METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DOWNLINK MACRO-DIVERSITY IN CELLULAR NETWORKS

• US 20100027476A1
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kapoor, Samir, Park, Vincent, Corson, M. Scott, Laroia, Rajiv
• Granted Patent: US 9,491,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00692 using simultaneous multiple data streams, e.g. cooperative multipoint [CoMP], carrier aggregation [CA] or multiple input multiple output [MIMO] allocation of physical resources in CoMP or in CA H04L5/0035
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/185 using make before break
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

The invention described herein enables a form of downlink macro-diversity in packet-switched cellular networks. It allows packets to be selectively delivered from a network/internetwork to an end node, e.g., a wireless communication device or terminal, over a set of available link-layer connections to/from the end node, through one or more access nodes, e.g., base stations. Downlink macro-diversity is particularly important when the link-layer connections between the end node and the corresponding access node, e.g., the access links, are subject to independent or partially correlated time variations in signal strength and interference. In accordance with the invention, the end node dynamically selects the downlink to be used out of a set of available access links on a per packet basis subject to prevailing channel conditions, availability of air-link resources and other constraints. The invention improves the robustness and efficiency of communication, overall utilization of air-link resources, and quality of service experienced by the end node.

Claims

1. A method by an infrastructure entity, comprising:

duplicating a series of packets as a plurality of duplicate packets; and

forwarding said duplicate packets to an end node.

2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising forwarding said duplicate packets to at least one other infrastructure entity prior to reaching said end node.

3. The method as in claim 2 further comprising partitioning said series of packets as a plurality of packet portions and duplicating said packet portions as a plurality of duplicate packet portions.

4. The method as in claim 1 further comprising partitioning said series of packets as a plurality of packet portions and duplicating said packet portions as a plurality of duplicate packet portions.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein said duplicating said series of packets includes receiving said plurality of duplicate packets from another infrastructure entity.

6. The method as in claim 5 wherein said duplicate packets are duplicate packet portions of a series of packets.

7. An infrastructure entity, comprising:

means for duplicating a series of packets as a plurality of duplicate packets; and

means for forwarding said duplicate packets to an end node.

8. The infrastructure entity as in claim 7 further comprising means for forwarding said duplicate packets to at least one other infrastructure entity prior to reaching said end node.

9. The infrastructure entity as in claim 8 further comprising means for partitioning said series of packets as a plurality of packet portions and duplicating said packet portions as a plurality of duplicate packet portions.

10. The infrastructure entity as in claim 7 further comprising means for partitioning said series of packets as a plurality of packet portions and duplicating said packet portions as a plurality of duplicate packet portions.

11. The infrastructure entity as in claim 7 wherein said means for duplicating said series of packets includes means for receiving said plurality of duplicate packets from another infrastructure entity.

12. The infrastructure entity as in claim 11 wherein said duplicate packets are duplicate packet portions of a series of packets.

13. An infrastructure entity, comprising:

a processor; and

circuitry coupled to said processor configured to duplicate a series of packets as a plurality of duplicate packets, and forward said duplicate packets to an end node.

14. The infrastructure entity as in claim 13 wherein said circuitry coupled to said processor being further configured to forward said duplicate packets to at least one other infrastructure entity prior to reaching said end node.

15. The infrastructure entity as in claim 14 wherein said circuitry coupled to said processor being further configured to partition said series of packets as a plurality of packet portions and duplicate said packet portions as a plurality of duplicate packet portions.

16. The infrastructure entity as in claim 13 wherein said circuitry coupled to said processor being further configured to partition said series of packets as a plurality of packet portions and duplicate said packet portions as a plurality of duplicate packet portions.

17. The infrastructure entity as in claim 13 wherein said circuitry coupled to said processor further configured to receive said plurality of duplicate packets from another infrastructure entity.

18. The infrastructure entity as in claim 17 wherein said duplicate packets are duplicate packet portions of a series of packets.