Method and apparatus for allocating bandwidth in a wireless communication system

• US 8,189,514 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Inventors: Mollenauer, James F., Stanwood, Kenneth L., Klein, Israel Jay, Gilbert, Sheldon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jae Y
• Application Number:
  US11/170,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20060002336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,526 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/346, 370/443, 370/449, 370/468
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5607 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0064 Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0092 Indication of how the channel is divided
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 : Transfer of terminal data

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.

Claims

1. A method performed by a base station in a broadband wireless communication system, wherein the broadband wireless communication system includes a plurality of customer premise equipment (CPE) in communication with the base station, the method comprising:

maintaining uplink and downlink sub-frame maps representative of the bandwidth allocations in uplink and downlink communication paths; and

determining whether there is sufficient bandwidth available to individually poll a CPE and if sufficient bandwidth is available to individually poll a CPE, select a CPE to be polled;

individually polling the selected CPE by allocating bandwidth to the selected CPE in the uplink sub-frame map for specifically enabling the selected CPE to transmit a bandwidth request;

if the selected CPE transmits the bandwidth request, initiating a bandwidth allocation process to allocate bandwidth in a subsequent uplink sub-frame map for the selected CPE; and

if there is not sufficient bandwidth available to individually poll the selected CPE, initiating a contention polling process.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether there are either unpolled inactive CPEs present or unpolled active CPEs requesting to be polled.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising

determining whether there is sufficient bandwidth available for performing a multicast poll;

if sufficient bandwidth is available to perform a multicast poll, polling a next multicast group to be polled;

if sufficient bandwidth is not available to perform a multicast poll, determining whether there is sufficient bandwidth available to perform a broadcast poll;

if sufficient bandwidth is available to perform a broadcast poll, placing a broadcast poll in the uplink sub-frame map;

if either a multicast or broadcast poll was performed, monitoring for bandwidth request messages in bandwidth request contention slots defined by the uplink sub-frame map; and

modifying the uplink sub-frame map in response to a received bandwidth request message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein bandwidth for uplink contention slot is configurable.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein polling a multicast group to be polled comprises:

allocating a contention slot in the uplink subframe for the purpose of enabling the CPEs of the multicast group to contend for transmitting a respective bandwidth request;

associating the uplink contention slot to a multicast connection identifier; and

transmitting the respective bandwidth request from CPEs of the multicast group at a random time within the uplink contention slot.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the size of the uplink contention slot is determined by the base station based on bandwidth allocated for CPE scheduled data, bandwidth allocated to control messages, and bandwidth allocated to individual polling.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the uplink contention slot allows for a plurality of bandwidth requests pertaining to different connections established on a CPE of the multicast group.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising building and maintaining a logical model of a plurality of data queues in the plurality of CPEs, and wherein the data queues are ordered based upon quality of service designations.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising continuing to individually poll other selected CPEs until there is insufficient available bandwidth to individually poll the CPEs.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a group poll comprises transmitting a multicast poll.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a group poll comprises transmitting a broadcast poll.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the contention polling process enables the selected CPE to contend with other subscriber stations for transmitting the bandwidth request to the base station.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising continuing to individually poll other selected CPEs, by allocating uplink bandwidth to the other CPEs until there is insufficient bandwidth available to individually poll additional CPEs in a respective uplink frame.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected CPE includes a CPE that is inactive for long time periods.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the contention polling process comprises:

determining whether there is sufficient bandwidth available for performing a multicast poll;

if sufficient bandwidth is available to perform a multicast poll, polling a next multicast group to be polled;

if sufficient bandwidth is not available to perform a multicast poll, monitoring for

bandwidth request messages in bandwidth request contention slots defined by the uplink sub-frame map; and

modifying the uplink sub-frame map in response to a received bandwidth request message.

16. A method for allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system, wherein the broadband wireless communication system includes a plurality of customer premise equipment (CPE) in communication with a base station, and wherein the base station maintains uplink and downlink sub-frame maps representative of the bandwidth allocations in the uplink and downlink communication paths, the method comprising:

determining whether there is sufficient bandwidth available to individually poll a CPE;

if sufficient bandwidth is available to individually poll a CPE, select a CPE to be polled;

individually polling the selected CPE by allocating bandwidth to the selected CPE in the uplink sub-frame map for specifically enabling the selected CPE to provide a bandwidth request;

receiving a bandwidth request from the selected CPE;

allocating bandwidth in the uplink sub-frame map for the selected CPE;

continue performing individual polling while sufficient bandwidth is available; and

if there is not sufficient bandwidth available to individually poll a CPE, initiating a contention polling process.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting a CPE to be polled includes determining whether there are either unpolled inactive CPEs present or unpolled active CPEs requesting to be polled.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein unpolled active CPEs request polling by setting a poll-me bit.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the contention polling process comprises:

determining whether there is sufficient bandwidth available for performing a multicast poll;

if sufficient bandwidth is determined to be available, polling a next multicast group;

if sufficient bandwidth is not available to perform a multicast poll, determining whether there is sufficient bandwidth available to perform a broadcast poll;

if sufficient bandwidth is determined to be available to perform a broadcast poll, placing a broadcast poll in the uplink sub-frame map;

if either a multicast or broadcast poll was performed, monitoring for bandwidth request messages in bandwidth request contention slots defined by the uplink sub-frame map; and

modifying the uplink sub-frame map in response to a received bandwidth request message.