Abstract:
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture are disclosed that provide for early termination based on transport block fail for acknowledgement bundling in time division duplex. In one embodiment, a method for operating a communication device is provided. In this embodiment, the communication device decodes a downlink subframe that is part of a bundle of subframes. If it detects a CRC failure in the subframe, it inhibits decoding of at least one other subframe in the bundle if present and reports the failure to the sending node. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the disclosed subject matter. Therefore, it is to be understood that it should not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/288,795 entitled “Early Termination Based on Transport Block Fail for Acknowledgment Bundling in Time Division Duplex,” filed Dec. 21, 2009, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems, and more particularly to early termination based on transport block fail for acknowledgement bundling in time division duplex. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, data, and so on. These systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., bandwidth and transmit power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, and orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems. 
         [0004]    These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. An example of an emerging telecommunication standard is Long Term Evolution (LTE). LTE is a set of enhancements to the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile standard promulgated by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). It is designed to better support mobile broadband Internet access by improving spectral efficiency, lowering costs, improving services, making use of new spectrum, and better integration with other open standards using OFDMA on the downlink (DL), SC-FDMA on the uplink (UL), and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology. However, as the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, there exists a need for further improvements in LTE technology. Preferably, these improvements should be applicable to other multi-access technologies and the telecommunication standards that employ these technologies. 
         [0005]    Generally, a wireless multiple-access communication system can simultaneously support communication for multiple wireless terminals. Each terminal communicates with one or more base stations via transmissions on the forward and reverse links. The forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from the base stations to the terminals, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from the terminals to the base stations. This communication link may be established via a single-in-single-out, multiple-in-single-out or a multiple-in-multiple-out (MIMO) system. 
         [0006]    A MIMO system employs multiple (N T ) transmit antennas and multiple (N R ) receive antennas for data transmission. A MIMO channel formed by the N T  transmit and N R  receive antennas may be decomposed into N S  independent channels, which are also referred to as spatial channels, where N S ≦min{N T , N R }. Each of the N S  independent channels corresponds to a dimension. The MIMO system can provide improved performance (e.g., higher throughput and/or greater reliability) if the additional dimensionalities created by the multiple transmit and receive antennas are utilized. 
         [0007]    A MIMO system supports time division duplex (TDD) and frequency division duplex (FDD) systems. In a TDD system, the forward and reverse link transmissions are on the same frequency region so that the reciprocity principle allows the estimation of the forward link channel from the reverse link channel. This enables the access point to extract transmit beamforming gain on the forward link when multiple antennas are available at the access point. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In various embodiments, a method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which, upon detection of a CRC failure of a received subframe, decoding of subsequent subframes is terminated and a single failure notification for the complete bundle is reported. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of a provided method a wireless communication device receives a set of bundled subframes. It decodes a subframe from the set and checks the CRC. If a failure has occurred it ceases the decoding process and notifies the sending node of the failure of the bundle of subframes via an uplink transmission. In another embodiment, upon receiving a retransmission, the device determines if a particular subframe of the bundle has been previously successfully received. If so the device skips the decoding process and moves to the next subframe in the bundle. 
         [0010]    In other embodiments, a method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which, upon receiving a retransmission of a previously sent bundle, decoding of any previously successfully decoded subframes is bypassed and only the subframe for which a CRC error was reported and any subsequent subframes of the bundle are decoded. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The features, nature, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a multiple access wireless communication system according to one embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of a communication system; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example system that supports disabling decoding of downlink subframes in a wireless communication environment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example radio frame that can be utilized in connection with the claimed subject matter; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example methodology that facilitates terminating decoding of subsequent downlink subframe(s) in a bundle upon detecting a CRC failure in a wireless communication environment; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example methodology that facilitates receiving a retransmitted bundle and bypassing previously successfully decoded subframes. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts. 
         [0019]    Several embodiments of telecommunication systems will now be presented with reference to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methods will be described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing by various blocks, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”). These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. 
         [0020]    By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may be implemented with a “processing system” that includes one or more processors. Examples of processors include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure. One or more processors in the processing system may execute software. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. The software may reside on a computer-readable medium. A computer-readable medium may include, by way of example, a magnetic storage device (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strip), an optical disk (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD)), a smart card, a flash memory device (e.g., card, stick, key drive), random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), a register, a removable disk, a carrier wave, a transmission line, and any other suitable medium for storing or transmitting software. The computer-readable medium may be resident in the processing system, external to the processing system, or distributed across multiple entities including the processing system. Computer-readable medium may be embodied in a computer-program product. By way of example, a computer-program product may include a computer-readable medium in packaging materials. Those skilled in the art will recognize how best to implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure depending on the particular application and the overall design constraints imposed on the overall system. 
