Method and apparatus for selectively enabling reception of downlink signaling channels
In a wireless communication system including a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and at least one Node-B, a method and apparatus is used to selectively enable reception of at least one downlink (DL) enhanced uplink (EU) signaling channel established between the WTRU and the Node-B(s). During the operation of an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH), the WTRU monitors at least one DL EU signaling channel established between the WTRU and the Node-B(s) only when it is necessary, based on the WTRU's knowledge of at least one established standard procedure. The WTRU coordinates and consolidates DL signaling channel reception requirements of a plurality of channel allocation and/or data transmission procedures carried out by the WTRU in accordance with the established standard procedure. The WTRU determines whether to enable reception of at least one specific DL signaling channel based on the consolidated DL signaling channel reception requirements.
1. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:
a processor configured to selectively enable and disable reception of downlink signaling and configured to autonomously monitor a buffer of the WTRU for data to transmit including times that reception of the downlink signaling is disabled;
the processor further configured to determine to transmit a channel allocation request based on the monitored buffer;
a transmitter configured to autonomously transmit the channel allocation request in response to the determination to transmit the channel allocation request;
the processor further configured, when reception of the downlink signaling is disabled and in response to the transmission of the channel allocation request, to enable reception of the downlink signaling to allow the WTRU to receive an uplink channel allocation;
the transmitter further configured, in response to receiving an uplink channel allocation, to transmit uplink data on an uplink channel; and
the processor further configured, when reception of the downlink signaling is disabled and in response to the transmitted uplink data, to enable reception of the downlink signaling to receive hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback.
2. The WTRU of claim 1 , wherein the downlink signaling is received over at least one downlink channel.
3. The WTRU of claim 1 , wherein the channel allocation request is transmitted without user data.
4. The WTRU of claim 1 , wherein the uplink data is transmitted using synchronous HARQ.
5. The WTRU of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to establish the downlink signaling with a Node-B, and disable reception of the downlink signaling from at least a time of establishing the downlink signaling with a Node-B until at least a time the channel allocation request is transmitted by the WTRU.
6. The WTRU of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to autonomously monitor the buffer from the time of establishing the downlink signaling with a Node-B until at least the time the channel allocation request is transmitted by the WTRU.
7. The WTRU of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to track a time when the expected channel allocation information is expected to be received on the downlink signaling based on information indicated by the processor of when the transmitter transmitted the channel allocation request; and
the processor is further configured to enable reception of the downlink signaling during the time when the expected channel allocation information is expected to be received on the downlink signaling.
8. The WTRU of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to track a time when the HARQ feedback is expected to be received in response to the uplink data transmitted by the transmitter based on information indicated by the processor of when the transmitter transmitted the uplink data; and
the processor is further configured to enable reception of the downlink signaling during the time when the HARQ feedback is expected to be received.
9. A method used by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:
selectively enabling or disabling, by the WTRU, reception of downlink signaling;
autonomously monitoring, by the WTRU, a buffer of the WTRU for data to transmit including times that reception of the downlink signaling is disabled;
determining, by the WTRU, to transmit a channel allocation request based on the monitored buffer;
autonomously transmitting, by the WTRU, a channel allocation request in response to the determination to transmit the channel allocation request;
when reception of the downlink signaling is disabled and in response to the transmission of the channel allocation request, enabling, by the WTRU, reception of the downlink signaling to allow the WTRU to receive an uplink channel allocation;
in response to receiving an uplink channel allocation, transmitting, by the WTRU, uplink data on an uplink channel; and
when reception of the downlink signaling is disabled and in response to the transmitted uplink data, enabling, by the WTRU, reception of the downlink signaling to receive hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the downlink signaling is received over at least one downlink channel.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the channel allocation request is transmitted without user data.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the uplink data is transmitted, by the WTRU, using synchronous HARQ.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
establishing the downlink signaling with a Node-B, and
disabling reception of the downlink signaling from at least a time of establishing the downlink signaling with a Node-B until at least a time the channel allocation request is transmitted by the WTRU.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
autonomously monitoring the buffer from the time of establishing the downlink signaling with a Node-B until at least the time the channel allocation request is transmitted by the WTRU.
15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
tracking a time when the expected channel allocation information is expected to be received on the downlink signaling based on information indicated by the WTRU of when the channel allocation request is transmitted; and
enabling reception of the downlink signaling during the time when the expected channel allocation information is expected to be received on the downlink signaling.
16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
tracking a time when the HARQ feedback is expected to be received in response to the uplink data transmitted by the WTRU based on information indicated by the WTRU of when the uplink data is transmitted; and
enabling reception of the downlink signaling during the time when the HARQ feedback is expected to be received.
17. A wireless communication device comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit information to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) indicating first time periods that the WTRU is to enable reception;
the transmitter further configured to transmit channel allocation information to the WTRU in the first time periods;
a receiver configured to receive channel allocation requests from the WTRU;
the transmitter further configured, in response to the received channel allocation requests, to transmit uplink channel allocations to the WTRU in second time periods, wherein the second time periods include time periods other than the first time periods; and
the receiver further configured to receive uplink data on an uplink channel from the WTRU and to transmit hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback to the WTRU in third time periods, wherein the third time periods include time periods other than the first time periods.
18. The wireless communication device of claim 17 , wherein the channel allocation information and HARQ feedback are transmitted in downlink signaling channels.
19. The wireless communication device of claim 17 , wherein the channel allocation requests are received without user data.
20. The wireless communication device of claim 17 , wherein the uplink data is received using synchronous HARQ.
21. The wireless communication device of claim 17 , wherein the wireless communication device is a base station, a Node B or an access point (AP).