METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DYNAMIC STICKY REGION ALLOCATION IN MAP-BASED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• US 20090310543A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Chun Woo, Shi, Guangming Carl, Kim, Doo Seok
• Granted Patent: US 8,526,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0096 Indication of changes in allocation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for allocating, modifying, and terminating a fixed data region (termed “sticky region allocation”) in an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame are provided. With sticky region allocation, the sticky region may be negotiated during the establishment of a connection between a base station and a user terminal, and a single MAP information element (MAP IE) may inform the user terminal of the location of the sticky region. Then, a user terminal can receive/send data bursts for a certain connection in multiple OFDM/OFDMA frames without needing a MAP IE for locating each burst in subsequent frames. Accordingly, the size of the control overhead, such as the downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) MAP messages, may be reduced. The reduced control overhead may increase the frame resources available for data traffic and thus, may boost the overall efficiency and performance of OFDM/OFDMA wireless systems.

Claims

1. A method for sticky region allocation, comprising:

negotiating a capability for sticky region allocation;

establishing a sticky-enabled connection in response to the capability negotiating;

agreeing to or requesting an allocated data region for the sticky-enabled connection;

receiving a first signal based on a first orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame;

locating the allocated data region in the first frame according to a first MAP information element (IE);

receiving a second signal based on a second OFDM or OFDMA frame, wherein the second signal is received later than the first signal; and

locating the allocated data region in the second frame according to the first MAP IE without using a second MAP IE.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein negotiating the capability for sticky region allocation occurs during network entry (NE) procedures.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein negotiating the capability comprises:

transmitting a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Request (SBC-REQ) regarding the capability for sticky region allocation; and

receiving a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Response (SBC-RSP) affirming the capability for sticky region allocation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein agreeing to or requesting the allocated data region for the sticky-enabled connection comprises establishing a service flow.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame, wherein the third signal is received later than the second signal; and

locating an updated allocated data region in the third frame according to a third MAP IE, wherein the updated allocated data region has at least one of a different location, duration, bandwidth, or modulation from the allocated data region located according to the first MAP IE.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the third MAP IE is in the third frame.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame having a third MAP IE with a zero in a field for a number of OFDM/OFDMA symbols, wherein the third signal is received later than the second signal; and

terminating the sticky region allocation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is a downlink (DL) connection, the allocated data region is a DL data region, and the first MAP IE is a DL-MAP IE.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is an uplink (UL) connection, the allocated data region is a UL data region, and the first MAP IE is a UL-MAP IE.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first MAP IE is in the first frame.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame containing the first MAP IE, wherein the third signal is received prior to the first signal.

14. A computer-program apparatus for sticky region allocation comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors and the instructions comprising:

instructions for negotiating a capability for sticky region allocation;

instructions for establishing a sticky-enabled connection in response to the capability negotiating;

instructions for agreeing to or requesting an allocated data region for the sticky-enabled connection;

instructions for receiving a first signal based on a first orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame;

instructions for locating the allocated data region in the first frame according to a first MAP information element (IE);

instructions for receiving a second signal based on a second OFDM or OFDMA frame, wherein the second signal is received later than the first signal; and

instructions for locating the allocated data region in the second frame according to the first MAP IE without using a second MAP IE.

15. The computer-program apparatus of claim 14, wherein negotiating the capability comprises:

transmitting a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Request (SBC-REQ) regarding the capability for sticky region allocation; and

receiving a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Response (SBC-RSP) affirming the capability for sticky region allocation.

16. The computer-program apparatus of claim 14, wherein agreeing to or requesting the allocated data region for the sticky-enabled connection comprises establishing a service flow.

17. The computer-program apparatus of claim 16, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

18. The computer-program apparatus of claim 16, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

19. The instructions of claim 14, further comprising:

instructions for receiving a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame, wherein the third signal is received later than the second signal; and

instructions for locating an updated allocated data region in the third frame according to a third MAP IE, wherein the updated allocated data region has at least one of a different location, duration, bandwidth, or modulation from the allocated data region located according to the first MAP IE.

