(19) United States
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`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0223455 A1
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`(43) Pub. Date:
`NOV. 11, 2004
`Fong et al.
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`US 20040223455A1
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`on May 9, 2003. Provisional application No. 60/469,
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`778, filed on May 12, 2003. Provisional application
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`No. 60/475,440, filed on Jun. 3, 2003. Provisional
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`application No. 60/478,792, filed on Jun. 16, 2003.
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`Provisional application No. 60/495,544, filed on Aug.
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`15, 2003. Provisional application No. 60/499,584,
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`filed on Sep. 2, 2003. Provisional application No.
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`60/452,370, filed on Mar. 6, 2003. Provisional appli-
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`cation No. 60/454,714, filed on Mar. 15, 2003. Pro-
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`visional application No. 60/457,215, filed on Mar. 25 ,
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`2003. Provisional application No. 60/459,534, filed
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`on Apr. 1, 2003. Provisional application No. 60/462,
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`220, filed on Apr. 11, 2003. Provisional application
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`No. 60/468,442, filed on May 6, 2003. Provisional
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`application No. 60/469,106, filed on May 9, 2003.
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`Provisional application No. 60/469,778, filed on May
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`12, 2003. Provisional application No. 60/475,440,
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`filed on Jun. 3, 2003. Provisional application No.
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`60/478,792, filed on Jun. 16, 2003. Provisional appli-
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`cation No. 60/495,544, filed on Aug. 15, 2003. Pro-
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`visional application No. 60/499,584, filed on Sep. 2,
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`2003.
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`Publication Classification
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`COMMUNICATING IN A REVERSE
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`WIRELESS LINK INFORMATION
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`RELATING TO BUFFER STATUS AND DATA
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`RATE OFA MOBILE STATION
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`Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, L’Orignal (CA); Jun
`Li, Richardson, TX (US); Sophie S.
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`Vrzic, Nepean (CA); Ali Iraqi, Kanata
`(CA); Ashvin H. Chheda, Plano, TX
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`(US)
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`Correspondence Address:
`TROP PRUNER & HU, PC
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`8554 KATY FREEWAY
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`SUITE 100
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`HOUSTON, TX 77024 (US)
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`Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited, St. Laurent
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`(CA)
`10/800,119
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`Appl. No.:
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`Filed:
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`Mar. 12, 2004
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`Related U.S. Application Data
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`Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/793,056,
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`filed on Mar. 4, 2004.
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`Provisional application No. 60/454,714, filed on Mar.
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`15, 2003. Provisional application No. 60/457,215,
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`filed on Mar. 25, 2003. Provisional application No.
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`60/459,534, filed on Apr. 1, 2003. Provisional appli-
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`cation No. 60/462,220, filed on Apr. 11, 2003. Pro-
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`visional application No. 60/468,442, filed on May 6,
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`2003. Provisional application No. 60/469,106, filed
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`(51)
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................... .. H04L 12/28
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`(52) U.S. Cl.
`....................................... .. 370/229; 370/395.4
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`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A Wireless communications network includes a mobile sta-
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`tion and base station that are capable of communicating over
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`a Wireless link. Information relating to a status of a buffer in
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`the mobile station and information relating to a data rate
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`over a reverse Wireless links is communicated over the
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`reverse Wireless link.
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`(54)
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`(75)
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`(73)
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`(21)
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`(22)
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`(63)
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`(60)
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`: 42
`— 42\'\
`— 44
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`— 16
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`PROCESSOR
`T HA E
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`S 0
`G
`BUF
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`BUF
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`SCHEDULE}?
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`B73
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`20
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`PFIOCESSOH
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`35
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`STORAGE
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`PACKET
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`DATA
`NETWORK
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`330
`_ 43
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`~ 50
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`BS
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`PCF
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`5:3
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`78
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`3 W3
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`— 46
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`45
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`16
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`CELL
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`16
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 11, 2004 Sheet 1 of 5
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`US 2004/0223455 A1
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` PACKET
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`DATA
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`NETWORK
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`FIG.1
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`PROCESSOR
`STORAGE
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`,—40
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`SCHEDULER
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`20
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`.BTS
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`PROCESSOR
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`

`
`Patent Application Publication Nov. 11, 2004 Sheet 2 of 5
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`US 2004/0223455 A1
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`msmm
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`EE8:amsfim
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`585
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`9539.38smfifiq
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`N.5:
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`mmqmmmzEnemammfismmE2Q.:§EQ....>=>6Emé
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 11, 2004 Sheet 3 of 5
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`US 2004/0223455 A1
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`_
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`I
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`1/202
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`TRIGGER 1 0R 3
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`DETECT TYPE
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`TRIGGER 2
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`05 TRIGGER
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`212
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`SET sr_/'d=N
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`SET sr_/d =i
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`FOR/= Luv
`204
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`/-— 214
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`SET
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`SET
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`buffer_size =buffer_status[N]
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`buffer_s/'ze = buffer_status[I]
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`ENCODE BUFFER
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`STATUS
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`ENCODE BUFFER
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`STATUS
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`216
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`217
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`ENCODE
`TPR
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`’
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`ENCODE TPR
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`CONTINUE
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`FIG. 3
`
`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 11, 2004 Sheet 4 of 5
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`US 2004/0223455 A1
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`BS
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`MS
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`CALL SETUP MESSAGING
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`EXTENDED CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT MESSAGE
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`(REV_PDCH_MAX_AUTO_TPRS)
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`304
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`SERVICE CONNECTMESSAGE (REV_PDCH_AUTO_ALLOWEDS [I])
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`305
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`A
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`306
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`FIG. 4
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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` STORE
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`RECEIVED
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`PARAMETERS
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`DETECT
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`DATA TO
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`TRANSMIT
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`OVER REVERSE
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`WIRELESS LINK
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` PREPARE DA TA T0 TRANSMIT
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`FOR SERVICE SR_ID
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`IF REV_PDCH_AUT0_ALL0WEDS [sr_id]
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`=1
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` SET DATA TRANSMISSION
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`RA TE UP TO
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`REV_PDCH_MAX_AUTO__TPR S
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`308
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`UNIVERSAL HANDOFF DIRECTION MESSAGE
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`(REV_PDCH_MAX_AUTO_TPRS, REV_PDCH_AUTO_ALLOWEDS[I])
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 11, 2004 Sheet 5 of 5
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`US 2004/0223455 A1
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`F|G.5
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`402
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`R—PDCH
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`R-REOCH
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`|D7X|D7X|D7X|DTX||II
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`

`
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`US 2004/0223455 A1
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`
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`Nov. 11, 2004
`
`
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`COMMUNICATING IN A REVERSE WIRELESS
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`LINK INFORMATION RELATING TO BUFFER
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`STATUS AND DATA RATE OF A MOBILE STATION
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`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`
`
`APPLICATIONS
`
`
`[0001] This claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of
`
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`
`
`U.S. Provisional Applications Ser. Nos. 60/454,714, filed
`
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`
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`Mar. 15, 2003; 60/457,215, filed Mar. 25, 2003; 60/459,534,
`
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`filed Apr. 1, 2003; 60/462,220, filed Apr. 11, 2003; 60/468,
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`442, filed May 6, 2003; 60/469,106, filed May 9, 2003;
`
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`
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`60/469,778, filed May 12, 2003; 60/475,440, filed Jun. 3,
`
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`2003; 60/478,792, filed Jun. 16, 2003; 60/495,544, filed
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`Aug. 15, 2003; and 60/499,584, filed Sep. 2, 2003.
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`[0002] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent appli-
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`cation, entitled “AUTONOMOUS MODE TRANSMIS-
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`
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`SION FROM A MOBILE STATION,” filed Mar. 4, 2004,
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`
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`which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.
`
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`
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`Provisional Applications Ser. Nos. 60/452,370, filed Mar. 6,
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`2003; 60/454,714, filed Mar. 15, 2003; 60/457,215, filed
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`Mar. 25, 2003; 60/459,534, filed Apr. 1, 2003; 60/462,220,
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`filed Apr. 11, 2003; 60/468,442, filed May 6, 2003; 60/469,
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`106, filed May 9, 2003; 60/469,778, filed May 12, 2003;
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`60/475,440, filed Jun. 3, 2003; 60/478,792, filed Jun. 16,
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`2003; 60/495,544, filed Aug. 15, 2003; and 60/499,584, filed
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`Sep. 2, 2003.
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`[0003] Each of applications referenced above is hereby
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`incorporated by reference.
`TECHNICAL FIELD
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`in a
`[0004] The invention relates to communicating,
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`reverse wireless link, information relating to buffer status
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`and data rate of a mobile station.
