Radio communication system
First Claim
1. A radio communication system having a data channel for the transmission of data packets from a primary station to a secondary station and a plurality of control channels for signalling of control information relating to the data packets from the primary station to the secondary station, wherein the primary station comprises means for allocating one of the control channels to the secondary station and means for changing the allocated control channel according to a defined sequence, and the secondary station comprises means for monitoring the currently allocated control channel to determine information about packet transmissions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a radio communication system having a data channel for the transmission of data packets from a primary station to a secondary station, a plurality of downlink control channels are used to signal information relating to packet transmission. A problem with this scheme is that with a fixed control channel allocation system throughput (T) for a given offered load (O) can be significantly reduced in a worst case scenario (for example two secondary stations using the same control channel). One solution uses an indicator signal to inform a secondary station of the control channel it should receive, but this adds significant complexity to the system. The present invention provides a simpler scheme having similar benefits by shuffling the allocation of control channels to secondary stations, according to a defined sequence for each secondary station, thereby avoiding the worst case scenario.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A radio communication system having a data channel for the transmission of data packets from a primary station to a secondary station and a plurality of control channels for signalling of control information relating to the data packets from the primary station to the secondary station, wherein the primary station comprises means for allocating one of the control channels to the secondary station and means for changing the allocated control channel according to a defined sequence, and the secondary station comprises means for monitoring the currently allocated control channel to determine information about packet transmissions.
- 5. A primary station for use in a radio communication system having a data channel for the transmission of data packets from the primary station to a secondary station and a plurality of control channels for signalling of control information relating to the data packets from the primary station to the secondary station, wherein means are provided for allocating one of the control channels to the secondary station and for changing the allocated control channel according to a defined sequence.
- 10. A secondary station for use in a radio communication system having a data channel for the transmission of data packets from a primary station to the secondary station and a plurality of control channels for signalling of control information relating to the data packets from the primary station to the secondary station, wherein means are provided for determining which of the control channels is allocated to the secondary station, the allocated control channel being changed according to a defined sequence, and for monitoring the currently allocated control channel to determine information about packet transmissions.
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13. A method of operating a radio communication system having a data channel for the transmission of data packets from a primary station to a secondary station and a plurality of control channels for signalling of control information relating to the data packets from the primary station to the secondary station, the method comprising the primary station allocating one of the control channels to the secondary station and changing the allocated control channel according to a defined sequence, and the secondary station monitoring the currently allocated control channel to determine information about packet transmissions.
Specification