Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8606336B2/en
Timestamp: 2020-01-25 06:06:40
Document Index: 767533781

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2009225436', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 11177132', 'Application No. 11177135', 'Application No. 11177132', 'Application No. 08153883', 'Application No. 11177135', 'Application No. 08153883', 'Application No. 11177135', 'Application No. 2011', 'Application No. 10']

US8606336B2 - System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception - Google Patents
US8606336B2
US8606336B2 US12/052,539 US5253908A US8606336B2 US 8606336 B2 US8606336 B2 US 8606336B2 US 5253908 A US5253908 A US 5253908A US 8606336 B2 US8606336 B2 US 8606336B2
US12/052,539
US20090239476A1 (en
2008-03-20 Application filed by BlackBerry Ltd filed Critical BlackBerry Ltd
2008-03-20 Priority to US12/052,539 priority Critical patent/US8606336B2/en
2008-03-20 Assigned to RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED reassignment RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CAI, ZHIJUN, WOMACK, JAMES EARL
2009-09-24 Publication of US20090239476A1 publication Critical patent/US20090239476A1/en
2013-12-10 Publication of US8606336B2 publication Critical patent/US8606336B2/en
238000001303 quality assessment methods Methods 0 claims description 37
Systems and methods for controlling sounding reference signal transmission are provided; a user equipment starts transmitting the sounding reference signal in anticipation of uplink data transmission, and then discontinues transmitting the sounding reference signal after completion of uplink data transmission.
In wireless communication systems, transmission from the network access equipment (e.g., eNB) to the UE is referred to as a downlink transmission. Communication from the UE to the network access equipment is referred to as an uplink transmission. Wireless communication systems generally require maintenance of timing synchronization to allow for continued communications. Maintaining uplink synchronization can be problematic, wasting throughput and/or decreasing battery life of a UE given that a UE may not always have data to transmit.
FIG. 1 is an illustration of a cellular network according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 2 is an illustration of a cell in a cellular network according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 3 is an illustration of a possible uplink transmission channel;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a method of uplink reference signal transmission;
FIG. 6 is a timing diagram showing an example of uplink reference signal timing;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of uplink reference signal transmission by a UE;
FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method in network access equipment that corresponds with the method of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram of modules in the UE.
FIG. 10 is a diagram of a wireless communications system including a mobile device operable for some of the various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a mobile device operable for some of the various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 12 is a diagram of a software environment that may be implemented on a mobile device operable for some of the various embodiments of the disclosure; and
FIG. 13 is an exemplary general purpose computer according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
According to one broad aspect, the application provides a method of uplink reference signal transmission in a user equipment comprising: starting uplink reference signal transmission in anticipation of transmitting uplink data; transmitting uplink data after starting uplink reference signal transmission; continuing uplink reference signal transmission until completion of transmission of the uplink data.
According to another broad aspect, the application provides a computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for implementing a method comprising: starting uplink reference signal transmission in anticipation of transmitting uplink data; transmitting uplink data after starting uplink reference signal transmission; continuing uplink reference signal transmission until completion of transmission of the uplink data.
According to another broad aspect, the application provides a user equipment comprising: a receive module; an uplink signal generation module that starts generating the uplink reference signal in anticipation of transmitting uplink data and continues to generate uplink reference signals until completion of transmission of the uplink data; and a transmit module configured to transmit the uplink data and to transmit the uplink reference signals generated by the uplink signal generation module.
One or more UEs 10 may be present in each of the cells 102. Although only one UE 10 is depicted and is shown in only one cell 102 12, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that a plurality of UEs 10 may be present in each of the cells 102. A network access equipment 20 in each of the cells 102 performs functions similar to those of a traditional base station. That is, the network access equipments 20 provide a radio link between the UEs 10 and other components in a telecommunications network. While the network access equipment 20 is shown only in cell 102 12, it should be understood that network access equipment would be present in each of the cells 102.
The format of an example of an uplink channel is shown schematically in FIG. 3. The transmission can be one of a number of different bandwidths (e.g., 1.25, 5, 15, or 20 MHz). In the time domain, the uplink is broken into frames, sub-frames and slots. Each slot 201 (shown as slots 201 1, 201 2, . . . , 201 19, 201 20, collectively slots 201) is made up of seven orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) symbols 203. Two slots 201 make up a sub-frame 205 (sub-frames 205 1, 205 2, . . . , 205 10, collectively are sub-frames 205). A frame is a collection of 10 contiguous sub-frames. Because the exact details of a sub-frame 205 may very depending upon the exact implementation, the following description is provided as an example only. The UE will transmit using a constant-amplitude and zero-autocorrelation (CAZAC) sequence so that more than one UE may transmit simultaneously. The demodulation (DM) reference symbol (RS) is placed on the fourth symbol 209 of each slot; and the control channel 211 is taken up by at least one resource block on the very outside edges of the frequency band.
