METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AND UTILIZING A NON-CONTENTION BASED CHANNEL IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20070189205A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chandra, Arty, Chen, John, Wang, Jin, Zhang, Guodong, Terry, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,619,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2621 using frequency division multiple access [FDMA] H04B7/2615 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02

Abstract

In a wireless communication system comprising at least one evolved Node-B (eNB) and a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WRTUs), a non-contention based (NCB) channel is established, maintained, and utilized. The NCB channel is allocated for use by one or more WTRUs in the system for utilization in a variety of functions, and the allocation is communicated to the WTRUs. The wireless communication system analyzes the allocation of the NCB channel as required, and the NCB channel is reallocated as required.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system comprising at least one evolved Node-B (eNB) and a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), a method for providing a non-contention based (NCB) channel to the plurality of WTRUs, the method comprising:

(a) establishing an NCB channel;

(b) allocating the NCB channel to a first WTRU;

(c) determining whether a reallocation of the NCB channel is required; and

(d) reallocating the NCB channel based upon the reallocation determination.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) transmitting the NCB channel allocation to the first WTRU.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises configuring the NCB channel.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the duration of the NCB channel is configured.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the duration of the NCB channel is configured for an infinite time.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the duration of the NCB channel is configured for a period of time.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the NCB channel is configured to exist at periodic intervals.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the NCB channel is allocated to the first WTRU at a first periodic interval and reallocated to a second WTRU for a second periodic interval.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein the configuration of the NCB channel is based upon at least one of the following functions:

timing advance, measurement reporting, physical resource requesting, schedule requesting, keep-alive heartbeat, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback and medium access control (MAC)/radio resource control (RRC) layer signaling.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the configuration of the NCB channel is based upon a combination of the functions timing advance, measurement reporting, physical resource requesting, schedule requesting, keep-alive heartbeat, HARQ feedback and MAC/RRC layer signaling.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein the configuration of the NCB channel is based upon at least one of a quality of services (QoS) requirement for services currently active on a particular WTRU in the wireless communication system, a type of service, and an activity rate of the currently active services.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the NCB channel is configured as a low rate shared channel.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

(e) the first WTRU transmitting data over the NCB channel.

14. The method of claim 3 wherein the NCB channel is configured to provide signaling within a physical channel control field.

15. The method of claim 3 wherein the NCB channel is configured to provide signaling within a media access control (MAC) layer.

16. The method of claim 3 wherein the NCB channel is configured to provide signaling within a radio resource controller (RRC) layer.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) multiplexing the NCB channel.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the NCB channel is multiplexed in the frequency domain.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the NCB channel is multiplexed using frequency division multiplexing (FDM).

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the NCB channel is multiplexed in the code domain.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the NCB channel is multiplexed in the code domain using spreading codes.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the NCB channel is multiplexed in the time domain.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the NCB channel is multiplexed in the space domain.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the NCB channel is multiplexed using spatial division multiplexing (SDMA).

25. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) further comprises reallocating the NCB channel to a second WTRU.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) terminating the NCB channel allocation.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the first WTRU terminates the NCB channel allocation.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the eNB terminates the NCB channel allocation.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) transmitting the NCB channel allocation to the first WTRU via downlink (DL) common control signaling.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) transmitting the NCB channel allocation to the first WTRU via a dedicated control channel signal that is mapped to a DL shared channel.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the NCB channel is allocated by the DL common control channel as UL shared channel allocations.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) analyzing the NCB channel allocation.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises determining a reallocation is required due to a changing type of service requirement or a QoS requirement.

34. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises determining a reallocation is required due to the NCB channel remaining idle for a particular period of time.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises determining a reallocation is required due to a requirement for increased or decreased data capacity.

36. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) transmitting a reallocation determination to the WTRUs in the wireless communication system.

37. In a wireless communication system comprising at least one evolved Node-B (eNB) and a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), a method for timing advance over a non-contention based (NCB) channel, the method comprising:

(a) a first WTRU in the wireless communication system transmitting a synchronization burst or existing data packet to the eNB over an NCB channel;

(b) the eNB determining whether a timing advance (TA) adjustment is needed; and

(c) the eNB transmitting a TA adjustment command to the first WTRU depending upon the determination of whether a TA is needed.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the eNB determines that a TA adjustment is needed in order to maintain physical synchronization between the eNB and the first WTRU.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the TA command is transmitted to the first WTRU on a downlink (DL) common control channel.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the TA command is transmitted on a control channel mapped to a DL shared channel assignment among WTRUs.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the synchronization burst is transmitted following a predefined period during which UL transmissions have not been occurring.

