SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERSISTENCE VECTOR BASED RATE ASSIGNMENT

• US 20070223528A1
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Karmi, Gadi, Bender, Paul, Grob, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,599,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/264 for data rate control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/808 User-type aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate

Abstract

In a system including a resource which is shared among a number of users, it is difficult to distribute the available capacity of the resources fairly among the users and still maximize resource utilization. Additionally, it is desirable to allow at least some of the control over usage rates to remain with the users, while at the same time avoiding situations where the resource is overloaded. A system and method are disclosed wherein usage rates are selected from among a set of available rates according to a set of persistence vectors.

Claims

1. An apparatus to transmit data wirelessly using a shared resource, comprising:

a transmitter;

a processing unit operably connected to said transmitter;

a storage medium operably connected to said processing unit;

at least one vector stored on said storage medium;

wherein said at least one vector comprises at least one element corresponding to a usage rate among a set of available usage rates;

wherein said storage medium comprises instructions to request a grant of said usage rate among said set of available usage rates;

wherein each said usage rate is a data transmission rate for a user to transmit said data to a base station; and

wherein an actual said usage rate of the shared resource is selected based on the set of vector elements.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shared resource comprises a channel for wireless data communications.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shared resource is divided into a number of fixed rate allocations.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the usage rate is based on past usage.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the usage rate is based on said user'"'"'s current characteristics.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereby said usage rate is granted so that an overload condition is avoided.

7. A means to transmit data wirelessly using a shared resource, comprising:

a transmitting means;

a processing means operably connected to said transmitting means;

a storage means operably connected to said processing means;

at least one vector stored on said storage means;

wherein said at least one vector comprises at least one element corresponding to a usage rate among a set of available usage rates;

wherein said storage means comprises instructions to request a grant of said usage rate among said set of available usage rates;

wherein each said usage rate is a data transmission rate for a user to transmit said data to a base station; and

wherein an actual said usage rate of the shared resource is selected based on the set of vector elements.

8. The means according to claim 7, wherein the shared resource comprises a channel for wireless data communications.

9. The means according to claim 7, wherein the shared resource is divided into a number of fixed rate allocations.

10. The means according to claim 7, wherein the usage rate is based on past usage.

11. The means according to claim 7, wherein the usage rate is based on said user'"'"'s current characteristics.

12. The means according to claim 7, whereby said usage rate is granted so that an overload condition is avoided.

13. A control unit to receive information wirelessly, comprising:

a processing unit operably connected to said transmitter;

a storage medium operably connected to said processing unit;

wherein said storage medium comprises instructions to

receive information on usage of a resource by a plurality of users, each said user having at least one vector, wherein said at least one vector comprises at least one element corresponding to a usage rate among a set of available usage rates; and

wherein said information is a request;

send at least one command to at least one of said users, wherein said command is a grant of said usage rate among a set of available usage rates;

wherein each said usage rate is a data transmission rate for said at least one user to transmit said data to a base station; and

wherein said usage rate of the shared resource is selected based on the set of vector elements.

14. The control unit of claim 13, wherein the control unit further comprises an instruction to periodically update said at least one user'"'"'s said usage rate.

15. The control unit of claim 13, wherein the control unit further comprises an instruction to modify at least one vector of said at least one user.

16. The control unit according to claim 13, whereby said usage rate is granted so that an overload condition is avoided.

17. A method to receive information wirelessly, comprising:

receiving information on usage of a resource by a plurality of users, each said user having at least one vector, wherein said at least one vector comprises at least one element corresponding to a usage rate among a set of available usage rates; and

wherein said information is a request;

sending at least one command to at least one of said users, wherein said command is a grant of said usage rate among a set of available usage rates; and

wherein each said usage rate is a data transmission rate for said at least one user to transmit said data to a base station; and

selecting an actual said usage rate of a shared resource based on said set of vector elements.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of periodically updating said at least one user'"'"'s said usage rate.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of modifying at least one vector of said at least one user.

20. The method of claim 17, whereby said usage rate is granted so that an overload condition is avoided.

21. A computer program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing a computer to receive information on usage of a resource by a plurality of users, each said user having at least one vector, wherein said at least one vector comprises at least one element corresponding to a usage rate among a set of available usage rates; and

wherein said information is a request;

send at least one command to at least one of said users, wherein said command is a grant of said usage rate among a set of available usage rates; and

wherein each said usage rate is a data transmission rate for said at least one user to transmit said data to a base station; and

select an actual said usage rate of a shared resource based on said set of vector elements.

22. A means for receiving information wirelessly, comprising:

means for receiving information on usage of a resource by a plurality of users, each said user having at least one vector, wherein said at least one vector comprises at least one element corresponding to a usage rate among a set of available usage rates; and

wherein said information is a request;

means for sending at least one command to at least one of said users, wherein said command is a grant of said usage rate among a set of available usage rates; and

wherein each said usage rate is a data transmission rate for said at least one user to transmit said data to a base station; and

means for selecting an actual said usage rate of the shared resource based on said set of vector elements.

23. The means of claim 22, further comprising means for periodically updating said at least one user'"'"'s usage rate.

24. The means of claim 22, further comprising means for modifying at least one vector of said at least one user.

25. The means of claim 22, whereby said usage rate is granted so that an overload condition is avoided.