Communications in a wireless network

• US 8,811,356 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2011
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Howard, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): ABELSON, RONALD B
• Application Number:
  US13/176,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20110280165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 370/280, 370/328, 370/329, 370/336, 370/337, 370/442
• US Class Current: 370/337
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2643 using time-division multiple access [TDMA] H04B7/2615, H04B7/2618 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1694 Allocation of channels in TDM/TDMA networks, e.g. distributed multiplexers Passive Optical Networks H04Q11/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/54 Signalisation aspects of the TPC commands, e.g. frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/121 for groups of terminals or users
• 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

Receiving resource allocation information associated with an uplink physical control channel is disclosed. The uplink physical control channel and a physical uplink shared channel may have different resources. Data may be sent over the physical uplink shared channel in assigned time intervals. A signal may be sent over the uplink physical control channel based on the received resource allocation information in a time interval that the UE is not sending data over the physical uplink shared channel.

Claims

1. A user equipment (UE) comprising:

a processor configured to receive resource allocation information associated with an uplink physical control channel, wherein the uplink physical control channel and a physical uplink shared channel have different resources;

the processor is further configured to send data over the physical uplink shared channel in assigned time intervals;

the processor is further configured, in a time interval that it is not sending information over the physical uplink shared channel, to send a signal over the uplink physical control channel based on the received resource allocation information; and

the processor is further configured to receive feedback information from a downlink control channel.

2. The UE of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to receive data on a physical downlink shared channel.

3. The UE of claim 2 wherein the downlink control channel and the physical downlink shared channel are time multiplexed.

4. The UE of claim 1 wherein the feedback information includes power control information.

5. The UE of claim 4 wherein the downlink control channel includes power control information for a plurality of UEs using different bits.

6. The UE of claim 1 wherein in the time interval that the signal on the uplink physical control channel is sent by the UE, a plurality of UEs each transmit on respective uplink physical control channels in the time interval.

7. The UE of claim 1 further comprising the uplink physical control channel, the physical uplink shared channel, or the downlink control channel is any one of a time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division duplex (TDD), frequency division duplex (FDD), time division-code division multiple access (TD-CDMA), or universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) physical channel.

8. A network device comprising:

a processor configured to send resource allocation information associated with an uplink physical control channel, wherein the uplink physical control channel and a physical uplink shared channel have different resources;

the processor is further configured to receive data over the physical uplink shared channel in assigned time intervals;

the processor is further configured, in a time interval that it is not receiving information over the physical uplink shared channel, to receive a signal over the uplink physical control channel based on the sent resource allocation information; and

the processor is further configured to send feedback information on a downlink control channel.

9. The network device of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to send data on a physical downlink shared channel.

10. The network device of claim 9 wherein the downlink control channel and the physical downlink shared channel are time multiplexed.

11. The network device of claim 8 wherein the feedback information includes power control information.

12. The network device of claim 11 wherein the downlink control channel includes power control information for a plurality of UEs using different bits.

13. The network device of claim 8 wherein in the time interval that the signal on the uplink physical control channel is received by the network device, signals are received on other uplink physical control channels in the time interval from a plurality of UEs.

14. The network device of claim 8 further comprising the uplink physical control channel, the physical uplink shared channel, or the downlink control channel is any one of a time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division duplex (TDD), frequency division duplex (FDD), time division-code division multiple access (TD-CDMA), or universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) physical channel.

15. A wireless network comprising:

a network device comprising;

circuitry configured to send resource allocation information associated with an uplink physical control channel, wherein the uplink physical control channel and a physical uplink shared channel have different resources;

and

a user equipment (UE) comprising;

circuitry configured to send data over the physical uplink shared channel in assigned time intervals;

the circuitry is further configured, in a time interval that it is not sending information over the physical uplink shared channel, to send a signal over the uplink physical control channel based on the sent resource allocation information; and

the UE receives feedback information on a downlink control channel.

16. The wireless network of claim 15 wherein the network device is configured to send data on a physical downlink shared channel.

17. The wireless network of claim 16 wherein the downlink control channel and the physical downlink shared channel are time multiplexed.

18. The wireless network of claim 15 wherein the feedback information includes power control information.

19. The wireless network of claim 18 wherein the network device is configured to send, on the downlink control channel, power control information for a plurality of UEs using different bits.

20. The wireless network of claim 15 wherein in the time interval that the signal is sent on the uplink physical control channel by the UE, a plurality of UEs each transmit on respective uplink physical control channels in the time interval.

21. The wireless network of claim 15 further comprising the uplink physical control channel, the physical uplink shared channel, or the downlink control channel is any one of a time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division duplex (TDD), frequency division duplex (FDD), time division-code division multiple access (TD-CDMA), or universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) physical channel.

