Methods and systems for transmission of multiple modulated signals over wireless networks
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A base station for communication with a plurality of subscriber units connected in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising:
- a transmitter for transmitting downlink (DL) traffic to subscriber units; and
one or more processors having a media access control (MAC) module configured todetect a bandwidth request in uplink (UL) data received from a subscriber unit and identify in the bandwidth request a requested amount of UL bandwidth pertaining to a UL queue established at the subscriber unit;
determine if the requested amount of bandwidth is available; and
allocate to the subscriber unit an UL bandwidth grant based on the requested amount and the bandwidth available for UL data, wherein the UL bandwidth grant is allocated to the subscriber unit for distribution, without any control from the base station, between the connections established at the subscriber unit.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The inventive method and apparatus includes a combination of techniques that allow a plurality of CPEs to communicate their bandwidth request messages to respective base stations. One technique includes a “polling” method whereby a base station polls CPEs individually or in groups and allocates bandwidth specifically for the purpose of allowing the CPEs to respond with bandwidth requests. The polling of the CPEs by the base station may be in response to a CPE setting a “poll-me bit” or, alternatively, it may be periodic. Another technique comprises “piggybacking” bandwidth requests on bandwidth already allocated to a CPE. In accordance with this technique, currently active CPEs request bandwidth using previously unused portions of uplink bandwidth that is already allocated to the CPE. The CPE is responsible for distributing the allocated uplink bandwidth in a manner that accommodates the services provided by the CPE. By using a combination of bandwidth allocation techniques, the present invention advantageously makes use of the efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A base station for communication with a plurality of subscriber units connected in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting downlink (DL) traffic to subscriber units; and one or more processors having a media access control (MAC) module configured to detect a bandwidth request in uplink (UL) data received from a subscriber unit and identify in the bandwidth request a requested amount of UL bandwidth pertaining to a UL queue established at the subscriber unit; determine if the requested amount of bandwidth is available; and allocate to the subscriber unit an UL bandwidth grant based on the requested amount and the bandwidth available for UL data, wherein the UL bandwidth grant is allocated to the subscriber unit for distribution, without any control from the base station, between the connections established at the subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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7. A base station for communication with a plurality of subscriber units connected in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting downlink (DL) traffic to subscriber units; a receiver for receiving uplink (UL) traffic from the subscriber units; and one or more processors having a media access control (MAC) module configured to detect a bandwidth request in UL data received from a subscriber unit and identify in the bandwidth request a requested amount of UL bandwidth pertaining to a UL queue established at the subscriber unit; determine if the requested amount of bandwidth is available; allocate to the subscriber unit an UL bandwidth grant based on the requested amount and the bandwidth available for UL data, wherein the UL bandwidth grant is allocated to the subscriber unit for distribution between the connections established at the subscriber unit, without any control from the base station; and a memory for storing a logical view of UL queues maintained by the subscriber unit, the queues being maintained based on the bandwidth requests received from the subscriber unit.
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12. A base station for communication with a plurality of subscriber units connected in a wireless communication system, comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting downlink (DL) data to subscriber units; one or more processors; a low level media access arbiter (LL-MAA) on the one or more processors controlling bandwidth allocation between a group of subscriber units sharing a communication link, by allocating an amount of uplink (UL) bandwidth to a subscriber unit on request; and a high layer media access arbiter (HL-MAA) on the one or more processors, logically coupled with the LL-MAA process for controlling communication over a plurality of communication links, including the communication link to the subscriber unit, using a traffic shaping algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of allocating bandwidth to subscriber units from a base station operating in a wireless communication system, comprising:
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initiating a polling action by allocating an unrequested amount of UL bandwidth to a subscriber unit for enabling the subscriber unit to transmit a bandwidth request; detecting the bandwidth request in uplink (UL) data received from a subscriber unit; identifying in the bandwidth request a requested amount of UL bandwidth pertaining to one or more of a plurality of UL queues at the subscriber unit; determining if the requested amount of bandwidth is available; allocating to the subscriber unit an UL bandwidth grant based on the requested amount of bandwidth and the bandwidth available for the UL data, the UL bandwidth grant being for distribution between one or more connections by the subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification