Method of downlink HARQ operation at an expiry of time alignment timer

• US 8,917,669 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2013
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Sung-Jun, Yi, Seung-June, Lee, Young-Dae, Chun, Sung-Duck
• Primary Examiner(s): Gidado, Rasheed
• Application Number:
  US13/960,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20130315149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/336, 370/349, 370/329, 455/748, 455/749, 455/750
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1838 for semi-reliable protocols, e.g. for less sensitive applications such as streaming video buffer level management for video bitstream receiver H04N21/44004
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1848 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a method of processing data for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) operation in a wireless communication system includes: receiving control signaling from a network; receiving data based on the received control signaling; generating a positive response message (ACK) if the received data is successfully decoded or a negative response message (NACK) if the received data is not successfully decoded, wherein the generated ACK or the generated NACK is not transmitted to the network when a timer is expired or not running; and combining the received data with data currently in a buffer after the timer is stopped or expired.

Claims

1. A method of performing a HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest) operation in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

starting a Time Alignment Timer (TAT) when a Timing Advance Command (TAC) is received,

wherein the TAC is time alignment information for an uplink time alignment;

attempting to decode received data in a buffer;

generating a positive acknowledgement (ACK) if the received data in the buffer is successfully decoded or a negative acknowledgement (NACK) if the received data in the buffer is not successfully decoded;

wherein the generated positive acknowledgment (ACK) or negative acknowledgment (NACK) is not provided to a physical layer for transmitting to a network if the Time Alignment Timer (TAT) is expired.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

replacing data currently in the buffer with the received data if a new transmission is indicated for the HARQ operation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

combining the received data with data currently in the buffer if a retransmission is indicated for the HARQ operation.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering the decoded data to a disassembly and demultiplexing entity if it is a successful decoding of the received data in the buffer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the buffer is a soft buffer, and the received data is received from the network according to a control signaling.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the control signaling includes at least one of downlink scheduling information, a C-RNTI (Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier), and a Semi-persistent Scheduling C-RNTI.

7. A User Equipment (UE) performing a HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest) operation in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising:

a controller is configured to;

start a Time Alignment Timer (TAT) when a Timing Advance Command (TAC) is received,

wherein the TAC is time alignment information for an uplink time alignment;

attempt to decode received data in a buffer;

generate a positive acknowledgement (ACK) if the received data in the buffer is successfully decoded or a negative acknowledgement (NACK) if the received data in the buffer is not successfully decoded;

wherein the generated positive acknowledgment (ACK) or negative acknowledgment (NACK) is not provided to a physical layer for transmitting to a network if the Time Alignment Timer (TAT) is expired.

8. The User Equipment (UE) of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to:

replace data currently in the buffer with the received data if a new transmission is indicated for the HARQ operation.

9. The User Equipment (UE) of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to:

combine the received data with data currently in the buffer if a retransmission is indicated for the HARQ operation.

10. The User Equipment (UE) of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to:

deliver the decoded data to a disassembly and demultiplexing entity if it is a successful decoding of the received data in the buffer.

11. The User Equipment (UE) of claim 7, wherein the buffer is a soft buffer, and the received data is received from the network according to a control signaling.

12. The User Equipment (UE) of claim 11, wherein the control signaling includes at least one of downlink scheduling information, a C-RNTI (Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier), and a Semi-persistent Scheduling C-RNTI.