I 1111111111111111 1111111111 111111111111111 IIIII IIIII IIIII IIIIII IIII IIII IIII
`USO 10264569B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Dahlman et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.: US 10,264,569 B2
`* Apr. 16, 2019
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`CONFIGURING SOUNDING SIGNALS IN A
`WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK
`
`(71) Applicant: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
`(publ), Stockholm (SE)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Erik Dahlman, Stockholm (SE); Ylva
`Jading, Stockholm (SE); Stefan
`Parkvall, Bromma (SE)
`
`(73) Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
`(publ), Stockholm (SE)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC ...... H04B 1/0057; H04B 1/406; H04B 1/707;
`H04B 7/2634; H04B 7/2618;
`(Continued)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,757,850 A * 5/1998 Takaki .................. H04L 1/0046
`375/225
`
`7,630,733 B2
`
`12/2009 Usuda et al.
`(Continued)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`CN
`EP
`WO
`
`1981447 A
`2023504 A2
`2006034577 Al
`
`6/2007
`2/2009
`4/2006
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 15/483,171
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Apr. 10, 2017
`
`(65)
`
`(63)
`
`(51)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2017/0223679 Al
`Aug. 3, 2017
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 14/797,268, filed on
`Jul. 13, 2015, now Pat. No. 9,642,130, which is a
`(Continued)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04W72/04
`H04W99/00
`H04W 28118
`H04L 5100
`
`(2009.01)
`(2009.01)
`(2009.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ......... H04W 721042 (2013.01); H04L 510051
`(2013.01); H04W 7211268 (2013.01);
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Nokia Siemens Networks et al., "UL Sounding Reference Signal",
`3GPP TSG RAN WGl #49bis, Jun. 25-29, 2007, pp. 1-5, Orlando,
`US, Rl-072988.
`
`Primary Examiner - Gary Lafontant
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Coats & Bennett, PLLC
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`The teachings presented herein propose a separation
`between the configuration of a sounding signal, and the
`initialization of the sounding signal. In other words, in at
`least one example embodiment proposed herein, a base
`station or other controlling entity sends, to a mobile station,
`an explicit or implicit indication that causes the mobile
`station to transmit a sounding signal according to sounding
`signal configuration parameters that at least a portion of
`which were previously and separately sent to the mobile
`station.
`
`21 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
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`
`IPR2022-00456
`Apple EX1001 Page 1
`
`

`

`US 10,264,569 B2
`Page 2
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`continuation of application No. 12/672,357, filed as
`application No. PCT/EP2008/057722 on Jun. 18,
`2008, now Pat. No. 9,131,534.
`Provisional application No. 60/954,736, filed on Aug.
`8, 2007.
`
`(2009.01)
`(2009.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04W72/12
`H04W 88/08
`U.S. Cl.
`CPC ............ H04W 99/00 (2013.01); H04W 28/18
`(2013.01); H04W 88/08 (2013.01)
`Field of Classification Search
`CPC ............... H04L 1/0002; H04L 12/5601; H04L
`2012/5625; H04L 2012/563
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`8,086,272 B2 * 12/2011 Teo .
`
`8,213,994 B2 * 7/2012 Cave.
`
`H04B 7/0691
`370/208
`H04W 74/0891
`455/436
`
`9,642,130 B2 * 5/2017 Dahlman
`2007/0230373 Al
`10/2007 Li et al.
`2007/0253379 Al
`11/2007 Kumar et al.
`2008/0062953 Al
`3/2008 Li et al.
`2008/0095223 Al
`4/2008 Tong et al.
`2008/0268857 Al
`10/2008 McCoy et al.
`2008/0273494 Al * 11/2008 Vook ..................... H04L 5/0094
`370/330
`
`2009/0042615 Al
`2012/0243501 Al
`
`2/2009 Teo et al.
`9/2012 Vook et al.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`IPR2022-00456
`Apple EX1001 Page 2
`
`

`

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`IPR2022-00456
`Apple EX1001 Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 16, 2019
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 10,264,569 B2
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`IPR2022-00456
`Apple EX1001 Page 4
`
`

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`IPR2022-00456
`Apple EX1001 Page 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 16, 2019
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 10,264,569 B2
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`IPR2022-00456
`Apple EX1001 Page 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 16, 2019
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 10,264,569 B2
`
`IPR2022-00456
`Apple EX1001 Page 7
`
`

`

`US 10,264,569 B2
`
`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`CONFIGURING SOUNDING SIGNALS IN A
`WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`2
`transmitted subcarriers, also sometimes referred to as the
`repetition factor (RPF) of the sounding signal ( a spacing of
`two is illustrated).
`The LTE uplink time-domain structure is outlined in FIG.
`5 2. Each subframe oflength 1 ms consists of two equal-sized
`slots of length 0.5 ms. Each slot then consists of seven
`symbols. Within each slot, one symbol is used as a so called
`(demodulation) reference signal, which is not the same as
`the sounding (reference) signals introduced above. Indeed,
`10 such demodulation reference signals are used for uplink
`channel estimation to enable coherent uplink detection. The
`remaining symbols in each slot are typically used for data
`transmission. Within each subframe there are thus two
`demodulation reference symbols and twelve "data" symbols.
`Accordingly, if sounding signals are to be transmitted on
`the uplink, a subset of the data symbols, e.g. every M-th data
`symbol, can be replaced by sounding signals. Typically the
`sounding signals are not transmitted in every subframe.
`Instead, one data symbol in every N-th subframe is replaced
`20 by a sounding signal ( consisting of a number of subcarriers
`according to FIG. 1). Thus, in the time domain, the sounding
`signal structure can be characterized as shown in FIG. 3 by:
`the period (measured in the number of subframes) of the
`sounding signal, i.e. how often the sounding signal is
`25 transmitted (a period of four subframes is shown in FIG. 3);
`the time offset (measured in number of subframes) of the
`sounding signal (an offset of two subframes is shown in FIG.
`3); the position of the sounding signal within the subframe,
`i.e., which data symbol has been replaced by a sounding
`30 signal (not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 3).
`Within the above context, different modulation can be
`applied to the transmitted subcarriers of the sounding sig(cid:173)
`nals. This modulation may differ between different terminals
`within a cell or different terminals in neighbor cells. As an
`35 example, for 3GPP LTE, the modulation of the transmitted
`subcarriers is assumed to be based on so-called Zadoff-Chu
`sequences that have been extended to a length equal to the
`number of transmitted subcarriers. For a terminal to transmit
`sounding signals, it needs to know the parameters used for
`the sounding signal transmission including: the frequency
`domain parameters (bandwidth, number of transmitted sub-
`carriers, spacing between transmitted subcarriers (repetition
`factor), index of first transmitted subcarrier, etc.); time(cid:173)
`domain parameters (period, offset, position within the sub-
`45 frame, etc.); and which modulation symbols to use for the
`transmitted subcarriers of the sounding reference signal.
`Some of these sounding signal configuration parameters
`may be implicitly given, for example, by the identity of the
`cell in which a terminal is active. However, several of the
`parameters are provided ( configured) by means of downlink
`signaling to the terminal. In many cases, sounding signals
`are only to be transmitted intermittently, e.g., when the
`mobile terminal is to transmit data on the uplink. In view of
`this intermittent transmission, a base station could be con(cid:173)
`figured to send sounding signal configuration parameters to
`a terminal each time the terminal is intended to transmit
`sounding signals. However,
`that arrangement imposes
`potentially high signaling overhead for managing sounding
`signal transmissions from a plurality of terminals.
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 14/797,268, filed Jul. 13, 2015, which is a
`continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/672,357,
`filed Feb. 5, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,131,534, issued Sep.
`8, 2015, which is the National Stage oflnternational Patent
`Application No. PCT/EP2008/057722, filed Jun. 18, 2008,
`which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application
`No. 60/954,736, filed Aug. 8, 2007, all of which the contents 15
`are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth
`below.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention generally relates to wireless com(cid:173)
`munication networks, and particularly relates to configuring
`sounding signal transmissions in such networks.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`40
`
`Uplink sounding reference signals ("sounding signals")
`are known signals transmitted on the uplink (mobile-termi(cid:173)
`nal-to-network) direction. Such sounding signals can be
`used by the receiver (the base station) to estimate the uplink
`channel quality, including the uplink channel quality for
`different frequency bands. The channel-quality estimates
`can e.g. be used by the uplink scheduler (located in the base
`station) to determine a suitable uplink data rate (uplink rate
`control) or select a suitable frequency band for the uplink
`transmission for a given mobile terminal (so called channel(cid:173)
`dependent frequency-domain scheduling).