         [0021]    The techniques described herein may be used for various wireless communication networks such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) networks, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) networks, Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, Single-Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks, etc. The terms “networks” and “systems” are often used interchangeably. A CDMA network may implement a radio technology such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), cdma2000, etc. UTRA includes Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) and Low Chip Rate (LCR). cdma2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856 standards. A TDMA network may implement a radio technology such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA network may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM®, etc. UTRA, E-UTRA, and GSM are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). Long Term Evolution (LTE) is an upcoming release of UMTS that uses E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, GSM, UMTS and LTE are described in documents from an organization named “3rd Generation Partnership Project” (3GPP). cdma2000 is described in documents from an organization named “3rd Generation Partnership Project 2” (3GPP2). These various radio technologies and standards are known in the art. For clarity, certain embodiments of the techniques are described below for LTE, and LTE terminology is used in much of the description below. 
         [0022]    Single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA), which utilizes single carrier modulation and frequency domain equalization is a multiple access technique. SC-FDMA has similar performance and essentially the same overall complexity as those of OFDMA system. SC-FDMA signal has lower peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) because of its inherent single carrier structure. SC-FDMA has drawn great attention, especially in uplink communications where lower PAPR greatly benefits the mobile terminal in terms of transmit power efficiency. It is currently a working assumption for uplink multiple access scheme in 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), or Evolved UTRA. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a multiple access wireless communication system according to one embodiment is illustrated. An access point  100  (AP) (e.g., base station, Evolved Node B (eNB, eNodeB, etc.)) includes multiple antenna groups, one including  104  and  106 , another including  108  and  110 , and an additional including  112  and  114 . In  FIG. 1 , only two antennas are shown for each antenna group, however, more or fewer antennas may be utilized for each antenna group. Access terminal  116  (AT) is in communication with antennas  112  and  114 , where antennas  112  and  114  transmit information to access terminal  116  over forward link  120  and receive information from access terminal  116  over reverse link  118 . Access terminal  122  is in communication with antennas  104  and  106 , where antennas  104  and  106  transmit information to access terminal  122  over forward link  126  and receive information from access terminal  122  over reverse link  124 . In a FDD system, communication links  118 ,  120 ,  124  and  126  may use different frequencies for communication. For example, forward link  120  may use a different frequency then that used by reverse link  118 . 
         [0024]    Each group of antennas and/or the area in which they are designed to communicate is often referred to as a sector of the access point. In the embodiment, antenna groups each are designed to communicate to access terminals in a sector of the areas covered by access point  100 . 
         [0025]    In communication over forward links  120  and  126 , the transmitting antennas of access point  100  may utilize beamforming in order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of forward links for the different access terminals  116  and  122 . Also, an access point using beamforming to transmit to access terminals scattered randomly through its intended coverage area causes less interference to access terminals in neighboring sectors than an access point transmitting through a single antenna uniformly to all its access terminals. 
         [0026]    An access point may be a fixed station used for communicating with the terminals and may also be referred to as an access point, a Node B, an Evolved Node B (eNB), or some other terminology. An access terminal may also be called an access terminal, user equipment (UE), a wireless communication device, terminal, access terminal or some other terminology. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram  200  of an eNB  210  in communication with a UE  250  in an access network. In the DL, upper layer packets from the core network are provided to a transmit (TX) processor  214 . The TX processor  214  implements the functionality of the L1, L2, and L3 layers. With respect to L2 layer functionality, the TX processor  214  compresses the headers of the upper layer packets, ciphers the packets, segments the ciphered packets, reorders the segmented packets, multiplexes the data packets between logical and transport channels, and allocates radio resources to the UE  250  based on various priority metrics. The TX processor  214  is also responsible for ARQ or HARQ operations, retransmission of lost packets, and signaling to the UE  250  based on controls from the L3 layer. 
         [0028]    With respect to L1 layer functionality, the TX processor  214  implements various signal processing functions for the physical layer. The signal processing functions includes coding and interleaving to facilitate forward error correction (FEC) at the UE  250  and 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)). The coded and modulated symbols are then split into parallel streams. Each stream is then mapped to an OFDM subcarrier, multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., pilot) in the time and/or frequency domain, and then combined together using an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) to produce a physical channel carrying a time domain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM stream is spatially precoded to produce multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from a channel estimator may be used to determine the coding and modulation scheme, as well as for spatial processing. The channel estimate may be derived from a reference signal and/or channel condition feedback transmitted by the UE  250 . Each spatial stream is then provided to a different antenna  224  via a separate transmitter  222 . Each transmitter  222   a TX modulates an RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission. 
         [0029]    At the UE  250 , each receiver  254  receives a signal through its respective antenna  252 . Each receiver  254  recovers information modulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information to the receiver (RX) processor  260 . 
         [0030]    The RX processor  260  implements various signal processing functions of the L1, L2, and L3 layers. With respect to the L1 layer functionality, the RX processor  260  performs spatial processing on the information to recover any spatial streams destined for the UE  250 . If multiple spatial streams are destined for the UE  250 , they may be combined by the RX processor  260  into a single OFDM symbol stream. The RX processor  260  then converts the OFDM symbol stream from the time-domain to the frequency domain using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The frequency domain signal comprises a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on each subcarrier, and the reference signal, is recovered and demodulated by determining the most likely signal constellation points transmitted by the eNB  210 . These soft decisions may be based on channel estimates computed by the channel estimator. The soft decisions are then decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signals that were originally transmitted by the eNB  210  on the physical channel. The data and control signals are then provided to the L2 layer. 
         [0031]    With respect to the L2 layer functionality, the RX processor  260  provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, reassembles the data packets into upper layer packets, deciphers the upper layer packets, decompresses the headers and processes the control signals. The upper layer packets are then provided to a data sink (not shown), which represents all the protocol layers above the L2 layer. The RX processor  260  is also responsible for error detection using an acknowledgement (ACK) and/or negative acknowledgement (NACK) protocol to support ARQ or HARQ operations. The control signals are provided to the L3 layer. 
         [0032]    In the UL, a data source  236  is used to provide data packets to a transmit (TX) processor  238 . The data source represents all protocol layers above the L2 layer (L2). Similar to the functionality described in connection with the DL transmission by the eNB  210 , the TX processor  238  implements the L1, L2, and L3 layers for the user plane and the control plane. Channel estimates derived by a channel estimator from a reference signal or feedback transmitted by the eNB  210  may be used by the TX processor  238  to select the appropriate coding and modulation schemes, and to facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by the TX processor  238  are provided to different antenna  252  via separate transmitters  254 . Each transmitter  254  modulates an RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission. 
         [0033]    The receiver function is processed at the eNB  210  in a manner similar to that described in connection with the transmitter function at the eNB  210 . Each receiver  222  receives a signal through its respective antenna  224 . Each receiver  222  recovers information modulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information to a RX processor  242 . The RX processor  242  implements the L1, L2, and L3 layers. Upper layer packets from the RX processor may be provided to the core network and control signals may be provided to the L3 layer. 
         [0034]    The eNB  210  may have multiple antennas supporting MIMO technology. The use of MIMO technology enables the eNB  210  to exploit the spatial domain to support spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and transmit diversity. 
         [0035]    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 UE  250  to increase the data rate or to multiple UEs  250  to 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)  250  with different spatial signatures, which enables each of the UEs  250  to recover the one or more the data streams destined for that UE  250 . On the uplink, each UE  250  transmits a spatially precoded data stream, which enables the eNB  210  to identify the source of each spatially precoded data stream. 
         [0036]    Spatial multiplexing is generally 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. This may be achieved by spatially precoding the data 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. 
         [0037]    In the detailed description that follows, various aspects of an access network will be described with reference to a MIMO system supporting OFDM on the downlink. OFDM is a spread-spectrum technique that modulates data over a number of subcarriers within an OFDM symbol. The subcarriers are spaced apart at precise frequencies. The spacing provides “orthogonality” that enables a receiver to recover the data from the subcarriers. In the time domain, a guard interval (e.g., cyclic prefix) may be added to each OFDM symbol to combat inter-OFDM symbol interference. The uplink may use SC-FDMA in the form of a DFT-spread OFDM signal to compensate for high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). 
         [0038]    In an embodiment, each data stream is transmitted over a respective transmit antenna. At eNB  210 , traffic data for a number of data streams is provided from a data source  212  to TX data processor  214 . TX data processor  214  formats, codes, and interleaves the traffic data for each data stream based on a particular coding scheme selected for that data stream to provide coded data. 
         [0039]    The coded data for each data stream may be multiplexed with pilot data using OFDM techniques. The pilot data is typically a known data pattern that is processed in a known manner and may be used at the receiver system to estimate the channel response. The multiplexed pilot and coded data for each data stream is then modulated (i.e., symbol mapped) based on a particular modulation scheme (e.g., BPSK, QSPK, M-PSK, or M-QAM) selected for that data stream to provide modulation symbols. The data rate, coding, and modulation for each data stream may be determined by instructions performed by processor  230 . 
