MXPA06008129A - Method and apparatus for fast data rate ramp up in node b scheduling of ue uplink - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and corresponding equipment for communicating from a Node B (10) to a UE device (11) a data rate pointer (11a) value indicating a new maximum allowed data rate in case of a current low value for the data rate pointer (11a), based on predetermined rules governing signaling to change the data rate pointer and used by the Node B (10) in responding to a change request from the UE device (11), rules that differ for different current values of the data rate pointer (11a), and in particular rules that allow for a fast ramp up in case of a current value of zero or less than a threshold.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UP-DOWN RAPID DATA SPEED RAMP IN NODE B PROGRAMMING OF THE UP-UP LINK OF UE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with the field of wireless communication, especially via telecommunication networks in accordance with 3GPP specifications. More particularly, the present invention concerns the uplink performance in the radio access network of UTMS, UTRAN and even more particularly, the invention is concerned with the programming of node B of the UE uplink. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A network of UTMS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) includes a central network of several elements and also a radio access network, called UTRAN (UMTS terrestrial radio access network). An UTRAN includes radio network controllers (.RNC) that control the so-called node Bs, which in turn communicates wirelessly with the UE devices (user equipment), that is, for example mobile telephones. The UMTS networks are provided and put into operation as specified by the 3GPP (Third Generation Society Program) specifications, which are evolving and are issued in successive releases. In the most current evolution, which will be issued as Ref .: 174313 release 6, a proposal has been made for a fast Node B controlled programming mechanism that requires both the UE and the Node B to individually maintain a data rate pointer indicating the maximum uplink data rate for use by the EU; the data rate actually used (any speed up to and including the speed pointed to by the data rate pointer at ~ communicating with Node B is indicated on a transport format combination indicator (TFCI) data object sent by the UE to the Node B. The data rate pointer is updated according to the prior art using differential signaling (increase / decrease): a Node B command to change the current value of the data rate pointer is a command to increase or decrease the data rate pointer, that is, to change by one stage the data rate that is pointed by the data rate pointer, to point to the next highest or lowest allowed data rate in a set of data rates. data rates known as a TFCS (transport format combination set). (A UE may only require a change of data rate pointer - usand or speed request signaling - and Node N is in control; if it finds an acceptable UE speed request, it updates its own pointer entity and signals a speed granted to the UE. If Node B determines that no change_.is to be made to the data rate pointer, it may indicate this by using discontinuous signaling (DTX) or by some other signaling). Now in a typical case, initially a UE device is not transmitting data to a Node B, but then the data arrives from an application hosted by the U device? and they are stored in a transmission-time buffer within the UE device. If the UEX then has a lot of data to transmit and the network could allow it to transmit at a higher target data rate but the data rate pointer is set to a low value (or zero), reaching the high data rate The target takes several speed request / speed granting cycles, each incrementing the data rate pointer by one stage. Such an upward ramp can be a relatively slow process and could be seen as a sub-optimal use of uplink resources, causing more delays than necessary for end users. Thus, what is needed - at least in some situations - is a mechanism for changing an UE data rate pointer from a low value to a high value faster than can be done using repeated increments of a single stage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, in a first aspect of the invention, a method is provided by which a UE device configured for wireless communication is instructed with a node of a wireless communication system that adjusts the value of a data rate pointer maintained in the UE device, the data rate pointer indicates a maximum allowed data rate available to the UE for uplink data transmission to the node, the method includes: a stage at which the node issues the device UE a change command in response to a change request by the UE device, the node issues the change command based on predetermined rules and a stage "in which the UE device adjusts the data rate pointer of In accordance with the change command and based on predetermined rules for interpreting the change command, the method is characterized by the predetermined rules used by the node to respond to the change request depending on the current value of the data rate pointer. According to the first aspect of the invention, the predetermined rules may differ depending on the current value of the data rate pointer, as compared to a threshold value for the data rate pointer.In addition, if the current value is less than the threshold value, the change command signals a new value for the data rate pointer or indicates a number of steps by which increm Enter the data rate pointer. Still further, the new value can be signaled using a shared downlink channel together with an indicator to identify the UE device or it can be signaled using a dedicated physical downlink data channel or it can otherwise be signaled using a channel Dedicated downlink data or a dedicated downlink signaling channel. Also in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, in accordance with the predetermined rules used by the node to respond to the change request, the UE device may interpret the change command differently for different values of the current value of the speed pointer. of data . In addition, the predetermined rules may differ depending on the current value of the data rate pointer, as compared to a threshold value for the data rate pointer. Still further, the change command may be an increment pointer command and the method may be further characterized in that if the current value is less than the threshold value, then the UE device interprets the increment pointer command as a command to change the data rate pointer to a predetermined fast upward ramp pointer value or to change the data rate pointer to a rising ramp number. Also still further the change command can be a decrease pointer command and if the current value is 0 then the UE device can interpret the decrement pointer command as a command to change the data rate pointer to a pointer value fast ascending ramp or to change the data rate pointer by a predetermined rapid ascending number of stages. Still further still, if the current value is less than the threshold value, then the node can issue a sequence of bits of a predetermined length as the pointer change command and the UE device can interpret the bit sequence as transporting a value at which to change the data rate pointer or which carries a number of steps through which to change the data rate pointer.

Still further, the first bit of the bit sequence can be a pointer increment command and upon receiving the first bit of the sequence, the UE device can immediately increase the data rate pointer by one step and by receiving the other bit of the sequence, the UE can then change the data rate pointer according to the predetermined rules that govern the reception of the bit sequence as the pointer change command. Also still further, if a first bit in a sequence of pointer changes command bits is not a pointer increment command, the UE device can interpret the first bit and the subsequent bits as individual pointer change commands (in opposing a set of bits in combination that carry a single pointer command to a fast ascending ramp value or a fast ramp-up-ramp number). In a second aspect of the invention, a computer program product is provided which comprises: a computer readable storage structure that implements computer program codes thereon for execution by a computer processor in a node of a wireless communication system, the The computer program code is characterized in that it includes instructions for carrying out the steps of a method according to the first invention and indicated that it is carried out by the node. In a. Third aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising: a storage structure that can be read by computer that implements codes of computer programs thereon for execution by a computer processor in a computer device. user adapted for communication via a wireless communication system, the computer program code is characterized in that it includes instructions for carrying out the steps of a method according to the first aspect of the invention and indicated that they are performed by the device UE. In a fourth aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for use by a UE device configured for wireless communication with a node of a wireless communication system, the apparatus for use in adjusting the value of a data rate pointer maintained in the UE device, the data rate pointer indicates a maximum allowed data rate available to the UE for uplink data transmission to the node, the apparatus includes: means by which the UE device receives a command from the node of change and means by which the UE adjusts the data rate pointer according to the change command, the 'apparatus is characterized by interpreting the change command based on predetermined rules that differ depending on the current value of the pointer of data speed . In a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for use by a node of a wireless communication system configured for wireless communication with a UE device, the apparatus for use in adjusting the value of a data rate pointer maintained in the UE device, the data rate pointer indicates a maximum allowed data rate available for UE for uplink data transmission to the node, the apparatus includes: means by which the node issues to the UE device a change command to change the value of the data rate pointer in response to a request for change of the UE device and means by which the node tracks the value of the data rate pointer, the apparatus is characterized by responding to the change request with a pointer change command based on predetermined rules that differ depending on the current value of the speed pointer of data .... In a sixth aspect of the invention, a system is provided that includes components hosted by a node of a wireless communication system and also components hosted by a UE device configured for wireless communication with the node, the system for use In instructing the UE device to adjust value of a data rate pointer maintained in the UE device, the data rate pointer indicates a maximum allowed data rate available for UE for uplink data transmission to the node, the system includes: means by which the node issues a change command to the UE device in response to a change request by the UE device, the node issues the change command based on predetermined rules to respond to the change request in media by which the UE device adjusts the data rate pointer according to the change command and based on rules default to interpret the change command, the system is characterized in that the predetermined rules used by the node to respond to the change request differ depending on the current value of the data rate pointer. According to the sixth aspect of invention the system can also include a controller element of a central network of the wireless communication system and can further be characterized in that the controller element communicates to the node and the UE device via the node sufficient information for specify parameters of the default rules. In addition, the parameters may include the threshold or the information that characterizes a threshold. Still further, the information that characterizes a threshold may be one or more data rates allowed. Also still further, the parameters may include the predetermined fast upward ramp pointer value. Also still further, the parameters may include the predetermined rapid step up ramp number. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The foregoing and other objects, elements and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in relation to the appended figures, in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram / flow diagram of a UE device and a B node that communicates data and related signaling, some according to the prior art and some according to the invention. Figure 2 is a flow diagram of an UE / Node B signaling to change the data rate pointer indicating the maximum data rate allowed for use by the UE device according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to Figure 1, both a node B / base station or more in general the access point to a radio access network of a wireless communication system and a UE device communicatively coupled to the node B they maintain a respective TFCS (transport format combination set) 10b, 11b. The TFCS is signaled to the node B and to the UE (via the node B) by a service RNC (a radio network controller) 14 or more in general an access point controller. Each TFCS, 10b, 11b includes the same set of TFCS (transport format combinations) lOc / llc, each TFCS corresponds to a maximum allowed total data rate for uplink transmissions (UE to Node B). In the present it is assumed that the TFCS are arranged in order of increased data rates, with a pointer 10a, which indicates a particular TFCS • of the TFCS and thus indicate the corresponding data rate (which in turn indicates a power corresponding transmission) as the maximum speed at which the UE device is allowed to communicate data to node B. A pointer, as the term "is used in the present, is commonly an object" of data used by executable codes for point to a site in a memory where a value of another data object "is stored, if at hand, of another data object is a value for the uplink speed, co or is discussed later in this (However, the term "pointer" should be understood in the present to mean any indicator of a value of a rising data object of an upward velocity, for example, the pointer term as used in the present may mean an integer value expressed to indicate a particular input in a one-dimensional arrangement of different possible uplink values). The TFCS pointing to the data rate pointer lia can be changed if the UE device requests and a change is granted via a change command issued by the node B. (In addition, the node B can issue an unsolicited command or change or the data rate pointer UE ll can be changed without signaling, such as for example by a convention that both the node B and the UE decrease their respective data pointers 10a, lia if the data rate used by UE has been lower for a certain amount of time that the maximum speed allowed by the speed pointer lia). Now in accordance with the invention, in order to provide accelerated increase of the data rate pointer, the UEll device and the BIO node are operational with respect to changing the data rate pointer 11a (and thus also the speed pointer). data 10a of node B) according to predetermined rules (that is, for example programmed) device UE to node B allowing the accelerated ascending line of the case of an appropriately low current value of the data rate pointer (against from the position to the predetermined rules of a node B according to the prior technique that determines how to respond to a pointer change request). The rules in effect provide increased accelerated data rate pointer by taking into account whether the current data pointer value is lower or not than a threshold or zero. The threshold functions as a parameter (dynamic / changeable) of the predetermined rules and is advantageously communicated to the node B and the device UE by the RNC1. So and now referring to figure 2, in a method according to the invention there is a step 21 in which the RNC14 provides TFC values to both the BIO node and the UE 11 device (via the node B) together with an initial value for the data rate pointer. In a next step 22 the RNC 14 provides the node B 10 and also the UE device 11 - parameters for the rules governing the signaling to change the data rate pointer, parameters that specify or otherwise characterize a threshold for the data rate pointer. The parameters could by * example simply indicate a value or they could indicate a particular TFC in the set of TFC previously communicated by the RNC to the node B and the device UE. In a next step 23 assuming a scenario in which the data rate pointer is set to a value below the threshold, it is adjusted in such a way either as an initial value of adjustment or day of more change command or implicitly in accordance to predetermined rules for the implicit pointer change (mentioned above, by convention with respect to the change of the data rate pointer without signaling, for example in the case of the data rate used having been less than the maximum allowed amount by an amount of predetermined time). In a next step 24 the UE device receives data from an application hosted by the UE device, which the UE device must link to the node B. In a next step 25 the UE requests a change in the data rate pointer when sending a Request for change to node B. (Before adjusting a higher data rate, the UE must first evaluate according to unspecified criteria if it could use a higher data rate than fully permitted). In a next step 26, assuming here that the programmer of node B would agree with the UE in increasing its data rate (maximum allowable) node B responds to the change request of the pointer determined with the rules that govern signaling for change the data speed pointer. Thus, node B compares the speed of the pointer with the threshold and since in the scenario assumed in the present, the current value of the data rate pointer is smaller than the threshold, the node B responds to the change request of the pointer with a change command of the pointer (which can be a sequence of commands called bits) that provides an increase in the speed of the accelerated data pointer (assuming that more than one stage of the data rate increase was accepted by the node programmer B). In a next stage 27, the UE device receives the pointer change command (which may include for example two commands of the increment of the pointer indicating a change by more than two stages) and the pointer of the data rate is adjusted based on interpreting the electronic command of the pointer • of 'according to the rules that govern the signaling to change the speed of the data pointer. Since according to the scenario assumed herein, the current value of the data rate pointer is less than the threshold, the UE device will interpret the pointer change command, which may be of several different signals, as described subsequently, to increase the data rate pointer for more than one stage of the TFC, this is to move the data rate pointer to a TFC that is more than one position from its current position. Thus, node B uses rules that govern signaling to change the data rate pointer which differ depending on the current value of the data rate pointer. In addition, the interpretation of a pointer command performed by the UE device is based on the rules governing signaling to ~ change the speed of the data rate pointer, the UE device takes into account the current value of the data rate pointer and thus makes a different interpretation of a pointer change command in the case of the data rate pointer is less than the threshold. It is important to understand that in the modes the default rules (which govern signaling to change the data rate pointer) can use an explicit numerical value for a threshold to trigger the accelerated ramp and other modalities can use a threshold as an indication of a particular TFC or a TFC in an indicated subset of TFCS corresponding to the data rate of the maximums of the TFCs in the subset. The term "threshold" as used herein should be broadly understood to mean an indication, whether expressed or implied, with a data rate value as a basis for triggering the accelerated ramp. The invention also covers having different thresholds and corresponding to different rules, up-ramp, at a first acceleration in the event that the current data rate pointer has a value less than or equal to a first threshold and ramp up to a second acceleration (higher) in the case that the current data rate pointer has a lower value than that at a second threshold (greater) but greater than the first threshold and so on. To provide the accelerated upward ramp, the pointer change command issued by node B can signal a new (explicit) value for the data rate pointer. It can indicate a number of steps by which to increment the pointer (in such a way that points to a TFC plus a higher position than currently targeted TFC) or may be currently implied so that the pointer is changed in an accelerated manner according to rules with predetermined rules similar in nature to the convention described above - where the node B and the UE device both decrease their respective data rate pointers without indicating whether the data rate used has been less than the maximum allowed by the predetermined time - but of course here the convention would specify that the data rate pointer will be has increased without signaling commands to change the express pointer). Whatever is indicated by "the pointer change command may be communicated from the node B 10 to the UE 11 device in various ways, such as for example using a shared downlink channel together with an indicator to identify the device. of EU 11, in such a way that the The UE device can determine which pointer change command is designed by it. Alternatively, the pointer change command can be signaled by using a dedicated physical data channel downlink (DPCH), in any case some bits would be "stolen" and used for to communicate the pointer change command, a mechanism that is feasible since the theft of bits occurred only once and once and not less frequently on account of the invention that provides a single pointer command to make the pointer move of data speed in several stages (TFC) at a time. alternatively and more advantageously in the case of applications having a relatively frequent need for an accelerated ramp up, a dedicated downlink channel (new or existing) can be used such as a downlink signaling channel or . to a dedicated downlink data channel. In the terminology of TG, the signaling between the node B and the UE device is transported over DPSH (dedicated physical control channel) and the user data, network and followed at the application level and the signaling of exchanges RNC with ..el UE is carried out in the DPSH (data channel - "physical dedicated") so, in the terminology of TCPP the dimension covers barriers in which the signaling with respect to the data rate counter is carried out either in a dedicated physical control channel (a signaling channel in more gel terminology) or a physical data channel dedicated to both. As explained, not only the node B 10 can provide a different response to a change request (increment) of the pointer depending on the current value of the data rate pointer, but also the UE 11 device can interpret a pointer command of different current values of the data speed pointer lia. Thus, for example, even if the node B issues the same current response - an increment command - to a change request (increase) of the pointer, a UE according to the invention would understand in some modalities the change command of the pointer as a command to either implement the pointer by a predetermined number of stages (greater than one) - that is, a number of predetermined ascending ramps - or change the pointer to target a predetermined speed / TFC - that is, change the pointer to a fast ascending ramp value determined. In addition, of course a node B according to the invention would adjust its copy 10a to a data rate pointer Ia in the same man In some modalities, the response to a pointer change request (to increase the data pointer speed lia) the change command can give a decrease command and if the current value is 0, then the device UEll interprets the command of the pointer as a command to change the data rate pointer to. a predetermined value ramp pointer value or to change the value of the data rate pointer by a predetermined rapid ramp number of steps. As an alternative to the ascending ramp signaling if the current value is less than the threshold value, the node B 10 issues a sequence of bits of a predetermined length that carries (such as for example a number of N bits with certain N) a target value of TFC pointer (a fast rising ramp pointer value) or carry a number of stages that the TFC pointer is going to be incremented (a fast step up ramp number). The first bit in sequence of a pointer increment command bit (and no longer a pointer bit command in a 3-stage mode a