(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2008/0254804 A1
`Lohr et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Oct. 16, 2008
`
`US 20080254804A1
`
`(54) SCHEDULING OF MOBILE TERMINALS INA
`MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`75) Inventors:
`(75)
`
`Joachim Lohr, Langen (DE);
`Hitoshi Iochi, Ot E. began
`Petrovic, Langen (DE)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`DCKNSON WRIGHT PLLC
`1901 L STREET NW, SUITE 800
`WASHINGTON, DC 20036 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee:
`
`MATSHSHTAELECTRIC
`INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD.,
`OSAKA (JP)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`11/909,981
`
`(22) PCT Filed:
`
`Feb. 7, 2006
`
`(86). PCT No.:
`
`PCT/EP2006/OO1060
`
`S371 (c)(1),
`(2), (4) Date:
`
`May 9, 2008
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(30)
`Apr. 1, 2005 (EP) .................................. 05.007165.3
`O
`O
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04O 7/20
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................................................ 455/442
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`The invention relates to a method for scheduling mobile ter
`minals within a mobile communication network and to a base
`station performing this method. Further, the invention relates
`to a method for acting upon the reception of scheduling grants
`in a mobile communication system and to a mobile terminal
`performing this method. To allow the serving cell to control
`resource utilization for uplink transmissions of UEs in soft
`handover, without thereby decreasing the system throughput
`of UEs in the serving cell which are not in soft-handover, the
`invention proposes to use control information transmitted via
`a shared absolute grant channel to the UEs along with an
`absolute grant, wherein the control information indicate
`whether the absolute grant is valid for mobile terminals in
`soft-handover only.
`
`
`
`
`
`from
`
`1202 or 1210
`
`1211
`
`DOWN"
`received from
`non-serving cel?
`
`yes
`
`
`
`MAX SG = PR - delta
`
`SG = MAXSG
`
`happy bit Setting
`decision
`
`-- power statuS
`-- buffer Occupancy
`-- PR, MAXSG
`
`1213
`
`124
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Select TF for current
`SG value
`
`
`
`1216
`
`
`
`
`
`transmit uplink data with
`selected TF and associated
`Control information
`(inter alia TFCl, happy bit)
`
`to
`
`1202
`
`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Oct. 16, 2008 Sheet 1 of 9
`
`US 2008/0254804 A1
`
`O2
`
`COre Network
`
`103
`
`Fig. 1
`
`
`
`101
`
`Core network
`
`
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Oct. 16, 2008 Sheet 2 of 9
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`US 2008/0254804 A1
`
`101
`
`Core network
`
`103
`
`RLC and higher layer entities
`
`
`
`
`
`physical layer
`
`Fig. 4
`
`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`-
`
`-
`
`
`
`
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`LEEFTIÐp?ET] ndd OTNH010 HO10] HOOG]0TH
`
`
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Oct. 16, 2008 Sheet 4 of 9
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`US 2008/0254804 A1
`
`from MAC-d
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`i
`
`MAC Control
`
`E-TFC Selection
`
`P
`
`multiplexing &
`TSN setting
`
`
`
`------- al
`
`92
`9.
`S.---------
`v
`asSociated Scheduling
`downlink signalling
`(E-AGCH (ERGCH(s))
`
`- - - - - - - - - :
`
`associated ACK E-DCH associated uplink
`NACK signatting
`signalling E-TFC
`(E-HICH)
`(E-DPCCH)
`
`Fig. 6
`
`
`
`to MAC-es
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`E-DCH
`Scheduling
`
`E-DCH
`Control
`
`
`
`MAC Control
`
`i
`
`associated uplink associated downlink
`signalling
`signalling
`(E-HICH, E-DPCCH) (E-AGCH, E-RGCH(s))
`
`Fig. 8
`
`
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Oct. 16, 2008 Sheet 5 of 9
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`US 2008/0254804 A1
`
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`
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`US 2008/0254804 A1
`
`to MAC-d
`
`to MAC-d
`
`to MAC-d
`
`disassembly
`
`disassembly
`
`disassembly
`
`MAC Control
`
`reordering
`Combining
`
`reordering
`Combining
`
`reordering
`combining
`
`----
`
`MAC-d flow#1 It
`
`KI. MAC-d flow in
`
`from MAC-e
`of Node B #1
`
`from MAC-e
`of Node Bik
`
`Fig. 9
`
`RG interpreted relative
`to the previous TT in the
`
`HARQ process (no. 1) - N
`
`E-DCH SN 2
`
`
`
`scheduling decision
`
`3
`
`4 NN 2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`time
`Fig. 10
`
`
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Oct. 16, 2008 Sheet 7 of 9
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`US 2008/0254804 A1
`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Oct. 16, 2008 Sheet 8 of 9
`
`US 2008/0254804 A1
`
`(9%)
`
`
`
`
`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Oct. 16, 2008 Sheet 9 of 9
`
`US 2008/0254804 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`from Fig 12, 1202 or 1210
`
`1211
`
`DOWN"
`received from
`non-serving cel?
`
`yes
`
`
`
`MAXSG = PR-delta
`
`SG := MAXSG
`
`happy bit Setting
`decision
`
`-- power status
`-- buffer OCCupancy
`-- PR, MAXSG
`
`1213
`
`1214
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Select TF for Current
`SG value
`
`
`
`1216
`
`
`
`
`
`transmit uplink data with
`Selected TF and associated
`COntrol information
`(inter alia TFCl, happy bit)
`
`to Fig 12, 1202
`
`Fig. 13
`
`
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`Oct. 16, 2008
`
`SCHEDULING OF MOBILE TERMINALS INA
`MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`0001. The invention relates to a method for scheduling
`mobile terminals within a mobile communication network
`and to a base station performing this method. Further, the
`invention relates to a method for acting upon the reception of
`scheduling grants in a mobile communication system and to a
`mobile terminal performing this method.
`
`TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
`
`0002 W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple
`Access) is a radio interface for IMT-2000 (International
`Mobile Communication), which was standardized for use as
`the 3' generation wireless mobile telecommunication sys
`tem. It provides a variety of services such as Voice services
`and multimedia mobile communication services in a flexible
`and efficient way. The standardization bodies in Japan,
`Europe, USA, and other countries have jointly organized a
`project called the 3' Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
`to produce common radio interface specifications for
`W-CDMA
`0003. The standardized European version of IMT-2000 is
`commonly called UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommuni
`cation System). The first release of the specification of UMTS
`has been published in 1999 (Release 99). In the mean time
`several improvements to the standard have been standardized
`by the 3GPP in Release 4 and Release 5 and discussion on
`further improvements is ongoing under the scope of Release
`6
`0004. The dedicated channel (DCH) for downlink and
`uplink and the downlink shared channel (DSCH) have been
`defined in Release 99 and Release 4. In the following years,
`the developers recognized that for providing multimedia Ser
`vices—or data services in general high speed asymmetric
`access had to be implemented. In Release 5 the high-speed
`downlink packet access (HSDPA) was introduced. The new
`high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) provides
`downlink high-speed access to the user from the UMTS
`Radio Access Network (RAN) to the communication termi
`nals, called user equipments in the UMTS specifications.
`
`Hybrid ARQ Schemes
`0005. A common technique for error detection and correc
`tion in packet transmission systems over unreliable channels
`is called hybrid Automatic Repeat request (HARQ). Hybrid
`ARQ is a combination of Forward Error Correction (FEC)
`and ARQ.
`0006 If a FEC encoded packet is transmitted and the
`receiver fails to decode the packet correctly (errors are com
`monly detected based on a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy
`Check)), the receiver requests a retransmission of the packet.
`Commonly the transmission of additional information is
`called “retransmission (of a packet), although this retrans
`mission does not necessarily mean a transmission of the same
`encoded information, but could also mean the transmission of
`any information belonging to the packet (e.g. additional
`redundancy information).
`0007 Depending on the information (generally code-bits/
`symbols), of which the transmission is composed of, and
`
`depending on how the receiver processes the information, the
`following hybrid ARQ schemes are defined:
`HARQ Type I
`0008 If the receiver fails to decode a packet correctly, the
`information of the encoded packet is discarded and a retrans
`mission is requested. This implies that all transmissions are
`decoded separately. Generally, retransmissions contain iden
`tical information (code-bits/symbols) to the initial transmis
`S1O.
