AU2005212893C1

AU2005212893C1 - Method and computer program for controlling radio resources, user equipment, radio network controller, and base station

Info

Publication number: AU2005212893C1
Application number: AU2005212893A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Karri Ranta-Aho; Antti Toskala
Original assignee: Vringo Infrastructure Inc
Current assignee: Vringo Infrastructure Inc
Priority date: 2004-02-16
Filing date: 2005-02-14
Publication date: 2013-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-14
Also published as: JP4551902B2; EP1719379A1; WO2005079095A1; JP2007527165A; AU2005212893A1; AU2005212893B2; KR20060123571A; KR20070074669A

Abstract

A method, base station, user equipment, radio network controller, and computer program are provided. According to the invention, data packets are communicated from a base station to user equipment over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling. The high speed physical downlink shared channel is suspended in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state.

Description

Method and computer program for controlling radio resources, user equipment, radio network controller, and base station Field [0001] The invention relates to a method of controlling radio resources in a wireless telecommunications system, a radio network controller for controlling radio resources in a wireless telecommunications system, a computer program for controlling radio resources in a wireless telecommunications system, a user equipment of a wireless telecommunications system, and a base station of a wireless telecommunications system. Background [0002] High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) is a packet-based data service in a WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) downlink with typical data transmission capacity from a few megabits per second to more than ten megabits per second. [0003] An HSDPA connection includes a high speed physical downlink shared channel (HS-PDSCH) for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel (HS-DPCCH) for uplink signalling. The HS-PDSCH and the HS-DPCCH are implemented on top of WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) dedicated channels, such as the DPDCH (Dedicated Physical Data Channel) and the DPCCH (Dedicated Physical Control Channel), and thus share the shared radio resources, such as power resources, with the WCDMA dedicated channels. The sharing of the radio resources results in inflexibility in radio resource allocation to the HSDPA channels and the WCDMA dedicated channels. Therefore, improvements are needed for radio resource control in a wireless telecommunications system supporting an HSDPA operation. [0004] A need therefore exists for an improved method, user equipment, base station, radio network controller, and computer program. [0004A] It is to be understood that, throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word 'comprise' and variations of the word, such as 'comprising' and 'comprises', is not intended to exclude other additions, components, integers or steps. Brief description of the invention (00051 According to one aspect there is provided a method, comprising: communicating data packets from a base station to user equipment over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and suspending the high speed downlink packet access connection in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. chbm A0123705454-v4 120318909 2 [0006] According to another aspect there is provided a method, comprising: communicating data packets from a base station to user equipment over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and suspending the transmission of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. [0007] According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus, comprising: a communicator configured to communicate data packets from a base station to user equipment over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and a connection suspender configured to connect to the communicator, and to suspend the high speed downlink packet access connection in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. [0008] According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus including user equipment, the apparatus comprising: a communicator configured to communicate data packets received from a base station over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and a connection suspender configured to connect to the communicator, and to suspend the high speed downlink packet access connection in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. [0009] According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus including user equipment, the apparatus comprising: a communicator configured to communicate data packets received from a base station over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed chbm A0123705454-v4 120318909 3 physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and a connection suspender configured to connect to the communicator, and to suspend the transmission of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. [0010] According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus, comprising: a suspension controller configured to control a suspension of a high speed downlink packet access connection, between a base station and user equipment, in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods with suspension parameters while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state, the suspension parameters configured to characterise temporal characteristics of a plurality of suspension time periods by defining a duration of the suspension; and a signalling unit configured to connect to the suspension controller, to signal the suspension parameters, wherein the duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. [0011] According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus, comprising: a suspension controller configured to control the suspension of transmission, between a base station and user equipment, of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods with suspension parameters while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state, the suspension parameters configured to characterise temporal characteristics of a plurality of suspension time periods by defining a duration of the suspension; and a signalling unit configured to connect to the controller, to signal the suspension parameters wherein the duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. [0012] According to another aspect there is provided a computer readable medium encoded with a computer program, the computer program executing a computer process comprising: communicating data packets from a base station to user equipment over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink chbm A0123705454-v4 120318909 4 shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and suspending the high speed downlink packet access connection in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. [00131 According to another aspect there is provided a computer readable medium encoded with a computer program, the computer program executing a computer process comprising: communicating data packets from a base station to user equipment over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and suspending the transmission of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. 100141 According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus, comprising: communication means for communicating data packets to user equipment over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and suspending means for connecting to the communication means, and for suspending the high speed downlink packet access connection in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. 10014A] According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus, comprising: communication means for communicating data packets from a base station over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and 4a suspending means for connection to the communication means, and for suspending the high speed downlink packet access connection in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. 10014B] According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus, comprising: communication means for communicating data packets from a base station over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and suspending means for connection to the communication means, and for suspending the transmission of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. 10014C] According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus, comprising: controlling means for controlling a suspension of a high speed downlink packet access connection in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods with suspension parameters while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state, the suspension parameters characterizing temporal characteristics of a plurality of suspension time periods by defining a duration of the suspension; and signalling means connected to the controlling means, for signalling the suspension parameters, wherein the duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. 10014D] According to another aspect there is provided an apparatus, comprising: controlling means for controlling the suspension of transmission of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods with suspension parameters while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state, the suspension parameters characterizing temporal characteristics of a plurality of suspension time periods by defining a duration of the suspension; and 4b signalling means connected to the controlling means, for signalling the suspension parameters, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. 10015] The method, user equipment, base station, network controller and computer program of the invention provide several advantages. In an embodiment of the invention, the flexibility of the radio resource allocation is increased, thus enabling an increase in the number of simultaneous high speed downlink packet access users served by a base station, the reuse of the base station resources, and the allocation of power resources for the WCDMA dedicated channels. List of Drawings [0016] In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which [0017] Figure 1 shows an example of the structure of a wireless telecommunications system; [00181 Figure 2 illustrates the elements of an HSDPA connection; [0019] Figure 3 shows a time structure of an HSDPA connection; WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 5 [0020] Figure 4 shows examples of the structure of a radio network controller, the structure of a base station, and the structure of user equipment; [0021] Figure 5A shows a first example of the methodology accord ing to embodiments of the invention; [0022] Figure 5B shows a second example of the methodology ac cording to embodiments of the invention; [0023] Figure 6 shows a third example of the methodology accord ing to embodiments of the invention, and [0024] Figure 7 shows a fourth example of the methodology accord ing to embodiments of the invention. Description of embodiments [0025] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a wireless telecommunica tions system to which the present solution may be applied. Below, embodi ments of the invention will be described using the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) as an example wireless telecommunications system. The structure and the functions of the network elements are only de scribed when relevant to the invention. [0026] The wireless telecommunications system may be divided into a core network (CN) 100, an UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) 102, and user equipment (UE) 104. The core network 100 and the UTRAN 102 compose an infrastructure of the wireless telecommunications system. [0027] The UTRAN 102 is typically implemented with wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) radio access technology. [0028] The core network 100 includes a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) 108 connected to the UTRAN 102 over an lu PS interface. The SGSN 108 represents the center point of the packet-switched domain of the core network 100. The main task of the SGSN 108 is to transmit packets to the user equipment 104 and to receive packets from the user equipment 104 by using the UTRAN 102. The SGSN 108 may contain subscriber and location information related to the user equipment 104. [0029] The UTRAN 102 includes radio network sub-systems (RNS) 106A, 106B, each of which includes at least one radio network controller (RNC) 110A, 110B and nodes B 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D. [0030] The radio network controller 11OA, 11OB controls the radio resources of the UTRAN 102. The radio network controller 11 OA, 11 OB con trols one or more nodes B 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D. Functions performed by WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 6 the radio network controller 11 OA, 11 OB include tasks such as downlink power control, handover management, and admission control. The radio network con trollers 11 OA, 11 OB may communicate with each other through an lur interface. [0031] Some functions of the radio network controller I 1A, 11 OB may be implemented with a digital computer, memory and computer programs for executing computer processes. Furthermore, the radio network controller 11 OA, 11 OB may include connecting means, such as buses and cables, for connecting the radio network controller 11 OA, 11 OB to the node B 11 2A, 112B, 112C, 112D. The basic structure and the operation of the radio network con troller 11 OA, 11 OB are known to one skilled in the art and only the details rele vant to the presents solution are discussed in detail. [0032] It should be noted, that the UTRAN 102 may also include IP (Internet Protocol) based network elements, such as IP base stations and IP servers. The structure of an IP radio access network is known to a one skilled in the art and the teachings of the present solution may easily be transferred from the given examples to the IP based systems. [0033] The node B 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D implements the Uu in terface, through which the user equipment 104 may access the telecommuni cations system infrastructure. The node B 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D performs tasks such as channel coding, rate adaptation, spreading, and basic radio re source management operations. Hereafter, the node B 112A, 112B, 112C, 11 2D is called a base station. [0034] The base station 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D is further respon sible for tasks associated with the HSDPA connection. Such tasks include scheduling the user equipment in the HSDPA data transfer, performing data packet retransmission procedures, such as HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Re transmission Request), and performing adaptive coding and modulation (AMC) procedures. [0035] Some functions of the base station 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D may be implemented with a digital computer, memory and computer programs for executing computer processes. Furthermore, the base station 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D may include connecting means, such as buses and cables, for connecting the base station B 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D to the radio network controller 11OA, 11OB.

WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 7 [0036] The basic structure and operation of the base station 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D are known to one skilled in the art and only the details rele vant to the present solution are discussed in detail. [0037] The user equipment 104 may include two parts: mobile equipment (ME) 114 and a UMTS subscriber identity module (USIM) 116. [0038] The mobile equipment 114 typically includes at least one ra dio modem for implementing the Uu interface. [0039] Some functionalities of the user equipment 104 may be im plemented with a digital computer, memory and computer programs for execut ing computer processes. The user equipment 104 may further comprise an an tenna, a user interface, and a battery. [0040] The. USIM 116 comprises user-related information and in formation related to information security in particular, for instance an encryp tion algorithm. [0041] The basic structure and operation of the user equipment 104 are known to one skilled in the art and only the details relevant to the present solution are discussed in detail. [0042] With reference to Figure 2, an HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) connection includes an HS-PDSCH (High Speed Physical Downlink Shared Channel), which provides a transport mechanism for HSDPA logical channels, such as an HS-DSCH (High Speed Downlink Shared Channel). [0043] The HS-DSCH provides a logical transport mechanism for data transfer from the base station 112A to 112D to the user equipment 104. The HS-PDSCH may be both time- and code-shared between various pieces of user equipment 106 connected to the base station 11 2A to 11 2D. [0044] The HSDPA connection further includes an HS-DPCCH (High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel), which is an uplink channel that carries packet acknowledgement messages (ACK/NACK) and channel information (CQI) on the HS-PDSCH. A packet acknowledgement message is typically generated for each data transport block received in the user equip ment 104. [0045] The packet acknowledgement messages (ACK/NACK) in clude an indication of the success or failure of reception of a data packet in the user equipment 104. The estimation of the success of the reception may be based on CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) carried out for a received packet in WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 8 the user equipment 104. The packet acknowledgement messages are used for performing HARQ procedures in the base station 112A to 112D. [0046] The channel information may be represented by a channel quality indicator (CQI), which characterizes the quality of the HS-PDSCH. The CQI is used as feedback information for AMC procedures. If the CQ informa tion is outdated, scheduler decisions could be erroneous. An HSDPA connec tion typically includes an HS-SCCH (High Speed Physical Downlink Shared Control Channel), which serves as a downlink signalling channel parallel to the HS-PDSCH. The HS-SCCH carries downlink information such as channeliza tion code sets, modulation scheme, transport block size, and HARQ process information to the user equipment 104. The downlink information allows the user equipment 104 to listen to the HS-DSCH at the correct time and to use the correct codes to allow successful decoding of a received packet. [0047] The HSDPA connection is a communication connection in cluding data transfer capabilities and signalling capabilities between the base station 112A to 112D and the user equipment 104. The HSDPA connection is formed on top of dedicated physical channels, such as DPDCH (Dedicated Physical Data Channel) and DPCCH (Dedicated Physical Control Channel) provided by the WCDMA radio access technology. [0048] With reference to Figure 3, a time structure 300 of an HSDPA connection is shown. The horizontal axis 302 shows time on an arbi trary scale. The timeline goes from the top to the bottom. [0049] During a predefined suspension time period 308A, 308B, the HSDPA connection is suspended, i.e. the HS-DPSCH, HS-PDCCH, HS SCCH, or a combination thereof, are not operable. However, during the sus pension time periods 308A, 308B, the HSDPA connection remains in a standby state, i.e. the DPDCH and DPCCH are transmitted and received nor mally allowing the resumption of transmission of any of the HS-DPSCH, HS PDCCH, or HS-SCCH without additional delays. [0050] Between the suspension time periods 308A, 308B, there are operable HSDPA periods 304A, 304B, 304C, during which the HSDPA con nection may be used for data packet transfer and signalling. [0051] The temporal characteristics of the suspension time periods 308A, 308B may be characterized by suspension parameters. Such parame ters are, for example, a suspension duration parameter which characterizes the duration 310A, 310B of the suspension time period 308A, 308B, frequency WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 9 of occurrence of the suspension time periods 308A, 308B, and a suspension timing parameter which characterizes the timing 312A, 312B of the suspension time period 308A, 308B. [0052] The timing 312A, 312B may correspond to the time instant when a suspension time period 308A, 308B starts. [0053] The suspension parameters may further characterize the du ration of the time periods 306A, 306B, 306C, when the suspension is off and the HSDPA connection is operable. [0054] The suspension parameters may further represent the tem poral characteristics of a sequence of the suspension time periods 308A, 308B. In such a case, the duration 310A, 310B of the different suspension time periods 3108A, 308B may be identical, and, thus, a single suspension duration parameter may be used to characterize the plurality of the suspension time periods 308A, 308B in the sequence. The use of the sequence of the suspen sion time periods 308A, 308b may be triggered and timed with a suspension timing parameter, which may characterize, for example, the timing 312A of the first suspension time period 308A in the sequence. The duration 310A, 310A of the suspension time period 308A, 308B may vary from 50 milliseconds to 500 milliseconds, while the duration 306A, 306B, 306C of the operable HSDPA periods 304A to 304C may vary from 50 milliseconds to 1000 milliseconds de pending on the embodiment. The present solution is not, however, restricted to the above figures. [0055] The predefined characteristics of the suspension time peri ods 308A, 308B and the standby state of the HSDPA connection are based on the fact, that at least a portion of the suspension parameters are available to the user equipment 104, base station 112A to 112D or both the user equip ment 104 and base station 112A to 112D so that no signalling of the suspen sion parameters for example from the network controller 110A, 110B is re quired between the suspension time periods 308A, 308B. The suspension pa rameters may be programmed in the base station 112A to 112D and/or the user equipment in advance. [0056] With reference to Figure 4, the base station 402 includes a communicating unit (CU1) 406 for communicating data packets to the user equipment 404 over an HSDPA connection 416. The user equipment 404, cor respondingly, includes a communicating unit (CU2) 426 for communicating data packets from the base station 402 over the HSDPA connection 416.

WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 10 [0057] The communicating units 406, 426 provide the Uu interface and the implementation of the HSDPA channel structure including the HS DPCCH, the HS-PDSCH, and the HS-SCCH. Furthermore, communicating units 406, 426 perform HSDPA communication procedures, such as the AMC procedures, HARQ procedures, and the associated signalling. [0058] With further reference to Figure 4, the radio network control ler 400 includes a suspension control unit (SCU) 448 for controlling the sus pension of the HSDPA connection 416 in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B with suspension parameters 450 while maintaining the HSDPA connection 416 in a standby state. [0059] The suspension parameters 450 are communicated to a sig nalling unit 446 which performs signalling of the suspension parameters 452, 454 to the base station 402. [0060] The suspension control unit 448 may be implemented with a computer program which may be executed in the digital computer of the radio network controller 400. [0061] In an embodiment of the invention, the suspension parame ters 450 are generated in the suspension control unit 448 and delivered to the signalling unit 446. [0062] The base station 402 may further include a suspension pa rameter generating unit (SPGU) 410 connected to a connection suspending unit 408. The suspension parameter generating unit 410 may generate sus pension parameters 422 and deliver the suspension parameters 422 to the connection suspending unit 408. [0063] The suspension parameter generating unit 410 of the base station 402 may be implemented with a digital computer and a computer pro gram. [0064] In an embodiment of the invention, suspension parameters 452, 454 are generated based on the number of user equipment sets 404 re quiring an HSDPA connection 416 with the base station 402. As the number of the user equipment sets 404 requiring an HSDPA connection 416 increases, the capacity limit of the base station 402 may be exceeded. In such a case, some HSDPA connections 416 may be suspended, thus allowing the estab lishment of more HSDPA connections. As a result, the overall availability of the HSDPA service is improved.

WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 11 [0065] In an embodiment of the invention, the suspension parame ters 410, 452, 454 are generated based on an interference load in the uplink, which may result from excessive HS-DPCCH signalling. Such a case may oc cur, for example, if the uplink of a cell with HSDPA capability is already highly loaded due to active DPCCH and/or DPDCH of a great number of user equip ment sets 404, and a great number of user equipment sets 404 transmit the HS-DPCCH simultaneously. Transmission of each HS-DPCCH requires its own share of the uplink capacity, thus adding to the overall load of the uplink. [0066] In an embodiment of the invention, some of the user equip ment sets 404 are located at the cell edge and a high transmit power is needed to provide a sufficient receive signal level in the base station 402. In order to enable successful uplink data transmission, e.g. user data transmission or RRC (Radio Resource Control) signalling, to the radio network controller 400, it may be beneficial to have sufficient transmit power available for the uplink DPCCH and/or DPDCH transmission. When the HS-DPCCH is being transmit ted it requires a share of the transmission power resource available at the user equipment 404, thus reducing the possible transmission power available for the DPCCH and/or DPDCH. In a power limited situation, it is possible that if the HS-DPCCH is being transmitted, one or more uplink channels, DPCCH, DPDCH or HS-DPCCH, will be allocated sufficient power for reliable reception in the base station 402. Thus, by introducing time periods, such as the time period 308A, 308B, during which the HS-DPCCH is not transmitted in the up link, the uplink DPCCH and/or DPDCH can be allocated an extensive amount of power. This, in turn, ensures that, for example, RRC signalling required by radio connection management has better probability of getting through even when the user equipment 404 is in a power limited situation. [0067] The HSDPA connection 416 may be suspended in the user equipment 404, in the base station 402, or both in the user equipment 404 and the base station 402. [0068] In an aspect of the invention, the user equipment 404 in cludes a connection suspending unit (CSU2) 428 for suspending the HSDPA connection 416 in the predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B while maintaining the HSDPA connection 416 in a standby state. [0069] The connection suspending unit 428 includes suspension parameters and transmits a control signal 434 to the communicating unit 426.

WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 12 The control signal 434 carries instructions for suspending the HSDPA connec tion 416 in the suspension time periods 308A, 308B. [0070] The connection suspending unit 428 may be implemented, for example, with the digital computer and computer program of the user equipment 404. [0071] In an aspect of the invention, the base station 402 includes a connection suspending unit (CSU1) 408 connected to the communicating unit 406, for suspending the HSDPA connection 416 in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B while maintaining the HSDPA connection 416 in a standby state. [0072] The connection suspending unit 408 includes suspension parameters and transmits a control signal 418 to the communicating unit 406. The control signal 418 carries instructions for suspending the HSDPA connec tion 416 in the suspension time periods 308A, 308B. [0073] The connection suspending unit 408 may be implemented, for example, with the digital computer and computer program of the base sta tion 402. [0074] The suspension parameters may include instructions for suspending the HSDPA connection 416 in a synchronous manner in the user equipment 404 and base station 402. In such a case, both the user equipment 402 and the base station 402 may implement the suspending time periods, such as those shown in Figure 3, in transmission/reception of the HSDPA con nection 416. [0075] A synchronization of the suspension procedures in the user equipment 404 and base station 402 may be based on, for example, general synchronization information required in radio transmission. [0076] In an embodiment of the invention, the suspension parame ters 454 are signalled to the communicating unit 406 of the base station 402, which delivers the suspension parameters 454 to the communicating unit 426 of the user equipment 404 by using a downlink channel such as the HS-SCCH of the HSDPA connection 416. [0077] The communicating unit 426 of the user equipment 404 de livers the suspension parameters to the connection suspension unit 428 of the user equipment 404. [0078] The suspension of the HSDPA connection 416 may be acti vated and possibly deactivated based on the suspension parameters 454.

WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 13 [0079] In an embodiment of the invention, the suspension parame ters 452 are signalled to the connection suspending unit 408 of the base sta tion 402 by using NBAP (Node B Application Part) signalling, for example. [0080] The suspension of the HSDPA connection 416 may be acti vated and possibly deactivated based on the suspension parameters 452. [0081] In an embodiment of the invention, the user equipment 404 includes a storing unit (STU2) 432 connected to the connection suspending unit 428. The storing unit 432 stores suspension parameters 430, which may be used by the connection suspending unit 428 when the suspension of the HSDPA connection 416 is activated. The storing unit 432 may be implemented with memory means, such as random access memory. [0082] In an embodiment of the invention, the base station 402 in cludes a storing unit (STU1) 412 connected to the connection suspending unit 408. The storing unit 412 stores suspension parameters 424, which may be used by the connection suspending unit 408 when the suspension of the HSDPA connection 416 is activated. The storing unit 412 may be implemented with memory means, such as random access memory. [0083] The suspending control unit 448 of the radio network control ler 400 may generate an activating signal 456, which is delivered to the con nection suspending unit 408 of the base station 402. The activating signal 456 may explicitly activate the suspension of the HSDPA connection 416 or include instructions, such as timing, for starting the suspension. As a result of activa tion, the suspending unit 408 may retrieve the suspension parameters 424 from the storing unit 412. [0084] The connection suspending unit 428 of the base station 402 receives an activating signal 452 and is activated to transmit a control signal 418 to the communicating unit 406 in order to suspend the HSDPA connection 416. [0085] The suspending control unit 448 of the radio network control ler 400 may also generate an activating signal 458, which is delivered to the connection suspending unit 428 of the user equipment 404 via a signalling channel, such as the HS-SCCH of the HSDPA connection 416. The activating signal 458 may explicitly activate the suspension of the HSDPA connection 416 or include instructions, such as timing, for starting the suspension. As a result of activation, the suspending unit 428 may retrieve the suspension pa rameters 430 from the storing unit 432.

WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 14 [0086] The connection suspending unit 408 of the base station 402 receives an activating signal 458 and is activated to transmit a control signal 434 to the communicating unit 426 in order to suspend the HSDPA connection 416. [0087] The storing unit 412, 432 and the activating signal 456, 458 enable suspension parameters 452, 454 to be delivered to the connection suspending unit 408, 428 prior to the execution of the actual suspension of the HSDPA connection, thus allowing flexibility in the timing of the signalling of the suspension parameters 452, 454. Furthermore, the suspension parameters 452, 454 may be used to perform the suspension of the HSDPA connection 416 for a long period of time, thus reducing the need to continuous deliver the suspending instruction to the connection suspending unit 408, 428. [0088] The activating signal 456, 458 enables the suspension of the HSDPA connection 416 to be performed with the plurality of the suspension time periods 308A, 308B at a desired time instant, thus providing flexibility for selecting the time when the suspension of the HSDPA connection is executed. [0089] The suspension of the HSDPA connection 416 may be im plemented in various manners depending on the embodiment. [0090] In an embodiment of the invention, the connection suspend ing unit 428 generates a control signal 434, which includes instructions for suspending the transmission of a CQ in uplink in a plurality of predefined sus pension time periods 308A, 308B. The suspending of the transmission of the CQ may result in the use of an outdated CQl value in the scheduler. The use of the outdated CQI value may in some circumstances cause suspension or at least complications in scheduling the user equipment 102 and, thus, the sus pension of transmission of the HS-DPSCH. In some applications, it would be beneficial to cancel the user equipment 404 from scheduling if the latest CQI available from the user equipment 404 in the base station scheduler was older than an implementation-specific time interval, which may be of the order of tens of milliseconds. [0091] The suspension parameters 454 or the activating signal 458 signalled from the radio network controller 400 may include an instruction to remove the CQ from the frame structure of the HS-DPCCH signalled in the uplink. However, the transmission of the acknowledgement messages (ACK/NACK) may still be continued.

WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 15 [0092] It should be noted that after each suspension time period 308A, 308B, the base station 402 would preferably continue transmitting the HS-DPSCH after the reception of a first reliable CQI in order to ensure a suffi cient channel quality. [0093] In an embodiment of the invention, the connection suspend ing unit 428 generates a control signal 434, which includes instructions for suspending the transmission of the HS-DPCCH in a plurality of predefined sus pension time periods 308A, 308B. [0094] The suspension parameters 454 or the activating signal 458 may include an instruction to cancel the transmission of the HS-DPCCH in the predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B. The suspension of transmis sion of the HS-DPCCH may result in the lack of feedback information required for the AMC and HARQ, and the scheduler of the base station 402 may not be able to schedule the user equipment 404. As a result, transmission of downlink channels, such as the HS-PDSCH and the HS-SCCH, is interrupted approxi mately in the suspension time periods 308A, 308B. [0095] The suspension of the HS-DPCCH releases radio resources for the DPCCH thus giving rise to cell coverage. [0096] In an embodiment of the invention, the connection suspend ing unit 428 generates a control signal 434, which includes instructions for suspending reception of the HS-SCCH in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B. [0097] The suspension parameters 454 or the activating signal 458 signalled from the radio network controller 400 may include an instruction to cancel reception of the HS-SCCH in the predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B. The suspension of reception of the HS-SCCH may be realized in the receiver of the user equipment 402 102 by interrupting the tracking of the HS-SCCH code channel and interrupting the processing of HS-SCCH data. The HS-SCCH informs the user equipment 402 if a data packet is to be re ceived in one or several HS-PDSCH codes, and indicates data packet charac teristics, such as those associated with modulation and coding, to enable the user equipment 402 to receive the data packet on the HS-PDSCH. As a result of suspending the reception of the HS-SCCH, the transmission of acknowledge messages is interrupted. [0098] In some embodiments, the suspension of the HSDPA con nection 416 is initiated in the base station 402.

WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 16 [0099] In an embodiment of the invention, the connection suspend ing unit 408 of the base station 402 generates a control signal 418, which in cludes instructions for suspending the reception of the HS-DPCCH in a plural ity of predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B. [0100] The suspension parameters 452 or the activating signal 456 signalled from the radio network controller 400 may include an instruction to cancel the reception of the HS-DPCCH in the predefined suspension time pe riods 308A, 308B. [0101] The suspension of reception of the HS-DPCCH may result in the cancellation of the delivery of the CQI and acknowledgement messages to the base station 402 in approximately the suspension time periods 308A, 3088, and, thus in the incapability of transmitting the HS-PDSCH. [0102] In an embodiment of the invention, the connection suspend ing unit 408 of the base station 402 generates a control signal 418, which in cludes instructions for suspending the scheduling of data packets to the user equipment 404 in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B. [0103] The suspension parameters 452 or the activating signal 456 signalled from the radio network controller 400 may include an instruction of cancelling the scheduling in the predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B. As a result of suspending the scheduling, no data packets are received by the user equipment 402 and no acknowledgement messages are generated and transmitted. [0104] With reference to Figure 5A, in an embodiment of the inven tion, the method starts in 500. [0105] In 502, data packets are communicated over the HSDPA connection 416 including the HS-PDSCH and HS-DPCCH. [0106] In 504, the HSDPA connection 416 is suspended in a plural ity of predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B while maintaining the HSDPA connection 416 in a standby state. [0107] In 506, the method ends. [0108] With reference to Figure 5B, in an embodiment of the inven tion, the method starts in 508. [0109] In 510, data packets are communicated over the HSDPA connection 416 including the HS-PDSCH and HS-DPCCH.

WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 17 [0110] In 512, the transmission of the HS-DPCCH is suspended in the predefined time periods 308A, 308B while maintaining the HS-DPCCH in a standby state. [0111] In 514, the method ends. [0112] With reference to Figure 6, in an embodiment of the inven tion, the method starts in 600. [0113] In 602, data packets are communicated over the HSDPA connection 416 including the HS-PDSCH and HS-DPCCH. [0114] In 604, a decision is made whether to use at least one stored suspension duration parameter 424, 430. [0115] If the at least one stored suspension parameter 424, 430 is not used, at least one suspension parameter 452, 454 characterizing the tem poral characteristics of the plurality of the suspension time periods 308A, 308B is signalled in 608, and the HSDPA connection 416 is suspended on the basis of the at least one suspension parameter in 610. [0116] If the at least one stored suspension parameter 424, 430 is used, an activating signal 456, 458 is signalled in order to activate the suspen sion of the HSDPA connection 416 in 614. In 614, the suspension of the HSDPA connection 416 is activated. In 616, the HSDPA connection 416 is suspended in the plurality of time periods 308A, 308B on the basis of the at least one stored suspension parameter 452, 454. [0117] In 618, the method ends. [0118] With reference to Figure 6, in an embodiment of the inven tion, the method starts in 700. [0119] In 702, the data packets are communicated over the HSDPA connection 416 including the HS-PDSCH and HS-DPCCH. [0120] In 704, the transmission of a channel quality indicator is sus pended in uplink in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B. [0121] In 706, transmission of the HS-DPCCH is suspended in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B while maintaining the HS-DPCCH in a standby state. [0122] In 708, the reception of the HS-DPCCH is suspended in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B while maintaining the HS-DPCCH in a standby state.

WO 2005/079095 PCT/F12005/000097 18 [0123] In 710, the scheduling of data packets to the user equipment is suspended in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B. [0124] In 712, the reception of the HS-SCCH is suspended in a plu rality of predefined suspension time periods 308A, 308B while maintaining the HS-SCCH in a standby state. [0125] In 714, the method ends. [0126] The relative order of the method steps 704 to 712 may vary depending on the implementation. It is possible that the execution of one method step 704 to 712 triggers an execution of an other method step 704 to 712 due to the causalities of the different elements, such as channels and feedback information, applied in the HSDPA connection 416. [0127] In some aspects, the invention provides a computer program for executing a computer process, of which embodiments are shown and de scribed in conjunction with Figures 5A, 5B, 6, and 7. [0128] The computer program may be implemented with a digital processor and memory means located in the radio network controller 400, base station 402, and the user equipment 404. [0129] The computer program may be stored on a data carrier, such as a CD (Compact Disc), a hard drive, a diskette, and a portable memory unit. The computer program may further be transferred with an electric signal in a data network, such as the Internet. [0130] Even though the invention has been described above with reference to an example according to the accompanying drawings, it is clear that the invention is not restricted thereto but can be modified in several ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: communicating data packets from a base station to user equipment over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and suspending the high speed downlink packet access connection in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension.

2. A method, comprising: communicating data packets from a base station to user equipment over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and suspending the transmission of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension.

3. An apparatus, comprising: a communicator configured to communicate data packets from a base station to user equipment over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and a connection suspender configured to connect to the communicator, and to suspend the high speed downlink packet access connection in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. chbm A01 23705454-v4 120318909 20

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the connection suspender is configured to suspend reception of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed 5 dedicated physical control channel in a standby state.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the connection suspender is configured to suspend scheduling of data packets to the user equipment in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods. 10

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus further comprises a generator configured to connect to the connection suspender, and to generate at least one suspension parameter, the at least one suspension parameter configured to characterise temporal characteristics of a plurality of suspension time periods; and is wherein the connection suspender is configured to suspend the high speed downlink packet access connection in the plurality of time periods on the basis of the at least one suspension parameter.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus further comprises a 20 memory configured to connect to the connection suspender, to store at least one suspension parameter configured to characterise the temporal characteristics of a plurality of suspension time periods; and wherein the connection suspender is configured to be activated by a received activating signal and to suspend the high speed downlink packet access connection in the 25 plurality of time periods on the basis of the at least one suspension parameter stored in the memory.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the connection suspender is configured to suspend the high speed downlink packet access connection on the basis of 30 at least one suspension parameter received from a radio network controller, the at least one suspension parameter is configured to characterise temporal characteristics of a plurality of suspension time periods. 35 21

9. An apparatus including user equipment, the apparatus comprising: a communicator configured to communicate data packets received from a base station over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and a connection suspender configured to connect to the communicator, and to suspend the transmission of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension.

10. An apparatus including user equipment, the apparatus comprising: a communicator configured to communicate data packets received from a base station over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and a connection suspender configured to connect to the communicator, and to suspend the transmission of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the connection suspender is configured to suspend the transmission of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the connection suspender is configured to suspend the transmission of a channel quality indicator in uplink in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods, the channel quality indicator is configured to characterise the quality of the high speed physical downlink shared channel. chbm A0123705454-v4 120318909 22

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the connection suspender is configured to suspend the reception of the high speed physical downlink shared control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed physical downlink shared control channel in a standby state.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communicator is configured to receive at least one suspension parameter, the at least one suspension parameter configured to characterise temporal characteristics of a plurality of suspension time periods; and wherein the connection suspender is configured to suspend the high speed downlink packet access connection in the plurality of time periods on the basis of the at least one suspension parameter.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises a memory configured to connect to the connector, to store at least one suspension parameter configured to characterise the temporal characteristics of a plurality of suspension time periods; and wherein the connection suspender is configured to be activated by a received activating signal and to suspend the high speed downlink packet access connection in the plurality of time periods on the basis of the at least one suspension parameter stored in the memory.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the connection suspender is configured to suspend the high speed downlink packet access connection on the basis of at least one suspension parameter received from a radio network controller.

17. An apparatus, comprising: a suspension controller configured to control a suspension of a high speed downlink packet access connection, between a base station and user equipment, in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods with suspension parameters while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state, the suspension parameters configured to characterise temporal characteristics of a plurality of suspension time periods by defining a duration of the suspension; and a signalling unit configured to connect to the suspension controller, to signal the suspension parameters, chbm AO 23705454-v4 120318909 23 wherein the duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension.

18. An apparatus, comprising: a suspension controller configured to control the suspension of transmission, between a base station and user equipment, of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods with suspension parameters while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state, the suspension parameters configured to characterise temporal characteristics of a plurality of suspension time periods by defining a duration of the suspension; and a signalling unit configured to connect to the controller, to signal the suspension parameters wherein the duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the suspension controller is configured to control the suspension of transmission of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state.

20. the apparatus of claim 17, wherein the suspension controller is configured to control the suspension of reception of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a standby state.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the suspension controller is configured to control the suspension of transmission of a channel quality indicator in uplink in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods, the channel quality indicator configured to characterise the quality of the high speed physical downlink shared channel.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the suspension controller is configured to control the suspension of scheduling of data packets to the user equipment in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods. chbm A0123705454-v4 120318909 24

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the suspension controller is configured to control suspension of the reception of the high speed physical downlink shared control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed physical downlink shared control channel in a standby state. 5

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the suspension controller is configured to generate at least one suspension parameter configured to characterise temporal characteristics of a plurality of suspension time periods. to

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the suspension controller is configured to generate an activating signal in order to activate the suspension of the high speed downlink packet access connection; and wherein the signalling unit is configured to transmit the activating signal. is

26. A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program, the computer program executing a computer process comprising: communicating data packets from a base station to user equipment over a high speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control 20 channel for uplink signalling; and suspending the high speed downlink packet access connection in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed downlink packet access connection in a standby state, wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter 25 known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension.

27. A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program, the computer program executing a computer process comprising: communicating data packets from a base station to user equipment over a high 30 speed downlink packet access connection including a high speed physical downlink shared channel for data packet transfer and a high speed dedicated physical control channel for uplink signalling; and suspending the transmission of the high speed dedicated physical control channel in a plurality of predefined suspension time periods while maintaining the high speed 35 dedicated physical control channel in a standby state, 25 wherein a duration of the suspension is defined by a suspension parameter known to the base station and the user equipment before the suspension. Dated 14 April 2009 5 Nokia Corporation Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON