Methods and apparatus for implementing and using a maximum rate option indicator
First Claim
1. A method of operating a base station in a communications system to transmit assignment information indicating assignment of uplink communications segments, each segment having a predetermined duration, the method comprising:
- generating a first segment assignment signal assigning a first communications segment to a wireless terminal, the first segment assignment signal including a first maximum uplink rate option indicator value having a first number of bits and indicating a first maximum uplink rate option corresponding to a plurality of rate options available to the wireless terminal in determining the actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting in the first communications segment;
transmitting said first segment assignment signal to the wireless terminal over a first wireless assignment channel;
generating a second segment assignment signal assigning a second communications segment to said wireless terminal, the second segment assignment signal including a second maximum uplink rate option indicator value, said second maximum uplink rate option indicator value having a second number of bits which is more than said first number of bits and indicating a second maximum uplink rate option corresponding to a plurality of rate options available to the wireless terminal in determining the actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting in the second communications segment; and
transmitting the second segment assignment signal to said wireless terminal over a second wireless assignment channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A base station selects a maximum rate option indicator value for an uplink communications segment, e.g., uplink traffic channel segment, and transmits the selected indicator value, e.g., as part of the assignment message. The maximum rate option indicator value indicates to the wireless terminal a maximum allowed data rate option that the wireless terminal is permitted to use for the corresponding assigned uplink communications segment, the wireless terminal determining the actual uplink rate option used. Each uplink data rate option corresponds to: a number of information bits to be communicated in an uplink communication segment, a coding rate, and a modulation method. Some embodiments include multiple types of maximum uplink rate option indicators, e.g., a first type using a single bit and a second type using at least three bits. Different modulation methods are, in some embodiments, used for communicating the different types of maximum uplink rate option indicators.
39 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of operating a base station in a communications system to transmit assignment information indicating assignment of uplink communications segments, each segment having a predetermined duration, the method comprising:
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generating a first segment assignment signal assigning a first communications segment to a wireless terminal, the first segment assignment signal including a first maximum uplink rate option indicator value having a first number of bits and indicating a first maximum uplink rate option corresponding to a plurality of rate options available to the wireless terminal in determining the actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting in the first communications segment; transmitting said first segment assignment signal to the wireless terminal over a first wireless assignment channel; generating a second segment assignment signal assigning a second communications segment to said wireless terminal, the second segment assignment signal including a second maximum uplink rate option indicator value, said second maximum uplink rate option indicator value having a second number of bits which is more than said first number of bits and indicating a second maximum uplink rate option corresponding to a plurality of rate options available to the wireless terminal in determining the actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting in the second communications segment; and transmitting the second segment assignment signal to said wireless terminal over a second wireless assignment channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 9, 10)
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4. A method of operating a base station in a communications system supporting a fixed number of different uplink rate options and transmitting assignment information indicating assignment of uplink OFDM communications segments, each segment having a predetermined duration and including multiple tones used for a plurality of OFDM symbol transmission time periods, the method comprising:
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selecting a first maximum rate option indicator value of a first type and including a first number of bits from a set of values including at least one value corresponding to the highest uplink rate option supported by said system and another value corresponding to an intermediate rate option supported by said system; transmitting over a wireless communications channel a first assignment including said first maximum uplink rate option indicator value of said first type indicating a first maximum uplink rate option to be used by a wireless terminal in determining the actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting in a first OFDM communications segment corresponding to said first assignment; and transmitting over said wireless communications channel a second assignment including a second maximum uplink rate option indicator of a second type, said second type maximum uplink rate option indicator value including more bits than said first type allowing for more maximum uplink rate options to be specified than said first type indicator. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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11. A base station for use in a communications system, comprising:
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a first type assignment generation module for generating a first segment assignment signal assigning a first communications segment to a wireless terminal, the first segment assignment signal including a first maximum uplink rate option indicator value having a first number of bits and indicating a first maximum uplink rate option corresponding to a plurality of rate options available to the wireless terminal in determining an actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting into the first communications segment; a second type assignment generation module for generating a second segment assignment signal assigning a second communications segment to said wireless terminal, the second segment assignment signal including a second maximum uplink rate option indicator value, said second maximum uplink rate option indicator value having a second number of bits which is more than said first number of bits and indicating a second maximum uplink rate option corresponding to a plurality of rate options available to the wireless terminal in determining the actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting in the second communications segment; and a transmitter for transmitting assignment information indicating assignment of uplink communications segments, each segment having a predetermined duration over a wireless communications channel, said transmitter being configured to transmit said first assignment signal to said wireless terminal over a first wireless assignment channel and transmit said second assignment signal to said wireless terminal over a second wireless assignment channel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 19, 20)
