Scheduling of Downlink Data Resources

• US 20140119348A1
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhang, Li, Skov, Peter, Lin, Jie Zhen, Wu, Chunli
• Granted Patent: US 9,374,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal

Abstract

There is provided a control entity for a communication network, a base station including such a control entity and a user equipment for communication with such a base station. The control entity includes a controller for providing a downlink control signal (e.g. a downlink assignment) scheduling a downlink data resource in a first time slot wherein the controller is configured for providing the downlink control signal over a downlink control resource in an earlier time slot which is chronologically earlier than the first time slot.

Claims

1. A control entity for a communication network, comprising:

a controller for generating a downlink control signal scheduling a downlink data resource in a first time slot;

wherein the controller is configured for providing the downlink control signal over a downlink control resource in an earlier time slot which is chronologically earlier than the first time slot.

2. The control entity of claim 1, the downlink control signal comprising a downlink index Indicating the time slot in which the downlink data resource is to be scheduled.

3. The control entity of claim 2, the controller being adapted for mapping a respective state of the downlink index to the first time slot.

4. The control entity of claim 1, wherein the downlink control resource is provided by a first base station and the downlink data resource is provided by a second base station, different from the first base station.

5. The control entity of claim 1, wherein the downlink control resource is provided by a first base station and the downlink data resource is provided by the same, first base station.

6. The control entity of claim 1, wherein the downlink control resource is located on a first carrier and the downlink data resource is located on the same, first carrier.

7. The control entity of claim 1, wherein the downlink control resource is located on a first carrier and the downlink data resource is located on a second carrier, the second carrier being different from the first carrier.

8. Base station for a communication network, the base station comprising a control entity of claim 1.

10. Communication network comprising at least one base station according to claim 8.

9. User equipment for a communication network, the user equipment comprising

a controller configured for receiving downlink data over a downlink data resource in a first time slot, the first time slot being indicated by a downlink control signal received over a downlink control resource in an earlier time slot which is chronologically earlier than the first time slot.

16. Communication network comprising at least one user equipment according to claim 9.

11. Method of operating a control entity for a communication network, the method comprising:

generating a downlink control signal indicating a first time slot for a downlink data resource;

providing the downlink control signal over a downlink control resource in an earlier time slot which is chronologically earlier than the first time slot.

12. Method of operating a base station of a communication network, the method comprising:

operating a control entity of the base station according to the method of claim 11.

14. Method of operating a communication network, the method comprising:

operating a base station according to the method of claim 12.

15. Computer program, the computer program being adapted for, when being executed by a data processor, controlling the method as set forth in claim 11.

13. Method of operating a user equipment of a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving downlink data in a downlink data resource in a first time slot;

the first time slot being indicated by a downlink control signal received in an earlier time slot which is chronologically earlier than the first time slot.

17. Method of operating a communication network, the method comprising:

operating a user equipment according to the method of claim 13.