Fast flow control methods for communication networks
First Claim
1. A method of reverse link flow control for a sector in a high rate packet data network serving a plurality of access terminals, said method comprising:
- determining an individual interference contribution of each access terminal served by said sector based on a reverse data channel rate of said access terminal;
estimating total sector interference for said sector based on said individual interference contributions of said access terminals; and
setting a reverse link flow control indicator regulating the reverse data channel rates used by said access terminals based on said total sector interference.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Reverse link flow control in a high data rate network determines current reverse link data channel rates for access terminals served by a network sector to identify corresponding defined channel gains, which are used to rapidly and reliably estimate total sector interference on the reverse link. Total sector interference indicates reverse link capacity utilization, and when remaining capacity approaches a defined threshold, the sector sets an activity indicator to a busy state indicating reverse link congestion. This action causes at least some access terminals to reduce their reverse link data channel rate. Interference calculation techniques preferably involve baseband digital processing using defined channel gains, permitting rapid evaluation of reverse link capacity and quick, reliable activity indicator updating, which increases reverse link capacity utilization. These techniques may be applied to inter-sector control, wherein the reverse activity indicator status for one sector depends on interference in one or more other sectors.
81 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method of reverse link flow control for a sector in a high rate packet data network serving a plurality of access terminals, said method comprising:
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determining an individual interference contribution of each access terminal served by said sector based on a reverse data channel rate of said access terminal;
estimating total sector interference for said sector based on said individual interference contributions of said access terminals; and
setting a reverse link flow control indicator regulating the reverse data channel rates used by said access terminals based on said total sector interference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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- 27. A method of reverse link flow control in a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of sectors, the method comprising regulating reverse link data rates for access terminals in a first sector in dependence on a sector loading of a second sector to reduce reverse link interference in said second sector caused at least in part by said access terminals controlled by said first sector.
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35. A method of reverse link flow control in a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of sectors, the method comprising:
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receiving total sector interference estimates indicative of sector loading from a plurality of sectors within said network at a central processor;
controlling reverse link throughput in at least a first sector in dependence on said interference estimates of at least a second sector to reduce interference in at least said second sector. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A radio base station regulating reverse link data rates for a plurality of access terminals, said radio base station comprising:
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a plurality of radio interfaces to support a plurality of connections with said access terminals;
a processing system to estimate total sector interference by determining individual interference contributions for said plurality of access terminals using defined channel gain information;
a threshold detector to generate a control signal by evaluating said estimated total sector interference with respect to a capacity threshold; and
a reverse activity modulator to set a reverse activity indicator to a busy or not busy state responsive to said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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53. A base station controller for use in a wireless communication network employing reverse link flow control, said base station controller comprising a central processor programmed to:
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receive sector loading estimates from a plurality of radio base stations; and
process said sector loading estimates from said plurality of radio base stations to compute a flow control parameter for one or more of said radio base stations;
wherein said flow control parameter computed for each radio base station is dependent on a sector loading estimate for at least one other radio base station. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56)
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Specification