Transmission in a Shared Medium Having Different Access Modes

• US 20100014423A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Ludwig, Reiner, Willars, Per, Meyer, Michael, Parkvall, Stefan, Furuskar, Anders
• Granted Patent: US 7,961,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/02 Hybrid access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/10 between terminal device and access point, i.e. wireless air interface

Abstract

A method of controlling access in a telecommunication network in which a communication medium, such as a set of frequencies, time slots, or codes, is shared among a plurality of mobile units. Transmissions from the mobile units utilize different access modes, such as a direct access mode and a scheduled access mode. Additionally, the transmissions are divided into different communication types, each having an associated priority. A mode access control unit determines for each priority, which access mode to utilize for the associated communication type. Mobile units having data to transmit access the shared communication medium utilizing the access mode determined for the priority of the communication type to which the data belongs.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A method of controlling access in a telecommunication network in which a communication medium is shared among a plurality of mobile units, and the mobile units utilize at least two access modes to access the communication medium, the at least two access modes including a direct access mode and a scheduled access mode, said method comprising the steps of:

associating different priorities with at least two communication types for transmissions from the mobile units, the different priorities including a high priority and a low priority;

determining for each of the different priorities, which access mode to utilize for the associated communication type; and

when a mobile unit has a transmission to make, accessing the shared communication medium by the mobile unit utilizing the access mode determined for the priority associated with the communication type to which the transmission belongs.

35. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the step of determining which access mode to utilize for associated communication types is performed continuously, periodically, or at predetermined events.

36. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the step of determining which access mode to utilize for associated communication types is made based on a traffic load in each of the at least two access modes.

37. The method as recited in claim 36, further comprising determining either an average calculated traffic load in the communication medium, or a value derived from traffic conditions, during a time period directly before and up to a current instant.

38. The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising after the determining step, informing the mobile units of the access mode determined for each of the different priorities.

39. The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising after the determining step, informing the mobile units of a total traffic load for the shared communication medium.

40. The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising before the determining step:

allocating a first portion of the shared communication medium for traffic from the mobile units using a first one of the at least two access modes; and

allocating a second portion of the communication medium for traffic from the mobile units using a second one of the at least two access modes.

41. The method as recited in claim 40, wherein the allocating steps are performed continuously, periodically, or at predetermined events.

42. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the determining step includes:

determining to utilize the direct access mode for traffic of a communication type having a high priority and a high traffic load; and

determining to utilize the scheduled access mode for traffic of a communication type having a lower priority.

43. An access control unit for controlling an access mode utilized for transmissions from mobile units in a telecommunication network in which a communication medium is shared among a plurality of mobile units, and the mobile units utilize at least two access modes to access the communication medium, the at least two access modes including a direct access mode and a scheduled access mode, said access control unit comprising:

means for associating different priorities with at least two communication types for transmissions from the mobile units, the different priorities including a high priority and a low priority;

mode determining means for determining for each of the different priorities, which access mode to utilize for the associated communication type; and

communication means for informing the mobile units of the access mode determined for each of the different priorities.

44. The access control unit as recited in claim 43, wherein the determining means determines which access mode to utilize for associated communication types continuously, periodically, or at predetermined events.

45. The access control unit as recited in claim 43, further comprising load determining means for determining a total traffic load or the traffic load in each of the access modes, wherein the mode determining means receives traffic load information from the load determining means and determines which access mode to utilize based on the traffic load information.

46. The access control unit as recited in claim 45, wherein the load determining means determines either an average calculated traffic load in the communication medium, or a value derived from traffic conditions, during a time period directly before and up to a current instant.

47. The access control unit as recited in claim 45, wherein the communication means is connected to receive information from the load determining means for informing the mobile units of the determined traffic conditions.

48. The access control unit as recited in claim 43, wherein the mode determining means is adapted to utilize the direct access mode for traffic of a communication type having a high priority and a high traffic load, and to utilize the scheduled access mode for traffic of a communication type having a lower priority.

49. The access control unit as recited in claim 43, further comprising an access allocation unit for allocating a first portion of the communication medium to traffic from the mobile units using a first one of the at least two access modes and a second portion of the traffic from the mobile units using a second one of the at least two access modes.

50. The access control unit as recited in claim 43, wherein the access control unit is implemented in a radio base station or other network node.

51. The access control unit as recited in claim 43, wherein the access control unit is implemented in each of the mobile units.

52. A mobile unit for use in a telecommunication network in which a communication medium is shared among a plurality of mobile units, the mobile unit comprising:

transmission means for utilizing at least two access modes to transmit to the communication medium, at least two communication types having different priorities, wherein the at least two access modes include a direct access mode and a scheduled access mode, and the different priorities include a high priority and a low priority; and

an access control unit in communication with the transmission means, the control unit comprising;

means for associating different priorities with the communication types; and

mode determining means for determining for each of the different priorities, which access mode to utilize for the associated communication type.

53. The mobile unit as recited in claim 52, further comprising a load receiving unit in communication with the mode determining means, the load receiving unit for receiving information on traffic conditions in the shared communication medium, wherein the mode determining means determines the access mode to utilize based on the received information on the traffic conditions.

54. The mobile unit as recited in claim 52, wherein the mode determining means includes a load estimation unit for estimating traffic conditions in the communication medium and providing the estimated traffic conditions to the mode determining means, wherein the mode determining means determines the access mode to utilize based on the received estimated traffic conditions.