`
`HARQ Type II
`0009. If the receiver fails to decode a packet correctly, a
`retransmission is requested, where the receiver Stores the
`information of the (erroneous received) encoded packet as
`soft information (soft-bits/symbols). This implies that a soft
`buffer is required at the receiver. Retransmissions can be
`composed out of identical, partly identical or non-identical
`information (code-bits/symbols) according to the same
`packet as earlier transmissions.
`0010 When receiving a retransmission the receiver com
`bines the stored information from the soft-buffer and the
`currently received information and tries to decode the packet
`based on the combined information. The receiver may also try
`to decode the transmission individually, however generally
`performance increases when combining transmissions.
`0011. The combining of transmissions refers to so-called
`soft-combining, where multiple received code-bits/symbols
`are likelihood combined and solely received code-bits/sym
`bols are code combined. Common methods for soft-combin
`ing are Maximum Ratio Combining (MRC) of received
`modulation symbols and log-likelihood-ratio (LLR) combin
`ing (LLR combing only works for code-bits).
`0012 Type II schemes are more sophisticated than Type I
`schemes, since the probability for correct reception of a
`packet increases with receive retransmissions. This increase
`comes at the cost of a required hybrid ARQ soft-buffer at the
`receiver. This scheme can be used to perform dynamic link
`adaptation by controlling the amount of information to be
`retransmitted.
`0013 E.g. if the receiver detects that decoding has been
`"almost successful, it can request only a small piece of
`information for the next retransmission (smaller number of
`code-bits/symbols than in previous transmission) to be trans
`mitted. In this case it might happen that it is even theoretically
`not possible to decode the packet correctly by only consider
`ing this retransmission by itself (non-self-decodable retrans
`missions).
`
`HARQ Type III
`0014. This is a subset of Type II with the restriction that
`each transmission must be self-decodable.
`
`Packet Scheduling
`Packet scheduling may be a radio resource manage
`00.15
`ment algorithm used for allocating transmission opportuni
`ties and transmission formats to the users admitted to a shared
`medium. Scheduling may be used in packet based mobile
`radio networks in combination with adaptive modulation and
`coding to maximize throughput/capacity by e.g. allocating
`transmission opportunities to the users in favorable channel
`conditions. The packet data service in UMTS may be appli
`cable for the interactive and background traffic classes,
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`
`though it may also be used for streaming services. Traffic
`belonging to the interactive and background classes is treated
`as non real time (NRT) traffic and is controlled by the packet
`scheduler. The packet scheduling methodologies can be char
`acterized by:
`0016 Scheduling period/frequency: The period over
`which users are scheduled ahead in time.
`0017 Serve order: The order in which users are served,
`e.g. random order (round robin) or according to channel
`quality (C/I or throughput based).
`0018 Allocation method: The criterion for allocating
`resources, e.g. same data amount or same power/code/
`time resources for all queued users per allocation inter
`val.
`0019. The packet scheduler for uplink is distributed
`between Radio Network Controller (RNC) and user equip
`ment in 3GPP UMTS R99/R4/R5. On the uplink, the air
`interface resource to be shared by different users is the total
`received power at a Node B, and consequently the task of the
`scheduler is to allocate the power among the user equipment
`(s). In current UMTS R99/R4/R5 specifications the RNC
`controls the maximum rate/power a user equipment is
`allowed to transmit during uplink transmission by allocating
`a set of different transport formats (modulation scheme, code
`rate, etc.) to each user equipment.
`0020. The establishment and reconfiguration of such a
`TFCS (transport format combination set) may be accom
`plished using Radio Resource Control (RRC) messaging
`between RNC and user equipment. The user equipment is
`allowed to autonomously choose among the allocated trans
`port format combinations based on its own status e.g. avail
`able power and buffer status. In current UMTS R99/R4/R5
`specifications there is no control on time imposed on the
`uplink user equipment transmissions. The scheduler may e.g.
`operate on transmission time interval basis. UMTS Architec
`ture
`0021. The high level R99/4/5 architecture of Universal
`Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) is shown in
`FIG. 1 (see 3GPP TR 25.401: “UTRAN Overall Descrip
`tion', available from http://www.3gpp.org). The networkele
`ments are functionally grouped into the Core Network (CN)
`101, the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN)
`102 and the User Equipment (UE) 103. The UTRAN 102 is
`responsible for handling all radio-related functionality, while
`the CN 101 is responsible for routing calls and data connec
`tions to external networks. The interconnections of these
`network elements are defined by open interfaces (Iu, Uu). It
`should be noted that UMTS system is modular and it is
`therefore possible to have several network elements of the
`same type.
`0022. In the sequel two different architectures will be dis
`cussed. They are defined with respect to logical distribution of
`functions across network elements. In actual network deploy
`ment, each architecture may have different physical realiza
`tions meaning that two or more network elements may be
`combined into a single physical node.
`0023 FIG. 2 illustrates the current architecture of
`UTRAN. A number of Radio Network Controllers (RNCs)
`201, 202 are connected to the CN 101. Each RNC 201, 202
`controls one or several base stations (Node Bs) 203, 204, 205,
`206, which in turn communicate with the user equipments.
`An RNC controlling several base stations is called Control
`ling RNC (C-RNC) for these base stations. A set of controlled
`base stations accompanied by their C-RNC is referred to as
`
`Radio Network Subsystem (RNS) 207, 208. For each con
`nection between User Equipment and the UTRAN, one RNS
`is the Serving RNS (S-RNS). It maintains the so-called Iu
`connection with the Core Network (CN) 101. When required,
`the Drift RNS 302 (D-RNS) 302 supports the Serving RNS
`(S-RNS) 301 by providing radio resources as shown in FIG.
`3. Respective RNCs are called Serving RNC (S-RNC) and
`Drift RNC (D-RNC). It is also possible and often the case that
`C-RNC and D-RNC are identical and therefore abbreviations
`S-RNC or RNC are used.
`
`Mobility Management Within Rel99/415 UTRAN
`0024. Before explaining some procedures connected to
`mobility management, some terms frequently used in the
`following are defined first.
`0025 A radio link may be defined as a logical association
`between single UE and a single UTRAN access point. Its
`physical realization comprises radio bearer transmissions.
`0026. A handover may be understood as a transfer of a UE
`connection from one radio bearer to another (hard handover)
`with a temporary break in connection or inclusion/exclusion
`of a radio bearer to/from UE connection so that UE is con
`stantly connected UTRAN (soft handover). Soft handover is
`specific for networks employing Code Division Multiple
`Access (CDMA) technology. Handover execution may con
`trolled by S-RNC in the mobile radio network when taking
`the present UTRAN architecture as an example.
`0027. The active set associated to a UE comprises a set of
`radio links simultaneously involved in a specific communi
`cation service between UE and radio network. An active set
`update procedure may be employed to modify the active set of
`the communication between UE and UTRAN, for example
`during soft-handover. The procedure may comprise three
`functions: radio link addition, radio link removal and com
`bined radio link addition and removal. The maximum number
`of simultaneous radio links is set to eight. New radio links are
`added to the active set once the pilot signal strengths of
`respective base stations exceed certain threshold relative to
`the pilot signal of the strongest member within active set.
`0028. A radio link is removed from the active set once the
`pilot signal strength of the respective base station exceeds
`certain threshold relative to the strongest member of the
`active set. Threshold for radio link addition is typically cho
`sen to be higher than that for the radio link deletion. Hence,
`addition and removal events form a hysteresis with respect to
`pilot signal strengths.
`0029 Pilot signal measurements may be reported to the
`network (e.g. to S-RNC) from UE by means of RRC signal
`ing. Before sending measurement results, some filtering is
`usually performed to average out the fast fading. Typical
`filtering duration may be about 200 ms contributing to han
`dover delay. Based on measurement results, the network (e.g.
`S-RNC) may decide to trigger the execution of one of the
`functions of active set update procedure (addition/removal of
`a Node B to/from current Active Set).
`
`Enhanced Uplink Dedicated Channel (E-DCH)
`0030 Uplink enhancements for Dedicated Transport
`Channels (DTCH) are currently studied by the 3GPP Tech
`nical Specification Group RAN (see 3GPP TR 25.896: “Fea
`sibility Study for Enhanced Uplink for UTRA FDD (Release
`6)', available at http://www.3gpp.org). Since the use of IP
`based services become more important, there is an increasing
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`demand to improve the coverage and throughput of the RAN
`as well as to reduce the delay of the uplink dedicated transport
`channels. Streaming, interactive and background services
`could benefit from this enhanced uplink.
`0031 One enhancement is the usage of adaptive modula
`tion and coding schemes (AMC) in connection with Node B
`controlled scheduling, thus an enhancement of the Uu inter
`face. In the existing R99/R4/R5 system the uplink maximum
`data rate control resides in the RNC. By relocating the sched
`uler in the Node B the latency introduced due to signaling on
`the interface between RNC and Node B may be reduced and
`thus the scheduler may be able to respond faster to temporal
`changes in the uplink load. This may reduce the overall
`latency in communications of the user equipment with the
`RAN. Therefore Node B controlled scheduling is capable of
`better controlling the uplink interference and Smoothing the
`noise rise variance by allocating higher data rates quickly
`when the uplink load decreases and respectively by restricting
`the uplink data rates when the uplink load increases. The
`coverage and cell throughput may be improved by a better
`control of the uplink interference.
`0032. Another technique, which may be considered to
`reduce the delay on the uplink, is introducing a shorter TTI
`(Transmission Time Interval) length for the E-DCH com
`pared to other transport channels. A transmission time inter
`Val length of 2 mS is currently investigated for use on the
`E-DCH, while a transmission time interval of 10 ms is com
`monly used on the other channels. Hybrid ARQ, which was
`one of the key technologies in HSDPA, is also considered for
`the enhanced uplink dedicated channel. The Hybrid ARQ
`protocol between a Node B and a user equipment allows for
`rapid retransmissions of erroneously received data units, and
`may thus reduce the number of RLC (Radio Link Control)
`retransmissions and the associated delays. This may improve
`the quality of service experienced by the end user.
`0033. To support enhancements described above, a new
`MAC sub-layer is introduced which will be called MAC-e in
`the following (see 3GPP TSG RAN WG1, meeting #31, Taoc
`R01-030284, “Scheduled and Autonomous Mode Operation
`for the Enhanced Uplink”). The entities of this new sub-layer,
`which will be described in more detail in the following sec
`tions, may be located in user equipment and Node B. On user
`equipment side, the MAC-e performs the new task of multi
`plexing upper layer data (e.g. MAC-d) data into the new
`enhanced transport channels and operating HARQ protocol
`transmitting entities.
`0034) Further, the MAC-e sub-layer may be terminated in
`the S-RNC during handover at the UTRAN side. Thus, the
`reordering buffer for the reordering functionality provided
`may also reside in the S-RNC.
`
`E-DCH MAC Architecture UE Side
`0035 FIG. 4 shows the exemplary overall E-DCH MAC
`architecture on UE side. A new MAC functional entity, the
`MAC-eles, is added to the MAC architecture of Release 99.
`0036. The MAC interworking on the UE side is illustrated
`in FIG. 5. There are M different data flows (MAC-d) carrying
`data packets from different applications to be transmitted
`from UE to Node B. These data flows can have different QoS
`requirements (e.g. delay and error requirements) and may
`require different configuration of HARQ instances. Each
`MAC-d flow represents a logical unit to which specific physi
`cal channel (e.g. gain factor) and HARO (e.g. maximum
`number of retransmissions) attributes can be assigned.
`
`0037. Further, MAC-d multiplexing is supported for an
`E-DCH, i.e. several logical channels with different priorities
`may be multiplexed onto the same MAC-d flow. Data of
`multiple MAC-d flows can be multiplexed in one MAC-e
`PDU. In the MAC-e header, the DDI (Data Description Indi
`cator) field identifies logical channel, MAC-d flow and
`MAC-d PDU size. A mapping table is signaled over RRC, to
`allow the UE to set DDI values. The N field indicates the
`number of consecutive MAC-d PDUs corresponding to the
`same DDI value.
`0038. The MAC-eles entity is depicted in more detail in
`FIG. 6. The MAC-es?e handles the E-DCH specific functions.
`The selection of an appropriate transport format for the trans
`mission of data on E-DCH is done in the E-TFC Selection
`entity, which represents a function entity. The transport for
`mat selection is done according to the scheduling information
`(Relative Grants and Absolute Grants) received from
`UTRAN via L1, the available transmit power, priorities, e.g.
`logical channel priorities. The HARQ entity handles the
`retransmission functionality for the user. One HARQ entity
`supports multiple HARQ processes. The HARQ entity
`handles all HARQ related functionalities required. The mul
`tiplexing entity is responsible for concatenating multiple
`MAC-d PDUs into MAC-es PDUs, and to multiplex one or
`multiple MAC-es PDUs into a single MAC-e PDU, to be
`transmitted at the next TTI, and as instructed by the E-TFC
`selection function. It is also responsible for managing and
`setting the TSN per logical channel for each MAC-es PDU.
`The MAC-eles entity receives scheduling information from
`Node B (network side) via Layer 1 signaling as shown in FIG.
`6. Absolute grants are received on E-AGCH (Enhanced Abso
`lute Grant Channel), relative grants are received on the
`E-RGCH (Enhanced Relative Grant Channel).
`
`E-DCH MAC Architecture UTRAN Side
`
`0039. An exemplary overall UTRAN MAC architecture is
`shown in FIG. 7. The UTRAN MAC architecture includes a
`MAC-e entity and a MAC-es entity. For each UE that uses an
`E-DCH, one MAC-e entity per Node-B and one MAC-es
`entity in the S-RNC are configured.
`0040. The MAC-e entity is located in the Node B and
`controls access to the E-DCH. Further, the MAC-e entity is
`connected to MAC-es located in the S-RNC.
`0041. In FIG. 8 the MAC-e entity in Node B is depicted in
`more detail. There is one MAC-e entity in Node B for each UE
`and one E-DCH scheduler function in the Node-B for all UEs.
`The MAC-e entity and E-DCH scheduler handle HSUPA
`(High-Speed Uplink Packet Access) specific functions in
`Node B. The E-DCH scheduling entity manages E-DCH cell
`resources between UES. Commonly, scheduling assignments
`are determined and transmitted based on Scheduling requests
`from the UEs. The De-multiplexing entity in the MAC-e
`entity provides de-multiplexing of MAC-e PDUs. MAC-es
`PDUs are then forwarded to the MAC-esentity in the S-RNC.
`0042. One HARQ entity is capable of supporting multiple
`instances (HARO processes), e.g. employing a stop and wait
`HARO protocols. Each HARQ process is assigned a certain
`amount of the soft buffer memory for combining the bits of
`the packets from outstanding retransmissions. Furthermore
`each process is responsible for generating ACKs or NACKs
`indicating delivery status of E-DCH transmissions. The
`HARO entity handles all tasks that are required for the HARQ
`protocol.
`
`
`Ex.1009 / Page 13 of 25Ex.1009 / Page 13 of 25
`
`TESLA, INC.TESLA, INC.
`
`

`

`US 2008/0254804 A1
`
`Oct. 16, 2008
`
`0043. In FIG.9 the MAC-es entity in the S-RNC is shown.
`It comprises the reordering buffer which provides in-se
`quence delivery to RLC and handles the combining of data
`from different Node Bs in case of soft handover. The com
`bining is referred to as Macro diversity selection combining.
`0044. It should be noted that the required soft buffer size
`depends on the used HARQ scheme, e.g. an HARQ scheme
`using incremental redundancy (IR) requires more soft buffer
`than one with chase combining (CC).
`
`E-DCH-Node B Controlled Scheduling
`0045 Node B controlled scheduling is one of the technical
`features for E-DCH which may enable more efficient use of
`the uplink resources in order to provide a higher cell through
`put in the uplink and may increase the coverage. The term
`“Node B controlled scheduling denotes the possibility for a
`Node B to control uplink resources, e.g. the E-DPDCH/
`DPCCH power ratio, which the UE may use for uplink trans
`missions on the E-DCH within limits set by the S-RNC. Node
`B controlled scheduling is based on uplink and downlink
`control signaling together with a set of rules on how the UE
`should behave with respect to this signaling.
`0046. In the downlink, a resource indication (scheduling
`grant) is required to indicate to the UE the (maximum)
`amount of uplink resources it may use. When issuing sched
`uling grants, the Node B may use QoS-related information
`provided by the S-RNC and from the UE in the scheduling
`requests to determine the appropriate allocation of resources
`for servicing the UE at the requested QoS parameters.
`0047. For the UMTS E-DCH, there are commonly two
`different UE scheduling modes defined depending on the type
`of scheduling grants used. In the following the characteristics
`of the scheduling grants are described.
`
`Scheduling Grants
`0048 Scheduling grants are signaled in the downlink in
`order to indicate the (maximum) resource the UE may use for
`uplink transmissions. The grants affect the selection of a
`suitable transport format (TF) for the transmission on the
`E-DCH (E-TFC selection). However, they usually do not
`influence the TFC selection (Transport Format Combination)
`for legacy dedicated channels.
