Multi-sector rate control
First Claim
1. In an access network, a method comprising:
- receiving into the access network over a wireless air interface from a given access terminal a data transmission request specifying at least a primary sector and a secondary sector;
in response to the received data transmission request, making a determination at the access network that (i) in the primary sector a threshold number of upcoming timeslots are currently scheduled for use to carry data to one or more other access terminals prior to any timeslot available to carry data to the given access terminal, and (ii) at least one timeslot is available in the secondary sector to carry data to the given access terminal sooner than the any timeslot available in the primary sector; and
in response at least to the determination, scheduling the at least one timeslot for use to transmit data from the access network to the given access terminal in the secondary sector.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved mechanism for managing allocation of air interface timeslots for transmission of data to access terminals. When an access terminal requests an access network to transmit data to the access terminal in a first sector, the access terminal will identify within its request a second sector that the access network can optionally use instead. The access network will then determine whether a threshold number of upcoming timeslots in the first sector are already scheduled to carry data to other access terminals and whether at least one of those timeslots is available for use in the second sector. If so, the access network will then responsively transmit the data to the access terminal in the at least one timeslot on the second sector. Advantageously, this process can help to increase sector throughput.
27 Citations
11 Claims
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1. In an access network, a method comprising:
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receiving into the access network over a wireless air interface from a given access terminal a data transmission request specifying at least a primary sector and a secondary sector; in response to the received data transmission request, making a determination at the access network that (i) in the primary sector a threshold number of upcoming timeslots are currently scheduled for use to carry data to one or more other access terminals prior to any timeslot available to carry data to the given access terminal, and (ii) at least one timeslot is available in the secondary sector to carry data to the given access terminal sooner than the any timeslot available in the primary sector; and in response at least to the determination, scheduling the at least one timeslot for use to transmit data from the access network to the given access terminal in the secondary sector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In an access network, a method comprising:
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receiving into the access network over a wireless air interface from a given access terminal a data transmission request specifying at least a primary sector and a secondary sector; in response to the received data transmission request, making a first determination at the access network of whether a threshold number of upcoming timeslots are scheduled for use to carry data to one or more other access terminals in the primary sector prior to any timeslot available in the primary sector to carry data to the given access terminal; in response at least to the first determination being negative, scheduling at least one timeslot of the upcoming timeslots for use to transmit data from the access network to the given access terminal in the primary sector; in response to the first determination being positive, making a second determination at the access network of whether at least one timeslot is available for use in the secondary sector to carry data to the given access terminal sooner than the any timeslot available in the primary sector; and in response at least to the second determination being positive, scheduling the at least one timeslot for use to transmit data from the access network to the given access terminal in the secondary sector. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. In an access network, a method comprising:
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receiving into the access network over a wireless air interface from a given access terminal a data transmission request specifying at least a primary sector, a secondary sector, and a tertiary sector; in response to the received data transmission request, making a first determination at the access network of whether a threshold number of upcoming timeslots are scheduled for use to carry data to one or more other access terminals in the primary sector prior to any timeslot available in the primary sector to carry data to the given access terminal; in response at least to the first determination being negative, scheduling at least one timeslot of the upcoming timeslots for use to transmit data from the access network to the given access terminal in the primary sector; in response to the first determination being positive, making a second determination at the access network of whether the threshold number of upcoming timeslots are scheduled for use to carry data to one or more other access terminals in the secondary sector prior to any timeslot available in the secondary sector to carry data to the given access terminal; and in response at least to the second determination being negative, scheduling at least one timeslot of the upcoming timeslots for use to transmit data from the access network to the given access terminal in the secondary sector. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification