Integrated, self-optimizing, multi-parameter/multi-variable point-to-multipoint communication system [II]

• US 7,366,133 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Bank of Intellectual Property, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Aperto Networks
• Inventors: Varma, Subir, Hakim, Joseph, Majidi-Ahy, Reza
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, PRENELL P
• Application Number:
  US09/620,826
• Time in Patent Office: 2,839 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/448, 370/338, 370/318, 370/346, 370/469, 370/252, 370/470, 370/465, 370/358, 370/535, 370/320, 370/229, 370/352, 370389-401, 370/477, 370/341, 370/230, 370/235, 370/347, 370/321, 370/349, 370/345, 370/231, 370/466, 370/392, 370/437, 370/441, 370/328, 455/436, 455/502, 455/69, 455/277.2, 455/67, 455/560, 455/453, 455/115.1, 455/4, 455/456, 455/562.1, 455/278, 455/296, 455/63, 455/452, 206/13, 200/28, 309565-569, 309/708, 709/230, 709/224, 709/227, 709/206, 709/241, 375/241, 375/347, 375/345, 375/130, 375/256, 375/296, 375/152, 342/378, 714/774, 714/38, 700/54, 379/93.24
• US Class Current: 370/329
• 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 1/1825 Adaptation of specific ARQ protocol parameters according to transmission conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint

Abstract

A method and system for adaptive point to multipoint wireless communication. The method and system integrate adaptive and dynamic responsiveness for communication parameters related to multiple characteristics of wireless communication links, both for a single sender and a single receiver, and for sets of multiple senders and multiple receivers. Moreover, the method and system are self-optimizing in the sense that they are adaptively and dynamically responsive to results of attempts to optimize parameters related to multiple characteristics of wireless communication links. Multiple characteristics of wireless communication links are optimized simultaneously, in that the optimal set of values for a plurality of N characteristics, rather fan N individual optimal values for each characteristic, is adaptively and dynamically selected.

Claims

1. A method, including

determining a first set of values for at least one parameter in a communication system, said parameters being associated with a plurality of layers of an OSI model communication system;

communicating over said communication system responsive to said first set of values;

obtaining characteristics of said communication system in response to said first set of values;

determining a second set of values for said at least one parameter by adjusting a plurality of said first set of values in conjunction in response to said characteristics; and

communicating over said communication system responsive to said second set of values;

wherein said adjusting includes adaptively calculating a newer set of said values for said communication system in response to a combination of an older set of said values and an adjusted set of said values.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said parameters includes at least one of:

a payload element size, a message size value, a set of acknowledgment and retransmission values, a TDD duty cycle value.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said at least one parameter includes at least two of:

an antenna selection value, a power level value, a channel selection value, a modulation type value, a symbol rate value, an error code type value, a set of equalization values.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said communication system includes a plurality of distinguishable channels, said channels being distinguished using at least one of:

frequency division, time division, space division, spread spectrum code division.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said communication system includes a plurality of distinguishable channels, said channels being distinguished using at least two of:

frequency division, time division, space division, spread spectrum code division.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein said communication system includes a wireless communication link.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein said communication system is subject to at least one of:

interference effects, multipath effects, both interference effects and multipath effects.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of layers include at least one of:

a physical layer, a media access layer, a network layer, a transport layer, an application layer.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein said combination is responsive to a hysteresis parameter.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein said adjusting is responsive to a type of protocol being used by at least one of the group:

a physical layer, a media access layer, a network layer, a transport layer, an application layer.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein said adjusting is responsive to whether an application layer protocol includes asymmetric transfer of information.

13. A method as in claim 11, wherein said adjusting is responsive to whether an application layer protocol includes voice or video information.

2. A method, including

determining a first set of values for at least one parameter in a communication system, said parameters being associated with a plurality of layers of an OSI model communication system;

communicating over said communication system responsive to said first set of values;

obtaining characteristics of said communication system in response to said first set of values;

determining a second set of values for said at least one parameter by adjusting a plurality of said first set of values in conjunction in response to said characteristics; and

communicating over said communication system responsive to said second set of values;

wherein said adjusting includes dynamically selecting said second set of values in response to said characteristics, said second set of values including at least two changes to said at least one parameter, said second set of values having been determined to be superior to a set of altered values having only one change to said parameters.

