Data transmission method in a TDMA mobile communication system

• US 6,570,860 B2
• Filed: 03/27/1997
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Honkasalo, Zhi-Chun, Hämäläinen, Jari, Jokinen, Harri, Vainikka, Jari, Posti, Harri
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HANH N
• Application Number:
  US08/817,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,252 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/331, 370/337, 370/341, 370/347, 370/468, 370/332, 370/336, 370/442, 370/330, 370/335, 370/436, 370/348
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters

Abstract

A method and apparatus for data transmission in a time division multiple access (TDMA) mobile communication system, in which one or more time-slots may be allocated to a mobile stations for data transmission. The mobile station indicates, upon setting up a data call, to the mobile communication network a desired level of service for the user data transfer and the mobile communication network assigns the mobile station for a data call a channel configuration consisting of one or more time- slots in connection with call set-up or handover. The assigned channel configuration depends on the resources currently available in the mobile communication network and enables a data channel performance which is within the limits of the desired level of service.

Claims

1. A method for data transmission in a time division multiple access (TDMA) mobile communication system, in which two or more time-slots per frame are allocatable to a mobile station for data transmission at a higher data rate than that supported by use of one time slot per frame,

said mobile station participating in setting up a data call for data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame,

the mobile station indicating to the mobile communication system a desired level of service for the user data transfer in terms of a maximum requirement for a user data transfer rate or a time slot configuration on said data call for data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame,

the mobile communication system assigning upon call setup or handover said mobile station for said data call a channel configuration consisting of one or more time slots per frame, said channel configuration depending on the resources currently available in the mobile communication system and enabling a data channel performance which is within the limits of said desired level of service.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resources of the mobile communication system include at least the time slot resources of the serving cell and/or the time-slot resources of the target cell for handover.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said setting up of said data call comprises

sending, by the mobile station, to a mobile services switching centre a call set- up message indicating said desired level of service for the requested data service,

sending from the serving mobile services switching centre to a base station controller of a serving base station system an assignment request message, which indicates said desired level of service,

selecting at the base station controller, depending on at least the time-slot resources of a serving base station, a channel configuration that meets said desired level of service,

sending from the base station controller to the serving base station an assignment command message, which contains the information on the allocated channel configuration,

sending from the serving base station to the mobile station an assignment command message, which contains the information on the channel configuration allocated to the data call,

sending from the mobile station to the serving base station an assignment acknowledgement,

sending from the base station to the base station controller an assignment acknowledgement,

sending from the base station controller to the mobile services switching centre an assignment acknowledgement.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising recording in the base station system said desired level of service indicated by the mobile station, for controlling the channel configuration.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said assigning is practiced in connection with a handover with a serving base station system, which handover comprises

measuring at the mobile station downlink signals of adjacent cells,

sending from the mobile station to a serving base station system results of said measurement,

determining at the serving base station system the need for handover within the base station system,

selecting at the serving base station system, depending on at least the time slot resources of a target cell for handover, a channel configuration that meets said desired level of service,

sending from the serving base station system to the mobile station a handover command, which contains the information on the allocated channel configuration,

changing the mobile station over to use the channel resources in accordance with the handover command in the target cell.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said assigning is practiced in connection with a handover between a serving base station system and a new base station system, which handover comprises

measuring at the mobile station downlink signals of adjacent cells,

sending from the mobile station to a serving base station system results of said measurement,

determining at the serving base station system the need for handover to a new base station system,

sending from the serving base station system to the serving mobile services switching centre a handover request, which indicates said desired level of service,

sending from the serving mobile services switching centre to the new base station system a handover request, which indicates said desired level of service,

selecting at the new base station system, depending on at least the time-slot resources of a target cell for handover, a channel configuration within limits of said desired level of service,

sending from the new base station system to the serving mobile services switching centre an acknowledgement message, which contains the information on the allocated channel configuration,

sending from the serving mobile services switching centre to the serving base station system a handover command, which contains the information on the allocated channel configuration,

sending from the serving base station system to the mobile station a handover command, which contains the information on the allocated channel configuration,

changing the mobile station over to use the channel resources in accordance with the handover command in the target cell.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said assigning is practiced with handover between a serving mobile services switching center and a new mobile services switching system which handover comprises:

measuring at the mobile station downlink signals of adjacent cells,

sending from the mobile station to a serving base station system results of said measurement,

determining at the serving base station system determining the need for handover to a new base station system located within the area of a new mobile services switching center

sending from a serving base station system to the serving mobile services switching centre a handover request indicating said desired level of service,

sending from the serving mobile services switching centre to the new mobile services switching centre a handover request indicating said desired level of service,

sending from the new mobile services switching centre to the new base station system a handover request indicating said desired level of service,

selecting at the new base station system, depending on at least the time-slot resources of a target cell for handover, a channel configuration within limits of said desired level of service,

sending from the new base station system to the new mobile services switching centre an acknowledgement message, which contains the information on the allocated channel configuration,

sending from the new mobile services switching centre to the serving mobile services switching centre command, which contains the information on a handover the allocated channel configuration,

sending from the serving mobile services switching centre to the serving base station system a handover command, which contains the information on the allocated channel configuration,

sending from the serving base station system to the mobile station a handover command message, which contains the information on the allocated channel configuration,

changing the mobile station over to use the channel resources in accordance with the handover command in the target cell.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile station does not set any specific standards for the minimum performance of the data transfer rate, or

it leaves the minimum performance to be freely chosen by the mobile communication network.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

indicating a maximum desired level of service by the mobile station,

selecting a minimum level of service by the mobile communications system.

