Patent ID: 7860052

Claim:
A method for communicating control information associated to uplink data on an Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH) of a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), wherein the method is performed by a user equipment (UE) and comprises: transmitting via an Enhanced Dedicated Physical Control Channel (E-DPCCH) control information associated to uplink data to a Node B controlling a serving cell, wherein the control information comprises a happy-bit that, when set, indicates to the Node B that the user equipment could use more than a maximum amount of uplink resources allowed by scheduling grants for transmitting scheduled uplink data via the E-DCH, and setting the happy-bit to request the Node B to increase the uplink resources for uplink data transmissions via the E-DCH if all of the following criteria are met: a) the UE has enough power available to transmit at a higher data rate, b) transmitting uplink data currently buffered for transmission via the E-DCH would require more than a configurable period of time when utilizing the resources set by the scheduling grants, and c) the user equipment is currently utilizing the maximum uplink resources set by scheduling grants for scheduled uplink data transmission.