Patent ID: 7787412
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of obtaining a relative indicator for use in scheduling uplink transmissions from a plurality of user equipments to a base station, the relative indicator indicating a status of a user equipment relative to a status of the other user equipments, the method comprising the steps of: i) determining, for each user equipment, a first indicator which is indicative of a status of that user equipment; ii) determining one or more second indicators from the first indicators for the user equipments obtained in step i), wherein at least one said second indicator relates to buffer status of the user equipments; iii) broadcasting one, or each of said second indicators which relates relate to buffer status of the user equipments; and iv) determining, for a given user equipment, a relative indicator from the first indicator obtained for that user equipment and from one of the second indicators determined in step ii) or a second indicator determined previously.