         [0040]    The modulation symbols for all data streams are then provided to a TX MIMO processor  220 , which may further process the modulation symbols (e.g., for OFDM). TX MIMO processor  220  then provides N T  modulation symbol streams to N T  transmitters (TMTR)  222   a  through  222   t . In certain embodiments, TX MIMO processor  220  applies beamforming weights to the symbols of the data streams and to the antenna from which the symbol is being transmitted. 
         [0041]    Each transmitter  222  receives and processes a respective symbol stream to provide one or more analog signals, and further conditions (e.g., amplifies, filters, and upconverts) the analog signals to provide a modulated signal suitable for transmission over the MIMO channel. N T  modulated signals from transmitters  222   a  through  222   t  are then transmitted from N T  antennas  224   a  through  224   t , respectively. 
         [0042]    At UE  250 , the transmitted modulated signals are received by N R  antennas  252   a  through  252   r  and the received signal from each antenna  252  is provided to a respective receiver (RCVR)  254   a  through  254   r . Each receiver  254  conditions (e.g., filters, amplifies, and downconverts) a respective received signal, digitizes the conditioned signal to provide samples, and further processes the samples to provide a corresponding “received” symbol stream. 
         [0043]    An RX data processor  260  then receives and processes the N R  received symbol streams from N R  receivers  254  based on a particular receiver processing technique to provide N T  “detected” symbol streams. The RX data processor  260  then demodulates, deinterleaves, and decodes each detected symbol stream to recover the traffic data for the data stream. The processing by RX data processor  260  is complementary to that performed by TX MIMO processor  220  and TX data processor  214  at eNB  210 . 
         [0044]    Processor  230  and processor  270  may direct operations at their respective systems. Additionally, a memory  232  at eNB  210  and a memory  272  at UE  250  can provide storage for program codes and data used by the processor  230  and the processor  270 , respectively. The processor  270  periodically may determine which pre-coding matrix to use. Processor  270  may formulate a reverse link message comprising a matrix index portion and a rank value portion. 
         [0045]    The reverse link message may comprise various types of information regarding the communication link and/or the received data stream. The reverse link message is then processed by a TX data processor  238 , which also receives traffic data for a number of data streams from a data source  236 , modulated by a modulator  280 , conditioned by transmitters  254   a  through  254   r , and transmitted back to eNB  210 . 
         [0046]    At eNB  210 , the modulated signals from UE  250  are received by antennas  224 , conditioned by receivers  222 , demodulated by a demodulator  240 , and processed by a RX data processor  242  to extract the reverse link message transmitted by the receiver system  250 . Processor  230  then determines which pre-coding matrix to use for determining the beamforming weights then processes the extracted message. 
         [0047]    In an embodiment, logical channels are classified into Control Channels and Traffic Channels. Logical Control Channels comprises Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH), which is DL channel for broadcasting system control information; Paging Control Channel (PCCH), which is DL channel that transfers paging information; Multicast Control Channel (MCCH), which is Point-to-multipoint DL channel used for transmitting Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) scheduling and control information for one or several Multicast Traffic Channels (MTCH&#39;s). Generally, after establishing RRC connection this channel is only used by UEs that receive MBMS. Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH) is Point-to-point bi-directional channel that transmits dedicated control information and used by UEs having an RRC connection. In one embodiment, Logical Traffic Channels comprise a Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH), which is point-to-point bi-directional channel, dedicated to one UE, for the transfer of user information, and a Multicast Traffic Channel (MTCH) for point-to-multipoint DL channel for transmitting traffic data. 
         [0048]    In an embodiment, Transport Channels are classified into downlink (DL) and Uplink (UL). DL Transport Channels comprises a Broadcast Channel (BCH), Downlink Shared Data Channel (DL-SDCH), and a Paging Channel (PCH). The PCH for support of UE power saving (DRX cycle is indicated by the network to the UE) broadcasts over the entire cell and is mapped to PHY resources that can be used for other control/traffic channels. The UL Transport Channels comprises a Random Access Channel (RACH), a Request Channel (REQCH), a Uplink Shared Data Channel (UL-SDCH), and a plurality of PHY channels. The PHY channels comprise a set of DL channels and UL channels. 
         [0049]    The DL PHY channels comprise: 
       Common Pilot Channel (CPICH) 
     Synchronization Channel (SCH) 
     Common Control Channel (CCCH) 
     Shared DL Control Channel (SDCCH) 
     Multicast Control Channel (MCCH) 
     Shared UL Assignment Channel (SUACH) 
     Acknowledgement Channel (ACKCH) 
     DL Physical Shared Data Channel (DL-PSDCH) 
     UL Power Control Channel (UPCCH) 
     Paging Indicator Channel (PICH) 
     Load Indicator Channel (LICH) 
       [0050]    The UL PHY Channels comprise: 
       Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) 
     Channel Quality Indicator Channel (CQICH) 
     Acknowledgement Channel (ACKCH) 
     Antenna Subset Indicator Channel (ASICH) 
     Shared Request Channel (SREQCH) 
     UL Physical Shared Data Channel (UL-PSDCH) 
     Broadband Pilot Channel (BPICH) 
       [0051]    In an embodiment, a channel structure is provided that preserves the low PAPR properties of a single carrier waveform. 
         [0052]    For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations apply: 
       AM Acknowledged Mode 
     AMD Acknowledged Mode Data 
     ARQ Automatic Repeat Request 
     BCCH Broadcast Control CHannel 
     BCH Broadcast CHannel 
     C- Control- 
     CCCH Common Control CHannel 
     CCH Control CHannel 
     CCTrCH Coded Composite Transport Channel 
     CP Cyclic Prefix 
     CRC Cyclic Redundancy Check 
     CTCH Common Traffic CHannel 
     DCCH Dedicated Control CHannel 
     DCH Dedicated CHannel 
     DL DownLink 
     DSCH Downlink Shared CHannel 
     DTCH Dedicated Traffic CHannel 
       [0053]    FACH Forward link Access CHannel 
       FDD Frequency Division Duplex 
     HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request 
       [0054]    L1 Layer 1 (physical layer) 
         [0055]    L2 Layer 2 (data link layer) 
         [0000]    L3 Layer 3 (network layer) 
       LI Length Indicator 
     LSB Least Significant Bit 
     MAC Medium Access Control 
     MBMS Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service 
       [0056]    MCCHMBMS point-to-multipoint Control CHannel 
       MRW Move Receiving Window 
     MSB Most Significant Bit 
       [0057]    MSCH MBMS point-to-multipoint Scheduling CHannel
 
MTCH MBMS point-to-multipoint Traffic CHannel
 
       PAPR Peak-to-Average Power Ratio 
     PCCH Paging Control CHannel 
     PCH Paging CHannel 
     PDU Protocol Data Unit 
       [0058]    PHY PHYsical layer 
       PhyCHPhysical CHannels 
     RACH Random Access CHannel 
     RLC Radio Link Control 
     RRC Radio Resource Control 
     SAP Service Access Point 
     SDU Service Data Unit 
       [0059]    SHCCH SHared channel Control CHannel 
       SN Sequence Number 
     SUFI SUper FIeld 
     TCH Traffic CHannel 
     TDD Time Division Duplex 
     TFI Transport Format Indicator 
     TM Transparent Mode 
     TMD Transparent Mode Data 
     TTI Transmission Time Interval 
     U- User- 
     UE User Equipment 
     UL UpLink 
     UM Unacknowledged Mode 
     UMD Unacknowledged Mode Data 
     UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System 
     UTRA UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access 
     UTRAN UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network 
       [0060]    MBSFN multicast broadcast single frequency network
 
MCE MBMS coordinating entity
 
MCH multicast channel
 
DL-SCH downlink shared channel
 
MSCH MBMS control channel
 
PDCCH physical downlink control channel
 
PDSCH physical downlink shared channel
 
         [0061]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example system  300  that supports disabling the decoding of downlink subframes in a wireless communication environment. System  300  includes a base station  302  that can transmit and/or receive information, signals, data, instructions, commands, bits, symbols, and the like. Base station  302  can communicate with an access terminal  304  via a forward link and/or reverse link. Access terminal  304  can transmit and/or receive information, signals, data, instructions, commands, bits, symbols, and the like. Moreover, although not shown, it is contemplated that any number of base stations similar to base station  302  can be included in system  300  and/or any number of access terminals similar to access terminal  304  can be included in system  300 . 
         [0062]    Base station  302  can include a transmission component  306 , a bundled acknowledgment (ACK) reception component  308 , a memory  310 , and a processor  312 . Transmission component  306  can send a downlink transmission to access terminal  304 . For instance, system  300  can support a time division duplex (TDD) mode (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) TDD mode, etc.). As such, multiple subframes of a radio frame can be utilized for downlink transmission (e.g., by transmission component  306 ). Further, the multiple subframes utilized for downlink transmission (or a subset thereof) can be associated with a single subframe of the radio frame employed for uplink transmission in some TDD configurations. Accordingly, multiple Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) statuses corresponding to the multiple subframes utilized for downlink transmission can be obtained by bundled ACK reception component  308  in the single subframe employed for uplink transmission. 
         [0063]    Moreover, access terminal  304  can include a reception component  314 , a bundled ACK generation component  316 , a decoding inhibition component  318 , a memory  320 , and a processor  322 . Reception component  314  can obtain the downlink transmission sent by base station  302  (e.g., via transmission component  306 ). Further, reception component  314  can process the obtained downlink transmission. For example, processing effectuated by reception component  314  can include buffering, filtering, correcting the obtained downlink transmission (e.g., offset correction, IQ correction, frequency correction, etc.), controlling digital gain, sampling utilizing Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs), estimating a channel, demodulating (e.g., using channel interpolation, Maximum Ratio Combining/Minimum Mean Square Error (MRC/MMSE) operations, etc.), demapping (e.g., by calculating log-likelihood ratios (LLRs), etc.), decoding (e.g., utilizing a Turbo Decoder, etc.), evaluating a CRC status, and the like. It is contemplated, however, that all of the aforementioned processing need not be effectuated by reception component  314  (and/or disparate component(s) (not shown)). Further, it is to be appreciated that additional processing that is known in the art, and other than the processing expressly described herein, can be performed upon the obtained downlink transmission by reception component  314  (and/or disparate component(s) (not shown)), and any such further processing is intended to fall within the scope of the hereto appended claims. 
         [0064]    According to an illustration, reception component  314  can evaluate CRC statuses of obtained downlink transmissions. Further, bundled ACK generation component  316  can combine CRC statuses from downlink transmissions sent during a plurality of subframes. The combined CRC statuses can be bundled together for transmission via a single uplink subframe. For instance, bundled ACK generation component  316  can logically “AND” CRC statuses across downlink subframes in a bundling window associated with an uplink. Further, bundled ACK generation component  316  can send a single acknowledgment/negative acknowledgment (ACK/NACK) status over the uplink (e.g., which can be received by bundled ACK reception component  308  of base station  302 ). This reduction in transmitted information can be used to provide power savings at a transceiver (e.g., access terminal  304 ). 
         [0065]    When ACKs and NACKs are combined by bundled ACK generation component  316  via ANDing, a single CRC fail as identified by reception component  314  among all downlink subframes results in bundled ACK generation component  316  sending a NACK (e.g., reporting a failure). Immediately upon detecting a CRC failure within a bundle, decoding inhibition component  318  can disable decoding (e.g., performed by reception component  314 ) of subsequent downlink subframes in the bundle. Thus, halting decoding for the subsequent downlink subframes can lead to power savings at a receiver (e.g., access terminal  304 ). 
         [0066]    Memory  310  and memory  320  can store data to be transmitted, received data, and any other suitable information related to performing the various actions and functions set forth herein. It will be appreciated that the data storage (e.g., memory  310 , memory  320 , etc.) described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), which can act as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Memory  310  and memory  320  of the subject systems and methods is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory, either known or as yet to be developed. Moreover, memory  310  can be operatively coupled to processor  312  and/or memory  320  can be operatively coupled to processor  322 . 
         [0067]    Moreover, termination of decoding as described herein can be generally applicable for LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) or any other technique in which CRC information from multiple code words can be collapsed into a single response (e.g., as yielded by bundled ACK generation component  316 , etc.). Similar to the foregoing, decoding can be disabled (e.g., by decoding inhibition component  318 , etc.) after a first CRC failure. 
         [0068]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , illustrated is an exemplary radio frame  400  that can be utilized in connection with the claimed subject matter. Radio frame  400  can be 10 ms in duration and can include 10 subframes. Further, a subframe can be 1 ms in duration. 
         [0069]    Radio frame  400  can be used for LTE TDD, for instance. Accordingly, various TDD configurations can be implemented. Each TDD configuration can include a corresponding pattern of uplink and downlink subframes. Thus, dependent upon the TDD configuration, each subframe can be either an uplink subframe or a downlink subframe (or a special subframe that includes a downlink pilot time slot, a guard period, and an uplink pilot time slot). The TDD configuration that is utilized within a wireless communication environment can also allow for load balancing between uplink and downlink traffic. 
         [0070]    According to exemplary illustration  FIG. 4 , eight of the subframes of radio frame  400  can be downlink subframes, one subframe of radio frame  400  can be an uplink subframe, and one subframe of radio frame  400  can be a special subframe (e.g., the TDD configuration can be associated with a pattern where subframe # 0  is a downlink subframe, subframe # 1  is a special subframe, subframe # 2  is an uplink subframe, and subframes # 3 -# 9  are each downlink subframes). By way of another example, six of the subframes of radio frame  400  can be downlink subframes, three subframes of radio frame  400  can be uplink subframes, and one subframe of radio frame  400  can be a special subframe (e.g., the TDD configuration can be associated with a pattern where subframe # 0  is a downlink subframe, subframe # 1  is a special subframe, subframes # 2 -# 4  are each uplink subframes, and subframes # 5 -# 9  are each downlink subframes). It is to be appreciated, however, that the claimed subject matter is not limited to the foregoing exemplary TDD configurations, as it is contemplated that any TDD configuration and associated pattern is intended to fall within the scope of the hereto appended claims. 
         [0071]    Again, reference is made to  FIG. 3 . According to an example, system  300  can utilize a TDD configuration with a pattern that includes nine downlink subframes and one uplink subframe for a radio frame; yet, it is to be appreciated that the claimed subject matter is not limited to such example (e.g., different bundle sizes can be employed where any suitable number of downlink subframes can be bundled together as part of a report sent via one uplink subframe). Thus, reception component  314  can process the nine downlink subframes. Further, bundled ACK generation component  316  can combine ACKs and NACKs from the nine downlink subframes to yield one ACK/NACK bit for sending to base station  302 . Bundled ACK generation component  316  can combine the ACKs and NACKs via ANDing such bits; hence, if at least one of the nine downlink subframes fails (e.g., CRC failure is detected by reception component  314 ), then bundled ACK generation component  316  can indicate to base station  302  that a failure occurred with the one ACK/NACK bit sent via the uplink subframe. 
         [0072]    Following the above example, subframes # 0 -# 8  can be downlink subframes and subframe # 9  can be an uplink subframe; yet, it is to be appreciated that the claimed subject matter is not so limited. Reception component  314  can process the downlink subframes in sequence. Hence, downlink subframe # 0  can be decoded and a corresponding ACK or NACK for downlink subframe # 0  can be collected by reception component  314  (e.g., CRC pass or CRC failure), then downlink subframe # 1  can be decoded and a corresponding ACK or NACK for downlink subframe # 1  can be collected by reception component  314 , and so forth. During the processing of the downlink subframes by reception component  314 , if a failure (e.g., CRC failure) of a downlink subframe is detected, then bundled ACK generation component  316  can report a NACK for the one ACK/NACK bit sent via the uplink subframe regardless whether subsequent downlink subframe(s) are successfully decoded or not. Thus, upon detecting a failure of a downlink subframe, decoding inhibition component  318  can disable further decoding of downlink subframe(s) (e.g., performed by reception component  314 , Turbo Decoder, etc.) in the sequence after the downlink subframe that failed and before the uplink subframe in which the failure is reported by bundled ACK generation component  316 , thereby resulting in a power savings at access terminal  304 . 
         [0073]    By way of illustration, when a failure is identified, decoding inhibition component  318  can stop decoding performed by reception component  314  on subsequent downlink subframes in a radio frame prior to an uplink subframe. However, other processing can still be effectuated upon such subsequent downlink subframes (e.g., IQ samples can be collected, channel estimation can be performed, demodulation can be effectuated using MRC or MMSE, LLR can be computed, combined in a buffer). Decoding alone can be inhibited since it can be an independent operation. Further, if nine subframes are used for downlink transmission in a radio frame and a failure is reported by bundled ACK generation component  316 , the information sent during the nine subframes can be transmitted again by base station  302  (e.g., by transmission component  306  in response to identification of the failure by bundled ACK reception component  308 , etc.) in a subsequent radio frame. Since reporting of the failure by bundled ACK generation component  316  is collapsed into one bit, even if eight of the nine downlink subframes are decoded correctly while the other downlink subframe failed to be decoded correctly, all nine downlink subframes are retransmitted. 
