HK1149158B - Method and apparatus for mac multiplexing and tfc selection procedure for enhanced uplink - Google Patents

Description

Method and apparatus for MAC multiplexing and TFC selection procedure for enhanced uplink

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a wireless communication technology, and more particularly, to an Enhanced Uplink (EU) transmission technology.

Background

In third generation (3G) cellular systems, such as the system 100 shown in fig. 1, the EU improves uplink data throughput and transmission delay. The system 100 includes a node-B102, an RNC104, and a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) 106.

As shown in fig. 2, the WTRU106 includes a communication architecture 200 that includes higher layers 202 and EU Medium Access Control (MAC) (MAC-e) 206, the MAC-e206 being configured to support EU operation between a dedicated channel MAC (MAC-d) 204 and a physical layer (PHY) 208. The MAC-e206 receives data for EU transmission from the channel, i.e., MAC-d flows. The MAC-E206 is responsible for demultiplexing data from the MAC-d flow into MAC-E communication Protocol Data Units (PDUs) for transmission and for selecting the appropriate EU transport format combination (E-TFC) for EU transmission.

To allow EU transmissions, physical resource grants are assigned to WTRU106 by node B102 and RNC 104. WTRU UL data channels requiring fast dynamic channel allocation are provided with fast "scheduling" grants provided by the node B10 and channels requiring continuous allocation are provided with "non-scheduling" grants provided by the RNC 104. The MAC-d flow provides data for UL transmission to the MAC-e206, which is configured as a scheduled or non-scheduled MAC-d flow.

A "serving grant" is a grant for scheduled data and a "non-scheduled grant" is a grant for non-scheduled data. The serving grant is a power ratio (which can be converted to a corresponding amount of scheduling data that can be reused), and thus a scheduling data grant is generated.

The RNC104 configures the non-scheduled grant for each MAC-d flow using a Radio Resource Control (RRC) procedure. Multiple non-scheduled MAC-d flows may be configured in the WTRU106 at the same time, typically immediately after Radio Access Bearer (RAB) establishment, but may also be reconfigured when needed. The non-scheduled grant for each MAC-d flow specifies the number of bits that can be multiplexed into a MAC-e pdu, and if multiplexed in the same Transmission Time Interval (TTI), the WTRU106 then allows the non-scheduled transmission to be transmitted until the total number of non-scheduled grants.

The node-B102 dynamically generates scheduling grants for scheduled MAC-d flows based on scheduling information sent in rate requests from the WTRU 106. Signaling between the WTRU106 and the node-B102 is performed by fast MAC layer signaling. The scheduling grant generated by the node B102 specifies the maximum allowed EU dedicated physical data channel (E-DPDCH)/Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) power ratio. The WTRU106 uses this power ratio and other configuration parameters to determine the maximum number of bits that can be multiplexed from all scheduled MAC-d flows into one MAC-e PDU.

The scheduled grant is "on" and is mutually exclusive from the non-scheduled grant, i.e., the scheduled MAC-d flow cannot transmit data using the non-scheduled grant, and the non-scheduled MAC-d flow cannot transmit data using the scheduled grant.

The EU transport format combination set (E-TFCS) includes all possible E-TFCS known to the WTRU 106. For each EU transmission, the E-TFC is selected from a set of supported E-TFCs within the E-TFCS.

Since the effective power of the EU data transmission on the E-DPDCH is the power left after the power required by the DPCCH, the Dedicated Physical Data Channel (DPDCH), the high-speed dedicated physical control channel (HS-DPCCH), and the EU dedicated physical control channel (E-DPCCH) are also considered since other UL channels are better than EU transmission. The status of blocking or support of E-TFCS in the E-TFCS is continuously determined by the WTRU106 based on the power left for EU transmission.

Each E-TFC corresponds to a number of MAC layer data bits that can be transmitted in one EU Transmission Time Interval (TTI), and since only one MAC-E PDU can be transmitted in each EU TTI per E-TFC, the maximum E-TFC supported by the remaining power defines the maximum amount of data (i.e., the number of bits) that can be transmitted in a MAC-E PDU.

Multiple scheduled and/or non-scheduled MAC-d flows may be multiplexed within each MAC-e pdu according to absolute priority. The amount of data multiplexed by each MAC-d flow is the minimum of the current scheduling or non-scheduling grant, the effective MAC-e PDU payload from the largest supported TFC, and the effective data transmitted on that MAC-d flow.

In supporting E-TFCs, the WTRU106 selects the minimum E-TFC that maximizes data transmission based on the scheduled and non-scheduled grants. When the scheduled and non-scheduled grants are fully used, the available MAC-E PDUs are fully used, or the WTRU106 has no more data to be allowed to transmit, the MAC-E PDUs are padded (padded) to match the next largest E-TFC size, and the multiplexed MAC-E PDUs and corresponding TFCs are transmitted over the physical layer.

The serving and non-serving grants specify the maximum amount of data that can be multiplexed by the MAC-d flow into MAC-e PDUs in each EU TTI. Since the scheduling grant is based on the E-DPDCH/DPCCH ratio, the number of data bits allowed to be multiplexed per MAC-E PDU cannot be explicitly controlled only to a certain size that is allowed to fit the limited number of data sizes supporting E-TFC within the E-TFCS.

The remaining transmit power for EU data transmission will determine the supported E-TFC list within the E-TFCS, which will not allow all possible MAC-d flow and MAC-E header combinations since it is determined from the limited number of E-TFCS in the TFCS. Therefore, since the MAC-d traffic allowed to be multiplexed into MAC-E PDUs by the grant often fails to fit the size of one of the supported E-TFCs, padding needs to be applied to the MAC-E PDUs in order to fit the smallest possible E-TFC size within the supported E-TFC list.

It is generally expected that MAC-E PDU multiplexing is often limited by the serving and non-serving grants when the EU unit is operating at maximum capacity, and not by the maximum supported E-TFC or WTRU EU data available for transmission. In this case, depending on the E-TFC granularity specified within the E-TFCS, the padding required to fit the selected E-TFC may exceed the multiplexed block size of the MAC-d stream data including the relevant MAC-E header information. In this case, the effective data rate is unnecessarily reduced from the selected E-TFC and the data rate allowed by the physical resource used for the transmission.

Fig. 3 shows a-MAC-e PDU 300. The MAC-e pdu header 302 and MAC-d flow data 304 allowed by the scheduled and non-scheduled grants are multiplexed. Among a set of supported E-TFCs, the WTRU106 selects the smallest E-TFC from the list of supported E-TFCs that is larger than the MAC-E PDU header 302 and the MAC-d flow data 304. Padding 306 is then used for the MAC-E PDU to meet the selected E-TFC size, however, the padding 306 may exceed the multiplexed block size of the MAC-d stream data. In this case, the physical resources for EU transmission are not fully utilized and the effective WTRU data rate is unnecessarily decreased, thus requiring a change in the manner in which EU data is multiplexed.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention discloses a method for quantizing the amount of multiplexing data allowed by a grant to more closely fit a selected E-TFC transport block size. The amount of scheduled and/or non-scheduled data allowed to be transmitted may be increased or decreased relative to the grant so that the amount of data multiplexed into MAC-E PDUs will more closely conform to the selected E-TFC transport block size.

When the amount of scheduling data is adjusted to more closely fit the selected E-TFC, the maximum amount of scheduling data to be multiplexed, the scheduling load to be transmitted can be determined by the sum of the scheduling and scheduling data allowed to be transmitted by the grant (which is quantized to the next largest or next smallest E-TFC size) minus the amount of non-scheduling data allowed to be transmitted by the non-scheduling grant.

This quantization is performed when multiplexing is restricted by the grant and not by the maximum E-TFC size due to E-TFC restriction or by the E-DCH data available for transmission.

Drawings

The invention will be understood in more detail from the following description of a preferred embodiment, given as an example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a 3G cellular system;

figure 2 shows an EU communication protocol architecture in a WTRU;

FIG. 3 shows a MAC-e PDU generation process;

fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for generating a MAC-e PDU, which is generated by quantizing the maximum amount of scheduled and/or non-scheduled data allowed to be transmitted, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a process of generating a MAC-e PDU by quantizing the maximum amount of non-scheduled data allowed to be multiplexed, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for generating a MAC-e PDU by reducing multiplexed data according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the generation of a MAC-e PDU using the procedure of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A is a flowchart of a process for generating a MAC-e PDU by adding additional MAC-d flow data blocks, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8B is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for generating a MAC-e PDU by adding additional MAC-d flow data blocks, which is according to a procedure different from that of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the generation of a MAC-e PDU using FIGS. 8A and 8B;

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a process flow loop for multiplexing according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B show a flowchart of a procedure for multiplexing MAC-d flows into MAC-e PDUs;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a simple structure of EU multiplexing;

FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate a flow chart of a multiplexing process according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a flow chart of a multiplexing procedure according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

When referred to hereafter, a "WTRU" includes, but is not limited to, a User Equipment (UE), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a pager, or any other device capable of operating in a wireless environment. When referred to hereafter, a "node B" includes, but is not limited to, a base station, a site controller, an Access Point (AP), or any other interfacing device in a wireless communication environment. One possible system for using the WTRU and node-B is a wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) communication system, although the embodiments may be used in other communication systems.

The features of the present invention may be integrated within an Integrated Circuit (IC) or may be configured in a circuit comprising a multitude of interconnecting components.

The modification of the MAC-E PDU multiplexing logic presented hereinafter is to more efficiently multiplex data and improve radio resource utilization for the case where MAC-E PDU multiplexing is limited to scheduling and/or non-scheduling grants, but not to the maximum supported E-TFC or available for transmission of EU data. The amount of data allowed to be multiplexed from the MAC-d flow to the MAC-E PDU based on the scheduled and non-scheduled grants may be increased or decreased to more closely match the next smaller or next larger E-TFC size (relative to the amount of data allowed to be multiplexed by the scheduled and non-scheduled grants).

Fig. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a procedure 400 for generating a MAC-e PDU, according to an embodiment. In step 405, the WTRU receives a scheduled data grant from a node B and/or a non-scheduled data grant from an RNC. In step 410, an E-TFC transport block size is selected based on the amount of data allowed to be multiplexed according to the scheduled and non-scheduled grants. In step 415, the maximum amount of scheduled and/or non-scheduled data allowed to be transmitted based on the scheduled and non-scheduled grants is quantized such that the amount of data multiplexed to each MAC-E PDU more closely conforms to the selected E-TFC transport block size.

Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure 500 for generating a MAC-e PDU according to another embodiment of the present invention. In step 505, the WTRU receives a scheduling data grant from the node B and/or a non-scheduling grant from the RNC. In step 510, an E-TFC transport block size is selected based on the amount of data allowed to be multiplexed according to the scheduled and non-scheduled grants. In step 515, the amount of buffered WTRU data allowed for multiplexing by the at least one grant is quantized such that the sum of scheduled and non-scheduled data (including MAC header and control information) multiplexed to each EU MAC-E pdu more closely conforms to the selected E-TFC transport block size.

Alternatively, in a separate embodiment, the granularity of the E-TFC size is defined within the E-TFCS such that the variation between E-TFC sizes is not larger than one MAC-d PDU and the associated MAC-E header overhead. An E-TFC is defined for each possible MAC-d flow multiplexing combination and associated MAC-E header overhead. By optimizing the E-TFCS in this way, the padding required after MAC-d flow data is multiplexed according to the scheduled and non-scheduled grants will not exceed the possible MAC-d flow multiplexing block size.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure 600 for generating a MAC-e PDU according to another embodiment of the present invention. The largest E-TFC is selected from a set of supported E-TFCs that is smaller than the size 602 of MAC-d flow data and MAC-E control signaling allowed by the current grant. As a result, the selected E-TFC allows the amount of data multiplexed to the MAC-E PDU to be reduced relative to the amount allowed by the grant to more closely conform to the maximum E-TFC size, which is less than the amount required for scheduled and non-scheduled grants. The MAC-d flow data (scheduled and/or non-scheduled) is multiplexed to the MAC-E pdu according to absolute priority until no more MAC-d flow data blocks can be added within the limits of the selected E-TFC 604. The MAC-E PDU is padded to fit the selected E-TFC size 606.

Fig. 7 illustrates a reduced MAC-E PDU 700B size that more closely conforms to a selected E-TFC size in accordance with the embodiment of fig. 6. The MAC-e PDU header 702 and MAC-d flow data blocks 704a-704c are supported by current scheduled and non-scheduled grants. Referring to fig. 6 and 7, the largest E-TFC that is smaller than the MAC-d stream data size allowed by the current grant is selected from the set of supported E-TFCs (step 602). The MAC-d stream data blocks (in this embodiment, two MAC-d stream data blocks 704a, 704B) are multiplexed into the MAC-E PDU 700B according to absolute priority until no more MAC-d stream data blocks can be added within the selected E-TFC size limit (step 604). The MAC-d stream data block 704c is not multiplexed because it would exceed the selected E-TFC limit. Preferably, only the amount of multiplexed scheduling data is adjusted to more closely match the selected E-TFC size. Padding 706 is then used on the MAC-E PDU 700B to conform to the selected E-TFC size (step 606). Padding may be accomplished by inserting a data end indicator in the MAC-e PDU header information.

Fig. 8A is a flow diagram of a process 800 for generating a MAC-E PDU, wherein a minimum E-TFC size is selected from the set of supported E-TFCs that supports an amount of data that is allowed to be multiplexed according to current scheduled and non-scheduled grants. The MAC-d flow data chunks are multiplexed into the MAC-e PDU according to absolute priority until the maximum amount of data allowed by the current scheduled and non-scheduled grants is reached 802. The smallest possible E-TFC is selected from a set of supported E-TFCs that is larger than the size 804 of the multiplexed MAC-E pdu. If the selected E-TFC size exceeds the size of the multiplexed MAC-E stream data blocks and MAC-E headers by an amount greater than the minimum MAC-d stream data multiplexing block size, one or more additional MAC-d stream data blocks are added according to absolute priority until the selected E-TFC size fails to fit more MAC-d stream data blocks and associated MAC-E header information.

In another procedure 850 shown in fig. 8B, a minimum E-TFC852 supporting the amount of data allowed to be multiplexed according to the current scheduled and non-scheduled grants is selected from the set of supported E-TFCs. The MAC-d stream data blocks are then multiplexed into MAC-E PDUs in order of absolute priority until the maximum amount of data allowed by the selected E-TFC size is reached. Preferably, only the amount of scheduled data allowed by the grant is adjusted to more closely fit the selected E-TFC, while the multiplexed non-scheduled MAC-d flow data may be limited by the non-scheduled grant. Padding is then used to fit the selected E-TFC size 856. By this mechanism, data may be transmitted in excess of the scheduled and/or non-scheduled grants.

Fig. 9 illustrates a MAC-E PDU 900 of increased size that fully utilizes the selected E-TFC size that can support the current grant. The MAC-e PDU header 902 and MAC-d flow data blocks 904a-904c are supported by the current scheduled and non-scheduled grants. Referring to fig. 8A, 8B, and 9, the MAC-d flow data blocks 904a-904c are multiplexed into MAC-e PDUs according to absolute priority until the amount of data allowed by the current scheduled and non-scheduled grants is reached. As shown in fig. 9, which uses three (3) MAC-d stream data blocks 904a-904c as an example for multiplexing, any number of MAC-d stream data blocks may be multiplexed in the present invention. The smallest possible E-TFC is selected from a set of supported E-TFCs that is larger than the size of the multiplexed MAC-E PDU. If the selected E-TFC size exceeds the size of the multiplexed MAC-d stream data blocks 904a-904c and MAC-E header 902 by an amount greater than the minimum MAC-d stream multiplexing block size, one or more additional MAC-d stream data blocks 904d are added according to absolute priority until no more MAC-d stream data blocks and associated MAC-E header information can fit within the selected E-TFC size, preferably only scheduled MAC-d stream data can be added to exceed the current grant, but non-scheduled MAC-d stream data can also be added. Padding 906 is then used to conform to the selected E-TFC size. In this manner, MAC-d stream multiplexing can be optimized to take advantage of unused data bits that may be padded with padding bits.

Referring to fig. 10A and 10B together, a flow chart of a process 1000 for multiplexing whereby an amount of data multiplexed according to a scheduled and/or non-scheduled grant may be adjusted prior to MAC-E PDU multiplexing to more closely match a next larger or next smaller E-TFC size relative to the amount of data allowed to be multiplexed by the scheduled and/or non-scheduled grant. Fig. 10A is a method in which only the amount of scheduled data to be multiplexed is adjusted to more closely match the selected E-TFC.

Referring to fig. 10A, an E-TFC limiting procedure is performed (step 1005) to determine a set of supported E-TFC sets including the maximum possible E-TFC size (step 1010) by considering the MAC-d flow power offset of the highest priority data available for transmission.

Still referring to fig. 10A, if it is determined in step 1015 that the maximum E-TFC size (considering the remaining power and the highest priority MAC-d flow power deviation) resulting from E-TFC limitation is smaller than the amount of data allowed by the scheduling and non-scheduling grants (remaining power limitation case), the maximum possible load for MAC-E PDU multiplexing is set to the maximum possible E-TFC size (step 1020), whereby the maximum amount of scheduled data to be multiplexed is set to the amount of data specified by the scheduling grant (step 1025) and the maximum amount of non-scheduled data to be multiplexed is set to the amount of data specified by the non-scheduling grant (step 1030).

Still referring to fig. 10A, if it is determined in step 1015 that the maximum E-TFC size resulting from E-TFC limitation is larger than the amount of data allowed by the scheduling and non-scheduling grants (grant limitation case), the maximum amount of scheduled data to be multiplexed is adjusted to meet the next largest or next smallest E-TFC size relative to the amount of data available for the scheduling and non-scheduling grants (steps 1040, 1045).

For example, instead of setting the maximum amount of scheduled data to be multiplexed to the amount of data allowed by the scheduling grant (step 1040), the maximum amount of scheduled data to be multiplexed is set to the non-scheduled grant for each non-scheduled data stream (step 1045). These methods, or other similar methods, result in setting the amount of scheduled and non-scheduled data multiplexed to conform to the selected E-TFC size, rather than setting the amount of scheduled and non-scheduled data multiplexed based on the associated grant.

Preferably, only the amount of data allowed to be multiplexed from the scheduled MAC-d stream is increased or decreased to more closely conform to the selected E-TFC size. Optionally, the maximum possible load for MAC-E PDU multiplexing is set to the selected E-TFC size. Other operations to predetermine the optimal amount of multiplexing scheduled and/or non-scheduled data prior to multiplexing are also possible.

Referring to fig. 10B, the MAC-d flows are then multiplexed into MAC-E PDUs according to the priority order until the maximum supported E-TFC size, the amount of data allowed by the scheduled and non-scheduled grants, or all the transmittable data on the MAC-d flows are multiplexed. In step 1050, the remaining total payload is set to the maximum possible MAC-e PDU payload, the remaining scheduled payload is set to the maximum scheduled data to be multiplexed, and the remaining non-scheduled payload is set to the maximum non-scheduled data to be multiplexed.

The "remaining total load" is the maximum possible load (i.e., the maximum supported E-TFC) resulting from E-TFC restriction. But importantly, in step 1060, this parameter is reduced for each block of multiplexed data within the multiplexing cycle. This parameter will cause it to leave the multiplexing cycle in step 1065, when in the maximum E-TFC restriction case. The "remaining scheduled load" and the "remaining unscheduled load" are the remaining scheduled and remaining unscheduled data, which is initially set to the maximum allowable multiplexing of the form of data. This parameter is then reduced with each multiplexing of the dataform, which also results in leaving the multiplexing loop in step 1065 in the case of permission restrictions. The highest priority data available is selected for transmission.

In step 1055, for each scheduled channel of the priority, the minimum of the remaining total load, the remaining scheduled load, and the available data for the channel is multiplexed. The remaining total load and the remaining scheduling load are reduced by the amount of data multiplexed. In step 1060, for each non-scheduled data of the priority, the smallest of the minimum remaining total load, the remaining non-scheduled load, and the available data on the channel is multiplexed. The remaining total load and the remaining scheduling load are reduced by the amount of data multiplexed.