Uplink reference signal transmission opportunities for channel quality assessment and/or timing alignment (e.g. SRS (sounding reference signal)) transmission opportunities may exist anywhere in each sub-frame 205 and most likely at the beginning, or end. Each such transmission opportunity is broken down into several blocks of 12 sub-carriers that correspond to the same frequency bandwidth as a resource block. A UE may use one or all of those frequency blocks depending on the transmission bandwidth selected. The UE may also use every other sub-carrier in one or more multiple blocks. In the illustrated example, an SRS is shown in the first symbol 207 of the sub-frame 205 1 and of sub-frame 201 19. FIG. 3 also shows where in time and frequency that the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) 211 is placed. Control signaling takes place in the PUCCH. In one embodiment, the system implements a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgement (ACK)/negative acknowledgement (NACK) feedback. An ACK or NACK is sent on the PUCCH 211 by the UE to the eNB to indicate whether a packet transmitted from the eNB was received at that UE. The physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) is used to send user data.
The above description of the uplink channel is one implementation of an uplink channel. It will be appreciated that other uplink channel configurations may be used wherein an uplink reference signal transmission (e.g., SRS) is sent during any portion of the uplink message, not necessarily only at the beginning or end of a specified time interval (e.g., slot).
In order to maintain uplink synchronization, it is desirable for the network access equipment 20 (shown in FIG. 1) to calculate the uplink channel conditions by analyzing signals sent from the UE 10. One possible timing diagram of signals sent between the network access equipment 20 and the UE 10 is shown in FIG. 4, In this embodiment, the network access equipment 20 instructs the UE 10 when to send an uplink reference signal transmission (e.g., SRS), through use of an uplink reference signal transmission instruction message 241. The uplink reference signal transmission instruction message 241 may include any one of a variety of instructions. For example, the network access equipment 20 may instruct the UE 10 via the reference signal transmission instruction message 241 to send the reference signal transmissions at a constant rate, or in bursts depending on the velocity of the UE 10 relative to the network access equipment 20. In response 243, the UE 10 may send the reference signal transmissions (e.g., SRS) in accordance with the instructions of the network access equipment 20.
In order to conserve battery power in the UE, the UE may operate with discontinuous reception (DRX). Typically, the UE will turn its reception capability on and off in a repeating fashion. The network is aware of the DRX behavior and makes its transmission to the UE during periods that the reception capability is on. An On period followed by an Off period is a DRX cycle.
DRX in Connected Mode will be configured by the network. Part of the configuration is the setting of the DRX-cycle On Duration, inactivity timers and HARQ timer. During the On periods (periods the receiver is on each having a length specified by the On Duration), the UE will monitor the PDCCH (packet data control channel) or configured resource for the allocation of possible downlink and uplink transmissions. When a PDCCH is decoded successfully, an inactivity timer will be started. At the end of the On period, the UE may go back to sleep according to the DRX configuration.
Transmission of Uplink Reference Signal in Anticipation of Uplink Transmission
In some embodiments, the UE does not transmit an uplink reference signal until it determines that it has uplink data to send. Upon making such a determination, the UE transmits the uplink reference signal in anticipation of the uplink transmission, for example slightly before the start of the uplink transmission, and during the uplink transmission. The UE then stops transmitting the uplink reference signal after completion of the uplink transmission. A flowchart of the method will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The method begins with controlling a receiver in the user equipment to have on periods and off periods at block 5-1. Note that these on and off periods may for the most part be periodic or for the most part periodic in some embodiments, but more generally they need not be necessarily periodic. The method continues in block 5-2 with starting uplink reference signal transmission in anticipation of transmitting uplink data. The method continues at block 5-3 with the user equipment transmitting uplink data after having started uplink reference signal transmission. At block 54, the user equipment continues uplink reference signal transmission until completion of transmission of the uplink data.
The embodiment of FIG. 5 assumes that the uplink reference signal transmission in anticipation of uplink data transmission is in the context of DRX control of the receiver. In another embodiment, blocks 5-2,5-3,5-4 are executed by a user equipment that is not operating in DRX mode in which case block 5-1 can be omitted.
