Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02623280 2008-03-28
TRANSPORT BLOCK SIZE (TBS)
SIGNALING ENHANCEMENT
This application is a divisional of Application Ser. No.
2,446,024, filed October 22, 2003.
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to wireless communications. In particular, the invention
relates to transport block size (TBS) signaling in wireless communications.
Background Information
In systems that Include mobile devices, packets are generally sent using one
of many modulation schemes. All packets sent during a given transfer generally
conform to the same transport block size (TBS). The sender of the packets
sends
information telling the receiver the modulation scheme and transport block
size,
among other things, before the packets are sent. Therefore, once the packets
are
sent, the receiver knows the modulation scheme, the number of multicodes, and
the
transport block size of the packets and, therefore, can correctly decipher and
receive
the information.
Proposals have been made about increasing the number of bits allocated for
the definition of the transport block size (currently 6 bits) to allow for a
higher
resolution. These proposals have been particularly common with those involved
in
Third Generation Partnership Project.(3GPP) standardization work.
Specifically,
those individuals working in areas related to Wideband Code Division Multiple
Access (WCDMA) and High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA). In HSDPA,
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the TBS field is placed, along with other information, in
the high-speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH). Fig. 1
shows a diagram of an example allocation of HS-SCCH
signaling bits.
In Release 5 of the 3GPP specifications, the TBS is
signaled on HS-SCCH using a 6 bit TBS field. The meaning of
these bits is tied to the modulation scheme as well as the
number of channelisation codes. See 3GPP TS 25.321 v5.2.0
(2002-09) and particularly Section 9.2.3 directed to
signaling of Transport Block Size.
The transport block size (TBS) has to be the same for
the first transmission and the re-transmissions, since the
information content has to be the same. The retransmissions
can use different redundancy version (RV), i.e., different
coding, different number of channelisation codes (small
changes currently allowed). The TBS is signalled for each
retransmission on the HS-SCCH along with the modulation
scheme, channelisation code set, redundancy version and
other HARQ parameters.
There is some overlap in the TBS between different
modulation schemes and theoretically the modulation scheme
can be changed in some special cases, but in practice it is
not possible to change the modulation for the
retransmissions. This can be a problem if the first
transmission is done with 16QAM and, due to bad channel
characteristics, QPSK would be better for retransmissions.
The problem has not yet been adequately solved. In
one 3GPP proposal, a 7 bit TBS field was proposed for QPSK
and a 6 bit TBS field was proposed for 16QAM. See 3GPP Tdoc
Rl-02-1045.
Another proposal is a mapping of the transport block
sizes through a logarithmic conversion to minimize the
worst-case relative padding in case the MAC PDU is not of
the exactly same size as the available transport block
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74769-2886D
sizes. This is discussed in a published document R2-
0221668, entitled "Signaling of Transport Block Sizes for
HS-DSCH" (Ericsson). However, this approach assumes a fixed
number of bits for the signaling of the transport block
size, and the transport block sizes are dependent on the
modulation and multicode setting. Therefore, in cases where
a packet is transferred and an error has occurred and
retransmission is requested, the retransmission according to
this approach must occur using the same modulation scheme.
Thus, a transmitting device (e.g., base station) cannot
freely select a modulation scheme whenever a retransmission
is required.
It is also possible that, since the TBS is always the
same, there is no need to signal it always with the
retransmissions (provided that the UE has received the HS-
SCCH correctly for the first transmission) and the TBS could
be ignored by the UE for the retransmissions. Thus,.the
Node B could change the modulation scheme and the number of
channelisation codes freely for the retransmission and this
type of operation mode could be switched on/off by higher
layer signaling. The problem with this proposal is that if
the UE does not receive the first transmission correctly, it
does not get the TBS at all (since it may be nonsensical in
the retransmissions if the Node B has changed the modulation
or the number of channelisation codes) and the TB is lost.
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74769-2886D
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
transmission circuit in a base station, said transmission circuit comprising:
means
for causing said base station to transmit information by: transmitting
information
including a first information indicating a transport block size, the first
information
indicating a transport block size being a set number of bits; transmitting a
packet
using the transport block size indicated by said first information; and
retransmitting
said packet using a second information indicating a transport block size, the
second information indicating a transport block size being a set number of
bits,
wherein, if the second information indicates an invalid transport block size,
then
the transport block size indicated by the first information is used in the
retransmission.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a receiving circuit in a user terminal of a wireless communication
system
said receiving circuit comprising: means for causing said user terminal to
receive
information from a base station by: receiving information including a first
information indicating a transport block size, the first information
indicating a
transport block size being a set number of bits; receiving a packet using the
transport block size indicated by said first information; and receiving said
packet a
second time using a second information indicating a transport block size, the
second information indicating a transport block size being a set number of
bits,
wherein, if the second information indicates an invalid transport block size,
then
the transport block size indicated by the first information is used when
receiving
said packet a second time.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an apparatus for a wireless communication system, said apparatus
comprising: means for receiving information including a first signalling
information
indicating a transport block size, the first signalling information being a
set number
of bits; means for receiving a data packet by using the transport block size
indicated by said first signalling information; and means for receiving, in
dependence on the result of the first data packet reception, said data packet
a
second time by using a second signalling information indicating a transport
block
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74769-2886D
size, the second signalling information being a set number of bits wherein if
the
second signalling information includes a predefined value indicating that the
transport block size is not valid for retransmission, the transport block size
indicated by the first signalling information is used when receiving said data
packet a second time.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an apparatus for a wireless communication system, said apparatus
comprising: means for transmitting, prior to transmitting a data packet,
information
including a first signalling information indicating a transport block size,
the first
signalling information being a set number of bits; means for transmitting said
data
packet by using the transport block size indicated by said first signalling
information; and means for retransmitting, in dependence on the result of the
data
packet transmission, said data packet using a second signalling information
indicating a transport block size, the second signalling information being a
set
number of bits wherein if the second signalling information includes a
predefined
value indicating that the transport block size is not valid for the
retransmission, the
transport block size indicated by the first signalling information is used in
the
retransmission.
According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method for transport block size signaling. The method comprises
transmitting information including a first information indicating a transport
block
size. The first information indicating a transport block size being a set
number of
bits. A packet using the transport block size indicated by the first
information is
transmitted. The packet using a second information indicating a further
transport
block size is retransmitted
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74769-2886D
with the second information indicating a further transport
.block size being a set number of bits. If the second
information indicates an invalid transport block size, the
transport block size indicated by the first information is
used in the retransmission.
According to a further broad aspect of the present
invention there is also provided a wireless communication
system which comprises a base station and at least one
mobile device and wherein the base station transmits
information by the method of the present invention.
According to a still further broad aspect of the
present invention there is provided a base station in a
wireless communication system and wherein the base station
transmits information by the above-described method of the
present invention.
According to a still further broad aspect of the
present invention there is provided a user terminal in a
wireless communication system. The user terminal receives
information from a base station by receiving information
including a first information indicating a transport block
size, the first information indicating a transport block
size being a set number of bits. The user terminal also
receives a packet using the transport block size indicated
by the first information. It also receives the packet a
second time using a second information indicating a further
transport block size. The second information indicating a
further transport block size is a set number of bits. If
the second information indicates an invalid transport block
size, the transport block size indicated by the first
information is used when receiving the packet a second time.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is further described In the detailed description which
follows in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting
examples of embodiments of the present invention wherein:
Fig. I is a diagram of an example allocation of HS-SCCH signaling bits;
Fig. 2 is a diagram of an allocation of HS-SCCH signaling bits according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Wireless communications systems are well known in the art. In general, the
system consists of at least one base station controller and a plurality of
base stations
(referred to as "Node B" in the 3GPP specifications) each transmitting
information,
including signaling information, to a plurality of mobile stations (i.e., User
Equipment). The signaling information includes a transport block size,
redundancy
version, modulation mode, and number of multicodes. Once the mobile device
receives this information, the mobile device knows that the modulation scheme
and
transport block size of any packets that are subsequently transferred- This
information may be used to appropriately receive the packets. The mobile
device
uses the correct modulation scheme and knows how to decode the transport block
size based on the modulation scheme. Details of a wireless communications
system
according to the 3GPP specification are described in the documents listed in
Section
CA 02623280 2008-03-28
2 of 3GPP TD 25.321 v5.2.0 (2002-09).
The preferred embodiments of the invention relate to
a method and system for transport block size signaling based
on modulation type and multicodes on HS-SCCH (Shared Control
Channel for High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA)). In
particular, the embodiments relate to an enhancement to the
specifications set forth in Section 9.2.3 of 3GPP TS 25.321
v5.2.0 (2002-09). However the invention is not limited in
its application to the embodiments described in this
application and may be applied in several environments,
Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), etc.
In the preferred embodiments of the invention, one of
the TBS indexes is reserved to indicate an "invalid" TBS.
For instance, a TBS consisting of all ones (111111), which
conventionally indicates the highest code rate, can be used
for this purpose. The TBS field may have a conventional
value whenever it is possible to signal it with the
conventional method. If the Node B wants to change the
modulation scheme or the number of channelisation codes for
the retransmission, it is allowed to do that and then the
reserved TBS field (e.g.. 111111) is used to indicate that
the TBS is not valid in this transmission (see Fig. 2) and
the TBS of the first transmission should be used. The
reserved TBS field can be designated to be any one of the
possible values.