20. The instructions of claim 14, further comprising:

instructions for receiving a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame having a third MAP IE with a zero in a field for a number of OFDM/OFDMA symbols, wherein the third signal is received later than the second signal; and

instructions for terminating the sticky region allocation.

21. The computer-program apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is a downlink (DL) connection, the allocated data region is a DL data region, and the first MAP IE is a DL-MAP IE.

22. The computer-program apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is an uplink (UL) connection, the allocated data region is a UL data region, and the first MAP IE is a UL-MAP IE.

23. An apparatus for sticky region allocation, comprising:

means for negotiating a capability for sticky region allocation;

means for establishing a sticky-enabled connection in response to the capability negotiating;

means for agreeing to or requesting an allocated data region for the sticky-enabled connection;

means for receiving a first signal based on a first orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame;

means for locating the allocated data region in the first frame according to a first MAP information element (IE);

means for receiving a second signal based on a second OFDM or OFDMA frame, wherein the second signal is received later than the first signal; and

means for locating the allocated data region in the second frame according to the first MAP IE without using a second MAP IE.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for negotiating the capability is configured to:

transmit a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Request (SBC-REQ) regarding the capability for sticky region allocation; and

receive a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Response (SBC-RSP) affirming the capability for sticky region allocation.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for agreeing to or requesting the allocated data region for the sticky-enabled connection is configured to establish a service flow.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

means for receiving a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame, wherein the third signal is received later than the second signal; and

means for locating an updated allocated data region in the third frame according to a third MAP IE, wherein the updated allocated data region has at least one of a different location, duration, bandwidth, or modulation from the allocated data region located according to the first MAP IE.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

means for receiving a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame having a third MAP IE with a zero in a field for a number of OFDM/OFDMA symbols, wherein the third signal is received later than the second signal; and

means for terminating the sticky region allocation.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is a downlink (DL) connection, the allocated data region is a DL data region, and the first MAP IE is a DL-MAP IE.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is an uplink (UL) connection, the allocated data region is a UL data region, and the first MAP IE is a UL-MAP IE.

32. A mobile device, comprising:

negotiation logic configured to negotiate a capability for sticky region allocation;

connection logic configured to establish a sticky-enabled connection in response to the capability negotiation;

allocation logic configured to agree to or request an allocated data region for the sticky-enabled connection;

a radio frequency (RF) front end for receiving a first signal based on a first orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame and for receiving a second signal based on a second OFDM or OFDMA frame, wherein the second signal is received later than the first signal; and

a MAP parser configured to locate the allocated data region in the first frame according to a first MAP information element (IE) and to locate the allocated data region in the second frame according to the first MAP IE without using a second MAP IE.

33. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the negotiation logic is configured to:

transmit a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Request (SBC-REQ) regarding the capability for sticky region allocation; and

receive a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Response (SBC-RSP) affirming the capability for sticky region allocation.

34. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the allocation logic is configured to establish a service flow.

35. The mobile device of claim 34, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

36. The mobile device of claim 34, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

37. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the RF front end is configured to receive a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame and received later than the second signal;

the MAP parser is configured to locate an updated allocated data region in the third frame according to a third MAP IE; and

the updated allocated data region has at least one of a different location, duration, bandwidth, or modulation from the allocated data region located according to the first MAP IE.

38. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the RF front end is configured to receive a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame having a third MAP IE with a zero in a field for a number of OFDM/OFDMA symbols, the third signal is received later than the second signal, and the MAP parser is configured to effectively terminate the sticky region allocation by disregarding the allocated data region.

39. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is a downlink (DL) connection, the allocated data region is a DL data region, and the first MAP IE is a DL-MAP IE.

40. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is an uplink (UL) connection, the allocated data region is a UL data region, and the first MAP IE is a UL-MAP IE.