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14. A base station for use in a communications system supporting a fixed number of different uplink rate options, comprising:
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an OFDM transmitter for transmitting assignment information indicating assignment of uplink OFDM communications segments, each segment having a predetermined duration over a wireless communications channel and including multiple tones used for a plurality of OFDM symbol transmission time periods; a selection module for selecting a first maximum rate option indicator value of a first type and including a first number of bits from a set of values including at least one value corresponding to the highest uplink rate option supported by said system and another value corresponding to an intermediate rate option supported by said system; and an assignment generation module for generating assignment signals to be transmitted, said assignment signals including at least a first assignment including a first maximum uplink rate option indicator value indicating a first maximum uplink rate option to be used by a wireless terminal in determining an actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting into a first communications segment corresponding to said first assignment, and a second assignment including a second maximum uplink rate option indicator of a second type, said second type maximum uplink rate option indicator value including more bits than said first type allowing for more maximum uplink rate options to be specified than said first type indicator. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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21. A base station for use in a communications system, comprising:
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first type assignment generation means for generating a first segment assignment signal assigning a first communications segment to a wireless terminal, the first segment assignment signal including a first maximum uplink rate option indicator value having a first number of bits and indicating a first maximum up link rate option corresponding to a plurality of rate options available to the wireless terminal in determining an actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting into the first communications segment; second type assignment generation means for generating a second segment assignment signal assigning a second communications segment to said wireless terminal, the second segment assignment signal including a second maximum uplink rate option indicator value, said second maximum unlink rate option indicator value having a second number of bits which is more than said first number of bits and indicating a second maximum uplink rate option corresponding to a plurality of rate options available to the wireless terminal in determining the actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting in the second communications segment; and transmitter means for transmitting assignment information indicating assignment of uplink communications segments, each segment having a predetermined duration over a wireless communications channel, said transmitter means being configured to transmit said first assignment signal to said wireless terminal over a first wireless assignment channel and transmit said second assignment signal to said wireless terminal over a second wireless assignment channel. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A device comprising a processor configured to control a base station in a communications system to transmit assignment information indicating assignment of uplink communications segments, each segment having a predetermined duration, the processor being configured to control said base station to:
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generate a first segment assignment signal assigning a first communications segment to a wireless terminal, the first segment assignment signal including a first maximum uplink rate option indicator value having a first number of bits and indicating a first maximum uplink rate option corresponding to a plurality of rate options available to the wireless terminal in determining the actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting in the first communications segment; transmit said first segment assignment signal to the wireless terminal over a first wireless assignment channel; generate a second segment assignment signal assigning a second communications segment to said wireless terminal, the second segment assignment signal including a second maximum uplink rate option indicator value, said second maximum uplink rate option indicator value having a second number of bits which is more than said first number of bits and indicating a second maximum uplink rate option corresponding to a plurality of rate options available to the wireless terminal in determining the actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting in the second communications segment; and transmit the second segment assignment signal to said wireless terminal over a second wireless assignment channel. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A machine readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a base station in a communications system to transmit assignment information indicating assignment of uplink communications segments, each segment having a predetermined duration, the machine readable medium comprising:
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instructions for causing the base station to generate a first segment assignment signal assigning a first communications segment to a wireless terminal, the first segment assignment signal including a first maximum uplink rate option indicator value having a first number of bits and indicating a first maximum uplink rate option corresponding to a plurality of rate options available to the wireless terminal in determining the actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting in the first communications segment; instructions for causing the base station to transmit said first segment assignment signal to the wireless terminal over a first wireless assignment channel; instructions for causing the base station to generate a second segment assignment signal assigning a second communications segment to said wireless terminal, the second segment assignment signal including a second maximum uplink rate option indicator value, said second maximum uplink rate option indicator value having a second number of bits which is more than said first number of bits and indicating a second maximum uplink rate option corresponding to a plurality of rate options available to the wireless terminal in determining the actual uplink transmission rate to be used when transmitting in the second communications segment; and instructions for causing the base station to transmit the second segment assignment signal to said wireless terminal over a second wireless assignment channel. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification