METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING USER EQUIPMENTS ON DIFFERENT SYSTEM BANDWIDTHS

• US 20110085457A1
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Palanki, Ravi, Montojo, Juan, Chen, Wanshi, Gaal, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,673,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1854 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA

Abstract

Techniques for supporting communication for different user equipments (UEs) on different system bandwidths are described. In one design, a base station transmits first control information to support communication for at least one first UE on a first system bandwidth and transmits second control information to support communication for at least one second UE on a second system bandwidth, which overlaps the first system bandwidth. The base station transmits data to the first and second UEs on the first and second system bandwidths, respectively. In one design, the base station receives third control information from the first UE(s) and fourth control information from the second UE(s) on a third system bandwidth. The base station receives data from the first UE(s) on the third system bandwidth and receives data from the second UE(s) on a fourth system bandwidth, which overlaps the third system bandwidth.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

transmitting first control information to support communication for at least one first user equipment (UE) on a first system bandwidth; and

transmitting second control information to support communication for at least one second UE on a second system bandwidth overlapping the first system bandwidth.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second system bandwidth comprises the first system bandwidth and additional bandwidth.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting data to the at least one second UE on the second system bandwidth, wherein the second control information is transmitted on only the first system bandwidth, and wherein the at least one second UE has different system bandwidths for control information and data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting at least one control channel on the first system bandwidth, and wherein the first and second control information is transmitted on the at least one control channel.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting at least one control channel on the first system bandwidth; and

transmitting at least one additional control channel on the additional bandwidth, wherein the first control information is transmitted on the at least one control channel, and wherein the second control information is transmitted on the at least one control channel, or the at least one additional control channel, or both.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining resources for a control channel, used to send acknowledgement (ACK) and negative acknowledgement (NACK) information to the first and second UEs, based on the first system bandwidth instead of the second system bandwidth.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first system bandwidth is partitioned into resource block groups (RBGs) of a first size, wherein the second system bandwidth is partitioned into RBGs of a second size, and wherein the second size is different from the first size or is an integer multiple of the first size.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting data to the at least one first UE with frequency hopping within the first system bandwidth; and

transmitting data to the at least one second UE with frequency hopping within the second system bandwidth.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second system bandwidth comprises the first system bandwidth and additional bandwidth, and wherein the transmitting data to the at least one second UE comprises transmitting data to the at least one second UE with frequency hopping within the first system bandwidth for resources mapped to the first system bandwidth and within the additional bandwidth for resources mapped to the additional bandwidth.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting data to the at least one first UE with frequency hopping based on a first gap value that determines amount to hop for the at least one first UE; and

transmitting data to the at least one second UE with frequency hopping based on a second gap value that determines amount to hop for the at least one second UE, wherein the second gap value is different from the first gap value or is an integer multiple of the first gap value.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) across only the first system bandwidth.

12. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) across the first system bandwidth; and

transmitting the CRS, or at least one additional reference signal, or both on the additional bandwidth.

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving first channel feedback information from the at least one first UE for first subbands defined based on the first system bandwidth; and

receiving second channel feedback information from the at least one second UE for second subbands defined based on the second system bandwidth or for the first subbands and at least one additional subband defined based on the additional bandwidth.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first UE communicates on the first system bandwidth for downlink and on a third system bandwidth for uplink, wherein the at least one second UE communicates on the second system bandwidth for the downlink and on a fourth system bandwidth for the uplink, and wherein the fourth system bandwidth overlaps the third system bandwidth and comprises the third system bandwidth and additional bandwidth.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving third control information from the at least one first UE on the third system bandwidth; and

receiving fourth control information from the at least one second UE on the third system bandwidth.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving data transmitted by the at least one first UE with frequency hopping within the third system bandwidth; and

receiving data transmitted by the at least one second UE with frequency hopping within the fourth system bandwidth or with frequency hopping within the third system bandwidth for resources mapped to the third system bandwidth and within the additional bandwidth for resources mapped to the additional bandwidth.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving at least one sounding reference signal transmitted by the at least one first UE across the third system bandwidth; and

receiving at least one other sounding reference signal transmitted by the at least one second UE across the third system bandwidth or across the fourth system bandwidth.

18. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for transmitting first control information to support communication for at least one first user equipment (UE) on a first system bandwidth; and

means for transmitting second control information to support communication for at least one second UE on a second system bandwidth overlapping the first system bandwidth.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for transmitting the second control information comprises means for transmitting the second control information on only the first system bandwidth.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for transmitting data to the at least one first UE with frequency hopping within the first system bandwidth; and

means for transmitting data to the at least one second UE with frequency hopping within the second system bandwidth.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one first UE communicates on the first system bandwidth for downlink and on a third system bandwidth for uplink, wherein the at least one second UE communicates on the second system bandwidth for the downlink and on a fourth system bandwidth for the uplink, and wherein the fourth system bandwidth overlaps the third system bandwidth and comprises the third system bandwidth and additional bandwidth.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving third control information from the at least one first UE on the third system bandwidth; and

means for receiving fourth control information from the at least one second UE on the third system bandwidth.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving data transmitted by the at least one first UE with frequency hopping within the third system bandwidth; and

means for receiving data transmitted by the at least one second UE with frequency hopping within the fourth system bandwidth.

24. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to transmit first control information to support communication for at least one first user equipment (UE) on a first system bandwidth, and to transmit second control information to support communication for at least one second UE on a second system bandwidth overlapping the first system bandwidth.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one processor is configured to transmit the second control information on only the first system bandwidth.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one processor is configured to transmit data to the at least one first UE with frequency hopping within the first system bandwidth, and to transmit data to the at least one second UE with frequency hopping within the second system bandwidth.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one first UE communicates on the first system bandwidth for downlink and on a third system bandwidth for uplink, wherein the at least one second UE communicates on the second system bandwidth for the downlink and on a fourth system bandwidth for the uplink, and wherein the fourth system bandwidth overlaps the third system bandwidth and comprises the third system bandwidth and additional bandwidth.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive third control information from the at least one first UE on the third system bandwidth, and to receive fourth control information from the at least one second UE on the third system bandwidth.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive data transmitted by the at least one first UE with frequency hopping within the third system bandwidth, and to receive data transmitted by the at least one second UE with frequency hopping within the fourth system bandwidth.

30. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to transmit first control information to support communication for at least one first user equipment (UE) on a first system bandwidth, and

code for causing the at least one computer to transmit second control information to support communication for at least one second UE on a second system bandwidth overlapping the first system bandwidth.

31. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving control information from a base station at a user equipment (UE), wherein the base station transmits first control information to support communication for at least one first UE on a first system bandwidth and transmits second control information to support communication for at least one second UE on a second system bandwidth overlapping the first system bandwidth, and wherein the UE is one of the at least one second UE; and

communicating with the base station based on the control information.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the receiving the control information comprises receiving the control information from the base station on only the first system bandwidth, and wherein the communicating with the base station comprises receiving data from the base station on the second system bandwidth.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the receiving control information comprises receiving acknowledgement (ACK) and negative acknowledgement (NACK) information from a control channel, and wherein resources for the control channel are determined based on the first system bandwidth instead of the second system bandwidth.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the communicating with the base station comprises receiving data transmitted by the base station on at least one resource block, wherein the first system bandwidth is partitioned into resource block groups (RBGs) of a first size, wherein the second system bandwidth is partitioned into RBGs of a second size, wherein the second size is different from the first size or is an integer multiple of the first size, and wherein the at least one resource block is determined based on the RBGs of the second size.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the communicating with the base station comprises receiving data transmitted by the base station with frequency hopping within the second system bandwidth.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the second system bandwidth comprises the first system bandwidth and additional bandwidth, and wherein the receiving data transmitted by the base station comprises receiving data transmitted by the base station with frequency hopping within the first system bandwidth for resources mapped to the first system bandwidth and within the additional bandwidth for resources mapped to the additional bandwidth.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the communicating with the base station comprises receiving data transmitted by the base station with frequency hopping, wherein the base station transmits data to the at least one first UE with frequency hopping based on a first gap value and transmits data to the at least one second UE with frequency hopping based on a second gap value, and wherein the second gap value is different from the first gap value or is an integer multiple of the first gap value.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) transmitted across only the first system bandwidth by the base station.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the second system bandwidth comprises the first system bandwidth and additional bandwidth, the method further comprising:

sending channel feedback information from the UE to the base station for first subbands defined based on the first system bandwidth, or for second subbands defined based on the second system bandwidth, or for the first subbands and at least one additional subband defined based on the additional bandwidth.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the channel feedback information comprises channel quality indicator (CQI) information, or precoding matrix indicator (PMI) information, or rank indicator (RI) information, or a combination thereof.

41. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

sending a single report comprising channel feedback information for the second system bandwidth.

42. The method of claim 31, wherein the second system bandwidth comprises the first system bandwidth and additional bandwidth, the method further comprising:

sending a first report comprising channel feedback information for the first system bandwidth; and

sending a second report comprising channel feedback information for the additional bandwidth.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one first UE communicates on the first system bandwidth for downlink and on a third system bandwidth for uplink, wherein the at least one second UE communicates on the second system bandwidth for the downlink and on a fourth system bandwidth for the uplink, and wherein the fourth system bandwidth comprises the third system bandwidth and additional bandwidth.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

transmitting uplink control information from the UE to the base station on the third system bandwidth.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

transmitting data from the UE to the base station with frequency hopping within the fourth system bandwidth.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the transmitting data comprises transmitting data from the UE to the base station with frequency hopping within the third system bandwidth for resources mapped to the third system bandwidth and within the additional bandwidth for resources mapped to the additional bandwidth.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

transmitting a sounding reference signal from the UE to the base station across the third system bandwidth or across the fourth system bandwidth.

48. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving control information from a base station at a user equipment (UE), wherein the base station transmits first control information to support communication for at least one first UE on a first system bandwidth and transmits second control information to support communication for at least one second UE on a second system bandwidth overlapping the first system bandwidth, and wherein the UE is one of the at least one second UE; and

means for communicating with the base station based on the control information.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the means for receiving the control information comprises means for receiving the control information from the base station on only the first system bandwidth, and wherein the means for communicating with the base station comprises means for receiving data from the base station on the second system bandwidth.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the at least one first UE communicates on the first system bandwidth for downlink and on a third system bandwidth for uplink, wherein the at least one second UE communicates on the second system bandwidth for the downlink and on a fourth system bandwidth for the uplink, and wherein the fourth system bandwidth comprises the third system bandwidth and additional bandwidth.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising:

means for transmitting uplink control information from the UE to the base station on the third system bandwidth.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising:

means for transmitting data from the UE to the base station with frequency hopping within the fourth system bandwidth.

53. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

communicating with at least one first user equipment (UE) on a first system bandwidth in first subframes; and

communicating with at least one second UE on a second system bandwidth in second subframes, the second system bandwidth overlapping the first system bandwidth, and the first subframes being time division multiplexed with the second subframes.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the first and second system bandwidths and the first and second subframes are for downlink, the method further comprising:

communicating with the at least one first UE on a third system bandwidth in third subframes for uplink; and

communicating with the at least one second UE on a fourth system bandwidth in fourth subframes for the uplink, the fourth system bandwidth overlapping the third system bandwidth, and the third subframes being time division multiplexed with the fourth subframes.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein for each first subframe in which data transmission is sent to the at least one first UE, a third subframe is available on the uplink, after a predetermined delay, to send acknowledgement (ACK) and negative acknowledgement (NACK) information for the data transmission.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein for each first subframe in which at least one uplink grant is sent to the at least one first UE, a third subframe is available on the uplink, after a predetermined delay, for data transmission by the at least one first UE on the uplink.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein for each first subframe in which at least one uplink grant is sent to the at least one first UE, another first subframe is available on the downlink, after a predetermined delay, to send acknowledgement (ACK) and negative acknowledgement (NACK) information.

58. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for communicating with at least one first user equipment (UE) on a first system bandwidth in first subframes; and

means for communicating with at least one second UE on a second system bandwidth in second subframes, the second system bandwidth overlapping the first system bandwidth, and the first subframes being time division multiplexed with the second subframes.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the first and second system bandwidths and the first and second subframes are for downlink, the apparatus further comprising:

means for communicating with the at least one first UE on a third system bandwidth in third subframes for uplink; and

means for communicating with the at least one second UE on a fourth system bandwidth in fourth subframes for the uplink, the fourth system bandwidth overlapping the third system bandwidth, and the third subframes being time division multiplexed with the fourth subframes.