22. A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

receiving, by the UE, resource allocation information associated with an uplink physical control channel, wherein the uplink physical control channel and a physical uplink shared channel have different resources;

sending, by the UE, data over the physical uplink shared channel in assigned time intervals;

sending, by the UE in a time interval that it is not sending information over the physical uplink shared channel, a signal over the uplink physical control channel based on the received resource allocation information; and

receiving, by the UE, feedback information from a downlink control channel.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

receiving, by the UE, data on a physical downlink shared channel.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the downlink control channel and the physical downlink shared channel are time multiplexed.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the feedback information includes power control information.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the downlink control channel includes power control information for a plurality of UEs using different bits.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein in the time interval that the signal on the uplink physical control channel is sent by the UE, a plurality of UEs each transmit on respective uplink physical control channels in the time interval.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising the uplink physical control channel, the physical uplink shared channel, or the downlink control channel is any one of a time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division duplex (TDD), frequency division duplex (FDD), time division-code division multiple access (TD-CDMA), or universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) physical channel.

29. A method performed by a network device, the method comprising:

sending, by the network device, resource allocation information associated with an uplink physical control channel, wherein the uplink physical control channel and a physical uplink shared channel have different resources;

receiving, by the network device, data over the physical uplink shared channel in assigned time intervals;

receiving, by the network device in a time interval that it is not receiving information over the physical uplink shared channel, a signal over the uplink physical control channel based on the sent resource allocation information; and

sending, by the network device, feedback information on a downlink control channel.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

sending, by the network device, data on a physical downlink shared channel.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the downlink control channel and the physical downlink shared channel are time multiplexed.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the feedback information includes power control information.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the downlink control channel includes power control information for a plurality of UEs using different bits.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein in the time interval that the signal on the uplink physical control channel is received by the network device, signals are received on other uplink physical control channels in the time interval from a plurality of UEs.

35. The method of claim 29 further comprising the uplink physical control channel, the physical uplink shared channel, or the downlink control channel is any one of a time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division duplex (TDD), frequency division duplex (FDD), time division-code division multiple access (TD-CDMA), or universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) physical channel.

36. A method performed by a wireless network, the method comprising:

sending, by a network device, resource allocation information associated with an uplink physical control channel, wherein the uplink physical control channel and a physical uplink shared channel have different resources;

sending, by a user equipment (UE), data over the physical uplink shared channel in assigned time intervals;

sending, by the UE in a time interval that it is not sending information over the physical uplink shared channel, a signal over the uplink physical control channel based on the sent resource allocation information; and

receiving, by the UE, feedback information on a downlink control channel.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

sending, by the network device, data on a physical downlink shared channel.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the downlink control channel and the physical downlink shared channel are time multiplexed.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the feedback information includes power control information.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

sending, by the network device on the downlink control channel, power control information for a plurality of UEs using different bits.

41. The method of claim 36 wherein in the time interval that the signal is sent on the uplink physical control channel by the UE, a plurality of UEs each transmit on respective uplink physical control channels in the time interval.

42. The method of claim 36 further comprising the uplink physical control channel, the physical uplink shared channel, or the downlink control channel is any one of a time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division duplex (TDD), frequency division duplex (FDD), time division-code division multiple access (TD-CDMA), or universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) physical channel.

43. A user equipment (UE) comprising:

a processor configured to receive resource allocation information associated with an uplink physical control channel, wherein the uplink physical control channel and a physical uplink shared channel have different resources;

the processor is further configured to send data over the physical uplink shared channel in assigned time intervals;

the processor is further configured, in a time interval that it is not sending information over the physical uplink shared channel, to send a signal over the uplink physical control channel based on the received resource allocation information; and

wherein in the time interval that the signal on the uplink physical control channel is sent by the UE, a plurality of UEs each send respective signals on respective uplink physical control channels in the time interval.

44. The UE of claim 43 further comprising the uplink physical control channel, the respective uplink physical control channels, or the physical uplink shared channel is any one of a time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division duplex (TDD), frequency division duplex (FDD), time division-code division multiple access (TD-CDMA), or universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) physical channel.

45. A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

receiving, by the UE, resource allocation information associated with an uplink physical control channel, wherein the uplink physical control channel and a physical uplink shared channel have different resources;

sending, by the UE, data over the physical uplink shared channel in assigned time intervals;

sending, by the UE in a time interval that it is not sending information over the physical uplink shared channel, a signal over the uplink physical control channel based on the received resource allocation information; and

wherein in the time interval that the signal on the uplink physical control channel is sent by the UE, a plurality of UEs each send respective signals on respective uplink physical control channels in the time interval.

46. The method of claim 45 further comprising the uplink physical control channel, the respective uplink physical control channels, or the physical uplink shared channel is any one of a time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division duplex (TDD), frequency division duplex (FDD), time division-code division multiple access (TD-CDMA), or universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) physical channel.