Methods and apparatus for uplink macro-diversity in packet-switched cellular networks
First Claim
1. A method of operating anode comprising:
- maintaining a plurality of communications connections between said node and at least two different receivers;
monitoring channel conditions on the communications connections;
selecting, as a function of said monitored channel conditions, between said plurality of communications connections for purposes of transmitting at least a portion of a packet;
transmitting at least a portion of a packet using the selected communications channel; and
repeating said monitoring, selecting and transmitting steps.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing uplink macro-diversity in packet-switched networks that allows packets and/or portions of packets, e.g., frames, to be selectively sent from an end node, e.g., wireless communication device or mobile terminal, over a set of multiple communication connections, e.g., physical-layer or link-layer connections, to one or more access nodes, e.g., base stations. Uplink macro-diversity is achieved in part through intelligent selective forwarding over multiple communication connections, where the forwarding decision is controlled by the end node based on a variety of factors, e.g., physical-layer channel conditions and/or higher layer policy. The forwarding decision is executed on a rapid timescale, e.g., on a per packet basis, to adapt to the dynamically varying conditions of the set of communication connections.
62 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of operating anode comprising:
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maintaining a plurality of communications connections between said node and at least two different receivers;
monitoring channel conditions on the communications connections;
selecting, as a function of said monitored channel conditions, between said plurality of communications connections for purposes of transmitting at least a portion of a packet;
transmitting at least a portion of a packet using the selected communications channel; and
repeating said monitoring, selecting and transmitting steps. - 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)
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26. A communications method for use in a communications network, the method comprising:
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operating a communications device to monitor the quality of at least one communications connection coupling said communications device to at least one other communications network component;
operating said first communications device to dynamically vary the length of packets transmitted over said communications connection, the length of packets over said link being reduced in response to a detected reduction in communications connection quality and being increased in response to detection of an improvement in the quality of the communications connection over which said packets are being transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A communications system comprising:
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an end node including;
means for maintaining a plurality of communications connections between the end node and at least two different receivers;
means for monitoring channel conditions on the communications connections;
means for selecting, as a function of said monitored channel conditions, between the plurality of communications connections; and
means for transmitting at least a portion of a packet using the selected communications connections; and
the at least two different receivers. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification