Communicating scheduling requests in a wireless network

Abstract

In a wireless communication system including a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a Node-B, an uplink (UL) scheduling request is transmitted by the WTRU to the Node-B when the WTRU has buffered (user) data to transmit to the Node-B, but needs to have a scheduling grant for UL data transmission. The WTRU determines whether to transmit to the Node-B a short buffer status information message or a full buffer status information message, based on conditions, whereby the buffer status messages are transmitted with either a short-version UL scheduling request or a full-version UL scheduling request.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:
 a transmitter; and   a processor;   the processor is configured to determine that acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) information and channel quality information (CQI) are to be transmitted in an uplink control channel transmission;   the processor is further configured to determine that a scheduling request is to be transmitted;   the transmitter is configured to transmit a message in an uplink control channel transmission in response to the determination that ACK/NACK information and CQI are to be transmitted in a uplink control channel transmission and in response to the determination that the scheduling request is to be transmitted, wherein, based on an amount of information that the message is capable of carrying, the transmitted message includes the scheduling request, the ACK/NACK information, and at least a portion of the CQI;   the processor is further configured to determine that information indicating buffer status is to be transmitted; and   the transmitter is further configured to transmit the information indicating the buffer status as in-band information.   
     
     
         2 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein the scheduling request is needed for transmission of buffered data before a predetermined delay. 
     
     
         3 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein the message is transmitted in a sub-frame as L1 or L2 control information. 
     
     
         4 . The WTRU of  claim 1  wherein the message is transmitted on a condition that a scheduling grant is insufficient for buffered data. 
     
     
         5 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein status information or quality of service (QoS) requirements of the WTRU is transmitted along with the information indicating the buffer status. 
     
     
         6 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein the WTRU utilizes Long-Term Evolution (LTE) transmissions. 
     
     
         7 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein the scheduling request is prioritized over the information indicating the buffer status. 
     
     
         8 . The WTRU of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to send, after a predetermined number of sub-frames after transmission of the message, the information indicating the buffer status. 
     
     
         9 . A method performed by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:
 determining that acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) information and channel quality information (CQI) are to be transmitted in an uplink control channel transmission;   determining that a scheduling request is to be transmitted;   generating a message, the message comprising, based on an amount of information that the message is capable of carrying, the scheduling request and at least a portion of the ACK/NACK information and a portion of the CQI;   transmitting a message in a uplink control channel transmission in response to the determination that ACK/NACK information and CQI are to be transmitted in a uplink control channel transmission and in response to the determination that the scheduling request is to be transmitted, wherein based on an amount of information that the message is capable of carrying, the transmitted message includes the scheduling request, the ACK/NACK information, and at least a portion of the CQI;   determining that information indicating a buffer status is to be transmitted; and   transmitting the information indicating the buffer status as in-band information.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the scheduling request is needed for transmission of buffered data before a predetermined delay. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the message is transmitted in a sub-frame as L1 or L2 control information. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the message is transmitted on a condition that a scheduling grant is insufficient for buffered data. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein status information or quality of service (QoS) requirements of the WTRU are transmitted along with the information indicating the buffer status. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the WTRU utilizes Long-Term Evolution (LTE) transmissions. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the scheduling request is prioritized over the information indicating the buffer status. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising sending, after a predetermined number of sub-frames after transmission of the message, the information indicating the buffer status.