Simultaneous Reporting of ACK/NACK and Channel-State Information using PUCCH Format 3 Resources

Abstract

A new uplink control channel capability is introduced to enable a mobile terminal to simultaneously report multiple packet receipt status bits and channel-condition bits. In an example embodiment implemented in a mobile terminal the mobile terminal (first determines that channel-state information and hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits corresponding to a plurality of downlink subframes or a plurality of downlink carriers, or both, are scheduled for transmission in an uplink subframe. The mobile terminal then determines whether the number of the hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits is less than or equal to a threshold number. If so, the mobile terminal transmits both the channel-state information and the hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits in physical control channel resources of the first uplink subframe, on a single carrier. In some embodiments, the number of the hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits considered in the previously summarized technique represents a number of ACK/NACK bits after ACK/NACK bundling.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method in a mobile terminal for simultaneous reporting of channel-state information and hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK information in uplink subframes, the method comprising, at each of a plurality of reporting instances:
 determining that first channel-state information and first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits corresponding to a plurality of downlink subframes or a plurality of downlink carriers, or both, are scheduled for transmission in a first uplink subframe;   determining whether the number of the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits is less than or equal to a threshold number; and   transmitting both the first channel-state information and the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits in physical control channel resources of the first uplink subframe, on a single carrier, in the event that the number of hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits to be transmitted in the first uplink subframe is less than or equal to the threshold number; and, otherwise,   dropping the first channel state information and transmitting the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits in physical control channel resources of the first uplink subframe, on a single carrier, in the event that the number of hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits to be transmitted in the first uplink subframe is not less than or equal to the threshold number.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits represents a number of ACK/NACK bits after ACK/NACK bundling. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold number, for each instance, depends on the number of first channel-state information bits scheduled for transmission in the first uplink subframe. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold number is 10. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits and the first channel-state information are transmitted using a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) format 3 resource in a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, before transmitting both the first channel-state information and the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits:
 encoding the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits using a first encoder and separately encoding the first channel-state information bits using a second encoder; and   interleaving the encoded first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits and the encoded first channel-state information bits.   
     
     
         7 . A mobile terminal configured for simultaneous reporting of channel-state information and hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK information in uplink subframes, the mobile terminal comprising a receiver circuit, a transmitter circuit, and a processing circuit, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to, for each of a plurality of reporting instances:
 determine that first channel-state information and first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits corresponding to a plurality of downlink subframes or a plurality of downlink carriers, or both, are scheduled for transmission in a first uplink subframe;   determine whether the number of the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits is less than or equal to a threshold number; and   transmit both the first channel-state information and the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits in physical control channel resources of the first uplink subframe, on a single carrier, in the event that the number of hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits to be transmitted in the first uplink subframe is less than or equal to the threshold number; and, otherwise,   drop the first channel state information and transmit the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits in physical control channel resources of the first uplink subframe, on a single carrier, in the event that the number of hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits to be transmitted in the first uplink subframe is not less than or equal to the threshold number.   
     
     
         8 . The mobile terminal of  claim 7 , wherein the number of the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits represents a number of ACK/NACK bits after ACK/NACK bundling. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile terminal of  claim 7 , wherein the threshold number is 10. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile terminal of  claim 7 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to send the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits and the first channel-state information using a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) format 3 resource in a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless system. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile terminal of  claim 7 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to, before sending both the first channel-state information and the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits to the base station:
 encode the first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits using a first encoder and separately encoding the first channel-state information bits using a second encoder: and   interleave the encoded first hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits and the encoded first channel-state information bits.