Method and apparatus for dynamically allocating H-ARQ processes

• US 20060007880A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Terry, Stephen E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,710,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dynamically allocating hybrid automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for supporting enhanced uplink (EU) transmissions. The H-ARQ processes in the WTRU are reserved for specific transport channels (TrCHs), dedicated channel medium access control (MAC-d) flows or logical channels associated with different data transmission priority classes. The WTRU allocates H-ARQ processes from those reserved H-ARQ processes that are available. Optionally, a higher priority channel may be allowed to allocate an H-ARQ process reserved for lower priority channels. Lower priority H-ARQ processes may be preempted. The preemption may be restricted by urgency of data transmission, or by radio network controller (RNC) configuration of H-ARQ processes. Alternatively, a common pool of H-ARQ processes may be configured and an H-ARQ process may be allocated from the common pool in accordance with a priority of each channel, and lower priority H-ARQ may be preempted.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system including a radio network controller (RNC) and a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a method of dynamically allocating a plurality of hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes in the WTRU for supporting enhanced uplink (EU) transmissions, the method comprising:

(a) the RNC configuring at least one of the H-ARQ processes for exclusive use by at least one transport channel (TrCH) through radio resource control (RRC) signaling procedures;

(b) the WTRU reserving H-ARQ processes configured by the RNC for transmissions associated with the TrCH; and

(c) mapping transmissions of a particular data transmission priority class to the TrCH using configured H-ARQ processes associated with the TrCH.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of H-ARQ processes configured for the TrCH exceeds the number of H-ARQ processes required to achieve a particular data rate for the data transmission priority class associated with the TrCH.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the RNC limits the number of H-ARQ processes configured for the TrCH to achieve a particular maximum data rate for the data transmission priority class associated with the TrCH.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the TrCH is configured by the RNC as a high priority TrCH, and a subset of the H-ARQ processes is assigned to the TrCH.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the TrCH is associated with at least one signaling radio bearer (SRB).

6. In a wireless communication system including a radio network controller (RNC) and a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a method of dynamically allocating a plurality of hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes in the WTRU for supporting enhanced uplink (EU) transmissions, the method comprising:

(a) the RNC configuring at least one of the H-ARQ processes for exclusive use by at least one dedicated channel medium access control (MAC-d) flow through radio resource control (RRC) signaling procedures;

(b) the WTRU reserving H-ARQ processes configured by the RNC for transmissions associated with the MAC-d flow; and

(c) mapping transmissions of a particular data transmission priority class to the MAC-d flow using configured H-ARQ processes associated with the MAC-d flow.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the number of H-ARQ processes configured for the MAC-d flow exceeds the number of H-ARQ processes required to achieve a particular data rate for the data transmission priority class associated with the MAC-d flow.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the RNC limits the number of H-ARQ processes configured for the MAC-d flow to achieve a particular maximum data rate for the data transmission priority class associated with the MAC-d flow.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the MAC-d flow is configured by the RNC as a high priority MAC-d flow, and a subset of the H-ARQ processes is assigned to the MAC-d flow.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the MAC-d flow is associated with at least one signaling radio bearer (SRB).

11. In a wireless communication system including a radio network controller (RNC) and a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a method of dynamically allocating a plurality of hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes in the WTRU for supporting enhanced uplink (EU) transmissions, the method comprising:

(a) the RNC configuring at least one of the H-ARQ processes for exclusive use by at least one logical channel through radio resource control (RRC) signaling procedures;

(b) the WTRU reserving H-ARQ processes configured by the RNC for transmissions associated with the logical channel; and

(c) mapping transmissions of a particular data transmission priority class to the logical channel using configured H-ARQ processes associated with the logical channel.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the number of H-ARQ processes configured for the logical channel exceeds the number of H-ARQ processes required to achieve a particular data rate for the data transmission priority class associated with the logical channel.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the RNC limits the number of H-ARQ processes configured for the logical channel to achieve a particular maximum data rate for the data transmission priority class associated with the logical channel.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the logical channel is configured by the RNC as a high priority logical channel, and a subset of the H-ARQ processes is assigned to the logical channel.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the logical channel is associated with at least one signaling radio bearer (SRB).