If it is determined in step 1065 that the remaining total payload is equal to zero, or the remaining scheduled payload and the remaining non-scheduled payload are equal to zero, or there is no data available to transmit, then the smallest possible E-TFC size that supports the size of the multiplexed data is selected and padding is added to the MAC-E PDU to fit the size, if necessary (step 1070). Otherwise, in step 1075, the next lowest priority data is selected for transmission. It is noted that if the next lowest priority is not selected in step 1075, only the highest priority logical channel that has not been served may be selected and the multiplexing cycle may continue until all logical channels are served.

Please refer to FIGS. 11A and 11B together for describing another embodiment of the present invention. In step 1301, the power offset of the selected MAC-d flow is determined. Using this power offset, a maximum supported load may be determined, such as a maximum supported E-TFC that may be sent by the WTRU based on the offset and the remaining power allowed for the E-DCH data, which may be considered an E-TFC limitation procedure, in step 1302. In step 1303, the variable "remaining load" is initially set to the maximum supported load. In step 1304, based on the scheduling grant, a variable "remaining scheduling load" is set to a maximum load that can be transmitted according to the scheduling grant and the power offset. In step 1305, for each MAC-d flow with a non-scheduled grant, the variable "remaining non-scheduled load" is set to the value of the grant. In step 1306, the variable "non-scheduled payload" is the amount of non-scheduled data that can be transmitted and is based on the sum of the non-serving grants and the amount of data available for each of these non-scheduled MAC-d flows.

In step 1307, if the "remaining load" is greater than the sum of the amount of data allowed to be transmitted by the "remaining scheduled load" and the "remaining non-scheduled load", which includes any MAC header information and control signaling overhead, the next smallest supported E-TFC is selected according to the sum. If the "remaining load" is not greater than the sum, the amount of data multiplexed is limited using the maximum supported E-TFC, and without the "scheduled load" here, the selected E-TFC will be the maximum supported E-TFC, since the "remaining load" will not be greater than the sum. This allows transmission of all "non-scheduled" payloads unless the E-TFC restriction does not allow such transmission.

The next smallest supported E-TFC is the largest supported E-TFC that will not carry data exceeding the sum. In other words, the selected E-TFC is the next smallest E-TFC that is based on the serving grant, the non-scheduled grant, the power offset, the valid data, including any MAC information and control signaling overhead, such as scheduling information. In step 1308, the "remaining scheduled load" is set to the selected E-TFC (which may also be considered a "quantized sum") minus the "non-scheduled load" and any MAC header information and control signaling overhead. By setting the "remaining scheduling load" in this way, only the scheduling data is quantized. The "non-scheduled payload" is stored in the selected E-TFC according to the non-scheduled grant. In step 1309, each logical channel and its associated MAC-d flow are multiplexed into the MAC-e/es PDU according to its priority.

In step 1310, if the MAC-d flow of the logical channel is used for non-scheduled grant, the MAC-e/es PDU is filled with the MAC-d flow data of the logical channel until the "remaining non-scheduled load", "remaining load", or the smallest of all available MAC-d flow data of the logical channel is filled. The bits used to fill the MAC-e/es PDU are subtracted from the "remaining load" and the "remaining non-scheduled load", which takes into account any MAC header and control signaling overhead. In step 1311, if the MAC-d flow is used for the scheduling grant, the MAC-e/es PDU is filled with the MAC-d flow data of the logical channel until the "remaining scheduling load", "remaining load", or the smallest of all available MAC-d flow data of the logical channel is filled. In step 1312, the bits used to fill the MAC-e/es pdu are subtracted from the "remaining load" and the "remaining scheduling load", which takes into account any MAC header and control signaling overhead. In step 1313, all logical channels repeat this procedure, either until the "remaining non-scheduled load" and "remaining scheduled load" are both used up, or the "remaining load" is used up, or there is no available data to transmit. In step 1314, MAC header information (scheduling information) is added to the PDU and the PDU is padded to the selected E-TFC size.

This procedure allows the UE to operate as "determinable" and the node B scheduler can therefore accurately predict how the UE will use the resource grant, so that the node B can allocate resources more efficiently. It is desirable to be able to adjust (quantize) the amount of data multiplexed in order to: first, physical resources can be utilized more efficiently, and second, an increase in data rate can be achieved. To achieve this, in the case of grant restriction, the E-TFC must be selected according to the current grant and the payload size is used to quantify the amount of scheduling data allowed by the grant before multiplexing the MAC-E/es PDUs. By the effective E-TFC selection and multiplexing algorithm, better utilization of physical resources and improvement of data rate can be achieved.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of EU multiplexing. In the WTRU 1414, MAC-d flows 1403 for different logical channels 1402 are provided to a MAC-e/es 1404 through MAC-d 1401. E-TFC selection means 1405 selects an E-TFC for EU transmission, such as based on an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DC) TTI. The E-TFC selection mechanism 1405 receives inputs such as a Scheduling Grant (SG) 1406, a non-scheduling grant (NSG) 1407, a Power Offset (PO) 1408, MAC header information and control signaling overhead (MAC header) 1409, a buffer occupancy 1422 of the MAC-d mapped to the E-DCH, and support of the E-TFC (or remaining E-DCH power for performing the E-TFC limitation procedure). Likewise, "grant quantization" to adjust the maximum amount of multiplexed data allowed by the resource grant may occur between the E-TFC selection 1405 and the Multiplexer (MUX) 1401. A Multiplexer (MUX) 1410 multiplexes the MAC-d flow 1403 for transmission according to the grant, which has been quantized to more closely conform to the selected E-TFC. The MUX 1410 multiplexes the MAC-d flow 1403 plus header information 1409 and padding if necessary to fit the selected E-TFC size. The MAC-E PDU 1411, the selected E-TFC, and the power offset generated by the MUX 1410 are input to a physical layer device (PHY) 1412 for transmission on one or more enhanced dedicated physical channels (E-DPCH) 1413 using the selected E-TFC.

