Method of providing a gap indication during a sticky assignment

• US 8,477,710 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Teague, Edward Harrison, Khandekar, Aamod, Gore, Dhananjay Ashok
• Primary Examiner(s): Chery, Dady
• Application Number:
  US11/022,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20060034173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,114 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/389, 370/392, 370/395.1, 370/235, 370/330, 370/331, 370/318, 370/335, 370/342, 370/441, 455/512, 455/450, 455/451
• US Class Current: 370/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided to manage the assignment transmission resource of forward and reserve link that is assigned to transmitting entity for a period of time. An indication of a gap is provided whenever the transmitting entity is not transmitting actual data packets (e.g. whole or part of intended data or content), yet the transmitting entity is to maintain the assignment of the allocated resource. For example, an erasure signature packet comprising a first data pattern is transmitted on the assigned resource when there is no actual data to transmit on the assigned resource.

Claims

1. A method of managing resources for transmitting data in a communication system, comprising:

receiving a sticky assignment of an assigned resource;

transmitting a first data transmission on the assigned resource during the sticky assignment;

transmitting a second data transmission on the assigned resource during the sticky assignment;

filling a gap between the first data transmission and the second data transmission by continuously transmitting one or more erasure signature packets on the assigned resource, whenever a data transmission is not being transmitted on the assigned resource during the sticky assignment; and

wherein each of the one or more erasure signature packets comprises a pre-determined unique identifier, wherein the pre-determined unique identifier comprises one or more information bits that causes the sticky assignment to be maintained.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting said one or more erasure signature packets comprises transmitting each said erasure signature packet at power level below a threshold.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting said one or more erasure signature packets comprises transmitting each said erasure signature packet at power level that does not cause significant interference.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting said one or more erasure signature packets comprises transmitting said one or more erasure signature packets at a low data rate.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting said one or more erasure signature packets on said assigned resource comprises transmitting said one or more erasure signature packets using a forward link of the communication system.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting said one or more erasure signature packets on said assigned resource comprises transmitting said one or more erasure signature packets using a reverse link of the communication system.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting in accordance with a Code Division Multiplex Access (CDMA) scheme.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division. Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

actively determining the presence of the gap between the first data transmission and the second data transmission.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the one or more erasure signature packets only during gaps between data transmissions on the assigned resource.

8. The method as claimed in claim wherein. said transmitting comprises transmitting in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) scheme.

12. A method of managing resources in a communication system, comprising:

receiving one or more information bits on an assigned resource during a sticky assignment of the assigned resources;

evaluating the information bits as packets of data;

determining whether the packets of data represent data packets or erasure signature packets;

discarding the erasure signature packets and maintaining the sticky assignment of said assigned resources, when determined that said one or more information bits represent an erasure signature packet comprising a pre-determined unique identifier, the erasure signature packet filling a gap between data packets on said assigned resource, wherein the pre-determined. unique identifier comprises at least one information bit that causes assignment of the multiple resources to be maintained during the sticky assignment, wherein said erasure signature packet has a predetermined length selected based on available resources.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising converting said one or more information bits into said data packets having the predetermined length.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said receiving one or more information bits comprises receiving said information bits on a forward link of the communication system.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said receiving one or more information bits comprises receiving said information bits on a reverse link of the communication system.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said receiving comprises receiving in accordance with a Code Division Multiplex Access (CDMA) scheme.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said receiving comprises receiving in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) scheme.

18. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said receiving comprises receiving in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme.

19. An apparatus for managing resources assigned for transmitting data in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a sticky assignment of an assigned resource;

means for transmitting a first data transmission on the assigned resource during the sticky assignment;

means for transmitting a second data transmission on the assigned resource during the sticky assignment; and

means for a filling a gap between the first transmission and the second data transmission by continuously transmitting one or more erasure signature packets on the assigned resource, whenever a data transmission is not being transmitted on the assigned resource during the first sticky assignment;

wherein each of the one or more erasure signature packets comprises a pre-determined unique identifier, wherein the pre-determined unique identifier comprises one or more information bits that causes the sticky assignment to be maintained.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said means for transmitting said one or more erasure signature packets comprises means for transmitting said each said erasure signature packet at power level below a threshold.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said means for transmitting said one or more erasure signature packets comprises means for transmitting said each said erasure signature packet at power level that does not cause significant interference.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said means for transmitting said one or more erasure signature packets comprises means for transmitting said one or more erasure signature packets at a low data rate.

23. An apparatus for managing resources assigned for data communication in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving one or more information bits on an assigned resource during a sticky assignment of the assigned resources;

means for evaluating the information bits as packets of data;

means for determining whether the packets of data represent data packets or erasure signature packets; and

means for discarding the erasure signature packets and maintaining the sticky assignment of said assigned resources, when determined that said one or more information bits represent an erasure signature packet comprising a pre-determined unique identifier, the erasure signature packet filling a gap between data packets on said assigned resource, wherein the pre-determined unique identifier comprises at least one information bit that causes assignment of the multiple resources to be maintained during the sticky assignment, wherein said erasure signature packet has a predetermined length selected based on available resources.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said means for converting said one or more information bits comprises means for converting said information bits into said data packets having the predetermined length.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said means for receiving one or more information bits comprises means for receiving said information bits on a forward link of the communication system.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said means for receiving one or more information bits comprises means for receiving said information bits on a reverse link of the communication system.

