Wireless communication method and system for controlling data bit rates to maintain the quality of radio links

Abstract

A wireless communication method and system for controlling the current data bit rate of a radio link (RL) to maintain the quality of the RL. The system includes a core network (CN), a radio network controller (RNC) and at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). The RL is established between the RNC and the WTRU. The RNC establishes a guaranteed data bit rate, a maximum data bit rate and a current data bit rate associated with the RL. When the RNC senses an event which indicates that the quality of the RL has substantially deteriorated, the RNC reduces the value of the current data bit rate. Then, in a recovery process, if a similar event does not occur during an established waiting period, the RNC restores the current data bit rate back to the maximum data bit rate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless network node comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive a first signal from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU);   a processor configured to determine whether a data rate for the WTRU is to be incrementally increased or incrementally decreased and produce a second signal to be transmitted to the WTRU so that the WTRU modifies its transport format combination selection in response to the produced second signal; and   a transmitter configured to transmit the second signal to the WTRU.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless network node of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the transmitter further configured to transmit a third signal to the WTRU, wherein the third signal modifies the transport format combination selection of the WTRU and the third signal is produced based on a determined data rate in response to a negotiated bit rate with a core network.   
     
     
         3 . A method for use in a wireless network node, the method comprising:
 receiving a first signal from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU);   determining whether a data rate for the WTRU is to be incrementally increased or incrementally decreased and produce a second signal to be transmitted to the WTRU so that the WTRU modifies its transport format combination selection in response to the produced second signal; and   transmitting the second signal to the WTRU.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 transmitting a third signal to the WTRU, wherein the third signal modifies the transport format combination selection of the WTRU and the third signal is produced based on a determined data rate in response to a negotiated bit rate with a core network.   
     
     
         5 . A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit a first signal to a wireless network node; and   a receiver configured to receive a second signal from the wireless network node, wherein the second signal is produced to enable the WTRU to modify its transport format combination selection and wherein the network node determined whether a data rate for the WTRU is to be incrementally increased or incrementally decreased.   
     
     
         6 . The WTRU of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 the receiver further configured to receive a third signal from the wireless network node, wherein the third signal modifies the transport format combination selection of the WTRU and the third signal is produced based on a determined data rate in response to a negotiated bit rate with a core network.