Determining wireless data rates capability for packet data communications

• US 7,911,966 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuo, Kotaro, Yoo, Doosun, Kim, Won Sik
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer; Temica M
• Application Number:
  US11/755,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20080298447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/252, 370/253, 370/230, 455/557, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate

Abstract

A wireless device, system, and method that determines data rate capability for communicating packet data is described. The wireless device comprises a RF component, a controller, and a means for enabling communications. The RF component is configured to communicate a plurality of packet data at a first data rate capability and a second data rate capability, in which the second data rate is faster than the first data rate. The controller is communicatively coupled to RF component, and the controller is configured to monitor a physical layer data field value, a forward traffic channel data field value, and a reverse traffic channel data field value. The physical layer data field value is associated with the physical transmission of packets from the RF component. The forward traffic channel data field value is associated with forward channel communications, and the reverse traffic channel data field value that is associated with reverse channel communications. The means for enabling communications at the second data rate capability occurs when the physical layer data field value, the forward traffic channel data field value, and the reverse traffic channel data field value indicate that communications are supported for the second data rate capability.

Claims

1. A wireless device that derives a data rate capability for communicating packet data, the wireless device comprising:

a RF component configured to communicate a plurality of packet data at a first data rate capability and a second data rate capability, in which the second data rate is faster than the first data rate;

a controller communicatively coupled to the RF component, the controller configured to monitor a physical layer data field value that is associated with the physical transmission of packets from the RF component, a forward traffic channel data field value that is associated with forward channel communications, a reverse traffic channel data field value that is associated with reverse channel communications;

a memory communicatively coupled to the controller, the memory configured to store the physical layer data field value, the forward traffic channel data field value, and the reverse traffic channel data field value; and

a means for enabling communications at the second data rate capability when the physical layer data field value, the forward traffic channel data field value, and the reverse traffic channel data field value indicate that communications are supported for the second data rate capability.

2. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein the forward traffic channel data field and the reverse traffic channel data field are associated with a media access control (MAC) layer.

3. The wireless device of claim 2 wherein the first data rate capability complies with the EVDO Revision 0 standard.

4. The wireless device of claim 3 wherein the second data rate capability complies with the EVDO Revision A standard.

5. The wireless device of claim 3 wherein the wireless device comprises a wireless handset configured to support voice communications.

6. The wireless device of claim 3 wherein the wireless device comprises a PC card that is configured to interface with a computer.

7. The wireless device of claim 5 further comprising a visual indicator disposed on the PC card that indicates the revision number used for packet data communications.

8. A wireless communication system that supports at least two different data rates capability for communicating packet data, the wireless communication system comprising:

a first base station configured to communicate a plurality of packet data at a first data rate capability;

a second base station configured to communicate the packet data at a second data rate capability, in which the second data rate capability is faster than the first data rate capability; and

a wireless device configured to communicate the packet data to the first base station and the second base station, the wireless device further comprises,

a RF component configured to communicate the packet data at the first data rate capability and the second data rate capability,

a controller communicatively coupled to the RF component, the controller configured to monitor a physical layer data field value that is associated with the physical transmission of packets from the RF component, a forward traffic channel data field value that is associated with forward channel communications, a reverse traffic channel data field value that is associated with reverse channel communications,

a memory communicatively coupled to the controller, the memory configured to store the physical layer data field value, the forward traffic channel data field value, and the reverse traffic channel data field value; and

a means for enabling communications at the second data rate capability when the physical layer data field value, the forward traffic channel data field value, and the reverse traffic channel data field value indicate that communications are supported for the second data rate capability.

9. The wireless system of claim 8 wherein the first data rate capability complies with the EVDO Revision 0 standard.

10. The wireless system of claim 9 wherein the second data rate capability complies with the EVDO Revision A standard.

11. The wireless system of claim 9 wherein the wireless device comprises a wireless handset configured to support voice communications.

12. The wireless system of claim 9 wherein the wireless devices comprises a PC card that is configured to interface with a computer.

13. The wireless system of claim 12 further comprising a visual indicator disposed on the PC card that indicates the revision number used for packet data communications.

14. A method for a wireless communication device to derive a data rate capability to communicate with a base station operatively coupled to a network system, the method comprising:

determining a physical layer data field value that is associated with a physical transmission of packets from a RF component, the physical layer data field value configured to distinguish between communicating a plurality of packet data at a first data rate capability and a second data rate capability, in which the second data rate is faster than the first data rate;

determining a forward traffic channel data field value that is associated with forward channel communications, the forward channel data field value configured to distinguish between the first data rate capability and the second data rate capability;

determining a reverse traffic channel data field value that is associated with reverse channel communications, the reverse channel data field value configured to distinguish between the first data rate capability and the second data rate capability; and

enabling communications at the second data rate capability when the physical layer data field value, the forward channel data field value, and the reverse channel data field value indicate that communications are supported for the second data rate capability.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the determining of the physical layer data field value, the forward traffic channel data field value, and the reverse traffic channel data field value further comprises negotiating the data fields values in a plurality of local coverage areas.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the forward traffic channel data field is associated with a media access control (MAC) layer.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the reverse traffic channel data field is associated with a media access control (MAC) layer.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the first data rate capability complies with the EVDO Revision 0 standard.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the second data rate capability complies with the EVDO Revision A standard.