Methods and apparatus for determining and/or communicating parameter switching point information in wireless communications systems including wireless terminals supporting multiple wireless connections

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for indicating parameter change points with respect to multiple connections (wireless links) by transmitting a single message, e.g., over one of the connections, is described. A base station corresponding to at least one connection, considers the approximate timing relationship between the connections, selects one of the connections, selects an intended parameter switching point for that connection, determines a symbol time offset from the selected switching point such that the other intended switching points of other wireless links can be unambiguously interpreted by the wireless terminal from information indicating the offset with respect to the selected link, and communicates information indicating the offset and the wireless link to which said offset applies. A wireless terminal receives the information, identifies a time referenced with respect the timing structure of the identified wireless link and then determines individual parameter switching points for the other wireless links.

1 . A wireless terminal, comprising:
 means for receiving parameter switching point information over at least one of a plurality of wireless communications links corresponding to the wireless terminal, said switching point information indicating a point offset from a switching point;   means for determining, from the received parameter switching point information, a reference point in time corresponding to a first one of said plurality of communications links; and   means for determining individual parameter switching points from said determined reference point, each determined individual parameter switching point corresponding to a different one of said plurality of wireless communications links.   
   
   
       2 . The wireless terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said means for determining a reference point in time determines individual parameter switching points based on a predetermined relationship between the determined reference point and potential parameter switching points for the corresponding one of said plurality of wireless communications links. 
   
   
       3 . The wireless terminal of  claim 2 , wherein said means for determining individual parameter switching points includes using a function to determine said individual parameter switching points, said function being implemented in accordance with said predetermined relationship and using modular arithmetic computation. 
   
   
       4 . The wireless terminal of  claim 2 , further including:
 means for storing information indicating potential parameter switching points in a recurring communication link timing structure,   wherein said switching point determination module selects, in a predetermined manner, a potential parameter switching point corresponding to the one of said plurality of wireless communications links for which an individual parameter switching point is being determined.   
   
   
       5 . The wireless terminal of  claim 4 , wherein potential parameter switching points are super slot boundaries and wherein the predetermined manner includes selecting the last preceding superslot boundary occurring in the communications link preceding said reference point. 
   
   
       6 . A machine-readable medium having instructions for causing a machine to execute the following steps:
 receiving parameter switching point information over at least one of a plurality of wireless communications links corresponding to a wireless terminal, said switching point information indicating a point offset from a switching point;   determining, from the received parameter switching point information, a reference point in time corresponding to a first one of said plurality of communications links; and   determining individual parameter switching points from said determined reference point, each determined individual parameter switching point corresponding to a different one of said plurality of wireless communications links.   
   
   
       7 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein said step of determining a reference point in time includes determining individual parameter switching points based on a predetermined relationship between the determined reference point and potential parameter switching points for the corresponding one of said plurality of wireless communications links. 
   
   
       8 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein said step for determining individual parameter switching points includes using a function to determine said individual parameter switching points, said function being implemented in accordance with said predetermined relationship and using modular arithmetic computation. 
   
   
       9 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 7 , further including the step of:
 storing information indicating potential parameter switching points in a recurring communication link timing structure,   wherein said switching point determination module selects, in a predetermined manner, a potential parameter switching point corresponding to the one of said plurality of wireless communications links for which an individual parameter switching point is being determined.   
   
   
       10 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein potential parameter switching points are super slot boundaries and wherein the predetermined manner includes selecting the last preceding superslot boundary occurring in the communications link preceding said reference point. 
   
   
       11 . A base station for use in a communications system wherein a wireless terminal can have a plurality of communications links, each of said wireless communications links having a repetitive timing structure, the base station comprising:
 means for selecting an offset point in time with respect to a first link in said plurality of said communications links which is offset in time from a parameter switching point corresponding to the first link by a time offset; said time offset being selected for use in indicating a plurality of switching points, each switching point corresponding to a position within the repetitive timing structure of a corresponding one of the different communication links; and   means for transmitting information indicating said offset point in time to the wireless terminal thereby indicating to the wireless terminal a plurality of parameter switching points, different ones of said parameter switching points corresponding to different wireless communications links.   
   
   
       12 . The base station of  claim 11 , wherein said means for selecting selects an offset point in time with respect to a first link by selecting a time which occurs in the timing structure of said first link which is offset from the parameter switching point corresponding to the first link by at least one symbol time period. 
   
   
       13 . The base station of  claim 12 , wherein said switching point in time for each of the additional wireless communications links in said plurality of different wireless communications links are also offset from the selected offset point in time by at least one symbol time period. 
   
   
       14 . The base station of  claim 13 , further comprising
 a transmission control means for controlling said transmitter module to transmit to the wireless terminal information indicating which one of said communications links said offset point in time corresponds to.   
   
   
       15 . The base station of  claim 13 , wherein said transmission control means corresponds to the first communication link and transmits said information indicating said offset point in time over the first link to which said indicated offset point in time corresponds without transmitting express information identifying which one of said plurality of links said offset point in time corresponds to. 
   
   
       16 . A machine-readable medium having instructions for causing a machine to execute the following steps:
 selecting an offset point in time with respect to a first link in said plurality of said communications links which is offset in time from a parameter switching point corresponding to the first link by a time offset; said time offset being selected for use in indicating a plurality of switching points, each switching point corresponding to a position within the repetitive timing structure of a corresponding one of the different communication links; and   transmitting information indicating said offset point in time to the wireless terminal thereby indicating to the wireless terminal a plurality of parameter switching points, different ones of said parameter switching points corresponding to different wireless communications links.   
   
   
       17 . The machine-readable medium  16 , wherein in said selecting step san offset point in time with respect to a first link I determined by selecting a time which occurs in the timing structure of said first link which is offset from the parameter switching point corresponding to the first link by at least one symbol time period. 
   
   
       18 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein said switching point in time for each of the additional wireless communications links in said plurality of different wireless communications links are also offset from the selected offset point in time by at least one symbol time period. 
   
   
       19 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , further comprising a transmission control means for controlling said transmitter module to transmit to the wireless terminal information indicating which one of said communications links said offset point in time corresponds to. 
   
   
       20 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein said transmission control means corresponds to the first communication link and transmits said information indicating said offset point in time over the first link to which said indicated offset point in time corresponds without transmitting express information identifying which one of said plurality of links said offset point in time corresponds to.