TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates generally to managing communication, such as for example time division duplex, TDD, communication.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Wireless communication may be conducted in accordance with frequency division duplex, FDD, or TDD modes of operation. In FDD communication, two-way

communication is accomplished by separating the communication directions in frequency space. For example, in a cellular system a cellular terminal transmits toward a base station using a different frequency, or frequency range, than the base station uses to transmit toward the cellular terminal. Since in electromagnetic radiation different frequencies do not interfere one with another, transmissions using distinct frequencies may proceed without interfering with each other.

[0003] In TDD mode, two-way communication is effected by sharing a single frequency, or frequency range. Since two transmitters of electromagnetic radiation transmitting on a same frequency interfere with each other, TDD mode relies on separating the

communication directions in time space. For example, time may be sectioned into frames, and the frames further into slots or subframes. Individual slots or subframes may be assigned to each communication direction, so that the transmitters may take turns transmitting to each other. In some systems, the slots or subframes may be short, which can create the illusion for users that transmission is constant in each direction. For example, each slot may be one millisecond in length.

[0004] Whether in FDD or TDD mode, digital wireless communication may rely on sectioning data to frames for transmission. The frames may be furnished with error control coding information to enable a receiver to determine, whether bit errors occurred during wireless transmission. Since wireless radio paths are noisy and subject to fading, bit errors are frequent and an inherent part of many wireless communication scenarios. Bit errors may be controlled by error-detection coding and error-control coding. Where only a limited number of bit errors occurs in a given frame, the receiver may be able to correct the bit errors using error correction coding, which may be block-based, for example. In case too many bit errors occurred in a given frame, or error correction coding isn't in use, the receiver may be capable of recognizing the frame wasn't in its entirety correctly received, by using error detection coding such as a cyclic redundancy check, CRC, for example.

[0005] In case an erroneously received frame is detected, a receiver may request a retransmission of the frame concerned from the transmitter. In FDD systems, for example, requesting retransmission can be accomplished by transmitting a retransmission request to the transmitter using the frequency resource the recipient of the frame normally uses for transmitting to the transmitter. SUMMARY

[0006] Various aspects of examples of the invention are set out in the claims.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, comprising a memory configured to store information describing a first set of frame formats, the information describing an allocation to uplink and downlink transmission of subframes comprised in each frame format, at least one processing core configured to determine at least one of an uplink reference frame format and a downlink reference frame format, and the at least one processing core being configured to select at least one subframe for transmission of automatic repeat request acknowledgement information in accordance with the uplink reference frame format or the downlink reference frame format irrespective of which frame format comprised in the first set is in use.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method, comprising storing information describing a first set of frame formats, the information describing an allocation to uplink and downlink transmission of subframes comprised in each frame format, determining at least one of an uplink reference frame format and a downlink reference frame format, and selecting at least one subframe for transmission of automatic repeat request acknowledgement information in accordance with the uplink reference frame format or the downlink reference frame format irrespective of which frame format comprised in the first set is in use.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, comprising at least one processing core configured to compile a signaling message comprising information concerning a first set of frame formats, each frame format in the set comprising an allocation to uplink and downlink transmission of subframes, each frame format in the set sharing at least one subframe index in the uplink or downlink direction, wherein the signaling message instructs a user equipment to use the shared at least one subframe index for transmission of automatic repeat request acknowledgement information irrespective of which frame format comprised in the set is in use, and at least one transmitter configured to cause the information to be transmitted toward the user equipment.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method, comprising compiling a signaling message comprising information concerning a first set of frame formats, each frame format in the set comprising an allocation to uplink and downlink transmission of subframes, each frame format in the set sharing at least one subframe index in the uplink or downlink direction, wherein the signaling message instructs a user equipment to use the shared at least one subframe index for transmission of automatic repeat request acknowledgement information irrespective of which frame format comprised in the set is in use, and causing the information to be transmitted toward the user equipment.

[0011] According to further aspects of the invention, computer programs are provided configured to cause methods in accordance with the invention to be performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] FIGURE 1 illustrates an example system capable of supporting at least some embodiments of the invention;

[0014] FIGURE 2 illustrates an example set of TDD frame formats;

[0015] FIGURE 3 illustrates an example of a change in frame format during communication.

