# US 10,484,312 B2 · Method and device for communication in a communications network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,312 B2 - Document ID: US10484312B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/016,220 - Filed: 2018-06-22 - Published: 2018-12-20 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-13 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Inventors: Dirk Gerstenberger; Daniel Larsson; Kai-Erik Sunell; Henning Wiemann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484312B2 ## CPC - H04L 49/9005: using dynamic buffer space allocation - H04L 1/0079: {Formats for control data (H04L1/16 takes precedence; training sequences H04L25/00 and H04L27/00)} - H04L 1/1819: {with retransmission of additional or different redundancy} - H04L 1/1835: {Buffer management} - H04L 1/1864: {ARQ related signaling (H04L1/1607 takes precedence)} - H04L 1/1896: {ARQ related signaling} - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract The embodiments herein relate to a method in a user equipment (605) for communicating with a base station (603) in a communications network (600). The user equipment (605) is configured to communicate with the base station (603) according to a selectable of at least two user equipment categories. The user equipment (605) selects one of the at least two user equipment categories if information indicating the one of the user equipment categories is received from the base station (603). The user equipment (605) selects a default of the user equipment categories if no information indicating which of the user equipment categories is received from the base station (603). The user equipment (605) determines a soft buffer size according to the selected user equipment category. The user equipment (605) communicates with the base station (603) according to the selected user equipment category and applying the determined soft buffer size. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method in a user equipment for communicating with a base station in a communications network, wherein the user equipment is configured to communicate with the base station according to a selectable of at least two user equipment categories, the method comprising: selecting one of the at least two user equipment categories when information indicating the one of the at least two user equipment categories is received from the base station; determining a soft buffer size of a soft buffer comprised in the user equipment according to the selected user equipment category; communicating with the base station according to the selected user equipment category and applying the determined soft buffer size; and wherein the determining the soft buffer size comprised in the user equipment is based on a transmission mode; and wherein the user equipment is configured with the transmission mode for a downlink communication from the base station to the user equipment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a default of the at least two user equipment categories is preconfigured in the user equipment, and wherein the user equipment communicates with the base station according to the default of the at least two user equipment categories at least until information indicating the one of the at least two user equipment categories is received from the base station, which received information indicating the one of the at least two user equipment category overrides the default of the at least two user equipment categories. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the default of the at least two user equipment categories is the earliest of the at least two user equipment categories to have been released by standard. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the information indicating the one of the at least two user equipment categories is received via a radio resource control, referred to as RRC, protocol. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the information indicating the one of the at least two user equipment categories is received via broadcast from the base station. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: sending information about the at least two user equipment categories to the base station. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmission mode is transmission mode 9. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least two user equipment categories are associated with at least one of release 8/9 of long term evolution, referred to as LTE, and release 10 of LTE. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting a default of the at least two user equipment categories if no information indicating which of the at least two user equipment categories is received from the base station. ### Claim 10 A user equipment for communicating with a base station in a communications network, the user equipment being configured to communicate with the base station according to a selectable of at least two user equipment categories, the user equipment comprising: a selecting unit configured to: select one of the at least two user equipment categories when information indicating the one of the at least two user equipment categories is received from the base station; a determining unit configured to determine a soft buffer size of a soft buffer comprised in the user equipment according to the selected user equipment category; a communicating unit configured to communicate with the base station according to the selected user equipment category and applying the determined soft buffer size; and wherein the determining unit is further configured to determine that the soft buffer size is based on a transmission mode, and wherein the user equipment is configured with the transmission mode for a downlink communication from the base station to the user equipment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The user equipment according to claim 10, wherein a default of the at least two user equipment categories is preconfigured in the user equipment, and wherein the communicating unit is further is configured to communicate with the base station according to the default of the at least two user equipment categories at least until information indicating the one of the at least two user equipment categories is received from the base station, which received information indicating the one of the at least two user equipment categories overrides the default of the at least two user equipment categories. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The user equipment according to claim 11, wherein the default of the at least two user equipment categories is the earliest of the at least two user equipment categories to have been released by standard. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The user equipment according to claim 10, further comprising: a receiver configured to receive information indicating the one of the at least two user equipment categories via a Radio Resource Control, referred to as RRC, protocol. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The user equipment according, to claim 10, further comprising: a receiver configured to receive information indicating the one of the at least two user equipment categories via broadcast from the base station. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The user equipment according to claim 10, further comprising: a sender configured to send information about the at least two user equipment categories to the base station. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The user equipment according to claim 10, wherein the transmission mode is transmission mode 9. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The user equipment according to claim 10, wherein the at least two user equipment categories are associated with at least one of release 8/9 of long term evolution, referred to as LTE, and release 10 of LTE. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The user equipment according to claim 10, the selecting unit further configured to select a default of the at least two user equipment categories if no information indicating which of the at least two user equipment categories is received from the base station.