16. In a wireless communication system including a radio network controller (RNC) and a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a method of dynamically allocating a plurality of hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes in the WTRU for supporting enhanced uplink (EU) transmissions, the method comprising:

(a) the RNC configuring the H-ARQ processes in the WTRU for a plurality of transport channel (TrCHs); and

(b) the RNC configuring at least one of the TrCHs and at least one associated H-ARQ process to support the transmission of data associated with a highest data transmission priority class.

17. In a wireless communication system including a radio network controller (RNC) and a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a method of dynamically allocating a plurality of hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes in the WTRU for supporting enhanced uplink (EU) transmissions, the method comprising:

(a) the RNC configuring the H-ARQ processes in the WTRU for a plurality of dedicated channel medium access control (MAC-d) flows; and

(b) the RNC configuring at least one of the MAC-d flows and at least one associated H-ARQ process to support the transmission of data associated with a highest data transmission priority class.

18. In a wireless communication system including a radio network controller (RNC) and a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a method of dynamically allocating a plurality of hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes in the WTRU for supporting enhanced uplink (EU) transmissions, the method comprising:

(a) the RNC configuring the H-ARQ processes in the WTRU for a plurality of logical channels; and

(b) the RNC configuring at least one of the logical channels and at least one associated H-ARQ process to support the transmission of data associated with a highest data transmission priority class.

19. A method of dynamically allocating a plurality of hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for supporting enhanced uplink transmissions, the method comprising:

(a) configuring the H-ARQ processes in the WTRU for a plurality of priority classes such that a predetermined number of H-ARQ processes are reserved for each priority class;

(b) the WTRU selecting data having a highest priority for transmission;

(c) the WTRU determining whether there is an available H-ARQ process in a priority class of the selected data; and

(d) the WTRU allocating an H-ARQ process within the reserved H-ARQ processes for the priority class of the selected data.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

(e) the WTRU determining whether there is an H-ARQ process already assigned to other data having an “

unsuccessful transmission”

status;

(f) the WTRU selecting an earliest assigned H-ARQ process associated with the priority class if there is an H-ARQ process already assigned to other data having an “

unsuccessful transmission”

status; and

(g) the WTRU transmitting the earliest assigned H-ARQ process.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the earliest assigned H-ARQ process is determined by a lowest transmission sequence number (TSN).

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the earliest assigned H-ARQ process is determined by a highest number of retransmissions compared to other H-ARQ processes assigned in the same priority class.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the number of H-ARQ processes reserved for each priority class exceeds the number of H-ARQ processes required to achieve particular data rates for each priority class.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the H-ARQ processes are configured such that the number of H-ARQ processes exceeds the number of H-ARQ processes that can be used at one time.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the H-ARQ processes are configured through radio resource control (RRC) signaling procedures.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the H-ARQ processes are configured by a radio network controller (RNC).

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the RNC configures H-ARQ processes for at least one of a logical channel, a dedicated channel medium access control (MAC-d) flow and a transport channel (TrCH).

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the RNC limits the maximum number of H-ARQ processes reserved for at least one of a logical channel, a MAC-d flow and a TrCH in accordance with maximum data rate of the logical channel, the MAC-d flow and the TrCH.

29. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

(e) the WTRU determining whether there is an available H-ARQ process associated with a lower priority class when there is no available H-ARQ process associated with the priority class of the selected data, whereby the WTRU allocating an H-ARQ process associated with a lowest priority class if there is an available H-ARQ process associated with a lowest priority class.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

(e) the WTRU determining whether there is an H-ARQ process already allocated for a lower priority class when there is no available H-ARQ process associated with a lower priority class, whereby the WTRU preempting the H-ARQ process already allocated for the lower priority class when there is an already allocated H-ARQ process associated with the lower priority class.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the preemption of the lower priority class is restricted by at least one of urgency of data transmission and RNC configuration.

32. A method of dynamically allocating a plurality of hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for supporting enhanced uplink transmissions, the method comprising:

(a) configuring a common pool of H-ARQ processes;

(b) selecting a highest priority data;

(c) determining whether there is an available H-ARQ process;

(d) allocating an H-ARQ process if there is an available H-ARQ process;

(e) determining whether there is an H-ARQ process already allocated for a lower priority class data if there is no available H-ARQ process; and

(f) preempting the H-ARQ process already allocated for the lower priority class if there is an H-ARQ process already allocated for a lower priority class data.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the preemption of the lower priority class data is restricted by at least one of urgency of data transmission and radio network controller (RNC) configuration.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the common pool of H-ARQ processes is configured to exceed maximum number of H-ARQ processes that can be used at any time.

35. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for dynamically allocating a plurality of hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes for supporting enhanced uplink transmissions, the WTRU comprising:

(a) a plurality of H-ARQ processes, the H-ARQ processes configured such that a predetermined number of H-ARQ processes are reserved for each of a plurality of priority classes;

(b) a memory for storing data for transmission; and

(c) a controller for selecting data from the memory in a highest priority class for transmission, and allocating an H-ARQ process within the reserved H-ARQ processes for the priority class of the selected data when it is determined that there is an available H-ARQ process associated with the highest priori class of the selected data.

36. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein the controller selects an earliest assigned H-ARQ process associated with the highest priority class if there is an H-ARQ process already assigned to other data having an “

unsuccessful transmission”

status and transmits the earliest assigned H-ARQ process.

37. The WTRU of claim 36 wherein the earliest assigned H-ARQ process is determined by a lowest transmission sequence number (TSN).

38. The WTRU of claim 36 wherein the earliest assigned H-ARQ process is determined by a highest number of retransmissions compared to other H-ARQ processes assigned in the same priority class.

39. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein the number of H-ARQ processes reserved for each priority class exceeds the number of H-ARQ processes required to achieve particular data rates for each priority class.

40. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein the H-ARQ processes are configured such that the number of H-ARQ processes exceeds the number of H-ARQ processes that can be used at one time.

41. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein the H-ARQ processes are configured by a radio network controller (RNC).

42. The WTRU of claim 41 wherein the H-ARQ processes are configured through radio resource control (RRC) signaling procedures.

43. The WTRU of claim 41 wherein the RNC configures H-ARQ processes for at least one of a logical channel, a dedicated channel medium access control (MAC-d) flow and a transport channel (TrCH).

44. The WTRU of claim 43 wherein the RNC limits the maximum number of H-ARQ processes reserved for at least one of a logical channel, a MAC-d flow and a TrCH in accordance with maximum data rate of the logical channel, the MAC-d flow and the TrCH.

45. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein the controller allocates an H-ARQ process associated with a lowest priority class when there is no available H-ARQ process associated with the priority class of the selected data but there is an available H-ARQ process associated with a lowest priority class.

46. The WTRU of claim 45 wherein the controller preempts the H-ARQ process already allocated for the lower priority class when there is no available H-ARQ process associated with lower priority class, but there is an already allocated H-ARQ process associated with the lower priority class.

47. The WTRU of claim 46 wherein the preemption of the lower priority class is restricted by at least one of urgency of data transmission and RNC configuration.

48. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for dynamically allocating a plurality of hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes for supporting enhanced uplink transmissions, the WTRU comprising:

(a) a common pool of plurality of H-ARQ processes;

(b) a memory for storing data for transmission; and

(c) a controller for selecting data associated with a highest priority class for transmission, and allocating an H-ARQ process if there is an available H-ARQ process, and preempting the H-ARQ process already allocated for a lower priority class if there is no H-ARQ process available in the common pool but there is an available H-ARQ process already allocated to the lower priority class.

49. The WTRU of claim 48 wherein the preemption of the lower priority class data is restricted by at least one of urgency of data transmission and a radio network controller (RNC) configuration.

50. The WTRU of claim 48 wherein the common pool of H-ARQ processes is configured to exceed a maximum number of H-ARQ processes that can be used at any time.

51. An integrated circuit (IC) for dynamically allocating a plurality of hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes for supporting enhanced uplink transmissions, the IC comprising:

(a) a common pool of plurality of H-ARQ processes;

(b) a memory for storing data for transmission; and

(c) a controller for selecting data associated with a highest priority class for transmission, and allocating an H-ARQ process if there is an available H-ARQ process, and preempting the H-ARQ process already allocated for a lower priority class if there is no H-ARQ process available in the common pool but there is an available H-ARQ process already allocated to the lower priority class.

52. The IC of claim 51 wherein the preemption of the lower priority class data is restricted by at least one of urgency of data transmission and a radio network controller (RNC) configuration.

53. The IC of claim 51 wherein the common pool of H-ARQ processes is configured to exceed a maximum number of H-ARQ processes that can be used at any time.