Methods and systems for frequency and time division access

• US 8,130,739 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ayyagari, Deepak, Chan, Wai-Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAN, SAI MING
• Application Number:
  US12/684,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20100111096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 370/436, 370/230, 370/235, 370/395.41, 370/458, 370/468, 370/241
• US Class Current: 370/341
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0039 Frequency-contiguous, i.e. with no allocation of frequencies for one user or terminal between the frequencies allocated to another
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0041 Frequency-non-contiguous
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0046 Determination of how many bits are transmitted on different sub-channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for managing and allocating bandwidth in a communication medium. Some aspects relate to the determination of bit usage patterns for use in allocating bandwidth. Some aspects relate to the further determination of a derived usage pattern from the bit usage patterns and allocation of tone-slots within the derived usage pattern.

Claims

1. A method for partitioning bandwidth in a communication medium, said method comprising:

a) dividing bandwidth into a plurality of tone groups;

b) dividing said tone groups into time slots;

c) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said tone groups;

d) determining Basic Usage Patterns (BUPs) for a device pair with a BUP processor comprising a processor and a memory;

e) searching for BUP combinations that will provide sufficient bandwidth to fulfill a request for said device pair;

f) if said searching is successful,

i) calculating the number of BUP tone-slot units required to satisfy said request for each of said BUP combinations, when the tone groups are allocated in order of highest to lowest BLE,

ii) selecting a final BUP combination, from among said combinations, and

iii) allocating said final combination to said request;

g) if said searching for BUP combinations is not successful,

i) determining Derived Usage Patterns (DUPs) for said BUPs with a DUP processor comprising a processor and a memory;

ii) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said DUPs;

iii) searching for DUP combinations that will provide sufficient bandwidth to fulfill said request for said device pair;

iv) if said searching for DUP combinations is successful,

(1) calculating the number of DUP tone-slot units required to satisfy said request for each of said combinations, when the tone-slot units are allocated in order of highest to lowest BLE,

(2) selecting a final DUP combination, from among said DUP combinations;

(3) allocating said final DUP combination to said request.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said BUP tone slot units are allocated in order of highest to lowest BLE.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said DUP tone slot units are allocated in order of highest to lowest BLE.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said final BUP combination uses the lowest number of tone-slot units.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said final DUP combination uses the lowest number of tone-slot units.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said determining BUPs comprises identifying allocated and reserved areas in an initial tone-slot map and analyzing successive rows of a tone slot map to identify unique row patterns.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said determining DUPs comprises using all tone groups of BUPs with common available slots.

8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said determining DUPs comprises logically AND-ing a plurality of said BUPs.

9. A method for allocating bandwidth in a computer network, said method comprising:

a) receiving a request for bandwidth over a joint-frequency-and-time-divided medium, wherein said medium is divided into tone groups and time slots;

b) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said tone groups;

c) determining Basic Usage Patterns (BUPs) for said request with a BUP processor comprising a processor and a memory;

d) finding combinations of said BUPs;

e) calculating the number of tone-slot units required to satisfy said request, for each of said combinations;

f) selecting a final combination, from among said combinations; and

g) allocating said final combination to said request wherein said tone groups are allocated in order of highest to lowest BLE.

10. A method for allocating bandwidth in a computer network, said method comprising:

a) receiving a request for bandwidth over a joint-frequency-and-time-divided medium, wherein said medium is divided into tone groups and time slots;

b) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said tone groups;

c) determining Basic Usage Patterns (BUPs) for said request with a BUP processor comprising a processor and a memory;

d) finding combinations of said BUPs;

e) calculating the number of tone-slot units required to satisfy said request, for each of said combinations;

f) selecting a final combination, from among said combinations; and

g) allocating said final combination to said request wherein said final combination uses the lowest number of tone-slot units.

11. A method for allocating bandwidth in a computer network, said method comprising:

a) receiving a request for bandwidth over a joint-frequency-and-time-divided medium, wherein said medium is divided into tone groups and time slots;

b) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said tone groups;

c) determining Basic Usage Patterns (BUPs) for said request with a BUP processor comprising a processor and a memory, wherein said determining BUPs comprises identifying allocated and reserved areas in an initial tone-slot map and analyzing successive rows of a tone slot map to identify unique row patterns;

d) finding combinations of said BUPs;

e) calculating the number of tone-slot units required to satisfy said request, for each of said combinations;

f) selecting a final combination, from among said combinations; and

g) allocating said final combination to said request.

