Reducing battery consumption at a user equipment

The present disclosure presents a method and an apparatus for reducing battery consumption at a user equipment (UE). For example, the method may include configuring a 10 ms transmission mode on an uplink (UL) channel at the UE, indicating configuration of the 10 ms transmission mode to a base station in communication with the UE, compressing a 20 ms transmission associated with a 20 ms transmission time interval (TTI) into a 10 ms compressed transmission, transmitting the 10 ms compressed transmission during a first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI, and performing a discontinuous transmission (DTX) of the UL channel during a second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. As such, reduced battery consumption at a UE may be achieved.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to reducing battery consumption at a user equipment (UE).

Circuit-switched W-CDMA voice communications are performed over a dedicated channel (DCH). The DCH for voice is comprised of two logical channels, a dedicated traffic channel (DTCH) with a 20 ms transmission time interval (TTI) and a dedicated control channel (DCCH) with a 40 ms TTI. A dedicated physical control channel (DPCCH) carries control information generated at the physical layer, e.g., pilot, power control, and rate bits. The operation of these channels consumes battery power at a user equipment (UE), thereby reducing the time the UE can operate on battery power.

Thus, there is a desire for reducing battery consumption at the UE during operation of these channels.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure presents an example method and apparatus for reducing battery consumption at a user equipment (UE). For example, the present disclosure presents an example method for configuring a 10 ms transmission mode on an uplink (UL) channel at the UE, indicating configuration of the 10 ms transmission mode to a base station in communication with the UE, compressing a 20 ms transmission associated with a 20 ms transmission time interval (TTI) into a 10 ms compressed transmission, transmitting the 10 ms compressed transmission during a first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI, and performing a discontinuous transmission (DTX) of the UL channel during a second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI.

Additionally, the present disclosure presents an example apparatus for reducing battery consumption at a user equipment (UE) that may include means for configuring a 10 ms transmission mode on an uplink (UL) channel at the UE, means for indicating configuration of the 10 ms transmission mode to a base station in communication with the UE, means for compressing a 20 ms transmission associated with a 20 ms transmission time interval (TTI) into a 10 ms compressed transmission, means for transmitting the 10 ms compressed transmission during a first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI, and means for performing a discontinuous transmission (DTX) of the UL channel during a second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI

In a further aspect, the presents disclosure presents an example non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable code for reducing battery consumption at a user equipment (UE) that may include code for configuring a 10 ms transmission mode on an uplink (UL) channel at the UE, code for indicating configuration of the 10 ms transmission mode to a base station in communication with the UE, code for compressing a 20 ms transmission associated with a 20 ms transmission time interval (TTI) into a 10 ms compressed transmission, code for transmitting the 10 ms compressed transmission during a first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI, and code for performing a discontinuous transmission (DTX) of the UL channel during a second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI.

Furthermore, in an aspect, the present disclosure presents an example apparatus for reducing battery consumption at a user equipment (UE) that may include a transmission mode configuring component to configure a 10 ms transmission mode on an uplink (UL) channel at the UE, a transmission mode indicating component to indicate configuration of the 10 ms transmission mode to a base station in communication with the UE, a compression component to compress a 20 ms transmission associated with a 20 ms transmission time interval (TTI) into a 10 ms compressed transmission, a transmission component to transmit the 10 ms compressed transmission during a first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI, and a discontinuous transmission (DTX) component to perform a discontinuous transmission (DTX) of the UL channel during a second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for reducing battery consumption at a user equipment (UE) during operation of a dedicated channel (DCH) by configuring a 10 ms transmission mode on an uplink (UL) at the UE, indicating configuration of the 10 ms transmission mode to a base station in communication with the UE, compressing a 20 ms transmission associated with a 20 ms transmission time interval (TTI) into a 10 ms compressed transmission, transmitting the 10 ms compressed transmission during a first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI, and performing a discontinuous transmission (DTX) of the UL channel during a second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI.

Referring toFIG. 1, a wireless communication system100is illustrated that facilitates reducing battery consumption at a user equipment (UE). For example, system100includes a UE102that may communicate with a network entity110and/or base station via one or more over-the-air links114and/or116. For example, UE102may communicate with base station112on an uplink (UL)114and/or a downlink (DL)116. The UL114is generally used for communication from UE102to base station112and/or the DL116is generally used for communication from base station112to UE102.

In an aspect, network entity110may include one or more of any type of network components, for example, an access point, including a base station (BS) or Node B or eNode B or a femto cell, a relay, a peer-to-peer device, an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server, a mobile switching center (MSC), a radio network controller (RNC), etc., that can enable UE102to communicate and/or establish and maintain wireless communication links114and/or116, which may include a communication session over a frequency or a band of frequencies that form a communication channel, to communicate with network entity110and/or base station112. In an additional aspect, for example, base station112may operate according to a radio access technology (RAT) standard, e.g., GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA, HSPA or a long term evolution (LTE).

In an additional aspect, UE102may be a mobile apparatus and may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a terminal, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology.

In an aspect, UE102may be configured to include a configuration manager104to configure a transmission mode106of an uplink (UL) channel at the UE. For example, in an aspect, configuration manager104may configure the transmission mode of a UL channel (e.g., dedicated physical control channel (DPCCH)) in a 10 ms transmission mode or a 20 ms transmission mode, where the value 10 ms or 20 ms indicates a duration of a transmission for the respective mode. In the present disclosure, the terms uplink (UL) and UL channel may be used interchangeably, and in an aspect, the UL or the UL channel may include, but is not limited to, an UL DPCCH. The UE uses the configured transmission mode for transmitting data on the UL (e.g., link114) from UE102to network entity110and/or base station112. In an aspect, the UL channel used for transmission in the 10 ms or 20 ms transmission mode may be a UL DPCCH that carries control information, e.g., pilot, power control, and rate bits, generated at the physical layer.