10. A method for data transmission in a time division multiple access (TDMA) mobile communication system, in which two or more time-slots per frame are allocatable to a mobile station for data transmission at a higher data rare than that supported by use of one time slot per frame,

said mobile station participating in setting up a data call for data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame,

the mobile station indicating, to the mobile communication system a desired level of service for the user data transfer on said data call for data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame,

the mobile communication system assigning upon call setup or handover said mobile station for said data call a channel configuration consisting of one or more time slots per frame, said channel configuration depending on the resources currently available in the mobile communication system and enabling a data channel performance which is within the limits of said desired level of service, and

indicating said desired level of service in terms of:

a maximum requirement and a minimum requirement for a user data transfer rate or a time slot configuration of the data call.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising

interrupting a call set-up or a handover attempt of a data call by the mobile communication system if there are not sufficient resources available in the mobile communication system for providing the minimum requirement set by said desired level of service.

12. A time division multiple access (TDMA) mobile communication system, in which two or more time slots per frame are allocatable to a mobile station for data transmission at a higher data rate than that supported by use of one time slot per frame,

said mobile station participating in setting up a data call for data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame,

said mobile station indicating to the mobile communication system a desired level of service for the user data transfer in terms of a maximum requirement for a user data transfer rate or a time slot configuration for said data call for said data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame,

the mobile communication system assigning upon call setup or handover the mobile station for said data call a channel configuration consisting of one or more time-slots per frame, said channel configuration depending on the resources currently available in the mobile communication network and enabling a data channel performance which is within the limits of said desired level of service.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said indication of said desired level of service is in terms of a maximum requirement for a user data transfer rate or a time slot configuration of the data call.

14. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein a minimum level of service is undefined by the mobile station.

15. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein a minimum level of service is selectable by the mobile communications network.

16. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least the time-slot resources of the serving cell and/or the time-slot resources of the target cell for handover.

18. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein

the mobile communication network is arranged to interrupt a call set-up or a handover attempt of a data call if there are not sufficient resources available in the mobile communication network for providing the minimum requirement or the minimum service of level.

17. A time division multiple access (TPMA) mobile communication system, in which two or more time slots per frame are allocatable to a mobile station for data transmission at a higher data rate than that supported by use of one time slot per frame.

said mobile station participating in setting up a data call for data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame,

said mobile station indicating to the mobile communication system a desired level of service for the user data transfer for said data call for said data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame,

the mobile communication system assigning upon call setup or handover the mobile station for said data call a channel configuration consisting of one or more time-slots per frame, said channel configuration depending on the resources currently availble in the mobile communication network and enabling a data channel performance which is within the limits of said desired level of service wherein said desired level of service is presented in terms of a maximum requirement and a minimum requirement for a user data transfer rate or a time slot configuration of the data call.

19. A method for data transmission in a time division multiple access (TDMA) mobile communication system, in which two or more time-slots per frame are allocatable to a mobile station for data transmission at a higher data rate than that supported by use of one time slot per frame,

said mobile station participating in setting up a data call for data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame,

the mobile station indicating to the mobile communication system a desired level of service for the user data transfer in terms of a maximum requirement for a user data transfer rate or a time slot configuration on said data call for data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame, said desired level of service being covered by two or more different channel configurations, each providing a different data channel performance,

the mobile communication system assigning upon call setup or handover said mobile station for said data call one of said two or more different channel configurations consisting of one or more time slots per frame, depending on the resources currently available in the mobile communication system so that one of said different data channel performances which are within the limits of said desired level of service is provided.

20. A method for data transmission in a time division multiple access (TDMA) mobile communication system, in which two or more time-slots per frame are allocatable to a mobile station for data transmission at a higher data rate than that supported by use of one time slot per frame,

said mobile station participating in setting up a data call for data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame,

the mobile station indicating, to the mobile communication system a desired level of service for the user data transfer on said data call for data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame, said desired level of service being covered by two or more different channel configurations, each providing a different data channel performance,

the mobile communication system assigning upon call setup or handover said mobile station for said data call one of said two or more different channel configurations consisting of one or more time slots per frame, depending on the resources currently available in the mobile communication system so that one of said different data channel performances which are within the limits of said desired level of service is provided,

the mobile station indicating, to the mobile communication system, said desired level of service for the user data transfer in terms of:

a maximum requirement and a minimum requirement for a user data transfer rate or a time slot configuration of the data call.

21. A time division multiple access (TDMA) mobile communication system, in which two or more time slots per frame are allocatable to a mobile station for data transmission at a higher data rate than that supported by use of one time slot per frame,

said mobile station participating in setting up a data call for data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame,

said mobile station indicating to the mobile communication system a desired level of service for the user data transfer in terms of a maximum requirement for a user data transfer rate or a time slot configuration for said data call for said data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame, said desired level of service being covered by two or more different channel configurations, each providing a different channel performance,

the mobile communication system assigning upon call setup or handover the mobile station for said data call one of said two or more different channel configurations consisting of one or more time-slots per frame, depending on the resources currently available in the mobile communication network so that one of said different a data channel performances which are within the limits of said desired level of service is provided.

22. A time division multiple access (TDMA) mobile communication system, in which two or more time slots per frame are allocatable to a mobile station for data transmission at a higher data rate than that supported by use of one time slot per frame,

said mobile station participating in setting up a data call for data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame,

said mobile station indicating to the mobile communication system a desired level of service for the user data transfer for said data call for said data transmission primarily requiring two or more time slots per frame, said desired level of service being covered by two or more different channel configurations, each providing a different channel performance,

the mobile communication system assigning upon call setup or handover the mobile station for said data call one of said two or more different channel configurations consisting of one or more time-slots per frame, depending on the resources currently available in the mobile communication network so that one of said different data channel performances which is within the limits of said desired level of service is provided wherein said desired level of service is presented in terms of a maximum requirement and a minimum requirement for a user data transfer rate or a time slot configuration of the data call.