Multi-Carrier Scheduling

A method of receiving data blocks by a receiving unit, comprising the steps of:

• said receiving unit receiving a first data block;
• and
• said receiving unit selecting, based on a reception quality of said first data block, between a first data carrier carrying a second data block and a second data carrier simultaneously carrying a third data block, where said first data block and said third data block are based on common information.

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of said receiving unit receiving a data block being said second data block or said third data block on said selected data carrier.

The method according to claim 1, wherein said selecting step comprises the step of said receiving unit selecting between said first data carrier and said second data carrier based on said reception quality and based on information of a number of potential subsequent data blocks comprising at least a portion of the information of said first data block or said second data block.

The method according to claim 1, wherein data blocks are grouped into block frames, each block frame comprises multiple data blocks, said selecting step comprises the step of said receiving unit selecting between said first data carrier and said second data carrier based on said reception quality and based on information of block detection error for a data block belonging to a same block frame as said first data block or said second data block.

The method according to claim 1, wherein said selecting step comprises the step of said receiving unit selecting between said first data carrier and said second data carrier based on said reception quality and based on carrier quality associated with at least one of said first data carrier and said second data carrier.

The method according to claim 1, wherein said first data carrier carries a first stream of data blocks and said second data carrier simultaneously carries a second different stream of data blocks, each data block in a second set of multiple data blocks of said second stream comprises at least a portion of the information in a data block in a first set of multiple data blocks of said first stream, said first set comprises said second data block and said second set comprises said third data block.

The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of said receiving unit receiving information of a relative order of said data blocks of at least one of said first data set and said second data set.

The method according to claim 1, wherein said third data block is a retransmitted version of said first data block.

The method according to claim 9, wherein said step of providing said second set comprises re-shuffling a relative order of said multiple data blocks of said first set to provide said second set.

The method according to claim 9, wherein said first set comprises a first data block followed by a second data block followed by a block sequence comprising at least a third data block, said first data block and said second data block are based on common information, and said second set comprises said first data block followed by a block sequence comprising at least a fourth data block followed by said second data block.

The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

• selecting, from a set of predefined scheduling schemes, a scheduling scheme that specifies a relative order of said data blocks of at least one of said first data set and said second data set;
• and
• communicating a scheme identifier of said selected scheduling scheme.

The method according to claim 9, wherein said first data stream is transmitted by a base station and said second data stream is simultaneously transmitted by a relaying capable unit.

The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

• transmitting said second data stream to said relaying capable unit;
• and
• commanding said relaying capable unit to forward said second data stream.

The method according to claim 9, wherein data blocks of said first set are transmitted with a first data rate and corresponding data blocks of said second set are transmitted with a second data rate.

The method according to claim 9, wherein data blocks are grouped into block frames, each block frame comprises multiple data blocks, said data blocks of said first and second set belong to a first block frame, said first stream comprises said first set followed by a third set of data blocks belonging to a second block frame and said second stream comprises said third set or a fourth set of data blocks belonging to a third block frame followed by said second set.

A receiving unit comprising:

• a receiver for receiving a first data block;
• and
• means for selecting, based on a reception quality of said first data block, between a first data carrier carrying a second data block and a second data carrier simultaneously carrying a third data block, where said first data block and said third data block are based on common information.

The receiving unit according to claim 17, wherein said receiver is configured for receiving a data block being said second data block or said third data block on the data carrier selected by said selecting means.

The receiving unit according to claim 17, wherein said selecting means is configured for selecting between said first data carrier and said second data carrier based on said reception quality and based on information of a number of potential subsequent data blocks comprising at least a portion of the information of said first data block or said second data block,

The receiving unit according to claim 17, wherein data blocks are grouped into block frames, each block frame comprises multiple data blocks, said selecting means is configured for selecting between said first data carrier and said second data carrier based on said reception quality and based on information of block detection error for a data block belonging to a same block frame as said first data block or said second data block.

The receiving unit according to claim 17, wherein said selecting means is configured for selecting between said first data carrier and said second data carrier based on said reception quality and based on carrier quality associated with at least one of said first data carrier and said second data carrier.

The receiving unit according to claim 17, wherein said first data carrier carries a first stream of data blocks and said second data carrier simultaneously carries a second different stream of data blocks, each data block in a second set of multiple data blocks of said second stream comprises at least a portion of the information in a data block in a first set of multiple data blocks of said first stream, said first set comprises said second data block and said second set comprises said third data block.

The receiving unit according to claim 22, wherein said receiver is configured for receiving information of a relative order of said data blocks of at least one of said first data set and said second data set.

The receiving unit according to claim 17, wherein said receiving unit is a mobile terminal.

The system according to claim 25, wherein said means for providing said second set is configured for re-shuffling a relative order of said multiple data blocks of said first set to provide said second set.

The system according to claim 25, further comprising means for selecting, from a set of predefined scheduling schemes, a scheduling scheme that specifies a relative order of said data blocks of at least one of said first data set and said second data set, said transmitter arrangement is configured for transmitting an identifier of said selected scheduling scheme.

The system according to claim 25, wherein said transmitter arrangement comprises a first transmitter and a second transmitter, said first transmitter is configured for transmitting said first data stream and said second transmitter is configured for transmitting said second data stream.

The system according to claim 28, wherein said first transmitter is arranged on a base station and said second transmitter is arranged on a relaying capable unit.