In an aspect, when configuration manager104configures UE102to operate in the 10 ms transmission mode, UE102may compress a 20 ms transmission associated with a 20 ms transmission time interval (TTI) into a 10 ms compressed transmission, and transmit the compressed transmission during a first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. Further, the UE may perform a discontinuous transmission (DTX) of the UL channel during a second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI

In an additional or optional aspect, configuration manager104may configure UE102to receive a downlink (DL) dedicated physical channel (DPCH) during the whole duration of the 20 ms TTI or only during the first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. In a further additional aspect, configuration manager may configure UE102to suspend transmission of TPC commands to the base station during the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI as the UE may be in a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode during the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI.

Additional aspects, which may be performed in combination with the above aspects or independently thereto, are discussed below and may lead to further battery-efficient operation of UE102.

FIG. 2illustrates an example aspect of a frame structure200of radio frames for downlink channel202and uplink channel224associated with UE102operating in a 10 ms transmission mode with an early block error rate (BLER) target of 1% at slot15, always-on DL DPCH, and suspended inner loop power control (ILPC), in a DL frame early termination-less (FET-less) operation of a dedicated channel (DCH).

In an aspect, configuration manager104may configure UE102to operate in a 10 ms transmission mode240during transmission of a first voice frame (e.g., a 20 ms voice frame) that includes a first 10 ms radio frame204(e.g., radio frame1) and a second 10 ms radio frame208(e.g., radio frame2) on UL to base station112. UE102may indicate (e.g., notify) the configured transmission mode240to base station112by transmitting a transport format combination indicator (TFCI)226in the first 10 ms radio frame204on UL DPCCH224. In wireless networks, TFCI226may be used to indicate or inform the receiving side (e.g., base station112) of the current transport format combination (TFC) and how to decode, de-multiplex, and deliver the received data on the appropriate transport channels.

For example, in an aspect, a most significant bit (MSB) of TFCI226may be set to a value of 1 to indicate the UE is configured for transmission in the 10 ms transmission mode. In an additional or optional aspect, the MSB of TFCI may be set to a value of 0 (at228) to indicate the UE is configured for transmission in the 20 ms transmission mode242, e.g., for transmitting a second voice frame (e.g., a 20 ms voice frame) that includes radio frame3(212) and radio frame4(216). In a further additional or optional aspect, two different blocks of TFCI values may be used to identify the two different transmission modes (e.g., 10 ms and 20 ms transmission modes).

In an additional aspect, TFCI values may be sent using a shorter code over the first few slots, e.g., using the first 10 slots and a punctured code obtained by puncturing the R99 TFCI encoder. This may give base station112sufficient time to decode the TFCI values and identify whether the UE is in a 10 ms transmission mode or in a 20 ms transmission mode. In an optional aspect, dedicated physical control channel (DPCCH) of R99 may be used, and base station112may only collect the information about TFCI values over the first, e.g.,10, slots to decode the TFCI values early.

In an aspect, UE102may dynamically switch between the 10 ms transmission mode240and the 20 ms transmission mode242based on a UE metric. For example, UE102may dynamically switch from 20 ms transmission mode242to the 10 ms transmission mode240based on available UE power headroom. UE power headroom is generally defined as transmission power left for the UE to use in addition to the power being used by the current transmission. Once the UE switches from the 20 ms transmission mode to the 10 ms transmission mode, UE102may indicate the current transmission mode (e.g., 10 ms transmission mode) to the base station using TFCI values configured at the UE (e.g.,226), as described above.

In an aspect, when UE102is configured to operate in the 10 ms transmission mode240, UE102compresses the 20 ms transmission associated with a 20 ms transmission time interval (TTI) into one 10 ms compressed transmission and transmits the compressed radio frame during the duration of the first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. This allows the UE to enter a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode230during the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI to reduce battery consumption at the UE. DTX mode230generally allows a UE to suspend or stop transmission of a channel where there are no packets for transmission on the channel to conserve battery power.

In an aspect, when the UE102transmits the compressed transmission during the first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI and enters the DTX mode230during the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI, network entity110and/or base station112may configure an early block error rate (BLER) target206at the base station112to enable the base station112to complete transmission on the DL earlier than normal (e.g., prior to the completion of the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI) so that the UE102can maximize savings by entering a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode on the DL at the UE.

The BLER is generally defined as the ratio of the number of erroneous blocks received (e.g., at base station112) to the total number of blocks sent (e.g., from UE102). An erroneous block is defined as a transport block for which the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) failed. The early BLER target206as described herein allows increasing or maximizing battery savings at the UE102by enabling DRX operation. For example, the early DL BLER target206may be shape the DL decoding time and may force the UE102to decode the DL radio frame earlier in the TTI. For instance, in an aspect, the value of the early BLER target206may configured to e.g., 1%, which is the typical value used in R99 DCH communications, a higher value, or a residual BLER constraint of 1% for the overall link performance, or a combination of these.

For example, when the early BLER target206is configured for 1% at slot15, the UE102may perform one decoding attempt at the early BLER target slot (e.g., slot15) and adjust its DL DPCH set point through outer loop power control (OLPC) mechanism to ensure that the DL DPCH decoding success rate meets the 1% BLER target set at slot15. The OLPC mechanism is generally used to maintain the quality of communication at the level of a bearer service quality requirement, while using as lower amount of power as possible.

In an additional example, when the early BLER target206is configured to a value higher than 1%, the UE may have to perform two decoding attempts, one at the early target slot (e.g., slot15), and if not successful, another decoding attempt after one full TTI equivalent of DPCH packets are received (e.g., 20 ms for DTCH, 40 ms for DCCH+DTCH). Additionally, the UE102may use joint coding of classes A, B, and C bits and cyclic redundancy check (CRC) to test whether the first decoding attempt succeeds or not. Further, the UE102may adjust its OLPC set point for DL DPCH so that the decoding success rate for DL DPCH at the slot for the early BLER target206meets the value of the early BLER target206. The UE102may also keep track of overall BLER statistics of the packet, including DL DPCH frames that fail at the early decoding attempt, and may use a secondary decoding attempt at the end of the TTI. Furthermore, the UE102may adjust the OLPC set point in such a way that the overall BLER statistics meet the overall BLER target value.

In an aspect, in the DL frame early termination-less (FET-less) operation (or without FET), the TTI values and physical channel procedures, e.g., rate matching, multiplexing, interleaving need not be different from R99 procedures. FET is generally defined as enabling a UE102(or base station112) to not have to transmit an entire frame if the UE102(or the base station112) has already successfully decoded the information and sent an acknowledgement (ACK) receipt. Additionally, mechanisms like joint coding of class A, B, and C adaptive multi-rate (AMR) codec bits may still be used to allow early decoding of DL DPCH before the early target slot. Further, the same DL DPCH TTI value may be used to process DL DTCH and DL DCCH channels with or without joint coding of Class A, B, and C bits.

In an aspect, for example, network entity110and/or base station112may configure an early BLER target of 1% at slot15(e.g., at the end of the first 10 ms radio frame204). In an additional or optional aspect, if the early 1% BLER target at slot15206is a burden on the link capacity (e.g., achieving early 1% BLER at the end of slot15is not possible (or less probable) due to network conditions), the early BLER target of 1% may be configured at slot20(e.g., provides additional time, e.g., 5 more slots) or slot25(e.g., provides additional time, e.g., 10 more slots) for achieving the desired BLER. The configuration of slot numbers for early BLER target206may be configured based on the characteristics of the uplink (e.g., quality of the uplink, interference from other base stations, and/or UEs, etc.).

In an additional aspect, network entity110and/or base station112may continue transmission of DL DPCH on the downlink beyond (or past) the early BLER target slot (e.g., slot15inFIG. 2) during the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. However, when the UE102is in the 10 ms transmission mode240, UE102may not respond to transmit power control (TPC) commands from the base station112during the second 10 ms radio frame208, and the base station112may suspend transmitting TPC commands to the UE102. Therefore, in an aspect, base station112may suspend the inner loop power control (ILPC) mechanism at the base station112, represented at220inFIG. 2. ILPC, for example, in the uplink, is generally defined as the ability of the UE102transmitter to adjust its output power in accordance with one or more transmit power control (TPC) commands received on the downlink from the base station112in order to keep the received uplink signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) at a given SIR target.

In an additional or optional aspect, network entity110and/or base station112may suspend (e.g., discontinue) transmission of DL DPCH on the downlink beyond the early BLER target slot (e.g., slot15inFIG. 2) during the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. For example, base station112may perform a discontinuous transmission (DTX) of DL DPCH beyond the early BLER target slot in the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. The DTX of DL DPCH past the early BLER target slot may improve link efficiency in the DL. In an aspect, the DTX of DL in response to suspension (e.g., possible gating) of DL DPCH may be applied at the physical channel level by DTX of the symbols over physical composite transport channel (CCtrCh).

In an additional or optional aspect, UE102may be configured to operate in a 20 ms transmission mode240or dynamically switch to the 20 ms transmission mode242during the next TTI, e.g., through the duration of radio frames212and216. The UE102may indicate the 20 ms transmission mode to network entity110and/or base station112using a TFCI value of zero (at228), as described above. Additionally, in an aspect, the UE102may operate in a normal ILPC state222(e.g., no suspension of ILPC mechanism) during the second 10 ms216of the (second)) 20 ms s TTI.

FIG. 3illustrates an example aspect of a frame structure300of radio frames for downlink channel202and uplink channel224associated with UE102operating in a 10 ms transmission mode with early BLER target of 1% at slot15, and discontinuous DL DPCH, in a DL FET-less operation of a DCH.

In this example aspect illustrated inFIG. 3, early BLER target of 1% at slot15(at206) is configured with discontinuous transmission (DTX)314of DL DPCH beyond the early BLER target slot15. That is, DL DPCH202is not transmitted by base station112beyond slot15once the early BLER target is reached. In an additional aspect, because of the DTX314of DL DPCH on the downlink, this aspect further allows UE102to perform a discontinuous reception (DRX)332(in addition to DTX230on the UL) for additional battery savings. Additionally, base station112may suspend the inner loop power control (ILPC) mechanism at the base station112during the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI.

FIG. 4illustrates an example aspect of a frame structure400of radio frames for downlink channel202and uplink channel224associated with UE102operating in a 10 ms transmission mode with early BLER target of 1% at slot20, discontinuous DL DPCH, and suspended ILPC.

In this example aspect illustrated inFIG. 4, early BLER target of 1% at slot20(at406) is configured with discontinuous transmission (DTX)414of DL DPCH202beyond slot20of the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. That is, DL DPCH202is not transmitted by base station112beyond slot20once the early BLER target406is reached at slot20. In an additional aspect, this allows UE102to perform a discontinuous reception (DRX)432(in addition to DTX230on the UL) beyond slot20at the UE for additional battery savings. Additionally, base station112may suspend the inner loop power control (ILPC) mechanism at the base station112during the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI.

FIG. 5illustrates an example aspect of a frame structure500of radio frames for downlink channel202and uplink channel224associated with UE102operating in a 10 ms transmission mode for all BLER configurations, always-on DL DPCH, and always suspended ILPC.

In this example aspect illustrated inFIG. 5, early BLER target of 1% may be configured for any slot during the duration of the second 10 ms radio frame208with always-on transmission of DL DPCH. Additionally, the ILPC mechanism is always suspended (e.g., for reducing complexity during implementation) during the duration of the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI, e.g., during radio frame2(208) and radio frame4(216), represented by520and522inFIG. 5. This eliminates the need for the base station to have to identify (or determine) whether the UL is in a 10 ms transmission mode or a 20 ms transmission mode. However, this may slightly impact the UL performance when the UL is in a 20 ms transmission mode due to the absence of ILPC during the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI.

FIG. 6illustrates an example aspect of a frame structure600of radio frames for downlink channel202and uplink channel224associated with UE102operating in a 10 ms transmission mode with early BLER target of 1% at slot20, discontinuous DL DPCH, and always suspended ILPC.

In this example aspect illustrated inFIG. 6, early BLER target of 1% is configured at slot20(at606) with discontinuous transmission (DTX)414of DL DPCH beyond the early BLER target slot20. Additionally, the ILPC mechanism is always suspended, e.g., at420and522, during the duration of the respective second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI.

FIG. 7illustrates an example aspect of a frame structure700of radio frames for downlink channel202and uplink channel224associated with UE102operating in a 10 ms transmission mode with early BLER target of 1% at slot20, discontinuous DL DPCH, and suspended ILPC.

In this example aspect illustrated inFIG. 7, early BLER target of 1% is configured at slot20(at706) with discontinuous transmission (DTX)414of DL DPCH202beyond the early BLER target slot20. Additionally, the ILPC mechanism is suspended, e.g., at420, during the second 10 ms radio frame (208) from slots16-20.

Although, 1% BLER value is illustrated inFIGS. 2-7, other BLER values may also be used.

FIG. 8illustrates an example methodology800for reducing battery consumption during operation of a dedicated channel (DCH) at a user equipment (UE).

In an aspect, at block802, methodology800may include configuring a 10 ms transmission mode on an uplink (UL) channel at the UE. For example, in an aspect, UE102and/or configuration manager104may include a specially programmed processor module, or a processor executing specially programmed code stored in a memory, to configure a 10 ms transmission mode240on an uplink (UL) channel at the UE. As described above, in reference toFIG. 2, for example, UL DPCCH224may be configured in the 10 ms transmission mode for reducing battery consumption at the UE. For instance, in an aspect, UE102and/or configuration manager104may configure the transmission mode of an UL channel (e.g., 10 ms transmission mode or 20 ms transmission mode) based on UE power headroom. In an aspect, as discussed below with regard toFIG. 9, configuration manager104may include a transmission mode configuration component902to perform this functionality.

In an aspect, at block804, methodology800may include indicating configuration of the 10 ms transmission mode to a base station in communication with the UE. For example, in an aspect, UE102and/or configuration manager104may include a specially programmed processor module, or a processor executing specially programmed code stored in a memory, to indicate configuration of the 10 ms transmission mode to base station112in communication with UE102. For instance, in an aspect, UE102and/or configuration manager104may set of a value of TFCI226to a certain value (e.g., a value of 1) that identifies or indicates the 10 ms transmission mode, and transmitting TFCI226to base station112, such as via a communication component (e.g., transceiver) of UE102transmitting TFCI226in a radio frame on a communication link (e.g., UL DPCCH224). In an aspect, as discussed below with regard toFIG. 9, configuration manager104may include a transmission mode indicating component904to perform this functionality.

In an aspect, at block806, methodology800may include compressing a 20 ms transmission associated with a 20 ms transmission time interval (TTI) into a 10 ms compressed transmission. For example, in an aspect, UE102and/or configuration manager104may include a specially programmed processor module, or a processor executing specially programmed code stored in a memory, to compress a 20 ms transmission associated with a 20 ms transmission time interval (TTI) into a 10 ms compressed transmission. For instance, in an aspect, UE102and/or configuration manager104may compress a 20 ms transmission (204,208) into a 10 ms compressed transmission for transmitting on UL114in 10 ms. The 20 ms transmission may be compressed, for example, by decreasing the spreading factor by 2:1 (i.e., increases the data rate so bits will get sent twice as fast), puncturing bits (which will remove bits from the original data and reduce the amount of information that needs to be transmitted), or changing of higher layer scheduling to use less timeslots for user traffic. In an aspect, as discussed below with regard toFIG. 9, configuration manager104may include a compression component906to perform this functionality.

In an aspect, at block808, methodology800may include transmitting the 10 ms compressed transmission during a first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. For example, in an aspect, UE102and/or configuration manager104may include a specially programmed processor module, or a processor executing specially programmed code stored in a memory, to transmit the 10 ms compressed transmission during a first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. For instance, in an aspect, UE102and/or configuration manager104may transmit the compressed transmission to base station112, such as via a communication component (e.g., transceiver) of UE102. In an aspect, as discussed below with regard toFIG. 9, configuration manager104may include a transmission component908to perform this functionality.

In an aspect, at block810, methodology800may include performing a discontinuous transmission (DTX) of the UL channel during a second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. For example, in an aspect, UE102and/or configuration manager104may include a specially programmed processor module, or a processor executing specially programmed code stored in a memory, to perform a discontinuous transmission (DTX), e.g., stop transmitting or enter a sleep mode, of the UL channel during a second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI, e.g., to save battery power. In an aspect, as discussed below with regard toFIG. 9, configuration manager104may include a DTX component910to perform this functionality.

Thus, as described above, reduced battery consumption at a UE may be achieved.

Referring toFIG. 9, illustrated are an example configuration manager104and various sub-components for reducing battery consumption at a user equipment (UE). In an example aspect, configuration manager104may be configured to include the specially programmed processor module, or the processor executing specially programmed code stored in a memory, in the form of a transmission mode configuring component902, a transmission mode indicating component904, a compression component906, a transmission component908, and/or a discontinuous transmission component910, such as in specially programmed computer readable instructions or code, firmware, hardware, or some combination thereof. In an aspect, a component may be one of the parts that make up a system, may be hardware or software, and may be divided into other components.

In an aspect, configuration manager104and/or transmission mode configuring component902may be configured to configure a 10 ms transmission mode on an uplink (UL) at the UE. For example, in an aspect, transmission mode configuring component902may be configured to configure a 10 ms transmission mode240on the UL at UE102.

In an aspect, configuration manager104and/or transmission mode indicating component904may be configured to indicate configuration of the 10 ms transmission mode to a base station in communication with the UE. For example, in an aspect, transmission mode indicating component904may be configured to indicate that the UE is configured to transmit in a 10 ms transmission mode240to base station112.

In an aspect, configuration manager104and/or compression component906may be configured to compress a 20 ms transmission associated with a 20 ms transmission time interval (TTI) into a 10 ms compressed transmission. For example, in an aspect, compression component906may be configured to compress a 20 ms transmission associated with a 20 ms TTI (204and208) into one 10 ms compressed transmission.

In an aspect, configuration manager104and/or transmission component908may be configured to transmit the 10 ms compressed transmission during a first 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. For example, in an aspect, transmission component908may be configured to transmit the compressed transmission to base station112during a first 10 ms204of the 20 ms TTI.

In an aspect, configuration manager104and/or discontinuous transmission component910may be configured to perform a discontinuous transmission (DTX) of the UL during a second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. For example, in an aspect, discontinuous transmission component910may be configured to perform a discontinuous transmission of the UL during a second 10 ms208of the 20 ms TTI.

In an additional or optional aspect, configuration manager104and/or DL DPCH configuring component912may be configured to receive a DL DPCH during whole duration of the 20 ms TTI. For example, in an aspect, DL DPCH configuring component912may be configured to receive a DL DPCH during whole duration of the 20 ms TTI, e.g., during the duration of radio frames204and208. For instance, in an aspect, UE102and/or configuration manager104may receive DL DPCH from base station112, e.g., via a communication component (e.g., transceiver) of UE102.

In an additional or optional aspect, configuration manager104and/or TPC component914may be configured to suspend transmission of transmit power control (TPC) commands to the base station during the second 10 ms of the 20 ms TTI. For example, in an aspect, TPC component914may be configured to suspend transmission of transmit power control (TPC) commands to the base station during the second 10 ms of 20 ms TTI (e.g., radio frame208). For instance, in an aspect, UE102and/or configuration manager104may suspend transmission power control (TPC) commands on the UL channel by not responding to the TPC commands received on the DL from base station112, such as via a communication component (e.g., transceiver) of UE102.

Referring toFIG. 10, in an aspect, UE102, for example, including configuration manager104, may be or may include a specially programmed or configured computer device to perform the functions described herein. In one aspect of implementation, UE102may include configuration manager104and its sub-components, including transmission mode configuring component902, transmission mode indicating component904, compression component906, transmission component908, and/or discontinuous transmission component910, such as in specially programmed computer readable instructions or code, firmware, hardware, or some combination thereof.

In an aspect, for example as represented by the dashed lines, configuration manager104may be implemented in or executed using one or any combination of processor1002, memory1004, communications component1006, and data store1008. For example, configuration manager104may be defined or otherwise programmed as one or more processor modules of processor1002. Further, for example, configuration104may be defined as a computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) stored in memory1004and/or data store1008and executed by processor1002. Moreover, for example, inputs and outputs relating to operations of configuration manager104may be provided or supported by communications component1006, which may provide a bus between the components of computer device1000or an interface for communication with external devices or components.

UE102may include processor1002specially configured to carry out processing functions associated with one or more of components and functions described herein. Processor1002can include a single or multiple set of processors or multi-core processors. Moreover, processor1002can be implemented as an integrated processing system and/or a distributed processing system.

User equipment102further includes memory1004, such as for storing data used herein and/or local versions of applications and/or instructions or code being executed by processor1002, such as to perform the respective functions of the respective entities described herein. Memory1004can include any type of memory usable by a computer, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), tapes, magnetic discs, optical discs, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and any combination thereof.

Further, user equipment102includes communications component1006that provides for establishing and maintaining communications with one or more parties utilizing hardware, software, and services as described herein. Communications component1006may carry communications between components on user equipment102, as well as between user and external devices, such as devices located across a communications network and/or devices serially or locally connected to user equipment102. For example, communications component1006may include one or more buses, and may further include transmit chain components and receive chain components associated with a transmitter and receiver, respectively, or a transceiver, operable for interfacing with external devices.

Additionally, user equipment102may further include data store1008, which can be any suitable combination of hardware and/or software, that provides for mass storage of information, databases, and programs employed in connection with aspects described herein. For example, data store1008may be a data repository for applications not currently being executed by processor1002.

The various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implemented across a broad variety of telecommunication systems, network architectures, and communication standards.

Referring toFIG. 11, by way of example and without limitation, the aspects of the present disclosure are presented with reference to a UMTS system1100employing a W-CDMA air interface, and may include a UE102executing an aspect of configuration manager104ofFIGS. 1 and 9. A UMTS network includes three interacting domains: a Core Network (CN)1104, a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN)1102, and UE102. In an aspect, as noted, UE102(FIG. 1) may be configured to perform functions thereof, for example, including reducing battery consumption during operation of a dedicated channel (DCH) at the UE. Further, UTRAN1102may comprise network entity110and/or base station112(FIG. 1), which in this case may be respective ones of the Node Bs1108. In this example, UTRAN1102provides various wireless services including telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and/or other services. The UTRAN1102may include a plurality of Radio Network Subsystems (RNSs) such as a RNS1105, each controlled by a respective Radio Network Controller (RNC) such as an RNC1106. Here, the UTRAN1102may include any number of RNCs1106and RNSs1105in addition to the RNCs1106and RNSs1105illustrated herein. The RNC1106is an apparatus responsible for, among other things, assigning, reconfiguring, and releasing radio resources within the RNS1105. The RNC1106may be interconnected to other RNCs (not shown) in the UTRAN1102through various types of interfaces such as a direct physical connection, a virtual network, or the like, using any suitable transport network.

Communication between UE102and Node B1108may be considered as including a physical (PHY) layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer. Further, communication between UE102and RNC1106by way of a respective Node B1108may be considered as including a radio resource control (RRC) layer. In the instant specification, the PHY layer may be considered layer 1; the MAC layer may be considered layer 2; and the RRC layer may be considered layer 3. Information herein below utilizes terminology introduced in the RRC Protocol Specification, 3GPP TS 1111.331 v11.1.0, incorporated herein by reference.

