Network with logic channels and transport channels

• US 20030053344A1
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 7,167,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/267 taking into account the information rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/281 taking into account user or data type priority

Abstract

The invention relates to a network with a first plurality of logic channels with which is associated a second plurality of transport channels,

which transport channels are provided for transmitting transport blocks formed from packet units of the logic channels,

wherein a plurality of valid transport format combinations is allocated to the transport channels, which combinations indicate the transport blocks provided for transmission on each transport channel,

wherein a selection algorithm is provided for selecting the transport format combinations, and

wherein it is provided that the selection of the transport format combinations is carried out while maintaining a minimum bit rate applicable to the respective logic channel. `

Claims

1. A network with a first plurality of logic channels with which is associated a second plurality of transport channels,

which transport channels are provided for transmitting transport blocks formed from packet units of the logic channels,

wherein a plurality of valid transport format combinations is allocated to the transport channels, which combinations indicate the transport blocks provided for transmission on each transport channel,

wherein a selection algorithm is provided for selecting the transport format combinations, and

wherein it is provided that the selection of the transport format combinations is carried out while maintaining a minimum bit rate applicable to the respective logic channel.

2. A network as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is provided to carry out the selection of the transport format combinations while taking into account a maximum bit rate obtaining for the respective logic channel.

3. A network as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a first allocation sequence is provided for the selection algorithm, by means of which packet units of the logic channels are allocated to the transport channels,

wherein the allocation takes place in accordance with the following criteria for the individual logic channels:

a) only so many packet units are allocated each time that the sum of the total number of packet units allocated to the respective transport channel, also taking into account logic channels already considered and imaged on the same transport channel, corresponds to a transport format belonging to a valid transport format combination,

b) the number of the allocated packet units is chosen such each time that it comes as close as possible to the minimum bit rate obtaining for the respective logic channel, while the criterion a) takes precedence over the criterion b), and

wherein a second allocation sequence is provided for allocating further packet units.

4. A network as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the second allocation sequence for allocating further packet units is carried out in accordance with the following criteria:

a) only so many packet units are allocated each time that the sum of the total number of packet units allocated to the respective transport channel, also taking into account logic channels already considered and imaged on the same transport channel, corresponds to a transport format belonging to a valid transport format combination,

c) the number of the allocated packet units is chosen such each time that it does not exceed the maximum bit rate obtaining for the respective logic channel,

d) as many packet units as possible are allocated in each case, while the criterion a) takes precedence over the criteria c) and d), and the criterion c) takes precedence over the criterion d).

5. A network as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a third allocation sequence for allocating further packet units is provided in accordance with the following criteria:

a) only so many packet units are allocated each time that the sum of the total number of packet units allocated to the respective transport channel, also taking into account logic channels already considered and imaged on the same transport channel, corresponds to a transport format belonging to a valid transport format combination,

d) as many packet units as possible are allocated in each case,

while the criterion a) takes precedence over the criterion d).

6. A network as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the second allocation sequence for allocating further packet units is carried out in accordance with the following criteria:

a) only so many packet units are allocated each time that the sum of the total number of packet units allocated to the respective transport channel, also taking into account logic channels already considered and imaged on the same transport channel, corresponds to a transport format belonging to a valid transport format combination,

c) the number of the allocated packet units is chosen such each time that it does not exceed the maximum bit rate obtaining for the respective logic channel,

d) as many packet units as possible are allocated in each case,

while the criterion a) takes precedence over the criteria c) and d), and the criterion c takes precedence over the criterion d), and

wherein the criterion c) is lifted each time for the last logic channel (for the last logic channels) allocated to a transport channel.

7. A network as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that logic channels having different priorities are each imaged on exactly one transport channel, and in that the network is designed for carrying out the allocation of the packet units in order of priority of the logic channels.

8. A network as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the network comprises a wireless network with a radio network controller and a plurality of associated terminals which are each designed for transmitting transport blocks formed from packet units of a logic channel over a transport channel which has a transmission time interval of at least one radio frame and which is active when the start of its transmission time interval coincides with that of a radio frame.

9. A network as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the MAC layer (MAC=Medium Access Control) of the radio network controller or of a terminal is designed for selecting the respective transport formats.

10. A network as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that an RLC layer (RLC=Radio Link Control) of the radio network controller or of a terminal is designed for storing packet units provided for transmission, and the MAC layer is designed for forming a transport block from a packet unit supplied through a logic channel.

11. A radio network controller for a network with a first plurality of logic channels with which is associated a second plurality of transport channels,

wherein the radio network controller is designed for forming transport blocks from packet units of the logic channels and for transmitting the transport blocks through the transport channels,

wherein a number of valid transport format combinations is allocated to the transport channels, which combinations indicate the transport blocks designed for transmission for each transport channel,

wherein a selection algorithm is provided in the radio network controller for selecting the transport format combinations, and

wherein it is provided that the selection of the transport format combinations is carried out while taking into account a minimum bit rate obtaining for the respective logic channel.

12. A terminal for a network with a first plurality of logic channels with which is associated a second plurality of transport channels,

wherein the terminal is designed for transmitting transport blocks formed from packet units of the logic channels,

wherein a number of valid transport format combinations is allocated to the transport channels, which combinations indicate the transport blocks designed for transmission for each transport channel,

wherein a selection algorithm is provided for selecting the transport format combinations, and

wherein it is provided that the selection of the transport format combinations is carried out while taking into account a minimum bit rate obtaining for the respective logic channel.

13. A method of controlling a network with a first plurality of logic channels with which is associated a second plurality of transport channels,

which transport channels are provided for transmitting transport blocks formed from packet units of the logic channels,

wherein a plurality of valid transport format combinations is allocated to the transport channels, which combinations indicate the transport blocks provided for transmission on each transport channel,

wherein a selection algorithm is provided for selecting the transport format combinations, and

wherein it is provided that the selection of the transport format combinations is carried out while maintaining a minimum bit rate applicable to the respective logic channel.