Frame structure for support of large delay spread deployment scenarios

• US 8,462,676 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2009
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Ahmadi, Sassan
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, SAI MING
• Application Number:
  US12/611,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20110103494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/295, 370/343
• US Class Current: 370/295
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2656 for structure of frame, burst
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2025/03426 transmission using multiple-input and multiple-output channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03012 operating in the time domain H04L25/03165, H04L25/03178 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2602 Signal structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2603 Signal structure ensuring backward compatibility with legacy system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2607 Cyclic extensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/065 using assembly or disassembly of packets

Abstract

A frame structure for support of large delay spread deployment scenarios (e.g., cellular system operation in large cell sizes or low frequency bands) is generally presented. In this regard a method is introduced comprising partitioning a radio frame into a plurality of equal-sized (or non-equal-sized) sub-frames to simplify system implementation. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Claims

1. A method for transmission of orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) symbols in subframes comprising:

partitioning each of a plurality of sequential frames into a plurality of sub-frames, wherein the sequential frames are defined according to a reference system standard, each of the sequential frames including a legacy preamble, wherein a first of the sequential frames is pre-designated for downlink transmissions and a second of the sequential frames is pre-designated for uplink transmissions;

transmitting a first of the plurality of sub-frames with a non-legacy preamble provided at a fixed offset relative to a location of the legacy preamble of the first sequential frame during-the first sequential frame; and

transmitting a second of the plurality of sub-frames with a non-legacy preamble provided at the fixed offset relative to a location of the legacy preamble of the second sequential frame during the second sequential frame.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the partitioned frames comprise sub-frames of equal size, and

wherein the non-legacy preamble is to indicate a non-legacy frame comprising a plurality of subframes.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising partitioning each of the plurality of sub-frames into a plurality of information-carrying symbols.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of information-carrying symbols comprise orthogonal frequency division multiplex symbols.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of orthogonal frequency division multiplex symbols of each sub-frame is approximately equal to six (6).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a time division duplex mode for transmitting the first and second sub-frames during different time intervals.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a frequency division duplex mode for transmitting the first and second sub-frames over different subcarrier frequencies.

8. A method for transmission of orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) symbols in subframes comprising:

partitioning each of a plurality of sequential frames into a plurality of sub-frames, wherein the sequential frames are defined according to a reference system standard, each of the sequential frames including a legacy preamble, wherein a first of the sequential frames is pre-designated for downlink transmissions and a second of the sequential frames is pre-designated for uplink transmissions;

transmitting one or more of the plurality of sub-frames for a non-relay transmission including transmitting a downlink base station to mobile station or relay station (DL;

BS->

MS/RS) sub-frame with a non-legacy preamble provided at a first fixed offset relative to a location of the legacy preamble of the first sequential frame during the first sequential frame and an uplink mobile station or relay station to base station (UL;

MS/RS->

BS) sub-frame with the non-legacy preamble provided at the first fixed offset relative to a location of the legacy preamble of the second sequential frame during the second sequential frame; and

transmitting one or more of the plurality of sub-frames for a relay transmission including transmitting a downlink relay station to mobile station (DL;

RS->

MS) sub-frame with a non-legacy preamble provided at a second fixed offset relative to a location of the legacy preamble of the first sequential frame during the first sequential frame and an uplink mobile station to relay station (UL;

MS->

RS) sub-frame with the non-legacy preamble provided at the second fixed offset relative to a location of the legacy preamble of the second sequential frame during the second sequential frame.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising supporting a two-hop relay transmission.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising supporting a two-hop relay with optimized latency.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting using a multi-hop relay transmission.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising using a transparent relay, where the RS does not transmit a preamble, a broadcast channel, and a control channel.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising using a non-transparent relay, where the RS transmits a preamble, a broadcast channel, and a control channel.

14. A system for transmission of orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) symbols in subframes comprising:

a processor to partition each of a plurality of sequential frames into a plurality of sub-frames, wherein the sequential frames are defined according to a reference system standard, each of the sequential frames including a legacy preamble, wherein a first of the sequential frames is pre-designated for downlink transmissions and a second of the sequential frames is pre-designated for uplink transmissions; and

a transmitter to transmit a first of the plurality of sub-frames with a non-legacy preamble provided at a fixed offset relative to a location of the legacy preamble of the first sequential frame during-the first sequential frame and a second of the plurality of sub-frames with a non-legacy preamble provided at the fixed offset relative to a location of the legacy preamble of the second sequential frame during the second sequential frame.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is to partition the sub-frames to have a length selected for achieving a turn around time that is below a predetermined target value.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is to partition each of the plurality of sub-frames into a plurality of information-carrying symbols.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of information-carrying symbols comprise orthogonal frequency division multiplex symbols.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is to transmit the first and second of the subframes during different time intervals using a time division duplex mode.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is to transmit the first and second of the subframes over different subcarrier frequencies using a frequency division duplex mode.