HARQ process utilization in multiple carrier wireless communications

• US 8,700,968 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• 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, Kim, In H., Pietraski, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DIEU MINH T
• Application Number:
  US13/775,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20130170457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 714/749, 714/748, 714/712, 718/101, 718/102, 718/107
• 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:

receiver configured to receive a first downlink control information (DCI) format that is legacy DCI format that does not include component carrier information;

the receiver further configured to receive a configuration message that indicates that the WTRU is to receive a second DCI format indicating a component carrier; and

the receiver is further configured to receive a HARQ transmission over the indicated component carrier of the second DCI format.

2. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) search space is associated with the second DCI format.

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

4. A method for receiving downlink control information at a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:

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

receiving a configuration message that indicates that the WTRU is to receive a second DCI format indicating a component carrier; and

receiving a HARQ transmission over the indicated component carrier of the second DCI format.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) search space is associated with the second DCI format.

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

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

8. An evolved NodeB (eNB) comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a first downlink control information (DCI) format that is legacy DCI format that does not include component carrier information;

the transmitter further configured to transmit a configuration message that indicates that a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is to receive a second DCI format indicating a component carrier; and

the transmitter further configured to transmit a HARQ transmission over the indicated component carrier of the second DCI format.

9. The eNB of claim 8 wherein the at least one circuit transmits the DCI in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) search space associated with the at least one second DCI format.

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