarding said subset.

43. A serving station capable of operating in a plurality of duplexing modes on a wireless network, said serving station further comprising a logical connection to a client device, said serving station comprising:

a broadcasting circuit adapted to broadcast a default duplexing mode of operation to said wireless network;

a detecting circuit adapted to detect a trigger event associated with said wireless network;

a determining circuit adapted to determine that a different duplexing mode of operation would benefit said wireless network; and

a signaling circuit to signal to said client device to operate in said different duplexing mode of operation.