Methods and Systems for Transmission of Multiple Modulated Signals Over Wireless Networks
First Claim
1. A base station for communication with a plurality of subscriber units connected in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising a media access control (MAC) module configured to:
- detect a bandwidth request in the uplink (UL) data received from a subscriber unit and identify in the bandwidth request a requested amount of UL bandwidth pertaining to a UL queue established at the subscriber unit;
determine if the requested amount of bandwidth is available; and
allocate to the subscriber unit an UL bandwidth grant based on the requested amount and the bandwidth available for UL data.
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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
66 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A base station for communication with a plurality of subscriber units connected in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising a media access control (MAC) module configured to:
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detect a bandwidth request in the uplink (UL) data received from a subscriber unit and identify in the bandwidth request a requested amount of UL bandwidth pertaining to a UL queue established at the subscriber unit; determine if the requested amount of bandwidth is available; and allocate to the subscriber unit an UL bandwidth grant based on the requested amount and the bandwidth available for UL data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A base station for communication with a plurality of subscriber units connected in a wireless communication system, comprising:
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a low level media access arbiter (LL-MAA) process controlling bandwidth allocation between a group of subscriber units sharing a communication link, by allocating an amount of uplink (UL) bandwidth to a subscriber unit on request; and a high layer media access arbiter (HL-MAA) process logically coupled with the LL-MAA process for controlling communication over a plurality of communication links, including the communication link to the subscriber unit, using a traffic shaping algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of allocating bandwidth to subscriber units from a base station operating in a wireless communication system, comprising:
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detecting a bandwidth request in the uplink (UL) data received from a subscriber unit; identifying in the bandwidth request a requested amount of UL bandwidth pertaining to one or more of a plurality of UL queues at the subscriber unit; determining if the requested amount of bandwidth is available, and allocating to the subscriber unit an UL bandwidth grant based on the requested amount of bandwidth and the bandwidth available for the UL data, the UL bandwidth grant being for distribution between one or more connections by the subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A base station for a broadband wireless communication system which transmits downlink (DL) traffic to subscriber units and receives uplink (UL) traffic from the subscriber units, the base station comprising:
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a bandwidth request processing module for detecting a bandwidth (BW) request in the UL traffic received from a subscriber unit and identifying in the BW request a requested amount of UL bandwidth pertaining to a specified connection established at the subscriber unit; a media access arbiter for receiving the bandwidth request and granting said requested amount of bandwidth, if available; and a processor adapted to maintain a downlink map and an uplink map with downlink and uplink bandwidth allocations respectively, dynamically update said map to account for current bandwidth allocations, and provide the updated DL and UL to the subscriber units.
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Specification