Referring now to FIG. 6, a specific example will be described. In this example and all of the examples that follow, the reference signals are assumed to be SRS transmissions. It is to be understood that all of the examples given have application more generally to reference signals. FIG. 6 shows the timing of various signals for a UE in DRX mode. Shown is DRX timing 800 for a DRX cycle assignment, timing 810 for availability of data for transmission, timing 822 for uplink data transmission, a scheduling request timing indicated at 830, and SRS timing indicated at 820. The DRX timing 800 consists of a DRX cycle 802 that includes a DRX On Duration (indicated at 804) and a DRX Off Duration. The receiver is alternately turned on for On periods having the DRX On Duration and off for Off periods having the DRX Off Duration. The SRS timing 820 has an SRS period 822. This represents the timing of an uplink resource that is available for SRS transmission. More generally, the UE maintains a definition of an available set of uplink reference signal transmission opportunities. In some embodiments, information defining these transmission opportunities is contained in signaling information transmitted to the UE by the network. In the illustrated example, the uplink resource is a periodic resource but in other embodiments, the resource is not necessarily periodic. In the illustrated example, there is a ratio of 12 SRS periods to one DRX cycle 802 but this is implementation specific. As described below, an SRS is not transmitted at every opportunity. The timing 810 of the availability of data to be sent on the uplink may for example indicate when data arrives in a buffer for transmission. For the purpose of this example, it is assumed that data is available at 812 for transmission on the uplink. For the specific example indicated, the scheduling request timing 830 shows a scheduling request transmitted by the UE at 832 in respect of the data available at 812. In some embodiments, a scheduling request is an indication sent by the UE to the base station to request a previously assigned uplink resource that may be semi-persistent in nature; this means that the same resource is assigned each time the UE requests the resource so that details of the assignment do not need to be signaled each time. The timing of the resulting uplink data transmission is indicated at 825. The uplink transmission may for example occur using a semi-persistent resource. More generally, for the example of FIG. 6, the SRS behaviour can be in respect of any uplink transmission; this may involve transmissions using a semi-persistent resource, or dynamically scheduled transmissions to name a few examples.
In the illustrated example, data arrives at 812 for transmission on the uplink between DRX On Durations. Rather than waiting until the next On Duration to transmit the SR at 832, the UE is allowed to transmit when it receives data for transmission. In some embodiments, the UE transmits the SR (more generally the UE requests an uplink transmission resource using some request mechanism) using an assigned scheduling request channel assignment at the next available opportunity after the start of receipt of data for uplink transmission. In some embodiments, in the event DRX control has the receiver off when the SR is transmitted, the UE will turn on its receiver in order to receive an uplink grant. The request may for example be sent using an uplink resource previously assigned for that purpose; it may be a dedicated resource for a given UE or a contention-based resource to name a few examples. This may reduce average UL latencies and problems with channel congestion during On Durations Cycles that may occur when the UE is restricted to transmitting during DRX On Cycle Durations. In such embodiments, the request for the uplink transmission resource and the subsequent transmission of the uplink data are both performed irrespective of the on and off periods of the receiver. In some embodiments, the network transmits signaling to the UE to configure the user equipment to be able to transmit the request for the uplink transmission resource and to transmit the uplink data irrespective of the on and off periods of the receiver. In other embodiments, the UE is able to behave in this manner without receiving signaling from the network.
SRS transmission is triggered in anticipation of data transmission 825. Specifically, as shown, SRS transmission occurs over a period 824 which encompasses the timing of the uplink data transmission 825. After data arrives to be sent by the UE, the SRS is transmitted. The SRS transmission starts before data transmission starts and is discontinued after the data has been transmitted. In some embodiments, this involves continuing uplink reference signal transmission until a last of the available set of uplink reference signal transmission opportunities that occur during uplink data transmission and then discontinuing reference signal transmission as shown for the example of FIG. 6.
In some embodiments, after transmission of an SR (such as at 832), the network responds with an uplink grant on a downlink control channel, such as the PDCCH (packet data control channel) described in TS 36.211 (see section 6) hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, an inactivity timer is used to control when to discontinue SRS transmission. For example, receipt of the uplink grant may be used as a trigger to start an inactivity timer. The SRS transmission is discontinued after the inactivity timer expires.
SRS Transmission at Closest SRS Transmission Opportunity in the Uplink Before Uplink Resource Request
In some embodiments, the UE starts making SRS transmissions at the closest SRS transmission opportunity in the uplink before making an uplink resource request. In such embodiments, the mobile device maintains a definition of a set of available SRS transmission opportunities as described previously. The latest of these opportunities that occurs prior to making an uplink resource request is the one within which the SRS transmission starts. The example of FIG. 6 illustrates this. It can be seen that SRS transmission opportunity 825 is the latest SRS transmission opportunity that occurs prior to transmitting the SR at 832.
In some embodiments, this behaviour is in respect of an uplink resource request for a semi-persistent resource; this may for example involve using the above described SR mechanism; in some embodiments, this behaviour is in respect of an uplink resource request that is a transmitted using a contention based access mechanism (for example the RACH (random access channel) mechanism described in TS 36.211 (see section 5); finally, in some embodiments, both the SR and contention based resource request mechanisms are available to trigger this behaviour.
Various mechanisms have been described to trigger the start of SRS transmission in anticipation of data transmission. Various mechanisms are also provided to stop SRS transmission. The first example was described above and involved starting an inactivity timer upon receipt of an uplink grant; the SRS transmission stops upon expiry of the inactivity timer.
In another embodiment, the UE will simply stop the SRS transmission at the end of the data transmission; in some embodiments at the earliest opportunity after data transmission has finished.
In some embodiments, SRS is transmitted during an original data transmission and any retransmissions/HARQ processes that may follow. The SRS transmission is transmitted from before data transmission until completion of any retransmissions/HARQ processes.
In other embodiments, the SRS transmission is transmitted from before transmission of an original data transmission until completion of the original data transmission after which SRS transmission is stopped. In the event that retransmissions are necessary, SRS transmission is restarted in order to cover the retransmissions. As in the case for original transmissions, this starts in anticipation of the retransmission and continues until completion of the retransmission.
Reference Signal Timing Alignment
In some embodiments, reference signal transmissions are made for two different purposes:
a) to allow the network to assess the quality of the uplink channel so that the network can determine an appropriate adaptive modulation and encoding for uplink transmissions;
b) uplink timing alignment, as described previously.
The transmissions are the same in either case, but the network may need them with differing timing constraints. For example, the network may need the reference signal for uplink channel quality assessment more frequently than for uplink timing alignment. In some embodiments, rather than the UE making these reference signal transmissions for timing alignment independently of reference signal transmissions for uplink channel assessment, the UE aligns the timing of these two reference signal transmissions whenever possible and when the timing is aligned, only a single reference signal transmission is made.
Specifically, the network assigns the UE reference signal transmission opportunities for timing alignment and reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink channel quality assessment. For each reference signal transmission opportunity, a single reference signal is transmitted if the current opportunity is aligned with one or both of the timing alignment or uplink channel quality assessment requirements. In some embodiments, this reference signal behaviour is predicated on reference signal transmission being enabled, for example using any of the mechanisms described in previous embodiments. A specific example of this method from the perspective of the UE will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7. The method begins at block 7-1 with the UE receiving signaling that allocates reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink timing alignment and reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink channel quality assessment. Some of the reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink timing alignment may coincide with reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink channel quality assessment. The method continues at block 7-2 with transmitting reference signal transmissions for uplink timing alignment in accordance with the signaling, and at block 7-3 transmitting reference signal transmissions for uplink channel quality assessment in accordance with the signaling. In so doing, transmitting reference signal transmissions for uplink timing alignment in accordance with the signaling and transmitting reference signal transmissions for uplink channel quality assessment in accordance with the signaling is achieved by transmitting a single reference signal transmission for both uplink timing alignment and uplink channel quality assessment for any reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink timing alignment that coincide with reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink channel quality assessment.
An example of this method from the perspective of the network will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8. The method begins at block 8-1 with the network transmitting signaling that allocates reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink timing alignment and reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink channel quality assessment. The method continues at block 8-2 with receiving reference signal transmissions for uplink timing alignment in accordance with the signaling, and at block 8-3 receiving reference signal transmissions for uplink channel quality assessment in accordance with the signaling. In so doing, receiving reference signal transmissions for uplink timing alignment in accordance with the signaling and receiving reference signal transmissions for uplink channel quality assessment in accordance with the signaling comprised receiving a single reference signal transmission for both uplink timing alignment and uplink channel quality assessment for any reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink timing alignment that coincide with reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink channel quality assessment.
In some embodiments, the network transmits signaling information that contains a definition of reference signal transmission opportunities to be made available for one or both of channel quality assessment and timing alignment. In addition, the signaling information includes information identifying a minimum period for transmission of the reference signal for channel quality assessment and/or a minimum period for transmission of the reference signal for timing alignment. The UE makes reference signal transmissions in accordance with the definition of reference signal transmission opportunities, and subject to the minimum period(s) such that whenever possible a single reference signal is sent for both channel quality assessment and timing alignment.
