HK1174473B - Methods and apparatus for handling a signaling message that relates to transmission rate restrictions - Google Patents

Description

Method and apparatus for handling signaling messages related to transmission rate restrictions

The application is as follows: divisional application of application entitled "method and apparatus for handling signaling messages related to transmission rate restrictions", filed No. 200980103803.7 (international application No. PCT/US 2009/034436), on 18 d.2.2009.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application S/n.12/186,361 entitled "Methods and Apparatus for handling a Signaling messages from Transmission rate restrictions" filed on 5.8.2008, the U.S. patent application claims priority from U.S. patent application S/N.61/032,305 entitled "Handling of Transport Format Combination Control (TFCC) message specifying Activation Time and/or Control Duration Access State Change (RAT) messages filed on 28.2.2008, the inventors of this application are SanjayKenchareddy, Daniel Amerga, Masato Kitazoe, Preeti Rao, SrividhyaKrishnhamoorchy, and Suresh Sanka, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems. The present disclosure relates in particular to methods and arrangements for handling signaling messages relating to transmission rate restrictions.

Background

As used herein, the term "user equipment" refers to an electronic device that may be used for voice and/or data communications over a wireless communication network. Examples of user equipment include cellular telephones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), handheld devices, wireless modems, laptop computers, personal computers, and the like. A User Equipment (UE) may alternatively be referred to as a mobile station, a mobile terminal, a subscriber station, a remote station, a user terminal, a subscriber unit, an access terminal, etc.

A wireless communication network may provide communication for a number of UEs, each of which may be served by a base station. A base station may alternatively be referred to as an access point, a node B, or some other terminology.

A UE may communicate with one or more base stations via transmissions on the uplink and downlink. The uplink (or reverse link) refers to the communication link from the UEs to the base stations, and the downlink (or forward link) refers to the communication link from the base stations to the UEs.

Resources (e.g., bandwidth and transmit power) of a wireless communication network may be shared among multiple UEs. Various multiple access techniques are known, including Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA).

Improved systems and methods relating to UE operation may achieve a number of benefits.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system according to a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network topology;

fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a User Equipment (UE) for handling Transport Format Combination Control (TFCC) messages;

fig. 3 illustrates an example of a system in which the network sends a TFCC message to the UE that restricts the UE from transmitting at certain rates;

fig. 4 illustrates an example showing handling of a TFCC message by a UE;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method for handling transport format combination control messages;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of another method for handling transport format combination control messages;

FIG. 7 shows a state diagram of various states and modes in UMTS and Global System for Mobile communications (GSM); and

fig. 8 illustrates various components that may be used in one configuration of a UE.

Detailed Description

A method for handling signaling messages related to transmission rate restrictions is disclosed. The method may operate in a first state. The signaling message is received from the network. The signaling message includes the activation time and the transmission rate limit described above. A state transition trigger is received operating in a second state. Upon receiving this state transition trigger, the behavior of the user equipment is decided taking into account these transmission rate restrictions. The signaling message may be a Transport Format Combination Control (TFCC) message.

The above deciding the behavior of the user equipment with regard to the transmission rate limitation upon receiving the state transition trigger may comprise determining whether this activation time has come. When the activation time has not been reached, the above deciding the behavior of the user equipment regarding the transmission rate limitation upon receiving the state transition trigger may further comprise determining whether the signaling message comprises a control duration.

The signaling message may include a control duration. These transmission rate restrictions can be immediately applied.

The signaling message may not include a control duration. The method may act as if the control duration has elapsed and remove the transmission rate restrictions. Still further, the method may revert to the transmission rate that the user equipment had before receiving the signaling message.

This activation time may be reached. The aforementioned deciding the behavior of the user equipment with regard to the transmission rate limitation upon receiving the state transition trigger may further comprise determining whether a control duration included in the signaling message has elapsed. The control duration may not have elapsed, the method may act as if the control duration had elapsed and remove the transmission rate restrictions. Still further, the method may revert to the transmission rate that the user equipment had before receiving the signaling message. This control duration may elapse, the method may revert to the transmission rate that the user equipment had before receiving the signaling message.

