Method for implicit conveying of uplink feedback information

Abstract

Method and apparatus for conveying feedback reports from a data receiving party ( 300 ) for data received from a data sending party ( 302 ) in a wireless connection. A plurality of feedback resources ( 304 ) assigned to different feedback information codes are allocated to the data receiving party for transmitting feedback reports. After checking whether the data was received correctly or not, the data receiving party selects a feedback resource (FR 2 ) with a feedback information code that corresponds to one or more feedback reports on the received data. The data receiving party then sends feedback information on the selected feedback resource to the data sending party, thereby conveying the corresponding feedback information code. In this way, multiple feedback reports can be conveyed in a single feedback resource to the data sending party while still retaining single carrier properties.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method implemented by a data receiving party for conveying feedback reports from the data receiving party for data received from a data sending party in a wireless connection, the method comprising:
 obtaining allocation information about a plurality of feedback resources available for transmitting feedback reports, wherein said feedback resources are associated with different feedback information codes that the data receiving party can use to convey implicit feedback information on received data;   selecting a feedback resource from the plurality of feedback resources available, the selected feedback resource assigned to a feedback information code that corresponds to one or more feedback reports on said received data; and   sending explicit feedback information on the selected feedback resource to the data sending party to indicate implicit feedback information different from the explicit feedback information.   
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending feedback information on the selected feedback resource comprises sending explicit feedback information on the selected feedback resource, and wherein the selected feedback resource further indicates implicit feedback information. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending feedback information on the selected feedback resource comprises conveying two bits of explicit feedback information using Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying, QPSK, modulation and conveying at least one further bit of implicit feedback information using the feedback resource selection, thereby forming a combined codeword with said two bits of explicit feedback information and at least one further bit of implicit feedback information. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein each bit in the combined codeword formed relates to a specific sub-frame of said received data. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data receiving party comprises a terminal and the data sending party comprises a network node. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein obtaining allocation information about a plurality of feedback resources available comprises receiving said allocation information in a control message during a cell selection or handover procedure. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein obtaining allocation information about a plurality of feedback resources available comprises receiving said allocation information based on a downlink scheduling assignment for the terminal or based on which resources said received data is transmitted on from the network node. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a Time Division Duplex, TDD, or half duplex Frequency Division Duplex, FDD, transmission scheme is employed in a connection between said data sending and receiving parties. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a Hybrid ARQ protocol is used whereby each feedback report includes an ACK message or a NACK message relating to data in a received sub-frame. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus in a data receiving party for conveying feedback reports for data received from a data sending party in a wireless connection, comprising:
 a resource obtaining circuit configured to obtain allocation information about a plurality of feedback resources available for transmitting feedback reports, wherein said feedback resources are associated with different feedback information codes that the data receiving party can use to convey implicit feedback information on received data;   a selecting circuit configured to select a feedback resource from the plurality of feedback resources available, the selected feedback resource assigned to a feedback information code that corresponds to one or more feedback reports on said received data; and   a sending circuit configured to send explicit feedback information on the selected feedback resource to the data sending party to indicate implicit feedback information different from the explicit feedback information.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sending circuit is configured to send feedback information on the selected feedback resource by sending explicit feedback information on the selected feedback resource, and wherein the selected feedback resource further indicates implicit feedback information. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sending circuit is configured to send feedback information on the selected feedback resource by conveying two bits of explicit feedback information using Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying, QPSK, modulation and conveying at least one further bit of implicit feedback information using the feedback resource selection, thereby forming a combined codeword with said two bits of explicit feedback information and at least one further bit of implicit feedback information. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each bit in the combined codeword formed relates to a specific sub-frame of said received data. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the data receiving party comprises a terminal and the data sending party comprises a network node. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the resource obtaining circuit is configured to obtain said allocation information by receiving said allocation information in a control message during a cell selection or handover procedure. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the resource obtaining circuit is configured to obtain said allocation information by receiving said allocation information based on a downlink scheduling assignment for the terminal or based on which resources the data is transmitted on from the network node. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a Time Division Duplex, TDD, or half duplex Frequency Division Duplex, FDD, transmission scheme is employed in the connection between said data sending and receiving parties. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the data receiving party is configured to use a Hybrid ARQ protocol whereby each feedback report includes an ACK message or a NACK message relating to data in a received sub-frame. 
     