As a specific example, consider that a basic set of SRS transmission opportunities may be defined with a periodicity of 10 ms; the SRS for channel quality assessment may be required every 10 ms while the UE is transmitting; the SRS for timing alignment may be required every 30 ms irrespective of whether the UE is transmitting. This information is used by the UE to send a single SRS every 10 ms while the UE is transmitting in satisfaction of both requirements, and a single SRS every 30 ms while the UE is not transmitting.
In some embodiments, in order to carry out the above process, the UE 10 comprises a processor capable of performing the above process. For simplicity, the different functions have been broken out into different modules. These modules may be implemented separately or together. Further, these modules may be implemented in hardware, software, or some combination. Finally, these modules may reside in different portions of the UE memory. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the UE processor comprises a receive module 801, an uplink reference signal generation module 803, and a transmission module 807. The receive module 801 receives communications from the network. These may for example include a message or messages configuring the on and off periods for the receiver, and configuring various resources for the receiver, such as the transmission opportunities for the uplink reference signal, and uplink grants. The transmission module 807 makes uplink transmissions, including data transmissions and uplink timing alignment signal transmissions. These can be part of an integrated frame structure as described previously with reference to FIG. 3 by way of example. The uplink reference signal generation module 803 generates uplink reference signal transmissions for transmission by the transmission module 807 such that uplink reference signal transmissions occur in anticipation of and during data transmissions. This can occur using any of the methods described earlier, for example.
The RF transceiver 508 provides frequency shifting, converting received RF signals to baseband and converting baseband transmit signals to RF. In some descriptions a radio transceiver or RF transceiver may be understood to include other signal processing functionality such as modulation/demodulation, coding/decoding, interleaving/de-interleaving, spreading/de-spreading, inverse fast Fourier transforming (IFFT)/fast Fourier transforming (FFT), cyclic prefix appending/removal, and other signal processing functions. For the purposes of clarity, the description here separates the description of this signal processing from the RF and/or radio stage and conceptually allocates that signal processing to the analog baseband processing unit 510 and/or the DSP 502 or other central processing unit. In some embodiments, the RF Transceiver 508, portions of the Antenna and Front End 506, and the analog baseband processing unit 510 may be combined in one or more processing units and/or application specific integrated circuits (ASICs).
The DSP 502 may perform modulation/demodulation, coding/decoding, interleaving/de-interleaving, spreading/de-spreading, inverse fast Fourier transforming (IFFT)/fast Fourier transforming (FFT), cyclic prefix appending/removal, and other signal processing functions associated with wireless communications. In an embodiment, for example in a code division multiple access (CDMA) technology application, for a transmitter function the DSP 502 may perform modulation, coding, interleaving, and spreading, and for a receiver function the DSP 502 may perform de-spreading, de-interleaving, decoding, and demodulation. In another embodiment, for example in an orthogonal frequency division multiplex access (OFDMA) technology application, for the transmitter function the DSP 502 may perform modulation, coding, interleaving, inverse fast Fourier transforming, and cyclic prefix appending, and for a receiver function the DSP 502 may perform cyclic prefix removal, fast Fourier transforming, de-interleaving, decoding, and demodulation. In other wireless technology applications, yet other signal processing functions and combinations of signal processing functions may be performed by the DSP 502.
The UEs 10, ENBs 20, and central control 110 of FIG. 1 and other components that might be associated with the cells 102 may include any general-purpose computer with sufficient processing power, memory resources, and network throughput capability to handle the necessary workload placed upon it. FIG. 13 illustrates a typical, general-purpose computer system 700 that may be suitable for implementing one or more embodiments disclosed herein. The computer system 700 includes a processor 720 (which may be referred to as a central processor unit or CPU) that is in communication with memory devices including secondary storage 750, read only memory (ROM) 740, random access memory (RAM) 730, input/output (I/O) devices 700, and network connectivity devices 760. The processor may be implemented as one or more CPU chips.
1. A method of uplink reference signal transmission in a user equipment comprising:
controlling a receiver in the user equipment to use discontinuous reception associated with configured on periods and off periods;
maintaining a configuration of a set of sounding reference signal transmission resources;
transmitting a request for an uplink transmission resource during one of the off periods; and
transmitting a sounding reference signal transmission, using at least one of the set of sounding reference signal transmission resources associated with the configuration, responsive to transmitting the request for the uplink transmission resource.
receiving signaling to configure the user equipment to be able to transmit, irrespective of the on and off periods of the receiver, the request for the uplink transmission resource.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the request for an uplink transmission resource comprises transmitting the request using an assigned scheduling request channel.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting a request for an uplink transmission resource comprises transmitting a request for uplink transmission using a previously assigned semi-persistent resource.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting a request for an uplink transmission resource comprises transmitting a request for uplink transmission using a contention based access channel.
transmitting sounding reference signal transmissions for uplink timing alignment and for uplink channel quality assessment.
receiving signaling that allocates sounding reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink timing alignment and sounding reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink channel quality assessment;
transmitting sounding reference signal transmissions for uplink timing alignment in accordance with the signaling;
transmitting sounding reference signal transmissions for uplink channel quality assessment in accordance with the signaling;
wherein transmitting sounding reference signal transmissions for uplink timing alignment in accordance with the signaling and transmitting sounding reference signal transmissions for uplink channel quality assessment in accordance with the signaling comprises transmitting a single sounding reference signal transmission for both uplink timing alignment and uplink channel quality assessment for any sounding reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink timing alignment that coincide with sounding reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink channel quality assessment.
receiving signaling that contains a definition of sounding reference signal transmission opportunities to be made available for one or both of channel quality assessment and timing alignment, the information identifying a minimum period for transmission of the sounding reference signal for channel quality assessment and/or a minimum period for transmission of the sounding reference signal for timing alignment;
transmitting sounding reference signal transmissions in accordance with the definition of transmission opportunities, and subject to the minimum period(s), such that whenever possible a single sounding reference signal is sent for both channel quality assessment and timing alignment.
a receive module controlled to use discontinuous reception associated with configured on periods and off periods; and
a transmit module configured to:
maintain a configuration of a set of sounding reference signal transmission resources,
transmit a request for an uplink transmission resource during one of the off periods, and
transmit a sounding reference signal transmission, using at least one of the set of sounding reference signal transmission resources associated with the configuration, responsive to transmitting a request for the uplink transmission resource.
10. The user equipment of claim 9, the transmit module further configured to:
receive signaling to configure the user equipment to be able to transmit, irrespective of the on and off periods of the receiver, the request for the uplink transmission resource.
11. The user equipment of claim 9 wherein transmitting the request for an uplink transmission resource comprises transmitting the request using an assigned scheduling request channel.
12. The user equipment of claim 9 wherein transmitting a request for an uplink transmission resource comprises transmitting a request for uplink transmission using a previously assigned semi-persistent resource.
13. The user equipment of claim 9 wherein transmitting a request for an uplink transmission resource comprises transmitting a request for uplink transmission using a contention based access channel.
14. The user equipment of claim 9, the transmit module further configured to:
transmit sounding reference signal transmissions for uplink timing alignment and for uplink channel quality assessment.
15. The user equipment of claim 14, the transmit module further configured to:
receive signaling that allocates sounding reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink timing alignment and sounding reference signal transmission opportunities for uplink channel quality assessment;
transmit sounding reference signal transmissions for uplink timing alignment in accordance with the signaling;
transmit sounding reference signal transmissions for uplink channel quality assessment in accordance with the signaling;
16. The user equipment of claim 14, the transmit module further configured to:
receive signaling that contains a definition of sounding reference signal transmission opportunities to be made available for one or both of channel quality assessment and timing alignment, the information identifying a minimum period for transmission of the sounding reference signal for channel quality assessment and/or a minimum period for transmission of the sounding reference signal for timing alignment;
transmit sounding reference signal transmissions in accordance with the definition of transmission opportunities, and subject to the minimum period(s), such that whenever possible a single sounding reference signal is sent for both channel quality assessment and timing alignment.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting the sounding reference signal transmission occurs as a result of said transmitting the request for the uplink transmission resource.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of sounding reference signal transmissions repeat periodically.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising starting an inactivity timer upon reception of an uplink transmission resource grant.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising transmitting a sounding reference signal transmission in at least one of the set of sounding reference signal transmission resources until the inactivity timer expires.
21. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining a time period for retransmissions.
22. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting a sounding reference signal transmission in at least one of the set of sounding reference signal transmission resources until the determined time period ends.
