Packet control channel feedback support for contention and reservation based access

• US 6,577,618 B2
• Filed: 02/05/1997
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Larsson, Johan, Ragsdale, Jim, Diachina, John, Raith, Alex K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang Bin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HANH N
• Application Number:
  US08/796,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20010019542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,316 Days
• Field of Search: 370/322, 370/342, 370/347, 370/343, 370/348, 370/431, 370/442, 370/443, 370/444, 370/458, 370/461, 370/462, 370/337, 370/468, 370/346, 370/330, 370/341, 370/329, 370/432, 370/336, 370/445, 370/447, 370/450, 370/459
• US Class Current: 370/348
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• 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 74/002 Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access

Abstract

A method is disclosed for improving the efficiency of the packet data channel by interrupting transmissions from or to a first mobile station so as to allow a short message to be communicated between the communication system and a different mobile station. The packet channel feedback information includes several flags: Received/Not Received (R/N); Partial Echo (PE); and Partial Echo Qualifier (PEQ). The PEQ allows the communication system to interrupt the transmission to one mobile station to send a short message to another mobile station. By setting the PEQ to various values, a mobile station can determine whether subchannel ownership has been temporarily interrupted and reassigned to another station.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting packet data information over a subchannel in a communication system comprising the steps of:

granting access of the subchannel to a first communication device, such that said first communication device having unqualified subchannel ownership transmits a first burst of packet data on the subchannel;

transmitting, by said communication system, first feedback information responsive to said first burst of packet data indicating that said first communication device'"'"'s ownership of said subchannel is suspended; and

granting access of the subchannel to a second communication device while said first communication device'"'"'s ownership is suspended, such that said second communication device transmits a second burst of packet data information; and

continuing to monitor, by said first communication device, said subchannel after being suspended.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting, by said communication system, second feedback information responsive to said second burst of packet data information.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

monitoring, by said first communication device, said second feedback information and resuming ownership of said subchannel if said second feedback information has a maintenance value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said second feedback information includes a partial echo qualifier field having said maintenance value equal to NO_INT or includes a partial echo qualifier field having said maintenance value equal to PE_INT and a CPE indicating the identity of said first communication device.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

monitoring, by said second communication device, said second feedback information and relinquishing ownership of said subchannel if said second feedback information has a relinquishing value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said second feedback information includes a partial echo qualifier field having said relinquishing value equal to one of NO_INT, SO_INT and WA_INT.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

monitoring, by said first communication device, said second feedback information and relinquishing ownership of said subchannel if said second feedback information has a verification value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said second feedback information includes a partial echo qualifier field having said verification value equal to one of WA_INT or PB_INT and a CPE not indicating the identity of said first communication device.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

monitoring, by said second communication device, said second feedback information and assuming ownership of said subchannel if said second feedback information has a reassignment value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said second feedback information includes a partial echo qualifier field having said reassignment value equal to PE_INT.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

monitoring, by said first communication device, said second feedback information and continuing to suspend ownership of said subchannel if said second feedback information has a suspension value.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said second feedback information includes a partial echo qualifier field having said suspension value equal to SO_INT.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting said first feedback information further comprises the step of:

transmitting an interrupt message indicating that said first communication device'"'"'s ownership of said subchannel is being suspended to provide a contention based carrier sense multiple access opportunity.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first feedback information includes a partial echo qualifier field having a suspension value equal to SO_INT.

15. A method for providing feedback in a packet data communication system comprising the steps of:

transmitting a burst of packet data information on a subchannel from a communication device to said packet data communication system; and

transmitting feedback information, responsive to said burst of packet data information, from said packet data communication system to said communication device, said feedback information including a partial echo qualifier field that includes;

(1) a third value indicating that said communication device'"'"'s ownership of said subchannel is suspended and that said communication device continue monitoring said subchannel while being suspended;

or

(2) a fourth value indicating that said communication device is to verify its ownership of said subchannel.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said first value is a NO_INT value.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said second value is an PE_INT value.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said third value is a SO_INT value.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said fourth value is a WA_INT value.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said subchannel comprises a logical division of a TDMA time slot.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said second step of transmitting further comprises the step of:

including said third value in said partial echo qualifier field to provide a contention-based access opportunity for another communication device.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein said second step of transmitting further comprises the step of:

including said fourth value in said partial echo qualifier field when at least one communication device which has not been assigned to said subchannel is transmitting information in said subchannel.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein said partial echo qualifier includes a selective one of:

(1) a first value indicating that said communication device'"'"'s ownership of said subchannel is maintained;

(2) a second value indicating that said communication device'"'"'s ownership of said subchannel is reassigned to another communication device;

(3) said third value; and

(4) said fourth value.

24. A method for transmitting packet data comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a base station, a burst of packet data on a subchannel;

performing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) on said burst;

determining that a mobile station identity associated with said CRC is incorrect; and

transmitting feedback information commanding that an unassigned mobile station relinquish ownership of said subchannel.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said step of transmitting further comprises the steps of:

setting a received/not received field in said feedback information to not received;

setting a partial echo qualifier field in said feedback information to a value which indicates that said subchannel is to be reassigned; and

setting a partial echo field in said feedback information to a value associated with an intended owner of said subchannel.