Method and apparatus for allocating bandwidth in a wireless communication system
First Claim
1. A base station for use in a broadband wireless communication system, wherein the wireless communication system includes a plurality of customer premise equipment (CPE) in communication with the base stations, the base station comprising:
- means for maintaining uplink and downlink sub-frame maps representative of the bandwidth allocations in uplink and downlink communication paths; and
means for allocating bandwidth configured to determine whether there is sufficient bandwidth available to individually poll a CPE, if sufficient bandwidth is available to individually poll a CPE, select a CPE to be polled, individually poll the selected CPE by allocating bandwidth to the selected CPE in the uplink sub-frame map, if the selected CPE transmits a bandwidth request, initiate a bandwidth allocation process to allocate bandwidth in the uplink sub-frame map for the selected CPE, and if there is not sufficient bandwidth available to individually poll a CPE, initiate a multicast and broadcast polling process.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The inventive method and apparatus includes a combination of techniques that allow a plurality of CPEs to communicate their bandwidth request messages to respective base stations. One technique includes a “polling” method whereby a base station polls CPEs individually or in groups and allocates bandwidth specifically for the purpose of allowing the CPEs to respond with bandwidth requests. The polling of the CPEs by the base station may be in response to a CPE setting a “poll-me bit” or, alternatively, it may be periodic. Another technique comprises “piggybacking” bandwidth requests on bandwidth already allocated to a CPE. In accordance with this technique, currently active CPEs request bandwidth using previously unused portions of uplink bandwidth that is already allocated to the CPE. The CPE is responsible for distributing the allocated uplink bandwidth in a manner that accommodates the services provided by the CPE. By using a combination of bandwidth allocation techniques, the present invention advantageously makes use of the efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
145 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A base station for use in a broadband wireless communication system, wherein the wireless communication system includes a plurality of customer premise equipment (CPE) in communication with the base stations, the base station comprising:
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means for maintaining uplink and downlink sub-frame maps representative of the bandwidth allocations in uplink and downlink communication paths; and
means for allocating bandwidth configured to determine whether there is sufficient bandwidth available to individually poll a CPE, if sufficient bandwidth is available to individually poll a CPE, select a CPE to be polled, individually poll the selected CPE by allocating bandwidth to the selected CPE in the uplink sub-frame map, if the selected CPE transmits a bandwidth request, initiate a bandwidth allocation process to allocate bandwidth in the uplink sub-frame map for the selected CPE, and if there is not sufficient bandwidth available to individually poll a CPE, initiate a multicast and broadcast polling process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 11)
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6. A method for allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system, wherein the wireless communication system includes a plurality of customer premise equipment (CPE) in communication with a base station, and wherein the base station maintains uplink and downlink sub-frame maps representative of the bandwidth allocations in the uplink and downlink communication paths, the method comprising:
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determining whether there is sufficient bandwidth available to individually poll a CPE;
if sufficient bandwidth is available to individually poll a CPE, select a CPE to be polled;
individually polling the selected CPE by allocating bandwidth to the selected CPE in the uplink sub-frame map;
receiving a bandwidth request from the selected CPE;
allocating bandwidth in the uplink sub-frame map for the selected CPE;
continue performing individual polling while sufficient bandwidth is available; and
if there is not sufficient bandwidth available to individually poll a CPE, initiating a multicast and broadcast polling process. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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12. A method for allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system, the wireless communication system including a plurality of customer premise equipment (CPE) which transmit signals over an uplink communication path to a base station which transmits signals to the CPEs over a downlink communication path, the method comprising:
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creating an uplink sub-frame map representative of the bandwidth allocations in the uplink communication path and a downlink sub-frame map representative of the bandwidth allocations in the downlink communication path;
determining whether there is sufficient available bandwidth to individually poll a selected CPE;
selecting a CPE to be polled if sufficient bandwidth is available to individually poll a CPE;
polling the selected CPE by allocating bandwidth to the CPE in the uplink sub-frame map;
receiving a bandwidth request from the selected CPE;
if bandwidth is available, allocating bandwidth in the uplink sub-frame map for the selected CPE that transmitted the bandwidth request;
determining whether there is sufficient bandwidth available for performing a group poll;
if sufficient bandwidth is determined to be available, performing a group poll;
if a group poll was performed, monitoring for bandwidth request messages; and
if a bandwidth request message is received, allocating bandwidth in the uplink sub-frame map for the CPE that transmitted the bandwidth request. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification