SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UPLINK CONTROL RESOURCE ALLOCATION

• US 20100075686A1
• Filed: 09/16/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Palanki, Ravi, Montojo, Juan, Farajidana, Amir, Bhattad, Kapil
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1268 of uplink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods of uniquely identifying communication nodes in a wireless communication system are described herein. One embodiment of the disclosure provides a wireless communication apparatus operative in a communication network. The apparatus comprises a transceiver configured to transmit control information over a first frequency range and content data over a second frequency range during a first predetermined time interval. The first frequency range is allocated to carry a first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information. A duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the first predetermined time interval. The apparatus further comprises a processing circuit configured to direct the control information of the transceiver over the second frequency range for transmission to a base station node.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus operative in a communication network, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit control information over a first frequency range and content data over a second frequency range during a first predetermined time interval, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to carry a first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information, and wherein duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the first predetermined time interval; and

a processing circuit configured to direct the control information of the transceiver over the second frequency range for transmission to a base station node.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is further configured to modulate a plurality of portions of the control information using a plurality of sequences and to send the modulated plurality of portions of the control information in a first control block of the first plurality of control blocks, wherein the plurality of sequences comprise a plurality of orthogonal codes, and wherein the processing circuit is further configured to direct the control information of the transceiver over the first control block for transmission to the base station node.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the transceiver is further configured to communicate information by selectively modulating the plurality of portions of the control information using one or more of the plurality of sequences and refraining from modulating the plurality of portions of the control information using the other plurality of sequences not corresponding to said one or more of the plurality of sequences.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a modulation format used to modulate the plurality of portions of the control information comprises a N point quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) format, wherein N is greater than or equal to 8.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to direct the control information of the transceiver over the first plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station node, and wherein the first frequency range comprises a contiguous frequency range.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to direct the control information of the transceiver over the first plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station node, and wherein the transceiver is further configured to:

transmit control information and content data during a second predetermined time interval that is different than the first predetermined time interval, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to direct the control information over a second plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station node, and wherein duration of each of the second plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the second predetermined time interval; and

transmit control information and content data during a third predetermined time interval that is different than the first predetermined time interval and the second predetermined time interval, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to direct the control information over a third plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station node, and wherein duration of each of the third plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the third predetermined time interval.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first frequency range comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to direct the content data of the transceiver over the second frequency range for transmission to the base station.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to direct the control information of the transceiver over a first control block of the plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station via a first antenna and over a second control block of the plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station via a second antenna.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to direct the control information of the transceiver over the first plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station node, and wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the control information over a third frequency range that is different from the first frequency range and the second frequency range during a second predetermined time interval, wherein the third frequency range is allocated to carry the first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information, wherein duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks further spans over the entire duration of the second predetermined time interval.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to direct the control information of the transceiver over the first plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station node, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to further carry a second plurality of control blocks for transmitting control information of another communication apparatus that is in communication with the base station node, and wherein the other communication apparatus belongs to a set of communication devices conforming to operational requirements that predate operational requirements of the apparatus.

12. A wireless communication apparatus operative in a communication network, the apparatus comprising:

a processing circuit configured to schedule transmission of control information over a first frequency range and content data over a second frequency range during a first predetermined time interval, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to carry a first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information, wherein duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the first predetermined time interval; and

a transceiver configured to send a schedule of the scheduled transmission to a first communication device to direct transmission of the control information of the first communication device over the second frequency range.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a plurality of portions of the control information are modulated using a plurality of sequences, and wherein the processing circuit is further configured to schedule transmission of the modulated plurality of portions of the control information in a first control block of the first plurality of control blocks, wherein the plurality of sequences comprise a plurality of orthogonal codes, and wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the first communication device over the first control block.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a modulation format used to modulate the plurality of portions of the control information comprises a N point quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) format, wherein N is greater than or equal to