12. A method for allocating bandwidth in a computer network, said method comprising:

a) receiving a request for bandwidth over a joint-frequency-and-time-divided medium, wherein said medium is divided into tone groups and time slots;

b) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said tone groups;

c) determining Basic Usage Patterns (BUPs) for said request with a BUP processor comprising a processor and a memory;

d) finding combinations of said BUPs using all tone groups of BUPs with common available slots;

e) calculating the number of tone-slot units required to satisfy said request, for each of said combinations;

f) selecting a final combination, from among said combinations; and

g) allocating said final combination to said request.

13. A method for allocating bandwidth in a computer network, said method comprising:

a) receiving a request for bandwidth over a joint-frequency-and-time-divided medium, wherein said medium is divided into tone groups and time slots;

b) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said tone groups;

c) determining Basic Usage Patterns (BUPs) for said request with a BUP processor comprising a processor and a memory;

d) finding combinations of said BUPs by logically AND-ing a plurality of said BUPs;

e) calculating the number of tone-slot units required to satisfy said request, for each of said combinations;

f) selecting a final combination, from among said combinations; and

g) allocating said final combination to said request.

14. A method for partitioning bandwidth in a communication medium, said method comprising:

a) dividing bandwidth into a plurality of tone groups;

b) dividing said tone groups into time slots;

c) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said tone groups;

d) determining Basic Usage Patterns (BUPs) for a device pair with a BUP processor comprising a processor and a memory;

e) finding BUP combinations that will provide sufficient bandwidth to fulfill a request for said device pair;

f) calculating the number of tone-slot units required to satisfy said request for each of said combinations;

g) selecting a final combination, from among said combinations; and

h) allocating said final combination to said request, wherein said tone groups are allocated in order of highest to lowest BLE.

15. A method for partitioning bandwidth in a communication medium, said method comprising:

a) dividing bandwidth into a plurality of tone groups;

b) dividing said tone groups into time slots;

c) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said tone groups;

d) determining Basic Usage Patterns (BUPs) for a device pair with a BUP processor comprising a processor and a memory;

e) finding BUP combinations that will provide sufficient bandwidth to fulfill a request for said device pair;

f) calculating the number of tone-slot units required to satisfy said request for each of said combinations;

g) selecting a final combination, from among said combinations, wherein said final combination uses the lowest number of tone-slot units; and

h) allocating said final combination to said request.

16. A method for partitioning bandwidth in a communication medium, said method comprising:

a) dividing bandwidth into a plurality of tone groups;

b) dividing said tone groups into time slots;

c) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said tone groups;

d) determining Basic Usage Patterns (BUPs) for a device pair with a BUP processor comprising a processor and a memory, wherein said determining BUPs comprises identifying allocated and reserved areas in an initial tone-slot map and analyzing successive rows of a tone slot map to identify unique row patterns;

e) finding BUP combinations that will provide sufficient bandwidth to fulfill a request for said device pair;

f) calculating the number of tone-slot units required to satisfy said request for each of said combinations;

g) selecting a final combination, from among said combinations; and

h) allocating said final combination to said request.

17. A method for partitioning bandwidth in a communication medium, said method comprising:

a) dividing bandwidth into a plurality of tone groups;

b) dividing said tone groups into time slots;

c) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said tone groups;

d) determining Basic Usage Patterns (BUPs) for a device pair with a BUP processor comprising a processor and a memory;

e) finding BUP combinations that will provide sufficient bandwidth to fulfill a request for said device pair, wherein said finding BUP combinations comprises using all tone groups of BUPs with common available slots;

f) calculating the number of tone-slot units required to satisfy said request for each of said combinations;

g) selecting a final combination, from among said combinations; and

h) allocating said final combination to said request.

18. A method for partitioning bandwidth in a communication medium, said method comprising:

a) dividing bandwidth into a plurality of tone groups;

b) dividing said tone groups into time slots;

c) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said tone groups;

d) determining Basic Usage Patterns (BUPs) for a device pair with a BUP processor comprising a processor and a memory;

e) finding BUP combinations that will provide sufficient bandwidth to fulfill a request for said device pair, wherein said finding BUP combinations comprises logically AND-ing a plurality of said BUPs;

f) calculating the number of tone-slot units required to satisfy said request for each of said combinations;

g) selecting a final combination, from among said combinations; and

h) allocating said final combination to said request.