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Methods and apparatus related to selecting control channel reporting formatsRelated Patent Categories: Telecommunications, Transmitter And Receiver At Separate Stations, Having Measuring, Testing, Or Monitoring Of System Or PartMethods and apparatus related to selecting control channel reporting formats description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070149132, Methods and apparatus related to selecting control channel reporting formats. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/752,973, filed on Dec. 22, 2005, titled "COMMUNICATIONS METHODS AND APPARATUS", and is a continuation in part of U.S. Utility Patent Application Ser. No. 11/333,792, filed on Jan. 17, 2006, titled "METHODS AND APPARATUS OF IMPLEMENTING AND/OR USING A DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNEL" each of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to wireless communications methods and apparatus and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for implementing and using control channels. BACKGROUND [0003] In multiple access wireless communications systems, multiple wireless terminals are typically in competition for limited air link resources. A wireless terminal, operating in a state supporting uplink and downlink user data traffic signaling, typically tries to routinely communicate control information to a base station attachment point. In some systems control information may be communicated in the form of control information reports which allow the base station attachment point to obtain information about the wireless terminal status and effectively allocate resources. As the popularity and variety of wireless communication services has increased, the need to support ever larger numbers of concurrent users has grown. In addition, events and/or time of day can drive peak concurrent user demand. [0004] Changes in the number of concurrent users can affect the demand for control information communication resources. However, it should also be appreciated that different wireless terminals can have different needs at different times and that the demand for resources in many cases is not simply a matter of the total number of terminals in the system that have the ability to communicate user data to the base station. [0005] Different wireless terminals using the same base station attachment point often have different reporting needs and priorities. For example, a first wireless terminal operating from a current stationary position, with no or minimal obstructions between itself and the base station attachment point, and needing to communicate small amounts of user data infrequently may have very different control information reporting needs than another, e.g., second, wireless terminal, e.g., a mobile node in a moving automobile, experiencing rapidly changing channel conditions and/or needing to communicate large amounts of data frequently. Using a universal single control information reporting format to report control information to a base station although simple to implement can result in inefficiencies due to tradeoffs made to accommodate the wide variety of different types of anticipated concurrent users with reasonable degree of effectiveness. [0006] In view of the above, it should be appreciated that there is a need for methods and apparatus which provide flexibility with regard to control information reporting, e.g., flexibility in terms of supported report formats. Improved methods and/or apparatus which tend to match a wireless terminal's current needs and/or conditions to a well suited control information report format would tend to increase efficiency and be beneficial, e.g., in terms of increasing traffic throughput capability. The ability to change control information reporting formats, if it could be supported, could also be useful in some cases. SUMMARY [0007] Various embodiments are directed to methods and apparatus related to control information reporting over wireless communication channels including control information reporting format alternatives. Selection between various control reporting format alternatives is performed, in some embodiments, by a wireless terminal and/or a base station. [0008] In some exemplary embodiments, a method of operating a first communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, to interact with a second communications device, e.g., a base station, includes: determining a set of control information reports to be transmitted, e.g., selecting between a plurality of predetermined reporting formats where said set of control information reports corresponds to a reporting format; generating the determined set of control information reports; and communicating said generated set of control information reports. In some such embodiments, the control information reporting format is selected as a function of an application being executed, e.g., a voice application vs a data application. In some embodiments, the control information reporting format is selected as a function of at least one of: device capability information, channel conditions, system loading, and user quality of service information. In some embodiments, the control information reporting format is selected as a function of at least one of a received command signal and a received request signal. An exemplary communications device, e.g., wireless terminal, in accordance with some but not necessarily all embodiments, includes a report format selection module for selecting a reporting format. The reporting format is one of a plurality of supported reporting formats. The reporting format specifies a set of report definitions, e.g., one or more report definitions. In some embodiments, the report format also specifies a reporting schedule as part of the report format. In some implementations, the communications device further includes a report generation module for generating a sequence of reports in accordance with a reporting schedule which is part of a particular selected reporting format and at least one definition in the set of report definitions. The communications device may also include a transmitter for transmitting the generated sequence of reports. [0009] A method of operating a first communications device, e.g., a base station, to interact with a second communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, in accordance with various embodiments, includes: determining a set of control information reports, e.g., one or more reports, to be transmitted. The set of control information reports in some embodiments corresponds to a reporting format. Determining a set of control information reports to be transmitted may include selecting between a plurality of predetermined reporting formats. Interacting with the second communications device may further include generating the determined set of control information reports; and communicating the generated set of control information reports, e.g., by transmitting them over a wireless communications link to the second communications device The transmission may, but need not be, in a control channel dedicated to use by the first communications device. An exemplary communications device, e.g., base station, in accordance with various exemplary embodiments, includes: a report format selection module for selecting a reporting format where the selected reporting format is one of a plurality of supported reporting formats. The reporting format indicates a set of report definitions and, in some but not necessarily all embodiments, also indicates a reporting schedule. The base station may also include a report recovery module for recovering report information from a sequence of received reports in accordance with the selected reporting schedule and at least some definitions in the set of report definitions. In addition, the base station may include a receiver for receiving said sequence of reports. In some but not necessarily all embodiments, the control information reporting format is selected as a function of an application being executed, e.g., a voice application vs a data application. In some embodiments, the control information reporting format is selected as a function of at least one of: device capability information, channel conditions, system loading, and user quality of service information. In some embodiments, the control information reporting format is selected as a function of at least one of a received command signal and a received request signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0010] FIG. 1 is drawing of an exemplary wireless communications system implemented in accordance with various embodiments. [0011] FIG. 2 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., base station, implemented in accordance with various embodiments. [0012] FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., wireless terminal such as a mobile node, implemented in accordance with various embodiments. [0013] FIG. 4 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., base station, implemented in accordance with various embodiments. [0014] FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as a mobile node, in accordance with various embodiments. [0015] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, to interact with a second communications device, e.g., a base station. [0016] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, to interact with a second communications device, e.g., a base station. [0017] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, to interact with a second communications device, e.g., a base station. [0018] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, which interacts with a second communications device, e.g., a base station. [0019] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal, which interacts with a second communications device, e.g., a base station. Continue reading about Methods and apparatus related to selecting control channel reporting formats... 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