Configurable downlink and uplink channels in a wireless communication system

• US 20080013480A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Laroia, Rajiv, Li, Junyi, Kapoor, Samir
• Granted Patent: US 8,917,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal

Abstract

Transmission techniques using configurable channels for the downlink and/or uplink are described. In one aspect, the downlink channel and/or uplink channel may be independently selected for a terminal. The terminal may establish a connection with a base station on default downlink and uplink channels. Another downlink channel and/or another uplink channel may be selected based on various factors such as channel quality, loading, and interference. The terminal would then switch to the new downlink and/or uplink channel for communication. In another aspect, the base stations broadcast sector information used by the terminals for communication and/or channel selection. The sector information may include various types of information such as the available downlink and uplink channels, the frequencies of the available channels, the loading on the available channels, and QoS information. The terminals may select a sector, a downlink channel, and/or an uplink channel based on the sector information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to establish a connection via a first frequency channel for a first link and a second frequency channel for a second link, to obtain a selection of a third frequency channel for the first link, and to switch the connection to the third frequency channel for the first link, the first and second frequency channels having a first frequency distance that is different than a second frequency distance between the second and third frequency channels; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first frequency distance is different than the second frequency distance by at least a spacing between adjacent frequency channels for the first link or the second link.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to maintain the connection with the second frequency channel for the second link after switching to the third frequency channel for the first link.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to obtain a selection of a fourth frequency channel for the second link and to switch the connection to the fourth frequency channel for the second link, wherein the third and fourth frequency channels have a third frequency distance that is different than at least one of the first and second frequency distances.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second links are downlink and uplink, respectively, and wherein the first and second frequency channels are default frequency channels for the downlink and uplink, respectively.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the third frequency channel is selected from a set of downlink frequency channels available for a sector.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second links are uplink and downlink, respectively, and wherein the first and second frequency channels are default frequency channels for the uplink and downlink, respectively.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the third frequency channel is selected from a set of uplink frequency channels available for a sector.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to detect less loading on the third frequency channel than the first frequency channel, and to select the third frequency channel by considering the less loading on the third frequency channel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to detect less interference on the third frequency channel than the first frequency channel, and to select the third frequency channel by considering the less interference on the third frequency channel.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to detect better channel conditions on the third frequency channel than the first frequency channel, and to select the third frequency channel by considering the better channel conditions on the third frequency channel.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to establish the connection with a base station and to receive the selection of the third frequency channel from the base station.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to establish the connection with a terminal and to send the selection of the third frequency channel to the terminal.

14. A method comprising:

establishing a connection via a first frequency channel for a first link and a second frequency channel for a second link;

obtaining a selection of a third frequency channel for the first link; and

switching the connection to the third frequency channel for the first link, wherein the first and second frequency channels have a first frequency distance that is different than a second frequency distance between the second and third frequency channels.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the obtaining the selection of the third frequency channel comprises

detecting less loading on the third frequency channel than the first frequency channel, and

selecting the third frequency channel by considering the less loading on the third frequency channel.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the obtaining the selection of the third frequency channel comprises

detecting less interference on the third frequency channel than the first frequency channel, and

selecting the third frequency channel by considering the less interference on the third frequency channel.

17. An apparatus comprising:

means for establishing a connection via a first frequency channel for a first link and a second frequency channel for a second link;

means for obtaining a selection of a third frequency channel for the first link; and

means for switching the connection to the third frequency channel for the first link, wherein the first and second frequency channels have a first frequency distance that is different than a second frequency distance between the second and third frequency channels.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for obtaining the selection of the third frequency channel comprises

means for detecting less loading on the third frequency channel than the first frequency channel, and

means for selecting the third frequency channel by considering the less loading on the third frequency channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for obtaining the selection of the third frequency channel comprises

means for detecting less interference on the third frequency channel than the first frequency channel, and

means for selecting the third frequency channel by considering the less interference on the third frequency channel.

20. A computer-readable medium including instructions stored thereon, comprising:

a first instruction set for establishing a connection via a first frequency channel for a first link and a second frequency channel for a second link;

a second instruction set for obtaining a selection of a third frequency channel for the first link; and

a third instruction set for switching the connection to the third frequency channel for the first link, wherein the first and second frequency channels have a first frequency distance that is different than a second frequency distance between the second and third frequency channels.

21. A terminal comprising:

at least one processor configured to receive sector information sent by a base station on a downlink channel, to ascertain an uplink channel based on the sector information, and to use the uplink channel for communication with the base station; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

22. The terminal of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is configured to ascertain center frequency of the uplink channel based on the sector information and to tune a transmitter to the center frequency of the uplink channel.

23. The terminal of claim 21, wherein the sector information indicates a specific uplink channel to use for communication, and wherein the ascertained uplink channel is the specific uplink channel indicated by the sector information.

24. The terminal of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is configured to ascertain loading of each of multiple uplink channels based on the sector information and to select the uplink channel by considering the loading of each of the multiple uplink channels.

