ASYMMETRIC INTERNET ACCESS OVER FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS

• US 20010055286A1
• Filed: 03/31/1998
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: DRISCOLL, JOHN, LIN, JIE
• Granted Patent: US 6,400,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/121 for groups of terminals or users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A radio base station in a Fixed Wireless Access System broadcasts downlink data packets, each packet being transmitted on a single logical channel. A plurality of network subscribers in a sector may be members of a user group, each user group configured to receive and transmit packets transferred on a specific single logical channel only. Packets include a destination address which specifies a member of the user group. The packets include a token which specifies which user group member may transmit uplink data to the base station on the next frame. Logical channels are yielded for use by circuit switched traffic when required.

Claims

1. Communications apparatus for transferring packet switched data said apparatus comprising:

a radio base station capable of transmitting downlink data packets each said data packet being transferred in a specified single timeslot replicating over a plurality of time frames; and

at least one network subscriber equipment capable of receiving said downlink data packets;

wherein said subscriber equipments are joined as members of at least one user group, each said user group configured to receive said downlink packets in said specified single repeating timeslot only.

2. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said radio base station is configured to use a said specific timeslot for transmitting circuit switched data instead of packet switched data, to maintain quality of service of said circuit switched data.

3. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein a said downlink data packet transmitted by said radio base station on a first said frame includes a token indicating which said member of said user group can transmit a said uplink data packet on a second said frame.

4. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said downlink data packet includes a destination address indicating which said member of said user group is intended to decode data contained in said packet.

5. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said user group comprises subscriber equipments located in a single cell covered by said radio base station.

6. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said user group members are registered before receiving or transmitting packets on said specific timeslot.

7. In a communications network, a method of communicating packet switched data comprising the steps of:

communicating a downlink data packet from a radio base station to at least one network subscriber equipment,

wherein said network subscriber equipment is registered as a member of a user group, said user group configured to receive said downlink packets in a specific single timeslot only.

8. The method according to

claim 7

, further comprising the step of yielding use of a said specific timeslot for transmission of circuit switched data instead of packet switched data to maintain quality of service of said circuit switched data transfer.

9. The method according to

claim 7

, wherein said downlink data packets transmitted on a first frame includes a token indicating which said member of said user group can transmit an uplink data packet on a second frame.

10. The method according to

claim 7

, wherein said downlink data packet includes a destination address indicating which said member of said user group is intended to decode data contained in said packet.

11. The method according to

claim 7

, wherein said user group comprises subscribers located in a single cell.

12. The method according to

claim 7

, wherein said members of said user group are registered before transmitting or receiving packets on said specific timeslot.

13. The method as claimed in

claim 7

, wherein said step of registering said subscriber equipment as a member of said user group comprises:

storing data describing an active state of a said timeslot.

14. A method of communicating packet switched data over a wireless link, said method comprising the steps:

registering at least one subscriber lines for receipt of said packet switched data on a downlink channel of said wireless link; and

communicating said packet switched data on said downlink channel;

wherein said downlink packet switched data carries an address of a group of registered said subscriber lines, for which said data is intended.

15. The method as claimed in

claim 14

, wherein said downlink channel comprises a repeating timeslot.

16. The method as claimed in

claim 14

, further comprising the step of transmitting a token on said downlink channel, said token comprising data describing an authorization for communicating an uplink timeslot of a next frame.

17. The method as claimed in

claim 16

, wherein said data packet comprises data identifying an individual said subscriber line to which said packet switched data is addressed.

18. The method as claimed in

claim 14

, further comprising the step of:

yielding use of said downlink channel for communication of circuit switched data, when a predetermined number of channels are occupied by circuit switched data.

19. A method of communicating packet switched data over a wireless link, said method comprising the steps of:

registering at least one subscriber line for receipt of said packet switched data on a downlink channel of said wireless link;

allocating a single uplink channel of said wireless link for receipt of packet switched data from a group of said subscriber lines;

transmitting a token data on said downlink, said token data indicating which of said registered subscriber lines has authorization to transmit on said uplink channel.

20. A method of communicating packet switched data over a wireless link, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving packet switched data on a downlink channel of said wireless link, said downlink channel allocated for receipt by a group of subscriber lines;

receiving a token data indicating authorization to transmit packet switched data on an allocated uplink channel; and

transmitting said packet switched data on said allocated uplink channel.

21. The method as claimed in

claim 20

, further comprising the step of re-synchronizing a said subscriber equipment to a said user group.

22. A method of registering a plurality of users of a communications network for receipt of packet switched data services over a wireless link, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a registration request from a said network user;

in response to said registration request, allocating a user identification data to said user;

allocating an identification data to said user; and

allocating at least one logical communications channel to said user.

23. The method as claimed in

claim 22

, wherein said wireless link comprises a fixed wireless access radio link.

24. The method as claimed in

claim 22

, wherein said user identification data comprises data identifying an address of a user terminal equipment.

25. The method as claimed in

claim 22

, wherein said step of allocating a logical channel to said user comprises creating an association between said allocated user identification data and said allocated group identification data.

26. The method as claimed in

claim 22

, wherein said step of allocating at least one logical channel to said user comprises:

creating a mapping between data identifying said logical channel, data identifying said user, and data identifying a group allocated to said user.

27. The method as claimed in

claim 22

, further comprising the step of assigning an address to each said logical channel.

28. In a communications network operating a wireless link for communicating packet switched data to a network user of at least one channel of a plurality of channels, a method of re-synchronizing a user with a said channel to which said user has been previously assigned, said method comprising the steps of:

determining if said user is already assigned to a said logical channel;

if said user is already assigned to said logical channel, retrieving data identifying

a user group to which said user belongs;

a logical channel to which said group is assigned;

a physical channel to which said group is assigned; and

transmitting said data identifying said user group, said logical channel and said physical channel over said wireless link.

29. The method as claimed in

claim 28

, wherein said step of transmitting data comprises transmitting said data on a downlink.

30. The method as claimed in

claim 28

, further comprising the step of requesting transmission of said data identifying said user group, logical channel and physical channel.