Transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) packet-centric wireless point to multi-point (PTMP) transmission system architecture

• US 6,862,622 B2
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Van Drebbel Mariner LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jorgensen, Jacob W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B.
• Application Number:
  US09/349,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,062 Days
• Field of Search: 709/104, 709/229, 709217-219, 709/250, 709/226, 709/223, 370/351, 370/328, 370/338
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/163 In-band adaptation of TCP data exchange; In-band control procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/165 Combined use of TCP and UDP protocols; selection criteria therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/168 specially adapted for link layer protocols, e.g. asynchronous transfer mode [ATM], synchronous optical network [SONET] or point-to-point protocol [PPP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0414 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 : Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 : Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 : Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 : of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 : Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 : Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 : Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 : Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 : using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 : Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/06 : Transport layer protocols, e.g. TCP [Transport Control Protocol] over wireless transmission control protocol/Internet protocol [TCP/IP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 : Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

A packet-centric wireless point to multi-point telecommunications system includes: a wireless base station communicating via a packet-centric protocol to a first data network; one or more host workstations communicating via the packet-centric protocol to the first data network; one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations coupled with the wireless base station over a shared bandwidth via the packet-centric protocol over a wireless medium; and one or more subscriber workstations coupled via the packet-centric protocol to each of the subscriber CPE stations over a second network. The packet-centric protocol can be transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP). The packet-centric protocol can be a user datagram protocol/internet protocol (UDP/IP). The system can include a resource allocation means for allocating shared bandwidth among the subscriber CPE stations. The resource allocation is performed to optimize end-user quality of service (QoS). The wireless communication medium can include at least one of: a radio frequency (RF) communications medium; a cable communications medium; and a satellite communications medium. The wireless communication medium can further include a telecommunications access method including at least one of: a time division multiple access (TDMA) access method; a time division multiple access/time division duplex (TDMA/TDD) access method; a code division multiple access (CDMA) access method; and a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) access method.

The first data network includes at least one of: a wireline network; a wireless network; a local area network (LAN); and a wide area network (WAN). The second network includes at least one of: a wireline network; a wireless network; a local area network (LAN); and a wide area network (WAN).

Claims

1. A packet-centric wireless point to multi-point telecommunications system comprising:

a wireless base station communicating via a packet-centric protocol to a first data network;

one or more host workstations communicating via said packet-centric protocol to said first data network;

one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations coupled with said wireless base station over a shared wireless bandwidth via said packet-centric protocol over a wireless communication medium, wherein said packet-centric protocol used over said wireless communication medium is not circuit-centric, and wherein real-time wireless bandwidth allocations and system resource allocations are determined based on contents of packets to be communicated over said wireless communication medium; and

one or more subscriber workstations coupled via said packet-centric protocol to each of said subscriber CPE stations over a second network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said packet-centric protocol is transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said packet-centric protocol is user datagram protocol/internet protocol (UDP/IP).

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

resource allocation means for allocating said shared wireless bandwidth among said subscriber CPE stations.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said resource allocation is performed to optimize end-user quality of service (QoS).

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication medium comprises at least one of:

a radio frequency (RF) communications medium;

a cable communications medium; and

a satellite communications medium.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said wireless communication medium further comprises, a telecommunications access method including at least one of:

a time division multiple access (TDMA) access method;

a time division multiple access, time division duplex (TDMA/TDD) access method;

a code division multiple access (CDMA) access method; and

a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) access method.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said first data network comprises at least one of:

a wireline network;

a wireless network;

a local area network (LAN); and

a wide area network (WAN).

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said second network comprises at least one of:

a wireline network;

a wireless network;

a local area network (LAN); and

a wide area network (WAN).

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a resource allocator that allocates said shared wireless bandwidth among said subscriber CPE stations.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said resource allocator optimizes end-user quality of service (QoS).

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said resource allocator is application aware.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said real-time wireless bandwidth allocations and system resource allocations are made based on at least one of:

a packet header contents, and

a packet payload contents.

13. A packet-centric wireless point to multi-point telecommunications system comprising:

a wireless base station communicating via a packet-centric protocol to a first data network, wherein said packet-centric protocol comprises at least one of a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), and a user datagram protocol/internet protocol (UDP/IP);

one or more host workstations communicating via said packet-centric protocol to said first data network;

one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations coupled with said wireless base station over a shared wireless bandwidth via said packet-centric protocol over a wireless communication medium, wherein said packet-centric protocol used over said wireless communication medium is not circuit-centric, and wherein real-time wireless bandwidth allocations and system resource allocations are determined based on contents of packets to be communicated over said wireless communication medium; and

one or more subscriber workstations coupled via said packet-centric protocol to each of said subscriber CPE stations over a second network.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

resource allocation means for allocating said shared wireless bandwidth among said subscriber CPE stations and wherein said resource allocation means comprises means for performing bandwidth allocation to ensure optimal end-user quality of service (QoS).

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said wireless communication medium comprises a radio frequency (RF) communications medium.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said wireless communication medium comprises

a cable communications medium.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said wireless communication medium further comprises, a telecommunications access method including a time division multiple access/time division duplex (TDMA/TDD) access method.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said first data network comprises a wireline wide area network (WAN) and said second network comprises a wireline local area network (LAN).

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a resource allocator that allocates said shared wireless bandwidth among said subscriber CPE stations, wherein said resource allocator optimizes end-user quality of service (QoS), and wherein said resource allocator is application aware.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein said packet-centric protocol is not an asynchronous transfer mode protocol.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein said real-time wireless bandwidth allocations and system resource allocations are made based on at least one of:

a packet header contents, and

a packet payload contents.