Adaptive operational full-duplex and half-duplex FDD modes in wireless networks

• US 8,542,617 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2008
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Choi, Hyung-Nam, Bienas, Maik, Hans, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Chriss, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Javaid, Jamal
• Application Number:
  US12/156,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20090296609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: 370/281, 370/296, 370/276, 370/445, 370/310, 370/278, 370/282, 370/335, 370/277, 455/509, 455/552.1, 455/517, 455/420, 455/450, 455/33.2, 455/440, 455/436, 455/434
• US Class Current: 370/296
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/16 Half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals non-automatically inverting the direction of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/121 for groups of terminals or users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria

Abstract

Methods and apparatus that enable a wireless network system to dynamically change between full-duplex FDD operation and half-duplex FDD operation in order to take advantage of operational aspects of both modes. In one embodiment, an alternative duplex mode of operation is disclosed (semi-static half duplex FDD operation) that enables coordination between the client device (e.g., UMTS UE) and the base station in order to centralize control of radio resource control (RRC) to the base station. The disclosed methods and apparatus may also advantageously incorporate hybrid ARQ (HARQ) or comparable timing requirements into their operation.

Claims

1. A method of switching duplex operation in a wireless network, said wireless network comprising a plurality of networking devices, said method comprising:

operating said network in a first duplexing mode;

detecting a trigger event within at least one of said plurality of networking devices operating in said first duplexing mode;

determining a second duplexing mode of operation based at least in part on the detection of said trigger event;

distributing information about said change from said first duplexing mode to said second duplexing mode to at least a portion of said plurality of networking devices; and

operating said network in the second duplexing mode;

wherein said first and second duplexing modes describe one or more radio resources allocated for a number of uplink, downlink and guard subframes; and

where the first duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex frequency division duplexing (FDD) mode, the second duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode and the trigger event comprises a falling timing advance (TA) value,

wherein the falling TA value corresponds to a length of time a user equipment (UE) has to advance its timing of uplink (UL) transmission and is sent by an eNodeB to the UE according to a perceived propagation delay of UL transmissions,

wherein the falling TA value comprises a decreased value relative to a previous TA value and is used to compare with a threshold in order to decide whether to change the first duplexing mode to the second duplexing mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a default mode of operation for said network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of networking devices further comprises a serving station and a plurality of mobile stations.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said serving station broadcasts said default mode of operation to said plurality of mobile stations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said trigger event is detected at a radio resource control (RRC) unit within said wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said trigger event comprises the timing advance (TA) value falling below a threshold value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said threshold value is indicative of a change in quality of service for said wireless network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said trigger event is related to a battery status of at least one of said plurality of mobile stations within said network.

9. A client device capable of operating in a plurality of duplexing modes on a wireless network, said client device comprising:

a processing device coupled to a memory;

a radio/modem subsystem coupled to said processing device, the radio/modem subsystem comprising a duplexing component configured to support at least a first and second duplexing mode of operation with a serving station; and

a storage device in data communication with the processing device, the storage device comprising computer-executable instructions, which are configured to when executed by the processing device, cause the client device to;

signal the duplex component, directly or indirectly, resident within said client device to operate in the first duplexing mode of operation; and

substantially in response to a detected trigger event, signal said duplex component to operate in the second duplexing mode of operation;

wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex frequency division duplexing (FDD) mode of operation, and said second duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex FDD mode of operation; and

wherein said trigger event comprises a rising timing advance (TA) value,

wherein the rising TA value corresponds to a length of time a user equipment (UE) has to advance its timing of uplink (UL) transmission and is sent by an eNodeB to the UE according to a perceived propagation delay of UL transmissions,

wherein the rising TA value comprises an increased value relative to a previous TA value and is used to compare with a threshold in order to decide whether to change the first duplexing mode to the second duplexing mode.

10. The client device of claim 9, wherein said first duplexing mode comprises a default mode of operation for said wireless network.

11. The client device of claim 10, wherein the serving station broadcasts to said client device information invoking said default mode of operation, said signaling a duplex component being substantially in response to said serving station broadcast;

and

said serving station broadcast is configured to be received by said client device and at least one other client device of the wireless network, said at least one other client device not being in an active communication session with said first client device prior said broadcast.

12. The client device of claim 9, wherein said trigger event is detected at a radio resource control (RRC) unit within said wireless network and signaled to said radio/modem subsystem of said client device.

13. The client device of claim 9, wherein said trigger event comprises when the timing advance (TA) value exceeds a threshold value.

14. The client device of claim 13, wherein said threshold value is indicative of a change in quality of service for said wireless network.

15. The client device of claim 9, wherein said trigger event comprises a higher quality of service (QoS) level than said first duplexing mode can provide.

16. The client device of claim 9, further comprising a battery, wherein said trigger event is related to a charge or energy status of said battery.

17. A serving station apparatus configured to adapt duplexing operation for a plurality of client devices in a multiple access wireless network, the serving station apparatus comprising:

a processing device coupled to a memory;

a radio modem subsystem in operative communication with the processing device; and

a storage device in operative communication with the processing device, the storage device comprising computer-executable instructions, which are configured to, when executed by the processing device, cause the serving station apparatus to;

establish communications to the plurality of client devices according to a first duplexing mode;

responsive to one or more trigger events, determine a second duplexing mode;

distribute information about the second duplexing mode to at least a portion of the plurality of client devices; and

cause operation of said network in the second duplexing mode by at least in part causing the portion of the plurality of client devices to switch to the second duplexing mode;

wherein;

said network comprises (i) an uplink physical channel characterized by at least an uplink frequency resource, and (ii) a downlink physical channel characterized by at least a downlink frequency resource;

the first duplexing mode is configured to utilize at least a portion of the uplink frequency resource by allocating a plurality of uplink subframes and one or more guard subframe, and at least a portion of the downlink frequency resource by allocating a plurality of downlink subframes and one or more guard subframe;

the second duplexing mode is configured to utilize the entire uplink frequency resource and the entire downlink frequency resource;

wherein the first duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex frequency division duplexing (FDD) mode of operation and the second duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex FDD mode of operation; and

where the one or more trigger events comprise a rising timing advance (TA) value,

wherein the rising TA value corresponds to a length of time a user equipment (UE) has to advance its timing of uplink (UL) transmission and is sent by an eNodeB to the UE according to a perceived propagation delay of UL transmissions,

wherein the rising TA value comprises an increased value relative to a previous TA value and is used to compare with a threshold in order to decide whether to change the first duplexing mode to the second duplexing mode.

18. The serving station apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first duplexing mode comprises a default mode of operation for the network.

19. The serving station apparatus of claim 18, wherein the serving station broadcasts the default mode of operation to the plurality of client devices.

20. The serving station apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more trigger events comprises when the timing advance (TA) value exceeds a threshold value.

21. The serving station apparatus of claim 20, wherein the threshold value is indicative of a change in quality of service for the wireless network.

22. The serving station apparatus of claim 17, wherein said the one or more trigger events comprises a higher quality of service request received from one or more client devices than the first duplexing mode can provide.

23. The serving station apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more trigger events is/are related to a battery status of at least one of the plurality of client devices within the network.

24. The serving station apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one trigger of the one or more trigger events is determined by the serving station apparatus based at least in part on evaluating information related to data communication between the serving station apparatus and a first client device of the plurality of client devices, yet without requiring a receipt of an explicit duplexing mode change request from the first client device.

25. The serving station apparatus of claim 24, wherein the distributing the information about the second duplexing comprises broadcasting the information about the second duplexing mode to the first client device and at least one other client device of the plurality of client devices, the one other device not having a communication session with the first device prior the determining of the at least one trigger.

26. A client device capable of operating in a multiple access wireless network, the client device comprising:

a processing device coupled to a memory;

a radio subsystem coupled to the processing device, the radio subsystem comprising a duplexing component configured to support at least first and second duplexing modes of operation with a serving station, the first duplexing mode of operation comprising a full-duplex frequency division duplexing (FDD) mode, and the second duplexing mode of operation comprising a half-duplex FDD mode; and

a storage device in data communication with the processing device, the storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that are configured to, when executed by the processing device;

signal, directly or indirectly, the duplex component resident within the client device to operate in the first duplexing mode; and

substantially in response to a detected trigger event, signal the duplex component to operate in the second duplexing mode; and

wherein the trigger event comprises a falling timing advance (TA) value,

wherein the falling TA value corresponds to a length of time a user equipment (UE) has to advance its timing of uplink (UL) transmission and is sent by an eNodeB to the UE according to a perceived propagation delay of UL transmissions,

wherein the falling TA value comprises a decreased value relative to a previous TA value and is used to compare with a threshold in order to decide whether to change the first duplexing mode to the second duplexing mode.

