Multi-dimensional network resource allocation

• US 20060034221A1
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seshadri, Nambirajan, Bennett, James D., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Granted Patent: US 8,040,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA

Abstract

A system and method for allocating communication resources in a multi-transceiver communication system, where multiple transmitters transmit respective signals to a generally similar area. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise allocating frequency and time bandwidth for communication with a second communication system. A first portion of a plurality of transmitters may be allocated for communication with the second communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth. A second portion of the plurality of transmitters may be allocated for a purpose other than utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth to communicate with the second communication system. For example, the second portion of the plurality of transmitters may be blocked from transmitting or allocated for communication with a third communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth. In an exemplary communication system, a resource allocation module may perform various functionality associated with the previously described allocation(s).

Claims

1. In a first communication system comprising a plurality of transmitters that transmit respective signals to a generally similar area, a method for allocating communication resources for communication, the method comprising:

allocating frequency and time bandwidth for communication with a second communication system;

allocating a first portion of the plurality of transmitters for communication with the second communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth; and

allocating a second portion of the plurality of transmitters for a purpose other than utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth to communicate with the second communication system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating a second portion of the plurality of transmitters for a purpose other than utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth to communicate with the second communication system comprises allocating the second portion of the plurality of transmitters for communication with a third communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second communication system and the third communication system each comprise a number of receivers not less than the combined number of the first portion of the plurality of transmitters and the second portion of the plurality of transmitters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating a second portion of the plurality of transmitters for a purpose other than utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth to communicate with the second communication system comprises blocking the second portion of the plurality of transmitters from communicating utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating frequency and time bandwidth comprises allocating a CDMA code.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating frequency and time bandwidth comprises allocating a TDMA frequency and timeslot.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the first portion of the plurality of transmitters based, at least in part, on communication quality.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the first portion of the plurality of transmitters based, at least in part, on energy or power considerations.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the first portion of the plurality of transmitters based, at least in part, on multipath characteristics of the present communication environment.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the first portion of the plurality of transmitters based, at least in part, on information obtained from the second communication system.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the first portion of the plurality of transmitters based, at least in part, on user command.

12. In a first communication system comprising a plurality of antennas, a method for allocating communication resources for communication with a second communication system and a third communication system, the method comprising:

determining antenna diversity characteristics of the second and third communication systems;

determining communication needs of the second and third communication systems;

analyzing the antenna diversity characteristics and the communication needs to determine if a frequency and time bandwidth may be shared for communication with the second and third communication systems;

if it is determined that the frequency and time bandwidth may be shared for communication with the second and third communication systems, then;

allocating overlapping frequency and time bandwidth for communications with the second and third systems;

allocating a first antenna diversity space for communication with the second communication system; and

allocating a second antenna diversity space for communication with the third communication system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the communication needs is related to communication quality.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the communication needs is related to communication energy or power.

15. In a first communication system comprising a plurality of transmitters that transmit respective signals to a generally similar area, a subsystem for allocating communication resources for communication, the subsystem comprising:

at least one module that allocates frequency and time bandwidth for communication with a second communication system;

at least one module that allocates a first portion of the plurality of transmitters for communication with the second communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth; and

at least one module that allocates a second portion of the plurality of transmitters for a purpose other than utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth to communicate with the second communication system.

16. The subsystem of claim 15, wherein the at least one module allocates a second portion of the plurality of transmitters for a purpose other than utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth to communicate with the second communication system by allocating the second portion of the plurality of transceivers for communication with a third communication system utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth.

17. The subsystem of claim 16, wherein the second communication system and the third communication system each comprise a number of receivers not less than the combined number of the first portion of the plurality of transmitters and the second portion of the plurality of transmitters.

18. The subsystem of claim 15, wherein allocating a second portion of the plurality of transmitters for a purpose other than utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth to communicate with the second communication system comprises blocking the second portion of the plurality of transmitters from communicating utilizing the allocated frequency and time bandwidth.

19. The subsystem of claim 15, wherein the at least one module allocates frequency and time bandwidth by, at least in part, allocating a CDMA code.

20. The subsystem of claim 15, wherein the at least one module allocates frequency and time bandwidth by, at least in part, allocating a TDMA frequency and timeslot.

21. The subsystem of claim 15, further comprising at least one module that determines the first portion of the plurality of transmitters based, at least in part, on communication quality.

22. The subsystem of claim 15, further comprising at least one module that determines the first portion of the plurality of transmitters based, at least in part, on energy or power considerations.

23. The subsystem of claim 15, further comprising at least one module that determines the first portion of the plurality of transmitters based, at least in part, on multipath characteristics of the present communication environment.

24. The subsystem of claim 15, further comprising at least one module that determines the first portion of the plurality of transmitters based, at least in part, on information obtained from the second communication system.

25. The subsystem of claim 15, further comprising at least one module that determines the first portion of the plurality of transmitters based, at least in part, on user command.