Allowing several multiple access schemes for packet data in a digital cellular communication system

• US 6,226,279 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1997
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Hansson, Rolf, Herlitz, Anders, Frid, Lars
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US08/956,073
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/347, 370/349, 370/337, 370/389, 370/346, 370/442, 370/449, 370/462, 370/458, 370/230, 370/235, 370/236, 370/252, 379/59, 379/60
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02

Abstract

A digital radio network having a first single random access for packet data is enhanced by providing a second access which includes a second random access channel for controlled short data messages and a polled data channel for larger data messages. All mobiles operating within the system can access the first channel but only dual-mode mobiles can connect to the second access.

Claims

1. A method for providing packet data access in a digital cellular communications network which includes:

providing a broadcast control channel (BCCH) over which the network broadcasts system control information to mobile stations in the network;

providing a first random access scheme within said network in which packet data access for low traffic areas is provided over a data channel and mobile stations seeking packet data access compete with one another for use of the channel based upon channel availability messages broadcast to all mobile stations;

providing a second access scheme comprising at least a polling data channel (PDCH), within said system in which packet data access for high traffic areas is provided for sending larger quantities of data between a mobile station and the network;

broadcasting messages over said control channel (BCCH) which indicate the presence and operative parameters of the channels utilizing said second access scheme to all mobile stations; and

allowing access to the channels utilizing said second access scheme to only mobile stations which are capable of communicating over both the channels utilizing said first and second access schemes, said mobile stations that are capable of communicating over both channels send a registration signal on a random access channel (ACH) so that said network can allocate at least one polling data channel (PDCH).

2. A method for providing packet data access in a digital cellular communications network as set forth in claim 1 wherein said access allowing step includes:

broadcasting control messages over said BCCH which include an information parameter which is interpreted by all mobile stations which are not capable of communications over both of said first and second access schemes as indicating that all channels utilizing said second scheme are not available.

3. A method for providing packet data access in a digital cellular communications network as set forth in claim 1 wherein said access allowing step also includes:

broadcasting control messages over said BCCH which include an information parameter which is interpreted by all mobile stations which are capable of communications over both of said first and second access schemes as indicating that said second scheme is available to them and attracts said mobile stations to the channels utilizing said second scheme rather than the channels utilizing said first scheme.

4. A method for providing packet data access in a digital cellular communications network as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first access scheme also includes:

broadcasting on the downlink of the channel messages which include a collision control bit field indicating whether the uplink of the shared channel is idle or busy.

5. A method for providing packet data access in a digital cellular communications network as set forth in claim 1 wherein said method further includes the additional step of:

broadcasting on the polling access channel messages which include a flag pattern field indicating which mobile can send its data to the network on the channel utilizing said second access.

6. A method for improving the performance of a digital mobile radio communications network that includes a first random access packet data scheme, comprising the steps of:

allocating the nonexclusive use of the channels utilizing said first random access packet data scheme for packet data transmission within said mobile communication network by all mobile stations having packet data capability within the system;

providing a second packet data access scheme comprising of at least a polling data channel (PDCH) within said network which includes the additional steps of;

providing a second random access user data and control channel accessible only by a selected class of dual mode mobile stations capable of packet data transmission within both said first and second access schemes of said network;

requiring receipt of a data registration signal from a dual mode mobile station on an access and control channel associated with said second packet data access scheme; and

allocating at least one polling data channel for use exclusively by a plurality of said dual mode mobiles for sending packet data information in both directions between the mobile station and the network.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the channels of both said first and second access schemes are provided by reallocating the existing channel structure within said radio network.

8. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the channels of both said first and second access schemes employ the same burst format.

9. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said dual mode mobile stations may select to use the second packet data access scheme to which said plurality of dual mode mobiles have access to in response to a plurality of collisions occurring on the packet data access channel to which all mobiles have access.

10. A method for providing a second multiple access scheme in an existing digital cellular communications system without affecting mobiles designed according to the standards of said existing system in which said existing system includes a random packet access scheme wherein packet data access for low traffic areas is provided over a data channel and mobile stations seeking packet data access compete with one another for use of the channel based upon channel availability messages broadcast to all mobile stations, said method comprising:

providing a second access scheme comprising at least a polling data channel (PDCH) within said existing system in which packet data access for high traffic areas is provided for sending larger quantities of data between a mobile station and the network;

broadcasting messages on the control channel (BCCH) of said existing system, said messages indicating the presence and operative parameters of the channels which are utilizing said second access scheme; and

allowing access to channels utilizing said second access scheme to only mobile stations which are capable of communicating over channels utilizing both said existing and said second access schemes and which have provided a data registration signal on an access and control channel (ACH) associated with said second access scheme.

