Channel allocation in a mobile communications system

• US 6,466,794 B1
• Filed: 07/20/1999
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vringo Infrastructure, Inc. (XpresSpa Group, Inc. (f/k/a FORM Holdings Corp.))
• Original Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Posti, Harri, Peltola, Jukka
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US09/357,180
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 455/446, 455/447, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452, 455/12.1, 455/428, 370/329, 370/330, 370/337, 370/344, 370/347, 370/436, 370/478, 370/480, 370/522
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]

Abstract

The use of frequencies can be made more efficient in a mobile communications system with frequency hopping and a method of discontinuous transmission. However, continuous transmission calls unsuitable for discontinuous transmission will hereby cause excessive interference in the network. This invention concerns a channel allocation method in a mobile communications system where some radio connections are implemented with a discontinuous transmission function. The method identifies continuous transmission calls for which according to the invention a fixed-frequency traffic channel defined as a continuous transmission traffic channel is allocated. In addition, the invention concerns an arrangement for allocation of a traffic channel in a mobile communications system where some radio connections are implemented with a discontinuous transmission function. The arrangement is adapted to identify continuous transmission calls. According to the invention, the arrangement is characterized in that it is adapted for allocation of a fixed-frequency traffic channel defined as a continuous transmission traffic channel for a continuous transmission call.

Claims

1. A method of channel allocation in a mobile communications system, in the frequency planning of which at least one frequency is set at a reuse distance which is shorter than the reuse distance of a continuous transmission frequency, in which method continuous transmission calls are identified, the method comprising allocating a traffic channel for a continuous transmission call at a fixed frequency defined as a continuous transmission frequency, when the traffic channel is free.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the traffic channel is allocated for the continuous transmission call from a carrier comprising a broadcast control channel of a base station.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the allocation of the traffic channel for the continuous transmission call further comprises:

preliminarily reserving at least one of the traffic channels of the carrier comprising the broadcast control channel for the continuous transmission calls; and

preliminarily reserving the free traffic channel for the continuous transmission call.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein allocation of the traffic channel further comprises:

comparing an interference level of free traffic channels with a pre-set threshold value; and

choosing the traffic channel with an interference level lower than the pre-set threshold value as the traffic channel for allocation to the call.

5. An arrangement for allocation of a traffic channel in a mobile communications system, in the frequency planning of which at least one frequency is set at a reuse distance shorter than the reuse distance of a continuous transmission frequency, which arrangement is adapted to identify continuous transmission calls, the arrangement comprising adapting the arrangement to allocate a traffic channel for a continuous transmission call at a fixed frequency defined as a continuous transmission frequency, when the traffic channel is free.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the fixed-frequency traffic channel defined as a continuous transmission traffic channel is located on a carrier comprising a broadcast control channel of a base station.

7. The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the allocation of the traffic channel for the continuous transmission call further comprises:

adapting the arrangement for preliminary reservation of at least one traffic channel for continuous transmission calls from a carrier comprising a broadcast control channel; and

allocating the free preliminarily reserved traffic channel for a continuous transmission call.

8. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the arrangement is located in connection with a base station system.