HARQ process utilization in multiple carrier wireless communications

• US 8,386,874 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2012
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pelletier, Benoit, Gauvreau, Jean-Louis, Pani, Diana, Cave, Christopher R., Marinier, Paul, Pietraski, Philip J., Kim, In H.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DIEU MINH T
• Application Number:
  US13/567,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20120300733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 204 Days
• Field of Search: 714/749, 714/748, 714/712, 718/101, 718/102, 718/107, 370/310, 370/351
• US Class Current: 714/749
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1822 involving configuration of automatic repeat request [ARQ] with parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0005 Time-frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal

Abstract

Methods and apparatus utilize hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) transmissions and retransmissions that are usable on multiple carriers, i.e. joint HARQ processes. For example, a downlink (DL) shared channel transmission of a joint HARQ process is received on one of the carriers. A first part of an identity of the joint HARQ process is determined by using HARQ process identity data received on a shared control channel. A second part of the joint HARQ process identity is determined using additional information. The joint HARQ process identity is then determined by combining the first part and the second part. A WTRU is provided that is configured to receive the DL shared channel and to make the aforementioned determinations. A variety of other methods and apparatus configurations are disclosed for utilizing joint HARQ processes, in particular in the context of DC-HSDPA.

Claims

1. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:

at least one circuit configured to receive a first DCI format;

wherein the first DCI format is a legacy DCI format that does not include component carrier information;

wherein the at least one circuit is further configured to receive a configuration message from the network indicating that the WTRU is to receive at least one second DCI format indicating a component carrier out of a plurality of component carriers; and

wherein the at least one circuit is further configured to receive a DCI of the at least one second DCI format and to receive a HARQ transmission over the indicated carrier of the at least one second DCI format.

2. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein a PDCCH search space is associated with the at least one second DCI format.

3. The WTRU of claim 2 wherein the PDCCH search space is a WTRU specific search space.

4. A method comprising:

receiving, by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a first DCI format;

wherein the first DCI format is a legacy DCI format that does not include component carrier information;

receiving, by the WTRU, a configuration message from the network indicating that the WTRU is to receive at least one second DCI format indicating a component carrier out of a plurality of component carriers; and

in response to the configuration message, receiving, by the WTRU, the at least one second DCI format and receiving, by the WTRU, a HARQ transmission over the indicated carrier of the at least one second DCI format.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein a PDCCH search space is associated with the at least one second DCI format.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the PDCCH search space is a WTRU specific search space.

7. An evolved NodeB (eNB) comprising:

at least one circuit configured to selectively transmit a first DCI format and a second DCI format to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU);

wherein the first DCI format is a legacy DCI format that does not include component carrier information and the second DCI format includes information indicating a component carrier;

wherein the at least one circuit is further configured to transmit a configuration message from the network indicating that the WTRU is to receive component carrier information; and

wherein in response to transmitting the configuration message indicating that the WTRU is to receive component carrier information, the at least one circuit is further configured to transmit a DCI of the second DCI format to the WTRU and to transmit a HARQ transmission over the indicated carrier of the DCI of the second DCI format.

8. The eNB of claim 7 wherein the at least one circuit transmits the DCI in a PDCCH search space associated with the at least one second DCI format.

9. The eNB of claim 8 wherein the PDCCH search space is a WTRU specific search space.