Method and apparatus for bandwidth and frequency management in the U-NII band

• US 6,697,375 B1
• Filed: 08/04/1999
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Connectivity Patent Trust
• Original Assignee: Atheros Communications Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meng, Teresa H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, CHI HO A
• Application Number:
  US09/368,637
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 370/318, 370/465, 370/468, 370/252, 370/253, 370/315, 370/328, 370/332, 370/333, 455/522, 455/69, 455/63, 455/452.1, 455/452.2, 455/456.1, 455/63.1
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/267 taking into account the information rate

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for optimizing power in order to increase capacity. Rather than having any terminal device limited to a specific maximum data rate, instead the terminal device data rate is limited by the power being used, such that the data rate can vary according to the distance that the terminal device is from the intended receiver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dynamically allocating a data rate for wireless communication, comprising:

a first transceiver; and

a second transceiver,

the first transceiver including means for transmitting data at a first power level and a first data rate to said second transceiver,

the second transceiver including;

second means for receiving the first data;

second means for sensing a received power level of the received data;

second means for transmitting second data at a second power level and a second data rate to said first transceiver; and

second means for determining responsive to comparative processing relative to a predetermined frequency band power budget the second data rate at which to transmit the second data, said second data rate determined based upon the received power level of the received data and being different from the first data rate;

wherein the second means for determining is repetitively used for transmission of second data packets that each occur subsequent to receipt by the second means for receiving of first data packets that are repetitively transmitted by the first transceiver.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first power level and the first data rate, and the second power level and the second data rate can be adapted to be different for each repetitive transmission.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein an initial transmission of the first data is transmitted at a predetermined low power level.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the second data packets that is transmitted after a particular one of the first data packets is received by the second means for determining includes a plurality of packets.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the particular one of the first data packets is a plurality of packets.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second means for transmitting will transmit at a predetermined low rate a part of each of the second data packets containing the second data rate, and thereafter transmit a remainder of each second data packet at the second data rate.

7. An apparatus for dynamically allocating a data rate for wireless communication, comprising:

a first transceiver; and

a second transceiver,

the first transceiver including means for transmitting data at a first power level and a first data rate to said second transceiver,

the second transceiver including;

second means for receiving the first data;

second means for sensing a received power level of the received data;

second means for transmitting second data at a second power level and a second data rate to said first transceiver; and

second means for determining responsive to comparative processing relative to a predetermined frequency band power budget the second data rate at which to transmit the second data, said second data rate determined based upon the received power level of the received data and being different from the first data rate, the second means for determining being repetitively used for transmission of second data occurring subsequent to receipt of first data transmitted by the first transceiver;

wherein the first transceiver further comprises;

first means for receiving the second data;

first means for sensing the received power level of the received second data; and

first means for determining a modified first data rate at which to transmit further first data, said modified first data rate determined based upon the received power level of the received second data;

first means for transmitting the further first data at the modified first data rate and a modified first power level to the second transceiver, and

the second transceiver further comprises second means for receiving the first data.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the first transceiver further comprises:

means for sensing the received power level of the received further second data; and

means for redetermining the modified second data rate if the received power level of the received further second data is changed by a second predetermined amount from the received power level of the received second data.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each of the first means for receiving the second data and the second means for receiving the first data include multiple antennas.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the modified first data rate is different than the first data rate.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the modified first power level is different than the first power level.

12. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the first means for determining is repetitively used for transmission of first data packets that each occur subsequent to receipt by the first means for receiving of second data packets.

13. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the first power level and the first data rate, and the second power level and the second data rate can be adapted to be different for each repetitive transmission.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein at least one of the first data packets that is transmitted after a particular one of the second data packets is received by the first means for determining includes a plurality of packets.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the particular one of the second data packets is a plurality of packets.

16. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the first means for transmitting, will transmit at a predetermined low rate a part of each of the first data packets containing the first data rate, and thereafter transmit a remainder of each first data packet at the first data rate.

17. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the first data rate is chosen from one of a plurality of predetermined data rates.

18. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the second means for determining is repetitively used for transmission of second data packets that each occur subsequent to receipt by the second means for receiving of first data packets.

19. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the first power level and the first data rate, and the second power level and the second data rate can be adapted to be different for each repetitive transmission.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein at least one of the second data packets that is transmitted after a particular one of the first data packets is received by the second means for determining includes a plurality of packets.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the particular one of the second data packets is a plurality of packets.

22. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein each of the first and the second means for transmitting will transmit at a predetermined low rate a part of each of the respective first and second data packets containing the respective first and second data rates, and thereafter transmit a remainder of each respective first and second data packets at the respective first and second data rates.

23. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the first data rate and the second data rate is chosen from one of a plurality of predetermined data rates.

24. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a first base station transceiver;

a plurality of terminal devices including at least first and second terminal device transceivers; and

a repeater,

the first base station transceiver including means for transmitting data at a first power level and a first data rate to the repeater;

the repeater including;

means for receiving the data;

means for transmitting a first portion of the data to the first terminal device transceiver at a second data rate and a second power level; and

means for transmitting a second portion of the data to the second terminal device transceiver at a third data rate and a third power level,

the first and second terminal device transceivers-each including;

means for sensing the received power level of the received data; and

means for determining a modified data rate different than said respective second and third data rate at which to transmit further data, said modified data rate having a maximum data rate that is determined based upon the received power level of the received data,

wherein the means for transmitting the first portion of the data and the means for transmitting the second portion of the data are each adapted to transmit the further data at the modified data rate to the repeater.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the first and second terminal device transceiver further include:

means for sensing the received power level of the received further data; and

means for redetermining the modified data rate if the received power level of the received further data is different by a predetermined amount from the received power level of the received data.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the repeater contains a plurality of repeater transceivers such that there exists one repeater transceiver for each of a different plurality of terminal device transceivers;

and

wherein the means for receiving the data and the further data for each one repeater transceiver cause that one repeater transceiver to receive that further data corresponding to the associated plurality of terminal device transceivers.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein each of the means for transmitting the data and the further data transmit from first and second repeater transceivers to respective first and second plurality of terminal device transceivers using the 5.725-5.825 GHz band.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the first and second pluralities of terminal device transceivers each include means for transmitting first and second portions of second data at respective fourth and fifth data rates to the respective repeater at respective fourth and fifth power levels using one of the 5.25-5.35 GHz and 5.15-5.25 GHz bands.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein each of the first and second repeater transceivers each include means for transmitting the second data to the base station transceiver using the 5.725-5.825 GHz band.

30. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the means for transmitting the data and the further data transmit from the repeater to the first and second terminal device transceivers using one of the 5.25-5.35 GHz and 5.15-5.25 GHz bands.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the first and second terminal device transceivers each include means for transmitting first and second portions of second data to the repeater at respective fourth and fifth power levels using the other one of the 5.25-5.35 GHz and 5.15-5.25 GHz bands.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the repeater further includes means for transmitting the second data to the base station transceiver at a sixth power level using the 5.725-5.825 GHz band.

33. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the first power level is greater than the second power level.

34. An apparatus according to claim 24 wherein there is included a plurality of repeaters and a second plurality of terminal device transceivers, such that one repeater and corresponding terminal devices are in one room and another repeater and corresponding terminal devices are in another room.

35. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein there is included a plurality of repeaters and a second plurality of terminal device transceivers, such that one repeater and corresponding terminal devices are in one building and another repeater and corresponding terminal devices are in another building.

36. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein each of the first base station transceiver, the plurality of terminal devices, and the repeater include multiple antennas.

37. An apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the first base station transceiver includes means for transmitting the data within the 5.725-5.825 GHz band.

43. A method according to claim 35 wherein the modified first data rate is different than the first data rate.

44. A method according to claim 43 wherein the modified first power level is different than the first power level.

45. A method according to claim 35 wherein the steps of sensing the received power level of the received other data and determining the modified first data rate are performed by the first transceiver.

46. A method according to claim 35 wherein the steps of sensing the received power level of the received other data, determining the modified first data rate, and transmitting the further data arc repeated repetitively to cause transmission of first data packets that each occur subsequent to receipt of second data packets during repeated steps of receiving the other data at the first transceiver.

47. A method according to claim 46 wherein the first power level and the first data rate, and the second power level and the second data rate can be adapted to be different for each repetitive transmission.

48. A method according to claim 47 wherein at least one of the first data packets that is transmitted after a particular one of the second data packets is received includes a plurality of packets.

49. A method according to claim 48 wherein the particular one of the second data packets is a plurality of packets.

50. A method according to claim 46 wherein the step of transmitting the further data will transmit at a predetermined low rate a part of each of the first data packets containing the first data rate, and thereafter transmit a remainder of each first data packet at the first data rate.

51. A method according to claim 46 wherein the step of transmitting the further data will transmit at the first data rate that is chosen from one of a plurality of predetermined data rates.

52. A method according to claim 46 wherein the steps of sensing the received power level of the received data, determining the second data rate, and transmitting the other data are repeated repetitively to cause transmission of second data packets that each occur subsequent to receipt of first data packets during repeated steps of receiving the data at the second transceiver.

53. A method according to claim 52 wherein the first power level and the first data rate, and the second power level and the second data rate can be adapted to be different for each repetitive transmission.

54. A method according to claim 53 wherein at least one of the second data packets that is transmitted after a particular one of the first data packets is received includes a plurality of packets.

55. A method according to claim 54 wherein the particular one of the second data packets is a plurality of packets.

56. A method according to claim 52 wherein the steps of transmitting the data and the other data will respectively transmit at a predetermined low rate a part of each to the first and second data packets containing the respective first and second data rates, and thereafter transmit a remainder of each first and second data packets at the respective first and second data rate.

57. A method according to claim 52 wherein the steps of transmitting the data and the other data will respectively transmit at the first and second data rates that are each chosen from one of a plurality of predetermined data rates.

64. A method according to claim 51 wherein the modified first data rate is different than the first data rate.

65. A method according to claim 64 wherein the modified first power level is different than the first power level.

66. A method according to claim 51 wherein the steps of sensing the received power level of the received other data and determining the modified first data rate are performed by the first transceiver.

67. A method according to claim 51 wherein the steps of sensing the received power level of the received other data, determining the modified first data rate, and transmitting the further data are repeated repetitively to cause transmission of first data packets that each occur subsequent to receipt of second data packets during repeated steps of receiving the other data at the first transceiver.

68. A method according to claim 67 wherein the first power level and the first data rate, and the second power level and the second data rate can be adapted to be different for each repetitive transmission.

69. A method according to claim 68 wherein at least one of the first data packets that is transmitted after a particular one of the second data packets is received includes a plurality of packets.

70. A method according to claim 69 wherein the particular one of the second data packets is a plurality of packets.

71. A method according to claim 67 wherein the step of transmitting the further data will transmit at a predetermined low rate a part of each of the first data packets containing the first data rate, and thereafter transmit a remainder of each first data packet at the first data rate.

72. A method according to claim 67 wherein the step of transmitting the further data will transmit at the first data rate that is chosen from one of a plurality of predetermined data rates.

73. A method according to claim 67 wherein the steps of sensing the received power level of the received data, determining the second data rate, and transmitting the other data are repeated repetitively to cause transmission of second data packets that each occur subsequent to receipt of first data packets during repeated steps of receiving the data at the second transceiver.

74. A method according to claim 73 wherein the first power level and the first data rate, and the second power level and the second data rate can be adapted to be different for each repetitive transmission.

75. A method according to claim 74 wherein at least one of the second data packets that is transmitted after a particular one of the first data packets is received includes a plurality of packets.

76. A method according to claim 75 wherein the particular one of the second data packets is a plurality of packets.

77. A method according to claim 73 wherein the steps of transmitting the data and the other data will respectively transmit at a predetermined low rate a part of each of the first and second data packets containing the respective first and second data rates, and thereafter transmit a remainder of each first and second data packets at the respective first and second data rate.

78. A method according to claim 73 wherein the steps of transmitting the data and the other data will respectively transmit at the first and second data rates that are each chosen from one of a plurality of predetermined data rates.

38. A method of dynamically allocating a data rate for wireless communication between a first transceiver and a second transceiver comprising the steps of:

transmitting data at a first power level and a first data rate from a first transceiver to a second transceiver;

receiving the data at the second transceiver;

sensing the received power level of the received data;

determining responsive to comparative processing relative to a predetermined frequency band power budget a second data rate different from the first data rate at which to transmit other data, said second data rate determined based upon the received power level of the received data;

transmitting the other data at the second data rate and a second power level, from the second transceiver to the first transceiver, the step of determining the second data rate being repetitively used for transmission of the other data occurring subsequent to receipt of data transmitted by the first transceiver; and

further including the steps of;

receiving the other data at the first transceiver;

sensing the received power level of the received other data;

determining a modified first data rate from the received power level of the received further data; and

transmitting further data from the first transceiver to the second transceiver at the modified first data rate.

39. A method according to claim 38 further comprising the steps of:

sensing the received power level of the received further data;

determining a modified second data rate from the received power level of the received further data; and

transmitting further other data from the second transceiver to the first transceiver at the modified second data rate.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the steps of transmitting the data and the further data transmits within the 5.725-5.825 GHz band and the steps of transmitting the other data and the further other data transmits within one of the 5.25-5.35 GHz and 5.15-5.25 GHz bands.

41. A method according to claim 39, wherein the steps of transmitting the data and the further data transmits within the 5.725-5.925 GHz hand and the steps of transmitting the other data and the further other data transmits within both of the 5.25-5.35 GHz and 5.15-5.25GHz bands.

42. A method according to claim 39, wherein the first power level is greater than the second power level.

58. A method according to claim 39 wherein the steps of sensing the received power level of the received further data and determining the modified second data rate are performed by the second transceiver.

