Method and apparatus for signaling uplink scheduling information

#1. Field

#The present disclosure is directed to wireless communication devices. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for signaling uplink scheduling information.

#2. Introduction

#In order to describe the manner in which advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, various embodiments will be illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates an example diagram of a system in accordance with one embodiment;

#FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of an apparatus in accordance with one embodiment;

#A method and apparatus for signaling uplink scheduling information is disclosed that provides for increased performance when two devices, using different but related wireless technologies, are assigned to a same uplink time slot. The method may include determining whether an enhanced general packet radio service 2-B mobile device and an enhanced general packet radio service non-2-B mobile device are assigned to a same uplink time slot. The method may also include limiting downlink communications to Ap and B radio link control block families when sending packet data blocks to the enhanced general packet radio service 2-B mobile device, if the enhanced general packet radio service 2-B mobile device and the enhanced general packet radio service non-2-B mobile device are assigned to the same uplink time slot.

#FIG. 1 is an example block diagram of a system 100 according to one embodiment. The system 100 can include a network 110, terminals 120 and 125 such as mobile devices, a base station 130, and a network controller 140. The terminals 120, 125 may be wireless communication devices, such as a wireless telephone, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a personal computer, a selective call receiver, or any other device that is capable of sending and receiving communication signals on a network including a radio access network. The terminals 120, 125 can send uplink signals 150, 155 and receive downlink signals 160, 165. In this example, the terminal 120 is an EGPRS2-B mobile device that uses EGPRS2-B technology and the terminal 125 is an EGPRS non-2-B mobile device that uses EGPRS technology that is not EGPRS2-B. An EGPRS non-2-B mobile device may use EGPRS or EGPRS2-A technology.

#In this example embodiment, the network controller 140 is connected to the network 110. The network controller 140 may be located at a base station, at a radio network controller, or anywhere else in the network 110. The network 110 may include any type of network that is capable of sending and receiving signals, such as wired or wireless signals. Furthermore, the network 110 may include more than one network and may include a plurality of different types of networks. Thus, the network 110 may include a plurality of data networks, a plurality of telecommunications networks, a combination of data and telecommunications networks, and other like communication systems capable of sending and receiving communication signals.