Methods and Systems for Transmission of Multiple Modulated Signals Over Wireless Networks

• US 20110249586A1
• Filed: 04/18/2011
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Inventors: Klein, Israel Jay, Stanwood, Kenneth L., Gilbert, Sheldon L., Mollenauer, James F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,654,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5607 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0064 Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0092 Indication of how the channel is divided
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 : Transfer of terminal data

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

Claims

1. A subscriber radio unit for a wireless communication system comprising:

a radio,

a plurality of queues for data received on respective connections established at the subscriber radio unit; and

a Media Access Control (MAC) module configured to

transmit, via the radio, an explicit message requesting an allocation of uplink (UL) bandwidth for enabling the subscriber radio 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 one or more connections of the same quality of service (QoS) established at the subscriber radio station.

2. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the MAC module is further configured to allocate an UL grant in response to the bandwidth request to at least one of the connections.

3. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the MAC module allocates the UL grant between the connections based on a communication parameter associated with each respective connection.

4. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the communication parameter includes a QoS parameter.

5. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the QoS parameter is a connection priority.

6. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bandwidth request uses a specified amount of UL bandwidth within a data block allocated by the base station to the subscriber radio station for UL traffic.

7. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bandwidth request is transmitted by the subscriber radio station within unused UL bandwidth in a data block allocated by the base station to the subscriber radio station for UL traffic.

8. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bandwidth request is transmitted within UL bandwidth allocated to the subscriber radio stations for the bandwidth request.

9. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bandwidth request is transmitted within UL bandwidth allocated to a group of subscriber radio stations for the bandwidth requests.

10. A subscriber radio station as claimed in claim 1, wherein connections with similar QoS are grouped into an UL queue at the subscriber radio station

11. A subscriber radio unit for a wireless communication system comprising:

a radio,

a Media Access Control (MAC) module configured to

receive an uplink bandwidth grant for a first connection and transmit uplink data of a first priority within the uplink bandwidth grant;

determine that additional bandwidth is necessary for transmission of additional uplink data of a second priority, received on a second connection;

determine if the uplink bandwidth grant can accommodate a bandwidth request; and

insert the bandwidth request within the uplink bandwidth grant.

12. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the MAC module is further configured to transmit an explicit message requesting an allocation of uplink (UL) bandwidth for enabling the subscriber radio unit to transmit the bandwidth request, if the uplink bandwidth grant cannot accommodate a bandwidth request

13. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the explicit message is a poll-me message.

14. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the explicit message is a poll-me bit.

15. A subscriber radio unit for a wireless communication system comprising:

a radio

a plurality of queues for grouping data awaiting uplink transmission based on the quality of service (QoS) associated with the connections established at the subscriber radio unit; and

a Media Access Control (MAC) module configured to

receive an allocation of uplink (UL) bandwidth for enabling the subscriber radio unit to transmit a bandwidth request; and

transmit via the radio, a bandwidth request within the allocation of UL bandwidth, the request indicating the amount of data awaiting uplink transmission in one or more queues of the plurality of queues.

16. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the radio contends with a plurality of radios of other subscriber radio units for transmitting the bandwidth request within the allocation of UL bandwidth.

17. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the MAC module receives the allocation of UL bandwidth periodically.

20. A subscriber radio stations as claimed in claim 17, wherein the MAC module allocated the UL bandwidth grant between at least two UL connections based on an UL connection priority parameter.

21. A subscriber radio stations as claimed in claim 17, wherein the BW request has a specified structure for identification by a receiver.

18. A subscriber radio unit for a broadband wireless communication system comprising:

a radio for receiving downlink (DL) data from a base station and transmitting to the base station uplink (UL) data received on one or more connections;

one or more UL queues for the UL data awaiting uplink transmission, wherein a UL queue groups data received on connections with a similar quality of service (QoS); and

a Media Access Control (MAC) module configured to;

provision a bandwidth request specifying a requested amount of UL bandwidth pertaining to a UL queue;

identify an UL bandwidth grant for the subscriber radio station; and

allocate the UL bandwidth grant to at least one of the plurality of connections.

19. A subscriber radio unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein the UL bandwidth grant is based on an estimated amount of bandwidth needed to accommodate a plurality of bandwidth requests from subscriber radio stations sharing a communication link with the subscriber radio station.