`0049. There are commonly two types of scheduling grants
`which are used for the Node B controlled scheduling:
`0050 absolute grants (AGs), and
`0051
`relative grants (RGs)
`0052. The absolute grants provide an absolute limitation
`of the maximum amount of uplink resources the UE is
`allowed to use for uplink transmissions. Absolute grants are
`especially Suitable to rapidly change the allocated UL
`SOUCS.
`0053 Relative grants are transmitted every TTI (Trans
`mission Time Interval). They may be used to adapt the allo
`cated uplink resources indicated by absolute grants by granu
`lar adjustments: A relative grant indicates the UE to increase
`or decrease the previously allowed maximum uplink
`resources by a certain offset (step).
`0054 Absolute grants are only signaled from the E-DCH
`serving cell. Relative grants can be signaled from the serving
`cell as well as from a non-serving cell. The E-DCH serving
`cell denotes the entity (e.g. Node B) actively allocating uplink
`resources to UEs controlled by this serving cell, whereas a
`
`non-serving cell can only limit the allocated uplink resources,
`set by the serving cell. Each UE has only one serving cell.
`0055 Absolute grants may be valid for a single UE. An
`absolute grant valid for a single UE is referred to in the
`following as a "dedicated grant. Alternatively, an absolute
`grant may also be valid for a group of or all UEs within a cell.
`An absolute grant valid for a group of or all UEs will be
`referred to as a “common grant' in the following. The UE
`does not distinguish between common and dedicated grants.
`0056 Relative grants can be sent from serving cell as well
`as from a non-serving cell as already mentioned before. A
`relative grant signaled from the serving cell may indicate one
`of the three values, “UP”, “HOLD and “DOWN’. “UP”
`respectively "DOWN’ indicates the increase/decrease of the
`previously maximum used uplink resources (maximum
`power ratio) by one step. Relative grants from a non-serving
`cell can either signala"HOLD" or “DOWN’ command to the
`UE. As mentioned before relative grants from non-serving
`cells can only limit the uplink resources set by the serving cell
`(overload indicator) but can not increase the resources that
`can be used by a UE.
`UE Scheduling Operation
`0057 Two different UE scheduling mode operations are
`defined for E-DCH, “RG' based and “non-RG' based mode
`of operation.
`0058. In the RG based mode, the UE obeys relative grants
`from the E-DCH serving cell. The RG based scheduling mode
`is also often referred to as the dedicated rate control mode,
`because the scheduling grants usually address a single UE in
`the most cases.
`0059. In the following the UE behavior in this RG based
`scheduling mode is described. The UE maintains a serving
`grant (SG) for each HARQ process. The serving grant indi
`cates the maximum power ratio (E-DPDCH/DPCCH) the UE
`is allowed to use for transmissions on the E-DCH and is for
`the selection of an appropriate TFC during E-TFC selection.
`The serving grant is updated by the scheduling grants sig
`naled from serving/non-serving cells. When the UE receives
`an absolute grant from the serving cell the serving grant is set
`to the power ratio signaled in the absolute grant. The absolute
`grant can be valid for each HARQ process or only for one
`HARO process.
`0060. When no absolute grant is received from the serving
`cell the UE should follow the relative grants from the serving
`cell, which are signaled every TTI. A serving relative grant is
`interpreted relative to the UE power ratio in the previous TTI
`for the same hybrid ARQ process as the transmission, which
`the relative grant will affect. FIG. 10 illustrates the timing
`relation for relative grants. In FIG. 10 it is assumed for exem
`plary purposes that there are four HARQ processes. The
`relative grant received by the UE, which affects the serving
`grant of the first HARQ process, is relative to the first HARQ
`process of the previous TTI (reference process).
`0061 The UE behavior in accordance to serving E-DCH
`relative grants is shown in the following:
`0062. When the UE receives an “UP command from
`Serving E-DCH Radio Link Set (RLS):
`0063 New SG, Last used power ratio (i)+Delta;
`0064. When the UE receives a “DOWN’ command
`from Serving E-DCH RLS:
`0065 New SG, Last used power ratio (i)-Delta;
`0066. The “UP and “DOWN’ command is relative to the
`power ratio used