Service prioritized access and paging

• US 6,859,440 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2000
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Coskun, Risvan, Janevski, Goran G., Sonti, Jagdish V., Gage, Bill A., Chaudry, Shahid Rasul
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US09/592,416
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/328, 370/329, 370/278, 370/311, 370/336, 370/347, 370/337, 370/442, 370/478, 370412-418, 340/825.22, 379/57
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0866 using a dedicated channel for access

Abstract

A technique for prioritization of access and paging in cellular communications systems. In the downlink direction, where a single Paging Channel is configured, a plurality of queues are created corresponding to individual services or groups of services with the same priority. Page attempts are assigned to the appropriate queue according to a pre-determined service-to-queue mapping. Pages from the queues are sent on the Paging Channel in accordance with a pre-determined dequeuing algorithm. Where multiple Paging Channels are used, page attempts are assigned to the appropriate Paging Channel according to a pre-determined service-to-Paging Channel mapping. In the uplink direction, where a single Access Channel is configured, each mobile station includes in the Access Message a parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station. This information is received by the base station and used to enable/disable services according to a predetermined priority. Which services are enabled/disabled is broadcast to each mobile station in the cell as a parameter in the Access Parameters Message. Mobile stations seeking to access services which have been disabled abandon their access attempts. Where multiple Access Channels are configured, services are mapped to the Access Channels according a pre-determined service-to-Access Channel mapping. Mobile stations initiate access attempts on the Access Channels as determined by the service-to-Access Channel mapping.

Claims

1. In a cellular communication system comprising at least one base station and a plurality of mobile stations, wherein a single access channel is configured, a method for providing prioritized access to the communications system comprising the steps of:

(a) for each mobile station desiring access to the system, transmitting an access message which includes a collision rate parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station;

(b) receiving at the base station said access message including the collision rate parameter;

(c) calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled;

(d) broadcasting from the base station a message including said service parameters;

(e) receiving said message including the service parameters at a mobile station desiring to access the system;

(f) comparing within the mobile station the service parameters with the service sought to be accessed; and

(g) inhibiting the transmission of an access attempt if the service sought to be accessed has been disabled.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled are established by:

(a) calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations a contention rate parameter representing the collision rate for the system; and

(b) for each service accessing the system,

comparing the contention rate parameter to a pre-determined contention rate threshold for the service; and

disabling services for which the contention rate parameter exceeds the contention rate threshold for the service.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled are established by:

for each enabled service accessing the system,

(a) calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations a service contention rate parameter representing the collision rate for that service;

(b) where the service contention rate parameter exceeds a pre-determined maximum contention rate threshold for the service, disabling one or more currently-enabled services with a lower priority; and

(c) where the service contention rate parameter is below a predetermined minimum contention rate threshold for the service, enabling one or more currently-disabled services with a lower priority.

4. In a cellular communication system comprising at least one base station and a plurality of mobile stations, wherein a plurality of access channels are configured, a method for providing prioritized access to the communications system comprising the steps of:

(a) broadcasting from the base station a message including service parameters configured according to a pre-determined service-to-access channel mapping;

(b) receiving said message including the service parameters at a mobile station desiring to access the system;

(c) comparing within the mobile station said service parameters with the service sought to be accessed;

(d) determining the access channels to be used with the service sought to be accessed; and

(e) transmitting an access attempt on one of the access channels determined in step (d).

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the service-to-access channel mapping is determined dynamically according to the loading of the access channels configured within the system.

6. In a cellular communication system comprising at least one base station and a plurality of mobile stations, wherein a plurality of access channels are configured, a method for providing prioritized access to the communications system comprising the steps of:

(a) for each mobile station desiring access to the system, transmitting an access message which includes a collision rate parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station;

(b) receiving at the base station said access message including the collision rate parameter,

(c) calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled, and incorporating a predetermined service-to-access channel mapping;

(d) broadcasting from the base station a message including said service parameters;

(e) receiving said message including the service parameters at a mobile station desiring to access the system;

(f) comparing within the mobile station the service parameters with the service sought to be accessed;

(g) inhibiting the transmission of an access attempt if the service sought to be accessed has been disabled; and

(h) for services which are enabled, determining from the service parameters the access channels to be used with the service sought to be accessed and transmitting an access attempt on one of said access channels.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the service-to-access channel mapping is determined dynamically according to the loading of the access channels configured within the system.