11. A method for providing a second multiple access scheme in an existing digital cellular communications system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said allowing access step further includes:

broadcasting control messages over said existing BCCH which include an information parameter which is interpreted by all mobile stations which are designed in accordance with the standards of said existing system and not capable of communications over both of said existing and second access schemes as indicating that all channels utilizing said second scheme are not available.

12. A method for providing a second access scheme in an existing digital cellular communications system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said allowing access step also includes:

broadcasting control messages over said existing BCCH which include an information parameter that is interpreted by all mobile stations which are capable of communications over both of said existing and said second schemes as indicating that said second scheme is available to them and which requests said mobile stations to channels utilizing said second scheme rather than channels utilizing said existing scheme.

13. A method for providing a second access scheme in an existing digital cellular communications system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first access scheme also includes:

broadcasting on the downlink of the channel messages which include a collision control bit field indicating whether the uplink of the shared channel is idle or busy.

14. A method for providing a second access scheme in an existing digital cellular communications system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said method further includes the additional step of:

broadcasting on the polling data channel messages which include a flag pattern field indicating which mobile can send its data to the network on the channel utilizing said second access.

15. A system for providing packet data access in a digital cellular communications network which includes:

means for providing a broadcast control channel (BCCH), said broadcast control channel being utilized to broadcast system control information to mobile stations in a network;

means for providing a first random access scheme within said network in which packet data access for low traffic areas is provided over a data channel and mobile stations seeking packet data access compete with one another for use of the channel based upon messages broadcast on the downlink of the channel utilizing said first random access scheme;

means for providing channels utilizing a second access scheme which includes a polling data channel within said system in which packet data access for high traffic areas is provided for sending larger quantities of data between a plurality of mobile stations and the network;

means for broadcasting messages over said control channel (BCCH) which indicate the presence and operative parameters of the channels utilizing said second access scheme to all mobile stations; and

means for allowing access to channels utilizing said second access scheme to only mobile stations which are capable of communicating over both said first and second access schemes and which send a data registration signal to said network via an access and control channel associated with said second access scheme.

16. A system for providing packet data access in a digital cellular communications network as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for allowing access includes:

means for broadcasting control messages over said BCCH which include an information parameter which is interpreted by all mobile stations which are not capable of communications over both of said first and second access schemes as indicating that the channels utilizing said second scheme are not available.

17. A system for providing packet data access in a digital cellular communications network as set forth in claim 15 wherein said access allowing means also includes:

means for broadcasting control messages over said BCCH which include an information parameter which is interpreted by all mobile stations which are capable of communications over both of said first and second access schemes as indicating that the channels utilizing said second scheme are available to them and attracts said mobile stations to the channels utilizing said second scheme rather than the channels utilizing said first scheme.

18. A system for providing packet data access in a digital cellular communications network as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first access scheme also includes:

means for broadcasting messages on the downlink of the channel utilizing said first access scheme which include a collision control bit field indicating whether the shared channel is idle or busy.

19. A system for providing packet data access in a digital cellular communications network as set forth in claim 15 wherein said second access scheme and said system also includes:

means for broadcasting on the polling data channel messages which include a flag pattern field indicating which mobile can send its data to the network on the channel utilizing said second access.

20. A system for improving the performance of a digital mobile radio communications network that includes a first random access packet data scheme, comprising:

means for allocating the nonexclusive use of channels utilizing said first random access packet data scheme for packet data transmission within said mobile communication network by all mobile stations having packet data capability within the system;

means for providing channels utilizing a second packet data access scheme within said network which includes;

means for providing a second random access user data and control channel accessible only by a selected class of dual mode mobile stations which are capable of packet data transmission within both said first and second access schemes of said network; and

means for allocating at least one polling data channel for exclusive use of said dual mode mobiles using the second access for sending packet data information in both directions between the mobile station and the network.

21. A system as set forth in claim 20 wherein the channels of both said first and second access schemes are provided by reallocating the existing channel structure within said radio network.

22. A system as set forth in claim 20 wherein the channels of both said first and second access schemes employ the same burst format.

23. A system as set forth in claim 20 wherein a plurality of said dual mode mobile stations may select to use the second packet data access scheme in response to collisions which are occurring on the packet data access channel.