Processing-time dependent control of data block transmission
A node ( 100; 300 ) of a mobile network is responsible for scheduling transmissions of data blocks between the mobile network and a terminal device ( 200, 200 ′). The node ( 100; 300 ) may for example be a base station ( 100 ) or a control node ( 300 ) of the mobile network. The node ( 100; 300 ) determines a processing time required by the terminal device ( 200; 200 ′) for processing signals for transmission of one of the data blocks. The processing time is determined from a plurality of supported processing times. On the basis of the determined processing time, the node ( 100; 300 ) schedules the transmission of the data block. The terminal device ( 200, 200 ′) may provide control data for determining the processing time to the node ( 100; 300 ).
1. A method of controlling transmission of data blocks between a mobile network and at least one terminal device, the method comprising:
a scheduling node of the mobile network determining, from a plurality of supported processing times, a processing time required by the terminal device for at least one of:
decoding signals for transmission from a transmitting node of a first one of the data blocks from the mobile network to the terminal device;
encoding signals for transmission from a transmitting node of a first one of the data blocks from the terminal device to the mobile network;
the scheduling node scheduling the transmission from the transmitting node of a second one of the data blocks based on the determined processing time, wherein the second of the data blocks is scheduled to be transmitted from the transmitting node after the first one of the data blocks is transmitted from the transmitting node.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the scheduling node receiving control data;
the scheduling node determining the processing time based on the received control data.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the scheduling node receives the control data from the terminal device.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the scheduling node receives the control data from a further node of the mobile network.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scheduling node determines the processing time based on data indicating a device category of the terminal device.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the scheduling node receiving data related to the terminal device from a database;
the scheduling node determining the processing time based on the data received from the database.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the scheduling node determining the processing time by evaluating a response of the terminal device to a received data block.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the scheduling node providing control data indicating the determined processing time to the terminal device.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scheduling node controls a time interval between sending the signals for transmission of two consecutive data blocks to be larger than the determined processing time, wherein the first one and the second one are the two consecutive data blocks.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scheduling node determines the processing time based on a size of one or more of the data blocks.
11. A method of controlling transmission of data blocks between a mobile network and a terminal device, the method comprising:
the terminal device determining, from a plurality of supported processing times, a processing time required by the terminal device for at least one of:
decoding signals for transmission of a first one of the data blocks from the mobile network to the terminal device;
encoding signals for transmission of the first one of the data blocks from the terminal device to the mobile network;
the terminal device controlling the transmission of a second one of the data blocks based on the determined processing time, wherein the second one of the data blocks is controlled to be transmitted after the first one of the data blocks is transmitted.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
the terminal device receiving control data from the mobile network;
the terminal device determining the processing time based on the received control data.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the terminal device determines the processing time by evaluating processing of the signals for transmission of one or more of the data blocks.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the terminal device sending control data indicating the determined processing time to the mobile network.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
the terminal device receiving, on a control channel, scheduling information for transmission of one of the data blocks;
during a time interval corresponding to the processing time and starting after receiving the scheduling information, the terminal device stopping monitoring of the control channel.
16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
the terminal device receiving signals for transmission of the first one of the data blocks;
during a time interval corresponding to the processing time and starting after receiving the signals for transmission of the first one of the data blocks, the terminal device receiving signals for transmission of the second one of the data blocks;
before attempting to decode the signals for transmission of the second one of the data blocks, the terminal device sending, with respect to the signals for transmission of the second one of the data blocks, a negative acknowledgement message of a retransmission protocol.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
the terminal device receiving signals for retransmission of the second one of the data blocks;
the terminal device selecting between decoding the signals for transmission of the second one of the data blocks and decoding the signals for retransmission of the second one of the data blocks.
18. A scheduling node for controlling transmission of data blocks between a mobile network and at least one terminal device, the node comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the scheduling node is configured to:
determine, from a plurality of supported processing times, a processing time required by the terminal device for at least one of:
decoding signals for transmission from a transmitting node of a first one of the data blocks from the mobile network to the terminal device;
encoding signals for transmission from a transmitting node of a first one of the data blocks from the terminal device to the mobile network;
schedule transmission from the transmitting node of a second one of the data blocks based on the determined processing time, wherein the second of the data blocks is scheduled to be transmitted from the transmitting node after the first one of the data blocks is transmitted from the transmitting node.
19. A terminal device for use in a mobile network, the terminal device comprising:
a radio interface for transmission of data blocks with respect to the mobile network;
a processing circuit configured to:
determine, from a plurality of supported processing times, a processing time required by the terminal device for at least one of:
decoding signals for transmission of a first one of the data blocks from the mobile network to the terminal device;
encoding signals for transmission of the first one of the data blocks from the terminal device to the mobile network;
control transmission of a second one of the data blocks based on the determined processing time, wherein the second one of the data blocks is controlled to be transmitted after the first one of the data blocks is transmitted.
20. A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for controlling transmission of data blocks between a mobile network and at least one terminal device, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on a processing circuit of a scheduling node of the mobile network, causes the scheduling node to:
determine, from a plurality of supported processing times, a processing time required by the terminal device for at least one of:
decoding signals for transmission from a transmitting node of a first one of the data blocks from the mobile network to the terminal device;
encoding signals for transmission from a transmitting node of a first one of the data blocks from the terminal device to the mobile network;
schedule the transmission from the transmitting node of a second one of the data blocks based on the determined processing time, wherein the second of the data blocks is scheduled to be transmitted from the transmitting node after the first one of the data blocks is transmitted from the transmitting node.
21. A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for controlling transmission of data blocks between a mobile network and at least one terminal device, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on a processing circuit of a terminal device, causes the terminal device to:
determine, from a plurality of supported processing times, a processing time required by the terminal device for at least one of:
decoding signals for transmission of a first one of the data blocks from the mobile network to the terminal device;
encoding signals for transmission of the first one of the data blocks from the terminal device to the mobile network;
control the transmission of a second one of the data blocks based on the determined processing time, wherein the second one of the data blocks is controlled to be transmitted after the first one of the data blocks is transmitted.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting node is the scheduling node.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein scheduling transmission of the second one of the data blocks comprises determining particular time resources and/or frequency resources for transmission of the second one of the data blocks.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein scheduling transmission of the second one of the data blocks comprises determining the time resources and/or frequency resources on which transmission of the second one of the data blocks is to occur.
25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises storing the time of transmission of the first one of the data blocks, and scheduling the transmission of the second one of the data blocks as an offset from the time of the transmission of the first one, wherein said scheduling comprises determining the offset based on the determined processing time.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing time is a time required by the terminal device to send an acknowledgement (ACK) or negative acknowledgement (NACK) for the first one of the data blocks, since a time that the terminal device receives the first one of the data blocks.