Determination of parameter values of an uplink transport channel

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a network element for determining cell-based values of a parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel multiplexed with other transport channels to a dedicated physical channel. It is proposed that a value for the parameter of the selected uplink transport channel is computed in predetermined periods of time based on the value of at least one available parameter associated to the dedicated physical channel. Further it is determined for the predetermined periods of time for each of the transport channels whether it is active in the respective period of time. Those periods of time for which it was determined that any other than the selected transport channel was active are excluded from supplying a relevant value for the parameter of the selected active uplink transport channel. The invention equally relates to a corresponding communications network and a corresponding communications system.

1 . Method for determining cell based values varying in time of at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel multiplexed with at least one other transport channel to a dedicated physical channel, said method comprising: 
 computing in predetermined periods of time a value for said at least one parameter of said selected uplink transport channel based on the value of at least one available parameter associated to said dedicated physical channel, the value of which at least one available parameter is influenced by signals transmitted on all active uplink transport channels multiplexed to said dedicated physical channel;    determining for said predetermined periods of time for each of said uplink transport channels whether it is active in the respective period of time; and    excluding periods of time for which it was determined that any other than said selected transport channel was active from supplying a valid value for said at least one parameter of said selected active uplink transport channel.    
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel comprises the bit energy per noise interference of said selected active uplink transport channel.  
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one available parameter associated to said dedicated physical channel comprises a target signal-to-interference ratio which is determined proceeding from a predetermined value and changed according to requirements of each of said uplink transport channels multiplexed to said dedicated physical channel.  
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel comprises the block error rate of said selected active uplink transport channel.  
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one available parameter associated to said dedicated physical channel comprises a block error rate determined for said dedicated physical channel to which a plurality of transport channels are multiplexed.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel comprises the bit error rate of said selected active uplink transport channel.  
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one available parameter associated to said dedicated physical channel comprises a bit error rate determined for said dedicated physical channel to which a plurality of transport channels are multiplexed.  
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein values for said at least one parameter are determined for each of said uplink transport channels multiplexed to said dedicated physical channel.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said values for said at least one parameter of an uplink transport channels are determined as average values for each period of time.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein values of said at least one parameter are determined for several periods of time, which values are subjected to a sliding average within a predetermined sliding window.  
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein determined values for said at least one parameter are stored in a data base  
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said dedicated physical channel comprises a dedicated physical control channel and one or more dedicated physical data channels, and wherein for multiplexing said transport channels to said dedicated physical channel each of said transport channels is first multiplexed to a code composite traffic channel, said code composite traffic channel then being mapped in one or more of said dedicated physical data channels of said dedicated physical channel.  
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel is determined in an uplink outer loop power control controller of a radio network controller, wherein the activity of each transport channel mapped onto said dedicated physical channel is controlled in a dedicated uplink outer loop power control entity of said radio network controller, and wherein said uplink outer loop power control entities provide for each of said periods of time an indication whether the respective transport channel was active during said period of time to said uplink outer loop power control controller.  
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein cell based values of said at least one parameter of respective selected active uplink transport channels are determined cell by cell for a selected group of cells in units receiving said uplink transport channels, a central unit controlling said cell by cell determination of cell based values and collecting said determined cell based values.  
     
     
         15 . Network element for a communications network, said network element comprising for determining cell based values varying in time of at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel multiplexed with at least one other transport channel to a dedicated physical channel: 
 a computing component configured to compute in predetermined periods of time a value for said at least one parameter of said selected uplink transport channel based on the value of at least one available parameter associated to said dedicated physical channel, the value of which at least one available parameter is influenced by signals transmitted on all active uplink transport channels multiplexed to said dedicated physical channel; and    a determination component configured to determine for said predetermined periods of time for each of said uplink transport channels whether it is active in the respective period of time;    said computing component being further configured to exclude periods of time for which it was determined that any other than said selected transport channel was active from supplying a valid value for said at least one parameter of said selected active uplink transport channel.    
     
     
         16 . Network element according to  claim 15 , which network element is a radio network controller for a universal mobile telecommunication system terrestrial radio access network and wherein: 
 said computing component comprises an uplink outer loop power control controller for determining values varying in time of at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel from available values of at least one parameter associated to said dedicated physical channel; and    said determination component comprises a dedicated uplink outer loop power control entity for each of said transport channels, which outer loop power control entities are configured to determine whether the respective transport channel is active in predetermined periods of time and to provide the uplink outer loop power control controller in regular periods of time with a report indicating whether the respective data channel was active in the preceding period of time.    
     