25. The terminal of claim 21, wherein the sector information indicates multiple uplink channels available for use, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to select the uplink channel from among the multiple uplink channels.

26. The terminal of claim 21, wherein the sector information includes quality of service (QoS) information for multiple uplink channels available for use, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to select the uplink channel by considering the QoS information.

27. The terminal of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send an access request on the uplink channel to the base station.

28. The terminal of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is configured to establish a connection with the base station via the downlink channel and the uplink channel.

29. The terminal of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is configured to ascertain at least one additional downlink channel based on the sector information, and to acquire each of the at least one additional downlink channel.

30. The terminal of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is configured to select one downlink channel among the downlink channel used to receive the sector information and the at least one additional downlink channel, and to use the selected downlink channel for communication with the base station.

31. The terminal of claim 21, wherein the sector information indicates center frequency of each of multiple downlink channels, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to tune a receiver to the center frequency of each downlink channel to determine channel conditions of the downlink channel.

32. A method comprising:

receiving sector information sent by a base station on a downlink channel;

ascertaining an uplink channel based on the sector information; and

using the uplink channel for communication with the base station.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

determining center frequency of the uplink channel based on the sector information; and

tuning a transmitter to the center frequency of the uplink channel.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

determining loading of each of multiple uplink channels based on the sector information; and

selecting the uplink channel by considering the loading of each of the multiple uplink channels.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

ascertaining at least one additional downlink channel based on the sector information; and

acquiring each of the at least one additional downlink channel.

36. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving sector information sent by a base station on a downlink channel;

means for ascertaining an uplink channel based on the sector information; and

means for using the uplink channel for communication with the base station.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising:

means for determining center frequency of the uplink channel based on the sector information; and

means for tuning a transmitter to the center frequency of the uplink channel.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising:

means for determining loading of each of multiple uplink channels based on the sector information; and

means for selecting the uplink channel by considering the loading of each of the multiple uplink channels.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising:

means for ascertaining at least one additional downlink channel based on the sector information; and

means for acquiring each of the at least one additional downlink channel.

40. A computer-readable medium including instructions stored thereon, comprising:

a first instruction set for receiving sector information sent by a base station on a downlink channel;

a second instruction set for ascertaining an uplink channel based on the sector information; and

a third instruction set for directing use of the uplink channel for communication with the base station.

41. A terminal comprising:

at least one processor configured to select a first frequency channel from among at least one frequency channel for a first link, to select a second frequency channel from among multiple frequency channels for a second link, and to establish a connection via the first frequency channel for the first link and the second frequency channel for the second link; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

42. The terminal of claim 41, wherein the multiple frequency channels for the second link are associated with the at least one frequency channel for the first link

43. The terminal of claim 41, wherein the multiple frequency channels comprise the second frequency channel and a third frequency channel, and wherein a frequency distance between the first and second frequency channels and a frequency distance between the first and third frequency channels are different by at least a spacing between adjacent frequency channels for the second link.

44. The terminal of claim 41, wherein the at least one processor is configured to obtain measurements for the at least one frequency channel for the first link and to select the first frequency channel based on the measurements.

45. The terminal of claim 41, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive sector information from one of the at least one frequency channel for the first link and to select the first frequency channel based on the sector information.

46. The terminal of claim 41, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive sector information from one of the at least one frequency channel for the first link and to select the second frequency channel based on the sector information.

47. A method comprising:

selecting a first frequency channel from among at least one frequency channel for a first link;

selecting a second frequency channel from among multiple frequency channels for a second link; and

establishing a connection via the first frequency channel for the first link and the second frequency channel for the second link.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the selecting the first frequency channel comprises

obtaining measurements for the at least one frequency channel for the first link, and

selecting the first frequency channel based on the measurements.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the selecting the second frequency channel comprises

receiving sector information from one of the at least one frequency channel for the first link, and

selecting the second frequency channel based on the sector information.

50. An apparatus comprising:

means for selecting a first frequency channel from among at least one frequency channel for a first link;

means for selecting a second frequency channel from among multiple frequency channels for a second link; and

means for establishing a connection via the first frequency channel for the first link and the second frequency channel for the second link.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the means for selecting the first frequency channel comprises

means for obtaining measurements for the at least one frequency channel for the first link, and

means for selecting the first frequency channel based on the measurements.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the means for selecting the second frequency channel comprises

means for receiving sector information from one of the at least one frequency channel for the first link, and

means for selecting the second frequency channel based on the sector information.

53. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to determine loading on each of multiple uplink channels, and to send on a downlink channel information for the loading on the multiple uplink channels; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send center frequency of at least one of the multiple uplink channels.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send quality of service (QoS) information for the multiple uplink channels.

56. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine loading on each of multiple downlink channels and to send information for the loading on the multiple downlink channels.

57. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send information indicating downlink channels available for use.

58. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send power backoffs for multiple downlink channels.

59. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send frequency distances between multiple downlink channels and the downlink channel.