Method and apparatus for enabling transmission in a slotted radio data communication system by pausing data reception

• US 8,843,086 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wandel, Matthias, Pecen, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, WESLEY LEO
• Application Number:
  US11/344,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20070177537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,157 Days
• Field of Search: 455/70, 455/78, 455/83, 455/88, 370/337, 370/347
• US Class Current: 455/83
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1854 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network

Abstract

Apparatus, and an associated method, that facilitates communication of data in a radio communication system that utilizes a slotted communication scheme. Multiple successive time slots are allocable upon which to communicate data to a receiving communication station. At selected intervals, a controller causes the mode of operation of the receiving communication station to be changed to pause operation in a receive mode and, during the pause, to cause operation of the receiving communication station to transmit data, such as control acknowledgments or other responses.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting by a device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a network, an allocation of a plurality of first timeslots for data reception at the device;

receiving, from the network, an allocation of one or more second timeslots for data transmission at the device;

performing data reception on one or more of the allocated first timeslots during first time period, the performing of the data reception precluding transmission on a first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots during the first time period; and

without further configuration by the network;

pausing data reception on a first one of the one or more allocated first timeslots during a second time period subsequent to the first time period to permit transmission on the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots during the second time period; and

transmitting during the second time period on the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an indication of transmit and receive capabilities of the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises sending an acknowledgment of received data on the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the plurality of first timeslots upon completion of the transmitting during the second time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein pausing data reception comprises pausing for a duration great enough to transmit during the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots and to conform to device reaction time requirements.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second time period has a duration sufficient to permit the device to transmit during the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots and to change into and out of an operational mode to permit said transmitting.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting comprises sending traffic data during the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting during the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots is responsive to receiving an uplink state flag.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the second time period, reverting back to performing data reception on the first one of the one or more allocated first timeslots without further configuration by the network.

10. A device for transmitting information, the device comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive, from a network, an allocation of a plurality of first timeslots for data reception at the device;

receive, from the network, an allocation of one or more second timeslots for data transmission at the device;

perform data reception on one or more of the allocated first timeslots during a first time period, the performing of the data reception precluding transmission on a first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots during the first time period; and

without further configuration by the network;

pause data reception on a first one of the one or more allocated first timeslots to permit transmission on the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots during the second time period;

transmit during the second time period on the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots; and

after the second time period, revert back to performing data reception on the first one of the one or more allocated first timeslots.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit an indication of transmit and receive capabilities of the device.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to send an acknowledgment of reception of received data on the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to resume monitoring of the plurality of first timeslots upon completion of the transmission during the second time period.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the second time period has a duration sufficient to permit the device to transmit during the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots and to change into and out of an operational mode to permit said transmitting.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to select the second time period to transmit during the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots and to change into and out of an operating mode that permits transmission.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to pause data reception for a duration great enough to transmit during the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots and to conform to device reaction time requirements.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to transmit traffic data during the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to transmit during the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots responsive to receiving an uplink state flag.