14. A method, including

optimizing a plurality of communication parameters in a point-to-multipoint communication system, said optimization including time-varying adjustment of said plurality of communication parameters for a set of independent communication channels in said communication system, said time-varying adjustment being responsive to at least one of statistical or time-varying aspects of each independent communication channel of said set of independent communication channels;

and

communicating in said point-to-multiplout communication system using said communication parameters that have been optimized;

wherein said time-varying adjustment is independent with regard to each said independent communication channel;

wherein said communication parameters are effective to alter aspects of each said independent communication channel with regard to frequency-variation, spatial-variation, or time-variation of each said independent communication channel; and

wherein said time-varying adjustment is operative to simultaneously adjust multiple ones of said plurality of communication parameters in an integrated manner so as to obtain an optimal set of said communication parameters.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein said communication parameters include antenna allocation, power allocation, channel allocation, modulation allocation, rate allocation, error code allocation, equalization parameter allocation, payload size allocation, ARQ allocation, or TDD framing allocation.

16. A method as in claim 14, wherein said optimizing includes adjusting a plurality of said parameters;

whereby an effect of adjusting one of said parameters is maximized.

17. A method as in claim 14, wherein said optimizing includes adjusting a plurality of said parameters;

whereby an effect of adjusting said parameters includes a decrease in intersymbol interference, intrasymbol interference, or transmission latency.

18. A method as in claim 14, wherein said optimizing includes selecting a set of limits for capacity and coverage of a communication system, said communication system including a base station controller and at least one customer premises equipment.

19. A method as in claim 14, wherein said optimizing includes selection with regard to optimal performance for each one of a plurality of individual communication links, in response to separate conditions for each said individual communication links, said conditions including interference conditions, multipath conditions, or combinations of interference conditions and multipath conditions.

20. A method as in claim 14, wherein said optimizing is responsive, for individual communication links, to optimal performance using an uplink path and a downlink path, said uplink path and said downlink path being operative in a duplex communication system having a base station controller and customer premises equipment.

21. A method as in claim 14, wherein said optimizing is responsive, for individual communication links, to time-bounded services, voice application services, or video application services.

22. A method as in claim 14, wherein said plurality of communication parameters include at least one MAC layer parameter, said at least one MAC layer parameter including payload size allocation, ARQ allocation, or TDD framing allocation.

23. A method as in claim 14, wherein said plurality of communication parameters include at least one physical layer parameter, said at least one physical layer parameter including antenna location, power allocation, channel allocation, modulation allocation, rate allocation, error coding, or equalization parameters.

27. A method as in claim 14, wherein said time-varying adjustment is responsive to at least one of:

intersymbol interference, intrasymbol interference, fading.

24. A method including

optimizing a plurality of communication parameters in a point-to-multipoint communication system, said optimization including time-varying adjustment of said plurality of communication parameters for a set of independent communication channels in said communication system, said time-varying adjustment being responsive to at least one of statistical or time-varying aspects of each independent communication channel of said set of independent communication channels;

and

communicating in said point-to-multiplout communication system using said communication parameters that have been optimized;

wherein said time-varying adjustment is independent with regard to each said independent communication channel;

wherein said communication parameters are effective to alter aspects of each said independent communication channel with regard to frequency-variation, spatial-variation, or time-variation of each said independent communication channel; and

wherein said time-varying adjustment is responsive to a set of quality of service application requirements.

25. A method including

optimizing a plurality of communication parameters in a point-to-multipoint communication system, said optimization including time-varying adjustment of said plurality of communication parameters for a set of independent communication channels in said communication system, said time-varying adjustment being responsive to at least one of statistical or time-varying aspects of each independent communication channel of said set of independent communication channels;

and

communicating in said point-to-multiplout communication system using said communication parameters that have been optimized;

wherein said time-varying adjustment is independent with regard to each said independent communication channel;

wherein said communication parameters are effective to alter aspects of each said independent communication channel with regard to frequency-variation, spatial-variation, or time-variation of each said independent communication channel; and

wherein said time-varying adjustment is responsive to a set of time delays or time variations for application service latency.

26. A method including

optimizing a plurality of communication parameters in a point-to-multipoint communication system, said optimization including time-varying adjustment of said plurality of communication parameters for a set of independent communication channels in said communication system, said time-varying adjustment being responsive to at least one of statistical or time-varying aspects of each independent communication channel of said set of independent communication channels;

and

communicating in said point-to-multiplout communication system using said communication parameters that have been optimized;

wherein said time-varying adjustment is independent with regard to each said independent communication channel;

wherein said communication parameters are effective to alter aspects of each said independent communication channel with regard to frequency-variation, spatial-variation, or time-variation of each said independent communication channel; and

wherein said time-varying adjustment for at least one of said independent communication channels is responsive to a type of application service provided over that said independent communication channel.

28. A device, comprising:

wireless communication equipment for a communication system;

a processor that executes instructions to control communication over said communication system; and

memory that stores information including said instructions, the instructions including the steps of;

(a) determining a first set of values for at least one parameter in said communication system, said parameters being associated with a plurality of layers of an OSI model communication system, (b) communicating over said communication system responsive to said first set of values, (c) obtaining characteristics of said communication system in response to said first set of values, (d) determining a second set of values for said at least one parameter by adjusting a plurality of said first set of values in conjunction in response to said characteristics, and (e) communicating over said communication system responsive to said second set of values;

wherein said adjusting includes adaptively calculating a newer set of said values for said communication system in response to a combination of an older set of said values and an adjusted set of said values.

33. A device as in claim 28, wherein said communication system includes a plurality of distinguishable channels, said channels being distinguished using at least two of:

frequency division, time division, space division, spread spectrum code division.

34. A device as in claim 28, wherein said communication system includes a wireless communication link.

35. A device as in claim 28, wherein said communication system is subject to at least one of:

interference effects, multipath effects, both interference effects and multipath effects.

36. A device as in claim 28, wherein said plurality of layers include at least one of:

a physical layer, a media access layer, a network layer, a transport layer, an application layer.

37. A device as in claim 28, wherein said combination is responsive to a hysteresis parameter.

38. A device as in claim 28, wherein said adjusting is responsive to a type of protocol being used by at least one of the group:

a physical layer, a media access layer, a network layer, a transport layer, an application layer.

39. A device as in claim 38, wherein said adjusting is responsive to whether an application layer protocol includes asymmetric transfer of information.

40. A device as in claim 38, wherein said adjusting is responsive to whether an application layer protocol includes voice or video information.

29. A device, comprising:

wireless communication equipment for a communication system;

a processor that executes instructions to control communication over said communication system; and

memory that stores information including said instructions, the instructions including the steps of;

(a) determining a first set of values for at least one parameter in said communication system, said parameters being associated with a plurality of layers of an OSI model communication system, (b) communicating over said communication system responsive to said first set of values, (c) obtaining characteristics of said communication system in response to said first set of values, (d) determining a second set of values for said at least one parameter by adjusting a plurality of said first set of values in conjunction in response to said characteristics, and (e) communicating over said communication system responsive to said second set of values;

wherein said adjusting includes dynamically selecting said second set of values in response to said characteristics, said second set of values including at least two changes to said at least one parameter, said second set of values having been determined to be superior to a set of altered values having only one change to said parameters.

30. A device as in claim 29, wherein said parameters includes at least one of:

a payload element size, a message size value, a set of acknowledgment and retransmission values, a TDD duty cycle value.

31. A device as in claim 29, wherein said at least one parameter includes at least two of:

an antenna selection value, a power level value, a channel selection value, a modulation type value, a symbol rate value, an error code type value, a set of equalization values.

32. A device as in claim 29, wherein said communication system includes a plurality of distinguishable channels, said channels being distinguished using at least one of:

frequency division, time division, space division, spread spectrum code division.

41. A device, comprising:

wireless communication equipment for a point-to-multipoint communication system;

a processor that executes instructions to control communication over said communication system; and

memory that stores information including said instructions, the instructions including the steps of optimizing a plurality of communication parameters in said communication system, said optimization including time-varying adjustment of said plurality of communication parameters for a set of independent communication channels in said communication system, said time-varying adjustment being responsive to at least one of statistical or time-varying aspects of each independent communication channel of said set of independent communication channels;

wherein said time-varying adjustment is independent with regard to each said independent communication channel;

wherein said communication parameters are effective to alter aspects of each said independent communication channel with regard to frequency-variation, spatial-variation, or time-variation of each said independent communication channel;

wherein said time-varying adjustment is operative to simultaneously adjust multiple ones of said plurality of communication parameters in an integrated manner so as to obtain an optimal set of said communication parameters; and

wherein said optimizing includes selecting a set of limits for capacity and coverage of a communication system, said communication system including a base station controller and at least one customer premises equipment.

42. A device as in claim 41, wherein said communication parameters include antenna allocation, power allocation, channel allocation, modulation allocation, rate allocation, error code allocation, equalization parameter allocation, payload size allocation, ARQ allocation, or TDD framing allocation.