The first state may be a CELL DCH state. The transmission rate limitation may be applied to the uplink data rate.

User equipment configured to handle signaling messages related to transmission rate restrictions is disclosed. The user equipment includes a processor and circuitry coupled to the processor. The user equipment operates in a first state. The signaling message is received from the network. The signaling message includes the activation time and the transmission rate limit described above. A state transition trigger is received operating in a second state. Upon receiving this state transition trigger, the behavior of the user equipment is decided taking into account the transmission rate restrictions.

User equipment configured to handle signaling messages related to transmission rate restrictions is also disclosed. The user equipment comprises means for operating in a first state and means for receiving the above-mentioned signaling message from the network. The signaling message includes the activation time and the transmission rate limit described above. The user equipment includes means for receiving a state transition trigger to operate in a second state. The user equipment further comprises means for deciding on the behavior of the user equipment taking into account the transmission rate restrictions upon receiving this state transition trigger.

A computer program product for handling signaling messages relating to transmission rate restrictions is disclosed. The computer-program product includes a computer-readable medium having instructions thereon. The instructions include code for operating in a first state and code for receiving the signaling message from the network. The signaling message includes the activation time and the transmission rate limit described above. The instructions include code for receiving a state transition trigger to operate in a second state. The instructions also include code for deciding a behavior of the user equipment taking into account the transmission rate restrictions upon receiving the state transition trigger.

Various examples are now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It will be apparent, however, that such aspects may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing one or more embodiments.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system 100 according to a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network topology. The UMTS system may include a User Equipment (UE) 102, an access network, and a core network 106. The UE 102 may be coupled to an access network, which is coupled to a core network 106, which core network 106 may in turn be coupled to an external network (not shown).

The UE 102 is generally a device that allows a user to access UMTS network services. The UE 102 may be a mobile device such as a cellular telephone, a fixed station, or other data terminal. For example, the UE 102 may be a radio terminal for radio communication over an air (Uu) interface 140. Uu interface 140 is the interface through which UE 102 accesses the fixed portion of the system.

The access network may include radio equipment for accessing the network. In a WCDMA system, the access network is a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) 130 air interface. The UTRAN 130 may include one or more Radio Network Subsystems (RNSs) 134 including at least one base station or "node B" 136 coupled to at least one Radio Network Controller (RNC) 134.

The RNC 134 may control radio resources of the UTRAN 130. The RNCs 134a, 134b of the access network may communicate with the core network 106 via an interface 144, wherein the interface 144 may be referred to as the lu interface 144. The RNC 134 of the access network may communicate with the node B136 via an interface 142, where the interface 142 may be referred to as an lub interface 142. Uu interface 140, lu interface 144, and lub interface 142 allow internetworking between equipment from different vendors and are specified in the 3GPP standards. The implementation of the RNC 134 varies from one vendor to another and will therefore be described below in a general form.

RNC 134 may serve as a switching and control element of UTRAN 130. The RNC 134 may be provided between the lub interface 142 and the lu interface 144. RNC 134 may serve as a service access point for all services provided by UTRAN 130 to core network 106. For example, the UTRAN 130 may manage the connection between the core network 106 and the UE 102.

The RNCs 134a, 134b may communicate with each other over an interface 146, which may be referred to as an lur interface 146, which allows for soft handoffs between cells connected to different nodes. The RNC 134 and the node B136 may communicate over and via an lub interface 142. The RNCs 134 may control the use of radio resources by each node B136 coupled to a particular RNC 134. Each node B136 may control one or more cells and may provide a radio link to the UE 102. The node B136 may perform interface processing such as channel coding and interleaving, rate adaptation and spreading.

The core network 106 may include all switching and routing capabilities for connecting to either a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) (not shown) or a Packet Data Network (PDN) (not shown). The core network 106 may also include switching and routing capabilities for implementing mobility and subscriber location management and authentication services.

