Communication system with fast control traffic
First Claim
1. In a time division multiple access communication system having a base station and a plurality of user stations, a method of communicating between the base station and a user station, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a series of time frames, each time frame comprising a plurality of time slots; and
transmitting a plurality of messages from the base station to the user station, each of said messages comprising an information element indicating a location of a subsequent time slot available for communication.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for conducting rapid control traffic in a time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system comprises a base station communicating with a plurality of user stations in assigned time slots of a time frame. For bearer traffic, time slots are assigned to particular user stations for an extended duration. In unassigned time slots, the base station transmits a general polling message indicating availability of the time slot. A user station desiring to hand off communication from one base station to another uses multiple available time slots at the target base station for exchanging control traffic messages with the target base station. The next available time slot is indicated by a slot pointer in the header of each general polling message to facilitate rapid exchange of control traffic messages. During handover, the user station may establish a new link with the target base station before relinquishing the existing communication link with the old base station.
59 Citations
34 Claims
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1. In a time division multiple access communication system having a base station and a plurality of user stations, a method of communicating between the base station and a user station, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a series of time frames, each time frame comprising a plurality of time slots; and
transmitting a plurality of messages from the base station to the user station, each of said messages comprising an information element indicating a location of a subsequent time slot available for communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a communication system comprising at least one base station capable of communicating with a plurality of user stations, a method of communication comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first message from the base station, said first message comprising an information element indicating a relative time position for a subsequent communication;
receiving said first message at a user station;
transmitting, according to said relative time position, a second message from said user station to said base station; and
receiving said second message at said base station. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A message structure for use in a time division multiple access communication system, said time division multiple access communication system operating according to a communication protocol by which a series of time frames are each divided into a plurality of time slots, said message structure comprising:
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a data segment; and
a header segment, said header segment comprising a next slot pointer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29)
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13. In a time division multiple access communication system wherein a base station is capable of communicating with a plurality of user stations, a method of communicating comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first plurality of control traffic messages from a user station to a base station in a first plurality of time slots, at least two of said first plurality of time slots within a single time frame;
receiving said first plurality of control traffic messages at said base station;
transmitting a second plurality of control traffic messages from said base station to said user station in a second plurality of time slots, at least two of said second plurality of time slots within a single time frame; and
receiving said second plurality of control traffic messages at said user station.
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18. In a time division multiple access communication system having a series of time frames each divided into a plurality of time slots, said time slots collectively comprising a plurality of user transmission intervals and a plurality of base transmission intervals, a method of communication comprising the steps of:
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transmitting, over a designated frequency band and in a first base transmission interval, a general poll message from a base station;
receiving said general poll message at a user station;
transmitting in response to said general poll message, over said designated frequency band and in a first user transmission interval, a general response message from said user station to said base station;
receiving said general response message at said base station;
transmitting in response to said general response message, over said designated frequency band and in a second base transmission interval, a specific poll message from said base station to said user station; and
receiving said specific poll message at said user station;
wherein said general poll message, said general response message, and said specific poll message are all transmitted within the time span of a single time frame.
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26. A multiple-user communication system, comprising:
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a base station, said base station generating a series of time frames, each of said time frames comprising a plurality of time slots; and
a plurality of user stations;
wherein said base station transmits control traffic messages during selected ones of said time slots, each control traffic message comprising a next slot pointer identifying a subsequent time slot available for communication; and
wherein a user station responding to one of said control traffic messages does so in the time slot identified by the next slot pointer of that control traffic message.
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30. In a time division multiple access communication system in which a time frame is divided into a plurality of time slots, a method of communication comprising the steps of:
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communicating between a mobile station and a first base station; and
handing off communication from said first base station to a second base station, said step of handing off communication comprising the step of exchanging a plurality of control traffic messages between said mobile station and said second base station during multiple time slots of a single time frame. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification