Transmission of sounding reference signal and scheduling request in single carrier systems

A method for transmission in a wireless network, comprising:

• transmitting to user equipment (UE) an allocation comprising a plurality of periodic transmission instances for a scheduling request indicator (SRI);
• transmitting to the UE an allocation comprising a plurality of periodic transmission instances for a sounding reference signal (SRS);
• receiving from the UE an SRI without receiving an SRS in a transmission instance allocated for both SRI and SRS, when the SRI indicates a pending scheduling request;
• and
• receiving from the UE an SRS without receiving an SRI in a transmission instance allocated for both SRI and SRS, when the SRI indicates no pending scheduling request.

Apparatus for use in a wireless network, comprising:

• a processor coupled to a memory, the memory storing instructions for execution by the processor, the processor controllably coupled to receiver logic and to transmitter logic;
• buffer logic controlled by the processor operable to store a pending scheduling request;
• the receiver logic operable to receive and store in the memory an allocation comprising a plurality of periodic transmission instances for a scheduling request indicator (SRI) and an allocation comprising a plurality of periodic transmission instances for a sounding reference signal (SRS);
• and
• the transmitter logic being responsive to the buffer logic and operable to produce and transmit an SRI without transmitting an SRS in a transmission instance allocated for both SRI and SRS when the buffer logic indicates the pending scheduling request;
• and further operable to transmit an SRS without transmitting an SRI in a transmission instance allocated for both SRI and SRS when the buffer logic indicates no pending scheduling request.