System and method for using unused arbitrary bits in the data field of a special burst

• US 6,801,510 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Terry, Stephen E., DiFazio, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAIN, RAJ K
• Application Number:
  US10/268,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20030072276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 370/336, 370/342, 370/318, 370/345, 370/347, 370/328, 370/329, 370/523, 370/522, 375/220
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2656 for structure of frame, burst

Abstract

A system and method for reducing the unused capacity of a wireless communication channel utilize the data fields of an SB in order to signal physical layer control signaling for coordination between a Node B and a UE. The control signaling may include improved reception of SBs, enclose transmit power control commands or any physical layer control signaling for coordination between the UE and the Node B for synchronization timing advance or reconfiguration of the physical channel. This system and method may be applied independently to the uplink and the downlink.

Claims

1. A User Equipment (UE) that supports communications during discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode, comprising:

a detector for determining when DTX mode has been entered;

a burst generator, for generating a special burst (SB) during DTX mode, the SB including a midamble, two transport format combination indicator fields, and two data fields, whereby at least one of the data fields includes an identification of the SB; and

a transmitter, for transmitting the SB during DTX mode.

2. The UE of claim 1, wherein said SB further includes a transmit power control field for transmitting transmit power control information.

3. A User Equipment (UE) which implements discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode by periodically transmitting a special burst (SB), the SB having a plurality of fields including a midamble field surrounded by two transport format combination indicator fields, further surrounded by two data fields, the UE comprising:

a detector for detecting when DTX mode has been entered; and

a burst generator for periodically generating the SB during DTX mode; and

a transmitter for transmitting the SB;

whereby the data fields include SB identification information.

4. The UE of claim 3, wherein said SB further includes a transmit power control field for transmitting transmit power control information.

5. A User Equipment (UE) that supports communications during discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode, comprising:

a detector for determining when DTX mode has been entered;

a burst generator, for generating a special burst (SB) during DTX mode, the SB including a midamble, two transport format combination indicator fields, and two data fields, whereby at least one of the data fields includes transmit power control information; and

a transmitter, for transmitting the SB during DTX mode.

6. The UE of claim 5, wherein said SB further includes a transmit power control field for transmitting additional transmit power control information that is not transmitted in said data fields.

7. A User Equipment (UE) which implements discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode by periodically transmitting a special burst (SB), the SB having a plurality of fields including a midamble field surrounded by two transport format combination indicator fields, which are further surrounded by two data fields, the UE comprising:

a detector for detecting when DTX mode has been entered; and

a burst generator for periodically generating the SB during DTX mode; and

a transmitter for transmitting the SB;

whereby the data fields include transmit power control information.

8. The UE of claim 7, wherein said SB further includes a transmit power control field for transmitting additional transmit power control information that is not transmitted in the data fields.

9. A User Equipment (UE) that supports communications during the discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode, comprising:

a detector for determining when DTX mode has been entered;

a burst generator, for generating a special burst (SB) during DTX mode, the SB including a midamble, two transport format combination indicator fields, and two data fields, whereby at least one of the data fields includes physical layer signaling information; and

a transmitter, for transmitting the SB during DTX mode.

10. The UE of claim 9, wherein said SB further includes a transmit power control field for transmitting transmit power control information.

11. A User Equipment (UE) which implements discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode by periodically transmitting a special burst (SB), the SB having a plurality of fields including a midamble field surrounded by two transport format combination indicator fields, further surrounded by two data fields, the UE comprising:

a detector for detecting when DTX mode has been entered; and

a burst generator for periodically generating the SB during DTX mode; and

a transmitter for transmitting the SB;

whereby the data fields include physical layer signaling information.

12. The UE of claim 11, wherein said SB further includes a transmit power control field for transmitting transmit power control information.

13. A method for supporting communications during a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode of operation, the method comprising:

determining when DTX mode has been entered;

generating a special burst (SB) during DTX mode, the SB including a midamble, two transport format combination indicator fields, and two data fields, whereby at least one of the data fields includes an identification of the SB; and

transmitting the SB during DTX mode.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said SB further includes a transmit power control field for transmitting transmit power control information.

15. A method for implementing discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode by periodically transmitting a special burst (SB), the SB having a plurality of fields including a midamble field surrounded by two transport format combination indicator fields, further surrounded by two data fields, the method comprising:

detecting when DTX mode has been entered;

periodically generating the SB during DTX mode; and

transmitting the SB;

whereby the data fields include SB identification information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said SB further includes a transmit power control field for transmitting transmit power control information.

17. A method that supports communications during discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode, comprising:

determining when DTX mode has been entered;

generating a special burst (SB) during DTX mode, the SB including a midamble, two transport format combination indicator fields, and two data fields, whereby at least one of the data fields includes transmit power control information; and

transmitting the SB during DTX mode.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said SB further includes a transmit power control field for transmitting additional transmit power control information that is not transmitted in said data fields.

19. A method for implementing discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode by periodically transmitting a special burst (SB), the SB having a plurality of fields including a midamble field surrounded by two transport format combination indicator fields, which are further surrounded by two data fields, the method comprising:

detecting when DTX mode has been entered;

periodically generating the SB during DTX mode; and

transmitting the SB;

whereby the data fields include transmit power control information.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said SB further includes a transmit power control field for transmitting additional transmit power control information that is not transmitted in the data fields.

21. A method for supporting communications during a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode, comprising:

determining when DTX mode has commenced;

generating a special burst (SB) during DTX mode, the SB including a midamble, two transport format combination indicator fields, and two data fields, whereby at least one of the data fields includes physical layer signaling information; and

periodically transmitting the SB during DTX mode.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said SB further includes a transmit power control field for transmitting transmit power control information.

23. A method which implements discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode by periodically transmitting a special burst (SB), the SB having a plurality of fields including a midamble field surrounded by two transport format combination indicator fields, further surrounded by two data fields, the method comprising:

detecting when DTX mode has commenced;

periodically generating the SB during DTX mode; and

transmitting the SB;

whereby the data fields include physical layer signaling information.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said SB further includes a transmit power control field for transmitting transmit power control information.