System for uplink scheduling packet based data traffic in wireless system

• US 8,111,689 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Naim, Ghassan, Kakani, Naveen, Huovinen, Lasse, Clanton, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Toan D
• Application Number:
  US09/759,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20020093953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,039 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 370/341, 370/386, 370/412, 370/420, 370/468, 370/477, 370/342, 370/346, 455450-452, 455/560, 455/561, 455/446
• US Class Current: 370/386
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

A system for allocating bandwidth resources among various mobile stations which are wirelessly connected to a base station. The length of the data queue in each mobile station is determined and information regarding that length is placed in a field in the outgoing data packet. When it is received in the base station, this field is decoded and the queue length information used to allocate bandwidth resources among the mobile station connections. This allows a very quick response to data queue lengths and accordingly better service.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring a length of a data queue in a first network element as an indication of future need of communication resources in the first network element, wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring a coded value of the length of the data queue in the first network element, and wherein the coded value of the length of the data queue is embedded in a data block from the first network element;

determining, based at least in part on the coded value, whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate, allocating additional communications resources for a transmission between the first network element and a second network element based at least in part on the coded value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring further comprises monitoring information about a transmit buffer of the first network element.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring further comprises monitoring information on additional resources needed by said first network element.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first network element comprises a mobile station and the second network element comprises a base station of a wireless communication network.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring further comprises receiving data packets and wherein each of a plurality of the data packets comprises the indication of the length of the data queue.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring further comprises monitoring a countdown value of the data block for an indication of the length of the data queue.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in an instance in which it is determined that the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate:

determining an amount of additional bandwidth required to meet one or more of a delay or a rate requirement for data to be sent by the first network element; and

wherein allocating additional communications resources comprises allocating additional communication resources based at least in part on the determined amount of additional bandwidth.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the coded value is less than a predefined value in an instance in which the length of the data queue is less than the segment rate, and wherein the coded value is at least the predefined value in an instance in which the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate, and wherein determining whether the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate comprises comparing the coded value to the predefined value.

9. A system, comprising:

a plurality of first stations;

a second station connected to the plurality of first stations through a plurality of communication links; and

a controller configured to control allocation of the communication resources among the communication links, wherein

the controller is separate and independent from the first stations, said allocation is performed in accordance with information transmitted from each of the first stations, wherein the information from each of the first stations comprises a data block embedding a coded value of a length of a data queue in each of the first stations, and

the controller is configured to determine based at least in part on the coded value whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate and, in an instance in which it is determined that the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate, allocate additional communication resources for a communication link.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said controller is part of a base station.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of said first stations are configured to transmit a transmission comprising a plurality of data blocks, and wherein the coded value of the length of a data queue of one of the first stations is provided in each of said data blocks in the transmission associated with said one first station.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to cause the apparatus to at least;

control allocation of communication resources for a mobile station, wherein the allocation is based upon queue length information received from the mobile station that is embedded in a data block, and

use the queue length information as an indication of future need of communication resources for the mobile station, the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to use the queue length information and control allocation of communication resources at least in part by;

determining, based at least in part on the queue length information, whether the length of a data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate, allocating additional communications resources to the mobile station based at least in part on the queue length information.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to decode a code representative of the queue length information for the mobile station.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each of said data packets comprises said queue length information.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the code comprises information about a transmit buffer for the mobile station.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the code comprises information on the additional resources needed by the mobile station.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the apparatus to perform the allocation based on the queue length information included in a countdown value of the data block.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a memory storing computer program code, wherein the at memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

control allocation of communication resources for a mobile station, and

use the queue length information as an indication of future need of communication resources for the mobile station.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to cause the apparatus to at least;

encode a code representative of a length of a data queue embedded in a data block, wherein the code indicates whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate, and

cause transmission of data packets and said data block with said code included in the data block as a field to a network element, wherein

the length of the data queue is useable by the network element as an indication of future need of communication resources for the apparatus.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein each of said data packets comprises said code.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the code further comprises information about a transmit buffer for the apparatus.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the code further comprises information on additional resources needed by said apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to include the code representative of the queue length in a countdown value of the data block.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a memory storing computer program code, wherein the at memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

encode a code representative of a length of a data queue embedded in a data block, and

cause transmission of data packets and said data block with said code included in the data block as a field to a network element.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

decoder means for decoding a code representative of a length of a data queue in a mobile station, wherein the length of the data queue is embedded in a data block from the mobile station;

means for determining, based at least in part on the decoded code, whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate and

controller means for controlling allocation of communication resources, the controller means comprising means for, in an instance in which it is determined that the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate, allocating additional communications resources for the mobile station based at least in part on the code, and

the controller means is configured to use the information about the length of the data queue as an indication of future need of communication resources for the mobile station.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

data queue means for receiving data packets;

encoder means for encoding a code representative of a length a data queue, wherein the encoder means is configured to embed the length of the data queue in a data block, wherein the code indicates whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

transmitter means for transmitting said data packets and said data block to a network element, wherein

said code is included in the data block as a field, and

the length of the data queue is useable by the network element as an indication of future need of communication resources for the apparatus.

