Method and system to improve transmission and receipt of channel descriptors

• US 7,826,419 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wang, Huai Y., Simpson, Floyd D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Addy; Anthony S.
• Application Number:
  US11/412,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20070253362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 455/343.2, 455/343.3, 455/343.4, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/450, 455/466, 455/502, 455/503, 455/515, 455/516, 455/517, 455/69, 455/458, 455/464, 455/509, 455/522, 455/574, 370/311, 370/318, 370/477, 370/320, 370/322, 370/324, 370/329, 370/335, 370/338, 370/341, 370/342, 370348-350, 370/431, 370/441, 370/443, 370/445, 370/503, 370/509, 340 732- 738
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0027 Scheduling of signalling, e.g. occurrence thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0029 Reduction of the amount of signalling, e.g. retention of useful signalling or differential signalling power control H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0046 Determination of how many bits are transmitted on different sub-channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel

Abstract

The invention concerns a method (200) and system for improving transmission or receipt of channel descriptors. The method can include the steps of—in a wireless communication system (100) that periodically broadcasts regular channel descriptors (310) at a set interval (312)—changing (212) a modulation scheme and transmitting (216) one or more supplementary channel descriptors (314) during the set interval between regular channel descriptors. The method can also include the step of periodically transmitting (214) a channel descriptor count (412) that provides an indication of the changed modulation scheme.

Claims

1. A method for improving transmission or receipt of channel descriptors, comprising:

in a wireless communication system that periodically broadcasts regular channel descriptors at a set interval, changing a modulation and coding scheme; and

in response to changing the modulation and coding scheme, transmitting one or more supplementary channel descriptors during the set interval between regular channel descriptors, wherein the one or more supplementary channel descriptors contain less information than what is contained in the regular channel descriptors.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising periodically transmitting a channel descriptor count that provides an indication of the changed modulation and coding scheme.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the channel descriptor count is in a downlink map or an uplink map.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising periodically transmitting a pointer that identifies the arrival of one or more of the supplementary channel descriptors.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the pointer is a broadcast control pointer as set forth in the 802.16e standard.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information in the supplementary channel descriptors is information relating to the changed modulation and coding scheme.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the regular and supplementary channel descriptors are downlink channel descriptors or uplink channel descriptors.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the channel descriptor count is in a downlink map or an uplink map.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising using a pointer to determine the arrival of one or more of the supplementary channel descriptors.

10. A method for improving transmission or receipt of channel descriptors, comprising:

in a mobile station that periodically receives regular channel descriptors transmitted at a set interval, detecting a change in a modulation and coding;

scheme of a base station; and

in response to detecting the change in the modulation and coding scheme of the base station, receiving one or more supplementary channel descriptors during the set interval between regular channel descriptors, wherein the one or more supplementary channel descriptors contain less information than what is contained in the regular channel descriptors.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising detecting the change in the modulation and coding scheme through a channel descriptor count.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the regular and supplementary channel descriptors are downlink channel descriptors or uplink channel descriptors.

13. A base station that improves the transmission of channel descriptors, comprising:

a transmitter that periodically broadcasts regular channel descriptors at a set interval; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the transmitter, wherein the processor is programmed to change a modulation and coding scheme and in response to changing the modulation and coding scheme, the transmitter transmits one or more supplementary channel descriptors during the set interval between regular channel descriptors, wherein the one or more supplementary channel descriptors contain less information than what is contained in the regular channel descriptors.

14. The base station according to claim 13, wherein the transmitter periodically transmits a channel descriptor count that provides an indication of the changed modulation and coding scheme.

15. The base station according to claim 13, wherein the transmitter periodically transmits a pointer that identifies the arrival of one or more of the supplementary channel descriptors.

16. A mobile station, comprising:

a receiver that periodically receives from a base station regular channel descriptors transmitted at a set interval; and

a processor, wherein the processor is communicatively coupled to the receiver, wherein the processor is programmed to detect a change in a modulation and coding scheme of a base station and in response to detecting the change in the modulation and coding scheme, the receiver receives one or more supplementary channel descriptors during the set interval between regular channel descriptors, wherein the one or more supplementary channel descriptors contain less information than what is contained in the regular channel descriptors.

17. The mobile station according to claim 16, wherein the processor is further programmed to detect the change in the modulation and coding scheme through a channel descriptor count.

18. The mobile station according to claim 16, wherein the processor is further programmed to use a pointer to determine the arrival of one or more of the supplementary channel descriptors.