Method and apparatus for transmitting control information via upper layer

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• means for obtaining control information for a lower layer in a protocol stack;
• means for determining whether to transmit the control information via the lower layer or an upper layer in the protocol stack based on a category of a wireless device transmitting or receiving the control information;
• and
• means for transmitting the control information via the upper layer in the protocol stack in response to a determination to transmit the control information via the upper layer,
• wherein the control information is sent on a first physical channel if transmitted via the lower layer and is sent on a second physical channel if transmitted via the upper layer, and wherein the first physical channel has a first minimum signal-to-noise ratio and the second physical channel has a second minimum signal-to-noise ratio that is lower than the first minimum signal-to-noise ratio.

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• obtain control information for a lower layer in a protocol stack,
• determine whether to transmit the control information via the lower layer or an upper layer in the protocol stack based on a category of a wireless device transmitting or receiving the control information, and
• transmit the control information via the upper layer in the protocol stack in response to a determination to transmit the control information via the upper layer,
• wherein the control information is sent on a first physical channel if transmitted via the lower layer and is sent on a second physical channel if transmitted via the upper layer, and wherein the first physical channel has a first minimum signal-to-noise ratio and the second physical channel has a second minimum signal-to-noise ratio that is lower than the first minimum signal-to-noise ratio.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
• code for causing at least one computer to obtain control information for a lower layer in a protocol stack,
• code for causing the at least one computer to determine whether to transmit the control information via the lower layer or an upper layer in the protocol stack based on a category of a wireless device transmitting or receiving the control information;
• and
• code for causing the at least one computer to transmit the control information via the upper layer in the protocol stack in response to a determination to transmit the control information via the upper layer,
• wherein the control information is sent on a first physical channel if transmitted via the lower layer and is sent on a second physical channel if transmitted via the upper layer, and wherein the first physical channel has a first minimum signal-to-noise ratio and the second physical channel has a second minimum signal-to-noise ratio that is lower than the first minimum signal-to-noise ratio.

A method implemented in an apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• determining, via the apparatus, a category of a wireless device based at least on a signal-to-noise ratio requirement of the wireless device, wherein the category of the wireless device is one of a plurality of categories associated with a plurality of signal-to-noise ratio requirements, and wherein each category of the plurality of categories is associated with a respective set of at least one protocol to use for wireless devices in said each category;
• determining, via the apparatus, a plurality of possible protocols available for a protocol stack of the wireless device;
• and
• determining, via the apparatus, at least one protocol to use for the wireless device, from among the plurality of possible protocols available for the protocol stack of the wireless device, based on the category of the wireless device.

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• means for determining a category of a wireless device based at least on a signal-to-noise ratio requirement of the wireless device, wherein the category of the wireless device is one of a plurality of categories associated with a plurality of signal-to-noise ratio requirements, and wherein each category of the plurality of categories is associated with a respective set of at least one protocol to use for wireless devices in said each category;
• means for determining a plurality of possible protocols available for a protocol stack of the wireless device;
• and
• means for determining at least one protocol to use for the wireless device, from among the plurality of possible protocols available for the protocol stack of the wireless device, based on the category of the wireless device.

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• determine a category of a wireless device based at least on a signal-to-noise ratio requirement of the wireless device, wherein the category of the wireless device is one of a plurality of categories associated with a plurality of signal-to-noise ratio requirements, and wherein each category of the plurality of categories is associated with a respective set of at least one protocol to use for wireless devices in said each category,
• determine a plurality of possible protocols available for a protocol stack of the wireless device, and
• determine at least one protocol to use for the wireless device, from among the plurality of possible protocols available for the protocol stack of the wireless device, based on the category of the wireless device.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
• code for causing at least one computer to determine a category of a wireless device based at least on a signal-to-noise ratio requirement of the wireless device, wherein the category of the wireless device is one of a plurality of categories associated with a plurality of signal-to-noise ratio requirements, and wherein each category of the plurality of categories is associated with a respective set of at least one protocol to use for wireless devices in said each category,
• code for causing the at least one computer to determine a plurality of possible protocols available for a protocol stack of the wireless device, and
• code for causing the at least one computer to determine at least one protocol to use for the wireless device, from among the plurality of possible protocols available for the protocol stack of the wireless device, based on the category of the wireless device.