At the base station/node B and Radio Network Controller (RNC) 1415, the one or more E-DPCHs 1413 are received and processed by a PHY 1416 of the base station/node B1415. The MAC-e PDU 1417 generated by the PHY 1416 is demultiplexed by a Demultiplexer (DEMUX) 1418 of the MAC-e/es 1420 into component MAC-d streams 1419 and logical channels 1423. The MAC-d flow 1419 is transmitted to MAC-d 1421.

Referring to fig. 13A and 13B together, a flow chart of a multiplexing procedure 1100 is shown in which the amount of scheduled and/or non-scheduled data multiplexed is adjusted to more closely match the next highest or next lowest E-TFC size while performing data multiplexing. In the multiplexed paging priority order shown in fig. 10B, if the amount of data to be multiplexed is limited by the grant, the amount of data to be multiplexed is adjusted according to the next highest or lowest E-TFC size according to the amount of data allowed to be multiplexed by the sum of the grants.

Referring to fig. 13A, in step 1105, the remaining total load is set as the maximum possible MAC-e pdu load, the remaining scheduled load is set as the maximum scheduled data to be multiplexed, and the remaining non-scheduled load is set as the maximum non-scheduled data to be multiplexed.

If it is determined in step 1110 that the remaining scheduled load is less than or equal to the remaining total load, or alternatively, if it is determined in step 1115 that the remaining non-scheduled load and non-scheduled data are greater than zero, then the next smallest or next largest E-TFC size is selected, relative to the amount of data that has been multiplexed (including MAC header overhead) plus the remaining scheduled load (step 1120). The remaining scheduling load is equal to the selected E-TFC size minus the amount of data (including MAC header overhead) that has been multiplexed.

In step 1125, for each scheduled channel of this priority, the smallest of the remaining total load, the remaining scheduled load, and the available data on this channel is multiplexed. The remaining total load and the remaining scheduling load are reduced by the amount of multiplexed data.

Referring to fig. 13B, in step 1130, for each non-scheduled channel of the priority, the minimum of the remaining total load, the remaining non-scheduled load, and the available data on the channel is multiplexed, and the remaining total load and the remaining scheduled load are reduced by the amount of data multiplexed.

If it is determined in step 1135 that the remaining total load is equal to zero, or the remaining scheduled load and the remaining non-scheduled load are equal to zero, or there is no data available for transmission, then the minimum possible E-TFC size is selected that supports the size of the multiplexed data and padding is added to the MAC-E pdu to conform to that size, if necessary (step 1140). Otherwise, in step 1145, the next lowest priority available for transmission is selected, it should be noted that if no next lowest priority is selected in step 1145, only the highest priority logical channel that has not been served may be selected.

Fig. 14 is a flow chart of a multiplexing procedure 1200 according to another embodiment of the invention. In the grant limited case, MAC-d flow data is multiplexed to MAC-e PDUs until the amount of data that is allowed to be multiplexed by the scheduled or unscheduled grant associated with each MAC-d flow is reached.

Before padding the MAC-E PDU to fit the selected E-TFC size, more MAC-d stream data will be multiplexed if the multiplexing block size (the MAC-d PDU size) is smaller than the padding required to fit the next largest E-TFC size (relative to the amount of data allowed by the scheduling and non-scheduling grants). Preferably, only scheduled data available for transmission and having the highest priority is used for additional multiplexing, and non-scheduled multiplexed data remains limited by the non-scheduled grant.

Alternatively, if the multiplexed block size (the MAC-d PDU size) is smaller than the amount of padding required to pad to the next highest E-TFC size, the multiplexed data is reduced to support the next lowest E-TFC size (relative to the amount of data allowed by the scheduled and non-scheduled grants). Optionally, in addition to the multiplexing block size used to reduce the E-TFC size, a padding threshold or "padding required to meet the next lower E-TFC size (which is one margin smaller than the larger E-TFC)" may be used as a criterion to reduce the E-TFC size.

The MAC header information and other control signaling overhead required in the MAC-E PDU format is taken into account for the amount of data multiplexed according to the grant and the amount of data that can be multiplexed according to a selected E-TFC.

Referring to fig. 14, the minimum possible E-TFC size is selected that supports the size of the data that has been multiplexed, including the MAC header overhead (step 1205). If the remaining scheduled load and the remaining non-scheduled load are equal to zero (optional step 1210), then the remaining total load is equal to the selected E-TFC size minus the amount of data already multiplexed (including MAC header overhead) (step 1215).

In step 1220, if it is determined that the remaining total payload is greater than or equal to the multiplexing block size of each MAC-d flow, for each scheduling channel of the priority, the smallest of the remaining total payload and the available data for the channel is multiplexed, and the remaining total payload and the remaining scheduling payload are reduced by the amount of data multiplexed (step 1225). In step 1230, the next lowest priority available data for transmission is selected. In step 1235, padding is added to the MAC-E PDU to conform to the selected E-TFC size, if needed.

Any combination of the above embodiments may also be used to achieve improved multiplexing efficiency and utilization of radio resources.

Although the features and elements of the present invention are described in the 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 of the present invention. While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, other variations which do not depart from the scope of the invention as claimed will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Examples

First group

A method comprising quantizing data such that the quantized data more closely conforms to a block size.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the block size is a transport block size.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the block size is an enhanced uplink transport block size (E-TFC).

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the quantized data is based on a scheduling grant.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the quantized data is based on a non-scheduled grant.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the quantized data is based on service permissions.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the quantized data is scheduled data.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the quantized data is non-scheduled data.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the data is a medium access control dedicated channel (MAC-d) flow.

A method as in any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the data is a Packet Data Unit (PDU).

A method as in any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the data is a medium access control dedicated channel (MAC-d) Packet Data Unit (PDU).

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the quantized data is based on a power offset.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the quantized data is based on scheduling information.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the quantized data is based on medium access control header information.

A method as in any preceding first set of embodiments, comprising selecting a block size.

A method as in any preceding first set of embodiments, comprising selecting a block size associated with a Transport Format Combination (TFC).

A method as in any preceding first set of embodiments, comprising selecting a block size associated with an enhanced uplink transport format combination (E-TFC).

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the selected block size is based on a scheduling grant.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the selected block size is based on an unscheduled grant.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the selected block size is based on a serving grant.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the selected block size is based on medium access control header information.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the selected block size is based on scheduling information.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the selected block size is based on a power offset.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the selected block size is based on buffer occupancy.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the selected block size is selected from a plurality of block sizes, and the selected block size is a next smallest block size.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the selected block size is selected from a plurality of block sizes, and the selected block size is a next largest block size.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the selected block size is selected from a plurality of block sizes, the selected block size being based on an amount of data to be transmitted and being the largest of the plurality of block sizes and not exceeding the amount of data.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the selected block size is selected from a plurality of block sizes, the selected block size being based on an amount of data to be transmitted and being the smallest of the plurality of block sizes and exceeding the amount of data.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein padding is added to the quantized data.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein quantized data is transmitted.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the quantized data is transmitted on an enhanced dedicated channel.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, performed for a code division multiple access control interface.

The method of any previous first set of embodiments, performed for frequency division duplex code division multiple access enhanced uplink communications.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, performed by a wireless transmit/receive unit.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, performed by a user equipment.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the quantized data is received by a base station.

The method of any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the quantized data is received by a node B.

A method as in any preceding first set of embodiments, wherein the quantized data is received by a radio network controller.

Second group

A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) includes a physical layer.

The WTRU of any preceding second set of embodiments, wherein the WTRU is a user equipment.

The WTRU of any preceding second set of embodiments comprising a medium access control-dedicated channel (MAC-d) device.

The WTRU of any preceding second set of embodiments, comprising a multiplexing device.

A WTRU as in any preceding second set of embodiments wherein the multiplexing means multiplexes a medium access control-dedicated channel (MAC-d) flow to a medium access control-enhanced uplink (MAC-e) Packet Data Unit (PDU).

A WTRU as in any preceding second set of embodiments comprising an e-TFC selection device.

A WTRU as in any preceding second set of embodiments comprising an E-TFC selection device configured to select an E-TFC from a plurality of E-TFCs.

The WTRU of any preceding second set of embodiments comprising MAC-e/es.

A WTRU as in any preceding second set of embodiments wherein the MAC-E/es includes multiplexing means and E-TFC selection means.

The WTRU of any preceding second set of embodiments, wherein the physical layer generates an enhanced dedicated physical channel for transmission.

The WTRU of any preceding second set of embodiments for performing the steps of the method of the first set of embodiments except those involving a base station, a node B or an RNC.

The WTRU of any preceding second set of embodiments comprising means for performing the steps of the method of the first set of embodiments except those involving a base station, a node B or an RNC.

Third group

An infrastructure component includes a physical layer.

An infrastructure component as in any previous third set of embodiments, wherein the infrastructure component comprises a base station.

An infrastructure component as in any previous third set of embodiments, wherein the infrastructure component comprises a node B.

An infrastructure component as in any previous third set of embodiments, wherein the infrastructure component comprises a node B and an RNC.

An infrastructure component as in any previous third set of embodiments, comprising demultiplexing means.

An infrastructure element as in any previous third group of embodiments, comprising demultiplexing means for demultiplexing enhanced uplink medium access control packet data units into medium access control-dedicated channel streams.

An infrastructure component as in any previous third set of embodiments, comprising a medium access control-dedicated channel device.

An infrastructure component as in any previous third set of embodiments, comprising a medium access control-dedicated channel means for receiving a medium access control-dedicated channel stream.

An infrastructure component as in any previous third set of embodiments, wherein the physical layer receives an enhanced dedicated physical channel.

An infrastructure component as in any previous third set of embodiments, comprising demultiplexing means for demultiplexing received medium access control enhanced uplink packet data units generated as in the first set of embodiments.

Claims (16)

1. A method for multiplexing data for an enhanced dedicated channel, E-DCH, the method comprising:

determining a first size of data associated with a serving grant, wherein the serving grant is associated with at least one dedicated channel medium access control, MAC-d, flow;

determining a second size of data associated with the at least one non-scheduled grant by adding a size of a non-scheduled grant for each dedicated channel medium access control, MAC-d, flow associated with the at least one non-scheduled grant;

determining a first sum of a first size of the data, a second size of the data, and a size of scheduling information;

multiplexing bits from the dedicated channel medium access control, MAC-d, stream and the scheduling information to a medium access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit, MAC-E, PDU, the medium access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit, MAC-E, PDU having a size no greater than a maximum enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination, E-TFC, the maximum enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination, E-TFC, not exceeding the first sum, wherein the dedicated channel medium access control, MAC-d, stream is associated with at least one of the serving grant and the at least one non-scheduling grant;

selecting an enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination (E-TFC) for transmitting the media access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit (MAC-ePDU), wherein the E-TFC supports the size of the multiplexed bits and does not exceed the first sum; and

and transmitting the medium access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit MAC-e PDU.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a maximum medium access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit (MAC-E PDU) size is equal to a maximum supported enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination (E-TFC) size on a power offset basis on a condition that the maximum supported E-TFC size is less than or equal to the first sum.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiplexing bits from the dedicated channel medium access control (MAC-d) stream and the scheduling information comprises:

multiplexing dedicated channel medium access control, MAC-d, flows associated with the at least one non-scheduled grant for transmission in order of priority of logical channels to achieve the second size of the data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiplexing bits from the dedicated channel medium access control (MAC-d) stream and the scheduling information comprises:

multiplexing dedicated channel medium access control, MAC-d, flows associated with the serving grant for transmission in order of priority of logical channels to achieve the first size of the data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the number of bits allowed to be multiplexed for the serving grant is obtained by subtracting the allowed number of bits for the at least one non-scheduled grant and the scheduling information from the size of the selected enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination (E-TFC).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein padding is multiplexed into the medium access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit, MAC-E, PDU, such that the resulting medium access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit, MAC-E, PDU, size conforms to the size of the selected enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination, E-TFC.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the padding is smaller in size than a dedicated channel medium access control (MAC-d) stream Protocol Data Unit (PDU).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination E-TFC is a minimum enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination E-TFC that supports a size of the multiplexed bits and does not exceed the first sum.

9. An apparatus for multiplexing data for an enhanced dedicated channel, E-DCH, comprising:

means for determining a first size of data associated with a serving grant, wherein the serving grant is associated with at least one dedicated channel medium access control, MAC-d, flow;

means for deciding a second size of data related to at least one non-scheduled grant, the second size of data obtained by adding the sizes of the non-scheduled grants of each dedicated channel medium access control, MAC-d, flow related to the at least one non-scheduled grant;

means for determining a first sum of a first size of the data, a second size of the data, and a size of scheduling information;

means for multiplexing bits from the dedicated channel medium access control, MAC-d, stream and the scheduling information into a medium access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit, MAC-E, PDU having a size no greater than a maximum enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination, E-TFC, the maximum enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination, E-TFC, not exceeding the first sum, wherein the dedicated channel medium access control, MAC-d, stream is associated with at least one of the serving grant and the at least one non-scheduled grant;

means for selecting an enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination (E-TFC) for transmitting the medium access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit (MAC-E PDU), wherein the enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination (E-TFC) supports the size of the multiplexed bits and does not exceed the first sum; and

means for transmitting the medium access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit, MAC-e PDU.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a maximum medium access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit (MAC-E PDU) size is equal to a maximum supported enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination (E-TFC) size on a power offset basis on a condition that the maximum supported E-TFC size is less than or equal to the first sum.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for multiplexing is configured to multiplex a dedicated channel medium access control, MAC-d, flow associated with the at least one non-scheduled grant for transmission in order of priority for a logical channel to achieve the second size of the data.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for multiplexing is configured to multiplex the dedicated channel medium access control MAC-d flows associated with the serving grant for transmission in order of priority of logical channels to achieve the first size of the data.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the means for multiplexing is configured such that the number of bits allowed to be multiplexed for a serving grant is obtained by subtracting the allowed number of bits for the at least one non-scheduled grant and the scheduling information from the size of the selected enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination E-TFC.

14. The arrangement according to claim 9, characterised in that said means for multiplexing is configured for multiplexing padding to said medium access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit, MAC-E PDU, such that the resulting medium access control enhanced dedicated channel protocol data unit, MAC-E PDU, size complies with the selected enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination, E-TFC, size.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the padding is smaller in size than a dedicated channel medium access control MAC-d flow.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the selected enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination E-TFC is the smallest enhanced dedicated channel transport format combination E-TFC that supports the size of the multiplexed bits and does not exceed the first sum.