METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE AN EARLY DECODING OF SIGNALS IN RELAY BACKHAUL LINKS

• US 20110211595A1
• Filed: 02/07/2011
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Luo, Tao, Palanki, Ravi, Montojo, Juan, Chen, Wanshi, Geirhofer, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US13/022,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20110211595A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/478
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are disclosed that facilitate an early decoding of relay signals. A relay receives a signal within a sub-frame from a network. A first and second reference symbol is detected within the sub-frame such that the first reference symbol is detected before the second reference symbol. The signal is then decode based on the first reference symbol.

Claims

1. A method that facilitates an early processing of relay signals, the method comprising:

receiving a signal within a sub-frame, wherein the signal is associated with a relay;

detecting a first reference symbol and a second reference symbol within the sub-frame, wherein the first reference symbol is detected before the second reference symbol; and

decoding the signal based on the first reference symbol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reference symbol and the second reference symbol are associated with a demodulation reference signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-frame is a hybrid sub-frame which includes frequency division multiplexing and time division multiplexing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-frame is a pure frequency division multiplexing sub-frame.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal is included in a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the signal is included in a plurality of signals respectively corresponding to different relays, and wherein the Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel includes the plurality of signals.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal is included in a Relay Physical Downlink Shared Channel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the signal is included in a plurality of signals respectively corresponding to different relays, and wherein the Relay Physical Downlink Shared Channel includes the plurality of signals.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal is included in a first portion of a resource block, and wherein the signal is repeated in a second portion of the resource block received after the first portion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the decoding comprises attempting to decode the signal via the first portion of the resource block, and wherein the decoding further comprises performing a subsequent decoding of the signal via the second portion of the resource block if the signal is unsuccessfully decoded via the first portion.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein a plurality of signals respectively corresponding to a plurality of relays are included in a resource block, and wherein the signal is included in the plurality of signals.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of signals are included in a first portion of the resource block, and wherein the plurality of signals are repeated in a second portion of the resource block received after the first portion.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the signal is biased towards a first portion of the resource block, and wherein a remainder of the plurality of signals is biased towards a second portion of the resource block received after the first portion.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the signal is included in a first portion of the resource block, and wherein a different signal associated with a different relay is included in a second portion of the resource block received after the first portion.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the decoding further comprises identifying a unique parameter associated with the signal, and wherein the unique parameter is at least one of a power level, a resource level, or an aggregation level.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the decoding further comprises distinguishing different pre-coding vectors respectively associated with different slots within the sub-frame.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the decoding further comprises identifying a power boost applied to data tones associated with the signal, and wherein the first reference symbol and the second reference symbol are excluded from the power boost.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein a Relay Physical Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Indicator Channel is received in a resource block dedicated to a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the decoding further comprises mapping resources associated with the Relay Physical Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Indicator Channel exclusively to a portion of the sub-frame that includes at least one of a set of uplink grants or a set of downlink grants.

20. The method of claim 4, the signal including a set of uplink grants and a set of downlink grants, wherein the set of downlink grants are included in a first portion of a resource block, and wherein the set of uplink grants are included in a second portion of the resource block received after the first portion.

21. An apparatus configured to facilitate an early processing of relay signals, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to execute computer executable components stored in memory, the components including;

a communication component configured to receive a signal within a sub-frame, wherein the signal is associated with a relay;

a reference component configured to detect a first reference symbol and a second reference symbol within the sub-frame, wherein the first reference symbol is detected before the second reference symbol; and

a decoding component configured to decode the signal based on the first reference symbol.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first reference symbol and the second reference symbol are associated with a demodulation reference signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the sub-frame is a hybrid sub-frame which includes frequency division multiplexing and time division multiplexing.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the sub-frame is a pure frequency division multiplexing sub-frame.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the signal is included in a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the signal is included in a plurality of signals respectively corresponding to different relays, and wherein the Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel includes the plurality of signals.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the signal is included in a Relay Physical Downlink Shared Channel.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the signal is included in a plurality of signals respectively corresponding to different relays, and wherein the Relay Physical Downlink Shared Channel includes the plurality of signals.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the signal is included in a first portion of a resource block, and wherein the signal is repeated in a second portion of the resource block received after the first portion.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the decoding component is configured to attempt to decode the signal via the first portion of the resource block, and wherein the decoding component is further configured to perform a subsequent decoding of the signal via the second portion of the resource block if the signal is unsuccessfully decoded via the first portion.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein a plurality of signals respectively corresponding to a plurality of relays are included in a resource block, and wherein the signal is included in the plurality of signals.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the plurality of signals are included in a first portion of the resource block, and wherein the plurality of signals are repeated in a second portion of the resource block received after the first portion.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the signal is biased towards a first portion of the resource block, and wherein a remainder of the plurality of signals is biased towards a second portion of the resource block received after the first portion.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the signal is included in a first portion of the resource block, and wherein a different signal associated with a different relay is included in a second portion of the resource block received after the first portion.

35. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the decoding component is configured to identify a unique parameter associated with the signal, and wherein the unique parameter is at least one of a power level, a resource level, or an aggregation level.

36. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the decoding component is configured to distinguish different pre-coding vectors respectively associated with different slots within the sub-frame.

37. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the decoding component is configured to identify a power boost applied to data tones associated with the signal, and wherein the first reference symbol and the second reference symbol are excluded from the power boost.

38. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the communication component is configured to receive a Relay Physical Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Indicator Channel in a resource block dedicated to a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the decoding component is configured to map resources associated with the Relay Physical Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Indicator Channel exclusively to a portion of the sub-frame that includes at least one of a set of uplink grants or a set of downlink grants.

40. The apparatus of claim 24, the signal including a set of uplink grants and a set of downlink grants, wherein the set of downlink grants are included in a first portion of a resource block, and wherein the set of uplink grants are included in a second portion of the resource block received after the first portion.

41. A computer program product that facilitates an early processing of relay signals, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium comprising code for causing at least one computer to;

receive a signal within a sub-frame, wherein the signal is associated with a relay;

detect a first reference symbol and a second reference symbol within the sub-frame, wherein the first reference symbol is detected before the second reference symbol; and

decode the signal based on the first reference symbol.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the sub-frame is a pure frequency division multiplexing sub-frame.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, the signal including a set of uplink grants and a set of downlink grants, wherein the set of downlink grants are included in a first portion of a resource block, and wherein the set of uplink grants are included in a second portion of the resource block received after the first portion.

44. An apparatus configured to facilitate an early processing of relay signals, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a signal within a sub-frame, wherein the signal is associated with a relay;

means for detecting a first reference symbol and a second reference symbol within the sub-frame, wherein the first reference symbol is detected before the second reference symbol; and

means for decoding the signal based on the first reference symbol.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for decoding is configured to identify a unique parameter associated with the signal, and wherein the unique parameter is at least one of a power level, a resource level, or an aggregation level.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for decoding is configured to distinguish different pre-coding vectors respectively associated with different slots within the sub-frame.

47. A method that facilitates an early processing of relay signals, the method comprising:

generating a signal within a sub-frame, wherein the signal is associated with a relay;

providing a first reference symbol and a second reference symbol within the sub-frame, wherein the first reference symbol is provided before the second reference symbol; and

transmitting the signal to the relay, wherein the signal is decodable based on the first reference symbol.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the first reference symbol and the second reference symbol are associated with a demodulation reference signal.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the sub-frame is a hybrid sub-frame which includes frequency division multiplexing and time division multiplexing.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the sub-frame is a pure frequency division multiplexing sub-frame.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the transmitting comprises including the signal in a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the signal is included in a plurality of signals respectively corresponding to different relays, and wherein the Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel includes the plurality of signals.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein the transmitting comprises including the signal in a Relay Physical Downlink Shared Channel.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the signal is included in a plurality of signals respectively corresponding to different relays, and wherein the Relay Physical Downlink Shared Channel includes the plurality of signals.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein the generating comprises including the signal in a first portion of a resource block, and wherein the generating further comprises repeating the signal in a second portion of the resource block transmitted after the first portion.

56. The method of claim 50, wherein the generating comprises including a plurality of signals respectively corresponding to a plurality of relays in a resource block, and wherein the signal is included in the plurality of signals.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the generating comprises including the plurality of signals in a first portion of the resource block, and wherein the generating further comprises repeating the plurality of signals in a second portion of the resource block transmitted after the first portion.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein the generating comprises biasing the signal towards a first portion of the resource block, and wherein a remainder of the plurality of signals is biased towards a second portion of the resource block transmitted after the first portion.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein the generating comprises including the signal in a first portion of the resource block, and wherein a different signal associated with a different relay is included in a second portion of the resource block transmitted after the first portion.

60. The method of claim 47, wherein the generating comprises associating a unique parameter with the signal, and wherein the unique parameter is at least one of a power level, a resource level, or an aggregation level.

61. The method of claim 47, wherein the generating comprises utilizing different pre-coding vectors respectively associated with different slots within the sub-frame.

62. The method of claim 47, wherein the transmitting comprises applying a power boost to data tones associated with the signal, and wherein the transmitting further comprises excluding the first reference symbol and the second reference symbol from the power boost.