     
       19. A method implemented by a network node for obtaining feedback reports from a terminal for data transmitted to the terminal from the network node in a wireless connection, the method comprising:
 providing allocation information to the terminal about a plurality of feedback resources available for transmitting explicit feedback information, wherein said feedback resources are associated with different feedback information codes that the terminal can use to convey implicit feedback information on received data that is different than the explicit feedback information;   receiving feedback information for said transmitted data from the terminal on a feedback resource selected by the terminal; and   detecting one or more feedback reports based on the feedback information code assigned to the selected feedback resource.   
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein receiving feedback information on a feedback resource selected by the terminal comprises receiving explicit feedback information on the selected feedback resource, and wherein the selected feedback resource further indicates implicit feedback information. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein receiving feedback information on a feedback resource selected by the terminal comprises detecting which feedback resource the terminal transmits the feedback information on, by detecting a received signal strength and determining if the received signal strength is strong enough to be distinguished from noise and/or interference. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19 , wherein receiving feedback information on a feedback resource selected by the terminal comprises detecting which feedback resource the terminal transmits the feedback information on, by comparing the received signal strength on all allocated feedback resources and selecting the feedback resource with the highest received signal strength and/or Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio, SINR. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 19 , wherein providing allocation information to the terminal comprises sending said allocation information in a control message during a cell selection or handover procedure. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 19 , wherein providing allocation information to the terminal comprises providing said resource allocation information based on a downlink scheduling assignment for the terminal or based on which resources the data is transmitted on from the network node. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus in a network node for obtaining feedback reports from a terminal for data transmitted to the terminal from the network node in a wireless connection, comprising:
 a resource providing circuit configured to provide allocation information to the terminal about a plurality of feedback resources available for transmitting explicit feedback information, wherein said feedback resources are associated with different feedback information codes that the terminal can use to convey implicit feedback information on received data that is different than the explicit feedback information;   a receiving circuit configured to receive feedback information for said transmitted data from the terminal on a feedback resource selected by the terminal; and   a detecting circuit configured to detect one or more feedback reports based on the feedback information code assigned to the selected feedback resource.   
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the receiving circuit is configured to receive explicit feedback information on the selected feedback resource and implicit feedback information as indicated by the selected feedback resource. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the receiving circuit is configured to detect which feedback resource the terminal transmits the feedback information on, by detecting a received signal strength and determining if the received signal strength is strong enough to be distinguished from noise and/or interference. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the receiving circuit is configured to detect which feedback resource the terminal transmits the feedback information on, by comparing the received signal strength on all allocated feedback resources and selecting the feedback resource with the highest received signal strength and/or Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio, SINR. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the resource providing circuit is configured to send said allocation information in a control message during a cell selection or handover procedure. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the resource providing circuit is configured to provide said allocation information based on a downlink scheduling assignment for the terminal or based on which resources the data is transmitted on from the network node. 
     
     
       31. A method implemented by a data receiving party for conveying feedback information from the data receiving party for data received from a data sending party in a wireless connection, the method comprising:
 receiving, via the wireless connection, allocation information about a plurality of feedback resources available for conveying feedback information;   selecting a feedback resource from the plurality of feedback resources and a feedback bit pattern from a plurality of feedback bit patterns, the selected feedback resource and the selected feedback bit pattern jointly identifying a selected one of a plurality of feedback codes regarding the data, the plurality of feedback codes comprising:
 a first feedback code in which at least two bits are the same; and 
 a second feedback code in which at least two bits are different; and 
   sending, via the wireless connection, the selected feedback bit pattern on the selected feedback resource to convey the selected feedback code regarding the data to the data sending party;   wherein sending the selected feedback bit pattern indicates explicit feedback information to the data sending party;   wherein sending the selected feedback bit pattern on the selected feedback resource indicates implicit feedback information; and   wherein the implicit feedback information is different from the explicit feedback information.    
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 31 , wherein sending the selected feedback bit pattern on the selected feedback resource comprises conveying two bits of explicit feedback information using Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying, QPSK, modulation and conveying at least one further bit of implicit feedback information using the selected feedback resource, thereby forming a combined codeword with said two bits of explicit feedback information and at least one further bit of implicit feedback information.  
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , wherein each bit in the combined codeword formed relates to a specific sub-frame of said received data.  
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the data receiving party comprises a terminal and the data sending party comprises a network node.  
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34 , wherein receiving, via the wireless connection, allocation information about a plurality of feedback resources available comprises receiving, via the wireless connection, said allocation information in a control message during a cell selection or handover procedure.  
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 34 , wherein receiving, via the wireless connection, allocation information about a plurality of feedback resources available comprises receiving, via the wireless connection, said allocation information based on a downlink scheduling assignment for the terminal or based on which resources said received data is transmitted on from the network node.  
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 31 , wherein a Time Division Duplex, TDD, or half duplex Frequency Division Duplex, FDD, transmission scheme is employed in a connection between said data sending and receiving parties.  
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 31 , wherein a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) protocol is used whereby the selected feedback code indicates multiple feedback reports, wherein each feedback report includes an ACK message or a NACK message relating to data in a received sub-frame.  
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the selected feedback code indicates hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) reports for data received in multiple sub-frames from the data sending party, and wherein the selected feedback bit pattern is sent on the selected feedback resource in a single sub-frame.  
     