41. A method for sticky region allocation, comprising:

negotiating a capability for sticky region allocation;

establishing a sticky-enabled connection in response to the capability negotiating;

allocating a data region based on the established sticky-enabled connection;

transmitting a first signal based on a first orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame having a MAP information element (IE) for locating the allocated data region in a starting OFDM or OFDMA frame; and

transmitting a second signal based on a second OFDM or OFDMA frame without a MAP IE for locating the allocated data region in the second frame, wherein the second signal is transmitted later than the first signal and a signal based on the starting frame.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein negotiating the capability for sticky region allocation occurs during network entry (NE) procedures.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein negotiating the capability comprises:

receiving a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Request (SBC-REQ) regarding the capability for sticky region allocation; and

transmitting a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Response (SBC-RSP) affirming the capability for sticky region allocation.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein establishing the sticky-enabled connection comprises establishing a service flow.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein allocating the data region comprises considering one or more Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for the established connection.

48. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

updating the allocated data region to have at least one of a different location, duration, bandwidth, or modulation from the allocated data region; and

transmitting a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame with a new MAP IE for locating the updated allocated data region in the third frame or a subsequent frame, wherein the third signal is transmitted later than the second signal.

49. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

transmitting a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame having a new MAP IE with a zero in a field for a number of OFDM/OFDMA symbols, wherein the third signal is transmitted later than the second signal; and

terminating the sticky region allocation.

50. The method of claim 41, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is a downlink (DL) connection, the allocated data region is a DL data region, and the MAP IE for locating the data region in the starting frame is a DL-MAP IE.

51. The method of claim 41, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is an uplink (UL) connection, the allocated data region is a UL data region and the MAP IE for locating the data region in the starting frame is a UL-MAP IE.

52. The method of claim 41, wherein the starting frame is the first frame and the first signal is the signal based on the starting frame.

53. The method of claim 41, wherein the signal based on the starting frame is transmitted later than the first signal.

54. A computer-program apparatus for sticky region allocation comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors and the instructions comprising:

instructions for negotiating a capability for sticky region allocation;

instructions for establishing a sticky-enabled connection in response to the capability negotiating;

instructions for allocating a data region based on the established sticky-enabled connection;

instructions for transmitting a first signal based on a first orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame having a MAP information element (IE) for locating the allocated data region in a starting OFDM or OFDMA frame; and

instructions for transmitting a second signal based on a second OFDM or OFDMA frame without a MAP IE for locating the allocated data region in the second frame, wherein the second signal is transmitted later than the first signal and a signal based on the starting frame.

55. The computer-program apparatus of claim 54, wherein negotiating the capability comprises:

receiving a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Request (SBC-REQ) regarding the capability for sticky region allocation; and

transmitting a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Response (SBC-RSP) affirming the capability for sticky region allocation.

56. The computer-program apparatus of claim 54, wherein establishing the sticky-enabled connection comprises establishing a service flow.

57. The computer-program apparatus of claim 56, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

58. The computer-program apparatus of claim 56, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

59. The computer-program apparatus of claim 54, wherein allocating the data region comprises considering one or more Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for the established connection.

60. The instructions of claim 54, further comprising:

instructions for updating the allocated data region to have at least one of a different location, duration, bandwidth, or modulation from the allocated data region; and

instructions for transmitting a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame with a new MAP IE for locating the updated allocated data region in the third frame or a subsequent frame, wherein the third signal is transmitted later than the second signal.

61. The instructions of claim 54, further comprising:

instructions for transmitting a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame having a new MAP IE with a zero in a field for a number of OFDM/OFDMA symbols, wherein the third signal is transmitted later than the second signal; and

instructions for terminating the sticky region allocation.

62. The computer-program apparatus of claim 54, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is a downlink (DL) connection, the allocated data region is a DL data region, and the MAP IE for locating the data region in the starting frame is a DL-MAP IE.

63. The computer-program apparatus of claim 54, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is an uplink (UL) connection, the allocated data region is a UL data region and the MAP IE for locating the data region in the starting frame is a UL-MAP IE.

