Layer 2 protocol in a cellular communication system

• US 5,923,649 A
• Filed: 06/27/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Raith, Alex Krister
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US08/884,385
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 370/319, 370/321, 370/328, 370/337, 370/341, 370/346, 370/347, 370/449, 455/434, 455/515
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2643 using time-division multiple access [TDMA] H04B7/2615, H04B7/2618 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2656 for structure of frame, burst
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0046 Code rate detection or code type detection H04L1/0038 takes precedence; detection of the data rate H04L25/0262; for packet format H04L1/0091
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0056 Systems characterized by the type of code used H04L1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0057 Block codes H04L1/0061, H04L1/0064 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0059 Convolutional codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0071 Use of interleaving interleaving per se H03M13/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0072 Error control for data other than payload data, e.g. control data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0083 Formatting with frames or packets; Protocol or part of protocol for error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1614 using bitmaps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/18 Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1803 Stop-and-wait protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1809 Selective-repeat protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1848 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/188 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 : Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 : by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 : using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 : managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 : according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 : User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/025 : Indirect paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for transmitting messages using an efficient communications link protocol over an air interface of a cellular communications system is disclosed. A frame in the protocol is divided into a plurality of sections including a header section and a data section. The header section contains a field which indicates what type of information is contained in the frame.

Claims

1. A method for providing reserved control channels in a wireless communication system wherein control information is transmitted in superframes, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a broadcast control channel overhead message within a superframe; and

providing a field in the broadcast control channel overhead message, wherein said field indicates where reserved control channels are located within the superframe.

2. A method for providing reserved control channels according to claim 1, wherein a subset of mobile stations within said system ignore information contained in said reserved control channels.

3. A method for providing reserved control channels according to claim 1, wherein a subset of mobile stations within said system read information contained in said reserved control channels.