Methods and apparatus related to selecting control channel reporting formats

Abstract

Methods and apparatus related to the implementation and selection of alterative control information reporting formats are described. A control information reporting format, corresponding to a connection between a wireless terminal and a base station, e.g., for an uplink dedicated control channel, is selected, as a function of at least one of: an application being executed, device capability information, channel condition information, system loading information, and user quality of service information. Different wireless terminals may use different control information reporting formats at the same time. The same wireless terminal may use a different control information reporting format at different times.

1 . A method of operating a first communications device to interact with a second communications device, the method comprising: 
 determining a set of control information reports to be transmitted, said set of control information reports corresponding to a reporting format;    generating the determined set of control information reports; and    communicating said generated set of control information reports.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a set of control information reports includes selecting between a plurality of predetermined reporting formats.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of predetermined reporting formats specifies a plurality of different types of reports and an ordering of said different types of reports.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said reporting format further specifies the control information to be communicated in said different types of reports.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said communicating includes: 
 multiplexing the generated reports of different types in accordance with said determined reporting format.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 performing a coding and modulation operation on the multiplexed generated set of reports to generate a set of coded symbols; and    mapping the coded symbols to segments of a wireless communications channel.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said step of coding and modulation includes using a predetermined coding and modulation scheme corresponding to the determined reporting format, different coding and modulation schemes being used for at least some of said plurality of reporting formats.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising repeating said determining, generating, and communicating steps.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said different report types include at least two of an SNR report, a traffic request report, a power information report, an interference report, and a delay report.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining includes: 
 selecting the reporting format as a function of an application being executed by one of said first and second communications devices.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said application is one of a voice and a data application.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said reporting format selected in response to a voice application includes a latency report and wherein said reporting format selected in response to a data application includes less frequent uplink request reports than a format used for voice but more bits per uplink request on average than used for voice.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a reporting format is performed as a function of at least one of: device capability information, channel conditions, system loading, and user QoS.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a reporting format is performed as a function of at least one of a command signal or a request signal received from said second communications device.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said first communications device is a wireless terminal, and wherein said segments are dedicated control channel segments in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing channel structure.  
     
     
         16 . A communications device, comprising: 
 a report format selection module for selecting a reporting format, said reporting format being one of a plurality of supported reporting formats, said reporting format indicating a reporting schedule and a set of report definitions;    a report generation module for generating a sequence of reports in accordance with the selected reporting schedule and at least some definitions in the set of report definitions; and    a transmitter for transmitting said generated sequence of reports.    
     
     
         17 . The communications device of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 memory for storing information defining said plurality of supported reporting formats, said plurality of supported reporting formats being predetermined.    
     
     
         18 . The communications device of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 memory for storing report definition information, said report definition information specifying types of control information to be communicated in reports generated in accordance with said set of report definitions.    
     
     
         19 . The communications device of  claim 18 , wherein said report generation module includes: 
 a multiplexer for multiplexing generated reports of different types to produce said sequence of reports in accordance with the selected reporting schedule.    
     
     
         20 . The communications device of  claim 19 , wherein said transmitter includes: 
 a coding and modulation module for performing a coding and modulation operation on the generated sequence of reports using a predetermined coding and modulation scheme corresponding to the selected reporting format.    
     
     
         21 . The communications device of  claim 18 , wherein said stored report definitions define at least two of an SNR report format, a traffic request report format, a power information report format and an interference report format.  
     
     
         22 . The communications device of  claim 17 , wherein said report format selection module includes an input for receiving application information, said reporting format selection module selecting said report format as a function of an application being executed by one of said first and second communications devices.  
     
     
         23 . The communications device of  claim 22 , 
 wherein said application is one of a voice and data application.    
     
     
         24 . The communications device of  claim 23 , wherein the reporting format stored in said memory that is selected in response to a voice application includes a latency report and wherein the reporting format selected in response to a data application includes less frequent uplink request reports than the format selected in response to a voice application but more bits per uplink request on average than used for reports selected in response to a voice application.  
     
     
         25 . The communications device of  claim 16 , 
 wherein said report format selection module includes an input for receiving at least one of device capability information, channel condition information, system loading information and user quality of service information; and    wherein said report format selection module selects said report format as a function of at least one of channel condition information, system loading information and user quality of service information.    
     
     
         26 . The communications device of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a receiver for receiving a report format selection control signal; and    wherein said report format selection module selects said report format as a function of the received report format selection control signal.    
     
     
         27 . The communications device of  claim 16 , wherein said communications device is a wireless terminal.  
     
     
         28 . A communications device, comprising: 
 means for selecting a reporting format, said reporting format being one of a plurality of supported reporting formats, said reporting format indicating a reporting schedule and a set of report definitions;    means for generating a sequence of reports in accordance with the selected reporting schedule and at least some definitions in the set of report definitions; and    means for transmitting said generated sequence of reports.    
     
     
         29 . The communications device of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 storage means for storing information defining said plurality of supported reporting formats, said plurality of supported reporting formats being predetermined.    
     
     
         30 . The communications device of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 storage means for storing report definition information, said report definition information specifying types of control information to be communicated in reports generated in accordance with said set of report definitions.    
     
     
         31 . The communications device of  claim 30 , wherein said means for generating a sequence of reports includes: 
 means for multiplexing generated reports of different types to produce said sequence of reports in accordance with the selected reporting schedule.    
     
     
         32 . The communications device of  claim 31 , wherein said means for transmitting includes: 
 means for performing a coding and modulation operation on the generated sequence of reports using a predetermined coding and modulation scheme corresponding to the selected reporting format.    
     
     
         33 . A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a first communications device to implement a method, the method comprising: 
 determining a set of control information reports to be transmitted, said set of control information reports corresponding to a reporting format;    generating the determined set of control information reports; and    communicating said generated set of control information reports.    
     
     
         34 . The computer readable medium of  claim 33 , further embodying machine executable instructions for selecting between a plurality of predetermined reporting formats as part of said step of determining a set of control information reports.  
     
     
         35 . The computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein each of said plurality of predetermined reporting formats specifies a plurality of different types of reports and an ordering of said different types of reports.  
     
     
         36 . The computer readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein said reporting format further specifies the control information to be communicated in said different types of reports.  
     
     
         37 . The computer readable medium of  claim 35 , further embodying machine executable instructions for multiplexing the generated reports of different types in accordance with said determined reporting format as part of said step of communicating said generated set of control information reports.  
     
     
         38 . A first communications device in a wireless communications system, the first communications device comprising: 
 a processor configured to: 
 determine a set of control information reports to be transmitted, said set of control information reports corresponding to a reporting format;  
 generate the determined set of control information reports; and  
 control communication of said generated set of control information reports.  
   
     
     
         39 . The first communications device of  claim 38 , wherein said processor is configured to select between a plurality of predetermined reporting formats.  
     
     
         40 . The first communications device of  claim 39 , wherein each of said plurality of predetermined reporting formats specifies a plurality of different types of reports and an ordering of said different types of reports.  
     
     
         41 . The first communications device of  claim 40 , wherein said reporting format further specifies the control information to be communicated in said different types of reports.  
     
     
         42 . The first communications device of  claim 40 , wherein said processor is configured to multiplex the generated reports of different types in accordance with said determined reporting format.  
     
     
         43 . A method of operating a first communications device to interact with a second communications device, the method comprising: 
 determining a set of control information reports to be received, said set of information reports corresponding to a reporting format;    receiving signals conveying said determined set of control information reports; and    recovering control information from said set of determined control information reports in accordance with said reporting format.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein determining a set of control information reports to be received including selecting between a plurality of predetermined reporting formats.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein each of said plurality of predetermined reporting formats specifies a plurality of different types of reports and an ordering of said different types of reports.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said reporting format further specifies the control information to be communicated in said different types of reports.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 performing a demodulation and decoding operation on said received signals to generate sets of ordered information bits, each set of ordered information bits corresponding to a communication segment; and    mapping the ordered bits of a segment to one or more control information reports.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said step of performing a demodulation and decoding operation includes using a predetermined decoding and demodulation scheme, different decoding and demodulation schemes being used for at least some of said plurality of reporting formats.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising repeating said determining, receiving, and recovering steps.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said different report types includes at least two of a SNR report, a traffic request report, a power information report, an interference report, and a delay report.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said determining includes: 
 selecting the reporting format as a function of an application being executed by one of said first and second communications devices.    
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said application is one of a voice and a data application.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said reporting format selected in response to a voice application includes a latency report and wherein said reporting format selected in response to a data application includes less frequent uplink request reports than a format used for voice but more bits per uplink request on average than used for voice.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein determining a reporting format is performed as a function of at least one of: device capability information, channel conditions, system loading, and user QoS.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein determining a reporting format is performed as a function of at least one of a command signal or a request signal received from said second communications device.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said first communications device is a base station and said second communications device is a first wireless terminal, the method further comprising: 
 determining a second set of control information reports to be received, said second set of information reports corresponding to a second reporting format;    receiving from a second wireless terminal signals conveying said determined second set of control information reports; and    recovering control information from said second set of determined control information reports in accordance with said second reporting format.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein said received signals from said first and second wireless terminals are received concurrently, and wherein said reporting format and said second reporting formats are different.  
     
     
         58 . A communications device, comprising: 
 a report format selection module for selecting a reporting format, said reporting format being one of a plurality of supported reporting formats, said reporting format indicating a reporting schedule and a set of report definitions;    a report recovery module for recovering report information from a sequence of received reports in accordance with the selected reporting schedule and at least some definitions in the set of report definitions; and    a receiver for receiving said sequence of reports.    
     
     
         59 . The communications device of  claim 58 , further comprising: 
 memory for storing information defining said plurality of supported reporting formats, said plurality of supported reporting formats being predetermined.    
     
     
         60 . The communications device of  claim 58 , further comprising: 
 memory for storing report definition information, said report definition information specifying types of control information to be communicated in reports generated in accordance with said set of report definitions.    
     
     
         61 . The communications device of  claim 60 , wherein said receiver includes: 
 a decoding and demodulation module for performing a decoding and demodulation operation on the received sequence of reports using a predetermined coding and modulation scheme corresponding to the selected reporting format.    
     
     
         62 . The communications device of  claim 60 , wherein said stored report definitions define at least two of an SNR report format, a traffic request report format, a power information report format and an interference report format.  
     
     
         63 . The communications device of  claim 59 , wherein said report format selection module includes an input for receiving application information, said reporting format selection module selecting said report format as a function of an application being executed by one of said first and second communications devices.  
     
     
         64 . The communications device of  claim 63 , 
 wherein said application is one of a voice and data application.    
     
     
         65 . The communications device of  claim 64 , wherein the reporting format stored in said memory that is selected in response to a voice application includes a latency report and wherein the reporting format selected in response to a data application includes less frequent uplink request reports than the format selected in response to a voice application but more bits per uplink request on average than used for reports selected in response to a voice application.  
     
     
         66 . The communications device of  claim 58 , 
 wherein said report format selection module includes an input for receiving at least one of device capability information, channel condition information, system loading information and user quality of service information; and    wherein said report format selection module selects said report format as a function of at least one of channel condition information, system loading information and user quality of service information.    
     
     
         67 . The communications device of  claim 58 , further comprising: 
 a receiver for receiving a report format selection control signal; and    wherein said report format selection module selects said report format as a function of the received report format selection control signal.    
     
     
         68 . The communications device of  claim 58 , wherein the transmitter transmits a control selection signal indicating the selection of the report format selection module.  
     
     
         69 . The communications device of  claim 58 , wherein said communications device is a base station.  
     
     
         70 . The communications device of  claim 58 , wherein said report format selection module selects on a per wireless terminal basis.  
     
     
         71 . A communications device, comprising: 
 means for selecting a reporting format, said reporting format being one of a plurality of supported reporting formats, said reporting format indicating a reporting schedule and a set of report definitions;    means for recovering report information from a sequence of received reports in accordance with the selected reporting schedule and at least some definitions in the set of report definitions; and    means for receiving said sequence of reports.    
     
     
         72 . The communications device of  claim 71 , further comprising: 
 storage means for storing information defining said plurality of supported reporting formats, said plurality of supported reporting formats being predetermined.    
     
     
         73 . The communications device of  claim 71 , further comprising: 
 storage means for storing report definition information, said report definition information specifying types of control information to be communicated in reports generated in accordance with said set of report definitions.    
     
     
         74 . The communications device of  claim 73 , wherein said means for receiving includes: 
 means for performing a decoding and demodulation operation on the received sequence of reports using a predetermined coding and modulation scheme correspond to the selected reporting format.    
     
     
         75 . A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instruction for controlling a first communication device to implement a method, the method comprising: 
 determining a set of control information reports to be received, said set of information reports corresponding to a reporting format;    receiving signals conveying said determined set of control information reports; and    recovering control information from said set of determined control information reports in accordance with said reporting format.    
     
     
         76 . The computer readable medium of  claim 75 , further embodying machine executable instructions for selecting between a plurality of predetermined reporting formats as part of said step of determining a set of control information reports to be received.  
     
     
         77 . The computer readable medium of  claim 76 , wherein each of said plurality of predetermined reporting formats specifies a plurality of different types of reports and an ordering of said different types of reports.  
     
     
         78 . The computer readable medium of  claim 77 , wherein said reporting format further specifies the control information to be communicated in said different types of reports.  
     
     
         79 . The computer readable medium of  claim 78 , further embodying machine executable instructions for: 
 performing a demodulation and decoding operation on said received signals to generate sets of ordered information bits, each set of ordered information bits corresponding to a communication segment; and    mapping the ordered bits of a segment to one or more control information reports.    
     
     
         80 . A first communications device operable in a wireless communications system, the first communications device comprising: 
 a processor configured to: 
 determine a set of control information reports to be received, said set of control information reports corresponding to a reporting format;  
 control reception of signals conveying said determined set of control information reports; and  
 recover control information from said set of determined control information reports in accordance with said reporting format.  
   
     
     
         81 . The first communications device of  claim 80 , wherein said processor is configured to select between a plurality of predetermined reporting formats.  
     
     
         82 . The first communications device of  claim 81 , wherein each of said plurality of predetermined reporting formats specifies a plurality of different types of reports and an ordering of said different types of reports.  
     
     
         83 . The first communications device of  claim 82 , wherein said reporting format further specifies the control information to be communicated in said different types of reports.  
     
     
         84 . The communications device of  claim 83 , wherein said processor is configured to: 
 control demodulation and decoding operations on said received signals to generate sets of ordered information bits, each set of ordered information bits corresponding to a communication segment; and    map the ordered bits of a segment to one or more control information reports.