CARRIER ALLOCATION IN WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20130156005A1
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Li, Zexian, Kafle, Padam
• Granted Patent: US 9,258,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0006 Assessment of spectral gaps suitable for allocating digitally modulated signals, e.g. for carrier allocation in cognitive radio for spectrum sharing between different networks H04W16/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0041 Frequency-non-contiguous
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0064 Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0087 when data requirements change
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0096 Indication of changes in allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• 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

Abstract

This document presents a communication scheme for use in a wireless network utilizing a fragmented frequency spectrum and supporting dynamic radio carrier allocation. At least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels are allocated for use in communication with a network element of the wireless network, and one of the allocated radio carriers is commonly used by all client stations communicating with the network element.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

selecting, in a network element of a wireless network employing dynamic radio carrier allocation, at least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels for utilization in communication with the network element, wherein all stations communicating with the network element utilize in the communication with the network element at least one same radio carrier amongst the at least two radio carriers;

causing transmission of a signal carrying information about the selected radio carriers to a radio channel;

receiving an association request from a client station, wherein the association request comprises a message indicating a capability of the client station to operate the selected at least two radio carriers in communication with the network element; and

configuring a communication link between the network element and the client station to utilize at least one of the at least two selected radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels on the basis of the received association request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two selected radio carriers are used in communication within a basic service set, which is a set of all stations that can communicate with the network element, including the network element and the client station, or within an independent basic service set, which is a set of all stations that can communicate with the network element and in which a client station of the independent basic service set functions as the network element.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining a principal radio carrier and at least one auxiliary radio carrier amongst the selected at least two radio carriers, wherein the principal radio carrier is configured to transfer more control information than the at least one auxiliary radio carrier;

causing transmission of a downlink signal identifying the principal radio carrier and the at least one auxiliary radio carrier.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

defining a backup principal radio carrier amongst the at least one auxiliary radio carrier for use if a radio channel of the principal radio carrier has to be released;

releasing the principal radio carrier; and

transferring the functionality associated with the principal radio carrier to the backup principal radio carrier.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating segmented medium access control packet data units over the at least two radio carriers, wherein a first segment of a medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a first radio carrier and a second segment of the same medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a second radio carrier different from the first radio carrier.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein all stations communicating with the network element utilize in the communication with the network element at least one same radio carrier amongst the at least two radio carriers for at least one of data transfer and data acknowledgment transfer purposes.

6-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A method, comprising:

receiving, in a client station from a network element of a wireless network employing dynamic radio carrier allocation, a signal carrying information about at least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels allocated to communication with the network element;

causing transmission of an association request to the network element, wherein the association request comprises a message indicating capability of the client station to operate the selected at least two radio carriers in communication with the network element;

receiving an association response message from the network element, wherein the association response message allocates at least one of the at least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels for communication between the client station and the network element; and

communicating with the network element on at least one radio carrier amongst the at least two radio carriers which radio carrier is commonly used by all stations communicating with the network element.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

controlling communication through the at least two radio carriers with a common medium access controller.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

communicating segmented medium access control packet data units over the at least two radio carriers, wherein a first segment of a medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a first radio carrier and a second segment of the same medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a second radio carrier different from the first radio carrier.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

communicating at least two packet data units over different radio carriers; and

communicating acknowledgment messages of said at least two packet data units over the same radio carrier.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least two radio carriers comprise a principal radio carrier and at least one auxiliary radio carrier, the principal radio carrier being configured to transfer more control information than the at least one auxiliary radio carrier.

13. (canceled)

15. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to;

select at least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels for utilization in communication with a network element of a wireless network employing dynamic radio carrier allocation, wherein all stations communicating with the network element utilize in the communication with the network element at least one same radio carrier amongst the at least two radio carriers;

cause transmission of a signal carrying information about the selected radio carriers to a radio channel;

receive an association request from a client station, wherein the association request comprises a message indicating a capability of the client station to operate the selected at least two radio carriers in communication with the network element; and

configure a communication link between the network element and the client station to utilize at least one of the at least two selected radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels on the basis of the received association request.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least two selected radio carriers are used in communication within a basic service set, which is a set of all stations that can communicate with the network element, including the network element and the client station, or within an independent basic service set, which is a set of all stations that can communicate with the network element and in which a client station of the independent basic service set functions as the network element.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to define a principal radio carrier and at least one auxiliary radio carrier amongst the selected at least two radio carriers, wherein the principal radio carrier is configured to transfer more control information than the at least one auxiliary radio carrier, and to cause transmission of a downlink signal identifying the principal radio carrier and the at least one auxiliary radio carrier.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to define a backup principal radio carrier amongst the at least one auxiliary radio carrier for use if a radio channel of the principal radio carrier has to be released, to release the principal radio carrier, and to transfer the functionality associated with the principal radio carrier to the backup principal radio carrier.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to communicate segmented medium access control packet data units over the at least two radio carriers, wherein a first segment of a medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a first radio carrier and a second segment of the same medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a second radio carrier different from the first radio carrier.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is an access point of the wireless network configured to provide wireless communication services.

21. (canceled)

22. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to;

receive, from a network element of a wireless network employing dynamic radio carrier allocation, a signal carrying information about at least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels allocated to communication with the network element, in which wireless network all stations communicating with the network element utilize in the communication with the network element at least one same radio carrier amongst the at least two radio carriers,

cause transmission of an association request to the network element, wherein the association request comprises a message capability of the client station to operate the selected at least two radio carriers in communication with the network element,

receive an association response message from the network element, wherein the association response message allocates at least one of the at least two radio carriers on non-contiguous frequency channels for communication between the client station and the network element.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to control communication through the at least two radio carriers with a common medium access controller.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to communicate segmented medium access control packet data units over the at least two radio carriers, wherein a first segment of a medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a first radio carrier and a second segment of the same medium access control packet data unit is communicated over a second radio carrier different from the first radio carrier.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to communicate at least two packet data units over different radio carriers, and to communicate acknowledgment messages of said at least two packet data units over the same radio carrier.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least two radio carriers comprise a principal radio carrier and at least one auxiliary radio carrier, the principal radio carrier being configured to transfer more control information than the at least one auxiliary radio carrier.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is a terminal device of the wireless network.

27. (canceled)

29-32. -32. (canceled)