     
         17 . Communications network comprising at least one network element according to  claim 15 .  
     
     
         18 . Communications system comprising a communications network with at least one network element according to  claim 15 .  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus comprising for determining cell based values varying in time of at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel multiplexed with at least one other transport channel to a dedicated physical channel: 
 a computing component configured to compute in predetermined periods of time a value for said at least one parameter of said selected uplink transport channel based on the value of at least one available parameter associated to said dedicated physical channel, the value of which at least one available parameter is influenced by signals transmitted on all active uplink transport channels multiplexed to said dedicated physical channel; and    a determination component configured to determine for said predetermined periods of time for each of said uplink transport channels whether it is active in the respective period of time;    said computing component being further configured to exclude periods of time for which it was determined that any other than said selected transport channel was active from supplying a valid value for said at least one parameter of said selected active uplink transport channel.    
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel comprises the bit energy per noise interference of said selected active uplink transport channel.  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said at least one available parameter associated to said dedicated physical channel comprises a target signal-to-interference ratio, said computing component being configured to determine said value for said at least one parameter proceeding from a predetermined value and changing said predetermined value according to requirements of each of said uplink transport channels multiplexed to said dedicated physical channel.  
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel comprises the block error rate of said selected active uplink transport channel.  
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein said at least one available parameter associated to said dedicated physical channel comprises a block error rate determined for said dedicated physical channel to which a plurality of transport channels are multiplexed.  
     
     
         24 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel comprises the bit error rate of said selected active uplink transport channel.  
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein said at least one available parameter associated to said dedicated physical channel comprises a bit error rate determined for said dedicated physical channel to which a plurality of transport channels are multiplexed.  
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said computing component is configured to determine values for said at least one parameter for each of said uplink transport channels multiplexed to said dedicated physical channel.  
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said computing component is configured to determine values for said at least one parameter of an uplink transport channels as average values for each period of time.  
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said computing component is configured to determine values of said at least one parameter for several periods of time, which values are subjected to a sliding average within a predetermined sliding window.  
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said computing component is configured to store determined values for said at least one parameter in a data base.  
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said dedicated physical channel comprises a dedicated physical control channel and one or more dedicated physical data channels, and wherein for multiplexing said transport channels to said dedicated physical channel each of said transport channels is first multiplexed to a code composite traffic channel, said code composite traffic channel then being mapped in one or more of said dedicated physical data channels of said dedicated physical channel.  
     
     
         31 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said computation component comprises an uplink outer loop power control controller of a radio network controller, wherein said determination component comprises uplink outer loop power control entities of said radio network controller, a respective one of said uplink outer loop power control entities being configured to control the activity of each transport channel mapped onto said dedicated physical channel, and wherein said uplink outer loop power control entities are configured to provide for each of said periods of time an indication whether the respective transport channel was active during said period of time to said uplink outer loop power control controller.  
     
     
         32 . Communications network according to  claim 17 , in which cell based values of said at least one parameter of respective selected active uplink transport channels are to be determined cell by cell for a selected group of cells in network elements receiving said uplink transport channels, said communications network further comprising a central unit configured to control said cell by cell determination of cell based values and to collect said determined cell based values.  
     
     
         33 . A computer program product in which a program code for determining cell based values varying in time of at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel multiplexed with at least one other transport channel to a dedicated physical channel is stored in a computer readable medium, said program code realizing the following when executed: 
 computing in predetermined periods of time a value for said at least one parameter of said selected uplink transport channel based on the value of at least one available parameter associated to said dedicated physical channel, the value of which at least one available parameter is influenced by signals transmitted on all active uplink transport channels multiplexed to said dedicated physical channel;    determining for said predetermined periods of time for each of said uplink transport channels whether it is active in the respective period of time; and    excluding periods of time for which it was determined that any other than said selected transport channel was active from supplying a valid value for said at least one parameter of said selected active uplink transport channel.    
     
     
         34 . Apparatus comprising for determining cell based values varying in time of at least one parameter of a selected active uplink transport channel multiplexed with at least one other transport channel to a dedicated physical channel: 
 means for computing in predetermined periods of time a value for said at least one parameter of said selected uplink transport channel based on the value of at least one available parameter associated to said dedicated physical channel, the value of which at least one available parameter is influenced by signals transmitted on all active uplink transport channels multiplexed to said dedicated physical channel;    means for determining for said predetermined periods of time for each of said uplink transport channels whether it is active in the respective period of time; and    means for excluding periods of time for which it was determined that any other than said selected transport channel was active from supplying a valid value for said at least one parameter of said selected active uplink transport channel.