Communication terminal and base station communication method using MAC control information priorities and SRB priorities

• US 8,396,081 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Aoyama, Takahisa, Loehr, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): SEFCHECK, GREGORY B
• Application Number:
  US12/865,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20100330995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/469
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0278 using buffer status reports dynamic wireless traffic scheduling definition H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/569 of the traffic information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A communication terminal adjusts the transmission timing of data transmitted to a base station so that the base station can receive the data within a predetermined delay time. The communication terminal includes a reception section 701 for receiving priority of MAC control information transmitted from the base station, a priority control section 703 for defining the relationship between the priority of the MAC control information and priority assigned to DRB and SRB, and a transmission message generation section 704 for controlling so as to transmit information having a high priority early in accordance with the relationship between the priorities defined by the priority control section 703. According to the communication terminal, a comparison is made between the priority of the MAC control information and the priority assigned to the DRB and the SRB, whereby it is made possible to control what information is to be transmitted as desired.

Claims

1. A communication terminal for communicating with a base station in accordance with a defined procedure, the communication terminal comprising:

a priority control section configured to define a relationship between MAC (Medium Access Control) priorities, which are respectively assigned to a plurality of MAC control information elements, and radio bearer (RB) priorities respectively assigned to a DRB (Data Radio Bearer) and each of a plurality of SRBs (Signalling Radio Bearers), wherein the plurality of SRBs convey RRC (Radio Resource Control) messages or NAS (Non-Access Stratum) messages, the priority control section being further configured to compare the MAC priorities with the RB priorities of the SRBs; and

a transmission message generation section configured to control transmission of information so as to transmit information on an SRB having a higher RB priority earlier than a MAC control information element having a lower MAC priority in accordance with the relationship between the MAC and RB priorities defined by the priority control section.

2. The communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a reception section configured to receive from the base station a configuration information element that defines the RB priorities, whereas the MAC priorities are fixed.

3. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

the MAC control information elements include a Terminal Identifier, a Buffer Status Report, and a Channel Status Information, wherein the MAC control information elements have MAC priorities in decreasing order from the Terminal Identifier, the Buffer Status Report, and the Channel Status Information, and

the transmission message generation section transmits information on the DRB or SRB having a higher RB priority, or a MAC control information element having a higher MAC priority, earlier in accordance with the RB priorities of the DRB; and

the SRBs; and

the MAC priorities of the Terminal Identifier, the Buffer Status Report, and the Channel Status Information.

4. The communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a priority table section configured to store information regarding the MAC priorities, wherein:

the reception section receives boundary information indicating a boundary of the MAC priorities, and

the priority control section references the boundary information to define the relationship between the MAC priorities and the RB priorities respectively assigned to the DRB and the plurality of SRBs.

5. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

the priority control section specifies the MAC priorities in response to a use reason for a RACH procedure.

6. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

the reception section receives information, which is required for determining the MAC priorities and the RB priorities of the SRBs, from the base station, and

the priority control section references the received information to determine the RB priorities of the SRBs and the MAC priorities.

7. The communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein:

the information required for determining the MAC priorities and the RB priorities of the SRBs contains information indicating whether or not a service is received in which a packet loss increases due to a path switching delay, information indicating whether or not a handover is a handover within the base station, and information indicating whether or not a handover is a handover between base stations.