The geographic region covered by the RNS1105may be divided into a number of cells, with a radio transceiver apparatus serving each cell. A radio transceiver apparatus is commonly referred to as a Node B in UMTS applications, but may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a base station (BS), a base transceiver station (BTS), a radio base station, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS), an extended service set (ESS), an access point (AP), or some other suitable terminology. For clarity, three Node Bs1108are shown in each RNS1105; however, the RNSs1105may include any number of wireless Node Bs. The Node Bs1108provide wireless access points to a CN1104for any number of mobile apparatuses, such as UE102, and may be network entity110and/or base station112ofFIG. 1. Examples of a mobile apparatus include a cellular phone, a smart phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a notebook, a netbook, a smartbook, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a satellite radio, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a multimedia device, a video device, a digital audio player (e.g., MP3 player), a camera, a game console, or any other similar functioning device. The mobile apparatus in this case is commonly referred to as a UE in UMTS applications, but may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a terminal, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology.

For illustrative purposes, one UE102is shown in communication with a number of the Node Bs1108. The DL, also called the forward link, refers to the communication link from a Node B1108to a UE102(e.g., link116), and the UL, also called the reverse link, refers to the communication link from a UE102to a Node B1108(e.g., link114).

The CN1104interfaces with one or more access networks, such as the UTRAN1102. As shown, the CN1104is a GSM core network. However, as those skilled in the art will recognize, the various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implemented in a RAN, or other suitable access network, to provide UEs with access to types of CNs other than GSM networks.

The CN1104includes a circuit-switched (CS) domain and a packet-switched (PS) domain. Some of the circuit-switched elements are a Mobile services Switching Centre (MSC), a Visitor location register (VLR) and a Gateway MSC. Packet-switched elements include a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). Some network elements, like EIR, HLR, VLR and AuC may be shared by both of the circuit-switched and packet-switched domains. In the illustrated example, the CN1104supports circuit-switched services with a MSC1112and a GMSC1114. In some applications, the GMSC1114may be referred to as a media gateway (MGW). One or more RNCs, such as the RNC1106, may be connected to the MSC1112. The MSC1112is an apparatus that controls call setup, call routing, and UE mobility functions. The MSC1112also includes a VLR that contains subscriber-related information for the duration that a UE is in the coverage area of the MSC1112. The GMSC1114provides a gateway through the MSC1112for the UE to access a circuit-switched network1116. The GMSC1114includes a home location register (HLR)1115containing subscriber data, such as the data reflecting the details of the services to which a particular user has subscribed. The HLR is also associated with an authentication center (AuC) that contains subscriber-specific authentication data. When a call is received for a particular UE, the GMSC1114queries the HLR1115to determine the UE's location and forwards the call to the particular MSC serving that location.

The CN1104also supports packet-data services with a serving GPRS support node (SGSN)1118and a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN)1120. GPRS, which stands for General Packet Radio Service, is designed to provide packet-data services at speeds higher than those available with standard circuit-switched data services. The GGSN1120provides a connection for the UTRAN1102to a packet-based network1122. The packet-based network1122may be the Internet, a private data network, or some other suitable packet-based network. The primary function of the GGSN1120is to provide the UEs104with packet-based network connectivity. Data packets may be transferred between the GGSN1120and the UEs102through the SGSN1118, which performs primarily the same functions in the packet-based domain as the MSC1112performs in the circuit-switched domain.

An air interface for UMTS may utilize a spread spectrum Direct-Sequence Code Division Multiple Access (DS-CDMA) system. The spread spectrum DS-CDMA spreads user data through multiplication by a sequence of pseudorandom bits called chips. The “wideband” W-CDMA air interface for UMTS is based on such direct sequence spread spectrum technology and additionally calls for a frequency division duplexing (FDD). FDD uses a different carrier frequency for the UL and DL between a Node B1108and a UE102. Another air interface for UMTS that utilizes DS-CDMA, and uses time division duplexing (TDD), is the TD-SCDMA air interface. Those skilled in the art will recognize that although various examples described herein may refer to a W-CDMA air interface, the underlying principles may be equally applicable to a TD-SCDMA air interface.

An HSPA air interface includes a series of enhancements to the 3G/W-CDMA air interface, facilitating greater throughput and reduced latency. Among other modifications over prior releases, HSPA utilizes hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), shared channel transmission, and adaptive modulation and coding. The standards that define HSPA include HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) and HSUPA (high speed uplink packet access, also referred to as enhanced uplink, or EUL).

HSDPA utilizes as its transport channel the high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH). The HS-DSCH is implemented by three physical channels: the high-speed physical downlink shared channel (HS-PDSCH), the high-speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH), and the high-speed dedicated physical control channel (HS-DPCCH).

Among these physical channels, the HS-DPCCH carries the HARQ ACK/NACK signaling on the uplink to indicate whether a corresponding packet transmission was decoded successfully. That is, with respect to the downlink, the UE102provides feedback to Node B508over the HS-DPCCH to indicate whether it correctly decoded a packet on the downlink.

HS-DPCCH further includes feedback signaling from the UE102to assist the Node B508in taking the right decision in terms of modulation and coding scheme and precoding weight selection, this feedback signaling including the CQI and PCI.

HSPA Evolved or HSPA+ is an evolution of the HSPA standard that includes MIMO and 64-QAM, enabling increased throughput and higher performance. That is, in an aspect of the disclosure, the Node B508and/or the UE102may have multiple antennas supporting MIMO technology. The use of MIMO technology enables the Node B508to exploit the spatial domain to support spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and transmit diversity.

Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) is a term generally used to refer to multi-antenna technology, that is, multiple transmit antennas (multiple inputs to the channel) and multiple receive antennas (multiple outputs from the channel). MIMO systems generally enhance data transmission performance, enabling diversity gains to reduce multipath fading and increase transmission quality, and spatial multiplexing gains to increase data throughput.

Spatial multiplexing may be used to transmit different streams of data simultaneously on the same frequency. The data steams may be transmitted to a single UE102to increase the data rate or to multiple UEs102to increase the overall system capacity. This is achieved by spatially precoding each data stream and then transmitting each spatially precoded stream through a different transmit antenna on the downlink. The spatially precoded data streams arrive at the UE(s)102with different spatial signatures, which enables each of the UE(s)102to recover the one or more the data streams destined for that UE102. On the uplink, each UE102may transmit one or more spatially precoded data streams, which enables Node B1108to identify the source of each spatially precoded data stream.

Spatial multiplexing may be used when channel conditions are good. When channel conditions are less favorable, beamforming may be used to focus the transmission energy in one or more directions, or to improve transmission based on characteristics of the channel. This may be achieved by spatially precoding a data stream for transmission through multiple antennas. To achieve good coverage at the edges of the cell, a single stream beamforming transmission may be used in combination with transmit diversity.

Generally, for MIMO systems utilizing n transmit antennas, n transport blocks may be transmitted simultaneously over the same carrier utilizing the same channelization code. Note that the different transport blocks sent over the n transmit antennas may have the same or different modulation and coding schemes from one another.

On the other hand, Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) generally refers to a system utilizing a single transmit antenna (a single input to the channel) and multiple receive antennas (multiple outputs from the channel). Thus, in a SIMO system, a single transport block is sent over the respective carrier.

Referring toFIG. 12, an access network1200in a UTRAN architecture is illustrated, and may include one or more UEs1230,1232,1234,1236,1238, and1240, which may be the same as or similar to UE102(FIG. 1) in that they are configured to include configuration manager104(FIGS. 1 and 9; for example, illustrated here as being associated with UE1236) for reducing battery consumption during operation of a dedicated channel (DCH) at the UE. The multiple access wireless communication system includes multiple cellular regions (cells), including cells1202,1204, and1206, each of which may include one or more sectors. The multiple sectors can be formed by groups of antennas with each antenna responsible for communication with UEs in a portion of the cell. For example, in cell1202, antenna groups1212,1214, and1216may each correspond to a different sector. In cell1204, antenna groups1218,1220, and1222each correspond to a different sector. In cell1206, antenna groups1224,1226, and1228each correspond to a different sector. UEs, for example,1230,1232, etc. may include several wireless communication devices, e.g., User Equipment or UEs, including configuration manager104ofFIG. 1, which may be in communication with one or more sectors of each cell1202,1204or12012. For example, UEs1230and1232may be in communication with Node B1242, UEs1234and1236may be in communication with Node B1244, and UEs1238and1240can be in communication with Node B1246. Here, each Node B1242,1244,1246is configured to provide an access point to a CN1104(FIG. 11) for all the UEs1230,1232,1234,1236,1238,1240in the respective cells1202,1204, and1206. Additionally, each Node B1242,1244,1246may be base station112and/or and UEs1230,1232,1234,1236,1238,1240may be UE102ofFIG. 1and may perform the methods outlined herein.

As the UE1234moves from the illustrated location in cell1204into cell1206, a serving cell change (SCC) or handover may occur in which communication with the UE1234transitions from the cell1204, which may be referred to as the source cell, to cell1206, which may be referred to as the target cell. Management of the handover procedure may take place at the UE1234, at the Node Bs corresponding to the respective cells, at a radio network controller1106(FIG. 11), or at another suitable node in the wireless network. For example, during a call with the source cell1204, or at any other time, the UE1234may monitor various parameters of the source cell1204as well as various parameters of neighboring cells such as cells1206and1202. Further, depending on the quality of these parameters, the UE1234may maintain communication with one or more of the neighboring cells. During this time, the UE1234may maintain an Active Set, that is, a list of cells that the UE1234is simultaneously connected to (i.e., the UTRA cells that are currently assigning a downlink dedicated physical channel DPCH or fractional downlink dedicated physical channel F-DPCH to the UE1234may constitute the Active Set). In any case, UE1234may perform the reselection operations described herein.

Further, the modulation and multiple access scheme employed by the access network1200may vary depending on the particular telecommunications standard being deployed. By way of example, the standard may include Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB). EV-DO and UMB are air interface standards promulgated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) as part of the CDMA2000 family of standards and employs CDMA to provide broadband Internet access to mobile stations. The standard may alternately be Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) employing Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) and other variants of CDMA, such as TD-SCDMA; Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) employing TDMA; and Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 1002.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 1002.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 1002.20, and Flash-OFDM employing OFDMA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE Advanced, and GSM are described in documents from the 3GPP organization. CDMA2000 and UMB are described in documents from the 3GPP2 organization. The actual wireless communication standard and the multiple access technology employed will depend on the specific application and the overall design constraints imposed on the system.

The radio protocol architecture may take on various forms depending on the particular application. An example for an HSPA system will now be presented with reference toFIG. 13.FIG. 13is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the radio protocol architecture for the user and control planes.

Turning toFIG. 13, the radio protocol architecture for the UE, for example, UE102ofFIG. 1configured to include configuration manager104(FIGS. 1 and 9) for reducing battery consumption during operation of a dedicated channel (DCH) at a user equipment (UE) is shown with three layers: Layer 1 (L1), Layer 2 (L2), and Layer 3 (L3). Layer 1 is the lowest lower and implements various physical layer signal processing functions. Layer 1 (L1 layer) is referred to herein as the physical layer1306. Layer 2 (L2 layer)1308is above the physical layer1306and is responsible for the link between the UE and Node B over the physical layer1306.

In the user plane, L2 layer1308includes a media access control (MAC) sublayer1310, a radio link control (RLC) sublayer1312, and a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP)1314sublayer, which are terminated at the Node B on the network side. Although not shown, the UE may have several upper layers above L2 layer1308including a network layer (e.g., IP layer) that is terminated at a PDN gateway on the network side, and an application layer that is terminated at the other end of the connection (e.g., far end UE, server, etc.).

The PDCP sublayer1314provides multiplexing between different radio bearers and logical channels. The PDCP sublayer1314also provides header compression for upper layer data packets to reduce radio transmission overhead, security by ciphering the data packets, and handover support for UEs between Node Bs. The RLC sublayer1312provides segmentation and reassembly of upper layer data packets, retransmission of lost data packets, and reordering of data packets to compensate for out-of-order reception due to hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ). The MAC sublayer1310provides multiplexing between logical and transport channels. The MAC sublayer1310is also responsible for allocating the various radio resources (e.g., resource blocks) in one cell among the UEs. The MAC sublayer1310is also responsible for HARQ operations.

FIG. 14is a block diagram of a Node B1410in communication with a UE1450, where the Node B1410may be base station112of network entity110and/or the UE1450may be the same as or similar to UE102ofFIG. 1in that it is configured to include configuration manager104(FIGS. 1 and 9) for reducing battery consumption during operation of a dedicated channel (DCH) at the UE, in controller/processor1490and/or memory1492. In the downlink communication, a transmit processor1420may receive data from a data source1412and control signals from a controller/processor1440. The transmit processor1420provides various signal processing functions for the data and control signals, as well as reference signals (e.g., pilot signals). For example, the transmit processor1420may provide cyclic redundancy check (CRC) codes for error detection, coding and interleaving to facilitate forward error correction (FEC), mapping to signal constellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binary phase-shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK), M-phase-shift keying (M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM), and the like), spreading with orthogonal variable spreading factors (OVSF), and multiplying with scrambling codes to produce a series of symbols. Channel estimates from a channel processor1444may be used by a controller/processor1440to determine the coding, modulation, spreading, and/or scrambling schemes for the transmit processor1420. These channel estimates may be derived from a reference signal transmitted by the UE1450or from feedback from the UE1450. The symbols generated by the transmit processor1420are provided to a transmit frame processor1430to create a frame structure. The transmit frame processor1430creates this frame structure by multiplexing the symbols with information from the controller/processor1440, resulting in a series of frames. The frames are then provided to a transmitter1432, which provides various signal conditioning functions including amplifying, filtering, and modulating the frames onto a carrier for downlink transmission over the wireless medium through antenna1434. The antenna1434may include one or more antennas, for example, including beam steering bidirectional adaptive antenna arrays or other similar beam technologies.

At UE1450, a receiver1454receives the downlink transmission through an antenna1452and processes the transmission to recover the information modulated onto the carrier. The information recovered by the receiver1454is provided to a receive frame processor1460, which parses each frame, and provides information from the frames to a channel processor1494and the data, control, and reference signals to a receive processor1470. The receive processor1470then performs the inverse of the processing performed by the transmit processor1420in the Node B1410. More specifically, the receive processor1470descrambles and de-spreads the symbols, and then determines the most likely signal constellation points transmitted by the Node B1410based on the modulation scheme. These soft decisions may be based on channel estimates computed by the channel processor1494. The soft decisions are then decoded and de-interleaved to recover the data, control, and reference signals. The CRC codes are then checked to determine whether the frames were successfully decoded. The data carried by the successfully decoded frames will then be provided to a data sink1472, which represents applications running in the UE1450and/or various user interfaces (e.g., display). Control signals carried by successfully decoded frames will be provided to a controller/processor1490. When frames are unsuccessfully decoded by the receive processor1470, the controller/processor1490may also use an acknowledgement (ACK) and/or negative acknowledgement (NACK) protocol to support retransmission requests for those frames.

In the uplink, data from a data source1478and control signals from the controller/processor1490are provided to a transmit processor1480. The data source1478may represent applications running in the UE1450and various user interfaces (e.g., keyboard). Similar to the functionality described in connection with the downlink transmission by the Node B1410, the transmit processor1480provides various signal processing functions including CRC codes, coding and interleaving to facilitate FEC, mapping to signal constellations, spreading with OVSFs, and scrambling to produce a series of symbols. Channel estimates, derived by the channel processor1494from a reference signal transmitted by the Node B1410or from feedback contained in the midamble transmitted by the Node B1410, may be used to select the appropriate coding, modulation, spreading, and/or scrambling schemes. The symbols produced by the transmit processor1480will be provided to a transmit frame processor1482to create a frame structure. The transmit frame processor1482creates this frame structure by multiplexing the symbols with information from the controller/processor1490, resulting in a series of frames. The frames are then provided to a transmitter1456, which provides various signal conditioning functions including amplification, filtering, and modulating the frames onto a carrier for uplink transmission over the wireless medium through the antenna1452.

The uplink transmission is processed at the Node B1410in a manner similar to that described in connection with the receiver function at the UE1450. A receiver1435receives the uplink transmission through the antenna1434and processes the transmission to recover the information modulated onto the carrier. The information recovered by the receiver1435is provided to a receive frame processor1436, which parses each frame, and provides information from the frames to the channel processor1444and the data, control, and reference signals to a receive processor1438. The receive processor1438performs the inverse of the processing performed by the transmit processor1480in the UE1450. The data and control signals carried by the successfully decoded frames may then be provided to a data sink1439and the controller/processor, respectively. If some of the frames were unsuccessfully decoded by the receive processor, the controller/processor1440may also use an acknowledgement (ACK) and/or negative acknowledgement (NACK) protocol to support retransmission requests for those frames.

The controller/processors1440and1490may be used to direct the operation at the Node B1410and the UE1450, respectively. For example, the controller/processors1440and1490may provide various functions including timing, peripheral interfaces, voltage regulation, power management, and other control functions. The computer readable media of memories1442and1492may store data and software for the Node B1410and the UE1450, respectively. A scheduler/processor1446at the Node B1410may be used to allocate resources to the UEs and schedule downlink and/or uplink transmissions for the UEs.

Several aspects of a telecommunications system have been presented with reference to a W-CDMA system. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, various aspects described throughout this disclosure may be extended to other telecommunication systems, network architectures and communication standards.