Method for Transmission of Unicast Control in Broadcast/Multicast Transmission Time Intervals

• US 20070104151A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Papasakellariou, Aris, Onggosanusi, Eko, Dabak, Anand, Schmidl, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,175,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2602 Signal structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/322 Power control of broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• 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

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide methods for maximizing the bandwidth utilization in the uplink of a communication system supporting time division multiplexing between unicast and multicast/broadcast communication modes during transmission time intervals in the downlink of a communication system. This is accomplished by multiplexing at least unicast control signaling for UL scheduling assignments in TTIs supporting the multicast/broadcast communication mode. Moreover, multiplexing of unicast control signaling can also be accomplished by splitting a symbol of the multicast/broadcast TTI into two shorter symbols with the first of these two shorter symbols carrying at least unicast control signaling and the second of these shorter symbols carrying multicast/broadcast signaling.

Claims

1. In a communication system supporting a unicast communication mode and a multicast/broadcast communication mode wherein unicast transmission time intervals (TTIs) are multiplexed with multicast/broadcast TTIs through time division multiplexing, a method to perform signal transmissions from user equipments (UEs) to a serving Node B during said multicast/broadcast transmission time intervals, said method comprising:

transmitting from said Node B unicast signaling in said multicast/broadcast transmission time intervals said unicast signaling comprising at least unicast control signaling; and

receiving said unicast control signaling at an at least one UE.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one UE transmits a signal in response to said receiving said unicast control signaling.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said unicast control signaling is transmitted with priority to multicast/broadcast signaling at the beginning of said multicast/broadcast TTI.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said unicast control provides scheduling assignments for data signal transmission from at least one of said UEs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said unicast control provides timing control or power control information to at least one of said UEs.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said at least one of said UEs adjusts its signal transmission power or its signal transmission timing in response to said timing control or power control information, respectively.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said unicast signaling further comprises of unicast pilot signaling.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said unicast pilot signaling is transmitted with priority to multicast/broadcast signaling at the beginning of said multicast/broadcast TTI.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said multicast/broadcast TTI comprises of symbols and said unicast signaling is multiplexed with multicast/broadcast signaling in the same symbol.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said multicast/broadcast TTI comprises of symbols and said unicast signaling and multicast/broadcast signaling are multiplexed in different symbols.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication system employs the OFDMA transmission method.

12. In a communication system supporting a unicast communication mode and a multicast/broadcast communication mode wherein unicast transmission time intervals (TTIs) are multiplexed with multicast/broadcast TTIs through time division multiplexing, said multicast/broadcast TTIs further comprising of symbols, a method to perform signal transmissions from user equipments (UEs) to a serving Node B during said multicast/broadcast transmission time intervals comprising the steps of:

dividing at least one of said symbols of said multicast/broadcast TTI into two shorter symbols;

transmitting unicast signaling comprising of at least unicast control signaling in a first of said two shorter symbols; and

transmitting multicast/broadcast signaling in a second of said two shorter symbols.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one symbol is located at the beginning of said multicast/broadcast TTI.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said a first of said two shorter symbols is the first of the said two shorter symbols.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said unicast signaling further comprises of unicast pilot signaling.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said communication system employs the OFDMA transmission method.

17. In a communication system supporting a unicast communication mode and a multicast/broadcast communication mode wherein unicast transmission time intervals (TTIs) are multiplexed with multicast/broadcast TTIs through time division multiplexing, a method to perform signal transmissions from user equipments (UEs) to a serving Node B during said multicast/broadcast transmission time intervals, said method comprising:

receiving unicast signaling in said multicast/broadcast transmission time intervals said unicast signaling comprising at least unicast control signaling; and

transmitting a signal in response to said receiving said unicast control signaling.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said unicast control signaling is received at the beginning of said multicast/broadcast TTIs.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said unicast control provides scheduling assignments for data signal transmission from at least one of said UEs.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said unicast control provides timing control or power control information to at least one of said UEs.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said at least one of said UEs adjusts its signal transmission power or its signal transmission timing in response to said timing control or power control information, respectively.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said unicast signaling further comprises unicast pilot signaling.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein said communication system employs the OFDMA transmission method.