WO2009142558A1

WO2009142558A1 - Effective resource usage for mixed timeslot in telecommunication system

Info

Publication number: WO2009142558A1
Application number: PCT/SE2008/050589
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jingyue Nie; Jie Mao; Huaisong Zhu
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2008-05-20
Filing date: 2008-05-20
Publication date: 2009-11-26
Also published as: CN102037777B; CN102037777A

Abstract

A base station, computer readable medium and method for allocating resources in a mixed timeslot sent by the base station to a user terminal, the base station being connected to a radio network controller of a communication network. The method includes receiving at the base station a request from the radio network controller to configure a resource allocation of the mixed timeslot; allocating in the base station, based on the received request, a first part of the mixed timeslot to a minimum configuration of a high speed downlink share channel (HS-DSCH); and dynamically allocating in the base station, based on the received request, a second part of the mixed timeslot to at least one of a dedicated channel (DCH) and the HS-DSCH, depending on a number of user terminals connected to the base station.

Description

Effective resource usage for mixed timeslot in teiecommunication system

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention generally relates to radio communication systems, devices, software and methods and, more particularly, to mechanisms and techniques for effective usage of mixed timeslots used in a telecommunication network.

BACKGROUND

[0002] During the past years, the interest in radio access technologies for providing services for voice, video and data has increased. There are various telecom technologies used in cellular communications. The most widespread radio access technology for mobile communication is digital cellular. Increased interest is shown in 3G (third generation) systems. One such 3G system is based on Time-Division - Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) and this system appears to be the standard system for China.

[0003] TD-SCDMA was adopted by the International Communication

Union (ITU) as one time division duplex (TDD) option for International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000). TD-SCDMA is considered as a major TDD version accompanying 3GPP's Wideband Code Division Multiple Access - Frequency Division Duplex (WCDMA-FDD). One advantage of using TDD is that there is no need to use symmetric uplink/downlink spectrum and thus this system supports more flexibility for spectrum utilization and allocation and has the freedom to dynamically adjust numbers of time slots for uplink and downlink, and thus to support the asymmetric nature of network uplink and downlink,

[0004] The TD-SCDMA system design is expected to employ advantages of the following technologies (1 ) smart antenna technology, i.e., wherein an antenna beam may be formed to follow each user like spatial division multiple access (SDMA), and thus to enhance link budget, and (2) TDD and CDMA, allowing the system to combine TDMA and CDMA so that the number of users in each time slot may be kept small to facilitate joint detection, which may reduce multiple-access-interference (MAI) and may alleviate the near-far problem to enhance system capacity. TD-SCDMA is also a synchronous system among base stations and mobile stations, especially in the uplink. Consequently, it may alleviate MAI among users and may increase link budget, and thus system capacity.

[0005] TD-SCDMA is based on direct-sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA). Different from WCDMA by 3GPP, the chip rate is 1.28M cps (i.e., 1/3 of WCDMA's 3.84M cps) and the nominal channel bandwidth is 1.6M Hz (i.e., around 1/3 of 5M Hz in WCDMA). TD-SCDMA adopts TDD operation instead of FDD in WCDMA, which may be considered a major difference between these two systems. In TDD mode, uplink and downlink messages are carried over different frame-time in the same carrier. Consequently, the physical transmission of TD-SCDMA air interface is determined by carrier frequency, codes, and time slots in a frame. As the spreading factor ranges from 1 to 16, the actual symbol rate is from 8OK sps to 1.28 sps.

[0006] In one implementation, the TD-SCDMA uses a frame having 7 time slots for uplink and downlink traffic, and each time slot consists of 864 chips (i.e., 2 352-chip data portions and 144-chip midamble for beamforming in antenna array technique). Time-slot no. 0 may be reserved for downlink, and time-slots nos. 1-6 may be used for either uplink or downlink, which may be adjusted, while the switching point is the boundary to change from uplink to downlink. Another switching point from downlink to uplink may be located between a downlink pilot time and a guard period. In this way, TD-SCDMA is expected to better support bursty Internet-type traffic.

[0007] The midamble in a data traffic time slot may be used for multiple purposes: synchronization (especially uplink), channel measurement, channel estimation for both uplink and downlink, power measurement, beamforming, etc. TD-SCDMA signaling adopts QPSK as WCDMA-FDD and 8-PSK modulations for higher spectral efficiency at 2M bps.

[0008] The TD-SCDMA uses various channels for transmitting data and control signals to and from the user terminals. One category of channels is transport channels, which provide services from layer 1 to higher layer(s) by following the 3GPP concept to support multiple services sharing a physical connection. Transport channels are therefore used to facilitate such a concept. Transport channels may be classified as Dedicated channels and these channels use the Internet address of a terminal user and include for example: Random access channel (RACH), ODMA random access channel (ORACH), Forward access channel (FACH), Downlink shared channel (DSCH), Uplink shared channel (USCH), Broadcast channel (BCH), Synchronization channel (SCH), and Paging channel (PCH). [0009] Common channels use the explicit address of the terminal and include Dedicated channel (DCH) and ODMA dedicated channel (ODCH). The ODMA is an optional multiple access scheme and is generally not considered in the implementation of TD-SCDMA. The logical channel structure of TD-SCDMA is basically similar to that of WCDMA-FDD. A set of logical channel types is defined for different kinds of data transfer services offered by MAC. Logical channels may be classified into two groups: control channels (to transfer control plane information) and traffic channels (to transfer user plane data/information). The channels are Control Channel (CCH) Synchronization Control Channel (SCCH), Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH), Paging Control Channel (PCCH), Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH), Common Control Channel (CCCH), ODMA Common Control Channel (ODCCH), Shared Channel Control Channel (SHCCH), Traffic Channel (TCH) Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH), ODMA Dedicated Traffic Channel (ODTCH), and Common Traffic Channel (CTCH) [0010] TD-SCDMA is capable of supporting High Speed Downlink

Packet Access (HSDPA), which is based on a shared high speed downlink transport channel (called HS-DSCH, for high-speed downlink shared channel) for use in communicating packet data to the terminal device. As with the current DSCH, every terminal device to which data may be transmitted on the HS-DSCH has an associated dedicated physical channel (DPCH). The DPCH is used to carry power control commands for the associated uplink, and if needed, other services, such as circuit-switched voice. The HS-DSCH offers a higher data rate and a fast retransmission mechanism, namely the HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) mechanism, provided by a Node B.

[0011] The HSDPA is considered to improve throughput, latency, and spectral efficiency in the downlink (DL). HSDPA is based on scheduling packet transmissions on the air interface to different mobile units as a function of their instantaneous experienced radio and service conditions in a dynamic manner (i.e., fast; for example, every 2 ms in FDD or every 10 ms in TDD). This functionality, i.e., the fast, dynamic HSDPA packet scheduler, may be located in the base station (i.e., the Node B) and may operate in a rather autonomous manner from the radio network controller (RNC). [0012] In a TDD system, the RNC allocates a certain number of timeslots for the usage by HSDPA data channels, i.e., the HS-DSCH to each cell. The RNC communicates to the Node B which timeslots and which set of spreading codes in each of the timeslots may be used for the HS-DSCH by means of lub/lur signaling. The RNC subsequently passes control to the Node B on when to send DL packets in the selected timeslots and spreading codes. [0013] Furthermore, for HSDPA operation in TDD, DL and UL control signaling from the Node B to the terminal device and from the terminal device to the RNC is discussed next. Two types of HSDPA control channels exist, the HS-SCCH (high-speed shared control channel) for fast DL signaling and the HS-SICH (high-speed shared information channel) for fast UL signaling. Both the HS-SCCH and the HS-SICH may occupy one resource unit (one spreading factor 16 code in one timeslot).

[0014] The DL HS-SCCH is used by the Node B to alert a terminal device in a group of terminal devices that high-speed data is scheduled for it on the HS-DSCH. One particular terminal device may monitor up to four HS- SCCHs in parallel. However, more than four HS-SCCHs may be set up in a cell.

[0015] The UL HS-SICH is used by a user terminal (UE) to inform the

Node B of the outcome of a HS-DSCH decoding attempt, i.e., data reception successful/not successful. Any HS-SICH may be unambiguously associated with the occurrence of a particular HS-SCCH (fixed timing relationship and code mapping) in order to allow the Node B to establish a relationship between a terminal device which has been addressed on the HS-SCCH and the same terminal device's corresponding UL transmission after HS-DSCH decoding.

[0016] For HSDPA operation in both FDD and TDD, the RNC may maintain a permanent low-rate UL and DL signaling connection to the terminal device by means of a dedicated channel (DCH). This so-called associated DCH conveys radio resource control (RRC) information (for example, handover commands or measurement data) and is also used in the UL for conveying user plane data, for example TCP/IP acknowledgements. This associated DCH is identical from a functional point-of-view to conventional UMTS R99 or R4 dedicated channels, even if a much lower data rate (i.e., 3.4 kbps) is needed.

[0017] Channel configuration for HSDPA, i.e., the allocation of the HS-

DSCH, HS-SCCH, and HS-SICH channels necessary for HSDPA operation and associated UL and DL DCHs to timeslots and spreading codes, is achieved by the RNC at the connection set-up. The RNC informs the user terminal of channel configurations by means of RRC signaling and Node B by means of NBAP (Node B application part) signals over the lub/lur network interfaces.

[0018] In the TD-SCDMA system, the timeslot may be mixed, i.e., DCH and HS-DSCH related codes may be present in the same timeslot. Thus, part of the code resources (including channelisation codes and midamble code) and the power resource in the timeslot is allocated to the DCH and the remaining part is allocated to the HS-DSCH. The HSDPA related configuration is set in the RNC and sent to the NodeB in the lub message. [0019] However, a problem of the TD-SCDMA implementation is that the DCH and HSDPA may only use the pre-configured resources. If the pre- configured resources are not used by one of DCH or HSDPA, the other may use these resources only by invoking the "Physical Shared Channel Reconfiguration" procedure. The Physical Shard Channel Reconfiguration procedure is defined as a standard in TD-SCDMA, see for example 3GPP TS 25.433 at www.3gpp.org, the entire content of which is incorporated here by reference. This procedure does not allow for the following situations to occur. [0020] According to a first case shown in Figure 1 , if the DCH in the current timeslot 10 is not fully used, i.e., part of the DCH resource 12 is unused, the HSDPA may not use these DCH-specific codes and power resources. In this regard, Figure 1 shows that the unmarked resource 16 may not be used by HSDPA. According to a second case shown in Figure 2, if the HSDPA resource 14 is not used, for example, there is no HSDPA user in the timeslot of this cell, the DCH may not use the pre-configured HSDPA resource 14, i.e., the unmarked resource 18 may not be used by DCH as shown in Figure 2. Thus, the timeslot allocation in TD-SCDMA does not use all of the available resources resulting in a waste of those resources. [0021] The cell-specific code resource includes multiple codes of spreading factor 16. Because a part of the code tree is allocated for the HS- DSCH, while the remaining part is simultaneously used for other channels, e.g., dedicated channels used for speech services, there is no mechanism in place for using the unused code resources of a channel. [0022] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide devices, systems and methods for speech and video communications that avoid the afore- described problems and drawbacks. SUMMARY

[0023] According to an exemplary embodiment, there is method for allocating resources in a mixed timeslot sent by a base station to a user terminal, the base station being connected to a radio network controller of a communication network. The method includes receiving at the base station a request from the radio network controller to configure a resource allocation of the mixed timeslot; allocating in the base station, based on the received request, a first part of the mixed timeslot to a minimum configuration of a high speed downlink share channel (HS-DSCH); and dynamically allocating in the base station, based on the received request, a second part of the mixed timeslot to at least one of a dedicated channel (DCH) and the HS-DSCH, depending on a number of user terminals connected to the base station. [0024] According to another exemplary embodiment, there is a base station for allocating resources in a mixed timeslot sent by the base station to a user terminal, the base station being connected to a radio network controller of a communication network. The base station includes a transceiver device configured to receive a request from the radio network controller to configure a resource allocation of the mixed timeslot; and a processor connected to the transceiver device and configured to allocate, based on the received request, a first part of the mixed timeslot to a minimum configuration of a high speed downlink share channel (HS-DSCH) and to dynamically allocate a second part of the mixed timeslot to at least one of a dedicated channel (DCH) and the HS-DSCH, depending on a number of user terminals connected to the base station.

[0025] According to another exemplary embodiment, there is a base station for allocating resources in a mixed timeslot sent by the base station to a user terminal, the base station being connected to a radio network controller of a communication network. The base station includes means for receiving a request from the radio network controller to configure a resource allocation of the mixed timeslot; and means for allocating, based on the received request, a first part of the mixed timeslot to a minimum configuration of a high speed downlink share channel (HS-DSCH) and for dynamically allocating a second part of the mixed timeslot to at least one of a dedicated channel (DCH) and the HS-DSCH, depending on a number of user terminals connected to the base station.

[0026] According to still another exemplary embodiment, there is a computer readable medium including computer instructions, which when executed by a processor of a base station, determine the base station to allocate resources in a mixed timeslot sent by the base station to a user terminal, the base station being connected to a radio network controller of a communication network. The instructions include receiving at the base station a request from the radio network controller to configure a resource allocation of the mixed timeslot; allocating in the base station, based on the received request, a first part of the mixed timeslot to a minimum configuration of a high speed downlink share channel (HS-DSCH); and dynamically allocating in the base station, based on the received request, a second part of the mixed timeslot to at least one of a dedicated channel (DCH) and the HS-DSCH, depending on a number of user terminals connected to the base station.

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

3G 3^rd generation

3GPP 3^rd Generation Partnership Project

BCH Broadcast Channel

BCCH Broadcast Control Channel

CDMA Code Division Multiple Access

CCH Control Channel

CCCH Common Control Channel

CTCH Common Traffic Channel

CRNC Controlling-RNC (CRNC)

DCCH Dedicated Control Channel

DCH Dedicated Channel

DL Downlink

DL-SCH Downlink Shared Channel

DS-CDMA Direct-sequence CDMA

DSCH Downlink Shared Channel

DTCH Dedicated Traffic Channel eNB eNode B

FACH Forward Access Channel IMT-2000 International Mobile Telecommunications-2000

ITU International Telecommunication Union

IP Internet Protocol

LTE Long Term Evolution

MAI Multiple Access Interference

MAC Medium Access Control

ODCH ODMA Dedicated Channel

ODCCH ODMA Common Control Channel

ODTCH ODMA Dedicated Traffic Channel

ORACH ODMA Random Access Channel

PCH Paging Channel

PSK Phase-Shift Keying

PCCH Paging Control Channel

QPSK Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying

RACH Random Access Channel

RNC Radio Network Controller

RNS Radio Network Subsystems

SDMA Spatial Division Multiple Access

SCH Support Channel

SCCH Synchronization Control Channel

SHCCH Shared Channel Control Channel

TDD Time Division Duplex

TDMA Time Division Multiple Access TCH Traffic Channel

TD-SCDMA Time-Division - Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access

UE User Equipment

UL Uplink

USCH Uplink Shared Channel

WCDMA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments and, together with the description, explain these embodiments, In the drawings: [0028] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a mixed HSDPA and DCH timeslot with unused code resources in the DCH part; [0029] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a mixed HSDPA and DCH timeslot with unused code resources in the HSDPA part; [0030] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a telecommunication system;

[0031] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a base station and/or user terminal according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0032] Figure 5 illustrates signals exchanged between a radio network controller and a base station for reconfiguring allocation of resource in a timeslot;

[0033] Figure 6 shows the structure of a mixed timeslot according to an exemplary embodiment; [0034] Figure 7 is a flow diagram illustrating steps performed for allocating resource in a mixed timeslot according to an exemplary embodiment; and

[0035] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating optional steps that may be performed in addition to the steps shown in Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following description of the exemplary embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. The following embodiments are discussed, for simplicity, with regard to the terminology and structure of TD-SCDMA systems described above. More details about the TD-SCDMA may be found in CCSA 2GHz TD-SCDMA lub specification part 4-NBAP (Release 5)_1 and 3GPP TS 25.433, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference here. However, the embodiments to be discussed next are not limited to these systems but may be applied to other existing telecommunications systems, e.g., WCDMA, etc. Further, although the following description uses terminology specific for TD-SCDMA systems, the terms base station, terminal device, radio control network are used in a generic sense. For example, the term base station may include a Node B, an eNode B or other nodes. The term terminal device may include a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a camera, etc.

[0037] Reference throughout the specification to "one embodiment" or

"an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0038] As shown in Figure 3, according to an exemplary embodiment, a general telecommunication system 30 includes Radio Network Subsystems (RNS) 32 connected to a core network 34. One or more terminal devices (UE) 36 communicate with a corresponding Node B 38. Each Node B 38 is connected to a RNC 39 via a lub interface 41. The RNS 32 communicates with the core network 34 via a Iu interface 43.

[0039] The terminal device 36 and/or the Node B 38 may have the structure shown in Figure 4. Figure 4 shows that the terminal device 36 and/or the Node B 38 may include a processor 40 that is connected to a memory 42 via a bus 44. The processor 40 may be configured to process information related to sending or receiving a package. The memory 42 may be configured to store various data used by the processor 40 or information to be transmitted by the device or information necessary for the functioning of the device. The terminal or base station may include an input/output unit 46 that is configured to receive commands, for example from a user, and to send commands. A transceiver device 48 may be connected to bus 44 and configured to receive or send the package information. The transceiver device 48 may include an array antenna. A scheduler unit 50 may be connected to bus 44 to perform scheduling functions. These functions may be also performed by the processor 40.

[0040] Because the TD-SCDMA system is a multi-carrier system, according to an exemplary embodiment each cell has 3 or 6 carriers, and each carrier has multi-DL-timeslots. The UL/DL timeslot ratio configuration may be 1 :5, 2:4, 3:3, 4:2 or 5:1 (not including TSO, which is defined in DL timeslot by 3GPP and CCSA standardization as a turning point). If the DL DCH and HSDPA resources configuration is fixed in the cell, the resources may not be used effectively, resulting in a waste of resources, as discussed with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0041] According to a novel mechanism, this waste of resources is eliminated by allowing either the DCH to use the resources not used by HSDPA or by allowing the HSDPA to use the resources not used by DCH and also by allocating a minimum HSDPA resource in one or each timeslot in order to provide HSDPA capabilities. According to an exemplary embodiment, the RNC may configure the minimum HSDPA code and power resource at NodeB by using a "physical shared channel reconfiguration" procedure, and all the resources left in the timeslot may be shared between DCH and HS-DSCH. This is different from the current implementation of HSDPA in TD-SCDMA₁ in which there is no DCH and HSDPA resource sharing while a minimum HSDPA resource is reserved for each slot. [0042] In one exemplary embodiment, the procedure "physical shared channel reconfiguration" is used to achieve the minimum HSDPA code but the characteristics and parameters of the procedure are different from an existing procedure having the same name. As discussed above, the conventional procedure does not allocate a minimum HSDPA resource. The novel procedure is illustrated in Figure 5, in which the Controlling-RNC (CRNC) requests in step 50 Node B to reconfigure the timeslots as discussed above and Node B responds in step 52 whether the reconfiguration was successful or not.

[0043] According to an exemplary embodiment, the timeslot is configured to reserve part of the resources for the minimum HSDPA configuration 60, as shown in Figure 6. The minimum HSDPA may include, for example, an HSDPA DL time slot list, and each DL TS in the list may include a time slot number, midamble shift, and channelisation code list. When the DCH is admitted in the timeslot, because the DCH has a higher priority than HSDPA, the DCH may use all the unassigned resource 61 except the minimum HSDPA configuration 60. However, if part of the resource 61 is not used by the allocated DCH resource 62 in this timeslot, HSDPA may use all the residual resources 64. The resource allocation may be decided in the RNC and implemented by Node B. The allocation of the resources may be performed based on the available DCH users and HSDPA users. [0044] According to an exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 7, a method implementing the above discussed mechanism includes the following steps. According to step 700, the base station receives a request from the radio network controller to configure a resource allocation of the mixed timeslot. In step 710, the base station allocates, based on the received request, a first part of the mixed timeslot to a minimum configuration of a high speed downlink share channel (HS-DSCH), and in step 720, the base station dynamically allocates, based on the received request, a second part of the mixed timeslot to at least one of a dedicated channel (DCH) and the HS- DSCH, depending on a number of user terminals connected to the base station.

[0045] Optional steps shown in Figure 8 include, maintaining in step

800 the same allocated minimum configuration of the HS-DSCH channel in each mixed timeslot, defining in step 810 the DCH and HS-DSCH channels as standard channels of a Time-Division - Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) system, allocating, in step 820, for each mixed timeslot the minimum configuration of the HS-DSCH channel, allocating in the base station, in step 830, the second part of the mixed timeslot to a highest priority channel, wherein the highest priority channel is the DCH channel, allocating in step 840 the entire second part of the mixed timeslot to the DCH channel when required by DCH users, independent of whether HS-DSCH users are requiring usage of the second part of the mixed timeslot, allocating in step 850 the entire second part of the mixed timeslot to the HS-DSCH channel when required by HS-DSCH users and not required by any DCH user, and splitting in step 860 the mixed timeslot only in the first and second part of resources. [0046] With this enhanced RNC and NodeB's mechanism, one or more of the embodiments may provide higher resource use rate without adding any change to 3GPP and CCSA specification. Thus, the novel exemplary embodiments discussed do not require any change to 3GPP and CCSA specifications.

[0047] The disclosed exemplary embodiments provide a user terminal, a system, a method and a computer program product for allocating resources in mixed HS and DCH timeslots. It should be understood that this description is not intended to limit the invention. On the contrary, the exemplary embodiments are intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which are included in the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Further, in the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the claimed invention. However, one skilled in the art would understand that various embodiments may be practiced without such specific details.

[0048] As also will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the exemplary embodiments may be embodied in a wireless communication device, a telecommunication network, as a method or in a computer program product. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment or an embodiment combining hardware and software aspects. Further, the exemplary embodiments may take the form of a computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions embodied in the medium. Any suitable computer readable medium may be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, digital versatile disc (DVD), optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices such a floppy disk or magnetic tape. Other non-limiting examples of computer readable media include flash-type memories or other known memories.

[0049] The present exemplary embodiments may be implemented in a user terminal, a base station, and generally in a wireless communication network or system comprising both the user terminal and the base station. The exemplary embodiments may also be implemented in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a digital signal processor. Suitable processors include, by way of example, a general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), and/or a state machine. A processor in association with software may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for use in the user terminal, the base station or any host computer. The user terminal may be used in conjunction with modules, implemented in hardware and/or software, such as a camera, a video camera module, a videophone, a speakerphone, a vibration device, a speaker, a microphone, a television transceiver, a hands free headset, a keyboard, a Bluetooth module, a frequency modulated (FM) radio unit, a liquid crystal display (LCD) display unit, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display unit, a digital music player, a media player, a video game player module, an Internet browser, and/or any wireless local area network (WLAN) module.

[0050] Although the features and elements of the present exemplary embodiments are described in the embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the other features and elements of the embodiments or in various combinations with or without other features and elements disclosed herein. The methods or flow charts provided in the present application may be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmware tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium for execution by a general purpose computer or a processor.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for allocating resources in a mixed timeslot [10] sent by a base station [38] to a user terminal [36], the base station [38] being connected to a radio network controller [39] of a communication network [30], the method comprising: receiving at the base station [38] a request from the radio network controller [39] to configure a resource allocation of the mixed timeslot [10]; allocating in the base station [38], based on the received request, a first part of the mixed timeslot to a minimum configuration of a high speed downlink share channel (HS-DSCH); and dynamically allocating in the base station [38], based on the received request, a second part of the mixed timeslot to at least one of a dedicated channel (DCH) and the HS-DSCH, depending on a number of user terminals connected to the base station [38].

2. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising: maintaining the same allocated minimum configuration of the HS-

DSCH channel in each mixed timeslot.

3. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the DCH and HS-DSCH channels are standard channels as defined in a Time-Division - Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) system.

4. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising: allocating for each mixed timeslot the minimum configuration of the HS- DSCH channel.

5. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising: allocating in the base station the second part of the mixed timeslot to a highest priority channel, wherein the highest priority channel is the DCH channel.

6. The method of Claim 5, further comprising: allocating the entire second part of the mixed timeslot to the DCH channel when required by DCH users, independent of whether HS-DSCH users are requiring usage of the second part of the mixed timeslot.

7. The method of Claim 5, further comprising: allocating the entire second part of the mixed timeslot to the HS-DSCH channel when required by HS-DSCH users and not required by any DCH user.

8. The method of Claim 1 , further comprising: splitting the mixed timeslot only in the first and second part of resources.

9. A base station [38] for allocating resources in a mixed timeslot [10] sent by the base station [38] to a user terminal [36], the base station [38] being connected to a radio network controller [39] of a communication network [30], the base station [38] comprising: a transceiver device [48] configured to receive a request from the radio network controller [39] to configure a resource allocation of the mixed timeslot; and a processor [40] connected to the transceiver device [48] and configured to allocate, based on the received request, a first part of the mixed timeslot to a minimum configuration of a high speed downlink share channel (HS-DSCH) and to dynamically allocate a second part of the mixed timeslot to at least one of a dedicated channel (DCH) and the HS-DSCH, depending on a number of user terminals connected to the base station [38].

10. The base station of Claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: maintain the same allocated minimum configuration of the HS-DSCH channel in each mixed timeslot.

11. The base station of Claim 9, wherein the DCH and HS-DSCH channels are standard channels as defined in a Time-Division - Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) system.

12. The base station of Claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: allocate to each mixed timeslot the minimum configuration of the HS- DSCH channel.

13. The base station of Claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: allocate the second part of the mixed timeslot to a highest priority channel, wherein the highest priority channel is the DCH channel.

14. The base station of Claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to: allocate the entire second part of the mixed timeslot to the DCH channel when required by DCH users, independent of whether HS-DSCH users are requiring usage of the second part of the mixed timeslot.

15. The base station of Claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to: allocate the entire second part of the mixed timeslot to the HS-DSCH channel when required by HS-DSCH users and not required by any DCH user.

16. The base station of Claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: split the mixed timeslot only in the first and second part of resources.

17. A base station [38] for allocating resources in a mixed timeslot [10] sent by the base station [38] to a user terminal [36], the base station [38] being connected to a radio network controller [39] of a communication network [30], the base station [38] comprising: means for receiving [48] a request from the radio network controller [39] to configure a resource allocation of the mixed timeslot; and means for allocating [40], based on the received request, a first part of the mixed timeslot to a minimum configuration of a high speed downlink share channel (HS-DSCH) and for dynamically allocating a second part of the mixed timeslot to at least one of a dedicated channel (DCH) and the HS-DSCH, depending on a number of user terminals connected to the base station [38].

18. A computer readable medium including computer executable instructions, which when executed by a processor [40] of a base station [38], determine the base station [38] to allocate resources in a mixed timeslot [10] sent by the base station [38] to a user terminal [36], the base station [38] being connected to a radio network controller [39] of a communication network 30, the instructions comprising: receiving at the base station [38] a request from the radio network controller [39] to configure a resource allocation of the mixed timeslot; allocating in the base station [38], based on the received request, a first part of the mixed timeslot to a minimum configuration of a high speed downlink share channel (HS-DSCH); and dynamically allocating in the base station [38], based on the received request, a second part of the mixed timeslot to at least one of a dedicated channel (DCH) and the HS-DSCH, depending on a number of user terminals connected to the base station [38].

19. The medium of Claim 18, further comprising: maintaining the same allocated minimum configuration of the HS-

DSCH channel in each mixed timeslot.

20. The medium of Claim 18, wherein the DCH and HS-DSCH channels are standard channels as defined in a Time-Division - Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) system.

21. The medium of Claim 18, further comprising: allocating for each mixed timeslot the minimum configuration of the HS- DSCH channel.

22. The medium of Claim 18, further comprising: allocating in the base station the second part of the mixed timeslot to a highest priority channel, wherein the highest priority channel is the DCH channel.

23. The medium of Claim 22, further comprising: allocating the entire second part of the mixed timeslot to the DCH channel when required by DCH users, independent of whether HS-DSCH users are requiring usage of the second part of the mixed timeslot.

24. The medium of Claim 22, further comprising: allocating the entire second part of the mixed timeslot to the HS-DSCH channel when required by HS-DSCH users and not required by any DCH user.

25. The medium of Claim 18, further comprising: splitting the mixed timeslot only in the first and second part of resources.