27. The client device of claim 26, wherein the trigger event is generated by a serving station apparatus communicatively coupled to the client device, the trigger event generation based at least in part on an evaluation of information related to data communication between the serving station apparatus and client device, yet without requiring a receipt of an explicit duplexing mode change request from the client device.

28. A client device capable of operating in a multiple access wireless network, the client device comprising:

a processing device coupled to a memory;

a radio subsystem coupled to the processing device, the radio subsystem comprising a duplexing component configured to support at least a first and a second duplexing mode of operation with a serving station; and

a storage device in data communication with the processing device, the storage device comprising computer-executable instructions configured to, when executed by the processing device;

signal, directly or indirectly, the duplex component resident within the client device to operate in the first duplexing mode; and

substantially in response to a detected trigger event, signals the duplex component to operate in the second duplexing mode;

wherein the first duplexing mode of operation comprises a dynamic half-duplex frequency division duplexing (FDD) mode of operation, and the second duplexing mode of operation comprises a semi-static half-duplex FDD mode of operation, and

the trigger event comprises a rising timing advance (TA) value,

wherein the rising TA value corresponds to a length of time a user equipment (UE) has to advance its timing of uplink (UL) transmission and is sent by an eNodeB to the UE according to a perceived propagation delay of UL transmissions,

wherein the rising TA value comprises an increased value relative to a previous TA value and is used to compare with a threshold in order to decide whether to change the first duplexing mode to the second duplexing mode.

29. A method of switching duplex operation in a multiple access wireless network, the wireless network comprising a serving station and a plurality of client devices, the method comprising:

operating the network in a first duplexing mode;

detecting a trigger event associate with least one of the plurality of client devices operating in the first duplexing mode;

determining a second duplexing mode based at least in part on the detecting the trigger event;

distributing information related to mode change from the first duplexing mode to the second duplexing mode to at least a portion of the plurality of client devices; and

operating the network in the second duplexing mode; and

where the first duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex frequency division duplexing (FDD) mode, the second duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode and the trigger event comprises a falling timing advance (TA) value.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein:

the network comprises an uplink physical channel characterized by at least an uplink frequency resource and a downlink physical channel characterized by at least a downlink frequency resource;

the first duplexing mode is configured to utilize the entire uplink frequency resource and the entire downlink frequency resource;

the second duplexing mode is configured to utilize (i) at least a portion of the uplink frequency resource by allocating a plurality of uplink subframes and one or more guard subframe, and (ii) at least a portion of the downlink frequency resource by allocating a plurality of downlink subframes and one or more guard subframe.

31. A method of switching duplex operation in a multiple access wireless network, the wireless network comprising a plurality of networking devices, the method comprising:

operating the network in a first duplexing mode;

detecting a trigger event within at least one of the plurality of networking devices;

determining a second duplexing mode based at least in part on the detection of the trigger event;

distributing information about a transition from the first duplexing mode to the second duplexing mode to at least a portion of the plurality of networking devices; and

operating the network in the second duplexing mode;

wherein;

the network comprises an uplink physical channel characterized by at least an uplink frequency resource, and a downlink physical channel characterized by at least a downlink frequency resource;

the first duplexing mode is configured to utilize the entire uplink frequency resource and the entire downlink frequency resource; and

the second duplexing mode is configured to utilize at least a portion of the uplink frequency resource by allocating a plurality of uplink subframes and one or more guard subframe, and at least a portion of the downlink frequency resource by allocating a plurality of downlink subframes and one or more guard subframe;

where the first duplexing mode comprises a full-duplex frequency division duplexing (FDD) mode, and the second duplexing mode comprises a half-duplex FDD mode; and

the trigger event comprises a falling timing advance (TA) value,

wherein the falling TA value corresponds to a length of time a user equipment (UE) has to advance its timing of uplink (UL) transmission and is sent by an eNodeB to the UE according to a perceived propagation delay of UL transmissions,

wherein the falling TA value comprises a decreased value relative to a previous TA value and is used to compare with a threshold in order to decide whether to change the first duplexing mode to the second duplexing mode.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the half-duplex FDD mode comprises a semi-static half-duplex FDD mode characterized by a predetermined transmission pattern comprising a plurality of periodically alternating uplink transmission cycles and downlink uplink transmission cycles.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the information comprises data related to the predetermined transmission pattern.