`Uplink sounding signals can also be used by the receiver
`to estimate the timing of the received signal. Such receive-
`timing estimates can be used by the network subsequently to
`adjust the mobile-terminal transmit timing in order to time(cid:173)
`align the receive timing of the uplink transmissions of
`different mobile terminals. Other uses of the uplink sounding
`signals are also possible.
`In Long Term Evolution (LTE), as being developed by the
`Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the uplink
`sounding signals can be seen as OFDM signals, implying
`that they consist of a number of subcarriers with suitable
`modulation applied to each subcarrier. 3GPP Technical 50
`Specifications (TSs) serving as useful references for addi(cid:173)
`tional background details include: 3GPP TS 36.211, entitled
`"Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA);
`Physical channels and modulation"; 3GPP TS 36.213,
`entitled "Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access 55
`(E-UTRA); Physical layer procedures"; 3GPP TS 36.321,
`entitled "Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access
`(E-UTRA); Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol speci(cid:173)
`fication"; and 3GPP TS 36.331, entitled "Evolved Universal
`Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Radio Resource Con- 60
`trol (RRC); Protocol specification".
`FIG. 1 generally illustrates an OFDM context for sound(cid:173)
`ing signals. As shown, a sounding signal can be character(cid:173)
`ized in the frequency domain by: the index of the first
`transmitted subcarrier of the sounding signal (index eight is 65
`illustrated); the number of transmitted subcarriers of the
`sounding signal (twelve are illustrated); the spacing between
`
`SUMMARY
`
`The teachings presented herein propose a separation
`between the configuration of a sounding signal and the
`initialization of the sounding signal. In other words, in at
`least one example embodiment proposed herein, a base
`station or other controlling entity separates the selection of
`
`IPR2022-00456
`Apple EX1001 Page 8
`
`

`

`US 10,264,569 B2
`
`5
`
`3
`sounding signal parameters (sounding signal configuration)
`and the signaling of that configuration information to a
`mobile terminal from the "ordering" or other initiation of
`sounding signal transmission. Thus, a mobile station may be
`sent sounding signal configuration information and subse-
`quently be commanded (implicitly or explicitly) to begin
`sounding signal transmissions according to the previously
`provided configuration information.
`Accordingly, one or more embodiments presented herein
`provide a method of controlling the transmission of sound- 10
`ing signals by a mobile station operating in a wireless
`communication network. The method is characterized by
`sending configuration parameters for a sounding signal to be
`transmitted by the mobile station, and subsequently sending
`a command or other initiating signal to the mobile station 15
`separately from said configuration parameters, to cause the
`mobile station to transmit the sounding signal according to
`said configuration parameters. In at least one embodiment,
`the method is further characterized by sending updated
`configuration parameters on a first time basis, and sending 20
`commands or other initiating signals to cause the mobile
`station to transmit the sounding signal on a second, faster
`time basis.
`Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above
`contexts, nor is it limited to the above features and advan(cid:173)
`tages. Indeed, those skilled in the art will recognize addi(cid:173)
`tional features and advantages upon reading the following
`detailed description, and upon viewing the accompanying
`drawings.
`
`4
`correspondingly are Enhanced Node Bs (eNodeBs), and the
`mobile stations 18 are LTE-compatible handsets or other
`wireless communication devices. Indeed, it should be under-
`stood that the term "mobile station" as used herein broadly
`encompasses essentially any type of wireless communica(cid:173)
`tion device including but not limited to cellular radiotele-
`phones, wireless pagers, PDAs, computers, and network/
`modem cards or modules.
`Turning back to the illustrated details, the example base
`station 16 includes one or more antennas 20, radiofrequency
`(RF) transceiver circuits 22, and one or more processing/
`control circuits 24, which include network layer/protocol
`processors 26, 28, and 30. These processors 26, 28, and 30
`respectively provide physical layer, Medium Access Control
`(MAC) layer, and Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer
`processing and control. In terms of implementation, such
`processors comprise hardware, software, or any combina(cid:173)
`tion thereof. In at least one embodiment, the base station's
`processing/control circuits 24 include one or more computer
`systems, e.g., cards or modules including microprocessor/
`DSP circuits. One or more memory circuits and/or storage
`devices included in the base station 16 serve as a computer
`readable medium or media for storing computer program
`instructions, including instructions for implementing the
`25 sounding signal teachings presented herein.
`Similarly, the example mobile station 18 includes one or
`more antennas 40, an RF transceiver 42, and one or more
`processing/control circuits 44. As with the base station 16,
`these processing/control circuits 44 may be implemented via
`30 digital processing circuits, such as one or more micropro(cid:173)
`cessors, DSPs, etc. In at least one embodiment, the process(cid:173)
`ing/control circuits 44 include a baseband processor for
`processing incoming downlink communication signals after
`downconversion and digitization via the RF transceiver 42,
`35 and for generating outgoing uplink communication signals
`for transmission via the RF transceiver 42 and antenna( s) 40.
`The processing/control circuits 44 also include a system
`controller in one or more embodiments, which may be
`implemented with the baseband processor or separately from
`40 it. The system controller provides overall device control,
`such as user interface management, etc.
`It should be understood that the illustrated base station
`and mobile station implementations represent non-limiting
`examples, in as much as other functional circuit arrange(cid:173)
`ments may be used to implement the sounding signal
`functionality described herein. Regarding that functionality,
`the base station 16 is, in one or more embodiments, config(cid:173)
`ured to control the transmission of sounding signals by the
`mobile station 18. Accordingly, the base station 16 is char(cid:173)
`acterized by one or more processing circuits---e.g., the
`processing/control circuits 24-that are configured to send
`configuration parameters for a sounding signal to be trans(cid:173)
`mitted by the mobile station 18, and subsequently send a
`command or other initiating signal to the mobile station 18
`55 separately from said configuration parameters, to cause the
`mobile station 18 to transmit the sounding signal according
`to said configuration parameters.
`In at least one embodiment, the base station 16 is further
`characterized in that the one or more processing circuits are
`60 configured to send updated configuration parameters on a
`first time basis, and send commands or other initiating
`signals to cause the mobile station 18 to transmit the
`sounding signal on a second, faster time basis. Additionally,
`in at least one embodiment, the base station 16 is further
`65 characterized in that the one or more processing circuits are
`configured to use Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling
`to send the configuration parameters. Still further, in at least
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of conventional sounding signal
`transmission depicted in a frequency domain, such as might
`be used in an LTE system.
`FIG. 2 is a diagram of conventional uplink time-domain
`structuring, as used in LTE systems.
`FIG. 3 is a diagram of conventional sounding signal
`transmission depicting a time domain, such as used in LTE
`systems.
`FIG. 4 is a diagram of a wireless communication network,
`including embodiments of a base station and a mobile
`station configured according to the sounding signal teach(cid:173)
`ings presented herein.
`FIG. 5 is a logic flow diagram illustrating one embodi- 45
`ment of a method of separating sounding signal configura(cid:173)
`tion from sounding signal transmission initiation.
`FIG. 6 is a logic flow diagram illustrating example details
`for the logic flow diagram of FIG. 5.
`FIG. 7 is a diagram of sounding signal configuration, 50
`initiation, and termination (stopping) according to one
`embodiment of the teachings herein, as depicted in the time
`domain.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. 4 illustrates a wireless communication network 10,
`including a radio access network (RAN) 12, and a core
`network (CN) 14. The RAN 12 includes one or more base
`stations 16 (one is illustrated), each supporting wireless
`communications with one or more mobile stations 18 ( one is
`illustrated). In operation, the base stations 16 communica(cid:173)
`tively couple the mobile stations 18 to the CN 14, which in
`turn communicatively couples to one or more external
`networks, such as the PSTN, the Internet, etc.
`As a non-limiting example, the wireless communication
`network 10 is an LTE network and the base stations 16
`
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`US 10,264,569 B2
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`5
`one embodiment, the one or more processing circuits are
`configured to use MAC signaling to send the commands or
`other initiating signals. As such, sounding signal configu(cid:173)
`ration for the mobile station 18 may be carried out by the
`base station 16 via RRC layer signaling, and subsequent (or
`repeated) initiation of sounding signal transmission by the
`mobile station 18 can be carried out by the base station 16
`via MAC layer signaling.
`As a further point of characterization, in at least one
`embodiment, the base station's one or more processing
`circuits are configured to send one or more additional
`configuration parameters in conjunction with sending the
`commands or other initiating signals. In this manner, the
`mobile station 18 transmits the sounding signal based on
`earlier-received configuration parameters, as modified by or 15
`updated by the one or more additional configuration param(cid:173)
`eters. Such operation for example allows the base station 16
`to send basic or nominal sounding signal configurations as
`desired for the mobile station 18 using slower or less
`frequent signaling, while still allowing for the base station 20
`16 to update or adjust those configurations as needed at the
`initiation of sounding signal transmission.