27. A method, comprising:

encoding a code representative of a length of a data queue in a first network element, wherein the length of the data queue is embedded in a data block and the data queue is configured to receive the data block, wherein the code indicates whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

causing transmission of data packets comprising a field comprising said code to a second network element, wherein

said code is useable when allocating communication resources for a transmission between the first network element and the second network element, and

the length of the data queue is useable by the second network element as an indication of future need of communication resources in the first network element.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the encoding of the code further comprises encoding information about a transmit buffer of the first network element.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the encoding of the code further comprises encoding information on additional resources needed by said first network element.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the first network element comprises a mobile station and the second network element comprises a base station of a wireless communication network.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the encoding further comprises encoding the code representative of the length of the data queue in a countdown value of the data block.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining whether the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate; and

wherein encoding the code comprises encoding the code based at least in part on the determination of whether the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein:

in an instance in which the length of the data queue is less than the segment rate, encoding the code comprises encoding a code having a value less than a predefined value; and

in an instance in which the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate, encoding the code comprises encoding a code having a value that is at least the predefined value.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the program configured to control a processor to perform a process, the process comprising:

monitoring a length of a data queue in a first network element as an indication of future need of communication resources in the first network element, wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring a coded value of the length of the data queue in the first network element, and wherein the length of the data queue is embedded in a data block from the first network element;

determining, based at least in part on the coded value, whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

allocating the communications resources for a transmission between the first network element and a second network element based at least in part on the coded value.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the program configured to control a processor to perform a process, the process comprising:

encoding a code representative of a length of a data queue in a first network element, wherein the data queue is configured to receive data, and wherein the length of the data queue is embedded in a data block from the first network element, wherein the code indicates whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

causing transmission of data packets comprising a field comprising said code to a second network element,

wherein

said code is useable when allocating communication resources for a transmission between the first network element and the second network element, and

the length of the data queue is useable by the second network element as an indication of future need of communication resources in the first network element.

36. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to cause the apparatus to at least;

monitor a length of a data queue in a first network element as an indication of future need of communication resources in the first network element, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to monitor the length of the data queue at least in part by monitoring a coded value of the length of the data queue in the first network element, and wherein the coded value of the length of the data queue is embedded in a data block from the first network element;

determine, based at least in part on the coded value, whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate, allocate additional communications resources for a transmission between the first network element and the apparatus based at least in part on the the coded value.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the apparatus to monitor information about a transmit buffer of the first network element.

38. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the apparatus to monitor information on additional resources needed by said first network element.

39. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the first network element comprises a mobile station and the apparatus comprises a base station of a wireless communication network.

40. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the apparatus to perform the monitoring by receiving data packets and wherein each of a plurality of the data packets comprises the coded value.

41. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to monitor a countdown value of the data block for the indication of the length of the data queue.

42. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a memory storing computer program code, wherein the at memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

monitor a length of a data queue in a first network element as an indication of future need of communication resources in the first network element, and

allocate the communications resources for a transmission between the first network element and the apparatus.

43. An apparatus, comprising:

monitoring means for monitoring a length of a data queue in a first network element as an indication of future need of communication resources in the first network element, wherein the monitoring means comprises means for monitoring a coded value of the length of the data queue in the first network element, and wherein the coded value is embedded in a data block from the first network element;

means for determining, based at least in part on the coded value, whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

allocating means for in an instance in which it is determined that the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate, allocating additional communications resources for a transmission between the first network element and the apparatus based at least in part on the coded value.

44. A method, comprising:

controlling allocation of communication resources for a mobile station by a controller, wherein the allocation is based upon queue length information received from the mobile station that is embedded in a data block; and

using, by the controller, the queue length information as an indication of future need of communication resources for the mobile station, wherein using the queue length information and controlling allocation of communication comprises;

determining, based at least in part on the queue length information, whether the length of a data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate, allocating additional communications resources to the mobile station based at least in part on the queue length information.

45. The method according to claim 44, further comprising:

decoding, by the controller, a code representative of the queue length information for the mobile station.