43. A device as in claim 41, wherein said optimizing includes adjusting a plurality of said parameters;

whereby an effect of adjusting one of said parameters is maximized.

44. A device as in claim 41, wherein said optimizing includes adjusting a plurality of said parameters;

whereby an effect of adjusting said parameters includes a decrease in intersymbol interference, intrasymbol interference, or transmission latency.

45. A device, comprising:

wireless communication equipment for a point-to-multipoint communication system;

a processor that executes instructions to control communication over said communication system; and

memory that stores information including said instructions, the instructions including the steps of optimizing a plurality of communication parameters in said communication system, said optimization including time-varying adjustment of said plurality of communication parameters for a set of independent communication channels in said communication system, said time-varying adjustment being responsive to at least one of statistical or time-varying aspects of each independent communication channel of said set of independent communication channels;

wherein said time-varying adjustment is independent with regard to each said independent communication channel;

wherein said communication parameters are effective to alter aspects of each said independent communication channel with regard to frequency-variation, spatial-variation, or time-variation of each said independent communication channel;

wherein said time-varying adjustment is operative to simultaneously adjust multiple ones of said plurality of communication parameters in an integrated manner so as to obtain an optimal set of said communication parameters; and

wherein said optimizing includes selection with regard to optimal performance for each one of a plurality of individual communication links, in response to separate conditions for each said individual communication links, said conditions including interference conditions, multipath conditions, or combinations of interference conditions and multipath conditions.

46. A device as in claim 45, wherein said optimizing is responsive, for individual communication links, to optimal performance using an uplink path and a downlink path, said uplink path and said downlink path being operative in a duplex communication system having a base station controller and customer premises equipment.

47. A device as in claim 45, wherein said optimizing is responsive, for individual communication links, to time-bounded services, voice application services, or video application services.

48. A device as in claim 45, wherein said plurality of communication parameters include at least one MAC layer parameter, said at least one MAC layer parameter including payload size allocation, ARQ allocation, or TDD framing allocation.

49. A device as in claim 45, wherein said plurality of communication parameters include at least one physical layer parameter, said at least one physical layer parameter including antenna location, power allocation, channel allocation, modulation allocation, rate allocation, error coding, or equalization parameters.

50. A device, comprising:

wireless communication equipment for a point-to-multipoint communication system;

a processor that executes instructions to control communication over said communication system; and

memory that stores information including said instructions, the instructions including the steps of optimizing a plurality of communication parameters in said communication system, said optimization including time-varying adjustment of said plurality of communication parameters for a set of independent communication channels in said communication system, said time-varying adjustment being responsive to at least one of statistical or time-varying aspects of each independent communication channel of said set of independent communication channels;

wherein said time-varying adjustment is independent with regard to each said independent communication channel;

wherein said communication parameters are effective to alter aspects of each said independent communication channel with regard to frequency-variation, spatial-variation, or time-variation of each said independent communication channel; and

wherein said time-varying adjustment is responsive to a set of quality of service application requirements.

51. A device, comprising:

wireless communication equipment for a point-to-multipoint communication system;

a processor that executes instructions to control communication over said communication system; and

memory that stores information including said instructions, the instructions including the steps of optimizing a plurality of communication parameters in said communication system, said optimization including time-varying adjustment of said plurality of communication parameters for a set of independent communication channels in said communication system, said time-varying adjustment being responsive to at least one of statistical or time-varying aspects of each independent communication channel of said set of independent communication channels;

wherein said time-varying adjustment is independent with regard to each said independent communication channel;

wherein said communication parameters are effective to alter aspects of each said independent communication channel with regard to frequency-variation, spatial-variation, or time-variation of each said independent communication channel; and

wherein said time-varying adjustment is responsive to a set of time delays or time variations for application service latency.

52. A device, comprising:

wireless communication equipment for a point-to-multipoint communication system;

a processor that executes instructions to control communication over said communication system; and

memory that stores information including said instructions, the instructions including the steps of optimizing a plurality of communication parameters in said communication system, said optimization including time-varying adjustment of said plurality of communication parameters for a set of independent communication channels in said communication system, said time-varying adjustment being responsive to at least one of statistical or time-varying aspects of each independent communication channel of said set of independent communication channels;

wherein said time-varying adjustment is independent with regard to each said independent communication channel;

wherein said communication parameters are effective to alter aspects of each said independent communication channel with regard to frequency-variation, spatial-variation, or time-variation of each said independent communication channel; and

wherein said time-varying adjustment for at least one of said independent communication channels is responsive to a type of application service provided over that said independent communication channel.