Dynamic Buffer Status Report Selection For Carrier Aggregation
In one exemplary aspect of this invention a method includes buffering data in a user equipment and, in response to an amount of buffered data exceeding a threshold value, triggering the generation of a buffer status report and the sending of the buffer status report to a network access node, where the threshold value is a function of the capacity of a currently allocated uplink data transmission resource and some certain amount of time. In another exemplary embodiment the triggering of the generation of the buffer status report and the sending of the buffer status report to a network access node occurs when an amount of buffered data in a buffer of a particular logical channel group exceeds a maximum value associated with one of a plurality of buffer status report tables that is currently in use.
1 - 48 . (canceled)
49 . A method, comprising:
buffering data in a user equipment; and
storing in the user equipment a plurality of buffer status report tables, where each of the plurality of buffer status report tables has a different maximum value and granularity.
50 . The method of claim 49 , further comprising: generating a buffer status report for the buffered data in accordance with a selected one of the plurality of buffer status report tables; and sending the generated buffer status report to a network access node.
51 . The method of claim 49 , further comprising: selecting, by the user equipment, a buffer status report table from the plurality of buffer status report tables for use.
52 . The method of claim 51 , where the user equipment selects the buffer status report table that is currently in use according to an amount of buffered data by selecting the buffer status report table that has the smallest maximum value that does not exceed the amount of currently buffered data.
53 . The method of claim 51 , further comprising: identifying the selected buffer status report table to the network access node using at least one bit in a medium access control buffer status report header.
54 . The method of claim 49 , where at least one of the plurality of buffer status report tables is composed in consideration of a number of uplink component carriers in use and in consideration of uplink multiple input/multiple output operation.
55 . The method of claim 49 , where the plurality of buffer status report tables comprises a first buffer status report table configured for use with an uplink data rate in accordance with a Release 8 or Release 9 evolved universal terrestrial radio access network and a second buffer status report table composed so as to cover a use case of five uplink component carriers and uplink multiple input/multiple output operation.
56 . The method of claim 49 , performed as a result of execution of computer program instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium that comprises part of the user equipment.
57 . An apparatus, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory including computer program code, where the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform,
buffering data; and
storing a plurality of buffer status report tables, where each of the plurality of buffer status report tables has a different maximum value and granularity.
58 . The apparatus of claim 57 , the memory and computer program code being configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to further perform: generating a buffer status report for the buffered data in accordance with a selected one of the plurality of buffer status report tables; and sending the generated buffer status report to a network access node.
59 . The apparatus of claim 57 , the memory and computer program code being configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to further perform: selecting a buffer status report table from the plurality of buffer status report tables for use.
60 . The apparatus of claim 59 , where the apparatus selects the buffer status report table that is currently in use according to an amount of buffered data by selecting the buffer status report table that has the smallest maximum value that does not exceed the amount of currently buffered data.
61 . The apparatus of claim 59 , the memory and computer program code being configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to further perform: identifying the selected buffer status report table to the network access node using at least one bit in a medium access control buffer status report header.
62 . The apparatus of claim 57 , where at least one of the plurality of buffer status report tables is composed in consideration of a number of uplink component carriers in use and in consideration of uplink multiple input/multiple output operation.