Method and apparatus for predictive scheduling in a bi-directional communication system

• US 7,489,655 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Tao
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US09/900,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20030007466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,776 Days
• Field of Search: 370/331, 370/468, 370/329, 455/442
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/12 Outer and inner loops
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/535 based on resource usage policies

Abstract

Method and apparatus for predictive scheduling in a bi-directional communication system are disclosed. In a communication system (100), a control unit (218) has knowledge that a subscriber station (106) will have data to be transmitted at an ascertainable time in the future. The control unit in the communication system utilizes the knowledge to schedule the data transmission without the need for the subscriber station to transmit to request schedule for the transmission.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling transmission on a link in a communication system, comprising:

transmitting data on a first link in the communication system;

determining a transmission schedule to transmit data based on a forthcoming event for at least one subscriber station due for a transmission of the data, before the subscriber station sends a request for transmission; and

transmitting scheduling information on the first link in the communication system.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting scheduling information on the first link in the communication system comprises:

transmitting scheduling information together with said transmitted data on the first link in the communication system.

3. A method for scheduling transmission on a link in a communication system, comprising:

transmitting data on a first link in the communication system;

determining a transmission schedule to transmit data based on a forthcoming event for at least one subscriber station due for a transmission of the data, before the subscriber station sends a request for transmission; and

scheduling transmission on the link in the communication system in accordance with a reception of said transmitted data on the first link.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said scheduling transmission on the link in the communication system in accordance with a reception of said transmitted data on the first link comprises:

scheduling transmission on the link in the communication system at a first time instance delayed by a pre-determined amount from a time instance of the reception of said transmitted data on the first link.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

ascertaining the link capacity at a base station expecting said scheduled transmission on the link in the communication system in accordance with the reception of said transmitted data on the first link; and

transmitting, on the first link in the communication system, a change to at least one parameter of said scheduled transmission when said ascertained link capacity does not support said scheduled transmission.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said transmitting, on the first link in the communication system, a change to at least one parameter of said scheduled transmission when said ascertained link capacity does not support said scheduled transmission comprises:

transmitting, on the first link in the communication system, a change to at least one parameter of said scheduled transmission together with said transmitted data.

7. A method for scheduling transmission on a link in a communication system, comprising:

ascertaining the link capacity at a base station expecting a pre-scheduled transmission of data on the link wherein a transmission schedule to transmit the data is based on a forthcoming event of at least one subscriber station due for a transmission of the data, before the subscriber station sends a request for transmission; and

proceeding in accordance with said ascertained link capacity.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said proceeding comprises:

abstaining from transmitting scheduling information on a first link when said ascertained link capacity supports the pre-scheduled transmission of data.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting re-scheduling information on a first link when said ascertained link capacity does not support the pre-scheduled transmission of data.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said proceeding comprises:

transmitting, on the first link, authorization for the pre-scheduled transmission of data when said ascertained link capacity supports the pre-scheduled transmission of data.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting re-scheduling information on the first link when said ascertained link capacity does not support the pre-scheduled transmission of data.

12. An apparatus for scheduling transmission on a link in a communication system, comprising:

a transmitter;

a processor; and

a storage medium coupled to the processor and containing a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the transmitter to transmit data on a first link in the communication system, determine a transmission schedule to transmit data based on a forthcoming event for at least one subscriber station due for a transmission of the data, before the subscriber station sends a request for transmission, and cause the transmitter to transmit scheduling information on the first link in the communication system.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the transmitter to transmit data on a first link in the communication system comprises a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the transmitter to transmit the scheduling information together with the transmitted data on the first link in the communication system.

14. An apparatus for scheduling transmission on a link in a communication system, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit data on a first link in the communication system;

a processor; and

a storage medium coupled to the processor and containing a set of instructions executable by the processor to determine a transmission schedule to transmit data based on a forthcoming event for at least one subscriber station due for a transmission of the data, before the subscriber station sends a request for transmission, and to schedule transmission on the link in the communication system in accordance with a reception of the transmitted data on a first link.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the set of instructions executable by the processor to schedule transmission on the link in the communication system in accordance with a reception of the transmitted data on a first link comprises a set of instructions executable by the processor to schedule transmission on the link in the communication system at a time instance delayed by a pre-determined amount from a time instance of the reception of the transmitted data on the first link.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

a second processor; and

a second storage medium coupled to the second processor and containing a set of instructions executable by the second processor to ascertain the link capacity at a base station expecting the scheduled transmission on the link in the communication system in accordance with the reception of the transmitted data on the first link; and

cause the transmitter to transmit, on the first link in the communication system, a change to at least one parameter of the scheduled transmission when the ascertained link capacity does not support the scheduled transmission.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the set of instructions executable by the second processor to cause the transmitter to transmit, on the first link in the communication system, a change to at least one parameter of the scheduled transmission when the ascertained link capacity does not support the scheduled transmission comprises a set of instructions to cause the transmitter to transmit, on the first link in the communication system, a change to at least one parameter of the scheduled transmission together with the transmitted data.

18. An apparatus for scheduling transmission on a link in a communication system, comprising:

a processor;

a storage medium coupled to the processor and containing a set of instructions executable by the processor to ascertain the link capacity at a base station expecting transmission of a pre-scheduled data on the link wherein a transmission schedule to transmit the data based on a forthcoming event of at least one subscriber station due for a transmission of the data, before the subscriber station sends a request for transmission, and proceed in accordance with the ascertained link capacity.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a transmitter, wherein the set of instructions executable by the processor to proceed in accordance with the ascertained link capacity comprises a set of instructions executable by the processor to abstain from transmitting scheduling information on a first link when the ascertained link capacity supports the pre-scheduled transmission of data.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the set of instructions further comprises a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the transmitter to transmit re-scheduling information on the first link when the ascertained link capacity does not support the pre-scheduled transmission of data.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a transmitter, wherein the set of instructions executable by the processor to proceed in accordance with the ascertained link capacity comprises a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the transmitter to transmit authorization for the pre-scheduled transmission of data on a first link when the ascertained link capacity supports pre-scheduled transmission of data.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the set of instructions further comprises a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the transmitter to transmit re-scheduling information on the first link when the ascertained link capacity does not support the pre-scheduled transmission of data.

23. A apparatus for scheduling transmission on a link in a communication system, comprising:

means for ascertaining the link capacity at a base station expecting a pre-scheduled transmission of data on the link wherein a transmission schedule to transmit the data is based on a forthcoming event of at least one subscriber station due for a transmission of the data, before the subscriber station sends a request for transmission; and

means for proceeding in accordance with said ascertained link capacity.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

means for abstaining from transmitting scheduling information on a first link when said ascertained link capacity supports the pre-scheduled transmission of data.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 further comprising:

means for transmitting re-scheduling information on a first link when said ascertained link capacity does not support the pre-scheduled transmission of data.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said proceeding comprises:

means for transmitting, on the first link, authorization for the pre-scheduled transmission of data when said ascertained link capacity supports the pre-scheduled transmission of data.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26 further comprising:

means for transmitting re-scheduling information on the first link when said ascertained link capacity does not support the pre-scheduled transmission of data.