         [0074]    When downlink subframes are retransmitted by base station  302  (e.g., by transmission component  306 ) in response to a reported failure, access terminal  304  (e.g., reception component  314 ) can either decode or skip decoding of downlink subframe(s) that were previously successfully decoded. Again, an example radio frame that utilizes a TDD configuration with a pattern where subframes # 0 -# 8  can be downlink subframes and subframe # 9  can be an uplink subframe is described below; however, the claimed subject matter is not limited to such TDD configuration. By way illustration, CRCs for downlink subframes # 0 -# 3  can pass, while a CRC for downlink subframe # 4  can fail. Accordingly, decoding inhibition component  318  can cause reception component  314  to skip decoding of downlink subframes # 5 -# 8  (e.g., a Turbo Decoder of access terminal  304  can be powered off for downlink subframes # 5 -# 8 , etc.). Utilization of this approach can provide power savings associated with powering off the Turbo Decoder for downlink subframe(s) after detection of a CRC failure. Further, bundled ACK generation component  316  can report a failure by way of uplink subframe # 9 . According to one example, during a next radio frame when information is resent in response to the reported failure (e.g., information from downlink subframes # 0 -# 8  is retransmitted), reception component  314  can begin processing from downlink subframe # 0 . By way of another example, during the next radio frame when information is resent in response to the reported failure (e.g., information from downlink subframes # 0 -# 8  is retransmitted), reception component  314  can begin processing at the downlink subframe that previously failed the CRC (e.g., start processing downlink subframe # 4 , then continue to process downlink subframe # 5  if downlink subframe # 4  passes the CRC, and so forth). Accordingly, since downlink subframes # 0 -# 3  passed the CRC upon being decoded when previously transmitted in the prior radio frame, reception component  314  need not process such downlink subframes again when utilizing this approach. Thus, processing by reception component  314  after channel estimation for downlink subframe(s) that previously passed CRC can be skipped, thereby yielding power savings (i.e., greater power savings can result). 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a methodology relating to disabling decoding of downlink subframe(s) in a bundle in a wireless communication environment is illustrated. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodology is shown and described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the methodology is not limited by the order of acts, as some acts can, in accordance with one or more embodiments, occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         [0076]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , illustrated therein is a methodology  500  that facilitates terminating decoding of subsequent downlink subframe(s) in a bundle upon detecting a CRC failure in a wireless communication environment. At  502 , a downlink subframe included in a bundle that includes multiple downlink subframes contained within a radio frame can be decoded. The radio frame can support LTE TDD, for example. Moreover, a pattern of uplink subframe(s) and downlink subframe(s) based on a TDD configuration can be utilized with the radio frame. Further, the multiple downlink subframes can be associated with one uplink subframe as part of the bundle. At  504 , a determination can be effectuated concerning whether a CRC failure of the downlink subframe is detected. If a CRC failure is detected, then methodology  500  continues to  506 . 
         [0077]    At  506 , decoding of at least one subsequent downlink subframe included in the bundle prior to an uplink subframe can be inhibited if present. Rather, the at least one subsequent downlink subframe can be processed (e.g., IQ samples can be collected, channel estimation can be performed, demodulation can be effectuated, LLR can be calculated) without being decoded (e.g., a Turbo Decoder can be powered off, etc). At  508 , a single CRC failure for the multiple downlink subframes can be reported via the uplink subframe. For instance, CRC statuses of each of the multiple downlink subframes can be ANDed to yield a single CRC failure. When the single CRC failure is reported, the multiple downlink subframes included in the bundle can be retransmitted (e.g., a retransmission of the bundle can be responsive to the single CRC failure, etc.). According to one example, decoding of a retransmission of the bundle can begin at a first downlink subframe from the multiple downlink subframes. By way of another example, decoding of the retransmission of the bundle can begin at a downlink subframe from the multiple downlink subframes detected to have previously failed the CRC; thus, successfully decoded downlink subframe(s) need not be decoded again. 
         [0078]    If a CRC failure is not detected at  504 , then methodology  500  continues to  510 . At  510 , a subsequent downlink subframe in the bundle can be decoded if present. Moreover, methodology  500  can continue to  504  to evaluate whether a CRC failure of the subsequent downlink subframe is detected. Otherwise, if the bundle does not include a subsequent downlink subframe prior to the uplink subframe (e.g., a subsequent downlink subframe in the bundle is lacking), then a single CRC pass can be reported for the multiple subframes via the uplink subframe. 
         [0079]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , illustrated therein is a methodology  500  that facilitates decoding of a retransmitted bundle of subframes. Upon receiving by an eNB of a notice of a reception error from a UE, the eNB retransmits the entire bundle. Upon receiving the retransmitted bundle at  602 , the UE selects a subframe from the bundle at  604 . UE then determines whether that particular subframe is among those previously successfully decoded (e.g., whether there was no CRC error for that subframe at  606 . If the subframe was previously successfully decoded, then the UE determines if there is any remaining subframe in the bundle at  608 . If there is, then the method returns to  604  and if not, the method ends. If at  606  it is determined that the current subframe is not among those successfully decoded, the method goes to  502  of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0080]    It will be appreciated that, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein, inferences can be made pertaining to inhibiting decoding of downlink subframe(s). As used herein, the term “infer” or “inference” refers generally to the process of reasoning about or inferring states of the system, environment, and/or user from a set of observations as captured via events and/or data. Inference can be employed to identify a specific context or action, or can generate a probability distribution over states, for example. The inference can be probabilistic—that is, the computation of a probability distribution over states of interest based on a consideration of data and events. Inference can also refer to techniques employed for composing higher-level events from a set of events and/or data. Such inference results in the construction of new events or actions from a set of observed events and/or stored event data, whether or not the events are correlated in close temporal proximity, and whether the events and data come from one or several event and data sources. 
         [0081]    It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes disclosed is an example of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented. 
         [0082]    Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof. 
         [0083]    Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0084]    The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. 
         [0085]    The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user equipment. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user equipment. 
         [0086]    The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.