59. A method of dynamically allocating a data rate for wireless communication between a first transceiver and a second transceiver comprising the steps of:

transmitting data at a first power level and a first data rate from a first transceiver to a second transceiver;

receiving the data at the second transceiver;

sensing the received power level of the received data;

determining responsive to comparative processing relative to a predetermined frequency band power budget a second data rate different from the first data rate at which to transmit other data, said second data rate determined based upon the received power level of the received data, and wherein said step of determining occurs without the occurrence of a specific request for a data rate change;

transmitting the other data at the second data rate and a second power level, from the second transceiver to the first transceiver, the step of determining the second data rate being repetitively used for transmission of the other data occurring subsequent to receipt of data transmitted by the first transceiver; and

further including the step of;

receiving the other data at the first transceiver;

sensing the received power level of the received other data;

determining a modified first data rate from the received power level of the received other data; and

transmitting further data from the first transceiver to the second transceiver at the modified first data rate.

60. A method according to claim 59 further comprising the steps of:

sensing the received power level of the received further data;

determining a modified second data rate from the received power level of the received further data; and

transmitting further other data from the second transceiver to the first transceiver at the modified second data rate.

61. A method according to claim 60, wherein the steps of transmitting the data and the further data transits within the 5.725-5.825 GHz band and the steps of transmitting the other data and the further other data transmits within one of the 5.25-5.35 GHz and 5.15-5.25 GHz bands.

62. A method according to claim 60, wherein the steps of transmitting the data and the further data transmits within the 5.725-5.825 GHz band and the steps of transmitting the other data and the further other data transmits within both of the 5.25-5.35 GHz and 5.15-5.25 GHz bands.

63. A method according to claim 60, wherein the first power level is greater than the second power level.

79. A method according to claim 60 wherein the steps of sensing the received power level of the received further data and determining the modified second data rate are performed by the second transceiver.

80. A method of dynamically allocating a data rate for wireless communication between a first transceiver and a second transceiver comprising the steps of:

transmitting data at a first power level and a first data rate from a first transceiver to a second transceiver;

receiving the data at the second transceiver;

sensing the received power level of the received data;

determining responsive to comparative processing relative to a predetermined frequency band power budget a second data rate different from the first data rate at which to transmit other data, said second data rate determined based upon the received power level of the received data; and

transmitting the other data at the second data rate and a second power level, from the second transceiver to the first transceiver; and

further including the steps of;

receiving the other data at the first transceiver;

wherein the steps of sensing the received power level of the received data, determining the second data rate, and transmitting the other data are repeated repetitively to cause transmission of second data packets that each occur subsequent to receipt of first data packets during repeated steps of receiving the data at the second transceiver.

81. A method according to claim 80 wherein an initial transmission of the first data is transmitted at a predetermined low power level.

82. A method according to claim 81 wherein an initial transmission of the first data is transmitted at a predetermined low power level.

83. A method according to claim 80 wherein at least one of the second data packets that is transmitted after a particular one of the first data packets is received by the second means for determining includes a plurality of packets.

84. A method according to claim 83 wherein the particular one of the first data packets is a plurality of packets.

85. A method according to claim 80 wherein the step of transmitting the other data will transmit at a predetermined low rate a part of each of the second data packets containing the second data rate, and thereafter transmit a remainder of each second data packet at the second data rate.

86. A method of dynamically allocating a data rate for wireless communication between a first transceiver and a second transceiver comprising the steps of:

transmitting data at a first power level and a first data rate from a first transceiver to a second transceiver;

receiving the data at the second transceiver;

sensing the received power level of the received data;

determining responsive to comparative processing relative to a predetermined frequency band power budget a second data rate different from the first data rate at which to transmit other data, said second data rate determined based upon the received power level of the received data, and wherein said step of determining occurs without the occurrence of a specific request for a data rate change;

transmitting the other data at the second data rate and a second power level, from the second transceiver to the first transceiver; and

further including the step of;

receiving the other data at the first transceiver;

wherein the steps of sensing the received power level of the received data, determining the second data rate, and transmitting the other data are repeated repetitively to cause transmission of second data packets that each occur subsequent to receipt of first data packets during repeated steps of receiving the data at the second transceiver.

87. A method according to claim 86 wherein the first power level and the first data rate, and the second power level and the second data rate can be adapted to be different for each repetitive transmission.

88. A method according to claim 87 wherein an initial transmission of the first data is transmitted at a predetermined low power level.

89. A method according to claim 86 wherein at least one of the second data packets that is transmitted after a particular one of the first data packets is received by the second means for determining includes a plurality of packets.

90. A method according to claim 89 wherein the particular one of the first data packets is a plurality of packets.

91. A method according to claim 86, wherein the step of transmitting the other data will transmit at a predetermined low rate a part of each of the second data packets containing the second data rate, and thereafter transmit a remainder of each second data packet at the second data rate.

92. A method according to claim 86 wherein the step of transmitting the other data will transmit at the second data rate that is chosen from one of a plurality of predetermined data rates.