Methods and Apparatus for Cellular Broadcasting and Communication System
First Claim
1. A method of data broadcasting in a cellular communication network of base stations and mobile stations, the method comprising:
- broadcasting signals via a broadcast downlink channel from at least one base station to multiple mobile stations;
sending signals in a cell via a downlink regular channel, from the base station to an individual mobile station, wherein;
each downlink regular (unicast) channel is allocated to one individual mobile station for downlink communication with the cell base station; and
the downlink regular channel is used to enhance the broadcast quality;
sending signals in a cell via an individual uplink channel, from a mobile station to the cell base station, wherein;
each individual uplink channel is assigned to one individual mobile station for uplink communication with the base station; and
the individual mobile station sends data, application requests, feedback information, or a combination thereof, to the base station via the assigned uplink channel;
making decisions on a necessity and manner of individual signal augmentation or repetition, based on the request or feedback information from individual mobile stations; and
sending augmenting signals or repeating signals via the downlink regular channel, from the base station to the individual mobile stations, if a decision is made to do so.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a cellular wireless network, methods and apparatus are disclosed for a signal broadcasting scheme that can be individually augmented for users with poor reception. The network employs a first downlink channel (broadcast CH) for broadcasting data to all mobile stations (S1, S2, S3), a second downlink channel (regular CH) for sending signals to a specific mobile station in a cell, and an uplink channel for feeding back information to the base station. To achieve a certain user reception quality, the system adjusts its broadcasting parameters based on the statistical analysis of the feedback data (feedback). If some users still require better reception, the system individually augments their broadcast signals via the second downlink channels. Methods and apparatus are also disclosed for synchronization of data distribution by base stations (1,2), which, in part, allows the receivers to combine the receiving signals and improve their reception quality.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of data broadcasting in a cellular communication network of base stations and mobile stations, the method comprising:
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broadcasting signals via a broadcast downlink channel from at least one base station to multiple mobile stations; sending signals in a cell via a downlink regular channel, from the base station to an individual mobile station, wherein; each downlink regular (unicast) channel is allocated to one individual mobile station for downlink communication with the cell base station; and the downlink regular channel is used to enhance the broadcast quality; sending signals in a cell via an individual uplink channel, from a mobile station to the cell base station, wherein; each individual uplink channel is assigned to one individual mobile station for uplink communication with the base station; and the individual mobile station sends data, application requests, feedback information, or a combination thereof, to the base station via the assigned uplink channel; making decisions on a necessity and manner of individual signal augmentation or repetition, based on the request or feedback information from individual mobile stations; and sending augmenting signals or repeating signals via the downlink regular channel, from the base station to the individual mobile stations, if a decision is made to do so. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of data broadcasting in a cellular communication network of base stations and mobile stations, wherein each base station provides signal coverage to a cell, the method comprising:
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broadcasting signals in a plurality of cells, from a base station in each of the plurality of cells, via a broadcast downlink channel that is shared by multiple mobile stations, wherein; the broadcast signals use an adaptable frame structure (AFS) wherein the AFS includes a transmission frame comprising a flexible mix of multiple subframe types where each subframe contains a downlink transmission period and an uplink transmission period; and the broadcast signals are simultaneously transmitted by all the base stations using a common time/frequency resource; receiving at each base station in the plurality of cells, via individual uplink channels, feedback information from individual mobile stations, wherein the feedback information at least partly characterizes the broadcast downlink channel quality, and wherein each individual uplink channel is assigned to one individual mobile station for uplink communication with the base station in the cell; analyzing the feedback information from the mobile stations to determine a necessity and manner of adjusting broadcast signals, and a necessity and manner of augmenting individually received signals, based on the feedback information from corresponding individual mobile stations; adjusting broadcast signals based on the analyzed feedback information; and sending individual augmenting or repeating signals via downlink regular channels to individual mobile stations based on the analyzed individual feedback information, and wherein each downlink regular channel is assigned to an individual mobile station for downlink communication of the base station with the mobile stations in the cell.
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12. A cellular broadcasting and communication system for use with mobile stations performing as user terminals, the system comprising:
base stations providing signal coverage to a cell, wherein at least one base station is configured to; broadcast signals via a broadcast downlink channel that is received by multiple mobile stations; receive, via an individual uplink channel, feedback information from an individual mobile station, wherein the feedback information at least partly characterizes a quality of the broadcast downlink channel, and wherein each individual uplink channel is assigned to one of the individual mobile stations for uplink communication with the base station in the cell; adjust the broadcast signals based on an analysis of the feedback information; and send augmenting or repeating broadcast signals via downlink regular channels to individual mobile stations when the feedback information from each of the individual mobile stations indicates unacceptable broadcast downlink channel quality or requests signal augmentation, wherein each downlink regular channel is assigned to a corresponding individual mobile station for downlink communication of the base station with the individual mobile stations in the call, and wherein; the system operates as a packet data network with an adaptable frame structure (AFS) in which a transmission frame comprises a flexible mix of multiple subframe types, and each subframe contains a downlink transmission period and an uplink transmission period; and the broadcasting signal is simultaneously transmitted by all the base stations using a common time/frequency resource. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A base station in a cellular data broadcasting and communication packet data network, wherein the base station employs an adaptable frame structure (AFS) where broadcasting signals are simultaneously transmitted by all base stations using a substantially similar time/frequency resource, the base station comprising:
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a transmitter for broadcasting signals via a broadcast downlink channel shared by multiple mobile stations; a receiver for receiving, via an individual uplink channel, feedback information from individual mobile stations, wherein the feedback information is at least partly regarding broadcast downlink channel quality, and wherein each individual uplink channel is assigned to one of the multiple mobile stations for uplink communication with the base station; a decision-making facility for analyzing the feedback information, collectively and individually, and determining multiple aspects of compensating for channel quality deficiencies; and a configuration wherein the transmitter adjusts broadcast signals and also sends individual compensating or repeating signals via downlink regular channels to selected individual mobile stations based on the collective and individual feedback information, respectively, and wherein each downlink regular channel is assigned to one of the multiple mobile stations for downlink communication of the base station with the individual mobile stations.
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15. A data signal embodied in a carrier wave readable by a telecommunications system, the data signal comprising:
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at least one downlink regular channel; and at least one downlink broadcast channel, wherein; the downlink broadcast channel is utilized for broadcasting signals that are received by multiple mobile stations; the downlink regular channel is assigned to one mobile station for downlink communication of a base station with the mobile station in a cell, to repeat or augment an inadequate broadcast signal, and wherein repeating- or augmenting-signals are based on feedback information from the mobile station to the base station via an individual uplink channel; and transmission frames comprise a flexible mix of multiple subframe types, and each subframe contains a downlink transmission period and an uplink transmission period.
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16. A method of data broadcasting in a cellular communication network of base stations and mobile stations, wherein each base station provides signal coverage to a cell, and wherein a control server (CS) in the network controls at least one base station, the method comprising:
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connecting the control server to the corresponding base stations via a packet distribution network (PDN) that is either a wired network or a wireless network; overlaying a synchronized packet distribution network (SPDN) on the packet distribution network (PDN); receiving original data packets by a Distribution Adapter (DA) of the SPDN and distributing the data packets across the PDN to the base stations after adding an additional protocol information, wherein the additional protocol information includes time synchronization information, resource scheduling information, application specific control information, protocol control information, or a combination thereof; and ensuring a synchronized data transmission by the base stations via a Receiving Adapter (RA) that uses a same data content and a same time/frequency resource.
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Specification