Reliable uplink resource request

• US 8,824,381 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chaponniere, Etienne F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jae Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): LINDENBAUM, ALAN LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US12/443,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20100074193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,498 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/32 TPC of broadcast or control channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0866 using a dedicated channel for access

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate reliably requesting uplink resources in a wireless communications environment. In particular, mechanisms are provided for reliable uplink resource requests at instants when uplink resources are not retained. A mobile device transmits an uplink resource request on a feedback information channel conventionally utilized for channel quality indicators. The mobile device utilizes specific codewords reserved for uplink requests. In addition, a power spectral density of the feedback information channel is boosted to lower an error rate of the channel when reserved codewords are transmitted.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting feedback information on a feedback information channel dedicated for the feedback information at a first power spectral density level;

determining that an uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel in response to determining that uplink resources are not available on a resource request channel;

transmitting the uplink resource request on the feedback information channel, wherein the uplink resource request is transmitted on the feedback information channel at a second power spectral density level higher than the first power spectral density level, wherein the second power spectral density level is selected in response to determining that the uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel and to lower an error rate of the feedback information channel during transmission of the uplink resource request; and

reducing the power spectral density of the feedback information channel from the second power spectral density level subsequent to transmission of the uplink resource request and prior to transmitting feedback information on the feedback information channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising reserving one or more codewords for uplink resource requests.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the uplink resource request comprises sending at least one of the one or more reserved codewords on the feedback information channel, the one or more reserved codewords distinguishing the uplink resource request from feedback information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining a power level threshold value that represents a boost amount required to achieve a target error rate.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising increasing the power spectral density from the first power spectral density level to the second power spectral density level by the boost amount.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback information channel is a channel quality information channel conventionally employed to transmit channel quality indicators.

7. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to;

transmitting feedback information on a feedback information channel dedicated for the feedback information at a first power spectral density level;

determining that an uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel in response to determining that uplink resources are not available on a resource request channel;

transmitting the uplink resource request on the feedback information channel, wherein the uplink resource request is transmitted on the feedback information channel at a second power spectral density level higher than the first power spectral density level, wherein the second power spectral density level is selected in response to determining that the uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel and to lower an error rate of the feedback information channel during transmission of the uplink resource request; and

reducing the power spectral density of the feedback information channel from the second power spectral density level subsequent to transmission of the uplink resource request and prior to transmitting feedback information on the feedback information channel; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

8. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory further retains instructions for reserving one or more codewords for uplink resource requests.

9. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 8, wherein the instructions related to transmitting the uplink resource request comprises instructions related to sending at least one of the one or more reserved codewords on the feedback information channel, the one or more reserved codewords distinguishing the uplink resource request from feedback information.

10. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory further retains instructions for obtaining a power level threshold value that represents a boost amount required to achieve a target error rate.

11. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory further retains instructions for increasing the power spectral density from the first power spectral density level to the second power spectral density level by the boost amount.

12. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein the feedback information channel is a channel quality information channel conventionally employed to transmit channel quality indicators.

13. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

means for transmitting feedback information on a feedback information channel dedicated for the feedback information at a first power spectral density level;

means for determining that an uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel in response to determining that uplink resources are not available on a resource request channel;

means for transmitting the uplink resource request on the feedback information channel, wherein the uplink resource request is transmitted on the feedback information channel at a second power spectral density level higher than the first power spectral density level, wherein the second power spectral density level is selected in response to determining that the uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel and to lower an error rate of the feedback information channel during transmission of the uplink resource request; and

means for reducing the power spectral density of the feedback information channel from the second power spectral density level subsequent to transmission of the uplink resource request and prior to transmitting feedback information on the feedback information channel.

14. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for reserving one or more codewords for uplink resource requests.

15. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 14, wherein means for transmitting the uplink resource request comprises means for sending at least one of the one or more reserved codewords on the feedback information channel, the one or more reserved codewords distinguishing the uplink resource request from feedback information.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for obtaining a power level threshold value that represents a boost amount required to achieve a target error rate.

17. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for increasing the power spectral density from the first power spectral density level to the second power spectral density level by the boost amount.

18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 17, wherein the feedback information channel is a channel quality information channel conventionally employed to transmit channel quality indicators.

19. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions for:

transmitting feedback information on a feedback information channel dedicated for the feedback information at a first power spectral density level;

determining that an uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel in response to determining that uplink resources are not available on a resource request channel;

transmitting the uplink resource request on the feedback information channel, wherein the uplink resource request is transmitted on the feedback information channel at a second power spectral density level higher than the first power spectral density level, wherein the second power spectral density level is selected in response to determining that the uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel and to lower an error rate of the feedback information channel during transmission of the uplink resource request; and

reducing the power spectral density of the feedback information channel from the second power spectral density level subsequent to transmission of the uplink resource request and prior to transmitting feedback information on the feedback information channel.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for reserving one or more codewords for uplink resource requests.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 20, wherein transmitting the uplink resource request comprises sending at least one of the one or more reserved codewords on the feedback information channel, the one or more reserved codewords distinguishing the uplink resource request from feedback information.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for obtaining a power level threshold value that represents a boost amount required to achieve a target error rate.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising increasing the power spectral density from the first power spectral density level to the second power spectral density level by the boost amount.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the feedback information channel is a channel quality information channel conventionally employed to transmit channel quality indicators.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

