Patent Description:
Introduction of downlink shared services, (i.e., broadcast or multicast transmissions), over a high speed physical downlink shared channel (HS-PDSCH) has been discussed in several contexts including enhanced multimedia broadcast multicast services (MBMS) and transmissions to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) in a radio resource control (RRC) CELL_FACH state. For the downlink shared services, the same data stream is intended for a plurality of WTRUs that are known or thought to be in a cell, and the network may allow the data to be viewable to other WTRUs. Guarantee of data delivery to some or most of the WTRUs is important and a mechanism to provide such a guarantee should be supported.

Using HS-PDSCH or similar channel for delivery of the downlink shared services offers several advantages. The HS-PDSCH is a shared physical channel well suited for delivery of services across a wide-range of quality of service (QoS) classes. The HS-PDSCH is also optimized for packet services as most shared services are likely to be, (e.g., a forward access channel (FACH) data and MBMS data are most likely packetized). The HS-PDSCH also supports hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), which, if combined with an appropriate feedback mechanism, can be used to guarantee or significantly improve packet delivery.

In order to take advantage of the HARQ mechanism of HS-PDSCH, a feedback mechanism is required which allows the WTRUs to send a positive acknowledgement (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK) feedback to a Node-B. In high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), the ACK or NACK message is delivered to the Node-B via a dedicated uplink channel, (i.e., high speed dedicated physical control channel (HS-DPCCH)). This not only guarantees availability of channel resources to deliver the ACK or NACK message, it also allows the Node-B to identify which WTRU a particular ACK or NACK message originates from.

Additionally, performance of HSDPA is significantly enhanced through the availability of channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback from the WTRUs. Conventionally, the CQI is also sent via the HS-DPCCH and the Node-B may identify the source of the CQI.

While the approach above is practical when the HS-PDSCH is primarily used to carry dedicated data in a CELL_DCH state, it is no longer practical for delivery of shared data or dedicated data when the WTRUs are operating in a CELL_FACH state. Any other currently available mechanisms for delivery of ACK/NACK and CQI feedback are insufficient for state operation outside of CELL_DCH state, (i.e., when dedicated resources are unavailable). There may be a very large number of WTRUs listening to a particular shared service in a cell. Dedicating a resource to these WTRUs and requiring ACK/NACK feedback of every single packet from these WTRUs will have a highly detrimental impact on the uplink capacity of the communication systems. Moreover, WTRUs not registered in a cell cannot have an access to the resources.

Since a dedicated resource is not allocated in a CELL_FACH state, the only currently available alternative for delivering an ACK or NACK message and a CQI is via a random access channel (RACH). Delivering an ACK or NACK message and a CQI via a RACH would likely to have a severe impact on the uplink capacity and is not practical. If the ACK or NACK messages and a CQI are delivered from all WTRUs, given that the downlink data is shared among a large number of WTRUs, conventional RACH operation may require a large number of retransmission of almost all data. Therefore, delivering feedback via a RACH is impractical.

It would be desirable to provide a mechanism for feedback from WTRUs for a downlink shared service, while the impact on the uplink and downlink capacity is minimal. The document NEC GROUP: "<NPL>, discloses a UE which transmits a data-non-associated control signal which comprises ACK/NACK and CQI grouped and multiplexed by localized FDM.

The invention is set out by the appended claims.

A more detailed understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, given by way of example and to be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:.

When referred to hereafter, the terminology "WTRU" includes but is not limited to a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a pager, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a computer, or any other type of user device capable of operating in a wireless environment. When referred to hereafter, the terminology "Node-B" includes but is not limited to a base station, a site controller, an access point (AP), or any other type of interfacing device capable of operating in a wireless environment.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an example WTRU <NUM> in accordance with one embodiment. The WTRU <NUM> includes a transmitter <NUM>, a receiver <NUM>, a decoder <NUM>, and a CQI measurement unit <NUM> (optional). The receiver <NUM> receives signals from a Node-B. The decoder <NUM> decodes the received signal from the Node-B. The decoder <NUM> may decode a high speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH) signal while the WTRU <NUM> is in a Cell_FACH state. The decoder <NUM> may decode a downlink transmission on a high speed physical downlink shared channel (HS-PDSCH) if the WTRU <NUM> successfully decodes an identity (ID) of the WTRU <NUM> on the signal on the HS-SCCH. The transmitter <NUM> sends feedback, (i.e., a CQI or an acknowledgement based on the decoding of the downlink transmission), to a Node-B via a contention-based shared feedback channel, which will be explained in detail below. The CQI measurement unit <NUM> outputs a CQI, which will be explained in detail below.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an example Node-B <NUM> in accordance with the present invention. The Node-B <NUM> includes an encoder <NUM>, a transmitter <NUM>, a receiver <NUM>, and a transmit power and MCS control unit <NUM>. The encoder <NUM> encodes data stream(s) for transmission. The transmitter <NUM> sends a downlink transmission including the encoded data stream(s) for a downlink shared service to a plurality of WTRUs via a downlink shared channel. The transmit power and MCS control unit <NUM> controls a downlink transmit power and/or an MCS on the downlink shared channel so that the downlink transmissions are transmitted to the WTRUs with a high likelihood of success of being received. The receiver <NUM> receives feedback from the WTRUs via a contention-based shared feedback channel.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of a process <NUM> for providing feedback for a downlink shared service via a downlink shared channel in accordance with one embodiment. A WTRU <NUM> receives a downlink transmission via a downlink shared channel for a downlink shared service that is provided to a plurality of WTRUs from a Node-B <NUM> (step <NUM>). The WTRU <NUM> decodes the downlink transmission (step <NUM>). If the decoding is not successful, the WTRU <NUM> sends a pre-defined burst signifying a negative acknowledgement (NACK) to the Node-B <NUM> via a contention-based shared feedback channel (step <NUM>). The pre-defined burst may be sent only once without requiring an acknowledgement from the Node-B <NUM>. If the decoding is successful, the WTRU <NUM> does not send feedback, (i.e., an ACK is implicit).

A new uplink shared feedback channel, a physical random access feedback channel (P-RAFCH), is introduced for sending the feedback from the WTRU <NUM> to the Node-B <NUM>. The P-RAFCH is a contention-based random access channel. At least one P-RAFCH may be associated with each HS-SCCH in the downlink. If several downlink shared services are supported over the HS-PDSCH(s), a set of P-RAFCHs are provided for the downlink shared services and each P-RAFCH may be dedicated to a particular downlink shared service.

The configuration of the shared feedback channel, (i.e., P-RAFCH), may be communicated via system information block (SIB) and may vary cell-by-cell. According to the invention, the shared feedback channel configuration is signaled through dedicated RRC signaling to the WTRUs that have a connection to the radio access network (RAN), (e.g., WTRUs operating in a CELL_FACH state). The Node-B <NUM> broadcasts available scrambling codes and access slots for the shared feedback channel. The access slot duration may be the same as for the conventional RACH, and may be matched, (i.e., derived), to the transmission time interval (TTI) of the downlink shared services. When a WTRU <NUM> needs to provide feedback, the WTRU <NUM> randomly selects a code and an access slot associated with a particular TTI on a particular downlink shared service and sends its feedback.

In transmission of the feedback, (i.e., the pre-defined burst), no transmit power ramp-up mechanism is used, in contrast to the conventional RACH. The WTRU <NUM> may send each feedback only once and does not require acknowledgement of its receipt from the Node-B <NUM>. The transmit power for the feedback may be determined based on the received power measured on a reference channel, (e.g., common pilot channel (CPICH), HS-PDSCH, etc.), and a network-supplied offset. The offset value may be included in an SIB. Alternatively, the network may instruct the WTRU <NUM> to use an absolute power, and provides a rule when the WTRU <NUM> is allowed to provide feedback. For example, the WTRU <NUM> may be permitted to send feedback only if the received reference channel power is above a pre-defined value.

If the WTRU <NUM> has selected a Node-B out of several synchronized Node-Bs which transmit the same downlink transmission, the WTRU <NUM> transmits a NACK only to that selected Node-B. If the WTRU <NUM> performs soft combining of signals from a plurality of Node-Bs in an active set, the WTRU <NUM> sends a NACK to the strongest Node-B in the active set.

The WTRU <NUM> may send a NACK each time the WTRU <NUM> fails to decode the downlink transmission. Alternatively, the WTRU <NUM> may send a NACK after two or more successive downlink transmissions have failed. For example, the WTRU <NUM> may send a NACK only if m out of n successive transmissions have failed. The numbers m and n may be determined by the network. For the purpose of counting m out of n, original transmissions, retransmissions, both, or relative combination of both may be counted. The ability to actually send the NACK may depend on some random number with probability set by the network. The network may indicate desired transmission of the NACK on a cell different from the one where the downlink shared service, (e.g., MBMS), is received. The cell is indicated by the network.

In one embodiment, the feedback may be anonymous. If the feedback goes through, the Node-B <NUM> knows that some WTRU in the cell was not able to decode the downlink transmission in a particular TTI. Alternatively, the WTRU ID may be signaled. In accordance with one embodiment, the downlink shared service may be mapped to a WTRU-specific signature code that will be transmitted as the payload of the P-RAFCH. In accordance with another embodiment, a WTRU connection ID may be signaled along with the feedback. In accordance with yet another embodiment, the access opportunities to the contention-based shared feedback channel may be mapped to the downlink shared service so that the WTRU ID may be verified based on the predefined mapping. The mapping may be transmitted by the network.

The Node-B <NUM> calibrates the transmit power and/or adjusts an MCS of the downlink shared channel carrying the shared downlink service so that it covers the desired coverage area, (i.e., cell or a sector of a cell), with a high likelihood. With the transmit power and/or MCS adjustment, the probability that a WTRU <NUM> will not receive the downlink data in a TTI can be set to a desired operating point, preferably near zero. Since a WTRU <NUM> sending a NACK is almost certainly at the edge of the cell or sector, the downlink power computation should be done under this assumption. Since the Node-B <NUM> knows the cell or sector size, the Node-B <NUM> may configure the downlink transmit power and/or MCS so that it does not significantly interfere with other signals. Consequently, only very few WTRUs may need to send a NACK for any single TTI. With this the approach, where feedback power is fixed, a rule may be set to prohibit WTRUs from sending feedback.

Since a WTRU <NUM> sending a NACK is almost certainly at the edge of the cell or sector, the uplink transmit power on the shared feedback channel, (e.g., P-RAFCH), may be determined under this assumption. Since the Node-B <NUM> knows the cell or sector size, the Node-B <NUM> configures the uplink transmit power such that it does not significantly interfere with other signals at the Node-B <NUM>.

Under the above assumption, (very few NACKs expected per TTI), the Node-B <NUM> may allocate enough shared feedback channel resources so that the probability of collision for a NACK is kept low and the Node-B <NUM> is able to receive a large number of NACKs without severely impacting the uplink capacity.

If the Node-B <NUM> receives at least one NACK, the Node-B <NUM> schedules a retransmission for which the NACK is received. In this way, the HS-PDSCH operates as it conventionally does under normal HSDPA operation. Packet delivery is guaranteed to the same extent as it is guaranteed under the current HARQ, (i.e., subject to a maximum limit on retransmissions and errors in the feedback of NACKs).

The Node-B may maintain a threshold value and retransmit the downlink transmission only if the number of NACKs from the WTRUs exceeds the threshold value. While data delivery is not guaranteed, it is guaranteed that no more than a few WTRUs are unhappy. This limits the impact on the downlink shared service throughput of a small number of WTRUs. Alternatively, the Node-B <NUM> may ignore the NACKs. The Node-B <NUM> may allocate no resources to the shared feedback channel to obtain the same result.