     
       40. An apparatus in a data receiving party for conveying feedback information for data received from a data sending party in a wireless connection, the apparatus comprising:
 a resource obtaining circuit configured to receive, via the wireless connection, allocation information about a plurality of feedback resources available for conveying feedback information;   a selecting circuit configured to select a feedback resource from the plurality of feedback resources and a feedback bit pattern from a plurality of feedback bit patterns, the selected feedback resource and the selected feedback bit pattern jointly identifying a selected one of a plurality of feedback codes regarding the data, the plurality of feedback codes comprising:
 a first feedback code in which at least two bits are the same; and 
 a second feedback code in which at least two bits are different; and 
   a sending circuit configured to send the selected feedback bit pattern on the selected feedback resource to convey the selected feedback code regarding the data to the data sending party;   wherein sending the selected feedback bit pattern indicates explicit feedback information to the data sending party;   wherein sending the selected feedback bit pattern on the selected feedback resource indicates implicit feedback information; and   wherein the implicit feedback information is different from the explicit feedback information.    
     
     
       41. The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the sending circuit is configured to send the selected feedback bit pattern on the selected feedback resource by conveying two bits of explicit feedback information using Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying, QPSK, modulation and conveying at least one further bit of implicit feedback information using the selected feedback resource, thereby forming a combined codeword with said two bits of explicit feedback information and at least one further bit of implicit feedback information.  
     
     
       42. The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein each bit in the combined codeword formed relates to a specific sub-frame of said received data.  
     
     
       43. The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the data receiving party comprises a terminal and the data sending party comprises a network node.  
     
     
       44. The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the resource obtaining circuit is configured to receive, via the wireless connection, said allocation information by receiving, via the wireless connection, said allocation information in a control message during a cell selection or handover procedure.  
     
     
       45. The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the resource obtaining circuit is configured to receive, via the wireless connection, said allocation information by receiving, via the wireless connection, said allocation information based on a downlink scheduling assignment for the terminal or based on which resources the data is transmitted on from the network node.  
     
     
       46. The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein a Time Division Duplex, TDD, or half duplex Frequency Division Duplex, FDD, transmission scheme is employed in the connection between said data sending and receiving parties.  
     
     
       47. The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the data receiving party is configured to use a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) protocol whereby the selected feedback code indicates multiple feedback reports, wherein each feedback report includes an ACK message or a NACK message relating to data in a received sub-frame.  
     
     
       48. The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the selected feedback code indicates hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) reports for data received in multiple sub-frames from the data sending party, and wherein the selected feedback bit pattern is sent on the selected feedback resource in a single sub-frame.  
     
     
       49. A method implemented by a network node for receiving, via a wireless connection, feedback information from a terminal for data transmitted to the terminal from the network node via the wireless connection, the method comprising:
 sending, via the wireless connection, allocation information to the terminal about a plurality of feedback resources available for conveying feedback information;   receiving, from the terminal via the wireless connection, a selected feedback bit pattern on a selected feedback resource, the selected feedback bit pattern being selected by the terminal from a plurality of feedback bit patterns and the selected feedback resource being selected by the terminal from the plurality of feedback resources, the selected feedback bit pattern and the selected feedback resource jointly identifying a selected one of a plurality of feedback codes regarding the data, the plurality of feedback codes comprising:
 a first feedback code in which at least two bits are the same; and 
 a second feedback code in which at least two bits are different; and 
   detecting the selected feedback code from the plurality of feedback codes based on the selected feedback bit pattern and the selected feedback resource;   wherein receiving the selected feedback bit pattern indicates explicit feedback information to the network node;   wherein receiving the selected feedback bit pattern on the selected feedback resource indicates implicit feedback information; and   wherein the implicit feedback information is different from the explicit feedback information.    
     
     
       50. The method of  claim 49 , wherein receiving the selected feedback bit pattern on the selected feedback resource comprises detecting which feedback resource the terminal transmits the selected feedback bit pattern on by detecting a received signal strength and determining if the received signal strength is strong enough to be distinguished from noise and/or interference.  
     
     
       51. The method of  claim 49 , wherein receiving the selected feedback bit pattern on the selected feedback resource comprises detecting which feedback resource the terminal transmits the explicit feedback information on by comparing the received signal strength on all allocated feedback resources and selecting the feedback resource with the highest received signal strength and/or Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio, SINR.  
     
     
       52. The method of  claim 49 , wherein sending, via the wireless connection, allocation information to the terminal comprises sending, via the wireless connection, said allocation information in a control message during a cell selection or handover procedure.  
     
     
       53. The method of  claim 49 , wherein sending, via the wireless connection, allocation information to the terminal comprises sending, via the wireless connection, said resource allocation information based on a downlink scheduling assignment for the terminal or based on which resources the data is transmitted on from the network node.  
     
     
       54. The method of  claim 49 , wherein the selected feedback code indicates hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) reports for data transmitted in multiple sub-frames to the terminal, and wherein the selected feedback bit pattern is received on the selected feedback resource in a single sub-frame.  
     
     
       55. An apparatus in a network node for receiving, via a wireless connection, feedback information from a terminal for data transmitted to the terminal from the network node via the wireless connection, the apparatus comprising:
 a resource providing circuit configured to send, via the wireless connection, allocation information to the terminal about a plurality of feedback resources available for conveying feedback information;   a receiving circuit configured to receive, from the terminal via the wireless connection, a selected feedback bit pattern on a selected feedback resource, the selected feedback bit pattern being selected by the terminal from a plurality of feedback bit patterns and the selected feedback resource being selected by the terminal from the plurality of feedback resources, the selected feedback bit pattern and the selected feedback resource jointly identifying a selected one of a plurality of feedback codes regarding the data, the plurality of feedback codes comprising:
 a first feedback code in which at least two bits are the same; and 
 a second feedback code in which at least two bits are different; and 
   a detecting circuit configured to detect the selected feedback code from the plurality of feedback codes based on the selected feedback bit pattern and the selected feedback resource;   wherein receiving the selected feedback bit pattern indicates explicit feedback information to the network node;   wherein receiving the selected feedback bit pattern on the selected feedback resource indicates implicit feedback information; and   wherein the implicit feedback information is different from the explicit feedback information.    
     
     
       56. The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the receiving circuit is further configured to detect which feedback resource the terminal transmits the selected feedback bit pattern on by detecting a received signal strength and determining if the received signal strength is strong enough to be distinguished from noise and/or interference.  
     
     
       57. The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the receiving circuit is further configured to detect which feedback resource the terminal transmits the selected feedback bit pattern on by comparing the received signal strength on all allocated feedback resources and selecting the feedback resource with the highest received signal strength and/or Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio, SINR.  
     
     
       58. The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the resource providing circuit is configured to send, via the wireless connection, said allocation information in a control message during a cell selection or handover procedure.  
     
     
       59. The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the resource providing circuit is configured to send, via the wireless connection, said allocation information based on a downlink scheduling assignment for the terminal or based on which resources the data is transmitted on from the network node.  
     
     
       60. The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the selected feedback code indicates hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) reports for data transmitted in multiple sub-frames to the terminal, and wherein the selected feedback bit pattern is received on the selected feedback resource in a single sub-frame.