an integrated circuit configured to;

transmit feedback information on a feedback information channel dedicated for the feedback information at a first power spectral density level;

determine that an uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel in response to determining that uplink resources are not available on a resource request channel;

transmit the uplink resource request on the feedback information channel, wherein the uplink resource request is transmitted on the feedback information channel at a second power spectral density level higher than the first power spectral density level, wherein the second power spectral density level is selected in response to determining that the uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel and to lower an error rate of the feedback information channel during transmission of the uplink resource request; and

reduce the power spectral density of the feedback information channel from the second power spectral density level subsequent to transmission of the uplink resource request and prior to transmitting feedback information on the feedback information channel.

26. A method, comprising:

identifying feedback information on a feedback information channel dedicated for the feedback information, wherein the feedback information is characterized by a lower power spectral density level;

identifying an uplink resource request on the feedback information channel received in response to a determination that uplink resources are not available to one or more mobile devices on a resource request channel, wherein the uplink resource request is characterized by higher power spectral density than the feedback information sent on the feedback information channel, the higher power spectral density being selected in response to a determination that the uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel; and

scheduling resources with respect to the one or more mobile devices based at least in part on the identified uplink resource request.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving a data transmission on the feedback information channel.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein identifying the uplink resource request comprises recognizing at least one of a set of codewords reserved to represent uplink resource requests, the set of codewords distinguishing the uplink resource requests from feedback information.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the feedback information channel is a channel quality information channel conventionally employed to transmit channel quality indicators.

30. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory for;

retaining instructions related to identifying feedback information on a feedback information channel dedicated for the feedback information, wherein the feedback information is characterized by a lower power spectral density level;

retaining instructions related to identifying an uplink resource request on the feedback information channel received in response to a determination that uplink resources are not available to one or more mobile devices on a resource request channel, wherein the uplink resource request is characterized by higher power spectral density than the feedback information sent on the feedback information channel, the higher power spectral density being selected in response to a determination that the uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel; and

retaining instructions related to scheduling resources with respect to the one or more mobile devices based at least in part on the identified uplink resource request; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

31. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 30, wherein the memory is further for retaining instructions related to receiving a data transmission on the feedback information channel.

32. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 30, wherein identifying the uplink resource request comprises recognizing at least one of a set of codewords reserved to represent uplink resource requests, the set of codewords distinguishing the uplink resource requests from feedback information.

33. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 30, wherein the feedback information channel is a channel quality information channel conventionally employed to transmit channel quality indicators.

34. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

means for identifying feedback information on a feedback information channel dedicated for the feedback information, wherein the feedback information is characterized by a lower power spectral density level;

means for identifying an uplink resource request on the feedback information channel received in response to a determination that uplink resources are not available to one or more mobile devices on a resource request channel, wherein the uplink resource request is characterized by higher power spectral density than the feedback information sent on the feedback information channel, the higher power spectral density being selected in response to a determination that the uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel; and

means for scheduling resources with respect to the one or more mobile devices based at least in part on the identified uplink resource request.

35. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for receiving a data transmission on the feedback information channel.

36. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 34, wherein identifying the uplink resource request comprises recognizing at least one of a set of codewords reserved to represent uplink resource requests, the set of codewords distinguishing the uplink resource requests from feedback information.

37. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 34, wherein the feedback information channel is a channel quality information channel conventionally employed to transmit channel quality indicators.

38. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions for:

identifying feedback information on a feedback information channel dedicated for the feedback information, wherein the feedback information is characterized by a lower power spectral density level;

identifying an uplink resource request on the feedback information channel received in response to a determination that uplink resources are not available to one or more mobile devices on a resource request channel, wherein the uplink resource request is characterized by higher power spectral density than the feedback information sent on the feedback information channel, the higher power spectral density being selected in response to a determination that the uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel; and

scheduling resources with respect to the one or more mobile devices based at least in part on the identified uplink resource request.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 38, further comprising instructions for receiving a data transmission on the feedback information channel.

40. The machine-readable medium of claim 38, wherein identifying the uplink resource request comprises recognizing at least one of a set of codewords reserved to represent uplink resource requests, the set of codewords distinguishing the uplink resource requests from feedback information.

41. The machine-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the feedback information channel is a channel quality information channel conventionally employed to transmit channel quality indicators.

42. An apparatus, comprising:

an integrated circuit configured to;

identify feedback information on a feedback information channel dedicated for the feedback information, wherein the feedback information is characterized by a lower power spectral density level;

identify an uplink resource request on the feedback information channel received in response to a determination that uplink resources are not available to one or more mobile devices on a resource request channel, wherein the uplink resource request is characterized by higher power spectral density than the feedback information sent on the feedback information channel, the higher power spectral density being selected in response to a determination that the uplink resource request is to be transmitted on the feedback information channel; and

schedule resources with respect to the one or more mobile devices based at least in part on the identified uplink resource request.