Uplink scheduling timing

A device for scheduling uplink transmission of data packets between a user side and a network side in a wireless communication network, said device comprising:

• a timing estimator configured to estimate the timing with which data packets are being available for uplink transmission in a User Equipment (UE) on the user side, wherein said data packets are assumed to be generated periodically and available for uplink transmission with a given periodicity unless subjected to unexpected delay;
• an uplink scheduler configured to perform uplink scheduling in accordance with the estimated timing to provide time alignment of UE data packet availability and allocated resources for uplink transmission;
• a detector configured to detect lost time alignment of UE data packet availability and allocated resources for uplink transmission based on reception of a predefined UE response on the uplink data channel that differs from the expected periodically generated data packets;
• and
• a determiner configured to determine, in response to lost time alignment, an updated estimate of the timing with which data packets are being available for uplink transmission in the UE based on information representative of an alignment interval within which data packets are being available for uplink transmission in the UE after detection of lost time alignment;
• wherein said uplink scheduler is configured to perform uplink scheduling in accordance with the updated estimate of the timing with which data packets are being available for uplink transmission in the UE to re-establish time alignment of UE data packet availability and allocated resources for uplink transmission.