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`BACKGROUND
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`[0005] A mobile communications network is typically
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`made up of a plurality of cells. Each cell includes a radio
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`base station, with each base station connected to a mobile
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`switching center or a packet service node that manages
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`communications sessions between mobile stations and ter-
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`minals coupled to a public switched telephone network
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`(PSTN) or a packet-based data network. Communications
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`between mobile stations and base stations are performed
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`over wireless links
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`[0006] Traditional wireless protocols provide for circuit-
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`switched communications. Such protocols include time-
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`division multiple access (TDMA) protocols and code-divi-
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`sion multiple access (CDMA) protocols.
`In a circuit-
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`switched network, a channel portion between two endpoints
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`(e.g., two mobile stations) is occupied for the duration of the
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`connection between the endpoints.
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`[0007] However, with the wide availability of the Internet
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`and intranets, packet-switched communications (e.g., web
`browsing, electronic mail, and so forth) have become more
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`common. Generally, a circuit-switched connection is an
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`inefficient mechanism for communicating packet data. As a
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`result, third generation (3G) and beyond wireless technolo-
`gies are being developed and implemented to provide higher
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`bandwidth and more efficient packet-switched communica-
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`tions (of data as well as voice and other forms of real-time
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`data) over wireless networks.
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`[0008] One example of a packet-switched wireless tech-
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`nology is defined by the CDMA 2000 family of standards,
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`developed by the Third Generation Partnership Project 2
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`(3GPP2). A CDMA 2000 wireless communications network
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`is capable of supporting both circuit-switched services and
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`packet-switched services. For TDMA, packet-switched
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`wireless communications protocols have also been devel-
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`oped, such as the Enhanced General Packer Radio Service
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`(EGPRS) protocol as defined by the 3GPP (Third Generation
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`Partnership Project) UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommu-
`nications System) Release 1999 Standard, and others.
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`[0009] Packet-switched data communications is inher-
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`ently bursty in nature. In other words, data is sent in short
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`periods of bursts followed by intervals where no data is
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`communicated. Abase station typically includes a scheduler
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`to schedule channels for a mobile station to transmit packet
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`data over a reverse wireless link. However, the scheduling
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`mechanisms employed by conventional base stations do not
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`efficiently manage loading of the reverse wireless link for
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`packet-switched communications.
`SUMMARY
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`[0010]
`In general, according to one embodiment, a method
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`for use in a wireless communications network includes
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`communicating, in a reverse wireless link, information relat-
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`ing to a status of a buffer in the mobile station and infor-
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`mation relating to a data rate of transmission over the reverse
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`wireless link.
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`[0011] Other or alternative features will become apparent
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`from the following description, from the drawings, and from
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`the claims.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example arrange-
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`ment of a mobile or wireless communications network that
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`incorporates an embodiment of the invention.
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`[0013] FIG. 2 is a message flow diagram of signaling
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`between a base station and a mobile station, in accordance
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`with an embodiment.
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`[0014] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a procedure that
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`triggers
`transmission of
`a
`reverse
`request
`channel
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`(R-REQCH) over a reverse wireless link, in accordance with
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`an embodiment.
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`[0015] FIG. 4 is a message flow diagram of a procedure
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`for enabling autonomous communication of data from the
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`mobile station to the base station at a rate up to a maximum
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`autonomous data rate, in accordance with an embodiment of
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`the invention.
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`[0016] FIG. 5 is a timing diagram to illustrate timing
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`relationships between R-REQCH messages and frames
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`transmitted on a reverse packet data channel (R-PDCH), in
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`accordance with an embodiment.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`[0017]
`In the following description, numerous details are
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`set forth to provide an understanding of the present inven-
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`tion. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the
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`art that the present invention may be practiced without these
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`details and that numerous variations or modifications from
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`the described embodiments may be possible.
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`

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`US 2004/0223455 A1
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`
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`Nov. 11, 2004
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`[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless or mobile commu-
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`nications network according to one embodiment includes
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`components that operate according to CDMA (code-divi-
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`sional multiple access) 2000. CDMA 2000 is defined by the
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`CDMA 2000 family of standards (including the TIA-2000
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`standards, TIA-2001 standards, and the TIA-2000-D stan-
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`dards). However,
`in other embodiments, other types of
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`wireless protocols can be used for communications in the
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`wireless communications network, including other versions
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`of CDMA, TDMA protocols, UMTS (Universal Mobile
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`Telecommunications System) protocols, and other proto-
`cols.
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`[0019] The wireless communications network includes
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`multiple cells 18, each including a base transceiver sub-
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`system (BTS) 20 for performing radio telecommunications
`with mobile stations within the coverage area of the cell 18.
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`The BTS entities 20 are connected to one or more base
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`station controllers (BSCs) 22. Collectively, a BTS 20 and
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`BSC 22 are referred to as a “base station”19. More generally,
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`a “base station” refers to any entity (or collection of entities)
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`that communicates wirelessly with mobile stations and that
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`exchanges control signaling with the mobile stations for
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`establishing, terminating, or otherwise managing communi-
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`cation sessions (e.g., circuit-switched communications ses-
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`sions, and so forth). Note that, in some implementations,
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`multiple BTSs can be connected to each BSC.
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`[0020] For communicating circuit-switched voice traffic,
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`the base station 19 is coupled to a mobile switching center
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`(MSC) 24, which is responsible for switching mobile sta-
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`tion-originated
`or mobile
`station-terminated
`circuit-
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`switched traffic. Effectively, the MSC 24 is the interface for
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`signaling and user traffic between the wireless network and
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`other public switched networks (such as a public switched
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`telephone network (PSTN) 26 or other MSCs. The PSTN 26
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`is connected to landline terminals, such as telephones 28.
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`In a voice call session between a mobile station
`[0021]
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`(such as mobile station 16) and a landline terminal (such as
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`telephone 28), voice traffic is routed through the air interface
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`between the mobile station 16 and a base station 14, and
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`through the base station 14, MSC 24, and PSTN 26.
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`[0022] The wireless communications network 10 also sup-
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`ports packet data services, in which packet data is commu-
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`nicated between a mobile station and another endpoint,
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`which can be a terminal coupled to a packet data network 34
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`or another mobile station that is capable of communicating
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`packet data. Examples of the packet data network 34 include
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`private networks (such as local area networks or wide area
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`networks) and public networks (such as the Internet). Packet
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`data is communicated in a packet-switched communications
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`session established between the mobile station and the other
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`endpoint.
`[0023] To communicate packet data, the base station 19 is
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`coupled to a packet control function (PCF) module 32,
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`which manages the relay of packets between the BSC 22 and
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`a packet data serving node (PDSN) 30. The BSC 22 and PCF
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`module 32 can be implemented on one platform or on
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`multiple platforms. A “platform” generally refers to an
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`assembly of hardware and software that provides predefined
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`tasks.
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`[0024] The PDSN 30 establishes, maintains, and termi-
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`nates link layer sessions to mobile stations, and routes
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`station-terminated
`mobile
`station-originated or mobile
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`packet data traffic. The PDSN 30 is coupled to the packet
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`data network 34, which is connected to various endpoints,
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`such as a computer 36 or a network telephone 38 (which is
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`a telephone that is fitted with a network interface card for
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`communications over packet data networks). Examples of
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`packet-switched communications include web browsing,
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`electronic mail, text chat sessions, file transfers, interactive
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`game sessions, voice-over-IP (Internet Protocol) sessions,
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`and so forth.
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`[0025] The wireless communications network thus pro-
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`two different
`types of communications: circuit-
`vides
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`switched communications and packet-switched communica-
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`tions. Circuit-switched communications are routed through
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`the MSC 24, while packet-switched communications are
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`routed through the PDSN 30. In circuit-switched commu-
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`nications, a dedicated end-to-end channel is established for
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`the duration of a call session. However, packet-switched
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`communications utilize a connectionless intranetwork layer,
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`such as that defined by the Internet Protocol (IP). In packet-
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`switched communications, packets or other units of data
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`carry routing information (in the form of network addresses)
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`that are used to route the packets or data units over one or
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`more paths to a destination endpoint.
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`[0026] One version of IP, referred to as IPv4, is described
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`in Request for Comments (RFC) 791, entitled “Internet
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`Protocol,” dated Sep. 1981; and another version of IP,
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`referred to as IPv6, is described in RFC 2460, “Internet
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`Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification,” dated December
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`1998.
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`[0027]
`In the ensuing discussion, reference is made to the
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`transmission of packet data by a mobile station. However,
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`note that techniques according to some embodiments of the
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`invention can also be applied to circuit-switched communi-
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`cations.
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`[0028]
`In accordance with some embodiments of the
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`invention, a reverse request message is sent in the reverse
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`wireless link from the mobile station to the base station. The
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`reverse request message contains at
`least
`two types of
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`information:
`the maximum supportable data rate of the
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`mobile station, and the status of buffer(s) in the mobile
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`station. Buffer status refers to an occupancy of a buffer or
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`buffers.
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`[0029] The buffer status and maximum data rate informa-
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`tion communicated in the reverse request message enables a
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`scheduler 40 in the base station 19 to provision for the
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`amount of ROT (rise-over-thermal) or load in the reverse
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`wireless link that is occupied by users. ROT, or rise-over-
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`thermal, is defined as the ratio of total interference over
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`thermal noise power. ROT is basically a measure of the
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`loading of the reverse wireless link. In other implementa-
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`tions, other measures of loading of the reverse wireless link
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`can be used.
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`[0030] A mobile station can transmit in one of two modes:
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`autonomous mode and scheduled mode. In scheduled mode,
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`an explicit assignment of the data rate is provided by the
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`scheduler 40 in the base station 19 to the mobile station 16.
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`In autonomous mode, a mobile station 16 containing data to
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`transmit does not have to wait for the scheduler 40 to
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`schedule a channel for the mobile station 16. Instead, the
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`mobile station 16 is able to autonomously send data over the
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`
`
`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
`
`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
`
`

`
`
`
`US 2004/0223455 A1
`
`
`
`Nov. 11, 2004
`
`
`
`[0035] The length of each field is provided for the purpose
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`of example. Other implementations can use other lengths of
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`the fields.
`In the reverse request message,
`the MAXI-
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`MUM_TPR field indicates the maximum traffic-to-pilot
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`ratio for the reverse packet data channel. The traffic-to-pilot
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`ratio represents the ratio of the energy of traffic channels to
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`the pilot channel. The maximum traffic-to-pilot ratio is used
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`as an indication of the maximum supportable data rate,
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`where a higher traffic-to-pilot ratio implies a higher data
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`rate.
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`[0036] The SR_ID field in the reverse request message
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`contains a service reference identifier (sr_id) to identify a
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`service instance. A mobile station is capable of being
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`involved in multiple communications sessions to provide
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`multiple respective services (each such service is also
`referred to as a service instance). Examples of services
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`include a voice-over-IP service, a web browsing service, an
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`electronic mail service, a text chat service, a file download
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`service, an interactive gaming service, and so forth. Multiple
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`concurrent communications sessions for respective services
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`can be set up by a mobile station 16. The SR_ID field is set
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`to the service reference identifier of the service instance that
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`caused generation of a trigger for transmission of a reverse
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`request message. Alternatively, the SR_ID field can be set to
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`a predetermined value, such as “111,” if the trigger that
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`caused the reverse request message to be sent is associated
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`with a combination of service instances.
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`[0037]
`Instead of, or in addition to the SR_ID field, a
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`service or scheduling class field can also be included. A
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`service class indicates a level of service the scheduler 40 in
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`the base station should provide to the mobile station. The
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`base station can assign the same service class to more than
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`one service instance of a mobile station.
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`[0038] Another field, the EVENT field, contains an event
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`code that corresponds to the buffer status of the mobile
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`station. The buffer status indicates the amount of data stored
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`in a buffer for a service instance. The event code is derived
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`from an event code table stored in the mobile station that
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`associates ranges of data amounts with corresponding codes.
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`In some implementations, the event code table is configured
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`by the base station during call setup or within an active call.
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`Effectively, reporting the buffer status in the EVENT field
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`allows the base station to know how much data the mobile
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`station has, and thus to decide the scheduling priority and
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`what data rate to assign the mobile station in scheduled
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`mode.
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`[0039]
`In sum, the reverse request message contains infor-
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`mation to enable the scheduler 40 in the base station 19 to
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`determine data rate requirements of a corresponding mobile
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`station. The MAXIMUM_TPR value provides insight into
`
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`the maximum data rate supportable by the mobile station,
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`based on power constraints. The EVENT field indicates the
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`status of a buffer in the mobile station for a particular service
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`instance. The buffer status can be used by the scheduler 40
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`to determine an expected data rate requirement on a reverse
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`channel
`(e.g., R-PDCH). Thus, whereas
`the MAXI-
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`MUM_TPR field provides an indication of a power-limited
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`data rate for transmissions on R-PDCH, the EVENT field
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`provides an indication of a buffer-limited data rate for
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`transmissions on R-PDCH.
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`
`
`[0040]
`In alternative embodiments, other combinations of
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`fields in the reverse request message can be used. For
`
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`
`
`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
`
`reverse wireless link at a data rate that is less than or equal
`
`
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`to a specified maximum autonomous data rate (specified by
`
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`the base station 19). Effectively, in autonomous mode, the
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`mobile station 16 is able to transfer packet data at a data rate
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`up to the maximum autonomous data rate without an explicit
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`scheduled rate assignment received in either layer 2 signal-
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`ing or layer 3 signaling messages from the scheduler 40 in
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`the base station 19.
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`[0031] As further shown in FIG. 1, each mobile station 16
`
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`includes a processor 42 and a storage 44. The processor 42
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`provides a processing core on which one or more software
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`modules are executable to enable the mobile station to
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`perform various tasks. Also, the mobile station 16 includes
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`buffers 46 for temporarily holding data that are to be
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`communicated over the reverse wireless link to the base
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`station 19. The base station 19 also includes a processor 48
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`and a storage 50 (or multiple processors and storages). The
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`scheduler 40 can be a software module that is executable on
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`the processor 48.
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`[0032] Because mobile stations are able to transmit
`
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`autonomously, a base station 19 is unable to directly control
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`through the use of data rate assignment messages the loading
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`of the reverse wireless link. Therefore, according to some
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`the
`embodiments, a mechanism that
`takes into account
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`autonomous transmitting capability of mobile stations is
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`provided to enable the scheduler 40 in the base station 19 to
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`efficiently schedule usage of the air
`interface between
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`mobile stations and the base station.
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`[0033] To determine the bandwidth requirements of the
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`mobile stations being served by the base station 19, the
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`scheduler 40 uses the buffer status and maximum support-
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`able data rate information provided in the reverse request
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`message. In this manner, the scheduler 40 can determine a
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`data rate to grant each mobile station in scheduled mode.
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`Also, in one implementation, the scheduler 40 can use the
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`reverse request message information to determine how much
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`of the bandwidth of the reverse wireless link will be taken
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`up by the autonomous mode mobile stations (the mobile
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`stations transmitting in autonomous mode). Any remaining
`bandwidth of the reverse wireless link can then be allocated
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`to scheduled mode mobile stations by the scheduler 40
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`explicitly assigning data rates to the scheduled mode mobile
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`stations. In scheduled mode, assignment of a data rate to a
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`mobile station can be performed by the base station sending
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`a grant message in a grant channel (GCH) to a mobile
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`station.
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`[0034]
`In accordance with an embodiment of the inven-
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`tion, the reverse request message is communicated from the
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`mobile station to the base station on a reverse request
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`channel (R-REQCH). Packet data is communicated from the
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`mobile station to the base station in a reverse packet data
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`channel (R-PDCH). In one implementation,
`the message
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`format of a reverse request message is as follows:
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`FIELD
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`RESERVED
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`MAXIMUM_TPR
`SR_ID
`EVENT
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`LENGTH (bits)
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`1
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`4
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`3
`4
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`Petitioner's Exhibit 1004
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`

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`US 2004/0223455 A1
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`Nov. 11, 2004
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`example, instead of having separate MAXIMUM_TPR and
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`EVENT fields to represent power headroom and buffer
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`status information, one field can be employed. This one field
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`(referred to as a CODE field) can convey either power-
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`related information (a code to represent the maximum TPR
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`or a power-limited data rate) or buffer-related information (a
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`code to represent buffer status or a buffer-limited data rate).
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`Another field, referred to as a STATUS field, in the reverse
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`request message can be used to indicate whether the CODE
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`field is carrying power-related information or buffer-related
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`information. Thus, effectively, in this alternative embodi-
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`ment, if the STATUS field has a first value, then the CODE
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`field contains information indicative of data rate that is
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`based on buffer occupancy (the amount of data present in a
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`buffer for a particular service instance). However, if the
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`STATUS field has a second value, then the CODE field
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`contains information indicative of data rate that is based on
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`power headroom.
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`[0041] Power-related information can be in the form of (1)
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`a maximum power-limited data rate, (2) a maximum power-
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`limited effective traffic-to-pilot ratio, (3) the actual power
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`headroom remaining in the mobile station in dBm, (4) the
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`actual mobile station pilot transmit power in dBm, or (5) an
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`encoded value representing any of the above. The buffer-
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`related information can be in the form of (1) a