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

• US 9,049,018 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Chun, Sung Duck, Yi, Seung June, Park, Sung Jun, Lee, Young Dae
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzo, Bryce
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehrmanesh, Elmira
• Application Number:
  US14/448,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20140341160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 714/748, 714/749
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1822 involving configuration of automatic repeat request [ARQ] with parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1835 Buffer management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1864 ARQ related signaling H04L1/1607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1874 Buffer management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1896 ARQ related signaling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal

Abstract

A method of processing data for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) operation in a wireless communication system. The method includes receiving a timing alignment command (TAC) and one or more uplink grants from a network; and generating a data unit. The one or more uplink grants are used for transmitting the generated data unit to the network. The method further includes starting a time alignment timer (TAT) upon receiving the TAC. The TAT is used to control how long a User Equipment (UE) is considered to have an uplink time that is aligned. The method further includes when the TAT expires, clearing the one or more uplink grants.

Claims

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

receiving a timing alignment command (TAC) and one or more uplink grants from a network;

generating a data unit,

wherein the one or more uplink grants are used for transmitting the generated data unit to the network;

starting a time alignment timer (TAT) upon receiving the TAC,

wherein the TAT is used to control how long a User Equipment (UE) is considered to have an uplink time that is aligned; and

when the TAT expires, clearing the one or more uplink grants.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein any configured downlink assignments are also cleared when the TAT expires.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more uplink grants are received on a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more uplink grants include at least one of uplink scheduling information, a Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI), and a Semi-persistent Scheduling C-RNTI.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data unit is a Medium Access Control Protocol Data Unit (MAC PDU).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of uplink HARQ buffers is also flushed when the TAT expires.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer entity is notified to release the Physical Uplink Control Channel/Sounding Reference Symbol (PUCCH/SRS) resources when the TAT expires.

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

a controller configured to;

receive a timing alignment command (TAC) and one or more uplink grants from a network,

generate a data unit,

wherein the one or more uplink grants are used for transmitting the generated data unit to the network,

start a time alignment timer (TAT) upon receiving the TAC,

wherein the TAT is used to control how long the UE is considered to have an uplink time that is aligned, and

when the TAT expires, clear the one or more uplink grants.

9. The UE of claim 8, wherein any configured downlink assignments are also cleared when the TAT expires.

10. The UE of claim 8, wherein the one or more uplink grants are received on a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

11. The UE of claim 10, wherein the one or more uplink grants include at least one of uplink scheduling information, a Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI), and a Semi-persistent Scheduling C-RNTI.

12. The UE of claim 8, wherein the data unit is a Medium Access Control Protocol Data Unit (MAC PDU).

13. The UE of claim 8, wherein each of a plurality of uplink HARQ buffers is also flushed when the TAT expires.

14. The UE of claim 8, wherein a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer entity is notified to release the Physical Uplink Control Channel/Sounding Reference Symbol (PUCCH/SRS) resources when the TAT expires.