TRANSMISSION OF FEEDBACK INFORMATION FOR DATA TRANSMISSIONS ON MULTIPLE CARRIERS

• US 20110116455A1
• Filed: 05/03/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Montojo, Juan, Zhang, Xiaoxia, Damnjanovic, Jelena M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,792,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0028 Formatting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/18 Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/006 Quality of the received signal, e.g. BER, SNR, water filling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/06 the signals being represented by different frequencies combined with time-division multiplexing H04L5/26

Abstract

Techniques for sending feedback information for multi-carrier operation are described. In an aspect, feedback information for data transmissions on multiple downlink carriers may be sent on at least one uplink resource determined based on at least one downlink resource used to send at least one downlink grant for the data transmissions. In another aspect, feedback information for data transmissions on multiple downlink carriers may be sent with reduced or no orthogonal spreading to enable more feedback information to be sent. In yet another aspect, feedback information for data transmissions on multiple downlink carriers may be sent with channel selection. A UE may send a transmission of at least one signal value on at least one resource to convey acknowledgement (ACK) information for data transmissions on multiple downlink carriers. The signal value(s) and resource(s) may be determined based on the content of the ACK information.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving at least one downlink grant for data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers;

receiving the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers;

determining feedback information for the data transmissions;

determining at least one uplink resource to use to send the feedback information based on at least one downlink resource used to send the at least one downlink grant; and

sending the feedback information on the at least one uplink resource.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback information comprises acknowledgement (ACK) information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the at least one downlink grant comprises receiving a plurality of downlink grants for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, one downlink grant for data transmission on each downlink carrier, and wherein the determining the at least one uplink resource comprises determining an uplink resource to use to send feedback information for the data transmission on each downlink carrier based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send the downlink grant for the data transmission on the downlink carrier.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving the plurality of downlink grants comprises receiving each downlink grant on a different one of the plurality of downlink carriers.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving the plurality of downlink grants comprises receiving each downlink grant on any one of the plurality of downlink carriers.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein each downlink carrier is associated with a plurality of CCEs, and wherein CCEs for the plurality of downlink carriers are assigned unique indices based on common CCE numbering across the plurality of downlink carriers.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the at least one downlink grant comprises receiving a single downlink grant for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, and wherein the determining the at least one uplink resource comprises determining the at least one uplink resource based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send the single downlink grant.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining the at least one uplink resource comprises determining an uplink resource to use to send feedback information for data transmission on each downlink carrier based on the first CCE used to send the single downlink grant and the downlink carrier used to send the data transmission.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of downlink carriers are associated with a plurality of CCEs starting with the first CCE, and wherein the determining the at least one uplink resource comprises determining an uplink resource to use to send feedback information for data transmission on each downlink carrier based on a CCE associated with the downlink carrier used to send the data transmission.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein an uplink resource to use to send feedback information for data transmission on each downlink carrier comprises a frequency region on an uplink carrier, an orthogonal sequence, and a reference signal sequence, wherein the frequency region is determined based on the downlink carrier used for the data transmission, and wherein the orthogonal sequence and the reference signal sequence are determined based on the first CCE used to send the single downlink grant.

11. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving at least one downlink grant for data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers;

means for receiving the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers;

means for determining feedback information for the data transmissions;

means for determining at least one uplink resource to use to send the feedback information based on at least one downlink resource used to send the at least one downlink grant; and

means for sending the feedback information on the at least one uplink resource.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for receiving the at least one downlink grant comprises means for receiving a plurality of downlink grants for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, one downlink grant for data transmission on each downlink carrier, and wherein the means for determining the at least one uplink resource comprises means for determining an uplink resource to use to send feedback information for the data transmission on each downlink carrier based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send the downlink grant for the data transmission on the downlink carrier.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for receiving the at least one downlink grant comprises means for receiving a single downlink grant for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, and wherein the means for determining the at least one uplink resource comprises means for determining the at least one uplink resource based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send the single downlink grant.

14. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to receive at least one downlink grant for data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers, to receive the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, to determine feedback information for the data transmissions, to determine at least one uplink resource to use to send the feedback information based on at least one downlink resource used to send the at least one downlink grant, and to send the feedback information on the at least one uplink resource.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive a plurality of downlink grants for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, one downlink grant for data transmission on each downlink carrier, and to determine an uplink resource to use to send feedback information for the data transmission on each downlink carrier based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send the downlink grant for the data transmission on the downlink carrier.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive a single downlink grant for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, and to determine the at least one uplink resource based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send the single downlink grant.

17. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive at least one downlink grant for data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers,

code for causing the at least one computer to receive the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers,

code for causing the at least one computer to determine feedback information for the data transmissions,

code for causing the at least one computer to determine at least one uplink resource to use to send the feedback information based on at least one downlink resource used to send the at least one downlink grant, and

code for causing the at least one computer to send the feedback information on the at least one uplink resource.

18. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

sending at least one downlink grant for data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers;

sending the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers;

determining at least one uplink resource used to send feedback information for the data transmissions based on at least one downlink resource used to send the at least one downlink grant; and

receiving the feedback information on the at least one uplink resource.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sending the at least one downlink grant comprises sending a plurality of downlink grants for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, one downlink grant for data transmission on each downlink carrier, and wherein the determining the at least one uplink resource comprises determining an uplink resource used to send feedback information for the data transmission on each downlink carrier based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send the downlink grant for the data transmission on the downlink carrier.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the sending the at least one downlink grant comprises sending a single downlink grant for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, and wherein the determining the at least one uplink resource comprises determining the at least one uplink resource based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send the single downlink grant.

21. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for sending at least one downlink grant for data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers;

means for sending the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers;

means for determining at least one uplink resource used to send feedback information for the data transmissions based on at least one downlink resource used to send the at least one downlink grant; and

means for receiving the feedback information on the at least one uplink resource.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for sending the at least one downlink grant comprises means for sending a plurality of downlink grants for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, one downlink grant for data transmission on each downlink carrier, and wherein the means for determining the at least one uplink resource comprises means for determining an uplink resource used to send feedback information for the data transmission on each downlink carrier based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send the downlink grant for the data transmission on the downlink carrier.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for sending the at least one downlink grant comprises means for sending a single downlink grant for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, and wherein the means for determining the at least one uplink resource comprises means for determining the at least one uplink resource based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send the single downlink grant.

24. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers;

determining first feedback information for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers; and

sending the first feedback information for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers without orthogonal spreading or with reduced orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a first length, wherein second feedback information for data transmission on a single downlink carrier is sent with orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a second length longer than the first length.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the sending the first feedback information comprises

determining a reference signal sequence assigned to a user equipment (UE) based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send a downlink grant to the UE, and

sending the first feedback information on at least one uplink resource using the reference signal sequence without orthogonal spreading, wherein no other UEs are assigned the reference signal sequence for sending feedback information on the at least one uplink resource.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the first feedback information is sent without orthogonal spreading in a first frequency region, and wherein the second feedback information is sent with orthogonal spreading in a second frequency region different from the first frequency region.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first feedback information is mapped to the first frequency region based on upper layer signaling, and wherein the second feedback information is mapped to the second frequency region based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send a downlink grant.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the sending the first feedback information comprises

sending a first subset of the first feedback information with reduced orthogonal spreading using the orthogonal sequence of the second length, and

sending a second subset of the first feedback information with orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a third length different from the second length.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

determining whether to send the first feedback information without orthogonal spreading or with reduced orthogonal spreading based on amount of the first feedback information to send.

30. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers;

means for determining first feedback information for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers; and

means for sending the first feedback information for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers without orthogonal spreading or with reduced orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a first length, wherein second feedback information for data transmission on a single downlink carrier is sent with orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a second length longer than the first length.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for sending the first feedback information comprises

means for determining a reference signal sequence assigned to a user equipment (UE) based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send a downlink grant to the UE, and

means for sending the first feedback information on at least one uplink resource using the reference signal sequence without orthogonal spreading, wherein no other UEs are assigned the reference signal sequence for sending feedback information on the at least one uplink resource.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first feedback information is sent without orthogonal spreading in a first frequency region, and wherein the second feedback information is sent with orthogonal spreading in a second frequency region different from the first frequency region.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for sending the first feedback information comprises

means for sending a first subset of the first feedback information with reduced orthogonal spreading using the orthogonal sequence of the second length, and

means for sending a second subset of the first feedback information with orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a third length different from the second length.

34. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

sending data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers; and

receiving first feedback information for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, wherein the first feedback information is sent without orthogonal spreading or with reduced orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a first length, wherein second feedback information for data transmission on a single downlink carrier is sent with orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a second length longer than the first length.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

assigning a reference signal sequence to a user equipment (UE) based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send a downlink grant to the UE, wherein the first feedback information is sent on at least one uplink resource using the reference signal sequence without orthogonal spreading, and wherein no other UEs are assigned the reference signal sequence for sending feedback information on the at least one uplink resource.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the first feedback information is sent without orthogonal spreading in a first frequency region, and wherein the second feedback information is sent with orthogonal spreading in a second frequency region different from the first frequency region.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first feedback information is mapped to the first frequency region based on upper layer signaling, and wherein the second feedback information is mapped to the second frequency region based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send a downlink grant.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein a first subset of the first feedback information is sent with reduced orthogonal spreading using the orthogonal sequence of the second length, and wherein a second subset of the first feedback information is sent with orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a third length different from the second length.

39. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for sending data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers; and

means for receiving first feedback information for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers, wherein the first feedback information is sent without orthogonal spreading or with reduced orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a first length, wherein second feedback information for data transmission on a single downlink carrier is sent with orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a second length longer than the first length.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

means for assigning a reference signal sequence to a user equipment (UE) based on a first channel control element (CCE) used to send a downlink grant to the UE, wherein the first feedback information is sent on at least one uplink resource using the reference signal sequence without orthogonal spreading, and wherein no other UEs are assigned the reference signal sequence for sending feedback information on the at least one uplink resource.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first feedback information is sent without orthogonal spreading in a first frequency region, and wherein the second feedback information is sent with orthogonal spreading in a second frequency region different from the first frequency region.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein a first subset of the first feedback information is sent with reduced orthogonal spreading using the orthogonal sequence of the second length, and wherein a second subset of the first feedback information is sent with orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a third length different from the second length.

43. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers;

determining acknowledgement (ACK) information for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers;

determining at least one resource to use to send the ACK information from among a plurality of resources based on content of the ACK information; and

sending a transmission on the at least one resource to convey the ACK information.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

determining at least one signal value to send on the at least one resource based on the content of the ACK information, wherein the at least one signal value is sent in the transmission on the at least one resource to convey the ACK information.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

determining a bundled ACK or NACK for each of the plurality of downlink carriers based on ACKs/NACKs for multiple transport blocks received on the downlink carrier, and wherein the determining the at least one resource comprises determining the at least one resource based on the bundled ACK or NACK for each of the plurality of downlink carriers.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

determining a bundled ACK or NACK for each of a plurality of layers based on ACKs/NACKs for multiple transport blocks received via the layer on the plurality of downlink carriers, and wherein the determining the at least one resource comprises determining the at least one resource based on the bundled ACK or NACK for each of the plurality of layers.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the sending the transmission comprises sending the transmission without orthogonal spreading or with reduced orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a length less than four.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein each of the plurality of resources corresponds to a resource block, or an orthogonal sequence, or a reference signal sequence, or a combination thereof.

49. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers;

means for determining acknowledgement (ACK) information for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers;

means for determining at least one resource to use to send the ACK information from among a plurality of resources based on content of the ACK information; and

means for sending a transmission on the at least one resource to convey the ACK information.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

means for determining at least one signal value to send on the at least one resource based on the content of the ACK information, wherein the at least one signal value is sent in the transmission on the at least one resource to convey the ACK information.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

means for determining a bundled ACK or NACK for each of the plurality of downlink carriers based on ACKs/NACKs for multiple transport blocks received on the downlink carrier, and wherein the means for determining the at least one resource comprises means for determining the at least one resource based on the bundled ACK or NACK for each of the plurality of downlink carriers.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

means for determining a bundled ACK or NACK for each of a plurality of layers based on ACKs/NACKs for multiple transport blocks received via the layer on the plurality of downlink carriers, and wherein the means for determining the at least one resource comprises means for determining the at least one resource based on the bundled ACK or NACK for each of the plurality of layers.

53. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

sending data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers;

determining a plurality of resources available to send acknowledgement (ACK) information for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers;

detecting for the ACK information on the plurality of resources; and

determining content of the ACK information based on at least one resource on which the ACK information is detected.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

determining at least one signal value sent on the at least one resource, and wherein the content of the ACK information is determined based further on the at least one signal value.

55. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

obtaining a bundled ACK or NACK for each of the plurality of downlink carriers based on the content of the ACK information, wherein the bundled ACK or NACK for each downlink carrier is generated based on ACKs/NACKs for multiple transport blocks sent on the downlink carrier.

56. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

obtaining a bundled ACK or NACK for each of a plurality of layers based on the content of the ACK information, wherein the bundled ACK or NACK for each layer is generated based on ACKs/NACKs for multiple transport blocks sent via the layer on the plurality of downlink carriers.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein the ACK information is sent without orthogonal spreading or with reduced orthogonal spreading using an orthogonal sequence of a length less than four.

58. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for sending data transmissions on a plurality of downlink carriers;

means for determining a plurality of resources available to send acknowledgement (ACK) information for the data transmissions on the plurality of downlink carriers;

means for detecting for the ACK information on the plurality of resources; and

means for determining content of the ACK information based on at least one resource on which the ACK information is detected.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising:

means for determining at least one signal value sent on the at least one resource, and wherein the content of the ACK information is determined based further on the at least one signal value.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising:

means for obtaining a bundled ACK or NACK for each of the plurality of downlink carriers based on the content of the ACK information, wherein the bundled ACK or NACK for each downlink carrier is generated based on ACKs/NACKs for multiple transport blocks sent on the downlink carrier.

61. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising:

means for obtaining a bundled ACK or NACK for each of a plurality of layers based on the content of the ACK information, wherein the bundled ACK or NACK for each layer is generated based on ACKs/NACKs for multiple transport blocks sent via the layer on the plurality of downlink carriers.