Method and Apparatus to Determine a Pseudo-Grant Size for Data to be Transmitted
A control circuit determines a pseudo-grant size for data to be transmitted via an unlicensed wireless spectrum. This pseudo-grant size indicates to a protocol layer above a medium access control protocol layer an amount of data that can be transmitted in a transmission instance over the unlicensed wireless spectrum. By one approach the control circuit can then transmit an amount of data of that pseudo-grant size in the transmission instance over the unlicensed wireless spectrum. By one approach the pseudo-grant size comprises a static value. By another approach the pseudo-grant size comprises a dynamically-calculated value.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a control circuit configured to:
determine a pseudo-grant size for data to be transmitted via an unlicensed wireless spectrum, wherein the pseudo-grant size indicates to a protocol layer above a medium access control protocol layer an amount of data that can be transmitted in a transmission instance over the unlicensed wireless spectrum;
transmit an amount of data of the pseudo-grant size in the transmission instance over the unlicensed wireless spectrum.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a portable wireless electronic device.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises an evolved Node B (eNB) capable of 3GPP Long Term Evolution.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the unlicensed wireless spectrum comprises an 802.11-compatible wireless resource.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pseudo-grant size comprises a static value.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the static value is 1500 bytes.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pseudo-grant size comprises a dynamically-calculated value.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control circuit is configured to calculate the pseudo grant size based on at least one of:
mean throughput available over the unlicensed wireless spectrum;
a measure of loading of the unlicensed wireless spectrum;
Contention Window/Backoff-Window sizes on the unlicensed wireless spectrum side;
current MCS operational over the unlicensed wireless spectrum;
mean medium access control (MAC) delay over the unlicensed wireless spectrum.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmission instance is 1 ms long.
10 . A method comprising:
by a control circuit:
determining a pseudo-grant size for data to be transmitted via an unlicensed wireless spectrum, wherein the pseudo-grant size indicates to a protocol layer above a medium access control protocol layer an amount of data that can be transmitted in a transmission instance over the unlicensed wireless spectrum;
transmitting an amount of data of the pseudo-grant size in the transmission instance over the unlicensed wireless spectrum.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the control circuit comprises a portable wireless electronic device.
12 . The method of claim 10 wherein the unlicensed wireless spectrum comprises an 802.11-compatible wireless resource.
13 . The method of claim 10 wherein the pseudo-grant size comprises a static value.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the static value is 1500 bytes.
15 . The method of claim 10 wherein determining a pseudo-grant size comprises, at least in part, dynamically-calculating a value for the pseudo-grant size.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein dynamically-calculating a value for the pseudo-grant size comprises, at least in part, calculating the dynamically-calculated value as a function of at least one of:
mean throughput available over the unlicensed wireless spectrum;
a measure of loading of the unlicensed wireless spectrum;
Contention Window/Backoff-Window sizes on the unlicensed wireless spectrum side;
current MCS operational over the unlicensed wireless spectrum;
mean medium access control (MAC) delay over the unlicensed wireless spectrum.
17 . The method of claim 10 wherein the transmission instance is 1 ms long.