Methods and apparatus for acknowledgment of multi-user uplink wireless transmissions

• US 9,860,174 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2014
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Merlin, Simone, Barriac, Gwendolyn Denise, Sampath, Hemanth, Vermani, Sameer
• Primary Examiner(s): Pasia, Redentor
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAK, PETER K
• Application Number:
  US14/469,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20150063320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0452 Multi-user MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2621 using frequency division multiple access [FDMA] H04B7/2615 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0008 by supplementing frame payload, e.g. with padding bits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0031 Multiple signaling transmission H04L1/1664, F15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1607 Details of the supervisory signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1621 Group acknowledgement, i.e. the acknowledgement message defining a range of identifiers, e.g. of sequence numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1854 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1858 Transmission or retransmission of more than one copy of acknowledgement message
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/12 Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/72 using reservation actions during connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0005 Time-frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/003 Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 : Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 : Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 : Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 : at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• 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 72/12 : Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/121 : for groups of terminals or users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 : in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 : Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 : in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 : Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 : Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 : with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 : collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for acknowledgment of multiple user uplink are provided. In one aspect, a method of wireless communication includes receiving a first wireless message from a first station at least partially concurrently with receiving a second wireless message from a second station, generating a first acknowledgment message in response to receiving the first wireless message, generating a second acknowledgement message in response to receiving the second wireless message, and transmitting the first acknowledgment message to the first station at least partially concurrently with transmitting the second acknowledgement message to the second station.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving a first wireless message from a first station at least partially concurrently with receiving a second wireless message from a second station;

receiving a third wireless message from a third station at least partially concurrently with the first wireless message and the second wireless message;

receiving a fourth wireless message from the third station, the fourth wireless message indicating an acknowledgment policy for the third station;

generating a first acknowledgment message in response to receiving the first wireless message;

generating a second acknowledgement message in response to receiving the second wireless message;

transmitting the first acknowledgment message to the first station at least partially concurrently with transmitting the second acknowledgement message to the second station;

receiving a fifth wireless message from the third station after receiving the fourth wireless message, the fifth wireless message requesting a block acknowledgment for the third station;

generating a third acknowledgment message in response to receiving the fifth wireless message;

generating a clear to transmit message, the clear to transmit message indicating a time when the third acknowledgment will be transmitted and a second different time when a fourth acknowledgment will be transmitted to a fourth station;

transmitting the clear to transmit message to the third station and the fourth station; and

transmitting the third acknowledgment message to the third station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first acknowledgment message is generated as a block acknowledgment and the second acknowledgment message is generated as an acknowledgment of a single frame.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first acknowledgment message is generated as a block acknowledgment and the second acknowledgment message is generated as a block acknowledgment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a sixth wireless message from the first station, the sixth wireless message indicating an acknowledgment policy for the first station; and

transmitting the first acknowledgment message based on the acknowledgment policy for the first station.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining the first station requests immediate block acknowledgements based on the sixth wireless message; and

transmitting the first acknowledgment message based on the determining.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fifth wireless message from the third station indicates the third station requests delayed block acknowledgments, and

wherein the third acknowledgment message is transmitted to the third station after completion of the transmissions of the first and second wireless messages based on the fifth wireless message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the first wireless message over a first spatial stream;

receiving the second wireless message over a second spatial stream;

determining a third spatial stream based on the first spatial stream;

determining a fourth spatial stream based on the second spatial stream;

wherein the first acknowledgment message is transmitted over the third spatial stream; and

wherein the second acknowledgment message is transmitted over the fourth spatial stream.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the first wireless message is received over a first frequency;

wherein the second wireless message is received over a second frequency;

determining a third frequency based on the first frequency;

determining a fourth frequency based on the second frequency;

wherein the first acknowledgment message is transmitted over the third frequency; and

wherein the second acknowledgment message is transmitted over the fourth frequency.

9. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first wireless message from a first station at least partially concurrently with receiving a second wireless message from a second station, and wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a third wireless message from a third station at least partially concurrently with the first wireless message and the second wireless message, and wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a fourth wireless message from the third station, the fourth wireless message indicating an acknowledgment policy for the third station;

a hardware processor configured to generate a first acknowledgment message in response to receiving the first wireless message, and generate a second acknowledgement message in response to receiving the second wireless message; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the first acknowledgment message to the first station at least partially concurrently with transmitting the second acknowledgement message to the second station,

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a fifth wireless message from the third station after receiving the fourth wireless message, the fifth wireless message requesting a block acknowledgment for the third station, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a third acknowledgment message in response to receiving the fifth wireless message,

wherein the processor is further configured to generate a clear to transmit message, the clear to transmit message indicating a time when the third acknowledgment will be transmitted and a second different time when a fourth acknowledgment will be transmitted to a fourth station,

wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the clear to transmit message to the third station and the fourth station, and

wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the third acknowledgement message to the third station.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the first acknowledgment message as a block acknowledgment and the processor is further configured to generate the second acknowledgment message as a block acknowledgment.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the first acknowledgment message as a block acknowledgment and the processor is further configured to generate the second acknowledgment message as an acknowledgment of a single frame.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a sixth wireless message from the first station, the sixth wireless message indicating an acknowledgment policy for the first station, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the first acknowledgment message based on the acknowledgment policy for the first station.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the first station requests immediate block acknowledgements based on the sixth wireless message, and the transmitter is further configured to transmit the first acknowledgment message based on the determining.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fifth wireless message from the third station indicates the third station requests delayed block acknowledgments, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the third acknowledgment message to the third station after completion of the transmissions of the first and second wireless messages based on the fifth wireless message.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the first wireless message over a first spatial stream and receive the second wireless message over a second spatial stream, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine a third frequency based on the first spatial stream and determine a fourth frequency based on the second spatial stream, and the transmitter is further configured to transmit the first acknowledgment message over the third spatial stream and transmit the second acknowledgment message over the fourth spatial stream.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the first wireless message over a first frequency and receive the second wireless message over a second frequency, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine a third frequency based on the first frequency and determine a fourth frequency based on the second frequency, and the transmitter is further configured to transmit the first acknowledgment message over the third frequency and transmit the second acknowledgment message over the fourth frequency.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clear to transmit message indicates the third station has permission to transmit a sixth wireless message.

18. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving a first wireless message from a first station at least partially concurrently with receiving a second wireless message from a second station, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to receive a third wireless message from a third station at least partially concurrently with the first wireless message and the second wireless message, and wherein the means for receiving is further configured to receive a fourth wireless message from the third station, the fourth wireless message indicating an acknowledgment policy for the third station;

means for generating a first acknowledgment message in response to receiving the first wireless message and a second acknowledgement message in response to receiving the second wireless message; and

means for transmitting the first acknowledgment message to the first station at least partially concurrently with transmitting the second acknowledgement message to the second station,

wherein the means for receiving is further configured to receive a fifth wireless message from the third station after receiving the fourth wireless message, the fifth wireless message requesting a block acknowledgment for the third station, wherein the means for generating is further configured to generate a third acknowledgment message in response to receiving the fifth wireless message,

wherein the means for generating is further configured to generate a clear to transmit message, the clear to transmit message generated to indicate a time when the third acknowledgment will be transmitted and a second different time when a fourth acknowledgment will be transmitted to a fourth station,

wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit the clear to transmit message to the third station and the fourth station, and

wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit the third acknowledgment message to the third station.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first acknowledgment message is generated as a block acknowledgment and the second acknowledgment message is generated as an acknowledgment of a single frame.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first acknowledgment message is generated as a block acknowledgment and the second acknowledgment message is generated as a block acknowledgment.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to receive a sixth wireless message from the first station, the sixth wireless message indicating an acknowledgment policy for the first station, and wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit the first acknowledgment message based on the acknowledgment policy for the first station.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for generating is further configured to determine the first station requests immediate block acknowledgements based on the sixth wireless message, and wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit the first acknowledgment message based on the determining.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the fifth wireless message from the third station indicates the third station requests delayed block acknowledgments, and wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit the third acknowledgment message to the third station after completion of the transmissions of the first and second wireless messages based on the fifth wireless message.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to receive the first wireless message over a first spatial stream and receive the second wireless message over a second spatial stream, wherein the means for generating is further configured to determine a third spatial stream based on the first spatial stream and determine a fourth spatial stream based on the second spatial stream, and wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit the first acknowledgment message over the third spatial stream and transmit the second acknowledgment message over the fourth spatial stream.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to receive the first wireless message over a first frequency and receive the second wireless message over a second frequency, wherein the means for generating is further configured to determine a third frequency based on the first frequency and determine a fourth frequency based on the second frequency, and wherein the means for transmitting is further configured to transmit the first acknowledgment message over the third frequency and transmit the second acknowledgment message over the fourth frequency.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the clear to transmit clear to transmit message indicates the third station has permission to transmit a sixth wireless message.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform a method of wireless communication, the method comprising:

receiving a first wireless message from a first station at least partially concurrently with receiving a second wireless message from a second station;

receiving a third wireless message from a third station at least partially concurrently with the first wireless message and the second wireless message;

receiving a fourth wireless message from the third station, the fourth wireless message indicating an acknowledgment policy for the third station;

generating a first acknowledgment message in response to receiving the first wireless message;

generating a second acknowledgement message in response to receiving the second wireless message;

transmitting the first acknowledgment message to the first station at least partially concurrently with transmitting the second acknowledgement message to the second station;

receiving a fifth wireless message from the third station after receiving the fourth wireless message, the fifth wireless message requesting a block acknowledgment for the third station;

generating a third acknowledgment message in response to receiving the fifth wireless message;

generating a clear to transmit message, the clear to transmit message indicating a time when the third acknowledgment will be transmitted and a second different time when a fourth acknowledgment will be transmitted to a fourth station;

transmitting the clear to transmit message to the third station and the fourth station; and

transmitting the third acknowledgment message to the third station.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the first acknowledgment message is generated as a block acknowledgment and the second acknowledgment message is generated as an acknowledgment of a single frame.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the first acknowledgment message is generated as a block acknowledgment and the second acknowledgment message is generated as a block acknowledgment.