Versatile system for adaptive subchannel allocation in wireless communications

• US 20070213069A1
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: van Rensburg, Cornelius, Ji, Baowei
• Granted Patent: US 7,715,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures

Abstract

Dynamic and asymmetric sub-channel allocation in a wireless communications system—particularly an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system—is disclosed. The methods and constructs of the present disclosure identify a plurality of cells, each divided into an equal number of sectors. A transmission channel associated with each cell is divided into a plurality of sub-channel groups. For each sector, a set of adjoining inter and intra coverage area sectors is identified, and associated together as a pool set. For each such pool set, a resource pool is formed from the plurality of sub-channel groups. A single sub-channel group from a resource pool is allocated to each sector in a corresponding pool set. Additional sub-channel group in that resource pool are thereafter allocated to sectors from the pool set on an as-needed, as-available basis.

Claims

1. A method of allocating a transmission frequency range across a plurality of coverage areas in a wireless communications system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of coverage areas, each divided into an equal number of sectors;

dividing the transmission frequency range into a desired number of sub-channel groups; and

allocating one or more of the sub-channel groups to each sector, such that no two adjoining inter or intra coverage area sectors utilize the same sub-channel group at the same time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications system utilizes orthogonal frequency division multiple access operation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless communications system is based upon the IEEE 802.16 standard.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired number of sub-channel groups is equal to the number of sectors in each coverage area.

5. The method of claim 1, further including reallocating one or more of the sub-channel groups to at least one sector, such that no two adjoining inter or intra coverage area sectors utilize the same sub-channel group at the same time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of allocating comprises:

identifying, for each sector, a set of adjoining inter-coverage and intra-coverage area sectors and associating those sectors into a pool set;

forming, for each pool set, a resource pool from the plurality of sub-channel groups;

allocating one of the plurality of sub-channel groups in the resource pool to each sector in the pool set; and

allocating an additional sub-channel group in the resource pool to a sector on an as-needed basis.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of allocating further comprises:

analyzing information relating sector usage requirements for each sector in the pool set;

prioritizing a sector in the pool set based on the information; and

allocating an additional sub-channel group in the resource pool to a sector based on its prioritization.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of allocating an additional sub-channel group in the resource pool to a sector on an as-needed basis comprises:

initiating a request for one or more additional sub-channel groups in the resource pool associated with a first sector in the pool set;

determining which sub-channel groups, if any, in the resource pool are not already allocated to sectors in the pool set other than the first sector; and

allocating to the first sector an additional sub-channel group from the sub-channel groups, if any, in the resource pool that are not already allocated to sectors in the pool set other than the first sector.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of de-allocating any unutilized sub-channel groups from a sector in the pool set.

10. A method of providing dynamic, asymmetric sub-channel allocation in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access wireless communications system, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a plurality of cells, each divided into an equal number of sectors;

dividing a transmission channel associated with each cell into a plurality of sub-channel groups;

identifying, for each sector, a set of adjoining inter and intra coverage area sectors and associating those sectors into a pool set;

forming, for each pool set, a resource pool from the plurality of sub-channel groups;

allocating one of the plurality of sub-channel groups in the resource pool to each sector in the pool set; and

allocating an additional sub-channel group in the resource pool to a sector on an as-needed basis.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless communications system is based upon the IEEE 802.16 standard.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of dividing a transmission channel associated with each cell into a plurality of sub-channel groups further comprises dividing a transmission channel associated with each cell into a plurality of sub-channel groups of number equal to the equal number of sectors in each cell.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of dividing a transmission channel associated with each cell into a plurality of sub-channel groups further comprises dividing a transmission channel associated with each cell into a plurality of sub-channel groups of number greater than the equal number of sectors in each cell.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of analyzing information relating sector usage requirements for each sector in the pool set;

prioritizing a sector in the pool set based on the information; and

allocating an additional sub-channel group in the resource pool to a sector based on its prioritization.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of allocating an additional sub-channel group in the resource pool to a sector on an as-needed basis comprises:

initiating a request for one or more additional sub-channel groups in the resource pool associated with a first sector in the pool set;

determining which sub-channel groups, if any, in the resource pool are not already allocated to sectors in the pool set other than the first sector; and

allocating to the first sector an additional sub-channel group from the sub-channel groups, if any, in the resource pool that are not already allocated to sectors in the pool set other than the first sector.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of de-allocating any unutilized sub-channel groups from a sector in the pool set.

17. A wireless communications system supporting dynamic and asymmetric sub-channel allocation, the system comprising:

a plurality of coverage areas, each having a base station associated therewith, and each being divided into an equal number of sectors;

a single transmission frequency spectrum, divided into a plurality of sub-channel groups; and

an allocation construct, resident on one or more of the base stations, that allocates one or more of the plurality of sub-channel groups to each sector, such that no two adjoining inter or intra coverage area sectors utilize the same sub-channel group at the same time.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the allocation construct resides on each base station on a distributed, parallel basis.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the wireless communications system is orthogonal frequency division multiple access wireless communications system.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the wireless communications system is an IEEE 802.16 system.