[0016] FIGURE 4 is a first flowgraph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the invention;

[0017] FIGURE 5 is a second flowgraph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the invention, and [0018] FIGURE 6 illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In retransmissions of incorrectly received information, where a frame format changes between reception of an incorrectly frame and anticipated transmission of

acknowledgement information, it may occur that the subframe originally intended for transmission of the acknowledgement information changes as a result of the frame format change from an uplink to a downlink subframe, or from a downlink to an uplink subframe. This could complicate the transmission of the acknowledgement information as an alternative subframe would have to be identified for it. To overcome this, the set of frame formats in use can be defined so that the frame formats in use have subframes that do not change from uplink to downlink or vice versa as a result of frame format changes. These conserved subframes can be used for acknowledgement information transmission to avoid having to re-schedule transmission of the acknowledgement information.

[0020] FIGURE 1 illustrates an example system capable of supporting at least some embodiments of the invention. Illustrated is mobile 110, which may comprise, for example, a user equipment, cellular telephone, laptop computer, tablet computer, personal digital assistant, PDA, wireless sensor or other mobile device with connectivity functions. Illustrated is also base station 120. Base station 120 may be configured to operate in accordance with a cellular communication standard, such as for example long term evolution, LTE, or wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA. Base station 120 controls cell 102, which may be considered to be a macrocell.

[0021] Illustrated is also base station 130, which controls cell 103. Cell 103 may be considered a small cell, the coverage area of which is in this example enclosed within the coverage area of cell 102. However, the invention is not restricted thereto and in some embodiments the cell coverage area of cell 103 may be, in part or in whole, outside that of cell 102. Base station 130 is illustrated as being in wireless communication with mobile 110 via wireless link 112. Wireless link 112 may comprise an uplink for conveying information from mobile 110 to base station 130. Wireless link 112 may comprise a downlink for conveying information from base station 130 to mobile 110. When mobile 110 supports a wireless communication standard that base station 130 uses, wireless link 112 may be set up using this shared standard, to achieve interoperability between mobile 110 and base station 130. Base station 130 may operate in accordance with the same standard as base station 120, or in accordance with a different standard.

[0022] The term "base station" in connection with entity 130 is terminological only, and it is to be understood that in some embodiments other terms, such as for example "access point", may be seen as more usual or appropriate. In some embodiments, cell 103 is not a small cell but a macrocell like cell 102. In some embodiments, cell 102 may be a small cell, and cell 103 a macrocell or a small cell.

[0023] First core network node 140 is in the example of FIG. 1 in communication with base station 120 and base station 130 via connections 122 and 132, respectively. First core network node 140 may use connection 122 to control, at least in part, base station 120. First core network node 140 may use connection 132 to control, at least in part, base station 130.

Controlling at least in part a base station may comprise, for example, managing use of radio resources in at least one cell controlled by the base station. Controlling at least in part a base station may comprise indicating to the base station that due to a load constraint, radio access of more users should be limited, for example by rejecting new service requests from incoming mobiles. Managing use of radio resources may comprise, for example, authorizing use of channels and/or spreading codes for use in communication between a base station and a mobile. Use of resources may be authorized in whole or in part, for example where a base station requests permission to use ten spreading codes or subframes for communication, a core network node may authorize use of five spreading codes or subframes.

[0024] Second core network node 150 may communicate with first core network node 140 via connection 142, which may be, for example, a wire-line connection. Second core network node 150 may comprise, for example, a gateway configured to provide connectivity to further networks. Although illustrated as being controlled by the same core network node in FIG. 1, base station 120 and base station 130 may in other embodiments be controlled by different core network nodes.