US12/052,539 2008-03-20 2008-03-20 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception Active 2030-10-11 US8606336B2 (en)
EP11177132.5A EP2388958B1 (en) 2008-03-20 2008-03-31 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
ES11177135.8T ES2547063T3 (en) 2008-03-20 2008-03-31 System and method for temporary uplink synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
EP08153883.7A EP2104276B1 (en) 2008-03-20 2008-03-31 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
ES11177132.5T ES2587757T3 (en) 2008-03-20 2008-03-31 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
EP11177135.8A EP2388959B1 (en) 2008-03-20 2008-03-31 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
BRPI0908993A BRPI0908993A2 (en) 2008-03-20 2009-03-20 system and method for uplink synchronization synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
KR1020107023352A KR101184532B1 (en) 2008-03-20 2009-03-20 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
CA2718979A CA2718979C (en) 2008-03-20 2009-03-20 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
AU2009225436A AU2009225436B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2009-03-20 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
PCT/US2009/037828 WO2009117671A2 (en) 2008-03-20 2009-03-20 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
KR1020127008025A KR101229196B1 (en) 2008-03-20 2009-03-20 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
JP2011500987A JP5237435B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2009-03-20 System and method for uplink timing tuning with discontinuous reception
CN200980117313.2A CN102027791B (en) 2008-03-20 2009-03-20 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
HK11108869.8A HK1154741A1 (en) 2008-03-20 2011-08-23 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
US13/244,746 US8238837B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2011-09-26 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
HK12104436.0A HK1163976A1 (en) 2008-03-20 2012-05-07 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
JP2012250657A JP2013059097A (en) 2008-03-20 2012-11-14 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
US14/074,070 US9215696B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2013-11-07 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinous reception
US14/884,287 US9578610B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2015-10-15 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
US15/430,051 US10015758B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2017-02-10 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
US13/244,746 Continuation US8238837B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2011-09-26 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
US14/074,070 Continuation US9215696B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2013-11-07 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinous reception
US20090239476A1 US20090239476A1 (en) 2009-09-24
US8606336B2 true US8606336B2 (en) 2013-12-10
US12/052,539 Active 2030-10-11 US8606336B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2008-03-20 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
US13/244,746 Active US8238837B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2011-09-26 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
US14/074,070 Active 2028-09-18 US9215696B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2013-11-07 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinous reception
US14/884,287 Active US9578610B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2015-10-15 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
US15/430,051 Active US10015758B2 (en) 2008-03-20 2017-02-10 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
EP (3) EP2104276B1 (en)
US20120307821A1 (en) * 2010-02-10 2012-12-06 Pantech Co., Ltd. Apparatus and method for establishing uplink synchronization in a wireless communication system
WO2009101816A1 (en) * 2008-02-14 2009-08-20 Panasonic Corporation Radio communication base station device, radio communication relay station device, radio communication terminal device, radio communication system, and radio communication method
CN103299697A (en) 2010-10-29 2013-09-11 瑞典爱立信有限公司 Method and arrangement in a communications network
WO2013162439A2 (en) * 2012-04-24 2013-10-31 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Reducing periodic reporting in discontinuous receive (drx) mode
KR20140002569A (en) * 2012-06-29 2014-01-08 삼성전자주식회사 Apparatus and method for communication based on beam-forming in wireless communication system
EP2997777A4 (en) 2013-05-16 2016-12-21 ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M (publ) A user equipment and a method for transmitting sounding reference signals
US10135587B2 (en) * 2015-02-10 2018-11-20 Mediatek Inc. Mobile communication devices and methods for controlling wireless transmission and reception
CA3012875A1 (en) * 2016-01-29 2017-08-03 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Reference signal transmission method, apparatus, and system
EP1722294A1 (en) 2005-04-29 2006-11-15 Research In Motion Limited Method for generating text in a handheld electronic device and a handheld electronic device incorporating the same
US20080198795A1 (en) 2007-01-15 2008-08-21 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for processing uplink data by drx-mode terminal in mobile telecommunication system
US8023442B2 (en) 2007-03-26 2011-09-20 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Discontinuous reception method and apparatus of user equipment in a mobile communication system
EP2388959A1 (en) 2008-03-20 2011-11-23 Research In Motion Limited System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
"3rd Generation Partnership Project Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Physical Channels and Modulation (Release 8)" 3GPP TS 36.211 V8.1.0 (Nov. 2007).
"Final report of 3GPP TSG RAN WG2 meeting #61, Sorrento, Italy, Feb. 11-15, 2008" TSG-RAN Working Group 2 meeting #61bis R2-081445 Shenzhen, China, Mar. 31-Apr. 4, 2008.
"On maintenance of UL synchronization" 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 #49 Kobe, Japan, May 7-11, 2007 R1-072279.
"Report of 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 #52 v2.0.0 (Sorrento, Italy, Feb. 11-15, 2008)" 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 Meeting #52bis R1-081574 Shenzhen, China, Mar. 31-Apr. 4, 2008.
3GPP TSG-RAN2 Meeting #60, Jeju, South Korea, Nov. 5-9, 2007, "Clean up and update on security, scheduling, mobility, MBMS and DRX", R2-075449 (change request).
Australian Examiner's Report for AU Application No. 2009225436, dated May 24, 2012 (2 pp.).
Canadian Office Action for Canadian Application No. 2,718,979, dated Apr. 22, 2013, 2 pages.
EP Communication for EP Application No. 11177132.5 dated Nov. 28, 2011 (2 pages).
EP Communication for EP Application No. 11177135.8 dated Nov. 28, 2011 (2 pages).
ESSR for related EP Application No. 11177132.5, dated Oct. 21, 2011 (10 pages).
European Communication dated Aug. 11, 2009, issued in European Application No. 08153883.7 (4 pages).
European Patent Office Communication for EP Application No. 11177135.8, dated Dec. 20, 2012, 4 pgs.
Extended European Search Report dated Jun. 19, 2008, issued in European Application No. 08153883.7 (9 pages).
Extended European Search Report dated Oct. 21, 2011, issued in European Application No. 11177135.8. (10 pages).
International Preliminary Report (PCT) and Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority for International Application No. PCT/US09/037828, dated Sep. 30, 2010 (6 pages).
International Search Report for Application No. PCT/US09/037828, dated Oct. 30, 2009 (4 pages).
Japanese Office Action for Japanese Application No. 2011-500987, dated Aug. 14, 2012.
Korean Office Action for Korean Application 10-2010-7023352 dated Feb. 24, 2012 (w/translation) (6 pgs).
Korean Office Action for Korean Application No. 10-2012-7008025, dated May 23, 2012, along with English translation (8 pp.).
Office Action for related U.S. Appl. No. 13/244,746, dated Nov. 8, 2011 (18 pages).
Panasonic; CQI Reporting During DRX Operation; 3GPP TSG RAN WG2 #61, R2-080871, Feb. 11-15, 2008, pp. 1-3, XP 002483073.
Research in Motion; SRS Transmission Support in DRX Mode; TSG-RAN WG2 #61, R2-080808, Feb. 11-15, 2008, pp. 1-2, XP-002483090.
Samsung; CQI Report Transmission Using Pusch Resource; 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 Meeting #49BIS, R1-073118, Jun. 25-29, 2007, pp. 1-2 XP-002483089.
Texas Instruments, "Scheduling Request and DRX," 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 #48bis, R1-071472, St. Julians, Malta, Mar. 26-30, 2007 (5 pages). *
Texas Instruments: "Sounding Reference Signal in Support of Scheduling Request in E-UTRA", 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 #52, R1-080700, Feb. 11, 2008-Feb. 15, 2008, pp. 1-7, Sorrento, Italy, Retrieved from the Internet: URL: http://www.quintillion.co.jp/3GPRTSG-RAN2008/TSG-RAN-WG1-RL1-2.html [retrieved on Aug. 5, 2009].
Texas Instruments: "Sounding Reference Signal in Support of Scheduling Request in E-UTRA", 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 #52, R1-080700, Feb. 11, 2008-Feb. 15, 2008, pp. 1-7, Sorrento, Italy, Retrieved from the Internet: URL: http://www.quintillion.co.jp/3GPRTSG—RAN2008/TSG—RAN—WG1—RL1—2.html [retrieved on Aug. 5, 2009].
US9054835B2 (en) * 2010-02-10 2015-06-09 Pantech Co., Ltd. Apparatus and method for establishing uplink synchronization in a wireless communication system
US9854545B2 (en) 2010-02-10 2017-12-26 Goldpeak Innovations Inc Apparatus and method for establishing uplink synchronization in a wireless communication system
ES2547063T3 (en) 2015-10-01
CA2708308C (en) 2016-11-01 System and method for single cell point-to-multipoint multiplexing and scheduling
EP3297303B1 (en) 2019-11-20 Uplink resynchronization for use in communication systems
US8848601B2 (en) 2014-09-30 System and method for carrier activation
KR20090117789A (en) 2009-11-12 Method and apparatus for providing efficient discontinuous communication
CN102959890A (en) 2013-03-06 System and method for channel state feedback in carrier aggregation
KR101232971B1 (en) 2013-02-13 System and method for uplink timing synchronization in conjunction with discontinuous reception
US20150373697A1 (en) 2015-12-24 Method and device for transmitting data
EP2409445B1 (en) 2015-10-21 Harq process number management for downlink carrier aggregation
JP2012503444A (en) 2012-02-02 Detection time of semi-permanent scheduling activation / reconstruction signaling
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WOMACK, JAMES EARL;CAI, ZHIJUN;REEL/FRAME:020682/0519