METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TRANSMISSION OF MULTIPLE MODULATED SIGNALS OVER WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20150043510A1
• Filed: 10/24/2014
• Published: 02/12/2015
• 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: Stanwood, Kenneth L., Mollenauer, James F., Klein, Israel Jay, Gilbert, Sheldon L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,420,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• 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 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. Currently active CPEs request bandwidth using 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.

Claims

1. A method of operating a base station to allocate bandwidth for a plurality of wireless cellular mobile units in a bandwidth on demand communication system, the method comprising:

receiving an explicit message from a wireless cellular mobile unit informing the base station that the wireless cellular mobile unit has data pertaining to a user application awaiting transmission;

providing to the wireless cellular mobile unit a bandwidth request opportunity;

receiving a bandwidth request responsive to the bandwidth request opportunity, the bandwidth request being indicative of a pending amount of UL data associated with a priority queue of one or more priority queues established at the wireless cellular mobile unit;

providing to the wireless cellular mobile unit an UL bandwidth grant; and

receiving UL data transmitted from the wireless cellular mobile unit within the UL bandwidth grant, the UL data pertaining to one or more user applications.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the UL bandwidth grant is established at the base station based on the pending amount of UL data associated with the priority queue, and also based on the bandwidth available for sharing with other wireless cellular mobile units of the plurality of wireless cellular mobile units.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the UL bandwidth grant specifies a physical resource for UL transmission from the wireless subscriber unit to the base station.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the UL bandwidth grant is provided in downlink (DL) control information.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the DL control information further specifies the DL communication resources allocated to the wireless cellular mobile units in a DL sub-frame.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user application provides a voice service.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user application provides a voice service, a data service or a video service.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user application provides a real time service.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base station implicitly informs the wireless cellular mobile unit that the bandwidth request has been processed by allocating to said wireless subscriber unit the UL bandwidth grant.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless cellular mobile unit distributes the UL bandwidth grant between the one or more priority queues without control from the base station as to how the UL bandwidth grant is to be distributed.

10. A method of enabling a base station to allocate bandwidth to a plurality of wireless cellular mobile units in a bandwidth on demand communication system, the method comprising:

enabling the base station to register one or more wireless cellular mobile units of the plurality of wireless cellular mobile units and synchronize UL transmission from the one or more wireless cellular mobile units;

enabling the base station to receive an explicit message from a wireless cellular mobile unit, which informs the base station that the wireless cellular mobile unit has data pertaining to a user application awaiting transmission;

enabling the base station to provide the wireless cellular mobile unit with a bandwidth request opportunity;

enabling the base station to receive a bandwidth request responsive to the bandwidth request opportunity, the bandwidth request being indicative of a pending amount of UL data associated with a priority queue established at the wireless cellular mobile unit for one or more user applications; and

enabling the base station to transmit to the wireless cellular mobile unit an UL bandwidth grant for allowing the wireless cellular mobile unit to transmit within the UL bandwidth grant from one or more priority queues.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a user application from one or more user applications provides a voice service.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a user application from one or more user applications provides a voice service, a data service or a video service.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a user application from one or more user applications provides a real time service.

15. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the wireless cellular mobile unit places data pertaining to one or more user applications into priority queues based on the quality of service (QoS) of the data.

21. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a user application provides a voice service, a data service or a video service.

22. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a user application provides a real time service.

16. A base station which communicates with a plurality of wireless cellular mobile units in a bandwidth on demand communication system, comprising:

a transmitter operable to transmit downlink (DL) traffic to one or more wireless cellular mobile units from the plurality wireless cellular mobile units;

a receiver operable to receive uplink (UL) traffic from one or more wireless cellular mobile units from the plurality of wireless cellular mobile units; and

a processor having a media access control (MAC) module operable to;

identify an explicit message received from a wireless cellular mobile unit, indicating that the wireless cellular mobile unit requires uplink (UL) bandwidth for transmission of UL traffic; and

provide an allocation of UL bandwidth that enables the wireless cellular mobile unit to transmit a bandwidth request indicative of a required amount of UL data awaiting transmission in a UL queue established at the wireless cellular mobile unit; and

wherein the receiver is further operable to receive a preamble from any wireless cellular mobile unit that requests registration with the base station to allow UL synchronization of that wireless cellular mobile unit.

17. A base station as claimed in claim 16, wherein the MAC module is further operable to allocate to the wireless cellular mobile unit an UL bandwidth grant responsive to the bandwidth request.

18. A base station as claimed in claim 17, wherein the bandwidth grant is provided based at least on the required amount of bandwidth, a modulation scheme used for data transmission to the wireless cellular mobile unit and the bandwidth available for UL transmissions,

19. A base station as claimed in claim 17, wherein the UL bandwidth grant is allocated to the wireless cellular mobile unit for distribution between two or more UL queues provided at the wireless cellular mobile unit, based on the priority of the user applications with data currently awaiting transmission in two or more UL queues.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein a user application provides a voice service.