The Node-B <NUM> may pool the NACKs, (i.e., keep track of data that needs retransmission), and retransmit multiple downlink transmissions at a later time as a single packet. In this case, a sequence number and buffering may need to be extended.

The Node-B <NUM> may implement the following downlink power control mechanism for the HS-PDSCH. Let Pn be the HS-PDSCH power reference, (i.e., power per bit), for TTI n. If a NACK is received, the Node-B <NUM> may set the transmit power reference for TTI (n+<NUM>) as follows: <MAT> <MAT> If the Node-B <NUM> receives no NACKs, the Node-B <NUM> may set the transmit power reference for TTI (n+<NUM>) as follows: <MAT> Here, ΔACK,ΔNACK > <NUM>, f() is a positive non-decreasing (but may be constant) function of its argument. If the Node-B <NUM> does not receive any NACKs, the Node-B <NUM> may bring the transmit power reference down by a pre-defined decrement. As soon as a NACK is received, the transmit power reference may be increased by a pre-defined increment. The pre-defined increment and decrement may or may not be the same. The increase may depend on the number of NACKs received (but maybe constant). The increase increment f(num. of NACKs)Δ NACK is preferably much larger than the decrease decrement ΔACK. <FIG> shows one possible power variation scheme of an HS-PDSCH.

The actual transmit power in TTI n depends on Pn and the data format selected for the data, as it does conventionally. Additionally, a maximum and a minimum power may be set to limit the actual transmit power.

In addition to, or as an alternative to, the transmit power control, the Node-B <NUM> may adjust an MCS of the downlink shared service in a similar fashion. When no NACK is received, the Node-B <NUM> may increase the MCS order, and when at least one NACK is received, the Node-B <NUM> may lower the MCS order.

For both power control and MCS control, the Node-B <NUM> may consider the resources allocated to other services in determining the range of possible transmit power and MCS. For instance, if the load created by other services is low, the Node-B <NUM> may increase its transmission power and/or reduce the MCS utilized for the downlink shared services, which allows more WTRUs to decode the service.

When the Node-B <NUM> needs to know how many WTRUs are listening to the downlink shared service, the Node-B <NUM> may temporarily, (e.g., one (<NUM>) TTI), request all WTRUs to send NACKs. For this, the Node-B <NUM> may send a special burst or a data sequence with intentionally erroneous CRC check. This will force all WTRUs to respond with a NACK. The Node-B <NUM> counts. the number of received NACKs, making allowances for losses due to fading and collisions. Not only does this provide a count that should be approximately correct, but if the NACK power is "absolute", (as opposed to relative to a received power), a distribution of uplink channel qualities is also obtained.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of a process <NUM> for providing feedback for downlink shared services to WTRUs via HSDPA in accordance with another embodiment. A WTRU <NUM> receives a signaling on an HS-SCCH from a Node-B <NUM> while the WTRU is in a Cell_FACH state (step <NUM>). The WTRU <NUM> decodes a downlink transmission on an HS-PDSCH if the WTRU <NUM> successfully decodes an identity of the WTRU <NUM> on the signaling on the HS-SCCH (step <NUM>). The WTRU <NUM> sends an acknowledgement to the Node-B <NUM> based on the decoding of the downlink transmission via a contention-based shared feedback channel (step <NUM>). The transmission on the shared feedback channel and the signaling on the HS-SCCH have a fixed timing relationship.

One shared feedback channel comprises one scrambling code and one channelization code in the uplink. At least one shared feedback channel is associated with each HS-SCCH in the downlink. The shared feedback channel is shared amongst all WTRUs in a CELL_FACH that are requested to monitor the associated HS-SCCH.

