Retransmission Process Control Method

Abstract

This invention relates to signalling of control information related to retransmissions in a wireless communication network. According to one aspect of the invention, a method for controlling transmission over a wireless communication link is provided. The method comprises the step of indicating on a transmission resource control channel whether a HARQ retransmission process in a mobile station should be activated or deactivated.

1 . A method for controlling transmission over a wireless communication link, wherein the method comprises the step of indicating on a transmission resource control channel whether a retransmission process should be activated or deactivated. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmission resource control channel is an enhanced absolute grant channel (E-AGCH channel). 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a bit transmitted on a transmission resource control channel indicates that a corresponding retransmission process should be activated if the retransmission process is not active, and deactivated if the retransmission process is active. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a bit transmitted on a transmission resource control channel indicates whether a predefined group of other bits on the transmission resource control channel indicate a transmission resource grant or whether the predefined group of other bits on the transmission resource control channel carry retransmission process activation commands. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a group of bits transmitted on the transmission resource control channel indicates that a retransmission process should change states. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a group of bits transmitted on the transmission resource control channel indicates a retransmission process state or state change for a specific retransmission process and a retransmission process state, or state change for other retransmission processes. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of indicating is performed by a wireless network node. 
   
   
       8 . A mobile station for a wireless communication network, comprising:
 a receiver for receiving a transmission resource control channel,   means for receiving retransmission process control information from the transmission resource control channel, and   a controller for activating and deactivating retransmission processes as a response to retransmission process control information received by the means for receiving control information.   
   
   
       9 . A mobile station according to  claim 8 , wherein the transmission resource control channel is an enhanced absolute grant channel (E-AGCH channel). 
   
   
       10 . A network node for a wireless communication network, comprising:
 a transmitter for transmitting a transmission resource control channel to mobile stations, and   means for embedding retransmission process control information in data frames transmitted on the transmission resource control channel.   
   
   
       11 . A network node according to  claim 10 , wherein the transmission resource control channel is enhanced absolute grant channel (E-AGCH channel). 
   
   
       12 . A network node according to  claim 10 , wherein the network node is a Node B network node. 
   
   
       13 . A network node according to  claim 10 , wherein the network node is a base station. 
   
   
       14 . A mobile station for a wireless communication network, comprising:
 a receiver for receiving a transmission resource control channel,   a retransmission process control information receiver for receiving retransmission process control information from the transmission resource control channel, and   a controller for activating and deactivating retransmission processes as a response to retransmission process control information received by the means for receiving control information.   
   
   
       15 . A mobile station according to  claim 14 , wherein the transmission resource control channel is an enhanced absolute grant channel (E-AGCH channel). 
   
   
       16 . A network node for a wireless communication network, comprising:
 a transmitter for transmitting a transmission resource control channel to mobile stations, and   a processor for embedding retransmission process control information in data frames transmitted on the transmission resource control channel.   
   
   
       17 . A network node according to  claim 16 , wherein the transmission resource control channel is an enhanced absolute grant channel (E-AGCH channel). 
   
   
       18 . A network node according to  claim 16 , wherein the network node is a Node B network node. 
   
   
       19 . A network node according to  claim 16 , wherein the network node is a base station.