Scheduling for access division multiplexing

Abstract

Scheduling map(s) are generated and updated for employment in an access division multiplexing (ADM) environment for allocating resource utilization (e.g., use of transmission time intervals) to or between differing radio access technology networks, and particularly to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network and a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network. In some example embodiments the scheduling map(s), apparatus, and methods hereof are implemented in a wireless terminal which participates in access division multiplexing between the differing radio access technologies, in other example embodiments the scheduling map (s), apparatus, and methods hereof are implemented in a network node (e.g., eNodeB) of one of the radio access technology networks, e.g., the Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus adapted for interleaved transmissions over a radio interface with both a circuit switched (CS) Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network and a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, the apparatus being configured to generate both an uplink (UL) scheduling map and a downlink (DL) scheduling map, the uplink (UL) scheduling map being configured to prescribe time intervals in which a wireless terminal can send information in LTE transmission time intervals across the radio interface, the downlink (DL) scheduling map being configured to prescribe time intervals in which the wireless terminal can receive information in LTE transmission time intervals from the radio interface. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a node of a radio access network. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises the wireless terminal which communicates over the radio interface with a node of a radio access network. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless terminal is further configured to send both the uplink (UL) scheduling map and the downlink (DL) scheduling map across the radio interface of an LTE radio access network. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communications interface configured to perform transmissions across the radio interface in accordance with the uplink (UL) scheduling map and in accordance with the downlink (DL) scheduling map; and   a scheduling map generator configured to generate an LTE transmit scheduling map and an LTE receive scheduling map.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a node of a radio access network configured to receive, across the radio interface, one or more variables or parameters from the wireless terminal, the node being further configured to use the one or more variables or parameters to generate both the uplink (UL) scheduling map and the downlink (DL) scheduling map. 
     
     
         7 . A method of generating a scheduling map for scheduling interleaved transmissions over a radio interface with both a circuit switched (CS) Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network and Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, the method comprising configuring both an uplink (UL) scheduling map and a downlink (DL) scheduling map, the uplink (UL) scheduling map being configured to prescribe time intervals in which a wireless terminal can send information in LTE transmission time intervals across the radio interface, the downlink (DL) scheduling map being configured to prescribe time intervals in which the wireless terminal can receive information in LTE transmission time intervals from the radio interface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising generating the uplink (UL) scheduling map and the downlink (DL) scheduling map at a node of a radio access network. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising generating the uplink (UL) scheduling map and the downlink (DL) scheduling map at a wireless terminal. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus adapted for interleaved transmissions over a radio interface with both a circuit switched (CS) Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network and Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, the apparatus being configured to generate a scheduling map, the scheduling map being configured to inform at least one of the circuit switched (CS) Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network and the LTE network of time intervals that can be used for data transmissions to or from a wireless terminal;
 wherein the apparatus is configured to use the scheduling map to determine a LTE transmission time interval in which to send a scheduling request on an uplink (UL) over the radio interface to the LTE network.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a communications interface configured to facilitate sending of the scheduling request to the LTE network;   a scheduling map generator configured to generate the scheduling map; and   a scheduler which operates in accordance with the scheduling map to determine the LTE transmission time interval in which to send the scheduling request over the radio interface to the LTE network.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to use the scheduling map to determine when a LTE uplink (UL) data transmission can occur depending on a timing of a grant from the LTE network. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to use the scheduling map to determine when an ACK or NACK can be received from the LTE network. 
     
     
         14 . A method of generating a scheduling map configured to inform at least one of a circuit switched (CS) Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network and a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network of time intervals that can be used for data transmissions to or from a wireless terminal, the method comprising using the scheduling map to determine a LTE transmission time interval in which to send a scheduling request on an uplink (UL) over a radio interface to the LTE network.