null pointer change command bit) no transmission, this is a response null to distinguish the command from a pointer decrease command or (in the case of three-stage signaling) a "null response from a null pointer change command.You can receive the first bit in a sequence (from an increment command) of pointer), UE would immediately immediately advantageously start transmitting with a data rate a higher stage and after reception and subsequent of the sequence determine the value indicated by the sequence and then move to the data rate indicated by the value . As mentioned, in RNC14 (that is, a controller element of the central wireless communication network) is communicated to the node B 10 and to the device of UE 11 via node B with sufficient information to specify the parameters of the predetermined rules. they include in some embodiments the threshold or information that characterizes a threshold such as one or more data rates emitted by TFC in the TFS and in some embodiments the value of the rapid upward ramp pointer predetermined of stages. The invention has been described in terms (mainly) as the steps of a method. The invention comprises equipment for detecting the steps described above. Thus, for each stage described above there may be a corresponding node that includes one or the other of the devices shown in Figure 1 that is, the device of UE 11, wherein the node B 10 and the RNC 14. It is also possible that the functionality to carry out several of the steps described above are incorporated more to a single module. The modules can also be implemented as physical elements or implemented as programming elements or fixed elements for execution by a processor of respective pieces of equipment (to the UE device and the RNC). In particular in the case of fixed elements or programming elements, the invention is provided as a computer program product that includes a storage structure as a program product, a computer storage structure that can be read by computers that implement the code of computer programs - that is, the programming elements - permanent elements in them for execution of a computer processor. It will be understood that the type provisions above are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative functions may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and it is intended that the appended specifications cover such modifications and provisions. It is noted that with respect to this date, the best known method for carrying out the aforementioned invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (41)

1. CLAIMS Having described the foregoing invention, the content of the following claims is declared as: 1. A method by which the user's equipment device designed for wireless communication with a wireless communication node is instructed to adjust the value of a pointer. of data rate maintained in the user's equipment device, the data rate pointer indicates a maximum data rate data rate available to the user equipment for uplink transmission of the data to the node, the method is characterized in that it comprises: the node issuing the user equipment device a pointer change command in response to a change request by the user equipment device, the node issues the change command based on predetermined rules and the device of user equipment that adjusts the data rate pointer according to the com changes and based on predetermined rules to interpret the change command; wherein the predetermined rules used by the node in responding to the change request differ depending on the current value of the data rate pointer.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, further characterized the predetermined rules differ depending on the current value of the data rate pointer compared to a threshold value for the data rate pointer.
3. 3. The method according to claim 2, further characterized if the current value is less than the threshold value, the change command signals a new value for the data rate pointer or indicates a number of steps by which increase the value of the data rate pointer.
4. 4. The method of compliance with claim 3, further characterized by the new value is signaled using a shared downlink channel together with an indicator to identify the device of user type.
5. 5. The method according to claim 3, further characterized -because the new value is signaled using a dedicated physical data channel of downlink.
6. 6. The method according to claim 3, further characterized by the new value is signaled using a dedicated downlink data channel or a dedicated downlink signaling channel.
7. The method according to claim 1, further characterized by, according to the predetermined rules used by the node when responding to the change request, of the user type device "interprets the change command differently for different values of the current value of the data rate pointer
8. 8. The method according to claim 7, further characterized the predetermined rules differ depending on the current value of the data rate pointer compared to a threshold value for the speed pointer of the data rate pointer.
9. 9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the change command is an increment pointer command and if the current value is less than the threshold value, then the user equipment device interprets the command of increment pointer as a command to change the data rate pointer to a ramp pointer value ascends Default fast change or to change the value of the data rate pointer to a value in the number of predetermined upward ramp pointer of stages.
10. 10. The method according to claim 8, characterized by the change command is a decrease-pointer change command and if the current value is zero, then the user equipment device interprets the decrease pointer command as a command to change the data rate pointer to a determined fast ramp pointer value or to change the value of the data rate pointer by a predetermined rapid upward ramp number of steps.
11. 11. The method according to claim 8characterized by if the current value is less than the threshold value then the node issues a sequence of bits of a predetermined length as the change command of the pointer and the user equipment device interprets the bit sequence as conveying a value to which to change the data speed pointer or that carries a number of steps to which to change the data rate pointer.
12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the first bit of the bit sequence is a pointer increment command and upon receiving the first bit of the sequence, the user equipment device immediately increases the speed pointer of data by a stage and upon receiving the other bits of the sequence, the user equipment device changes the data rate pointer according to the predetermined rules that govern the reception of the bit sequence as the pointer change command .
13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that if a first bit in a bit sequence of the pointer change command is not a pointer increment command, the user equipment device interprets the first bit and bits subsequent as individual pointer change commands.
14. 14. A computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storage structure that implements program codes. of computer thereto for execution by a computer-processor in a node of a wireless communication system, the computer program code comprises instructions for a method to be performed by the node, characterized in that it includes: issuing to a device user 'equipment a pointer change command to change a pointer indicating a maximum allowed data rate, in response to a request for change by the user equipment device, the node issues the change command based on predetermined rules , where the pre-determined rules used by the node to respond to the change request differ depending on the current value of the data rate pointer.
15. 15. A computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage structure which implements computer program codes thereon for execution by a computer processor in a user equipment device, adapted for communication via a wireless communication system, the computer program code comprises instructions for a method to be performed by the user equipment device, characterized in that it includes: setting a data rate pointer according to a pointer change command for change a pointer that indicates a maximum allowed data rate, the adjustment is made based on predetermined rules to interpret the change command; wherein the change command is received from a node in response to a change request provided to the node by the user equipment device and the predetermined rules used by the node to respond to the change request differ depending on the current value of the pointer of data speed.
16. 16. An apparatus for use by a user equipment device configured for wireless communication with a node of a wireless communication system, the apparatus for use in adjusting the value of a data rate pointer maintained in the user equipment device , the data rate pointer indicates a maximum allowed data rate available to the user equipment for uplink data transmission to the node, the apparatus is characterized in that it comprises: means by which the user equipment device receives from the node a command to change the pointer and means by means of which the user equipment device adjusts the data rate pointer according to the change command, when interpreting the change command based on predetermined rules that differ depending on the current value of the data rate pointer.
17. 17. An apparatus for use by a node of a wireless communication system configured for wireless communication with a user equipment device, the apparatus for use in adjusting the value of a data rate pointer maintained in the user equipment device , the data rate pointer indicates a maximum allowed data rate available to the user equipment, for uplink transmission of data to the node, the apparatus is characterized by comprises: means by which the node issues to the device equipment of user a pointer change command to change the value of the data rate pointer in response to a change request from the user equipment device, the change command is based on predetermined rules that differ depending on the current value of the speed pointer of data and means by which the node tracks the value of the dat speed pointer os.
18. 18. A system that includes components hosted by a node of a wireless communication system and also components hosted by a user equipment device configured for wireless communication with the node, -system for use in instructing the user equipment device to adjust the value of a data rate pointer, maintained in the user equipment device, the data rate pointer indicates a maximum data rate allowed "available for the user equipment for uplink data transmission to the node, the system is characterized in that it comprises: ~~ - means by which the node issues the user equipment device a pointer change command in response to a change request ~ by the user equipment device, the node issues the change command based on predetermined rules to respond to the request for change and means by which the user equipment device adjusts the data rate pointer according to the change command and based on predetermined rules to interpret the change command, where the default rules used by the node to respond The change request to the change request is different from the current value of the data rate pointer.
19. 19. The system in accordance with the claim 18, characterized in that it further comprises a controller element of a central network of the wireless communication system and further wherein the controller element is configured to communicate to the node and the user equipment device via the node, sufficient information to specify parameters of the predetermined rules.
20. 20. The system in accordance with the claim 19, characterized in that the parameters include the threshold or the information that characterizes a threshold.
21. 21. The system in accordance with the claim 20, characterized in that the information characterizing a threshold is one or more data rates allowed.
22. 22. The system according to claim 20, characterized in that the parameters include the predetermined fast ramp pointer value.
23. 23. The system according to claim 20, characterized in that the parameters include the predetermined rapid ascending number of stages.
24. 24. An apparatus for use by a user equipment device configured for wireless communication with a wireless communication node, the apparatus for use in adjusting the value of a data rate pointer maintained in the user equipment device, the data rate pointer indicates a maximum allowed data rate available to the user equipment for uplink data transmission to the node, the apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a computer processor configured to: receive from the node "a command of change pointer and adjust the data rate pointer according to the change command when interpreting the change command based on predetermined rules that differ depending on the current value of the data rate pointer.
25. 25. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 24, characterized in that, according to the predetermined rules, the processor is configured to interpret the change command differently for different values of the current value of the data rate pointer.
26. 26. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 24, characterized in that the predetermined rules differ from the current value of the data rate pointer as compared to a threshold value for the data rate pointer.
27. 27. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 26, characterized in that in addition if the current value is less than the threshold value, the change command according to the predetermined rules signals a new value for the data rate pointer or indicates a number of increments to which to increase the pointer of data speed.
28. 28. The apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that the change command is an increment pointer command and the processor is configured in such a way that if the current value is less than the threshold value, then the processor interprets the increment pointer command as a command to change the data rate pointer to a predetermined fast upward ramp pointer value or to change the data rate pointer by a predetermined fast upward ramp number of stages.
29. The apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that the change command is a decrease pointer command and the processor is configured in such a way that if the current value is zero, then the processor interprets the decrease pointer command as a command to change the data rate pointer to a predetermined fast upward ramp pointer value or to change the data rate pointer to a predetermined fast upward ramp number of steps.
30. 30. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 26, characterized in that if the current value is less than the threshold value, then the pointer change command is a sequence of bits of a predetermined length and the processor is configured to interpret the sequence of bits as conveying a value to which change the data rate pointer or transport a number of stages through which to change the data rate pointer.
31. 31. The apparatus according to claim 30, characterized in that the first bit of the bit sequence is a pointer increment command and the processor is configured in such a way that upon receipt of the first bit of the sequence, the device device The user's device immediately increments the data rate pointer by one stage and upon receiving the other bits of the sequence, the user equipment device changes the data rate pointer according to the predetermined rules that govern the reception of the sequence of data. bits like the change command of the pointer.
32. 32. The apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the processor is configured in such a way that if a first bit in a bit sequence of the pointer change command is not an increment command of the pointer, the processor interprets the first bit and subsequent bits as individual pointer change commands.
33. 33. An apparatus for use by a node of a wireless communication system configured for wireless communication with a user equipment device, the apparatus for use in adjusting the value of a data rate pointer maintained in the user equipment device , the data rate pointer indicates a maximum allowed data rate available to the user equipment for uplink transmission of data to the node, the apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a computer processor configured to: ship to the device. user equipment a pointer change command to change the value of the data rate pointer in response to a change request from the user equipment device, the change command is based on predetermined rules which_ differ depending on the current value of the pointer of data speed and tracking the value of the data rate pointer.
34. 34. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 33, characterized in that the processor is configured to issue the pointer change command to be signaled using a shared downlink channel together with an indicator to identify the user equipment device.
35. 35. The apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that the processor is configured to issue the pointer change command to be signaled using a dedicated physical downlink data channel.
36. 36. The apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that the processor is configured to issue the pointer change command to be signaled using a dedicated downlink data channel or a dedicated downlink signaling channel.
37. 37. The apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that the predetermined rules differ depending on the current value of the data rate pointer i compared to a threshold value for the data rate pointer.
38. 38. The apparatus according to claim 37, characterized in that in addition, if the current value is less than the threshold value, the change command is predetermined to signal a new value for the data rate pointer or signals a number of increments through which to increase the data rate pointer.
39. 39. The apparatus according to claim 37, characterized in that if the current value is less than the threshold value, then the processor is configured to issue a bit sequence of a predetermined length as the pointer change command according to a predetermined rule, by which the device. User equipment will interpret the sequence of bits as conveying a value at which to change the data rate pointer or transporting a number of steps to change the data rate pointer.
40. 40. The conformity apparatus, with claim 39, characterized in that the first bit of the bit sequence is a change command, pointer and according to the predetermined rules it signals to the user equipment that, upon receiving the first bit of the sequence, the user equipment device will increment the data rate pointer by one stage and upon receiving the other bits of the sequence, the user equipment device will change the speed pointer, of data according to the default rules that govern the -receiving the bit sequence as the pointer change command.
41. 41. The apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that if a first bit in a sequence of pointer change command bits is not a pointer increment command, the first bit and the subsequent bits are to be interpreted by the user equipment device as individual pointer changes commands.