Methods and Systems for Transmission of Multiple Modulated Signals Over Wireless Networks
First Claim
1. A method for allocating bandwidth in a wireless communication system, wherein the wireless communication system includes a wireless subscriber unit in communication with an associated base station, the method comprising:
- a) transmitting from the wireless subscriber unit an explicit message to the base station requesting to be provided an allocation of uplink (UL) bandwidth in which to transmit a bandwidth request;
b) receiving at the subscriber unit the allocation of UL bandwidth;
c) transmitting the bandwidth request within the allocation of UL bandwidth, the bandwidth request specifying a requested UL bandwidth allocation; and
d) receiving an UL bandwidth grant for the subscriber unit in response to the bandwidth request.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The inventive method and apparatus includes a combination of techniques that allow a plurality of CPEs to communicate their bandwidth request messages to respective base stations. One technique includes a “polling” method whereby a base station polls CPEs individually or in groups and allocates bandwidth specifically for the purpose of allowing the CPEs to respond with bandwidth requests. The polling of the CPEs by the base station may be in response to a CPE setting a “poll-me bit” or, alternatively, it may be periodic. Another technique comprises “piggybacking” bandwidth requests on bandwidth already allocated to a CPE. In accordance with this technique, currently active CPEs request bandwidth using previously unused portions of uplink bandwidth that is already allocated to the CPE. The CPE is responsible for distributing the allocated uplink bandwidth in a manner that accommodates the services provided by the CPE. By using a combination of bandwidth allocation techniques, the present invention advantageously makes use of the efficiency benefits associated with each technique
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for allocating bandwidth in a wireless communication system, wherein the wireless communication system includes a wireless subscriber unit in communication with an associated base station, the method comprising:
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a) transmitting from the wireless subscriber unit an explicit message to the base station requesting to be provided an allocation of uplink (UL) bandwidth in which to transmit a bandwidth request; b) receiving at the subscriber unit the allocation of UL bandwidth; c) transmitting the bandwidth request within the allocation of UL bandwidth, the bandwidth request specifying a requested UL bandwidth allocation; and d) receiving an UL bandwidth grant for the subscriber unit in response to the bandwidth request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of allocating uplink (UL) bandwidth in a subscriber unit, comprising:
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a) determining a required amount of UL bandwidth for a UL queue at the subscriber unit, wherein the UL queue comprises traffic with similar QoS received on one or more connections; b) sending a bandwidth request indicative of the required amount of UL bandwidth for the UL queue to the base station; c) receiving from the base station an UL bandwidth grant for the subscriber unit; and d) allocating the UL bandwidth grant to one or more of a plurality of connections at the subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of allocating UL bandwidth in a wireless subscriber unit in communication with an associated base station, the method comprising:
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grouping at the subscriber station data received on a plurality of connection into one or more queues, based on the QoS of the data; transmitting from the subscriber unit an explicit message to the base station requesting to be provided an allocation of uplink (UL) bandwidth in which to transmit a bandwidth request; receiving at the subscriber unit a bandwidth request opportunity comprising an amount of UL bandwidth; and transmitting the bandwidth request within the amount of UL bandwidth, the bandwidth request specifying a requested amount of UL bandwidth pertaining to a queue at the subscriber unit.
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19. A subscriber unit for a wireless communication system comprising:
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a plurality of queues for grouping data awaiting uplink transmission based on the QoS of the connections established at the subscriber unit; and a Media Access Control (MAC) module configured to transmit an explicit message requesting an allocation of uplink (UL) bandwidth for enabling the subscriber unit to transmit a bandwidth request; and receive the allocation of UL bandwidth and provision a bandwidth request within the allocation of UL bandwidth, the request pertaining to a queue at the subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification