COMMUNICATION DEVICE, METHOD FOR OPERATING A COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM ELEMENT

Abstract

The communication device has three useful data transmission states, where the communication device in the first and in the second state has associated first communication resources and in the third state has associated second communication resources, with the second communication resources being fewer than the first communication resources. Provision is made for there to be state changes from the first state to the second state, from the second state to the third state, from the third state to the first state and from the second state to the first state.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the figures,

FIG. 1 shows a communication system based on an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an illustration of a protocol structure from the UMTS air interface;

FIG. 3 shows a state diagram for radio resource protocol states and state transitions based on an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram showing useful data transmission based on an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a time diagram for useful data transmission based on an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a state diagram for substates and substate transitions from the Radio Resource Protocol state CELL_DCH based on an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 shows RLC buffer store filling levels based on an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 shows RLC buffer store filling levels based on another exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 shows a state diagram for Radio Resource Protocol states and state transitions based on another exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 shows a state diagram for substate and substate transitions from the Radio Resource Protocol state LTE_Active based on an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising: a state control unit which can operate the communication device in at least the following three useful data transmission states: a first useful data transmission state of a data link layer, in which a useful data communication link with first communication resources is allocated to the communication device,a second useful data transmission state of the data link layer, in which a useful data communication link with the first communication resources is allocated to the communication device, anda third useful data transmission state of the data link layer, in which a useful data communication link with second communication resources is allocated to the communication device, the second communication resources being fewer than the first communication resources; anda state transition control unit which can perform at least the following state transitions: a state change from the first useful data transmission state to the second useful data transmission state when a first state transition criterion has been met,a state change from the second useful data transmission state to the third useful data transmission state when a second state transition criterion has been met,a state change from the third useful data transmission state to the first useful data transmission state when a third state transition criterion has been met, anda state change from the second useful data transmission state to the first useful data transmission state when a fourth state transition criterion has been met.

2. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication device is a radio communication device, and the communication resources are radio communication resources.

3. The communication device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the communication device is a mobile radio communication device, and the communication resources are mobile radio communication resources.

4. The communication device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the useful data transmission states are states from the Medium Access Control layer.

5. The communication device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the useful data transmission states are states from the CELL_DCH state or from the Long_Term_Evolution_Active state.

6. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a Medium Access Control layer control unit which has the state transition control unit.

7. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the state control unit can operate the communication device in precisely the three useful data transmission states.

8. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the useful data transmission states are substates from a first transmission state from a plurality of transmission states.

9. The communication device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first transmission state is a state in which the communication device has set up at least one signaling communication link.

10. The communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first transmission state is a state in which the communication device has associated dedicated communication resources.

11. The communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second transmission state is a state in which the communication device has set up at least one signaling communication link.

12. The communication device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second transmission state is a state in which the communication device has associated shared communication resources to which other communication devices also have access.

13. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second transmission state is a CELL_FACH state or a Long_Term_Evolution_Idle state.

14. The communication device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least one of the transmission states in which the communication device can be operated selected from the group consisting of CELL_PCH, URA_PCH, and Idle Mode.

15. The communication device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a Long_Term_Evolution_Detached state in which the communication device can be operated.

16. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication resources comprise access to physical control channels.

17. The communication device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the access to physical control channels is restricted for the second communication resources in comparison with the first communication resources.

18. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first state transition criterion provided is an elapsing of a first prescribed period.

19. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second state transition criterion provided is an elapsing of a second prescribed period.

20. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third state transition criterion provided is at least one of the criteria selected from the group consisting of: an overall filling level of all transmission buffer stores is greater than a prescribed first threshold value;at least one filling level of a transmission buffer store is greater than a prescribed second threshold value; andat least one total filling level of a plurality of transmission buffer stores is greater than a prescribed third threshold value.

21. The communication device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the third state transition criterion provided is that at least one filling level of a transmission buffer store is greater than a prescribed second threshold value which is specific to transmission buffer stores.

22. The communication device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the third state transition criterion provided is that at least one total filling level of a plurality of transmission buffer stores is greater than a prescribed third threshold value which is specific to group buffer stores.

23. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the threshold values can be prescribed by another communication device.

24. The communication device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the other communication device is a communication network unit.

25. The communication device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the other communication device is a mobile radio network control unit.

26. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of transmission buffer stores.

27. The communication device as claimed in claim 26, wherein at least a portion of the transmission buffer stores is or are RLC buffer stores.

28. The communication device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the third state transition criterion provided is that at least one total filling level of a plurality of transmission buffer stores is greater than a prescribed third threshold value, and wherein the plurality of transmission buffer stores is grouped based on priorities which are associated with the transmission buffer stores.

29. The communication device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the priorities are associated with the transmission buffer stores based on quality of service.

30. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication device is a communication terminal.

31. A method for operating a communication device, comprising: operating the communication device in a first useful data transmission state of a data link layer, in which a useful data communication link with first communication resources is allocated to the communication device;performing a state change from the first useful data transmission state to a second useful data transmission state of the data link layer when a first state transition criterion has been met, wherein in the second useful data transmission state a useful data communication link with the first communication resources is allocated to the communication device;performing a state change from the second useful data transmission state to a third useful data transmission state of the data link layer when a second state transition criterion has been met, wherein in the third useful data transmission state a useful data communication link with second communication resources is allocated to the communication device, the second communication resources being fewer than the first communication resources;performing a state change from the third useful data transmission state to the first useful data transmission state when a third state transition criterion has been met; andperforming a state change from the second useful data transmission state to the first useful data transmission state when a fourth state transition criterion has been met.

32. A computer program element for operating a communication device which, when executed by a processor, comprises: operating the communication device in a first useful data transmission state of a data link layer, in which a useful data communication link with first communication resources is allocated to the communication device;performing, by the communication device, a state change from the first useful data transmission state to a second useful data transmission state of the data link layer when a first state transition criterion has been met, wherein in the second useful data transmission state a useful data communication link with the first communication resources is allocated to the communication device;performing, by the communication device, a state change from the second useful data transmission state to a third useful data transmission state of the data link layer when a second state transition criterion has been met, wherein in the third useful data transmission state a useful data communication link with second communication resources is allocated to the communication device, the second communication resources being fewer than the first communication resources;performing, by the communication device, a state change from the third useful data transmission state to the first useful data transmission state when a third state transition criterion has been met; andperforming, by the communication device, a state change from the second useful data transmission state to the first useful data transmission state when a fourth state transition criterion has been met.

33. A communication device comprising: a state control means for operating the communication device in at least the following three useful data transmission states: a first useful data transmission state of a data link layer, in which a useful data communication link with first communication resources is allocated to the communication device,a second useful data transmission state of the data link layer, in which a useful data communication link with the first communication resources is allocated to the communication device, anda third useful data transmission state of the data link layer, in which a useful data communication link with second communication resources is allocated to the communication device, the second communication resources being fewer than the first communication resources; anda state transition control means for performing at least the following state transitions: a state change from the first useful data transmission state to the second useful data transmission state when a first state transition criterion has been met,a state change from the second useful data transmission state to the third useful data transmission state when a second state transition criterion has been met,a state change from the third useful data transmission state to the first useful data transmission state when a third state transition criterion has been met, anda state change from the second useful data transmission state to the first useful data transmission state when a fourth state transition criterion has been met.