[0025] Where the system is a TDD communication system, communication over wireless link 112 may comprise the uplink and downlink operating on the same frequency resource. To achieve two-way communication, wireless link 112 may be partitioned in time to frames and subframes. Subframes is a terminological choice only, and in various embodiments of the invention other terms, such as for example "timeslots", may be seen as more usual or appropriate. The frequency resource may be partitioned to frames in more than one way, for example where a frame comprises ten subframes, the subframes may be divided equally or unequally to uplink and downlink subframes. In an uplink subframe, traffic on wireless link 112 is conveyed in the uplink direction. In a downlink subframe, traffic on wireless link 112 is conveyed in the downlink direction. In case mobile 110 is in the process of receiving a large datafile, for example, there may be more data traffic in the downlink direction and consequently configuring wireless link 112 to operate according to a frame format with more downlink subframes than uplink subframes may be useful. For example, the frame format may have seven downlink subframes, two uplink subframes and a special subframe. As another example, the frame format may have six downlink subframes, three uplink subframes and one special subframe. After the datafile is received, the frame format in use on wireless link 112 may be reconfigured to one where subframes are more equally divided between uplink and downlink directions.

[0026] A receiver, in mobile 110 or base station 130, may be configured to determine, for example by using error-detection coding, whether a subframe is received correctly. The receiver may also be configured to transmit an indication of a result of this determination to the transmitter, which indication may be referred to as acknowledgement information. In case the determination is that the subframe was received correctly, the acknowledgement information comprises a positive acknowledgement, ACK. In case the determination is that the subframe was received incorrectly, the acknowledgement information comprises a negative acknowledgement, NACK. Sometimes the acknowledgement information is referred to concisely as ACK/NACK, by which it is meant that ACK or NACK is transmitted in dependence of a result of the determination whether information was correctly received. In some embodiments, the determination whether information was received correctly involves a set of two or more subframes. Acknowledgement information may be transmitted for one or more subframes during one subframe, for example acknowledgement information for three downlink subframes may be transmitted during a single uplink subframe.

[0027] FIGURE 2 illustrates an example set of TDD frame formats. The frame formats, called configurations in FIG. 2, are numbered in the first column on the left from zero to six. In the second column is a switching-point periodicity, which is defined as 5 milliseconds, ms, for frame formats 0, 1, 2 and 6 and as 10 ms for frame formats 3, 4 and 5. The section of the table labelled "SUBFRAME NUMBER" contains for each frame format a definition of subframes to downlink, D, uplink, U, and Special, S. Subframe 1 is a special subframe in all illustrated frame formats, and subframe 6 is a special subframe in those frame formats with 5ms switching-point periodicity.

[0028] When wireless link 112 of FIG. 1 is configured to operate according to frame format 1 of FIG. 2, mobile 110 may be configured to transmit an acknowledgement of data received in subframe 9 in the uplink subframe 3 of the following frame. In case mobile 110 determines that the data in subframe 9 was received correctly, it will thus transmit ACK in subframe 3 of the next frame and if mobile 110 determines that the data in subframe 9 was received incorrectly, it will thus transmit NACK in subframe 3 of the next frame. Since subframe 3 is an uplink subframe in frame format 1 , it is suitable for transmission of information such as ACK/NACK from mobile 110 to base station 130.

[0029] FIGURE 3 illustrates an example of a change in frame format during communication. In the figure, time advances from left to right. Initially the communication is conducted according to frame format 1 of FIG. 2, and at the vertical line between illustrated subframes 9 and 0 the frame format is changed to format 2 of FIG. 2. According to frame format 1, mobile 110 having received a downlink subframe 9 will transmit acknowledgement information for it in subframe 3 of the following frame. However, in the illustrated case the frame format changes at the frame boundary between subframe 9 and subframe 0, and in frame format 2 subframe 3 is downlink subframe and as such, unsuitable for any transmission from mobile 110 toward base station 130. This is illustrated by the black arrow in FIG. 3. Mobile 110 would have to store the acknowledgement information in a buffer for later transmission, for example at subframe 7 of the new frame. This creates a need for buffering not only the acknowledgement data, but also the data transmitted to the mobile in subframe 9 of the previous frame, since base station 130 may need to re-transmit the data in case the acknowledgement from mobile 110 is negative.

[0030] An alternative to accepting a need to dynamically buffer acknowledgements and data is to restrict frame formats in use to ones which allow for acknowledgements to be transmitted on the same subframe indices in each frame format. For example, in FIG. 2 all frame formats with switching-point periodicity 5ms, namely frame formats 0, 1, 2 and 6, allocate subframes 2 and 7 to the uplink. Likewise these frame formats all allocate subframes 0 and 5 to downlink. Therefore, it becomes possible to configure communication endpoints to transmit acknowledgements in the uplink direction always using subframes 2 and 7, and likewise to transmit acknowledgements in the downlink direction using at least one of subframes 0, 1, 5 and 6. In at least some embodiments, special subframes may be used for transmitting

acknowledgement information. This way, if the frame format is changed from one frame format in the 5ms group to another frame format in the 5ms group, acknowledgement transmission needn't be re-configured as a result and the frame format change may proceed smoothly. In effect, acknowledgements in uplink direction would be transmitted as if frame format 2 was in use and acknowledgements in downlink direction would be transmitted as if frame format 0 was in use, regardless of which frame format with 5ms switching-point periodicity is actually in use. Frame formats 2 and 0 may be considered as reference frame formats in the 5ms case for downlink data and uplink data, respectively. Acknowledgements are sent in the opposite direction to the data that they acknowledge.

[0031] The frame formats in FIG. 2 that have a 10ms switching-point periodicity likewise all allocate subframes 0, 1 , 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 to downlink or special, and subframe 2 to uplink. Therefore, when frame formats are restricted to the 10ms group, communication endpoints can transmit acknowledgements in the uplink direction always using subframe 2, and likewise to transmit acknowledgements in the downlink direction always using subframe 0, 8 and 9, for example. In effect, acknowledgements in uplink direction would be transmitted as if frame format 5 was in use and acknowledgements in downlink direction would be transmitted as if frame format 3 was in use, regardless of which frame format with 10ms switching-point periodicity is actually in use. Frame formats 5 and 3 may be considered reference frame formats in the 10ms case for downlink data and uplink data, respectively.

[0032] To enable using a reference format for acknowledgements, a base station can inform a mobile concerning a set of frame formats that is to be used. The mobile can

responsively determine the reference acknowledgement patterns corresponding to at least one reference frame format, or the base station may alternatively supply them to the mobile in which case the mobile may determine them from a signaling message received from a base station. In the example of FIG. 2, three distinct groups might be alternatively identified to a mobile, namely the 5ms switching-point periodicity frame formats, the 10ms switching-point periodicity frame formats, or a set comprising all seven frame formats. In the latter case, subframes 0, 1, 5 and 6 may be used for downlink ACK/NACK transmission and subframe 2 for uplink ACK/NACK transmissions, for example.

[0033] In general there is provided a first apparatus, such as for example a mobile or a control device for inclusion in a mobile, to control the functioning thereof. The first apparatus comprises a memory configured to store information describing a first set of frame formats, the information describing an allocation to uplink and downlink transmission of subframes comprised in each frame format comprised in the first set of frame formats. Where the first apparatus comprises a control device, the memory may be comprised in the control device as on- chip cache or on-chip memory, for example. The first apparatus may comprise a mobile subscriber terminal user equipment or cellular telephone, for example. The first set of frame formats may correspond to the 5ms switching-point periodicity frame formats of FIG. 2, for example. An allocation to uplink and downlink transmission subframes may comprise information defining which subframes are to be used for uplink transmission, and which subframes are to be used for downlink transmission. In addition to uplink and downlink subframes, frame formats may comprise special subframes and the information describing the first set of frame formats may comprise information on which subframes are special subframes, for each frame format comprised in the first set of frame formats.

[0034] The first apparatus may comprise at least one processing core configured to determine at least one of an uplink reference frame format and a downlink reference frame format. The uplink and/or downlink reference frame format may be comprised in the first set of frame formats or it may comprise a generalized frame format defined concerning subframes shared in the uplink or downlink direction in each frame format comprised in the first set of frame formats. In other words, the reference frame format may define which subframes are uplink subframes in each frame format comprised in the first set of frame formats, or the reference frame format may define which subframes are downlink subframes in each frame format comprised in the first set of frame formats. The at least one processing core may be configured to select at least one subframe for transmission of automatic repeat request acknowledgement information in accordance with the uplink reference frame format or the downlink reference frame format irrespective of which frame format comprised in the first set of frame formats is actually in use. Being actually in use may comprise that the first apparatus is engaged in two-way communication with a correspondent device in accordance with the frame format.

[0035] In some embodiments, the automatic repeat request acknowledgement information comprises hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement, HARQ, information. HARQ information may comprise at least one of chase combining and incremental redundancy information, for example.

[0036] In some embodiments, the memory is further configured to store a second set of frame formats, wherein the first set of frame formats is associated with a first switching point periodicity and the second set of frame formats is associated with a second switching point periodicity. The first and second switching point periodicities may correspond to a half and a full length of a frame, for example. A full frame may be 10 milliseconds long, for example.

[0037] In some embodiments, the downlink reference frame format corresponds to a frame format with a highest number of downlink subframes from among the frame formats comprised in the first set of frame formats. In some embodiments, the uplink reference frame format corresponds to a frame format with a highest number of uplink subframes from among the frame formats comprised in the first set of frame formats.

[0038] In some embodiments, uplink subframes of the downlink reference frame format correspond to uplink subframes in each frame format comprised in the first set of frame formats. In other words, the subframes that are allocated to uplink transmission in the downlink reference frame format are allocated to uplink transmission in every frame format comprised in the first set of frame formats. The term "downlink reference frame format" in this sense refers to a frame format used when acknowledging downlink data, such acknowledgements being sent in the uplink direction. This terminological convention is applied in this document. Another terminological choice, which would not deviate from the scope of the invention, could be that "downlink reference frame format" refers to the subframe pattern or frame format that is used when sending acknowledgements in the downlink direction.

[0039] In some embodiments, the at least one processing core is further configured to determine at least one of a second uplink reference frame format and a second downlink reference frame format, and uplink subframes of the second downlink reference frame format correspond to uplink subframes in each frame format comprised in the second set of frame formats. In other words, the at least one processor may be configured to determine reference frame formats for the first set of frame formats and the second set of frame formats, separately.

[0040] In some embodiments, the first apparatus is configured to receive an instruction, and based on the instruction begin at least one of selecting frame formats from the first set of frame formats or second set of frame formats for use and selecting subframes for sending acknowledgements according to a reference frame format of the first or second set of frame formats. When using frame formats from the first set, acknowledgements for uplink data may be sent in accordance with an uplink reference frame format associated with the first set. When using frame formats from the second set, acknowledgements for uplink data may be sent in accordance with an uplink reference frame format associated with the second set. Likewise, when using frame formats from the first set acknowledgements for downlink data may be sent in accordance with a downlink reference frame format associated with the first set and when using frame formats from the second set acknowledgements for downlink data may be sent in accordance with a downlink reference frame format associated with the second set.

[0041] In some embodiments, the memory is further configured to store a third set of frame formats, wherein the third set of frame formats comprises frame formats associated with the first switching point periodicity and frame formats associated with the second switching point periodicity. For example, in terms of the example of FIG. 2 the third set may comprise all seven frame formats illustrated in the figure. In that example, subframes 0, 1, 5 and 6 may be used for transmitting acknowledgements in the downlink direction and subframe 2 may be used for transmitting acknowledgements in the uplink direction.

[0042] In some embodiments, the at least one processing core is configured to determine the at least one of the uplink reference frame format and the downlink reference frame format, or to begin using a reference frame format for transmitting acknowledgement information, at least in part responsive to a downlink control information message received from a base station. The downlink control information message may comprise an indication as to when the first apparatus is to do this. Such an indication may be expressed, for example, as a frame number, frame boundary or time offset. This may be beneficial, since by relying on such an indication the first apparatus may avoid having to rely on blind detection to determine a change in an operating mode of the base station. An indication of a frame format to use initially may be comprised in the downlink control information message. [0043] In some embodiments, the at least one processing core is configured to determine when to stop using an uplink and/or downlink reference frame format for transmitting acknowledgement information in downlink and uplink, at least in part responsive to a downlink control information message received from a base station. The downlink control information message may comprise an indication as to when the first apparatus is to do this. Such an indication may be expressed, for example, as a frame number, frame boundary or time offset. This may be beneficial, since by relying on such an indication the first apparatus may avoid having to rely on blind detection to determine a change in an operating mode of the base station. Additionally, the frame format in use may be also included. An indication of a frame format to use initially may be comprised in the downlink control information message.

[0044] In general, there is provided a second apparatus such as for example a base station, or a control device for inclusion in a base station, to control the functioning thereof. A control device may comprise a chipset, for example. The second apparatus comprises at least one processing core configured to compile a signaling message comprising information concerning a first set of frame formats, each frame format in the set comprising an allocation to uplink and downlink transmission of subframes, each frame format in the set sharing at least one subframe index in the uplink or downlink direction, wherein the signaling message instructs a user equipment to use the shared at least one subframe index for transmission of automatic repeat request acknowledgement information irrespective of which frame format comprised in the set is in use. The information concerning a first set of frame formats may comprise an index to a list of sets of frame formats, for example, or the information may comprise a list of indices to a list of individual frame formats, such as for example the list of individual frame formats illustrated in FIG. 2. The second apparatus may further comprise at least one transmitter configured to cause the information to be transmitted toward the user equipment. Where the second apparatus comprises a base station, the at least one transmitter may comprise a radio transmitter of the apparatus. Where the second apparatus comprises a control device, the at least one transmitter may comprise a transmitter of the control device, such as for example an output port of a chip, which is configured to, when the control device is implanted in a base station, signal toward a radio transmitter of the base station via electrical leads internal to the base station.

[0045] FIGURE 4 is a first flowgraph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the invention. The phases of the illustrated method may be performed in a mobile 110, for example. Phase 410 comprises storing information describing a first set of frame formats, the information describing an allocation to uplink and downlink transmission of subframes comprised in each frame format. Phase 420 comprises determining at least one of an uplink reference frame format and a downlink reference frame format, and finally phase 430 comprises selecting at least one subframe for transmission of automatic repeat request acknowledgement information in accordance with the uplink reference frame format or the downlink reference frame format irrespective of which frame format comprised in the first set is in use.

[0046] FIGURE 5 is a second flowgraph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the invention. The phases of the illustrated method may be performed in a base station, for example. Phase 510 comprises compiling a signaling message comprising

information concerning a first set of frame formats, each frame format in the set comprising an allocation to uplink and downlink transmission of subframes, each frame format in the set sharing at least one subframe index in the uplink or downlink direction, wherein the signaling message instructs a user equipment to use the shared at least one subframe index for transmission of automatic repeat request acknowledgement information irrespective of which frame format comprised in the set is in use, and phase 520 comprises causing the information to be transmitted toward the user equipment.

[0047] FIGURE 6 illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus 10 such as, for example, a mobile terminal, in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention. While several features of the apparatus are illustrated and will be hereinafter described for purposes of example, other types of electronic devices, such as mobile telephones, mobile computers, portable digital assistants, PDAs, pagers, laptop computers, desktop computers, gaming devices, televisions, routers, home gateways, and other types of electronic systems, may employ various

embodiments of the invention.

[0048] As shown, the mobile terminal 10 may include at least one antenna 12 in communication with a transmitter 14 and a receiver 16. Alternatively transmit and receive antennas may be separate. The mobile terminal 10 may also include a processor 20 configured to provide signals to and receive signals from the transmitter and receiver, respectively, and to control the functioning of the apparatus. Processor 20 may be configured to control the functioning of the transmitter and receiver by effecting control signaling via electrical leads to the transmitter and receiver. Likewise processor 20 may be configured to control other elements of apparatus 10 by effecting control signaling via electrical leads connecting processor 20 to the other elements, such as for example a display or a memory. The processor 20 may, for example, be embodied as various means including circuitry, at least one processing core, one or more microprocessors with accompanying digital signal processor(s), one or more processor(s) without an accompanying digital signal processor, one or more coprocessors, one or more multi- core processors, one or more controllers, processing circuitry, one or more computers, various other processing elements including integrated circuits such as, for example, an application specific integrated circuit, ASIC, or field programmable gate array, FPGA, or some combination thereof. A processor comprising exactly one processing core may be referred to as a single-core processor, while a processor comprising more than one processing core may be referred to as a multi-core processor. Accordingly, although illustrated in FIG. 6 as a single processor, in some embodiments the processor 20 comprises a plurality of processors or processing cores. Signals sent and received by the processor 20 may include signaling information in accordance with an air interface standard of an applicable cellular system, and/or any number of different wireline or wireless networking techniques, comprising but not limited to Wi-Fi, wireless local access network, WLAN, techniques such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 802.11, 802.16, and/or the like. In addition, these signals may include speech data, user generated data, user requested data, and/or the like. In this regard, the apparatus may be capable of operating with one or more air interface standards, communication protocols, modulation types, access types, and/or the like. More particularly, the apparatus may be capable of operating in accordance with various first generation, 1G, second generation, 2G, 2.5G, third-generation, 3G, communication protocols, fourth-generation, 4G, communication protocols, Internet