64. An apparatus for sticky region allocation, comprising:

means for negotiating a capability for sticky region allocation;

means for establishing a sticky-enabled connection in response to the capability negotiating;

means for allocating a data region based on the established sticky-enabled connection;

means for transmitting a first signal based on a first orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame having a MAP information element (IE) for locating the allocated data region in a starting OFDM or OFDMA frame; and

means for transmitting a second signal based on a second OFDM or OFDMA frame without a MAP IE for locating the allocated data region in the second frame, wherein the second signal is transmitted later than the first signal and a signal based on the starting frame.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for negotiating the capability is configured to:

receive a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Request (SBC-REQ) regarding the capability for sticky region allocation; and

transmit a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Response (SBC-RSP) affirming the capability for sticky region allocation.

66. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for establishing the sticky-enabled connection is configured to establish a service flow.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

68. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

69. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for allocating the data region is configured to consider one or more Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for the established connection.

70. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising:

means for updating the allocated data region to have at least one of a different location, duration, bandwidth, or modulation from the allocated data region; and

means for transmitting a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame with a new MAP IE for locating the updated allocated data region in the third frame or a subsequent frame, wherein the third signal is transmitted later than the second signal.

71. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising:

means for transmitting a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame having a new MAP IE with a zero in a field for a number of OFDM/OFDMA symbols, wherein the third signal is transmitted later than the second signal; and

means for terminating the sticky region allocation.

72. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is a downlink (DL) connection, the allocated data region is a DL data region, and the MAP IE for locating the data region in the starting frame is a DL-MAP IE.

73. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is an uplink (UL) connection, the allocated data region is a UL data region and the MAP IE for locating the data region in the starting frame is a UL-MAP IE.

74. A base station, comprising:

negotiation logic configured to negotiate a capability for sticky region allocation;

connection logic configured to establish a sticky-enabled connection in response to the capability negotiating;

allocation logic configured to allocate a data region based on the established sticky-enabled connection;

a transmitter front end configured to transmit a first signal based on a first orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame having a MAP information element (IE) for locating the allocated data region in a starting OFDM or OFDMA frame and to transmit a second signal based on a second OFDM or OFDMA frame without a MAP IE for locating the allocated data region in the second frame, wherein the second signal is transmitted later than the first signal and a signal based on the starting frame.

75. The base station of claim 74, wherein the negotiation logic is configured to:

receive a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Request (SBC-REQ) regarding the capability for sticky region allocation; and

transmit a Subscriber Station Basic Capability Response (SBC-RSP) affirming the capability for sticky region allocation.

76. The base station of claim 74, wherein the connection logic is configured to establish a service flow.

77. The base station of claim 76, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

78. The base station of claim 76, wherein establishing the service flow comprises:

transmitting a Dynamic Service Addition Request (DSA-REQ) to use sticky region allocation for the service flow; and

receiving a Dynamic Service Addition Response (DSA-RSP) agreeing to use sticky region allocation.

79. The base station of claim 74, wherein allocation logic is configured to consider one or more Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for the established connection.

80. The base station of claim 74, wherein the allocation logic is configured to update the allocated data region to have at least one of a different location, duration, bandwidth, or modulation from the allocated data region;

the transmitter front end is configured to transmit a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame with a new MAP IE for locating the updated allocated data region in the third frame or a subsequent frame; and

the third signal is transmitted later than the second signal.

81. The base station of claim 74, wherein the allocation logic is configured to terminate the sticky region allocation, the transmitter front end is configured to transmit a third signal based on a third OFDM or OFDMA frame having a new MAP IE with a zero in a field for a number of OFDM/OFDMA symbols, and the third signal is transmitted later than the second signal.

82. The base station of claim 74, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is a downlink (DL) connection, the allocated data region is a DL data region, and the MAP IE for locating the data region in the starting frame is a DL-MAP IE.

83. The base station of claim 74, wherein the sticky-enabled connection is an uplink (UL) connection, the allocated data region is a UL data region and the MAP IE for locating the data region in the starting frame is a UL-MAP IE.