Channel configuration in a wireless network

• US 8,576,794 B1
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ofinno Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmael Hejazi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAGLO, EMMANUEL K
• Application Number:
  US13/947,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20130308576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 106 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/344
• US Class Current: 370/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/00 Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received correcting synchronisation H04L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal

Abstract

A base station transmits a message configuring first radio resources of a control channel. The first radio resources comprise one or more sets of resource blocks in a subset of subframes in a plurality of subframes. The base station transmits scheduling information on the control channel for a packet transmitted on an uplink data channel. The base station transmits a positive or negative acknowledgement on second radio resources of a feedback channel for receiving the packet. The second radio resources start from the first OFDM symbol of the second subframe.

Claims

1. A method for use in a base station, the method comprising:

a) transmitting at least one message causing, in a wireless device, configuration of;

i) first radio resources of a control channel, said first radio resources comprising one or more sets of resource blocks in a subset of subframes in a plurality of subframes, said at least one message indicating;

(1) a starting OFDM symbol of said control channel in said subset of subframes; and

(2) said subset of subframes in which said first radio resources of said control channel are configured;

ii) second radio resources of a HARQ channel to start from the first OFDM symbol of said plurality of subframes, said at least one message indicating a number of symbols in said second radio resources in each subframe in said plurality of subframes;

b) transmitting scheduling information on said control channel, said scheduling information being for a packet transmitted on an uplink channel;

c) receiving said packet on said uplink channel according to said scheduling information; and

d) transmitting a positive or negative acknowledgement on said second radio resources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one message further indicates frequency resources for said control channel in terms of resource blocks in said subset of subframes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one message comprises configuration parameters of said control channel, said configuration parameters being applicable to said subset of subframes indicated in said at least one message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmission of said scheduling information employs beamforming in said subset of subframes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said uplink channel employs a first portion of a bandwidth of an uplink carrier and a second portion of said bandwidth of said uplink carrier is employed for an uplink control channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one message further causes configuration of third radio resources of a downlink channel to start from said starting OFDM symbol in said subset of subframes.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

a) transmitting first scheduling information on said control channel in a subframe, said first scheduling information being for a first packet transmitted on said downlink channel; and

b) transmitting said first packet on said downlink channel in said subframe according to said first scheduling information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one message comprises at least one of the following:

a) a broadcast control message; and

b) an RRC reconfiguration message.

9. A base station comprising:

a) one or more communication interfaces;

b) one or more processors; and

c) memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause said base station to;

i) transmit at least one message causing, in a wireless device, configuration of;

(1) first radio resources of a control channel, said first radio resources comprising one or more sets of resource blocks in a subset of subframes in a plurality of subframes, said at least one message indicating;

(a) a starting OFDM symbol of said control channel in said subset of subframes; and

(b) said subset of subframes in which said first radio resources of said control channel are configured; and

(2) second radio resources of a HARQ channel to start from the first OFDM symbol of said plurality of subframes, said at least one message indicating a number of symbols in said second radio resources in each subframe in said plurality of subframes;

ii) transmit scheduling information on said control channel, said scheduling information being for a packet transmitted on an uplink channel;

iii) receive said packet on said uplink channel according to said scheduling information; and

iv) transmit a positive or negative acknowledgement on said second radio resources.

10. The base station of claim 9, wherein said at least one message further indicates frequency resources for said control channel in terms of resource blocks in said subset of subframes.

11. The base station of claim 9, wherein transmission of said scheduling information employs spatial multiplexing in said subset of subframes.

12. The base station of claim 9, wherein said uplink channel employs a first portion of a bandwidth of an uplink carrier and a second portion of said bandwidth of said uplink carrier is employed for an uplink control channel.

13. The base station of claim 9, wherein said at least one message further causes configuration of third radio resources of a downlink channel to start from said starting OFDM symbol in said subset of subframes.

14. The base station of claim 9, wherein said at least one message comprises at least one of the following:

a) a broadcast control message;

b) an RRC reconfiguration message; and

c) control format indicator.

15. A wireless device comprising:

a) one or more communication interfaces;

b) one or more processors; and

c) memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause said wireless device to;

i) receive at least one message, from a base station, causing configuration of;

(1) first radio resources of a control channel, said first radio resources comprising one or more sets of resource blocks in a subset of subframes in a plurality of subframes, said at least one message indicating;

(a) a starting OFDM symbol of said control channel in said subset of subframes; and

(b) said subset of subframes in which said first radio resources of said control channel are configured; and

(2) second radio resources of a HARQ channel to start from the first OFDM symbol of said plurality of subframes, said at least one message indicating a number of symbols in said second radio resources in each subframe in said plurality of subframes;

ii) transmit a packet on an uplink channel according to scheduling information received on said first radio resources; and

iii) receive a positive or negative acknowledgement on said second radio resources.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said at least one message further indicates frequency resources for said control channel in terms of resource blocks in said subset of subframes.

17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said at least one message comprises configuration parameters of said control channel, said configuration parameters being applicable to said subset of subframes indicated in said at least one message.

18. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said uplink channel employs a first portion of a bandwidth of an uplink carrier and a second portion of said bandwidth of said uplink carrier is employed for an uplink control channel.

19. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said at least one message further causes configuration of third radio resources of a downlink channel to start from said starting OFDM symbol in said subset of subframes.

20. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein said instructions, when executed, further cause said wireless device to:

a) receive first scheduling information on said control channel in a subframe, said first scheduling information being for a first packet transmitted on said downlink channel; and

b) receive said first packet on said downlink channel in said subframe according to said first scheduling information.