Method for transmitting fast scheduling request messages in scheduled packet data systems

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of allocating resources in a packet data system to a User Equipment (UE) with an active data session, such as a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call, using dedicated resources to transmit scheduling requests, thereby reducing latency which may occur as a result of collisions associated with transmitting scheduling requests over a random access channel. The method comprises the step of transmitting over dedicated resources a scheduling request, and receiving a scheduling grant in response thereto. The scheduling request indicates that a transmitter in a data session has a data packet to transmit. The scheduling grant indicates resources allocated for transmitting the data packet.

1 . A method of allocating resources in a packet data system comprising the steps of:
 transmitting, at a transmitter in a data session, a scheduling request over dedicated resources, wherein the scheduling request is a resource request indicating the transmitter has a data packet to transmit; and   receiving a scheduling grant in response to the scheduling request, wherein the scheduling grant indicates resources allocated to the transmitter for transmitting the data packet.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of:
 prior to the step of transmitting the scheduling request, receiving another scheduling grant indicating allocation of the dedicated resources.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of:
 prior to the step of transmitting the scheduling request, transmitting another scheduling request over allocated shared resources requesting resources for transmitting at least call setup information.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein other information is combined with the scheduling request prior to being transmitted over the dedicated resources. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dedicated resources are allocated from a set of reserved resources for use as dedicated resources for transmitting the scheduling requests. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the scheduling request is a flag indicating that the transmitter has a data packet to transmit. 
   
   
       7 . A method of allocating resources in a packet data system comprising the steps of:
 transmitting over dedicated resources a first scheduling request for transmitting a data packet if the data packet is time sensitive;   transmitting over shared resources a second scheduling request for transmitting the data packet if the data packet is not time sensitive; and   receiving a scheduling grant in response to the first or second scheduling request, wherein the scheduling grant indicates resources allocated to the transmitter for transmitting the data packet.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  comprising the additional step of:
 prior to the step of transmitting the first scheduling request, receiving another scheduling grant indicating allocation of the dedicated resources.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the shared resources is a random access channel. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second scheduling requests are not the same. 
   
   
       11 . A method of allocating resources in a packet data system comprising the steps of:
 receiving a scheduling request over dedicated resources from a transmitter in a data session, wherein the scheduling request is a resource request indicating the transmitter has a data packet to transmit; and   transmitting a scheduling grant indicating resources allocated to the transmitter for transmitting the data packet.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  comprising the additional step of:
 prior to the step of receiving the scheduling request, transmitting another scheduling grant indicating allocation of the dedicated resources.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the dedicated resources are allocated from a set of reserved resources for use as dedicated resources for transmitting scheduling requests. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein other information is combined with the scheduling request prior to being transmitted over the dedicated resources. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  comprising the additional step of:
 prior to the step of receiving the scheduling request, receiving another scheduling request over allocated shared resources requesting resources for transmitting at least call setup information.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the scheduling request is a flag indicating that the transmitter has a data packet to transmit. 
   
   
       17 . A method of allocating resources in a packet data system comprising the steps of:
 receiving over dedicated resources a first scheduling request for transmitting a data packet if the data packet is time sensitive;   receiving over shared resources a second scheduling request if the data packet is not time sensitive; and   transmitting a scheduling grant in response to the first or second scheduling request, wherein the scheduling grant indicates resources allocated to the transmitter for transmitting the data packet.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  comprising the additional step of:
 prior to the step of receiving the first scheduling request, transmitting another scheduling grant indicating allocation of the dedicated resources.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the shared resources is a random access channel. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second scheduling requests are not the same.