8. A method of operating a cellular communication system comprising at least one base station and a plurality of mobile stations, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) for each mobile station desiring access to the system, transmitting an access message which includes a collision rate parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station;

(b) receiving at the base station said access message including the collision rate parameter;

(c) calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled; and

(d) inhibiting the transmission of a page if the service sought to be accessed has been disabled.

9. A cellular communication system comprising at least one base station and a plurality of mobile stations, wherein a single access channel is configured, the system comprising:

(a) for each mobile station desiring access to the system, means for transmitting an access message which includes a collision rate parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station;

(b) means for receiving at the base station said access message including the collision rate parameter,

(c) means for calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled;

(d) means for broadcasting from the base station a message including said service parameters;

(e) means for receiving said message including the service parameters at a mobile station desiring to access the system;

(f) means for comparing within the mobile station the service parameters with the service sought to be accessed; and

(g) means for inhibiting the transmission of an access attempt if the service sought to be accessed has been disabled.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the means for calculating the service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled comprise:

(a) means for calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations a contention rate parameter representing the collision rate for the system; and

(b) for each service accessing the system,

means for comparing the contention rate parameter to a pre-determined contention rate threshold for the service; and

means for disabling services for which the contention rate parameter exceeds the contention rate threshold for the service.

11. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the means for calculating the service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled comprise:

for each enabled service accessing the system,

(a) means for calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations a service contention rate parameter representing the collision rate for that service;

(b) where the service contention rate parameter exceeds a pre-determined maximum contention rate threshold for the service, means for disabling one or more currently-enabled services with a lower priority; and

(c) where the service contention rate parameter is below a pre-determined minimum contention rate threshold for the service, means for enabling one or more currently-enabled services with a lower priority.

12. A cellular communication system comprising at least one base station and a plurality of mobile stations, wherein a plurality of access channels are configured, the system comprising:

(a) means for broadcasting from the base station a message including service parameters configured according to a predetermined service-to-access channel mapping;

(b) means for receiving said message including the service parameters at a mobile station desiring to access the system;

(c) means for comparing within the mobile station said service parameters with the service sought to be accessed;

(d) means for determining the access channels to be used with the service sought to be accessed; and

(e) means for transmitting an access attempt on one of the access channels determined in step (d).

13. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the service-to-access channel mapping is determined dynamically according to the loading of the access channels configured within the system.

14. A cellular communication system comprising at least one base station and a plurality of mobile stations, wherein a plurality of access channels are configured, the system comprising:

(a) for each mobile station desiring access to the system, means for transmitting an access message which includes a collision rate parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station;

(b) means for receiving at the base station said access message including the collision rate parameter,

(c) means for calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled, and incorporating a pre-determined service-to-access channel mapping;

(d) means for broadcasting from the base station said message including said service parameters;

(e) means for receiving said message including the service parameters at a mobile station desiring to access the system;

(f) means for comparing within the mobile station the service parameters with the service sought to be accessed;

(g) means for inhibiting the transmission of an access attempt if the service sought to be accessed has been disabled; and

(h) for services which are enabled, means for determining from the service parameters the access channels to be used with the service sought to be accessed and means for transmitting an access attempt on one of said access channels.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein the service-to-access channel mapping is determined dynamically according to the loading of the access channels associated with each paging channel configured within the system.

16. A cellular communication system comprising at least one base station and a plurality of mobile stations, the system comprising:

(a) for each mobile station desiring access to the system, means for transmitting an access message which includes a collision rate parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station;

(b) means for receiving at the base station said access message including the collision rate parameter;

(c) means for calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled; and

(d) means for inhibiting the transmission of a page if the service sought to be accessed has been disabled.

