Multi-carrier arrangement for high speed data

• US 6,956,835 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ericsson AB (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Periyalwar, Shalinl S., Tong, Wen, Royer, Claude, Strawczynski, Leo L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): WAHBA, ANDREW W
• Application Number:
  US09/766,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20010038630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/330, 370/332, 370335-338, 370/342, 370/347, 370/436, 370/437, 370/478
• US Class Current: 370/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2656 for structure of frame, burst
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1682 Allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users, e.g. concentrated multiplexers, statistical multiplexers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0007 by modifying the frame length
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0009 by adapting the channel coding H04L1/1812 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0017 where the mode-switching is based on Quality of Service requirement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0022 in which mode-switching is influenced by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0059 Convolutional codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0066 Parallel concatenated codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0068 by puncturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/007 Unequal error protection for format H04L1/0078; for codes per se H03M13/35
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0071 Use of interleaving interleaving per se H03M13/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/06 the signals being represented by different frequencies combined with time-division multiplexing H04L5/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 : Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1263 : Mapping of traffic onto schedule, e.g. scheduled allocation or multiplexing of flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

The system and method of the present invention uses a plurality of carriers by assigning user terminals to the plurality of carriers so that a minimum grade of service is met and so that throughput is maximized. Each serviced user terminal reports the channel quality of each of a plurality of carriers to a servicing base station(s). The reported channel qualities are then converted to maximum supported data rates for each of the user terminals and each of the carriers. These data rates are then used to allocate data service levels and data rates for each of the user terminals so that a minimum grade of service is met for each of the user terminals. Forward link transmissions, e.g., frames/data packets carried on forward channels (F-CHs), are then constructed and transmitted to meet the allocations.

Claims

1. A method of operating a base station to transmit communications to a plurality of user terminals on a plurality of carriers, the method comprising:

for each of the plurality of carriers, receiving channel quality indications from the plurality of user terminals;

based upon the channel quality indications received from the plurality of user terminals, for each of the plurality of carriers, determining a maximum data rate supportable for each of the user terminals;

based upon the maximum data rate supportable for each of the user terminals for each of the plurality of carriers, and a minimum quality of service required for each user terminal, allocating frames in a plurality of superframes corresponding to the plurality of carriers a subsequent communication to the plurality of user terminals;

transmitting the subsequent communication to the plurality of user terminals based upon the allocation of frames; and

wherein the plurality of superframes are transmitted on the plurality of carriers and are synchronized in time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising allocating the plurality of frames to the plurality of user terminals in order to maximize throughput based upon the constraints of service criteria.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the service criteria are based upon user terminal subscription levels.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the service criteria is based upon fairness in resource allocation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the subsequent communication includes both voice communications and data communications.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the base station transmits voice communications and the data communications on separate carriers.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein successive packets of a data communicationare carried on separate carriers.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein successive packets of a voice communication are carried on separate carriers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each superframe includes a plurality of frames that is transmitted on one carrier of the plurality of carriers; and

a frame of the plurality of frames includes a preamble that indicates the contents of the frame.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the base station transmits superframes at a frequency that meets a voice communication rate requirement.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising coding at least one superframe with a plurality of Walsh codes prior to its transmission.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one superframes support both voice communications and data communications.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein each superframe includes a plurality of frames and each frame includes:

a pilot signal; and

a plurality of reverse link power control bits intended for the plurality of user terminals.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the preamble further indicates that the frame carries a voice communication.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the preamble further indicates that the frame carries a data communication.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the preamble includes a user identifier field; and

the user identifier field identifies one or more user terminals for which the frame is intended.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the preamble includes an explicit data rate indicator and an identifier,

the explicit data rate indicator indicates a data rate of the frame; and

the identifier identifies one or more user terminals for which the frame is intended.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning communications for a particular user terminal on a carrier having a best channel quality indication.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein a superframe of the plurality of superframes supports both voice communications and data communications, and the method further comprises:

encoding the data communications of the superframe using a first coding algorithm; and

encoding the voice communications of the superframe using a second coding algorithm that is different from the first coding algorithm.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of superframes are time-aligned when transmitted on the plurality of carriers.

21. A method of operating a user terminal within a wireless communication system to receive communications on a plurality of carriers, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of pilot signals, wherein each pilot signal corresponds to a carrier of the plurality of carriers;

determining a plurality of channel quality indications, wherein each channel quality indication corresponds to one of the plurality of carriers;

reporting the plurality of channel quality indications to a serving base station; and

receiving a communication in a superframe on on a corresponding carrier of the plurality carriers that satisfies a minimum quality of service required for the user terminal, wherein receiving the communication includes decoding the superframe with a plurality of Walsh codes.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the communication includes both a voice communication and a data communication.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a voice communication in a frame of a superframe on a first carrier of the plurality of carriers; and

receiving a data communication in a flame of a superframe on a second carrier of the plurality of carriers.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the voice communication and the data communication are received on a common carrier.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of superframes carried by the plurality of carriers arrive synchronized in time.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein:

the communication is received in a a frame of a superframe that includes a plurality of frames and that is transmitted on one carrier of the plurality of carriers; and

the frame includes a preamble that indicates the contents of the packet.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein:

data communications received in the superframe are encoded using a first coding algorithm; and

voice communications received in the superframe are encoded using a second coding algorithm that is different from the first coding algorithm.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving communications on a carrier having a best channel quality.

29. A base station that transmits communications to a plurality of user terminals on a plurality of carriers, the base station comprising:

an antenna;

a Radio Frequency unit coupled to the antenna; and

at least one digital processor coupled to the Radio Frequency unit that executes software instructions causing the base station to;

for each of the plurality of carriers, receive channel quality indications from the plurality of user terminals;

based upon the channel quality indications received from the plurality of user terminals, for each of the plurality of carriers, determine a maximum data rate supportable for each of the user terminals;

based upon the maximum data rate supportable for each of the user terminals for each of the plurality of carriers, and a minimum quality of service required for each user terminal, allocate frames in a plurality of superframes corresponding to the plurality of carriers in a subsequent communication to the plurality of user terminals;

transmit the subsequent communication to the plurality of user terminals based upon the allocation of frames; and

wherein the plurality of superframes are transmitted on the plurality of carriers and are synchronized in time.

30. A user terminal that operates to wirelessly receive communications on a plurality of carriers, the user terminal comprising:

an antenna;

a Radio Frequency unit coupled to the antenna; and

a digital processor coupled to the Radio Frequency unit that executes software instructions causing the user terminal to;

receive a plurality of pilot signals, wherein each pilot signal corresponds to a carrier of the plurality of carriers;

determine a plurality of channel quality indications, wherein each channel quality indication corresponds to one of the plurality of carriers;

report the plurality of channel quality indications to a serving base station; and

receive a communication in a superframe on a corresponding carrier of the plurality of carriers that satisfies a minimum quality of service required for the user terminal, wherein receiving the communication includes decoding the superframe with a plurality of Walsh codes.

31. A plurality of software instructions stored on a media that, upon execution by a base station, cause the base station to transmit communications to a plurality of user terminals on a plurality of carriers, the plurality of software instructions comprising:

a set of instructions executed by the base station that cause the base station to, for each of the plurality of carriers, receive channel quality indications from the plurality of user terminals;

a set of instructions executed by the base station that cause the base station to, based upon the channel quality indications received from the plurality of user terminals, for each of the plurality of carriers, determine a maximum data rate supportable for each of the user terminals;

a set of instructions executed by the base station that cause the base station to, based upon the maximum data rate supportable for each of the user terminals for each of the plurality of carriers, and a minimum quality of service required for each user terminal, allocate frames in a plurality of superframes corresponding to the plurality of carriers in a subsequent communication to the plurality of user terminals; and

a set of instructions executed by the base station that cause the base station to transmit the subsequent communication to the plurality of user terminals based upon the allocation of frames such that the plurality of superframes are transmitted on the plurality of carriers and are synchronized in time.

32. A plurality of software instructions stored on a media that, upon execution by a user terminal, cause the user terminal to wirelessly receive communications on a plurality of carriers, the plurality of software instructions comprising:

a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to receive a plurality of pilot signals, wherein each pilot signal corresponds to a carrier of the plurality of carriers;

a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to determine a plurality of channel quality indications, wherein each channel quality indication corresponds to one of the plurality of carriers;

a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to report the plurality of channel quality indications to a serving base station; and

a set of instructions executed by the user terminal that cause the user terminal to receive a communication in a superframe on on a corresponding carrier of the plurality of carriers that satisfies a minimum quality of service required for the user terminal, wherein receiving the communication includes decoding the superframe with a plurality of Walsh codes.