The present disclosure relates generally to signaling messages such as Transport Format Combination Control (TFCC) messages. Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a user equipment 202 for handling TFCC messages. The TFCC message may be used to restrict the UE 202 from transmitting at certain rates. For example, a TFCC message may be used by the network to restrict UE 202 from using certain Transport Format Combination Identifiers (TFCIs) in the full set of Transport Format Combination Sets (TFCS), which may restrict UE 202 from transmitting at certain rates. The TFCC message is discussed in further detail below with respect to fig. 3.

The UE 202 may include a status module 210. The state module 210 may include a state of the UE 202 when the UE 202 is in a UMTS terrestrial radio access radio resource control (UTRA RRC) connected mode.

The state module 210 can include a CELL _ DCH state 212. The CELL _ DCH state 212 may also be referred to as a dedicated channel state. The state module 210 may also include a CELL _ FACH state 214. The CELL _ FACH state 214 may also be referred to as a forward access channel state. The state module 210 may also include a CELL _ PCH 216 state. Status module 210 may also include URA _ PCH status 218. The CELL _ PCH 216 state and URA _ PCH state 218 may also be referred to as paging channel states or common states. The UTRA RRC on mode state is discussed in further detail below with respect to fig. 7.

The UE 202 may also include a behavior module 220. The behavior module 220 may make a decision on how the UE 202 is to react upon receiving the TFCC message. The behavior module 220 may control an uplink data rate 222 of the UE 202. For example, the behavior module 220 may restrict the UE 202 from transmitting at certain rates. The behavior module 220 may also include a timer 224. The behavior module 220 may use a timer 224 to determine when to apply TFCC message restrictions to the uplink data rate 222. For example, the activity module 220 may use the timer 224 to determine a Control Frame Number (CFN) at which to reduce the uplink data rate 222. The activity module 220 may also use the timer 224 to determine the CFN at which the uplink data rate 222 is to be increased after the uplink data rate 222 has been temporarily decreased. The behavior module 220 may also use a timer 224 to determine when to apply and when to remove TFCC message restrictions.

Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a system 300 in which the network 306 sends a TFCC message 350 to the UE 302. The TFCC message 350 may include restrictions 352 to be applied to one or more UEs 302. For example, the TFCC message 350 may include a restriction 352 to the transmission rate of the UE 302. In one configuration, the limit 352 for the transmission rate of the UE302 may include an uplink data limit for the UE 302. TFCC message 350 may also include an activation time 354. The activation time 354 may indicate a Control Frame Number (CFN) at which the UE302 applies the restriction 352 in the TFCC message 350. The activation time 354 may also be referred to as an activation time of the TFC subset. If the TFCC message 350 does not define an activation time 354, the UE302 may apply the restrictions 352 in the TFCC message 350 once the TFCC message 350 has been received and processed.

TFCC message 350 may also include a control duration 356. The control duration 356 may indicate a duration in which the restriction 352 in the TFCC message 350 is valid. Alternatively, the control duration 356 may indicate the CFN at which the restrictions in the TFCC message 350 will no longer be valid. The control duration 356 may also be referred to as a TFC control duration. If TFCC message 350 does not define a control duration 356 or if TFCC message 350 does not include a control duration 356, then restrictions 352 in TFCC message 350 may be applied to UE302 until network 306 signals UE302 to use a different TFCS or UE302 transitions to an idle state. The network 306 may transmit the same TFCC message 350 to more than one UE 302. If the behavior of the UE302 is not defined after the UE302 receives the TFCC message 350, the UE302 and the network 306 may be out of synchronization with respect to the TFCI limits. This may result in RLC unrecoverable errors and dropped calls.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example showing handling of a TFCC message 350 by the UE 302. Graph 600 illustrates a data rate 604 of a UE over time 606. At time T1610, the UE302 may receive 608 a signaling message 350 to limit the data rate 604. The signaling message 350 may include an activation time 354 and a control duration 620. In this example, the activation time 354 is at time T2614, and the control duration 620 is at time T3618 minus time T2614. At time T2614, which is the activation time 354, the UE302 applies 612 the restriction 352 of the signaling message 350 and the data rate 604 is reduced. At time T3618, the control duration 620 has expired, the UE302 removes 616 the restriction 352 of the signaling message 350 and increases 616 the data rate 604 to the level it had before receiving the signaling message restriction 352.