17. A computer-readable medium for a base station of a cellular communication system which also includes a plurality of mobile stations, wherein a single access channel is configured, the computer-readable medium having stored instructions for:

(a) receiving at the base station an access message from each mobile station desiring access to the system which includes a collision rate parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station;

(b) calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled; and

(c) broadcasting from the base station a message including said service parameters.

18. A computer-readable medium according to claim 17 wherein the service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled are established by:

(a) calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations a contention rate parameter representing the collision rate for the system; and

(b) for each service accessing the system,

comparing th e contention rate parameter to a pre-determined contention rate threshold for the service; and

disabling services for which the contention rate parameter exceeds the contention rate threshold for the service.

19. A computer-readable medium according to claim 17 wherein the service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled are established by:

for each enabled service accessing the system,

(a) calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations a service contention rate parameter representing the collision rate for that service;

(b) where the service contention rate parameter exceeds a pre-determined maximum contention rate threshold for the service, disabling one or more currently-enabled services with a lower priority; and

(c) where the service contention rate parameter is below a pre-determined minimum contention rate threshold for the service, enabling one or more currently-disabled services with a lower priority.

20. A computer-readable medium for a base station of a cellular communication system which also includes a plurality of mobile stations, wherein a plurality of access channels are configured, the computer-readable medium having stored instructions for:

(a) receiving at the base station an access message from each mobile station desiring access to the system which includes a collision rate parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station;

(b) calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations service parameters representing which services wit the system are currently enabled, and incorporating a pre-determined service-to-access channel mapping;

(c) broadcasting from the base station a message including the service parameters.

21. A computer-readable medium according to claim 20 wherein the service-to-access channel mapping is determined dynamically according to the loading of the access channels configured within the system.

22. A computer-readable medium for a base station of a cellular communication system which also includes a plurality of mobile stations, the computer-readable medium having stored instructions for:

(a) receiving at the base station an access message from each mobile station desiring access to the system which includes a collision rate parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station;

(b) calculating from the collision rate parameters received from all mobile stations service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled; and

(c) inhibiting the transmission of a page if the service sought to be accessed has been disabled.

23. A computer-readable medium for a mobile station of a cellular communication system which also includes at least one base station, wherein a single access channel is configured, the computer-readable medium having stored instructions for:

(a) transmitting an access message which includes a collision rate parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station;

(b) receiving a message generated by the base station which includes service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled;

(c) comparing within the mobile station the service parameters with the service sought to be accessed; and

(d) inhibiting the transmission of an access attempt if the service sought to be accessed has been disabled.

24. A computer-readable medium for a mobile station of a cellular communication system which also includes at least one base station, wherein a plurality of access channels are configured, the computer-readable medium having stored instructions for:

(a) receiving a message generated by the base station which includes service parameters configured according to a pre-determined service-to-access channel mapping;

(b) comparing within the mobile station said service parameters with the service sought to be accessed;

(c) determining the paging channels to be used with the service sought to be accessed; and

(d) transmitting an access attempt on one of the access channels determined in step (c).

25. A computer-readable medium for a mobile station of a cellular communication system which also includes at least one base station, wherein a plurality of paging channels are configured, the computer-readable medium having stored instructions for:

(a) transmitting an access message which includes a collision rate parameter representing the number of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts which have been initiated by the mobile station;

(b) receiving a message generated by the base station which includes service parameters representing which services within the system are currently enabled and incorporating a pre-determined service-to-access channel mapping;

(c) comparing within the mobile station the service parameters with the service sought to be accessed;

(d) inhibiting the transmission of an access attempt if the service sought to be accessed has been disabled; and

(e) for services which are enabled, determining from the service parameters the access channels to be used with the service sought to be accessed and transmitting an access attempt on one of said access channels.