US 8385284

Here is a concise summary of US patent 8385284:

US Patent 8385284 Summary

• Title: Control channel signaling using a common signaling field for transport format and redundancy version
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corp
• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology LLC
• Inventors: Christian Wengerter, Akihiko Nishio, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Joachim Loehr, Katsuhiko Hiramatsu
• Filing Date: 2008-12-18
• Issue Date (Publication Date): 2013-02-26
• Abstract: The invention relates to methods, control channel signals, mobile stations, and base stations for providing control signaling associated with a protocol data unit conveying user data in a mobile communication system. To reduce control channel overhead, it proposes a common field for the transport format and redundancy version in the control channel information format. One approach involves jointly encoding the transport format and redundancy version in this common field. Another aspect uses a shared field that indicates either a transport format or a redundancy version, depending on whether the control channel signal pertains to an initial transmission or a retransmission. Additionally, some embodiments suggest further enhancements to a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) protocol to address specific error cases.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a control channel signal used in a mobile communication system. This signal is associated with a protocol data unit (PDU) carrying user data. It includes a "control information field" which has a certain number of bits. These bits are designed to jointly encode both the transport format (how the data is structured, like its size or modulation scheme) and the redundancy version (which specific set of encoded bits is used for transmission, important for error correction) for transmitting that PDU.
• Claim 13: This claim outlines a method for encoding control signaling by a base station in a mobile communication system. The base station generates a control channel signal that has a "control information field." In this field, the transport format and a redundancy version of a protocol data unit (PDU) are jointly encoded. After generating it, the base station transmits this control channel signal to at least one mobile terminal.
• Claim 24: This claim details a method for a mobile terminal's operation. The mobile terminal receives a sub-frame of physical radio resources, which includes a control channel signal specifically for that terminal. This control channel signal contains a "control information field" where a transport format and a redundancy version of a protocol data unit (PDU) are jointly encoded. The mobile terminal then interprets this signal to determine the transport format and redundancy version for the PDU and subsequently either receives or transmits the PDU on specified radio resources using these determined parameters.
• Claim 31: This claim describes a base station in a mobile communication system. The base station has a processing unit that generates a control channel signal. This signal includes a control information field where a transport format and a redundancy version of a protocol data unit (PDU) are jointly encoded. The base station also has a transmitter unit that transmits this control channel signal (which is part of the control signaling) to at least one mobile terminal.
• Claim 33: This claim describes a mobile terminal in a mobile communication system. It includes a receiver unit that receives a sub-frame containing a control channel signal meant for it. This control channel signal has a control information field where a transport format and a redundancy version of a protocol data unit (PDU) are jointly encoded. The mobile terminal also has a processing unit that determines the transport format and redundancy version from the received signal. Finally, it has a transmitter unit that transmits the PDU on specific radio resources using the determined transport format and redundancy version.
• Claim 34: Similar to Claim 33, this claim describes a mobile terminal with a receiver unit for receiving a sub-frame with a control channel signal destined for it, where the signal's control information field jointly encodes the transport format and redundancy version of a PDU. It also includes a processing unit for determining these parameters. However, in this claim, the receiver unit is specifically capable of receiving the protocol data unit on at least one physical radio resource using the indicated transport format and redundancy version, rather than transmitting it.
• Claim 35: This claim is for a computer-readable medium. This medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processor in a base station, cause the base station to generate a control channel signal. This signal contains a control information field where a transport format and a redundancy version of a protocol data unit (PDU) are jointly encoded. The instructions also cause the base station to transmit this control channel signal to at least one mobile terminal.
• Claim 36: This claim is also for a computer-readable medium. This medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processor in a mobile terminal, cause the mobile terminal to receive a sub-frame containing a control channel signal destined for it, where the control information field jointly encodes a transport format and a redundancy version of a PDU. The instructions further cause the mobile terminal to determine these parameters and then receive or transmit the PDU on specific radio resources using the indicated transport format and redundancy version.

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