Context Transfers and Multi-Band Operation for Wireless Networks

• US 20080320354A1
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Doppler, Klaus, Wijting, Carl Simon, Sorri, Antti, Kermoal, Jean-Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 8,442,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/748
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/04 using frequency diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1893 Physical mapping arrangements physical resource mapping in general H04L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0097 Relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0064 Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0055 Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0064 of control information between different access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1268 of uplink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Various example embodiments are disclosed relating wireless networks and relating to context transfers and multi-band operation in wireless networks. In an example embodiment, a multi-band scheduler may be provided for use in a wireless node. The multi-band scheduler may be configured to: receive one or more data units of a flow; assign each received data unit of the flow to a first frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands; determine a band transfer condition for the flow; and perform a context transfer from the first frequency band to a second frequency band for the flow based on the determined band transfer condition.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, from a wireless node, a first data unit via a first channel of a first frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands;

selecting a second frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands;

performing a context transfer at the wireless node from the first frequency band to the second frequency band; and

transmitting, from the wireless node, a second data unit via a second channel of the second frequency band.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first channel comprises one or more subcarriers within the first frequency band, and the second channel comprises one or more subcarriers within the second frequency band.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing a context transfer comprises sending, from the wireless node, control information associated with the second frequency band.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control information comprises synchronization related information associated with the second frequency band.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the control information comprises at least one of:

a location of the second frequency band or a frequency shift between the first frequency band and the second frequency band, or a frequency shift between the first channel of the first frequency band and the second channel of the second frequency band, and/or a location of a resource allocation table.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a context transfer comprises reassigning data units and associated control data from the first frequency band to the second frequency band.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a context transfer comprises:

transferring data units stored in a first data transmission queue associated with the first frequency band to a second data transmission queue associated with the second frequency band; and

re-assigning control data associated with the first frequency band from the first frequency band to the second frequency band.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing a context transfer comprises transferring or re-assigning data units and associated control data that are assigned to a first resource scheduler associated with the first frequency band to a second resource scheduler associated with the second frequency band.

9. The method of claim 1, and further comprising retransmitting, after performing the context transfer, the first data unit via the second channel of the second frequency band.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the retransmitting the first data unit via the second channel of the second frequency band is part of:

an automatic repeat request (ARQ) process;

a hybrid ARQ (HARQ) process in which data units are encoded using an error-correction code (e.g., Reed Solomon code or Turbo code) and error-detection information (e.g., CRC or cyclic redundancy check) is appended to the data unit before transmission or retransmission;

a chase combining HARQ process in which the first data unit is coded and retransmitted via the second channel of the second frequency band;

an incremental redundancy HARQ process in which the first data unit transmitted via the first channel of the first frequency band and the retransmitted first data unit retransmitted via the second channel of the second frequency band are encoded differently or coded using different coding rates and puncturing techniques.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless transceiver; and

a multi-band scheduler;

the apparatus being configured to;

transmit, from a wireless node, a first data unit via a first channel of a first frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands;

select a second frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands;

perform a context transfer at the wireless node from the first frequency band to the second frequency band; and

transmit, from the wireless node, a second data unit via a second channel of the second frequency band.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises one of:

a wireless access point, base station, or node B;

a wireless relay node or relay station; and

a wireless user terminal or mobile station.

13. A method comprising:

transmitting one or more data units of a group of data units via a first channel of a first frequency band in a wireless network using an ARQ process;

re-assigning the group of data units and associated control data from the first frequency band to a second frequency band; and

continuing to transmit the group of data units via a second channel of the second frequency band using the ARQ process.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the group of data units comprises one of:

a flow of data units;

data units directed to or addressed to a specific wireless user terminal, mobile station or destination address; and

data units designating one or more specific QoS (quality of service) requirements.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless transceiver; and

a multi-band scheduler;

the apparatus configured to;

transmit one or more data units of a group of data units via a first channel of a first frequency band in a wireless network using an ARQ process;

re-assign the group of data units and associated control data from the first frequency band to a second frequency band; and

continue to transmit the group of data units via a second channel of the second frequency band using the ARQ process.

16. A method comprising:

receiving, at a user terminal, data units from a first infrastructure node via a first frequency band;

receiving one or more retransmitted data units from a second infrastructure node via a second frequency band;

providing a ARQ or HARQ status report or block ACK to the first infrastructure node via the first frequency band;

continuing to receive data units from the first infrastructure node via the first frequency.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the receiving one or more retransmitted data units comprises:

performing a context transfer from the first frequency band to the second frequency band; and

receiving one or more retransmitted data units from the second infrastructure node via a second frequency band.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the providing a ARQ or HARQ status report or block ACK to the first infrastructure node comprises:

performing a context transfer from the second frequency band to the first frequency band; and

providing an ARQ or HARQ status report or block ACK to the first infrastructure node via the first frequency band.

19. A method comprising:

transmitting a data unit via a first channel of a first frequency band in a wireless network using an ARQ process;

failing to receive an indication that the data unit was successfully received;

performing a context transfer from the first frequency band to a second frequency band, including re-assigning one or more data units, including the transmitted data unit, and at least some associated control data of the one or more data units, from the first frequency band to the second frequency band; and

retransmitting the transmitted data unit using a second channel of the second frequency band according to the ARQ process.

20. An apparatus for use in a wireless node comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a controller, the apparatus (or the controller) configured to;

transmit a data unit via a first channel of a first frequency band in a wireless network using an ARQ process;

fail to receive an indication that the data unit was successfully received;

perform a context transfer from the first frequency band to a second frequency band, including re-assigning one or more data units, including the transmitted data unit, and at least some associated control data of the one or more data units, from the first frequency band to the second frequency band; and

retransmit the transmitted data unit using a second channel of the second frequency band according to the ARQ process.

21. A method comprising:

transmitting data via a first channel on a first frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands in a wireless network;

detecting a condition relating to the first frequency band;

reassigning (or transferring) at least some control data relating to the first frequency band to a second frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands;

transferring data stored in data transmission queues associated with the first frequency band to data transmission queues associated with the second frequency band; and

transmitting the transferred data via the second frequency band.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the detected condition comprises determining that the first frequency band is unavailable due to use or sharing with another operator or network.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the detected condition comprises one or more of the following:

determining or detecting one or more of;

an unavailability of at least a portion (e.g., channel or subchannel) of the first frequency band for the flow;

a network congestion or traffic load on at least a portion (e.g., channel or subchannel) of the first frequency band that exceeds a congestion threshold;

a channel quality indication for at least a portion (e.g., channel or subchannel) of the first frequency band that identifies a channel quality less than a channel quality threshold; and

/or a Quality of Service (QoS) for at least a portion (e.g., channel or subchannel) of the first frequency band is less than a QoS required or requested by the flow.

24. The method of claim 21, and further comprising sending, before the reassigning and transferring, a message to a user terminal requesting that the user terminal to synchronize with the second frequency band or prepare for a transfer to the second frequency band.

25. The method of claim 21, and further comprising:

receiving a message from the user terminal via the first frequency band that includes estimated channel quality for the second frequency band;

providing the channel quality indication for the second frequency band to a resource scheduler associated with the second frequency band.

26. An apparatus for use in a wireless node comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a controller, the apparatus (or the controller) configured to;

transmit data via a first channel on a first frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands in a wireless network;

detecting a condition relating to the first frequency band;

reassign at least some control data relating to the first frequency band to a second frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands;

transfer data stored in data transmission queues associated with the first frequency band to data transmission queues associated with the second frequency band; and

transmit the transferred data via the second frequency band.

27. A method comprising:

receiving one or more data units of a flow at a wireless node;

assigning each received data unit of the flow to a first frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands;

determining a band transfer condition for the flow; and

performing a context transfer from the first frequency band to a second frequency band for the flow based on the determined band transfer condition.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the receiving one or more data units of a flow at a wireless node comprises:

receiving one or more packets; and

segmenting each packet into one or more radio transmission units or other data units for transmission.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the assigning each received data unit of the flow comprises assigning each received data unit of the flow to a first frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands, the assigning being performed based on one or more of the following:

a channel quality indication or other measurement for one or more of the frequency bands;

quality of service constraints or requirements of the flow as compared to a quality of service being provided by each of the plurality of frequency bands; and

an amount of traffic, load or congestion on one or more of the frequency bands.

30. The method wherein the determining a band transfer condition comprises determining or detecting one or more of:

an unavailability of at least a portion (e.g., channel or subchannel) of the first frequency band for the flow;

a network congestion or traffic load on at least a portion (e.g., channel or subchannel) of the first frequency band that exceeds a congestion threshold;

a channel quality indication for at least a portion (e.g., channel or subchannel) of the first frequency band that identifies a channel quality less than a channel quality threshold;

a Quality of Service (QoS) for at least a portion (e.g., channel or subchannel) of the first frequency band is less than a QoS required or requested by the flow;

a network congestion or traffic level of at least a portion (e.g., channel or subchannel) of the first frequency band is higher than a network congestion or traffic level for at least a portion of the second frequency band;

a channel quality of at least a portion (e.g., channel or subchannel) of the second frequency band is a higher or more favorable quality than at least a portion of the first frequency band; and

/or

a QoS of at least a portion (e.g., channel or subchannel) of the second frequency band is higher than the QoS of at least a portion of the first frequency band.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the performing a context transfer from the first frequency band to a second frequency band for the flow based on the determined band transfer condition comprises:

transferring data units stored in a first data transmission queue associated with the first frequency band to a second data transmission queue associated with the second frequency band;

re-assigning control data associated with the first frequency band from the first frequency band to the second frequency band; and

assigning any newly received data units for the flow to the second frequency band.

32. A method comprising:

receiving one or more data units of a first flow at a wireless node;

assigning each received data unit of the first flow to a first frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands;

receiving one or more data units of a second flow at a wireless node;

assigning each received data unit of the second flow to a second frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands;

determining a band transfer condition for the first flow; and

performing a context transfer from the first frequency band to the second frequency band for the first flow based on the determined band transfer condition.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the performing a context transfer comprises assigning one or more of the data units of the first flow, and associated control data, to the second frequency band.

34. The method of claim 32, and further comprising:

transmitting, before performing the context transfer, data units of the first flow via a first channel of the first frequency band;

transmitting, after performing the context transfer, data units of the first flow via a second channel of the second frequency band; and

transmitting data units of the second flow via a third channel of the second frequency band.

35. A multi-band scheduler for use in a wireless node, the multi-band scheduler configured to:

receive one or more data units of a flow;

assign each received data unit of the flow to a first frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands;

determine a band transfer condition for the flow; and

perform a context transfer from the first frequency band to a second frequency band for the flow based on the determined band transfer condition.

36. An apparatus for operation in a wireless node, the apparatus comprising:

a data transmission queue for each of a plurality of frequency bands including at least a first data transmission queue for a first frequency band and a second data transmission queue for a second frequency band;

a multi-band scheduler configured to receive data units, and to assign each data unit to one of the data transmission queues for one of the frequency bands;

a resource scheduler for each of the plurality of frequency bands, including at least;

a first resource scheduler configured to schedule data units from the first data transmission queue for transmission via resources of the first frequency band; and

a second resource scheduler configured to schedule data units from the second data transmission queue for transmission via resources of the second frequency band.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform a context transfer from the first frequency band to the second frequency band, including:

transfer data units from the first data transmission queue to the second data transmission queue; and

reassign control data associated with the transferred data units, from the first frequency band or the first resource scheduler to the second frequency band or the second resource scheduler.

38. A method comprising:

using a first frequency band for communication, the first frequency band being dedicated to a network operator;

making a determination that a second frequency band is available for use, the second frequency band, at least in some areas, being shared among a plurality of network operators; and

using the second frequency band based on the determination, in addition to the first frequency band.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the second frequency band is shared among network operators of a same technology (e.g., two WiMAX operators).

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the second frequency band is shared among network operators of a different technology (e.g., 4G and Satellite operators sharing the Extension band).

41. A method comprising:

using a first frequency band to transmit data units of a first priority type; and

using a second frequency band to transmit and receive data units of a second priority type.