Variable length radio link ID for resource allocation in mobile communication systems

1. A method, comprising:

assigning a radio link identifier responsive to a user equipment entering an active mode;

assigning a short radio link identifier to said user equipment, wherein said short radio link identifier comprises a smaller number of digital bits than said radio link identifier;

allocating resources related to said user equipment using said short radio link identifier for a first portion of subframes during said active mode; and

allocating resources related to said user equipment using said radio link identifier for a second portion of subframes during said active mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said assigning said short radio link identifier is performed using at least one of a network element providing said short radio link identifier to said user equipment, said user equipment, and a predetermined algorithm.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining if said user equipment transmits and receives transport blocks with a regularity corresponding to a predetermined criterion, wherein said assigning said short radio link identifier is performed only if said predetermined criterion is met.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said determining is performed by a network element or by said user equipment.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

assigning, if a predetermined criterion is met, a pattern of subframes during which said short radio link identifier is valid for said user equipment.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said first portion of subframes comprises said pattern of subframes during which said short radio link identifier is valid and said second portion of subframes comprises subframes not included in said pattern of subframes.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said assigning said pattern of subframes is performed using at least one of a network element providing said short radio link identifier to said user equipment, said user equipment, and a predetermined algorithm.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said allocated resources related to said user equipment are in an uplink, in a downlink or in combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said network element is a Node B or a radio network controller and said network element and said user equipment are configured for wireless communications.

10. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instruction stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

assigning a radio link identifier responsive to a user equipment entering an active mode;

assigning a short radio link identifier to said user equipment, wherein said short radio link identifier comprises a smaller number of digital bits than said radio link identifier;

allocating resources related to said user equipment using said short radio link identifier for a first portion of subframes during said active mode; and

allocating resources related to said user equipment using said radio link identifier for a second portion of subframes during said active mode.

11. A user equipment, comprising:

an allocation obtaining block configured to:

determine allocated resources related to said user equipment in an active mode using a short radio link identifier assigned to the user equipment during said active mode for a first portion of subframes; and

determine allocated resources related to said user equipment in said active mode using a radio link identifier assigned to said user equipment during said active mode for a second portion of frames,

wherein said short radio link identifier comprises a smaller number of digital bits than said radio link identifier.

12. The user equipment of claim 11 , wherein said allocation obtaining block is further configured to assign said short radio link identifier.

13. The user equipment of claim 11 , wherein said short radio link identifier is assigned using at least one of said allocation obtaining block, a network element, and a predetermined algorithm.

14. The user equipment of claim 11 , further comprising:

a receiving/transmitting/processing module configured to provide an uplink signal responsive to a downlink signal; and

an uplink/downlink activity block configured to determine, responsive to said uplink and downlink signals, if said user equipment transmits and receives transport blocks with a regularity corresponding to a predetermined criterion,

wherein said short radio link identifier is assigned to said user equipment if it is determined that said user equipment transmits and receives transport blocks with the regularity corresponding to said predetermined criterion.

15. The user equipment of claim 11 , further comprising:

an uplink scheduling and signal generating module configured to schedule and provide an uplink signal to a network element using said allocated resources.

16. The user equipment of claim 11 , wherein said user equipment is assigned a pattern of subframes wherein said short radio link identifier may be used and wherein said first portion of subframes comprises said pattern of subframes during which said short radio link identifier is valid and said second portion of subframes comprises subframes not included in said pattern of subframes.

17. The user equipment of claim 16 , wherein said allocation obtaining block is further configured to assign said short radio link identifier.

18. The user equipment of claim 16 , wherein said short radio link identifier is assigned using at least one of said allocation obtaining block, a network element, and a predetermined algorithm.

19. The user equipment of claim 11 , wherein said allocated resources related to said user equipment are in an uplink, in a downlink or in combination thereof.

20. The user equipment of claim 11 , wherein an integrated circuit comprises all or selected blocks or modules of said user equipment.