If the UE has missed the first transmission
(which the Node B typically can notice due to missing
ACK/NACK), the Node B can retransmit such that the
TBS field is valid and only when the HS-SCCH of the
first transmission has been correctly
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received, change the modulation scheme (if required) and indicate invalid TBS.
No
higher layer signaling is needed. The one reserved TBS index will tell the UE
when
the TBS is not valid.
To illustrate the present invention, modulation schemes of quadrature phase
shift keying (QPSK) and 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) will be used
In
an example. This example allows for the Node B to send for instance the
following
sequence (first, second, third etc. transmissions of a given transport block):
1. 16QAM, 10 codes with valid TBS index=k (=40) with RV=i
2. QPSK, 10 codes with invalid TBS index =63 (=111111 11111). RV--x
3. QPSK, 8 codes with invalid TBS index=63 (=111111), RV=y
4. 16QAM, 9 codes with valid TBS index= m (=45), RV =z
5. QPSK, 10 codes with invalid TBS index=63 (=111111), RV--w
etc.
6. 16QAM, 5 codes with invalid TBS index=63 (=111111), RV--v
That is, every time It is possible to have the valid TBS index, it would be
used
and if not possible, then TBS index=63 (=111111) would be used.
In the above preferred embodiment, TBS index--k for the first transmission
and TBS index =m for the fourth transmission should indicate the same
transport
block size (different index is necessary because the number of channelisation
codes
has been changed). The redundancy versions RV can have any allowed values
(typically for first transmission RV=O).
In the above example, the first transmission Is done with 16QAM and 10
channelisation codes using transport block size of 12488 (corresponds to TBS
index
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=40, see TS 25.321 v.5.2.0 for details), Le., TBS index = 40 Is signaled. The
redundancy version can be, e.g.. RV-0.
The second transmission is done with QPSK and 10 codes. Since it is not
possible to indicate transport block size of 12488 when QPSK and 10 codes are
used (the maximum possible TBS that can in this case be indicated is 9377 with
TBS index = 62), TBS Index = 63 is signalled to indicate that the transport
block size
of tt?e first transmission (i.e_, 12488) should be used instead.
The third transmission is done with QPSK and 8 codes. ,Again the actual TBS
cannot be indicated with TBS index and TBS Index = 63 is signaled. The UE uses
the actual TBS of 12488 signalled with the first transmission for decoding of
the third
transmission.
The fourth transmission is done with 16QAM and 9 codes. Although the
number of code channels is not the same as for the first transmission, it is
possible
to signal the actual TBS of 12488 using TBS index = 45.
The fifth transmission is again with QPSK and 10 codes. Again TBS index
63 has to be signaled.
The sixth transmission is done with 160AM and 5 codes. Here again TBS
index = 63 has to be signalled since it is not possible to indicate the actual
TBS.
The transport block size always has to be the same in the retransmission and
thus the TBS of the first transmission is always used (not only when the TBS
index =
63). The TBS is signaled with every transmission because the mobile station
may
have lost the first transmission. The preferred, embodiments of the invention
allows
the number of channel bits to be be changed for the retransmission such that
the
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TBS cannot be signaled anymore' and in this case the TBS index = 63 should be
used. Otherwise, the mobile station can use the TBS signaled with the
transmission
.(if the TBS signaled with the retransmission is different from the TBS
signaled with
the first transmission, then there is error somewhere: either signaling
information has
changed in one of the transmissions or the mobile station is trying to combine
two
transmission which are not transmission of the same data block.
In a modified embodiment, more bits can be used for TBS signaling in order
to have more or total overlap between the TBS of QPSK and 16QAM modulation
schemes. The extra bit(s) expands the operation range of the transport block
size
signaling.
Fig. 2 shows a diagram of allocation of HS-SCCH signaling bits according to
an example embodiment of the present invention. According to the present
invention, the channelization code set may be represented by seven bits, the
modulation scheme represented by one bit, the H-ARQ process number represented
by three bits, the new data indicator represented by one bit, and the CRC
(cyclic
redundancy check) may be represented by 16 bits.
If a base station transfers signaling signifying a modulation mode of 16-QAM,
and then transmits packets to a mobile device where one or more of the packets
are
received in error, the base station may retransmit that particular erroneous
packet
changing the modulation mode to QPSK. Therefore, according to the present
invention, packets originally transmitted using one modulation mode may be
retransmitted using a different modulation mode than that used to transmit the
original packet. The originally packet may be retransmitted for many reasons,
such
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as being received with errors or problems. A base station may decide to change
modulation modes for any number of reasons. For example, a particular
modulation
mode may be less sensitive to transmission errors for a given set of
conditions,
channel conditions may have changed since the original transmission, the
receiver
(mobile device) signal power is lower for a specific modulation scheme or set
of
conditions, etc.
As noted previously, a previous specification for transport block signaling is
described in 3GPP TS 25.321 v5.2.0 (2002-09) and various other proposals for
transport block size signaling have been made. The methods and systems of a
preferred embodiment of the present invention are an adaptation or
modification of
that previously described in the 3GPP specifications. The following is a
textual
modification of Section 9.2.3 to conform it to the preferred embodiments of
the
present invention. The text below is copied from, or similar to, the text that
already
exists in the document, modified to conform the document to the preferred
embodiments.
Modifications to TS-25.321 Section 9.2.3
Changes to the following text from 3GPP TS 25.321 v5.2.0 are identified by
vertical lines in the right hand margin. Additions are indicated by
underlining in the
text and the deletions are indicated by strikethroughs in the text.
9.2.3 Signalling of Transport Block size for HS-DSCH
For HS-DSCH the transport block size is derived from the TFRI value signalled
on the HS-SCCH. The mapping
between the TFRI value and the transport block size for each mode is specified
below:
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9.2.3.1 Transport black size for FDD
For each combination of channelization code set and modulation scheme i =
0..31, a set of k = 0._62 transport
block sizes L(, k) is given by:
If i=Oandk,<39
L(i,k) =137 +12k,
k, = 0,...,38
else
L(i,k,)= L.a,PkQ1*k` j
p = 2085120-48
L..j. = 296
ko,, = from Table 9.2.3.1
k, = 0,...,62
end
kt - 63, i.e., the all ones transport block size index is used to indicate an
invalid transport block size and
that the transport block size of an earlier transmission should be used
instead (tiffs is typically only
used for retransmissions). The sit' statement above is true only for a single
channelization code using
QPSK modulation. The index k, of the transport block sire L, k) corresponds to
the 6 bit transport
block size index signaled on the HS-SCCH. The index i corresponds to the
combination of
channelization code set and modulation scheme as defined in Table 9.2.3.1.
Table 9.2.3.1: Values of kVfor different numbers of channelization codes and
modulation
schemes
Combination i Modulation Number of ka~
scheme channelization codes
0 QPSK I 1
1 2 40
2 3 63
3 4 79
4 5 92
6 102
6 7 111
7 8 .118
8 9 125
9 l0 131
i0 11 136
11 12 141 -
12 13 145
13 14 150
14 15 153
16QAM 1 40
16 2 79
17 3 102
18 4 118
19 5 131
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20 6 141
21 7 I50
22 8 157
23 9 164
24 10 169
25 11 175
26 12 .180
27 13 184
28 14 188
29 15 192
9.2.3.2 Transport block size for 3.84 Mcps TDP
Let k be the signalled TM value, then the corresponding HS-DSCH transport
block size Lk is given by :
Ifk=1.310
Lk =tL,.Wpkj
8313
P 8192
L,,,;,, = 57
Ifk=511
Lk = 102000
If k=0, Lk indicates NULL and shall not be used to signal a transport block
size in the TFRI. Instead k=0 shall be
used to signal that the transport block size of an earlier transmission of the
same transport block should be used
instead (this is,typically only used for retransmissions),
9.2.3.3 Transport block size for 1.28 Mcps TDD
The mapping of transport block size, in bits, to TF131 value is dependent upon
the Ups HS-DSCH capability
class. The mapping between TFRI value, i, and the transport block size, L, is
specified by the following:
1.4 = MULL i = 0,
L;=10''0"'x''1 i=l_2..,,63
wh=
i = the t ransport block index
a - loglo(TBS,.),
b - loSta(TB ,
and
TBS.,,;, = 240.
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TBS.., = the maximum transport block size that is supported by the UE class,
which has the value
7016 for 1.4 Mb/s,
10204 for 2.0 Mbps and
14056 for 2.8 Mb/s.
The NULL value (corresponding to index i = 0) is not signalled to the UE. It
can be used by
the UE in the Recommended Transport Block Size field of the CQI to signal that
no available
transport block size could have been used by the Node B to meet the specified
target quality
for the HS-DSCH. Instead i==O shall be used to signal to the UE that the
transport block size
of an earlier transmission of the same transport block should be used instead
(this is typically
only used for retransmissions).
It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the
purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the
present
invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to a
preferred embodiment, it is understood that the words that have been used
herein
are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation.
Changes
may be made within the purview of the appended. claims, as presently stated
and as
amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present Invention
in its
aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with
reference
to particular methods, materials, and embodiments, the present invention is
not
intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein, rather, the
present
invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses,
such
as are within the scope of the appended claims.
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