46. The method according to claim 45, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of data packets, wherein each of said data packets comprises said queue length information.

47. The method according to claim 45, wherein the decoding of the code comprises decoding information about a transmit buffer for the mobile station.

48. The method according to claim 45, wherein the decoding of the code further comprises decoding information on the additional resources needed by the mobile station.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein the controlling further comprises performing the allocation based on the queue length information included in a countdown value of the data block.

50. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the program configured to control a processor to perform a process, the process comprising:

controlling allocation of communication resources for a mobile station, wherein the allocation is based upon queue length information received from the mobile station that is embedded in a data block; and

using the queue length information as an indication of future need of communication resources for the mobile station, wherein using the queue length information and controlling allocation of communication comprises;

determining, based at least in part on the queue length information, whether the length of a data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate, allocating additional communications resources to the mobile station based at least in part on the queue length information.

51. An apparatus, comprising:

controlling means for controlling allocation of communication resources for a mobile station; and

allocating means for performing the allocation based upon queue length information received from the mobile station that is embedded in a data block, wherein

the allocating means is configured to use the queue length information as an indication of future need of communication resources for the mobile station by determining, based at least in part on the queue length information, whether a length of a data queue exceeds a segment rate, and, in an instance in which it is determined that the length of the data queue exceeds the segment rate, allocating additional communications resources to the mobile station based at least in part on the queue length information.

52. A method, comprising:

encoding a code representative of a length of a data queue embedded in a data block in a first network element, wherein the code indicates whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

causing transmission of data packets and said data block with said code included in the data block as a field to a second network element, wherein

the length of the data queue is useable by the second network element as an indication of future need of communication resources for the first network element.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein said causing transmission of said data packets comprises causing transmission of a plurality of data packets, and wherein each of said plurality of data packets comprises said code.

54. The method according to claim 52, wherein the encoding of the code further comprises encoding information about a transmit buffer for the first network element.

55. The method according to claim 52, wherein the encoding of the code further comprises encoding information on additional resources needed by said first network element.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein the encoding further comprises including the code representative of the queue length in a countdown value of the data block.

57. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the program configured to control a processor to perform a process, the process comprising:

encoding a code representative of a length of a data queue embedded in a data block by a first network element, wherein the code indicates whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

causing transmission of data packets and said data block with said code included in the data block as a field to a second network element, wherein

the length of the data queue is useable by the second network element as an indication of future need of communication resources for the first network element.

58. An apparatus, comprising:

encoding means for encoding a code representative of a length of a data queue embedded in a data block, wherein the code indicates whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

transmitting means for transmitting data packets and said data block with said code included in the data block as a field to a network element, wherein

the length of the data queue is useable by the network element as an indication of future need of communication resources for the apparatus.

59. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to cause the apparatus to at least;

encode a code representative of a length of a data queue in the apparatus, wherein the length of the data queue is embedded in a data block and the data queue is configured to receive the data block, wherein the code indicates whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate, and

cause transmission of data packets comprising a field comprising said code to a network element, wherein

said code is useable when allocating communication resources for a transmission between the apparatus and the network element, and

the length of the data queue is useable by the network element as an indication of future need of communication resources for the apparatus.

60. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein the code further comprises information about a transmit buffer of the apparatus.

61. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein the code further comprises information on additional resources needed by the apparatus.

62. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile station and the network element comprises a base station of a wireless communication network.

63. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to encode the code representative of the length of the data queue in a countdown value of the data block.

64. The apparatus of claim 59, further comprising a memory storing computer program code, wherein the at memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

encode a code representative of a length of a data queue in the apparatus, and cause transmission of data packets comprising a field comprising said code to a network element.

65. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the program configured to control a processor to perform a process, the process comprising:

encoding a code representative of a length of a data queue in a first network element, wherein the length of the data queue is embedded in a data block and the data queue is configured to receive the data block, wherein the code indicates whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

causing transmission of data packets comprising a field comprising said code to a second network element, wherein

said code is useable when allocating communication resources for a transmission between the first network element and the second network element, and

the length of the data queue is useable by the second network element as an indication of future need of communication resources for the first network element.

66. An apparatus, comprising:

encoding means for encoding a code representative of a length of a data queue in the apparatus, wherein the length of the data queue is embedded in a data block and the data queue is configured to receive the data block, wherein the code indicates whether the length of the data queue exceeds a segment rate; and

transmitting means for transmitting data packets comprising a field comprising said code to a network element, wherein

said code is useable when allocating communication resources for a transmission between the apparatus and the network element, and

the length of the data queue is useable by the network element as an indication of future need of communication resources for the apparatus.