Allocation of control channel in a communication system

• US 20020155839A1
• Filed: 05/03/2001
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TAIT Electronics Limited (TAIT Foundation)
• Original Assignee: TAIT Electronics Limited (TAIT Foundation)
• Inventors: Nisbet, Rex A.
• Application Number:
  US09/847,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20020155839A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00 Hand-off or reselection arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations

Abstract

The invention involves a proactive shift of a control channel among a range of available channels in a mobile radio network, particularly traffic channels. The control channel is intermittently shifted in a periodic or non-periodic manner, thereby making the frequency available for use in other networks. A round-robin process may be used to re-allocate the control channel among traffic channels. This is useful in a network operating within a common channel environment where activity on a fixed the control channel can be unfair or interfere with other networks.

Claims

1. A base station for a mobile radio system, including:

a plurality of repeaters that provide respective radio channels;

a station controller connected to each repeater; and

a radio antenna system connected to the repeaters;

wherein the repeaters provide a control channel and a plurality of traffic channels for mobile users, with allocation of the control channel being varied among the traffic channels.

2. A base station according to claim 1, wherein:

the control channel is changed periodically from one repeater to another in a round robin process.

3. A base station according to claim 1, wherein:

the control channel is changed periodically or non-periodically among the repeaters in a random process.

4. A base station according to claim 1, wherein:

each repeater normally provides a traffic channel and the control channel is changed intermittently among the repeaters according to a predetermined process skipping those repeaters at which the traffic channel is busy.

5. A base station according to claim 1, wherein:

allocation of the control channel among the repeaters is determined by the station controller.

6. A base station according to claim 1, wherein:

each repeater includes a channel controller and allocation of the control channel from one repeater to another is determined by respective channel controllers.

7. A method of providing radio channels in a mobile communication system, including:

allocating a control channel and a plurality of traffic channels for mobile radios in the system; and

intermittently re-allocating the control channel as a traffic channel and one of the other traffic channels as a new control channel.

8. A method according to claim 7, further including:

re-allocating the control channel among the traffic channels on a round robin basis.

9. A method according to claim 7, further including:

re-allocating the control channel among the traffic channels on a random basis.

10. A method according to claim 7, further including:

selecting a channel for re-allocation of the control channel by determining a free traffic channel in a channel control system.

14. A radio network including a base station that implements a method according to claim 7.

15. A radio network including a base station that implements a method according to claim 8.

16. A radio network including a base station that implements a method according to claim 9.

17. A radio network including a base station that implements a method according to claim 10.

11. A method of re-allocating a control channel in a radio base station, including:

selecting an existing traffic channel to become a new control channel according to a predetermined process;

denying new requests by mobile radios over a current control channel for access to traffic channels;

completing existing requests by mobile radios over the current control channel for access to traffic channels;

allocating the selected traffic channel as the new control channel and the current control channel as a traffic channel; and

receiving new requests by mobile radios over the new control channel for access to traffic channels.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein:

the predetermined process includes a round robin poll of traffic channels to locate a channel not currently busy with traffic.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein:

the poll takes place at periodic or random intervals.

18. A radio network including a base station that implements a method according to claim 11.

19. A radio network including a base station that implements a method according to claim 12.

20. A radio network including abase station that implements a method according to claim 13.