Network Controlled Throughput for Enhanced Uplink FACH

Abstract

Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for network control of interference associated with uplink transmissions by user equipments, UEs, operating in a random access state, e.g., the CELL_FACH state. A radio network controller, RNC, can determine, and then transmit, a limitation on uplink transmissions for such UEs, e.g., a maximum transport block size, TBS.

1 . A method comprising:
 determining, at a radio network controller, RNC at least one throughput parameter associated with transmissions by user equipment on an uplink channel; and   transmitting, from said RNC, said at least one throughput parameter toward another network node.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one throughput parameter is associated with transmissions by said user equipment when said user equipment is operating in a random access state 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one throughput parameter is a maximum transport block size, TBS, said another network node is a NodeB, said uplink channel is an enhanced dedicated channel, E-DCH and said random access state is a CELL_FACH state. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of determining further comprises:
 using at least one of: Received Scheduled EDCH Power Share, RSEPS, measurements, Received Total Wideband Power, and Reference Received Total Wideband Power to determine said at least one maximum TBS.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of determining further comprises:
 determining, as said at least one maximum TBS, only one maximum TBS value per NodeB ( 10 ) for all users operating in said CELL_FACH state.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of determining further comprises:
 determining, as said at least one maximum TBS, only one maximum TBS value per NodeB for users operating in said CELL_FACH state that are located at a cell edge.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of determining further comprises:
 determining, as said at least one maximum TBS, two maximum TBS values per NodeB including:   (a) a first maximum TBS value for users operating in said CELL_FACH state that are located at a cell edge; and   (b) a second maximum TBS value for users operating in said CELL_FACH state that are not located at said cell edge.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of transmitting further comprises:
 sending said at least one throughput parameter over at least one of an Iub interface or an Iur interface using at least one of Radio Network Subsystem Application Part, RNSAP, and Node B Application Part, NBAP, signaling.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one throughput parameter is one of: a permissible uplink bit rate, a maximum transmit block size (TBS), a scheduling grant parameter, a noise rise parameter, an E-TFC or E-TFCI selection parameter, and a parameter associated with an E-DPDCH-to-DPCCH power ratio. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving, at said NodeB, said maximum TBS; and   transmitting, by said NodeB, a scheduling grant toward at least some of said user equipment operating in said CELL_FACH state, which scheduling grant limits said user equipment to transmissions on said E-DCH having block sizes which are no greater than said maximum TBS.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving, at said NodeB, said maximum TBS; and   transmitting, by said NodeB, a scheduling grant toward at least some of said user equipment operating in said CELL_FACH state, which scheduling grant does not limit said user equipment to transmissions on said E-DCH having block sizes which are no greater than said maximum TBS.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 updating said at least one throughput parameter associated with transmissions by user equipment on said uplink channel.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one throughput parameter is associated with a group of other network nodes and said step of transmitting further comprises:
 transmitting, from said RNC, said at least one throughput parameter toward said group of other network nodes.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of transmitting further comprises:
 transmitting said at least one throughput parameter using one of a cell setup message and a cell reconfiguration message.   
     
     
         15 . A radio network controller, RNC, comprising:
 a processor for controlling one or more network nodes, said processor being adapted to determine at least one throughput parameter associated with transmissions by user equipment on an uplink channel and said processor being further adapted to transmit said at least one throughput parameter toward said one or more network nodes.   
     
     
         16 . The RNC of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one throughput parameter is associated with transmissions by said user equipment when said user equipment is operating in a random access state. 
     
     
         17 . The RNC of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one throughput parameter is a maximum transport block size, TBS, said one or more network nodes are NodeBs, said uplink channel is an enhanced dedicated channel, E-DCH, and said random access state is a CELL_FACH state. 
     
     
         18 . The RNC of  claim 17 , wherein said processor is further adapted to use at least one of: Received Scheduled EDCH Power Share, RSEPS, measurements, Received Total Wideband Power, and Reference Received Total Wideband Power to determine said at least one maximum TBS. 
     
     
         19 . The RNC of  claim 17 , wherein said processor is further adapted to determine, as said at least one maximum TBS, only one maximum TBS value per NodeB for all users operating in said CELL_FACH state. 
     
     
         20 . The RNC of  claim 17 , wherein said processor is further adapted to determine, as said at least one maximum TBS, only one maximum TBS value per NodeB for users operating in said CELL_FACH state that are located at a cell edge.