`Regarding such initiation, it is contemplated herein that
`explicit or implicit initiation may be used by the base station
`16, and recognized by the mobile station 18. In at least one 25
`embodiment, the base station 16 is further characterized in
`that its one or more processing circuits are configured to
`subsequently send the command or other initiating signal
`(for initiating sounding signal transmission) to the mobile 18
`station implicitly, by sending an uplink scheduling grant to 30
`the mobile station 18. Of course, the mobile station 18 is, in
`such embodiments, appropriately configured to recognize
`this form of implicit initiation. Additionally, or alternatively,
`the base station's one or more processing circuits are con(cid:173)
`figured to subsequently send the command or other initiating 35
`signal to the mobile station 18 explicitly, by sending a
`sounding signal initiation command via downlink signaling.
`(The command may, for example, be sent via MAC layer
`signaling.)
`FIG. 5 broadly illustrates the above base station method. 40
`It should be understood that this logic flow diagram may
`represent one aspect of a potentially much more complicated
`processing flow implemented at the base station 16. As such,
`the illustrated processing may be looped or otherwise
`repeated as needed, for any number of mobile stations 18. 45
`Also, the illustrated processing may be included as part of
`other processing routines, and the illustration therefore
`should be understood as a potentially simplified processing
`flow intended to highlight sounding signal processing of
`particular interest herein.
`With these qualifications in mind, one sees that the base
`station 16 sends configuration parameters for a sounding
`signal to be transmitted by the mobile station 18 (Block
`100), and subsequently sends a command or other initiating
`signal to the mobile station 18 separately from the configu- 55
`ration parameters (Block 102), to cause the mobile station 18
`to transmit the sounding signal according to the configura(cid:173)
`tion parameters. "Subsequently" in this context denotes
`some time after, but should not be construed as requiring
`some minimum separation in time between configuring 60
`sounding signal transmission and commanding sounding
`signal transmission. Rather, it should be understood that the
`use of "subsequently" denotes or otherwise emphasizes the
`advantageous separation of sounding signal configuration
`from the actual commanding of sounding signal transmis- 65
`sion. Such separation yields significant flexibility and can
`reduce signaling overhead.
`
`6
`For example, as noted, the base station 16 is, in one or
`more embodiments, configured to send updated (sounding
`signal) configuration parameters on a first time basis, and
`send commands or other initiating signals to cause the
`5 mobile station 18 to transmit the sounding signal on a
`second, faster time basis. FIG. 6 presents an example flow
`diagram for carrying out such a method. Again, FIG. 6 may
`or may not represent stand-alone processing, and it should
`be understood that the base station 16 may implement the
`10 logical processing of FIG. 6 for multiple mobile stations 18,
`and may integrate such processing into other functional
`operations.
`The illustrated processing "begins" with the base station
`16 sending ( sounding signal) configuration parameters to the
`mobile station 18 (Block 110), and then determining
`whether to initiate sounding signal transmission by the
`mobile station 18 (Block 112). For example, the base station
`16 may run a software or hardware timer, upon expiration of
`which it initiates sounding signal transmission by the mobile
`station 18. Additionally, or alternatively, the base station 16
`may determine whether sounding signal transmission should
`be initiated on an as-needed basis, such as where radio link
`adaptation changes require, or where channel condition
`changes are detected.
`If sounding signal transmission is desired ( either time(cid:173)
`wise or based on changes in conditions), the base station 16
`commands sounding signal transmission by the mobile
`station 18 (Block 114). From there, processing generally
`continues in looped fashion, although such looping may be
`ended or overridden as needed or appropriate. If sounding
`signal transmission is not desired, processing continues from
`Block 112 by determining whether to send updated configu(cid:173)
`ration parameters (Block 116). Again, sounding signal con(cid:173)
`figuration updating may be done on a timed or as needed
`basis, and may be done more slowly than sounding signal
`transmission is initiated. If it is desired to update the mobile
`station's sounding signal configuration, the base station 16
`determines the appropriate updated parameters and sends
`them to the mobile station 18 (Block 118), such as via RRC
`signaling.
