Method and apparatus for allocating communication resources to communicate data in a radio communication system

• US 7,885,215 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Pecen, Mark, Simmons, Sean, Lazaridis, Mihal
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard; Patrick N
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, JULIO R
• Application Number:
  US11/272,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20070104175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/321, 370/329, 370/331, 370/337, 370/338, 370/347, 370/348, 370/339, 370/462, 370/459, 455/450, 455/455, 455/452, 455/512
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2621 using frequency division multiple access [FDMA] H04B7/2615 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality

Abstract

Apparatus and method for allocating communication resources in a data radio communication system, such as an MAIO (Mobile Allocation Index Offset) communication system, e.g., a communication system that provides for Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) data services. A multi-carrier radio resource control logic element includes an analyzer that analyzes communication resource requirements to carry out a communication service. A resource allocator allocates communication resources to be used by which to communicate the data. The communication resources are allocated across a plurality of radio carriers such that resources are allocated, during a particular time period, upon a single radio carrier of the plurality of radio carriers.

Claims

1. Apparatus for a first communication station operable to communicate data in a communication scheme that provides for mobile allocation index offset, said apparatus comprising:

an analyzer adapted to receive an indication of a characteristic of the data that is to be communicated by the first communication station, said analyzer configured to analyze communication requirements required for communication of the data so that the data can be transmitted in a series of time division multiple access (TDMA) frames and to determine needed resources in a manner that permits dynamic resource allocation;

a resource allocator adapted to receive an indication of the analysis made by said analyzer, said resource allocator configured to allocate resources defined in terms of mobile allocation index offsets as a function of both resource availability and communication-station compatibility such that, for any time period within a TDMA frame, resources are allocated upon a single one of the mobile allocation index offsets; and

an allocation message generator adapted to receive an indication of the allocation made by said resource allocator, said allocation message generator configured to generate an allocation message identifying the allocation made by said resource allocator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said resource allocator is further adapted to receive an indication of selection of single mobile allocation index offset per time period operation by which to communicate the data, the resources allocated by said resource allocator further responsive to the indication of the selection of the single mobile allocation index offset per time period operation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the indication of the selection of the single mobile allocation index offset per time period operation is formed at the first communication station.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the indication of the selection of the single mobile allocation index offset per time period is formed external to the first communication station and delivered thereto.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first communication station is operable to communicate with a second communication station, and wherein the indication of the selection of the single mobile allocation index offset per time period operation is provided to the first communication station by the second communication station.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first communication station comprises a radio part having radio elements operable at a plurality of radio carriers across which said resource allocator allocates the resources.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said resource allocator is further configured to generate a radio part control message for application to the radio elements of the radio part to control operation thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the radio part control message causes individual ones of the radio elements to be operable at least during periods corresponding to time periods during which the individual ones of the radio carriers are allocated for communication.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first communication station comprises a baseband part and wherein said resource allocator is further configured to generate a baseband part control message for application to the baseband part to control operation pursuant to allocations made by said resource allocator.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the baseband part control message causes the baseband part to be operable at least during periods corresponding to time periods during which communication resources are allocated upon any of the plurality of radio carriers.

11. An apparatus for a mobile communication station operable pursuant to communication of data in a communication scheme that provides for mobile allocation index offset, said apparatus comprising:

a detector configured to detect an allocation message delivered to the mobile communication station, the allocation message identifying communication resources allocated to the mobile communication station pursuant to the communication of the data, the communication resources allocated to the mobile communication station as a consequence of analysis of communication requirements required for communication of the data so that the data can be transmitted in a series of time division multiple access (TDMA) frames and determination of needed resources in a manner that permits dynamic resource allocation and the resources defined in terms of mobile allocation index offsets as a function of both resource availability and mobile communication-station capability such that, for any time period within the time division multiple access (TDMA) frame, resources are allocated upon a single one of the mobile allocation index offsets; and

a controller adapted to receive an indication of detections made by said detector, said controller configured to control operation of the mobile communication station responsive to the detections made by said detector.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the mobile communication station capability comprises a radio part having radio elements operable at the plurality of radio carriers across which communication resources are identified in the allocation message detected by said detector.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said controller is further configured to generate a radio part control message for application to the radio part to control operation thereof responsive to allocations identified in the allocation message.

14. A method for communicating in a communication scheme that provides for mobile allocation index offset, said method comprising the operations of:

analyzing, at a network part, communication requirements required for communication of data responsive to an indication of a characteristic of the data to transmit data in a series of time division multiple access (TDMA) frames and to determine needed resources in a manner that permits dynamic resource allocation;

allocating, at the network part and responsive to analysis made during said operation of analyzing, resources across a plurality of mobile allocation index offsets as a function of both resource availability and communication-station capability such that, for any particular time period within a time division multiple access (TDMA) frame, resources are allocated upon a single one of the mobile allocation index offsets, the allocation of resources being made on a periodic basis; and

generating an allocation message identifying the allocation made during said operation of allocating.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the operations of:

sending said generated allocation message from a first communication station to a second communication station; and

using the allocation message at the second communication station to control operation thereof pursuant to communication of the data across the plurality of radio carriers allocated during said operation of allocating.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said operation of using comprises applying radio part control messages to radio elements of the second communication station, the radio part control messages causing operation of the radio elements to permit reception of the data communicated by way of the communication resources allocated during said operation of allocating.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein allocations of the resources made during said operation of allocating are further responsive to reaction times required of operation of the radio elements of the radio part.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the reaction times comprise time periods required of the radio elements to tune to a radio carrier of the plurality of radio carriers.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein resources allocated during said operation of allocating are further responsive to non-communication measurement requirements required of at least one of the first and second communication stations, respectively.

20. Apparatus for a first communication station operable to communicate data in a communication scheme that provides for mobile allocation index offset, said apparatus comprising:

an analyzer adapted to receive an indication of a characteristic of the data that is to be communicated by the first communication station, said analyzer configured to analyze communication requirements required for communication of the data so that the data can be transmitted in a series of time division multiple access (TDMA) frames and to determine needed resources in a manner that permits dynamic resource allocation; and

a resource allocator adapted to receive an indication of the analysis made by said analyzer, said resource allocator configured to allocate resources defined in terms of mobile allocation index offsets as a function of both resource availability and communication-station compatibility such that, for any time period within a TDMA frame, resources are allocated upon a single one of the mobile allocation index offsets and said resource allocator further adapted to receive an indication of selection of a single mobile allocation index offset per time period operation by which to communicate the data, said indication of the selection of the single mobile allocation index offset per time period being formed external to the first communication station and delivered thereto, the resources allocated by said resource allocator further responsive to the indication of the selection of the single mobile allocation index offset per time period operation, wherein the first communication station is operable to communicate with a second communication station, and wherein the indication of the selection of the single mobile allocation index offset per time period operation is provided to the first communication station by the second communication station.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising an allocation message generator adapted to receive an indication of the allocation made by said resource allocator, said allocation message generator configured to generate an allocation message identifying the allocation made by said resource allocator.