63. The method of claim 47, wherein the generating comprises including a Relay Physical Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Indicator Channel in a resource block dedicated to a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the generating comprises mapping resources associated with the Relay Physical Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Indicator Channel exclusively to a portion of the sub-frame that includes at least one of a set of uplink grants or a set of downlink grants.

65. The method of claim 50, the signal including a set of uplink grants and a set of downlink grants, wherein the generating comprises including the set of downlink grants in a first portion of a resource block, and wherein the set of uplink grants are included in a second portion of the resource block transmitted after the first portion.

66. An apparatus configured to facilitate an early processing of relay signals, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to execute computer executable components stored in memory, the components including;

a generation component configured to generate a signal within a sub-frame, wherein the signal is associated with a relay;

a reference component configured to provide a first reference symbol and a second reference symbol within the sub-frame, wherein the first reference symbol is provided before the second reference symbol; and

a communication component configured to transmit the signal to the relay, wherein the signal is decodable based on the first reference symbol.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the first reference symbol and the second reference symbol are associated with a demodulation reference signal.

68. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the sub-frame is a hybrid sub-frame which includes frequency division multiplexing and time division multiplexing.

69. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the sub-frame is a pure frequency division multiplexing sub-frame.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the communication component is configured to include the signal in a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the signal is included in a plurality of signals respectively corresponding to different relays, and wherein the Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel includes the plurality of signals.

72. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the communication component is configured to include the signal in a Relay Physical Downlink Shared Channel.

73. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the signal is included in a plurality of signals respectively corresponding to different relays, and wherein the Relay Physical Downlink Shared Channel includes the plurality of signals.

74. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the generation component is configured to include the signal in a first portion of a resource block, and wherein the generation component is configured to repeat the signal in a second portion of the resource block transmitted after the first portion.

75. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the generation component is configured to include a plurality of signals respectively corresponding to a plurality of relays in a resource block, and wherein the signal is included in the plurality of signals.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the generation component is configured to include the plurality of signals in a first portion of the resource block, and wherein the generation component is further configured to repeat the plurality of signals in a second portion of the resource block transmitted after the first portion.

77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the generation component is configured to bias the signal towards a first portion of the resource block, and wherein a remainder of the plurality of signals is biased towards a second portion of the resource block transmitted after the first portion.

78. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the generation component is configured to include the signal in a first portion of the resource block, and wherein a different signal associated with a different relay is included in a second portion of the resource block transmitted after the first portion.

79. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the generation component is configured to associate a unique parameter with the signal, and wherein the unique parameter is at least one of a power level, a resource level, or an aggregation level.

80. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the generation component is configured to utilize different pre-coding vectors respectively associated with different slots within the sub-frame.

81. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the communication component is configured to apply a power boost to data tones associated with the signal, and wherein the communication component is further configured to exclude the first reference symbol and the second reference symbol from the power boost.

82. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the generation component is configured to include a Relay Physical Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Indicator Channel in a resource block dedicated to a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel.

83. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the generation component is configured to map resources associated with the Relay Physical Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Indicator Channel exclusively to a portion of the sub-frame that includes at least one of a set of uplink grants or a set of downlink grants.

84. The apparatus of claim 69, the signal including a set of uplink grants and a set of downlink grants, wherein the generation component is configured to include the set of downlink grants in a first portion of a resource block, and wherein the set of uplink grants are included in a second portion of the resource block transmitted after the first portion.

85. A computer program product that facilitates an early processing of relay signals, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium comprising code for causing at least one computer to;

generate a signal within a sub-frame, wherein the signal is associated with a relay;

provide a first reference symbol and a second reference symbol within the sub-frame, wherein the first reference symbol is provided before the second reference symbol; and

transmit the signal to the relay, wherein the signal is decodable based on the first reference symbol.

86. The computer program product of claim 85, wherein the sub-frame is a pure frequency division multiplexing sub-frame.

87. The computer program product of claim 86, the signal including a set of uplink grants and a set of downlink grants, wherein the set of downlink grants are included in a first portion of a resource block, and wherein the set of uplink grants are included in a second portion of the resource block received after the first portion.

88. An apparatus configured to facilitate an early processing of relay signals, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating a signal within a sub-frame, wherein the signal is associated with a relay;

means for providing a first reference symbol and a second reference symbol within the sub-frame, wherein the first reference symbol is provided before the second reference symbol; and

means for transmitting the signal to the relay, wherein the signal is decodable based on the first reference symbol.

89. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the means for generating is configured to associate a unique parameter with the signal, and wherein the unique parameter is at least one of a power level, a resource level, or an aggregation level.

90. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the means for generating is configured to utilize different pre-coding vectors respectively associated with different slots within the sub-frame.