`Note, however, that it is contemplated in at least some
`embodiments herein to send "tweaked" or select additional
`parameters as part of commanding sounding signal trans(cid:173)
`mission. Thus, it should be understood that select sounding
`signal configuration parameter information can be sent as
`part of the initiation shown in Block 114 (such as via MAC
`layer signaling), and that such additional or updated param(cid:173)
`eter transmission can be done at every such initiation, for
`50 some initiations, or not at all. In any case, the baseline set of
`sounding signal parameters, which in one or more embodi(cid:173)
`ments comprises a more comprehensive or "full" set of
`sounding signal configuration parameters, can be sent more
`slowly or as needed, via the separate processing of Block
`116.
`In a complementary manner, the mobile station 18 is
`configured for operation in the wireless communication
`network 10. More particularly, the mobile station 18 is
`characterized by one or more processing circuits configured
`to receive configuration parameters for a sounding signal to
`be transmitted by the mobile station 18, and subsequently
`transmit a sounding signal in accordance with the configu(cid:173)
`ration parameters, in response to receiving a separate com(cid:173)
`mand or other initiating signal. Thus, the mobile station 18
`may be understood as being advantageously configured to
`allow its sounding signal transmission to be configured
`separately from sounding signal transmission initiation.
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`US 10,264,569 B2
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`5
`
`7
`For example, the mobile station 18 is configured to
`receive one or more RRC layer sounding signal parameter
`configuration messages from the base station 16, and to
`configure
`its sounding signal
`transmission parameters
`accordingly, and to initiate actual sounding signal transmis(cid:173)
`sions as subsequently commanded, according to those pre(cid:173)
`viously received configuration parameters. Further, as noted
`in the context of Block 114 in FIG. 6, the mobile station 18
`may be further characterized in that it transmits its sounding
`signal additionally in accordance with any additional con(cid:173)
`figuration parameters received with the subsequent com(cid:173)
`mand or other initiating signal. In at least one embodiment,
`the subsequent commands are explicit command messages,
`such as may be sent to the mobile station 18 via MAC layer
`signaling. Additionally or alternatively, the subsequent com(cid:173)
`mands are implicit. For example, in at least one embodi(cid:173)
`ment, the mobile station 18 is configured to interpret at least
`some uplink scheduling grants from the base station 16 as
`implicit commands to transmit a sounding signal.
`Broadly, it should be understood that once the sounding
`signal configuration has been carried out by the base station
`16, the start of actual sounding signal transmission by the
`mobile station 18 can be ordered by more rapid signaling.
`This may be done by means of MAC signaling, as noted 25
`(where such signaling is carried out between the MAC
`protocol entities of the base station 16 and the mobile station
`18). Such MAC signaling can be done in different ways, e.g.,
`by inserting the signaling within a MAC Protocol Data Unit
`(PDU) or using a so called Layer I/Layer 2 (Ll/L2) control 30
`channel. Regardless, once the sounding signal transmission
`has been initiated, it can also be stopped with a similar kind
`of MAC signaling.
`Such operation is illustrated in the example of FIG. 7,
`where a period of two transmission subframes is configured 35
`for the sounding signal. To avoid a never-ending sounding
`signal transmission scenario in a case where the mobile
`station 18 does not correctly detect signaling to stop sound(cid:173)
`ing signal transmission, the mobile station 18 may also, in
`addition to the configuration parameters discussed above, 40
`use a "duration" parameter specifying for how long, e.g.
`measured in number of subframes, its sounding signal
`transmissions should continue after the base station 16 has
`initiated sounding signal transmission.
`A special case is the configuration of a duration time of 45
`one, implying that only a single sounding signal transmis(cid:173)
`sion ( one subframe) takes place. Thus, by configuring the
`duration parameter to one subframe, the mobile station 18 is
`configured to perform "one-shot" sounding signal transmis(cid:173)
`sion, which may be advantageous for some operating sce(cid:173)
`narios, such as where the base station 16 uses brief but
`frequently repeated one-shot sounding signal transmissions
`to maintain updated channel estimates, etc., for the mobile
`station 18.
`Further, as previously noted, in an alternative to an 55
`explicit initiation signaling, the mobile station 18 may be
`configured to start sounding signal transmission responsive
`to receiving an uplink scheduling grant, i.e., in response to
`receiving permission from the network 10 to conduct an
`uplink data transmission. In such a case, as an alternative to 60
`explicit "stopping" of the sounding si