Control and data channel radio resource configuration in an OFDM network

• US 8,699,449 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2013
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ofinno Technologies, LLC (Ofinno, LLC)
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmael Hejazi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moutaouakil, Mounir
• Application Number:
  US13/960,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20130322382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 370328-330, 370336-338
• US Class Current: 370/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/00 Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received correcting synchronisation H04L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems
• 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 5/0025 Spatial division following the spatial signature of the channel
• 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 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A base station transmits first scheduling information on a first control channel for a first packet communicated with a first wireless device. First radio resources of the first control channel start from the first OFDM symbol of each subframe. The base station transmits a radio resource control (RRC) message causing configuration of second radio resources of a second control channel in a second wireless device. The second radio resources comprise resource blocks in a subset of subframes. The base station transmits second scheduling information on the second control channel for a second packet communicated with the second wireless device.

Claims

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

a) transmitting, to a first wireless device, first scheduling information on a first control channel for a first packet communicated with said first wireless device, first radio resources of said first control channel starting from the first OFDM symbol of each subframe in a plurality of subframes;

b) transmitting, to a second wireless device, a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising configuration parameters of second radio resources of a second control channel, said second radio resources comprising one or more sets of resource blocks in a subset of subframes in said plurality of subframes, said RRC message indicating;

a first starting OFDM symbol of both said second control channel and a data channel in said subset of subframes; and

said subset of subframes in which said second radio resources of said second control channel are configured; and

c) transmitting, to said second wireless device, second scheduling information on said second control channel for a second packet communicated with said second wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a) said second control channel is an enhanced physical downlink control channel; and

b) said first control channel is a physical downlink control channel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second wireless device supports configuration of said enhanced physical downlink control channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first radio resources and said second radio resources are configured on a carrier comprising a plurality of OFDM subcarriers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first scheduling information comprises a PDCCH control packet employing a subset of subcarriers of said first radio resources transmitted on one or more OFDM symbols in a subframe.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said RRC message further indicates frequency resources for said second control channel in terms of resource blocks in said subset of subframes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration parameters are applicable to said subset of subframes indicated in said RRC message.

8. 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, to a first wireless device, first scheduling information on a first control channel for a first packet communicated with said first wireless device, first radio resources of said first control channel starting from the first OFDM symbol of each subframe in a plurality of subframes;

ii) transmit, to a second wireless device, a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising configuration parameters of second radio resources of a second control channel, said second radio resources comprising one or more sets of resource blocks in a subset of subframes in said plurality of subframes, said RRC message indicating;

a first starting OFDM symbol of both said second control channel and a data channel in said subset of subframes; and

said subset of subframes in which said second radio resources of said second control channel are configured; and

iii) transmit, to said second wireless device, second scheduling information on said second control channel for a second packet communicated with said second wireless device.

9. The base station of claim 8, wherein:

a) said second control channel is an enhanced physical downlink control channel; and

b) said first control channel is a physical downlink control channel.

10. The base station of claim 9, wherein said second wireless device supports configuration of said enhanced physical downlink control channel.

11. The base station of claim 8, wherein said first radio resources and said second radio resources are configured on a carrier comprising a plurality of OFDM subcarriers.

12. The base station of claim 8, wherein said first scheduling information comprises a PDCCH control packet employing a subset of subcarriers of said first radio resources transmitted on one or more OFDM symbols in a subframe.

13. The base station of claim 8, wherein third radio resources of a first data channel in each subframe start from an OFDM symbol subsequent to one or more OFDM symbols employed for transmission of said first control channel.

14. The base station of claim 8, wherein said configuration parameters are applicable to said subset of subframes indicated in said RRC message.

15. The base station of claim 8, wherein transmission of said second scheduling information employs spatial multiplexing in said subset of subframes.

16. The base station of claim 8, wherein transmission of said second scheduling information employs beamforming in said subset of subframes.

17. A method for use in a wireless network, said wireless network comprising a base station, a first wireless device and a second wireless device, the method comprising:

a) transmitting, by said base station to said first wireless device, first scheduling information on a first control channel for a first packet communicated with said first wireless device, first radio resources of said first control channel starting from the first OFDM symbol of each subframe in a plurality of subframes;

b) transmitting, by said base station to said second wireless device, a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising configuration parameters of second radio resources of a second control channel, said second radio resources comprising one or more sets of resource blocks in a subset of subframes in said plurality of subframes, said RRC message indicating;

a first starting OFDM symbol of both said second control channel and a data channel in said subset of subframes; and

said subset of subframes in which said second radio resources of said second control channel are configured; and

c) transmitting, by said base station to said second wireless device, second scheduling information on said second control channel for a second packet communicated with said second wireless device.

18. The wireless network of claim 17, wherein said RRC message further indicates frequency resources for said second control channel in terms of resource blocks in said subset of subframes.