Rate control method and apparatus for data packet transmission

A base station in a communication system comprising user equipment, the base station comprising:

• a transmitter which transmits, to the user equipment, a rate control command to up, down or keep a maximum transmission rate of the user equipment and transmits, to the user equipment, absolute information by which the maximum transmission rate of the user equipment is determined,
• wherein the absolute information is transmitted in parallel with the rate control command over different channels;
• and
• wherein an initial maximum transmission rate is set in the user equipment prior to receiving the rate control command or absolute information.

A communication system comprising:

• user equipment;
• and
• a base station,
• wherein the user equipment comprising
• a receiver which receives, from the base station, a rate control command to up, down or keep a maximum transmission rate of the user equipment and receives, from the base station, absolute information by which the maximum transmission rate of the user equipment is determined and
• the base station comprising
• a transmitter which transmits the rate control command and the absolute information to the user equipment, and
• wherein the absolute information is transmitted in parallel with the rate control command over different channels;
• and
• wherein an initial maximum transmission rate is set in the user equipment prior to receiving the rate control command or absolute information.

A method for a communication system comprising a base station and user equipment, the method comprising:

• receiving, at the user equipment, a rate control command to up, down or keep a maximum transmission rate of the user equipment from the base station;
• and
• receiving, at the user equipment, absolute information by which the maximum transmission rate of the user equipment is determined, from the base station,
• wherein the absolute information is transmitted in parallel with the rate control command over different channels;
• and
• wherein an initial maximum transmission rate is set in the user equipment prior to receiving the rate control command or absolute information.

User equipment in a communication system comprising a base station, the user equipment comprising:

• first means for receiving, from the base station, a rate control command to up, down or keep a maximum transmission rate of the user equipment;
• and
• second means for receiving, from the base station, by which the maximum transmission rate of the user equipment is determined,
• wherein the absolute information is transmitted in parallel with the rate control command over different channels;
• and
• wherein an initial maximum transmission rate is set in the user equipment prior to receiving the rate control command or absolute information.

A base station in a communication system comprising user equipment, the base station comprising:

• first means for transmitting, to the user equipment, a rate control command to up, down or keep a maximum transmission rate of the user equipment;
• and
• second means for transmitting, to the user equipment, absolute information by which the maximum transmission rate of the user equipment is determined,
• wherein the absolute information is transmitted in parallel with the rate control command over different channels;
• and
• wherein an initial maximum transmission rate is set in the user equipment prior to receiving the rate control command or absolute information.

A communication system comprising:

• user equipment;
• and
• a base station,
• wherein the user equipment comprising
• first means for receiving, from the base station, a rate control command to up, down or keep a maximum transmission rate of the user equipment, and
• second means for receiving, from the base station, absolute information by which the maximum transmission rate of the user equipment is determined and
• the base station comprising
• third means for transmitting the rate control command to the user equipment and
• fourth means for transmitting the absolute information to the user equipment,
• and
• wherein the absolute information is transmitted in parallel with the rate control command over different channels;
• and
• wherein an initial maximum transmission rate is set in the user equipment prior to receiving the rate control command or absolute information.