Transmission over the shared feedback channel by different WTRUs is time multiplexed, and follows a timing restriction with respect to the signaling over the HS-SCCH. More specifically, a WTRU <NUM> transmits an ACK or NACK message over the associated shared feedback channel at a fixed time interval after having successfully decoded its WTRU ID, (i.e., high speed radio network temporary identity (H-RNTI)) over the HS-SCCH. The duration of the time interval should be set such that it is long enough for the WTRU <NUM> to receive and decode the data on the HS-PDSCH and evaluate whether there was an error, (i.e., cyclic redundancy check (CRC) verification), yet short enough to allow the Node-B <NUM> to quickly retransmit an erroneous transport block as part of the HARQ processing. The transmission over the shared feedback channel must last at most one (<NUM>) TTI length to avoid collisions between WTRUs transmitting feedback. Moreover, an adequate guard period should be defined to avoid WTRUs with different timing offsets, (e.g., near-far problem), from colliding when transmitting over the shared feedback channel.

The information and parameters related to the shared feedback channel may be signaled to the WTRU <NUM> at the same time as HS-SCCH-related information is signaled, either through an SIB over the broadcast control channel (BCCH)/broadcast channel (BCH) or through dedicated RRC signaling, (e.g., new information element (IE) in the RRC CONNECTION SETUP message).

The transmission power at which a WTRU <NUM> sends the feedback may be set based on the received power measured on a reference channel, (e.g., CPICH, HS-PDSCH, etc.), and a network-supplied offset value. The offset value may be part of the SIB. Alternatively, the network may instruct the WTRU <NUM> to use an absolute power, but provides a rule when the WTRU <NUM> is allowed to provide feedback. For example, the WTRU <NUM> may be allowed to send the feedback if the received reference channel power is below a pre-defined value. Alternatively, the conventional HS-SCCH may be modified to include power control information related to the transmission of feedback over the shared feedback channel. Power offset or relative power command, (e.g., increase or decrease), bits may be introduced in the HS-SCCH to adjust the transmission power of the WTRU over the shared feedback channel. Optionally, the WTRU <NUM> may include channel quality information in the feedback.

A scheme for sending a CQI via the P-RAFCH is disclosed hereinafter. A CQI is also transmitted via the P-RAFCH. While the CQI feedback may be either scheduled or triggered, the Node-B must be able to differentiate between NACK only feedback, CQI only feedback, and CQI feedback which is triggered by a NACK, (i.e., NACK+CQI). The P-RAFCH burst includes a data type indicator for indicating NACK only, CQI only or NACK+CQI, a data field for carrying CQI bits if needed, and a reference field for carrying a modulation phase and power reference, if needed.

These fields may be mapped into the burst by time division multiplexing (TDM), (i.e., each data is transmitted in its own time segment). Alternatively, the fields may be mapped into the burst by code division multiplexing (CDM), (e.g., a signature based structure as in the PRACH preamble). Alternatively, the fields may be mapped into the burst by frequency division multiplexing (FDM). FDM is particularly appropriate for systems, such as long term evolution (LTE), where a number of sub-carriers may be utilized. The basic physical channel resources for carrying these fields may be, but not necessarily, orthogonal at least at the WTRU.

The data field, if present, may use any multi-dimensional modulation schemes with each physical channel resource (time slot, signature, carrier, etc.) providing a dimension in the modulation vector space. Some examples of possible modulation schemes are as follows:.

The modulation scheme to be used should be signaled to the WTRU. Certain modulation schemes may require the use of a phase and power reference, while others do not. The reference, if required, may be sent together with the data type indicator. The data type indicator and the reference field may be sent on separate physical resources. Alternatively, only the data type indicator is sent and the reference field is derived from it using decisions feedback, (i.e., the data type indicator is assumed to be demodulated correctly, which permits its re-use as a reference signal).

Additionally, in order to avoid the explicit transmission of the data type indicator, a CQI may always be triggered by the need to transmit a NACK, (i.e., a NACK and a CQI are always sent together). Alternatively, if a NACK is sent and a CQI does not need to be sent, the data field corresponding to the highest CQI value may be used. These types of transmissions are referred to as an implicit data type format. The use of this format should be signaled to the WTRU.

The Node-B detects the presence of power over the complete burst. If power is detected in a burst space, and a data type indicator is used, the Node-B reads the data type indicator. If a CQI is present, the CQI is demodulated according to the modulation scheme used. If the implicit data type format is used, the presence of power indicates a NACK and a CQI transmission.

Because of the multicast nature of the transmissions and the need to serve most or all WTRUs, the Node-B may collect CQIs over some time period. The Node-B selects the minimum CQI over this time period and schedules data rates according to the minimum CQI. In this manner all WTRUs may be highly likely to be served.

This scheme does, however, have a disadvantage that a WTRU with a bad channel condition may significantly reduce the throughput of the whole system. The Node-B has no way to identify that such a WTRU exists in a direct way because all feedback from the WTRUs is anonymous. In order to solve this problem, the Node-B may collect statistics about CQI transmissions and may ignore any CQIs that are statistically very far from the majority. The Node-B may then select a minimum CQI from the remaining CQIs and uses that as a baseline.

Alternatively, the Node-B may select a certain small subset, (e.g., lower <NUM>% or lower <NUM>%), of CQIs after the removal of outliers. The Node-B may then use an average of these, (e.g. the actual average, a median, etc.). Because of the multicast nature, the highest CQIs are unlikely to have any impact on the system operation. Thus, the WTRU may not send the highest possible CQI value.

Another embodiment of layer <NUM>/<NUM> (L2/<NUM>) based operation is disclosed hereinafter. A WTRU <NUM> listens to network signaling which tells the WTRU <NUM> when, how often, and to whom to report feedback to the downlink shared service. The WTRU <NUM> decodes signals on an allocated TTI for a shared downlink service. The WTRU <NUM> then collects statistics of decoding success or failure rate and compares to the decoding statistics to a pre-defined threshold that is provided by the network. The WTRU <NUM> sends feedback if the decoding statistics is worse than the pre-defined threshold.

If the WTRU <NUM> has selected a Node-B out of several synchronized Node-Bs which transmit the same data, the WTRU <NUM> transmits the feedback to that selected Node-B only. If the WTRU <NUM> performs soft combining of signals from a plurality of Node-Bs in an active set, the WTRU <NUM> sends the feedback to the strongest Node-B in the active set.

The network may indicate desired transmission of the NACK on a cell different from the one where the downlink shared service, (e.g., MBMS), is received. The cell is indicated by the network.

The downlink shared service may be mapped to a code that will be transmitted with the NACK. Alternatively WTRU connection ID may be signaled. Alternatively, if using a PRACH for the feedback, the physical channel access opportunities may be mapped to the downlink shared service. The mapping may be indicated by the network. If needed, CQI information may be transmitted together with the NACK or in its place. Since the signaling is at L2/<NUM>, a larger number of bits are supported in a straightforward fashion.

Some downlink shared services, (e.g., video), may use a layered QoS mechanism where certain users get higher throughput and quality than others. In a wireless system, an important factor that determines the QoS of a user is the throughput achievable given the location of the user in the system. The maximum throughput achievable at cell edge is typically less than the one achievable around the cell center. The layered QoS may be supported without feedback from dedicated physical channels.

One conventional layered QoS mechanism, (e.g., digital video broadcasting (DVB)), is based on hierarchical modulation. In hierarchical modulation, multiple data streams, (typically a high-priority and a low-priority), are modulated into a single signal that is received by all users. Users with good signal quality may decode both data streams while users with low signal quality may decode only the high-priority stream. For instance, the streams may be encoded as a <NUM> quadrature amplitude modulation (16QAM) signal. The quadrant where the signal is located represents two high priority bits whereas the position of the signal within the quadrant represents two low priority bits. Users with good signal quality are able to decode the signal as 16QAM while users with low signal quality can only decode the signal as quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and extract only the high priority bits.

In accordance with the present teachings, some new signaling is provided. From the network point of view, it would be unsatisfactory that all WTRUs report their ACK or NACK feedback based on decoding of the high priority stream only because it would lack information about the performance of favorably located WTRUs. On the other hand, having all WTRUs providing feedback based on decoding of all streams is also unsatisfactory because non-favorably located WTRUs would overload the P-RAFCH with NACK.

The network sets at least one CQI threshold to determine on which stream each WTRU should provide feedback. The CQI threshold(s) is signaled from the network, (e.g., on the BCCH, dedicated control channel (DCCH), or MBMS control channel (MCCH) for broadcast, multicast, or unicast).

A WTRU <NUM> measures its own CQI (or average CQI). The WTRU <NUM> compares the measured CQI to the CQI threshold(s) and determines the smallest CQI threshold higher than the measured CQI. This CQI threshold corresponds to a certain subset of stream(s) that the WTRU <NUM> needs to report feedback. The WTRU <NUM> reports ACK or NACK feedback on the decoding of the subset of stream(s) determined based on the CQI comparison. It is possible to further restrict the subset of streams to report feedback based on WTRU subscription to the high quality service.

A particular CQI threshold may be set below which the WTRU <NUM> is not allowed to provide feedback. For example, in the case that there are only two streams, (high priority stream and low priority stream), and two CQI thresholds, (high CQI threshold and low CQI threshold), are set, if the measured CQI is above the high CQI threshold, the WTRU <NUM> may report feedback on both high priority and low priority streams. If the measured CQI is below the high CQI threshold but above the low CQI threshold, the WTRU <NUM> may report feedback on the high priority stream only. If the measured CQI is below the low CQI threshold, the WTRU <NUM> may not provide feedback at all.

The Node-B <NUM> may change the CQI threshold(s) from time to time based on load conditions. For instance, in case the load of the Node-B <NUM> due to other services is low, the Node-B <NUM> may allocate more resources to the downlink shared services and employ less aggressive MCS to encode the streams, which allows more WTRUs to enjoy high QoS. In case of high contention between the downlink shared services and other services, the Node-B <NUM> may use more aggressive MCS to transmit the streams thereby reducing the amount of resources for the downlink shared services.

Alternatively, the multiple streams may be transmitted separately in different time or using different codes. For instance, a high priority stream may be transmitted with a less aggressive MCS while a low priority stream may be transmitted with a more aggressive MCS. This allows more flexibility in the selection of the MCS and CQI thresholds for decoding the streams. The disadvantage is that it is less efficient since the streams are not combined in the same signal.

Although the features and elements are described in the preferred embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the other features and elements of the preferred embodiments or in various combinations with or without other features and elements. The methods or flow charts provided in the present invention may be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmware tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium for execution by a general purpose computer or a processor. Examples of computer-readable storage mediums include a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks, and digital versatile disks (DVDs).

Suitable processors include, by way of example, a general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), and/or a state machine.

Claim 1:
A method for sending feedback in wireless communication, comprising:
receiving, by a wireless transmit/receive unit, WTRU, a message via radio resource control, RRC, signaling, wherein the message indicates a configuration for transmissions by the WTRU on a physical uplink channel, wherein different portions of the physical uplink channel are used to transmit different types of feedback information;
transmitting, by the WTRU, a first feedback information on the physical uplink channel in accordance with the configuration indicated in the message, wherein the first feedback information includes acknowledgement feedback information; and
transmitting, by the WTRU, a second feedback information on the physical uplink channel in accordance with the configuration indicated in the message, wherein the second feedback information includes a channel quality indicator, wherein the acknowledgement feedback information is transmitted on a first frequency resource associated with the physical uplink channel and the channel quality indicator is transmitted on a second frequency resource associated with the physical uplink channel.