Fig. 5 is a flow diagram of a method 400 for handling a tfc control message 350. The UE302 may be operating 402 in the CELL _ DCH state 212. The UE302 may receive 404 a signaling message 350 from the network 306. The signaling message 350 may indicate the restriction to the UE 302. For example, the signaling message 350 may indicate a limit on the uplink data rate of the UE 302. In one configuration, signaling message 350 may be a TFCC message 350. Signaling message 350 may include activation time 354. The signaling message 350 may also include a control duration 356. After receiving the signaling message 350, the UE302 may receive 406 a state transition trigger to move to a different state. In one configuration, the state transition trigger may cause the UE302 to move to a different RRC state. The RRC state is discussed in further detail below with respect to fig. 7. Upon receiving the state transition trigger, the UE302 may prepare 408 for this state transition. In one configuration, the UE302 may not be subject to a state transition trigger, but instead to a Radio Access Technology (RAT) change.

While the UE302 is preparing 408 for this state transition, the UE302 may determine 410 whether the activation time 354 has been reached. Activation time 354 was discussed above with respect to fig. 3. If the activation time 354 has not been reached, then the signaling message restriction 352 has not been applied to the UE 302. The UE302 may then determine 412 whether the signaling message 350 includes the control duration 356. If the signaling message 350 includes the control duration 356, the UE302 may behave as if the control duration 356 had expired and remove the restriction 352. The UE302 may then revert 420 to the Transport Format Combination Set (TFCS) that the UE302 was in prior to receiving the signaling message 350. If the signaling message 350 does not include the control duration 356, the UE302 may immediately apply 414 the restrictions 352 included in the signaling message 350. UE302 may continue to use those TFCIs allowed by TFCC message 350 until the network explicitly reconfigures the TFCS set or UE302 transitions to an idle state.

If the activation time 354 has been reached, then signaling message restriction 352 has been applied to the UE 302. The UE302 may then determine 418 whether the control duration 356 included in the signaling message 350 has elapsed. If the control duration 356 has elapsed, the signaling message restriction 352 has been removed. The UE302 may then revert 420 to the TFCS that the UE302 was in prior to receiving 404 the signaling message 350. If the control duration 356 has not elapsed, the UE302 may act as the behavior 416 as if the control duration 356 had elapsed and the UE302 may remove the restriction 352. The UE302 may also turn 420 back to the TFCS that the UE302 was in before receiving 404 the signaling message 350.

Fig. 6 is a flow diagram of another method 500 for handling transport format combination control messages. The UE302 may be operating 502 in a state other than the CELL _ DCH state 212. For example, the UE302 may be operating in the CELL _ FACH state 214. The UE302 may receive 504 a signaling message 350 from the network 306. The signaling message 350 may indicate the restriction 352 to the UE 302. For example, the signaling message 350 may indicate a limit 352 to the uplink data rate of the UE 302. In one configuration, signaling message 350 may be a TFCC message 350. Signaling message 350 may include activation time 354. The signaling message 350 may also include a control duration 356. Upon receiving 504 the signaling message 350 in a state other than the CELL _ DCH state 212, the UE302 may reject 506 this signaling message 350. The UE302 may then indicate 508 the failure to the network 306.

Fig. 7 shows a state diagram of various states and modes in UMTS and global system for mobile communications (GSM). The states and modes shown in fig. 7 are merely examples of some of the states and modes under which the UE302 may operate.

Once powered on, the UE302 may perform cell selection to find a cell from which to properly receive service. This cell is called the serving cell. The UE302 may then transition to a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected mode 702. Depending on its RRC state and configuration, the UE302 may receive and/or transmit data with the UMTS network while in UTRA RRC connected mode 702.

While in UTRA RRC connected mode 702, the UE302 may be in one of four possible RRC states, which are: CELL _ DCH state 708, CELL _ FACH state 710, CELL _ PCH state 706, or URA PCH state 704. In this context DCH denotes dedicated transport channels, FACH denotes forward access channels, PCH denotes paging channels and URA denotes UTRAN registration area.

In the CELL _ DCH state 708, the UE302 may communicate with the UMTS network for voice or data calls via a dedicated physical channel allocated to the UE 302. In the CELL _ FACH state 710, the UE302 may exchange signaling and low rate data with the UMTS network via common channels shared with other UEs 302.

In the CELL _ PCH state 706 and URA _ PCH state 704, the UE302 may periodically monitor the PCH for paging messages and the UE302 is not allowed to transmit on the uplink.

In the CELL _ PCH state 706, the UMTS network knows the location of the UE302 at the CELL level. The UE302 performs a cell update with the UMTS network as soon as the UE302 moves to a new cell. In the URA _ PCH state 704, the UMTS network knows the location of the UE302 on the URA level, where URA is the set of cells. The UE302 performs a URA update with the UMTS network as soon as the UE302 moves to a new URA. The UE302 may update its location more frequently in the CELL _ PCH state 706 than in the URA _ PCH state 704.

The UE302 may transition from the CELL _ DCH state 708 or the CELL _ FACH state 710 to another state in the UTRA RRC connected mode 702 by performing a reconfiguration procedure. The UE302 may also transition between different configurations in the CELL _ DCH state 708 by performing a reconfiguration procedure. The UMTS network may command the UE302 to stay in one of these four RRC states in UTRA RRC connected mode 702 based on the activity of the UE 302.

Fig. 8 illustrates various components that may be employed in one configuration of a User Equipment (UE) 800. The UE 800 may include a processor or Central Processing Unit (CPU)/controller 804. The CPU/controller 804 may be implemented as a microprocessor, microcontroller, Digital Signal Processor (DSP), or other device known in the art. Memory 810, which may include both Read Only Memory (ROM) and Random Access Memory (RAM), may provide instructions 830 and data 820 to CPU/controller 804. The memory 810 may also include a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) portion. The CPU/controller 804 typically performs logical and arithmetic operations based on program instructions 830 stored within the memory 810. The instructions 830 in the memory 810 may be executable to implement the methods described herein. The instructions 830a and data 820a are illustrated as being currently executed or read by the CPU/controller 804.

Data 820 in memory 810 may include one or more Transport Format Combination (TFC) control messages 822. Each TFC control message 822 may have been received over the network. Data 820 in memory 810 can store a TFC control message 822 until the TFC control message 822 has expired. Alternatively, the data 820 in the memory 810 may store the TFC control message 822 until the UE 800 receives a new TFC control message 822. The TFC control message 822 may include restrictions 824 regarding the UE 800. For example, TFC control message 822 may include a restriction 824 to the uplink data rate of UE 800. The TFC control message 822 may also include an activation time 826 of the TFC subset. The activation time 826 of the TFC subset may indicate the Control Frame Number (CFN) at which the restriction 824 in the TFC control message 822 is applied to the UE 800. The TFC control message 822 may also include a TFC control duration 828. The TFC control duration 828 may indicate a duration for which the TFC control message 822 restriction 824 is applicable to the UE 800.

The instructions 830 in the memory 810 may include instructions 830 for receiving 832 a state transition trigger. The state transitions are discussed in more detail above with respect to fig. 7. The instructions 830 in the memory 810 may also include instructions 834 for receiving a TFC control message. The instructions 830 in the memory 810 may also include instructions 836 for determining an activation time occurrence for the TFC subset. The instructions 830 in the memory 810 may also include instructions 838 for applying the restriction of the TFC control message to the UE 800 at the activation time of the TFC subset. The instructions 830 in the memory 810 may also include instructions 840 for determining expiration of a TFC control duration. The instructions 830 in the memory 810 may also include instructions 842 for removing the restriction 824 of the TFC control message 822 after the TFC control duration 828 expires. The instructions 830 in the memory 810 may also include instructions 844 for removing the restriction 824 of the TFC control message after receiving the state transition trigger. The instructions 830 in the memory 810 may also include instructions 846 for applying the restrictions 824 until the activation time of the TFC subset 826 has been reached. The instructions 830 in the memory 810 may also include instructions 848 to revert to the TFCs prior to receiving the TFC control message 848.

The UE 800 may include a central data bus 802 linking several circuits together. These circuits may include a CPU/controller 804, receive circuitry 806, transmit circuitry 808, and memory 810.

The receive circuitry 806 and transmit circuitry 808 may be connected to RF (radio frequency) circuitry (not shown). The receive circuitry 806 may process and buffer the received signals before sending them out to the data bus 802. On the other hand, the transmit circuitry 808 may process and buffer data from the data bus 802 before sending the data out of the UE 800. The CPU/controller 804 may perform the functions of data management of the data bus 802 and may further perform the functions of general data processing, including executing the instructional contents of the memory 810.

The memory 810 can be connected to another memory circuit (not shown) which can be of either volatile or nonvolatile type. Alternatively, memory 810 may be comprised of other circuit types, such as EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read Only memory), EPROM (electrically programmable read Only memory), ASIC (application specific Integrated Circuit), magnetic disks, optical disks, and other types known in the art.

It should also be noted that the inventive processes as described can also be encoded as computer-readable instructions carried on any computer-readable medium known in the art. In this specification and the appended claims, the term "computer-readable medium" refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to any processor, such as the CPU/controller 804 shown and described in the inset of FIG. 8, for execution. Such media may be of the storage type and may take the form of volatile or non-volatile storage media as, for example, also previously recited in the description of memory 810 in FIG. 8.

As used herein, the term "determining" encompasses a wide variety of actions and, thus, "determining" can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. "determining" may also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory), and the like. "determining" may also include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.

The phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless explicitly indicated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" describes that "is based only on" and "is based at least on" both.

As used herein, the terms "code" and "instructions" are to be broadly interpreted to include any type of computer-readable statements. For example, the terms "code" and "instructions" may refer to one or more programs, routines, subroutines, functions, procedures, and the like.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any commercially available processor, controller, microcontroller or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the disclosure herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The software modules may reside in any form of storage medium known in the art. Some examples of storage media that may be used include RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, and so forth. A software module may comprise a single instruction, or many instructions, and may be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across multiple storage media. A storage medium may be coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor.

The methods disclosed herein comprise one or more steps or actions for achieving the described method. The method steps and/or actions may be interchanged with one another without departing from the scope of the claims. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is specified, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may be modified without departing from the scope of the claims.

The functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions on a computer-readable medium. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can store dataAny other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a computer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes Compact Disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray discDisks, in which a disk usually reproduces data magnetically, and disks reproduce data optically with a laser.

The software or instructions may also be transmitted over a transmission medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a web site, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of transmission medium.

Further, it should be appreciated that means for performing the methods and techniques described herein, such as those illustrated by fig. 4 and 5, may be downloaded and/or otherwise obtained by the subscriber station and/or the base station as appropriate. For example, such a device may be coupled to a server to facilitate the transfer of means for performing the methods described herein. Alternatively, the various methods described herein may be provided via a storage device (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), a physical storage medium such as a Compact Disc (CD) or floppy disk, etc.), such that the apparatus is capable of obtaining the various methods upon coupling or providing the storage device to a subscriber station and/or base station. Moreover, any other suitable technique for providing the methods and techniques described herein may be utilized.

It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the precise configuration and components illustrated above. Various modifications, substitutions, and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the systems, methods, and apparatus described herein without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims (24)

1. A method for handling a signaling message transmitted from a network, the method being implemented by a user equipment, the method comprising:

operating in a first state;

receiving the signaling message from the network, wherein the signaling message includes an activation time and a transmission rate limit;

receiving a state transition trigger operating in a second operating state; and

determining a behavior of the user equipment upon receiving the state transition trigger by determining whether the activation time has come in consideration of the transmission rate limit, and determining a state of a control duration based on whether the activation time has come;

wherein determining the behavior of the user equipment comprises determining whether the activation time has been reached, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the signaling message includes the control duration if the activation time has not yet been reached; and

if the signaling message does not include the control duration, behavior is terminated and the transmission rate restriction is removed as if the control duration has elapsed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling message is a Transport Format Combination Control (TFCC) message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein when the signaling message includes the control duration, the method further comprises immediately applying the transmission rate restriction.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising reverting to a transmission rate that the user equipment had prior to receiving the signaling message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein when the activation time has expired, determining a behavior trigger of the user equipment further comprises determining whether the control duration has elapsed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein when the control duration has not elapsed, behavior acts as if the control duration has elapsed and the transmission rate limit is removed.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising reverting to a transmission rate that the user equipment had prior to receiving the signaling message.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein when the control duration has elapsed, reverting to a transmission rate that the user equipment had prior to receiving the signaling message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first state is a CELL DCH state.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission rate limitation applies to an uplink data rate.

11. A user equipment configured to handle signaling messages, comprising:

a processor; and

circuitry coupled to the processor, the circuitry configured to:

operating in a first state;

receiving the signaling message from a network, wherein the signaling message includes an activation time and a transmission rate limit;

receiving a state transition trigger operating in a second operating state; and

determining a behavior of the user equipment upon receiving the state transition trigger by determining whether the activation time has come in consideration of the transmission rate limit, and determining a state of a control duration based on whether the activation time has come;

wherein determining the behavior of the user equipment comprises determining whether the activation time has been reached, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determining whether the signaling message includes the control duration if the activation time has not yet been reached; and

if the signaling message does not include the control duration, behavior is terminated and the transmission rate restriction is removed as if the control duration has elapsed.

12. The user equipment of claim 11, wherein the signaling message is a Transport Format Combination Control (TFCC) message.

13. The user equipment of claim 11, wherein when the signaling message includes the control duration, the circuitry coupled to the processor is further configured to immediately apply the transmission rate restriction.

14. The user equipment of claim 11, wherein the circuitry coupled to the processor is further configured to revert back to a transmission rate that the user equipment had prior to receiving the signaling message.

15. The user equipment of claim 11, wherein determining the behavior of the user equipment with respect to the transmission rate limit upon receiving the state transition trigger when the activation time has expired further comprises determining whether the control duration has elapsed.

16. The user equipment of claim 15, wherein when the control duration has not elapsed, the circuitry coupled to the processor is further configured to behave as if the control duration has elapsed and remove the transmission rate limit.

17. The user equipment of claim 16, wherein the circuitry coupled to the processor is further configured to revert back to a transmission rate that the user equipment had prior to receiving the signaling message.

18. The user equipment of claim 15, wherein when the control duration has elapsed, the circuitry coupled to the processor is further configured to revert back to a transmission rate that the user equipment had prior to receiving the signaling message.

19. The user equipment of claim 11, wherein the first state is a CELL DCH state.

20. The user equipment of claim 11, wherein the transmission rate limitation applies to an uplink data rate.

21. A user equipment configured to handle signaling messages, comprising:

means for operating in a first state;

means for receiving the signaling message from a network, wherein the signaling message includes an activation time and a transmission rate restriction;

means for receiving a state transition trigger operating in a second operating state; and

means for determining a behavior of the user equipment upon receiving the state transition trigger by determining whether the activation time has come in consideration of the transmission rate limit, and determining a state of a control duration based on whether the activation time has come;

wherein the means for determining the behavior of the user equipment comprises means for determining whether the activation time has been reached, wherein the user equipment further comprises:

means for determining whether the signaling message includes the control duration if the activation time has not yet been reached; and

means for, if the signaling message does not include the control duration, behaving as if the control duration has elapsed and removing the transmission rate restriction.

22. The user equipment of claim 21, wherein the signaling message is a Transport Format Combination Control (TFCC) message.

23. The user equipment of claim 21, wherein the first state is a CELL DCH state.

24. The user equipment of claim 21, wherein the transmission rate limitation applies to an uplink data rate.