21. A system, comprising:

a network element configured to provide a downlink signal; and

a user equipment assigned a radio link identifier and a short radio link identifier for use in an active mode, wherein said user equipment, responsive to said downlink signal, is configured to allocate resources related to said user equipment when in said active mode using said short radio link identifier for a first portion of subframes and using said radio link identifier for a second portion of subframes, wherein

said short radio link identifier comprises a smaller number of digital bits than said radio link identifier.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein said short radio link identifier is assigned using at least one of said network element, said user equipment, and a predetermined algorithm.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein said short radio link identifier is assigned if it is determined by said user equipment or by said network element that said user equipment transmits and receives transport blocks with a regularity corresponding to a predetermined criterion.

24. The system of claim 21 , wherein said user equipment is assigned a pattern of subframes wherein said short radio link identifier may be used and wherein said first portion of subframes comprises said pattern of subframes during which said short radio link identifier is valid.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein said second portion of subframes comprises subframes not included in said pattern of subframes.

26. The system of claim 21 , wherein said network element is a Node B or a radio network controller and said network element and said user equipment are configured for wireless communications.

27. A network element, comprising:

a radio link identifier assigning block, configured to assign a radio link identifier and a short radio link identifier to a user equipment in an active state,

wherein said short radio link identifier comprises a smaller number of digital bits than said radio link identifier, and

wherein said user equipment is configured to allocate resources related to said user equipment using said short radio link identifier for a first portion of subframes and using said radio link identifier for a second portion of subframes.

28. The network element of claim 27 , wherein said radio link identifier assigning block is further configured to assign a pattern of subframes during which said short radio link identifier may be used to said user equipment if it is determined that said user equipment transmits and receives transport blocks with a regularity corresponding to a predetermined criterion.

29. The network element of claim 28 , further comprising:

an uplink/downlink activity block, configured to determine whether said user equipment transmits and receives transport blocks with said regularity corresponding to said predetermined criterion.

30. The network element of claim 28 , wherein said short radio link identifier is assigned by the network element and provided to said user equipment.

31. A user equipment, comprising:

allocating means for:

determining allocated resources related to said user equipment in an active mode using a short radio link identifier assigned to the user equipment during said active mode for a first portion of subframes; and

determining allocated resources related to said user equipment in said active mode using a radio link identifier assigned to said user equipment during said active mode for a second portion of frames,

wherein said short radio link identifier comprises a smaller number of digital bits than said radio link identifier.

32. The user equipment of claim 31 , wherein said allocating means is further configured to additionally assign said short radio link identifier.

33. The user equipment of claim 31 , further comprising:

means for providing an uplink signal responsive to a downlink signal; and

activity means, responsive to said uplink and downlink signals, for determining if said user equipment transmits and receives transport blocks with a regularity corresponding to a predetermined criterion,

wherein said short radio link identifier is assigned to said user equipment if it is determined that said user equipment transmits and receives transport blocks with the regularity corresponding to said predetermined criterion.

34. A network element, comprising:

assigning means for assigning a radio link identifier and a short radio link identifier to a user equipment responsive to said user equipment entering an active state,

wherein said short radio link identifier comprises a smaller number of digital bits than said radio link identifier, and

wherein said user equipment allocates resources related to said user equipment during said active state using said short radio link identifier for a first portion of subframes and using said radio link identifier for a second portion of subframes.

35. A method, comprising:

assigning a radio link identifier to a user equipment for use in an active mode;

assigning a short radio link identifier to said user equipment, wherein said short radio link identifier comprises a smaller number of digital bits than said radio link identifier;

allocating resources related to said user equipment using said short radio link identifier during said active mode; and

assigning, if a predetermined criterion is met, a pattern of subframes during which said short radio link identifier is valid for said user equipment,

wherein said allocating resources related to said user equipment is performed using said short radio link identifier in said pattern of subframes during which said short radio link identifier is valid and using said radio link identifier for subframes not included in said pattern of subframes.