METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TIMESLOT SWAPPING

• US 20100226317A1
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sampath, Ashwin, Horn, Gavin Bernard
• Granted Patent: US 9,820,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/04 Traffic adaptive resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0231 based on communication conditions dynamic wireless traffic scheduling definition based on channel quality criteria H04W72/54

Abstract

All or a portion of a timeslot of a slotted communication system may be dynamically designated for transmitting or for receiving. For example, a timeslot originally designated for receiving information at a wireless node may be temporarily designated for transmitting information from the wireless node. Such a designation may be made to accommodate a temporary asymmetry in traffic flow between wireless nodes or may be made based on other criteria. In some aspects, a resource utilization messaging scheme may be employed to mitigate interference associated with the designation of timeslots for transmitting or receiving.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

designating, by a first node, a use for at least one portion of a timeslot, wherein the designated use comprises transmitting to at least one second node or receiving from the at least one second node; and

transmitting a message to the at least one second node regarding the designated use.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the designation of use comprises:

changing from a prior designated use of receiving from the at least one second node to a new designated use of transmitting to the at least one second node;

or

changing from a prior designated use of transmitting to the at least one second node to a new designated use of receiving from the at least one second node.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the prior designated use of receiving or transmitting comprises a default designated use.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the designation of use is a function of interference associated with the prior designated use of receiving or transmitting.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the designation of use is a function of interference associated with the first node or the at least one second node.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the designation of use is a function of an amount of traffic to be transmitted between the first node and the at least one second node.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the designation of use is a function of at least one transmission rate or reception rate associated with the first node or the at least one second node.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one second node designates a use for at least one portion of another timeslot, and further wherein the designated use for the at least one portion of another timeslot comprises transmitting to the first node or

receiving from the first node, the method further comprising:

receiving a message from the at least one second node regarding the designated use for the at least one portion of another timeslot.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first node comprises an access point.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the designation of use comprises receiving, from the at least one second node, a message that is used to determine how to designate the use for the at least one portion of a timeslot.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the received message comprises a request to designate the use for the at least one portion of a timeslot.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitted message informs the at least one second node that the request is granted or denied.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the received message includes information associated with the at least one second node relating to at least one of the group consisting of:

buffer size, latency, and quality of service.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node comprises an access terminal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the at least one second node comprises an access point;

the designation of use by the access terminal comprises generating information relating to designating one or more timeslots for transmitting to or receiving from the access point; and

the message regarding the designated use comprises a request to the access point, based on the information, to designate one or more timeslots for transmitting or receiving.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a message regarding a designation of use for at least one portion of each of a plurality of timeslots.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one portion of a timeslot comprises a plurality of portions of the timeslot.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the portions of the timeslot have different sizes.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one portion of a timeslot comprises a data portion of the timeslot; and

the designation of use comprises changing, for a first portion of the data portion, a prior designated use to a new designated use, and not changing a prior designated use of a second portion of the data portion.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the designation of use accommodates asymmetry between an amount of information to be transmitted from the first node to the at least one second node and an amount of information to be transmitted from the at least one second node to the first node.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the designation of use accommodates asymmetry between a rate at which the first node transmits to the at least one second node and a rate at which the at least one second node transmits to the first node.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a resource utilization message to counteract interference resulting from the designation of use.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a resource utilization message to prevent a change from a default designated use.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the timeslot comprises at least one data portion and at least one control portion; and

the at least one portion of a timeslot designated for use is the at least one data portion.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein guard time periods are defined adjacent the at least one portion of a timeslot to accommodate switching, at the first node or the at least one second node, between transmission and reception during the timeslot.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising dropping at least one symbol at a beginning, at an end, or at a beginning and an end of the at least one portion of a timeslot, wherein the dropping of the at least one symbol accommodates switching, at the first node or the at least one second node, between transmission and reception during the timeslot.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining a coding rate or modulation to accommodate dropping of at least one symbol at a beginning, at an end, or at a beginning and an end of the at least one portion of a timeslot, wherein the dropping of the at least one symbol accommodates switching, at the first node or the at least one second node, between transmission and reception during the timeslot.

28. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a timeslot designator adapted to designate, at a first node, a use for at least one portion of a timeslot, wherein the designated use comprises transmitting to at least one second node or receiving from the at least one second node; and

a transmitter adapted to transmit a message to the at least one second node regarding the designated use.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the timeslot designator is further adapted to designate the use by:

changing from a prior designated use of receiving from the at least one second node to a new designated use of transmitting to the at least one second node;

or

changing from a prior designated use of transmitting to the at least one second node to a new designated use of receiving from the at least one second node.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the prior designated use of receiving or transmitting comprises a default designated use.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the timeslot designator is further adapted to designate the use as a function of interference associated with the prior designated use of receiving or transmitting.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the timeslot designator is further adapted to designate the use as a function of interference associated with the first node or the at least one second node.

33. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the timeslot designator is further adapted to designate the use as a function of an amount of traffic to be transmitted between the first node and the at least one second node.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the timeslot designator is further adapted to designate the use as a function of at least one transmission rate or reception rate associated with the first node or the at least one second node.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one second node designates a use for at least one portion of another timeslot, and further wherein the designated use for the at least one portion of another timeslot comprises transmitting to the first node or receiving from the first node, the apparatus further comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive a message from the at least one second node regarding the designated use for the at least one portion of another timeslot.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the first node comprises an access point.

37. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a receiver adapted to receive a message from the at least one second node, wherein:

the timeslot designator is further adapted to use the received message to determine how to designate the use for the at least one portion of a timeslot.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the received message comprises a request to designate the use for the at least one portion of a timeslot.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the transmitted message informs the at least one second node that the request is granted or denied.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the received message includes information associated with the at least one second node relating to at least one of the group consisting of:

buffer size, latency, and quality of service.

41. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first node comprises an access terminal.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein:

the at least one second node comprises an access point;

the timeslot designator is further adapted to designate the use by generating information relating to designating one or more timeslots for transmitting to or receiving from the access point; and

the transmitted message comprises a request to the access point, based on the information, to designate one or more timeslots for transmitting or receiving.

43. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the transmitter is further adapted to transmit a message regarding a designation of use for at least one portion of each of a plurality of timeslots.

44. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one portion of a timeslot comprises a plurality of portions of the timeslot.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the portions of the timeslot have different sizes.

46. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein:

the at least one portion of a timeslot comprises a data portion of the timeslot; and

the timeslot designator is further adapted to designate the use by changing, for a first portion of the data portion, a prior designated use to a new designated use, and not changing a prior designated use of a second portion of the data portion.

47. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the timeslot designator is further adapted to designate the use to accommodate asymmetry between an amount of information to be transmitted from the first node to the at least one second node and an amount of information to be transmitted from the at least one second node to the first node.

48. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the timeslot designator is further adapted to designate the use to accommodate asymmetry between a rate at which the first node transmits to the at least one second node and a rate at which the at least one second node transmits to the first node.

49. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising an interference controller adapted to use a resource utilization message to counteract interference resulting from the designation of use.

50. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising an interference controller adapted to use a resource utilization message to prevent a change from a default designated use.

51. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein:

the timeslot comprises at least one data portion and at least one control portion; and

the at least one portion of a timeslot designated for use is the at least one data portion.

52. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the timeslot designator is further adapted to define guard time periods adjacent the at least one portion of a timeslot to accommodate switching, at the first node or the at least one second node, between transmission and reception during the timeslot.

53. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a communication processor adapted to drop at least one symbol at a beginning, at an end, or at a beginning and an end of the at least one portion of a timeslot, wherein the dropping of the at least one symbol accommodates switching, at the first node or the at least one second node, between transmission and reception during the timeslot.

54. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a communication processor adapted to define a coding rate or modulation to accommodate dropping of at least one symbol at a beginning, at an end, or at a beginning and an end of the at least one portion of a timeslot, wherein the dropping of the at least one symbol accommodates switching, at the first node or the at least one second node, between transmission and reception during the timeslot.

55. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for designating, at a first node, a use for at least one portion of a timeslot, wherein the designated use comprises transmitting to at least one second node or receiving from the at least one second node; and

means for transmitting a message to the at least one second node regarding the designated use.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the means for designating designates the use by:

changing from a prior designated use of receiving from the at least one second node to a new designated use of transmitting to the at least one second node;

or

changing from a prior designated use of transmitting to the at least one second node to a new designated use of receiving from the at least one second node.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the prior designated use of receiving or transmitting comprises a default designated use.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the means for designating designates the use as a function of interference associated with the prior designated use of receiving or transmitting.

59. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the means for designating designates the use as a function of interference associated with the first node or the at least one second node.

60. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the means for designating designates the use as a function of an amount of traffic to be transmitted between the first node and the at least one second node.

61. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the means for designating designates the use as a function of at least one transmission rate or reception rate associated with the first node or the at least one second node.

62. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the at least one second node designates a use for at least one portion of another timeslot, and further wherein the designated use for the at least one portion of another timeslot comprises transmitting to the first node or receiving from the first node, the apparatus further comprising:

means for receiving a message from the at least one second node regarding the designated use for the at least one portion of another timeslot.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the first node comprises an access point.

64. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising means for receiving a message from the at least one second node, wherein:

the means for designating uses the received message to determine how to designate the use for the at least one portion of a timeslot.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the received message comprises a request to designate the use for the at least one portion of a timeslot.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the transmitted message informs the at least one second node that the request is granted or denied.

67. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the received message includes information associated with the at least one second node relating to at least one of the group consisting of:

buffer size, latency, and quality of service.

68. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the first node comprises an access terminal.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein:

the at least one second node comprises an access point;

the means for designating designates the use by generating information relating to designating one or more timeslots for transmitting to or receiving from the access point; and

the transmitted message comprises a request to the access point, based on the information, to designate one or more timeslots for transmitting or receiving.

70. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the means for transmitting transmits a message regarding a designation of use for at least one portion of each of a plurality of timeslots.

71. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the at least one portion of a timeslot comprises a plurality of portions of the timeslot.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the portions of the timeslot have different sizes.

73. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein:

the at least one portion of a timeslot comprises a data portion of the timeslot; and

the means for designating designates the use by changing, for a first portion of the data portion, a prior designated use to a new designated use, and not changing a prior designated use of a second portion of the data portion.

74. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the means for designating designates the use to accommodate asymmetry between an amount of information to be transmitted from the first node to the at least one second node and an amount of information to be transmitted from the at least one second node to the first node.

75. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the means for designating designates the use to accommodate asymmetry between a rate at which the first node transmits to the at least one second node and a rate at which the at least one second node transmits to the first node.

76. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising means for using a resource utilization message to counteract interference resulting from the designation of use.

77. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising means for using a resource utilization message to prevent a change from a default designated use.

78. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein:

the timeslot comprises at least one data portion and at least one control portion; and

the at least one portion of a timeslot designated for use is the at least one data portion.

79. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the means for designating defines guard time periods adjacent the at least one portion of a timeslot to accommodate switching, at the first node or the at least one second node, between transmission and reception during the timeslot.

80. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising means for dropping at least one symbol at a beginning, at an end, or at a beginning and an end of the at least one portion of a timeslot, wherein the dropping of the at least one symbol accommodates switching, at the first node or the at least one second node, between transmission and reception during the timeslot.

81. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising means for defining a coding rate or modulation to accommodate dropping of at least one symbol at a beginning, at an end, or at a beginning and an end of the at least one portion of a timeslot, wherein the dropping of the at least one symbol accommodates switching, at the first node or the at least one second node, between transmission and reception during the timeslot.

82. A computer-program product for wireless communication, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes executable by at least one computer to;

designate, at a first node, a use for at least one portion of a timeslot, wherein the designated use comprises transmitting to at least one second node or receiving from the at least one second node; and

transmit a message to the at least one second node regarding the designated use.

83. An access point for wireless communication, comprising:

an antenna;

a timeslot designator adapted to designate, at a first node, a use for at least one portion of a timeslot, wherein the designated use comprises transmitting to at least one second node or receiving from the at least one second node; and

a transmitter adapted to transmit a message via the antenna to the at least one second node regarding the designated use.

84. An access terminal for wireless communication, comprising:

a timeslot designator adapted to designate, at a first node, a use for at least one portion of a timeslot, wherein the designated use comprises transmitting to at least one second node or receiving from the at least one second node;

a transmitter adapted to transmit a message to the at least one second node regarding the designated use; and

a user interface adapted to output an indication based on data received from the at least one second node.