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the first communication device over the first plurality of control blocks, and wherein the first frequency range comprises a contiguous frequency range.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the first communication device over the first plurality of control blocks, and wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

schedule transmission of control information and content data during a second predetermined time interval that is different than the first predetermined time interval, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information over a second plurality of control blocks, and wherein duration of each of the second plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the second predetermined time interval; and

schedule transmission of control information and content data during a third predetermined time interval that is different than the first predetermined time interval and the second predetermined time interval, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information over a third plurality of control blocks, and wherein duration of each of the third plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the third predetermined time interval.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first frequency range comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the content data of the communications device over the second frequency range.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the first communication device over the first plurality of control blocks, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to schedule transmission of the control information over a third frequency range that is different from the first frequency range and the second frequency range during a second predetermined time interval, wherein the third frequency range is allocated to carry the first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information, wherein duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks further spans over the entire duration of the second predetermined time interval.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the first communication device over the first plurality of control blocks, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to further carry a second plurality of control blocks for transmitting control information of a second communication device that is in communication with the apparatus, and wherein the second communication device belongs to a set of communication devices conforming to operational requirements that predate operational requirements of the first communication device.

21. A method of communicating between an access terminal and a base station node, the method comprising:

identifying a first frequency range for transmission of control information and a second frequency range for transmission of content data during a first predetermined time interval, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to carry a first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information, and wherein duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the first predetermined time interval; and

transmitting the control information of the access terminal over the second frequency range to the base station node.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

modulating a plurality of portions of the control information using a plurality of sequences; and

transmitting the modulated plurality of portions of the control information in a first control block of the first plurality of control blocks to the base station node, wherein the plurality of sequences comprise a plurality of orthogonal codes.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising communicating information by selectively modulating the plurality of portions of the control information using one or more of the plurality of sequences and refraining from modulating the plurality of portions of the control information using the other plurality of sequences not corresponding to said one or more of the plurality of sequences.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein a modulation format used to modulate the plurality of portions of the control information comprises a N point quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) format, wherein N is greater than or equal to 8.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting the control information over the first plurality of control blocks to the base station node, wherein the first frequency range comprises a contiguous frequency range.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

transmitting the control information over the first plurality of control blocks to the base station node;

transmitting control information over a second plurality of control blocks to the base station node, wherein duration of each of the second plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of a second predetermined time interval, and wherein the second predetermined time interval is different than the first predetermined time interval; and

transmitting control information over a third plurality of control blocks to the base station node, wherein duration of each of the third plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of a third predetermined time interval, and wherein the third predetermined time interval is different than the first predetermined time interval.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the first frequency range comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting the content data of the access terminal over the second frequency range to the base station.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting the control information of the access terminal over a first control block of the plurality of control blocks to the base station via a first antenna and over a second control block of the plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station via a second antenna.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

transmitting the control information of the access terminal over the first plurality of control blocks to the base station node; and

transmitting the control information of the access terminal to the base station over a third frequency range that is different from the first frequency range and the second frequency range during a second predetermined time interval, wherein the third frequency range is allocated to carry the first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information, wherein duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks further spans over the entire duration of the second predetermined time interval.

31. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting the control information of the access terminal over the first plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station node, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to further carry a second plurality of control blocks for transmitting control information of another communication apparatus that is in communication with the base station node, and wherein the other communication apparatus belongs to a set of communication devices conforming to operational requirements that predate operational requirements of the access terminal.

32. A method of communicating between an access terminal and a base station node, the method comprising:

scheduling transmission of control information of the access terminal over a first frequency range and content data over a second frequency range during a first predetermined time interval, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to carry a first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information, wherein duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the first predetermined time interval; and

transmitting a schedule of the scheduled transmission to the access terminal to direct transmission of the control information of the access terminal over the second frequency range.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein a plurality of portions of the control information are modulated using a plurality of sequences, and further comprising scheduling transmission of the modulated plurality of portions of the control information in a first control block of the first plurality of control blocks, wherein the plurality of sequences comprise a plurality of orthogonal codes, and wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the access terminal over the first control block.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein a modulation format used to modulate the plurality of portions of the control information comprises a N point quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) format, wherein N is greater than or equal to 8.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the access terminal over the first plurality of control blocks, and wherein the first frequency range comprises a contiguous frequency range.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the access terminal over the first plurality of control blocks, and further comprising:

scheduling transmission of control information and content data during a second predetermined time interval that is different than the first predetermined time interval, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information over a second plurality of control blocks, and wherein duration of each of the second plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the second predetermined time interval; and

scheduling transmission of control information and content data during a third predetermined time interval that is different than the first predetermined time interval and the second predetermined time interval, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information over a third plurality of control blocks, and wherein duration of each of the third plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the third predetermined time interval.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the first frequency range comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the content data of the access terminal over the second frequency range.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the access terminal over the first plurality of control blocks, and further comprising scheduling transmission of the control information over a third frequency range that is different from the first frequency range and the second frequency range during a second predetermined time interval, wherein the third frequency range is allocated to carry the first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information, wherein duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks further spans over the entire duration of the second predetermined time interval.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the access terminal over the first plurality of control blocks, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to further carry a second plurality of control blocks for transmitting control information of another access terminal that is in communication with the base station node, and wherein the other access terminal belongs to a set of communication devices conforming to operational requirements that predate operational requirements of the access terminal.

41. A wireless communication apparatus operative in a communication network, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting control information over a first frequency range and content data over a second frequency range during a first predetermined time interval, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to carry a first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information, and wherein duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the first predetermined time interval; and

means for directing the control information of the transmitting means over the second frequency range for transmission to a base station node.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein directing means is further configured to direct the control information of the transmitting means over the first plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station node, and wherein the first frequency range comprises a contiguous frequency range.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the first frequency range comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the directing means is further configured to direct the control information of the transmitting means over the first plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station node, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to further carry a second plurality of control blocks for transmitting control information of another communication apparatus that is in communication with the base station node, and wherein the other communication apparatus belongs to a set of communication devices conforming to operational requirements that predate operational requirements of the apparatus.

45. A wireless communication apparatus operative in a communication network, the apparatus comprising:

means for scheduling transmission of control information over a first frequency range and content data over a second frequency range during a first predetermined time interval, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to carry a first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information, wherein duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the first predetermined time interval; and

means for transmitting a schedule of the scheduled transmission to a first communication device to direct transmission of the control information of the first communication device over the second frequency range.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the first communication device over the first plurality of control blocks, and wherein the first frequency range comprises a contiguous frequency range.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the first frequency range comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the first communication device over the first plurality of control blocks, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to further carry a second plurality of control blocks for transmitting control information of a second communication device that is in communication with the apparatus, and wherein the second communication device belongs to a set of communication devices conforming to operational requirements that predate operational requirements of the first communication device.

49. A computer program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing a computer to identify a first frequency range for transmission of control information and a second frequency range for transmission of content data during a first predetermined time interval, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to carry a first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information, and wherein duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the first predetermined time interval; and

code for causing a computer to transmit the control information of an access terminal over the second frequency range to a base station node.

50. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing a computer to transmit the control information over the first plurality of control blocks to the base station node, wherein the first frequency range comprises a contiguous frequency range.

51. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein the first frequency range comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

52. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing a computer to transmit the control information of the access terminal over the first plurality of control blocks for transmission to the base station node, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to further carry a second plurality of control blocks for transmitting control information of another communication apparatus that is in communication with the base station node, and wherein the other communication apparatus belongs to a set of communication devices conforming to operational requirements that predate operational requirements of the access terminal.

53. A computer program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing a computer to schedule transmission of control information of an access terminal over a first frequency range and content data over a second frequency range during a first predetermined time interval, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to carry a first plurality of control blocks for transmitting only the control information, wherein duration of each of the first plurality of control blocks spans over the entire duration of the first predetermined time interval; and

code for causing a computer to transmit a schedule of the scheduled transmission to the access terminal to direct transmission of the control information of the access terminal over the second frequency range.

54. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the access terminal over the first plurality of control blocks, and wherein the first frequency range comprises a contiguous frequency range.

55. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the first frequency range comprises a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

56. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the schedule further directs transmission of the control information of the access terminal over the first plurality of control blocks, wherein the first frequency range is allocated to further carry a second plurality of control blocks for transmitting control information of another access terminal that is in communication with a base station node, and wherein the other access terminal belongs to a set of communication devices conforming to operational requirements that predate operational requirements of the access terminal.