Methods and systems for HARQ protocols

• US 8,959,410 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fong, Mo-Han, Vrzic, Sophie, Novak, Robert, Yuan, Jun, Yu, Dong-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Merant, Guerrier
• Application Number:
  US14/012,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20140050140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• US Class Current: 714/749
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0009 by adapting the channel coding H04L1/1812 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1816 with retransmission of the same, encoded, message
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1896 ARQ related signaling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2659 Coarse or integer frequency offset determination and synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2666 Acquisition of further OFDM parameters, e.g. bandwidth, subcarrier spacing, or guard interval length
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1268 of uplink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/535 based on resource usage policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Methods described herein are for wireless communication systems. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method for a HARQ process, in which the HARQ process includes a first transmission of an encoder packet and at least one retransmission. The method involves allocating a transmission resource for each respective transmission. The method involves transmitting control information from a base station to a mobile station for each respective transmission. The control information includes information to uniquely identify the HARQ process and an identification of one of a time resource, a frequency resource and a time and frequency resource that is allocated for the transmission. Other aspects of the invention are directed to acknowledging a downlink HARQ transmission, rescheduling an uplink HARQ transmission, and error recovery for an uplink HARQ transmission.

Claims

1. A user equipment device (UE), comprising:

at least one antenna;

at least one radio coupled to the antenna, wherein the at least one radio is configured to perform cellular communication using at least one radio access technology (RAT);

one or more processors coupled to the at least one radio, wherein the one or more processors and the at least one radio are configured to perform voice and/or data communications;

wherein the UE is configured to;

receive control information from a base station for a transmission, wherein the control information comprises;

information to uniquely identify a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, wherein the HARQ process comprises a first transmission of an encoder packet and at least one retransmission, in which a transmission resource for each respective transmission is allocated; and

an identification of one of a time resource, a frequency resource and a time and frequency resource that is allocated for the transmission.

2. The UE of claim 1, wherein the control information further comprises:

a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for the encoder packet.

3. The UE of claim 1, wherein the control information further comprises:

a MIMO mode used for transmitting the encoder packet.

4. The UE of claim 1, wherein the control information further comprises:

one or more other pieces of control information relevant to the HARQ transmission of the encoder packet.

5. The UE of claim 1 wherein the control information is scrambled using a user identifier (ID) associated with the mobile station.

6. The UE of claim 1, wherein a transmission resource is allocated for at least one unicast uplink (UL) transmission, wherein to receive the control information, the UE is further configured to:

receive a UL control segment that is a portion of a downlink (DL) transmission resource, wherein the UL control segment comprises a portion that identifies a location in the UL control segment for transmitting unicast control information for each of at least one unicast UL transmission and a portion that defines the control information for use in transmitting the unicast UL transmission.

7. The UE of claim 1, wherein a transmission resource is allocated for at least one unicast downlink (DL) transmission, wherein to receive the control information, the UE is further configured to:

for each of at least one unicast downlink (DL) transmission, receive a DL unicast control and traffic segment comprising a portion of the DL unicast control and traffic segment that defines the control information for use in transmitting the unicast DL transmission and a portion of the DL unicast control and traffic segment for transmitting data for the respective unicast DL transmission.

8. A base station configured to perform wireless communication with a wireless device, the base station comprising:

a radio; and

a processing element operatively coupled to the radio;

wherein the base station is configured to;

transmit control information to a user equipment (UE) for a transmission, wherein the control information comprises;

information to uniquely identify a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, wherein the HARQ process comprises a first transmission of an encoder packet and at least one retransmission, in which a transmission resource for each respective transmission is allocated; and

an identification of one of a time resource, a frequency resource and a time and frequency resource that is allocated for the transmission.

9. The base station of claim 8, wherein the control information further comprises:

a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for the encoder packet.

10. The base station of claim 8, wherein the control information further comprises:

a MIMO mode used for transmitting the encoder packet.

11. The base station of claim 8, wherein the control information further comprises:

one or more other pieces of control information relevant to the HARQ transmission of the encoder packet.

12. The base station of claim 8,

wherein the base station is further configured to scramble the control information using a user identifier (ID) associated with the UE, thereby generating scrambled control information;

and

wherein to transmit the control information, the base station is further configured to transmit scrambled control information.

13. The base station of claim 8,

wherein the base station is further configured to allocate a transmission resource for at least one unicast uplink (UL) transmission;

and

wherein to transmit the control information, the base station is further configured to transmit a UL control segment that is a portion of a downlink (DL) transmission resource, wherein the UL control segment comprises a portion that identifies a location in the UL control segment for transmitting unicast control information for each of at least one unicast UL transmission and a portion that defines the control information for use in transmitting the unicast UL transmission.

14. The base station of claim 8,

wherein the base station is further configured to allocate a transmission resource for at least one unicast downlink (DL) transmission;

and

wherein to transmit the control information, the base station is further configured to, for each of at least one unicast downlink (DL) transmission, transmit a DL unicast control and traffic segment comprising a portion of the DL unicast control and traffic segment that defines the control information for use in transmitting the unicast DL transmission and a portion of the DL unicast control and traffic segment for transmitting data for the respective unicast DL transmission.

15. A non-transitory computer readable memory medium storing program instructions executable by a processor to:

receive control information from a base station for a transmission, wherein the control information comprises;

information to uniquely identify a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, wherein the HARQ process comprises a first transmission of an encoder packet and at least one retransmission, in which a transmission resource for each respective transmission is allocated; and

an identification of one of a time resource, a frequency resource and a time and frequency resource that is allocated for the transmission.

16. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 15, wherein the control information further comprises:

a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for the encoder packet.

17. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 15, wherein the control information further comprises:

a MIMO mode used for transmitting the encoder packet.

18. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 15, wherein the control information further comprises:

one or more other pieces of control information relevant to the HARQ transmission of the encoder packet.

19. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 15, wherein a transmission resource is allocated for at least one unicast uplink (UL) transmission, wherein to receive the control information, the program instructions are further executable by the processor to:

receive a UL control segment that is a portion of a downlink (DL) transmission resource, wherein the UL control segment comprises a portion that identifies a location in the UL control segment for transmitting unicast control information for each of at least one unicast UL transmission and a portion that defines the control information for use in transmitting the unicast UL transmission.

20. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 15, wherein a transmission resource is allocated for at least one unicast downlink (DL) transmission, wherein to receive the control information, the program instructions are further executable by the processor to:

for each of at least one unicast downlink (DL) transmission, receive a DL unicast control and traffic segment comprising a portion of the DL unicast control and traffic segment that defines the control information for use in transmitting the unicast DL transmission and a portion of the DL unicast control and traffic segment for transmitting data for the respective unicast DL transmission.