42. In a wireless communication system comprising at least one evolved Node-B (eNB) and a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), a method for determining scheduling for the WTRUs over a non-contention based (NCB) channel, the method comprising:

(a) a first WTRU transmitting channel quality measurements to the eNB over the NCB channel;

(b) the eNB analyzing the channel quality measurements;

(c) the eNB determining whether scheduling modifications are needed; and

(d) the eNB transmitting new downlink (DL) scheduling assignments to the first WTRU based upon the determination of whether scheduling modifications are needed.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the eNB transmits new DL scheduling assignments over a DL control channel.

44. In a wireless communication system comprising at least one evolved Node-B (eNB) and a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), a method for requesting and allocating resources for the WTRUs over a non-contention based (NCB) channel, the method comprising:

(a) a first WTRU transmitting a request for resources over an NCB channel;

(b) the first WTRU monitoring downlink (DL) common control channels;

(c) determining an allocation of resources for the first WTRU by the wireless communication system;

(d) the eNB transmitting an uplink (UL) shared channel access grant allocation to the first WTRU over the DL common control channels; and

(e) the first WTRU transmitting over the channel allocated to the first WTRU.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the UL shared channel access grant allocation is implied to the first WTRU based on a resource utilized for the access grant in the transmission over the DL common control channels.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein the UL shared channel access grant allocation is explicitly communicated to the first WTRU.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein at least one resource block is communicated to the first WTRU as being allocated to the first WTRU.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the UL shared channel access grant allocation includes an identifier (ID) for the first WTRU.

49. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

(f) a plurality of WTRUs transmitting a request for resources over the NCB channel and monitoring the DL common control channels.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

(g) determining an allocation of resources for the plurality of WTRUs;

(h) the eNB transmitting the UL shared channel access grant allocation to the plurality of WTRUs over the DL common control channels; and

(i) the plurality of WTRUs transmitting over their respective allocated channels.

51. In a wireless communication system comprising at least one evolved Node-B (eNB) and a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), a method for performing a keep-alive for the WTRUs over a non-contention based (NCB) channel, the method comprising:

(a) transmitting a keep-alive signal to the eNB over an NCB channel;

(b) detecting a failure of the radio link between a particular WTRU and the eNB; and

(c) restoring lost connectivity between the particular WTRU and the eNB.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

(d) recovering resources allocated to the particular WTRU.

53. In a wireless communication system comprising at least one evolved Node-B (eNB) and a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), a method for hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback over a non-contention based (NCB) channel, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a HARQ transmission; and

(b) transmitting an acknowledgement (ACK) over an NCB channel.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the ACK is a positive ACK.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein the ACK is a negative ACK (NACK).

56. The method of claim 53 wherein the HARQ transmission is transmitted over the NCB channel.

57. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

(c) transmitting a process number over the NCB channel.

58. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

(c) transmitting HARQ parameters over the NCB channel.

59. In a wireless communication system comprising at least one evolved Node-B (eNB) and a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), a method for media access control (MAC) and radio resource control (RRC) over a non-contention based (NCB) channel, the method comprising:

(a) multiplexing RRC signaling messages over an NCB channel;

(b) transmitting small amounts of data over the NCB channel; and

(c) coordinating MAC layer operation over the NCB channel.

60. In a wireless communication system comprising at least one evolved Node-B (eNB) and a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), a method for providing resilience against frequency selective fading, the method comprising:

(a) configuring a non-contention based (NCB) channel for transmission by a first WTRU;

(b) allocating the NCB channel to the first WTRU; and

(c) spreading the NCB channel over a plurality of sub-channels.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein the plurality of sub-channels exist within a single resource block.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein the plurality of sub-channels exist in a fraction of a resource block.

63. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

(d) changing the allocation of the NCB channel for the first WTRU.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the allocation is changed according to a pre-configured time sequence.

65. The method of claim 63 wherein the allocation is changed according to a pre-configured frequency hopping sequence.

66. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

(d) the eNB transmitting control messages to the first WTRU.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the control messages include information selected from the group consisting of:

a resource message relating to a sub-carrier, slot information, codes, and a hopping-sequence.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein the hopping-sequence includes an index of a prescribed set of hopping-sequences to which the NCB channel is allocated for the first WTRU.

69. In a wireless communication system comprising a source base station in a source cell, a target base station in a target cell and at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a method for maintaining a non-contention based (NCB) channel during a handover, the method comprising:

(a) the source base station signaling the target base station to allocate an NCB channel for a WTRU about to be handed over;

(b) the target base station allocating an NCB channel for the WTRU about to be handed over; and

(c) signaling to the WTRU the NCB channel allocation allocated by the target base station.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the NCB channel allocation is signaled to the WTRU about to be handed over via a common control channel.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein the NCB channel allocation is signaled to the WTRU about to be handed over via a shared channel allocated to the WTRU.

72. The method of claim 69 wherein the NCB channel allocation signaled to the WTRU about to be handed over includes information relating to NCB channel resources in the target cell.

73. The method of claim 69 wherein the NCB channel allocation signaled to the WTRU about to be handed over includes information relating to hopping sequences in the target cell.

74. The method of claim 69 wherein the NCB channel allocation signaled to the WTRU about to be handed over includes information relating to timing advance.

75. The method of claim 74 wherein the timing advance information includes a timing difference between the source cell and the target cell.

76. The method of claim 69 wherein the source base station signals the NCB channel allocation to the WTRU.

77. The method of claim 69 wherein the target base station signals the NCB channel allocation to the WTRU.

78. In a wireless communication system comprising at least one evolved Node-B (eNB) and a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), the eNB comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter; and

a processor in communication with the receiver and the transmitter, wherein the processor is configured to establish and allocate a non-contention based (NCB) channel, transmit the allocation to a particular WTRU, determine whether the NCB channel is to be reallocated, and reallocate the NCB channel based upon the determination.

79. The eNB of claim 78 wherein the processor is further configured to configure the NCB channel based upon at least one of the following functions:

timing advance, measurement reporting, physical resource requesting, schedule requesting, keep-alive heartbeat, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback and Medium Access Control (MAC)/Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer signaling.

80. The eNB of claim 78 wherein the processor is further configured to configure the NCB channel based upon a combination of the functions timing advance, measurement reporting, physical resource requesting, schedule requesting, keep-alive heartbeat, HARQ feedback and MAC/RRC layer signaling.

81. The eNB of claim 78 wherein the processor is further configured to analyze quality of service (QoS) requirements.

82. In a wireless communication system comprising at least one evolved Node-B (eNB) and a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), each WTRU comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter; and

a processor in communication with the receiver and the transmitter, wherein the processor is configured to receive an allocation of a non-contention based (NCB) channel for transmissions, transmit on the NCB channel, and receive a reallocation of the NCB channel.

83. The WTRU of claim 82 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a synchronization burst over the NCB channel and perform a timing adjustment.

84. The WTRU of claim 82 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit channel measurements over the NCB channel to the eNB and receive updated scheduling assignments from the eNB.

85. The WTRU of claim 82 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a resource request over the NCB channel to the eNB.

86. In a wireless communication system comprising at least one evolved Node-B (eNB) and a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), a method for providing a non-contention based (NCB) channel to the plurality of WTRUs, the method comprising:

(a) configuring an NCB channel for a function selected from the following functions;

timing advance, measurement reporting, uplink (UL) physical resource requesting, providing information for downlink (DL) resource scheduling, keep-alive heartbeat, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback, and Medium Access Control (MAC) or Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer signaling;

(b) allocating the NCB channel to a first WTRU;

(c) determining whether a reallocation of the NCB channel is required; and

(d) reallocating the NCB channel based upon the reallocation determination.

87. The method of claim 86 wherein the NCB channel is configured for a combination of the following functions:

timing advance, measurement reporting, UL physical resource requesting, providing information for DL resource scheduling, keep-alive heartbeat, HARQ feedback, and MAC/RRC layer signaling.

88. The method of claim 86 wherein the NCB channel is allocated periodically.

89. The method of claim 86 wherein the NCB channel is allocated for a duration.

90. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

(e) reconfiguring the NCB channel after detecting a period of WTRU inactivity.

91. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

(e) reconfiguring the NCB channel based upon a deteced event.