Protocol Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, communication protocols, for example, session initiation protocol, SIP, and/or the like. For example, the apparatus may be capable of operating in accordance with 2G wireless communication protocols IS- 136, Time Division Multiple Access TDMA, Global System for Mobile communications, GSM, IS-95, Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA, and/or the like. Also, for example, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating in accordance with 2.5G wireless communication protocols General Packet Radio Service. GPRS, Enhanced Data GSM Environment, EDGE, and/or the like. Further, for example, the apparatus may be capable of operating in accordance with 3G wireless communication protocols such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS, Code Division

Multiple Access 2000, CDMA2000, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, WCDMA, Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access, TD-SCDMA, and/or the like. The apparatus may be additionally capable of operating in accordance with 3.9G wireless

communication protocols such as Long Term Evolution, LTE, or Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network, E-UTRAN, and/or the like. Additionally, for example, the apparatus may be capable of operating in accordance with fourth-generation, 4G, wireless communication protocols such as LTE Advanced and/or the like as well as similar wireless communication protocols that may be developed in the future.

[0049] Some Narrow-band Advanced Mobile Phone System, NAMPS, as well as Total

Access Communication System, TACS, mobile terminal apparatuses may also benefit from embodiments of this invention, as should dual or higher mode phone apparatuses, for example, digital/analogue or TDMA/CDMA/analogue phones. Additionally, apparatus 10 may be capable of operating according to Wi-Fi or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, WiMAX, protocols.

[0050] It is understood that the processor 20 may comprise circuitry for implementing audio/video and logic functions of apparatus 10. For example, the processor 20 may comprise a digital signal processor device, a microprocessor device, an analogue-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analogue converter, and/or the like. Control and signal processing functions of the mobile terminal may be allocated between these devices according to their respective capabilities. The processor may additionally comprise an internal voice coder, VC, 20a, an internal data modem, DM, 20b, and/or the like. Further, the processor may comprise functionality to operate one or more software programs, which may be stored in memory. In general, processor 20 and stored software instructions may be configured to cause apparatus 10 to perform actions. For example, processor 20 may be capable of operating a connectivity program, such as a web browser. The connectivity program may allow the mobile terminal 10 to transmit and receive web content, such as location-based content, according to a protocol, such as wireless application protocol, WAP, hypertext transfer protocol, HTTP, and/or the like

[0051] Apparatus 10 may also comprise a user interface including, for example, an earphone or speaker 24, a ringer 22, a microphone 26, a display 28, a user input interface, and/or the like, which may be operationally coupled to the processor 20. In this regard, the processor 20 may comprise user interface circuitry configured to control at least some functions of one or more elements of the user interface, such as, for example, the speaker 24, the ringer 22, the microphone 26, the display 28, and/or the like. The processor 20 and/or user interface circuitry comprising the processor 20 may be configured to control one or more functions of one or more elements of the user interface through computer program instructions, for example, software and/or firmware, stored on a memory accessible to the processor 20, for example, volatile memory 40, non-volatile memory 42, and/or the like. Although not shown, the apparatus may comprise a battery for powering various circuits related to the mobile terminal, for example, a circuit to provide mechanical vibration as a detectable output. The user input interface may comprise devices allowing the apparatus to receive data, such as a keypad 30, a touch display, which is not shown, a joystick, which is not shown, and/or at least one other input device. In embodiments including a keypad, the keypad may comprise numeric 0-9 and related keys, and/or other keys for operating the apparatus.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 6, apparatus 10 may also include one or more means for sharing and/or obtaining data. For example, the apparatus may comprise a short-range radio frequency, RF, transceiver and/or interrogator 64 so data may be shared with and/or obtained from electronic devices in accordance with RF techniques. The apparatus may comprise other short-range transceivers, such as, for example, an infrared, IR, transceiver 66, a Bluetooth™' BT, transceiver 68 operating using Bluetooth™ brand wireless technology developed by the

Bluetooth™ Special Interest Group, a wireless universal serial bus, USB, transceiver 70 and/or the like. The Bluetooth™ transceiver 68 may be capable of operating according to low power or ultra-low power Bluetooth™ technology, for example, Bluetooth low energy, radio standards. In this regard, the apparatus 10 and, in particular, the short-range transceiver may be capable of transmitting data to and/or receiving data from electronic devices within a proximity of the apparatus, such as within 10 meters, for example. Although not shown, the apparatus may be capable of transmitting and/or receiving data from electronic devices according to various wireless networking techniques, including 6LoWpan, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi low power, WLAN techniques such as IEEE 802.11 techniques, IEEE 802.15 techniques, IEEE 802.16 techniques, and/or the like.

[0053] The apparatus 10 may comprise memory, such as a subscriber identity module,

SIM, 38, a removable user identity module, R-UIM, and/or the like, which may store information elements related to a mobile subscriber. In addition to the SIM, the apparatus may comprise other removable and/or fixed memory. The apparatus 10 may include volatile memory 40 and/or non-volatile memory 42. For example, volatile memory 40 may include Random Access Memory, RAM, including dynamic and/or static RAM, on-chip or off-chip cache memory, and/or the like. Non-volatile memory 42, which may be embedded and/or removable, may include, for example, read-only memory, flash memory, magnetic storage devices, for example, hard disks, floppy disk drives, magnetic tape, etc., optical disc drives and/or media, non-volatile random access memory, NVRAM, and/or the like. Like volatile memory 40, non-volatile memory 42 may include a cache area for temporary storage of data. At least part of the volatile and/or non- volatile memory may be embedded in processor 20. The memories may store one or more software programs, instructions, pieces of information, data, and/or the like which may be used by the apparatus for performing functions of the mobile terminal. For example, the memories may comprise an identifier, such as an international mobile equipment identification, IMEI, code, capable of uniquely identifying apparatus 10.

[0054] While FIG. 6 is described above primarily in the context of a mobile device, certain of the components discussed, such as memories, processors and transceivers, can be employed to implement a network-side device. While FIG. 6 is described in context of a mobile device, it illustrates component types that are suitable for implementing a base station as well. Such component types include antenna 12, transmitter 14, receiver 16, processor 20, and memories 40 and 42.

[0055] Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is that a need to dynamically buffer acknowledgements and/or data is avoided. Another technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is to render data transfer speeds more constant. Another technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is that delays in transmitting data are reduced.

[0056] Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in software, hardware, application logic or a combination of software, hardware and application logic. The software, application logic and/or hardware may reside on memory 40, the control apparatus 20 or electronic components, for example. In an example embodiment, the application logic, software or an instruction set is maintained on any one of various conventional computer- readable media. In the context of this document, a "computer-readable medium" may be any media or means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate or transport the instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer, with one example of a computer described and depicted in FIGURE 6. A computer- readable medium may comprise a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium that may be any media or means that can contain or store the instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer. The scope of the invention comprises computer programs configured to cause methods according to embodiments of the invention to be performed.

[0057] If desired, the different functions discussed herein may be performed in a different order and/or concurrently with each other. Furthermore, if desired, one or more of the above-described functions may be optional or may be combined.

[0058] Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independent claims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations of features from the described embodiments and/or the dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and not solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims.

[0059] It is also noted herein that while the above describes example embodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modifications which may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.