Method and system for adaptively obtaining bandwidth allocation requests
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of obtaining bandwidth requests from a plurality of users of a communication base station which provides communication uplink bandwidth on request to the users, where each user is an individual connection and the plurality of users is connected to the base station through one or more corresponding customer premise equipment (CPE) stations, the method comprising:
- selecting a communication parameter which varies over time;
determining and storing a parameter value representing the communication parameter applicable to a particular user;
selecting a polling rate for the particular user in accordance with the parameter value stored for that user;
periodically polling the particular user for bandwidth requests at the selected polling rate, wherein polling the particular user comprises directing the corresponding CPE station to grant un-requested bandwidth to the particular user connection;
updating the stored parameter value for the particular user to reflect a change in the communication parameter quantity applicable to the particular user; and
changing the polling rate for the particular user in response to the changed parameter value.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels. Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A method of obtaining bandwidth requests from a plurality of users of a communication base station which provides communication uplink bandwidth on request to the users, where each user is an individual connection and the plurality of users is connected to the base station through one or more corresponding customer premise equipment (CPE) stations, the method comprising:
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selecting a communication parameter which varies over time; determining and storing a parameter value representing the communication parameter applicable to a particular user; selecting a polling rate for the particular user in accordance with the parameter value stored for that user; periodically polling the particular user for bandwidth requests at the selected polling rate, wherein polling the particular user comprises directing the corresponding CPE station to grant un-requested bandwidth to the particular user connection; updating the stored parameter value for the particular user to reflect a change in the communication parameter quantity applicable to the particular user; and changing the polling rate for the particular user in response to the changed parameter value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of obtaining bandwidth requests from a plurality of users of a communication base station which provides communication uplink bandwidth on request to the users, the method comprising:
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assigning a first user to a first one of a plurality of polling categories; assigning a second user to a second one of the plurality of polling categories; selecting a polling rate for the first user in accordance with the polling category of that user; selecting a polling rate for the second user in accordance with the polling category of that user; periodically polling the first user for bandwidth requests at the selected polling rate; assigning the first user to a different polling category in response to a change in a communication status of the first user; changing the polling rate for the first user in accordance with the different polling category to which the user is assigned; and assigning the second user to a different polling category in response to a change in a communication status of the second user. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of obtaining bandwidth requests from a plurality of users of a communication base station which provides communication uplink bandwidth on request to the users, the method comprising:
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assigning a first plurality of the users to a first one of a plurality of polling groups; assigning a second plurality of the users to a second one of the plurality of polling groups; selecting a polling rate for the first plurality of users assigned to the first polling group in accordance with a communication parameter associated with the group; selecting a polling rate for the second plurality of users assigned to the second polling group in accordance with a communication parameter associated with the group; periodically polling the users of the particular polling group for bandwidth requests at the selected polling rate; and selecting a different polling rate for the users in a particular group in accordance with a change in the communication parameter associated with the group. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A system for obtaining user uplink bandwidth requests in a communication station providing varying uplink bandwidth to a plurality of users which share a communication link to the station, the system comprising:
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a polling policy module configured to obtain values of a first selected communication parameter which vary over time for a particular user, and to change a polling protocol for the user in response to a change in the value of the communication parameter; a polling control module configured to direct polling of the particular user in accordance with the changed polling protocol; a channel bandwidth allocation module configured to direct an allocation of uplink bandwidth to the user in accordance with the polling directed for the particular user; and a bandwidth request processing module configured to derive uplink bandwidth requests from received uplink data, and to direct the channel bandwidth allocation module to allocate bandwidth to requesting users in corresponding uplink subframe maps. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A system for obtaining bandwidth requests from a plurality of users of a communication base station which provides communication uplink bandwidth on request to the users, the system comprising:
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a channel bandwidth allocation module configured to direct provision of unrequested bandwidth to the particular user in accordance with a selected polling rate; and a polling policy module configured to; assign each user to one of a plurality of polling categories based at least in part upon a value of a selected communication parameter applicable to the particular user such that at least one user is assigned to one polling category and another user is assigned to a different polling category, select a polling rate for each user in accordance with the polling category of that user, change the polling category of individual users in response to a change in a communication status of the particular user, and change the polling rate for the particular user in accordance with the different polling category to which the user is assigned. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification