Transmission control without limitation of the number of users

• US 6,788,659 B1
• Filed: 01/03/2000
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, CHUONG T
• Application Number:
  US09/476,137
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/328, 370/338, 370/320, 370/335, 370/441, 370/437, 370/479, 370/431, 370/330, 370/331, 370/334, 370/341, 370/342, 370/343, 370/345, 370/337, 370/348, 455/464, 455/509, 455/517, 455/450, 455/452.1, 455/451, 455/512, 455/453, 455/516, 455/527
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/064 Data transmission during pauses in telephone conversation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/068 using time division multiplex techniques; integrated services digital networks H04Q11/0428
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/36 for reassigning the resources associated with the released connections

Abstract

A packet transmission control method is achieved by borrowing a first one of a plurality of channels for a first one of a plurality of existing users in response to a packet receiving request, and by transmitting packets to a new user using the first channel.

Claims

1. A packet transmission control method, comprising:

borrowing a first channel of a plurality of channels from one of a plurality of existing users in response to a packet receiving request and in response to detection of an empty period in use by said existing user of said first channel;

transmitting packets to a new user using said first channel; and

transmitting packets to said one of said plurality of existing users using said first channel, wherein the first channel is allocated to a base station serving said one of said plurality of existing users and the new user.

2. A packet transmission control method according to claim 1, wherein said borrowing includes:

stopping a receiving operation by said one of said plurality of existing users in response to said packet receiving request from said new user.

3. A packet transmission control method according to claim 1, wherein said borrowing includes:

allocating a spreading code to said new user in response to said packet receiving request from said new user, and

wherein said transmitting includes;

transmitting the packets to said new user using said first channel and said allocated spreading code.

4. A packet transmission control method according to claim 1, wherein said first channel is a voice channel and said empty period is a voiceless portion of a voice signal in said voice channel.

5. A packet transmission control method according to claim 4, wherein said borrowing includes:

monitoring said first channel in response to a monitor request generated in response to said packet receiving request; and

stopping a receiving operation by said one of said plurality of existing users when a voiceless portion of said first channel is detected.

6. A packet transmission control method according to claim 5, wherein said transmitting includes:

stopping a receiving operation by said new user when a voice portion of said first channel is detected after the voiceless portion of said first channel is detected; and

restarting the receiving operation by said one of said plurality of existing users when the voice portion of said first channel is detected after the voiceless portion of said first channel is detected.

7. A packet transmission control method according to claim 4, wherein said borrowing includes:

allocating to said new user, a spreading code which is allocated to said one of said plurality of existing users, in response to said packet receiving request from said new user.

8. A packet transmission control method according to claim 1, wherein said first channel is a data channel and said empty period is between a packet and another packet which will arrive next.

9. A packet transmission control method according to claim 8, wherein said borrowing includes:

allocating to said new user, a time slot and a spreading code which is allocated to said one of said plurality of existing users, in response to said packet receiving request from said new user, and so that a frame is shared between the one of the plurality of existing users and the new user.

10. A packet transmission control method according to claim 9, wherein said transmitting includes:

storing packets to said said one of said plurality of existing users while the packets are transmitted to said new user using said allocated time slot and said allocated spreading code.

11. A packet transmission control method according to claim 1, further comprising:

borrowing another channel from another of said plurality of existing users, when said first channel is used for said one of said of said plurality of existing users; and

transmitting other packets to said new user using said other channel.

12. A packet transmission control apparatus, comprising:

a control unit monitoring a transmission situation to an existing user via a channel in response to a monitor request, and controlling a new user to receive packets; and

a base station outputting said monitor request to said control unit in response to said packet receiving request from said new user, and transmitting the packets to said new user in response to the control of said new user by said control unit;

wherein said channel is a voice channel, and wherein said control unit controls said existing user to stop a receiving operation when said control unit detects a voiceless portion of said channel, and controls said base station to transmit the packets to said new user.

13. A packet transmission control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control unit controls said existing user to restart the receiving operation when said control unit detects a voice portion of said channel, and said base station to stop the transmission of the packets to said new user.

14. A packet transmission control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said base station allocates a spreading code to said new user in response to said packet receiving request.

17. A packet transmission control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control unit monitors a transmission situation to another existing user via another channel in response to said monitor request, and controls said new user to receive the packets and

said base station transmits the packets to said new user in response to the control to said new user by said control unit.

15. A packet transmission control apparatus, comprising:

a control unit monitoring a transmission situation to an existing user via a channel in response to a monitor request, and controlling a new user to receive packets; and

a base station outputting said monitor request to said control unit in response to said packet receiving request from said new user, and transmitting the packets to said new user in response to the control of said new user by said control unit;

wherein said channel is a data channel, and

wherein said base station allocates a spreading code and a time slot of a frame to said new user in response to said packet receiving request and in response to detection of an empty period in use by said existing user of said data channel.

16. A packet transmission control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said base station includes a buffer in which the packets are buffered, and

wherein said control unit controls said base station to transmit the packets to said new user using said time slot based on a storage situation of the packets in said buffer.