Method and apparatus for signaling user equipment status information for uplink packet transmission in a soft handover region

A method for transmitting user equipment (UE) status information by a UE in communication with one serving Node B and at least one non-serving Node B in a mobile communication system supporting an uplink packet data service, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating transport channel data comprising UE status information;
• transmitting the transport channel data to the serving Node B and the at least one non-serving Node B;
• receiving response signals for the transport channel data from the serving Node B and the at least one non-serving Node B;
• transmitting transport channel data comprising the UE status information and new packet data to the serving Node B and the at least one non-serving Node B if the response signal received from the serving Node B comprises a non-acknowledge (NACK) signal and the response signal received from the at least one non-serving Node B comprises an acknowledge (ACK) signal;
• and
• ending the transmission of the transport channel data if the response signal received from the serving Node B is an ACK signal.

A user equipment (UE) apparatus for transmitting UE status information to one serving Node B and at least one non-serving Node B in a mobile communication system supporting an uplink packet data service, the apparatus comprising:

• a generator for generating transport channel data comprising UE status information;
• a transmitter for transmitting the transport channel data to the serving Node B and the at least one non-serving Node B;
• and
• a receiver for receiving a response signal for the transport channel data from the serving Node B;
• wherein the transmitter selectively retransmits the UE status information according to the response signal received from the serving Node B without considering a response signal received from the at least one non-serving Node B if the transport channel data comprises the UE status information.

A method for receiving packet data from a user equipment (UE) in service by one serving Node B and at least one non-serving Node B in a mobile communication system supporting an uplink packet data service, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving transport channel data for the uplink packet data service by the best Node B and the at least one non-serving Node B;
• determining whether the transport channel data includes UE status information for a packet data service for the UE;
• if the transport channel data includes the UE status information, transmitting, by the best serving Node B, a non-acknowledge (NACK) signal or an acknowledge (ACK) signal according to whether there is an error in the transport channel data;
• and
• if the transport channel data includes the UE status information and includes no packet data, disregarding by the at least one non-serving Node B whether there is an error in the transport channel data.