27. In a wireless communication system, an apparatus comprising:

a processor that selects an erasure signature packet, wherein said selecting comprises selecting a length for said erasure signature packet based on available resources; and

a first electronic device that receives a sticky assignment of an assigned resource and continuously transmits one or more erasure signature packets on said assigned resource whenever there is no data to transmit on said assigned resource during the sticky assignment, the one or more erasure signature packets filling gaps between data on said assigned resource;

wherein the sticky assignment is scheduled to continue until a de-assignment of the assigned resource is received; and

wherein each of the one or more erasure signature packets comprise a pre-determined unique identifier, wherein the pre-determined unique identifier comprises one or more information bits that causes the sticky assignment to be maintained.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first electronic device comprises a transmitter, said transmitter configured transmit said one or more erasure signature packets at power level below a threshold.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first electronic device comprises a transmitter, said transmitter configured to transmit each said erasure signature packet at power level that does not cause significant interference.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first electronic device comprises a transmitter configured to transmit said data pattern at a low data rate.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first electronic device comprises a transmitter configured to transmit said data pattern using a forward link of the communication system.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first electronic device comprises a transmitter configured to transmit said data pattern using a reverse link of the communication system.

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first electronic device is configured to transmit in accordance with a Code Division Multiplex Access (CDMA) scheme.

34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first electronic device is configured to transmit in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) scheme.

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first electronic device is configured to transmit in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme.

36. In a wireless communication system, an apparatus comprising:

a first electronic device that;

receives one or more information bits on an assigned resource during a sticky assignment of the assigned resources,

evaluates the information bits as packets of data,

determines whether the packets of data represent data packets or erasure signature packets, and

discards the erasure signature packets while maintaining the sticky assignment of said assigned resources when determined that said one or more information bits represent an erasure signature packet comprising a pre-determined unique identifier, the erasure signature packet filling a gap between data packets on said assigned resource,

wherein the pre-determined unique identifier comprises at least one information bit that causes assignment of the multiple resources to he maintained during the sticky assignment, and wherein said erasure signature packet has a predetermined length selected based on available resources.

37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said first electronic device comprises a processor configured to convert said information bits into data packets having the predetermined length.

38. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said first electronic device comprises a processor configured to receive said information bits on a forward link of the communication system.

39. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said first electronic device comprises a processor configured to receive said information bits on a reverse link of the communication system.

40. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said first electronic device is configured to receive in accordance with a Code Division Multiplex Access (CDMA) scheme.

41. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said first electronic device is configured to receive in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) scheme.

42. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said first electronic device is configured to receive in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme.

43. A non- transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations including:

selecting an erasure signature packet, wherein said selecting comprises selecting a length for said erasure signature packet based on available resources;

receiving a sticky assignment of an assigned resource;

transmitting a first data transmission on the assigned resource during the sticky assignment;

transmitting a second data transmission on the assigned resource during the sticky assignment; and

filling a gap between the first data transmission and the second data transmission by continuously transmitting one or more erasure signature packets on the assigned resource, whenever a data transmission is not being transmitted on the assigned resource during the first sticky assignment;

wherein each of the one or more erasure signature packets comprises a pre-determined unique identifier, wherein the pre-determined unique identifier comprises one or more information bits that causes the sticky assignment to be maintained.

44. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations including:

receiving one or more information bits on an assigned resource during a sticky assignment of the assigned resources,

evaluating the information bits as packets of data,

determining whether the packets of data represent data packets or erasure signature packets, and

discarding the erasure signature packets and maintaining the sticky assignment of said assigned resources when determined that said one or more information bits represent an erasure signature packet comprising a pre-determined unique identifier, the erasure signature packet filling a gap between data packets on said assigned resource,

wherein the pre-determined unique identifier comprises at least one information bit that causes assignment of the multiple resources to be maintained during the sticky assignment, and

wherein said erasure signature packet has a predetermined length selected based on available resources.

45. An access terminal comprising:

a processor that selects an erasure signature packet, wherein said selecting comprises selecting a length for said erasure signature packet based on available resources; and

a first electronic device that receives a sticky assignment of an assigned resource and continuously transmits one or more erasure signature packets on said assigned resource whenever there is no data to transmit on said assigned resource during the sticky assignment, the one or more erasure signature packets filling gaps between data on said assigned resource;

wherein the sticky assignment is scheduled to continue until a de-assignment of the assigned resource is received, and

wherein each of the one or more erasure signature packets comprise a pre-determined unique identifier, wherein the pre-determined unique identifier comprises one or more information bits that causes the sticky assignment to be maintained.

46. An access point comprising:

a first electronic device configured to receive one or more information bits on an assigned resource during a sticky assignment of the assigned resource, and to discard said one or more information bits while maintaining the sticky assignment of said assigned resource when determined that said one or more information bits matches an erasure signature packet comprising a pre-determined unique identifier, the erasure signature packet filling a gap between data transmissions on said assigned resource, wherein the predetermined unique identifier comprises at least one information bit that causes the sticky assignment of the assigned resources to be maintained, wherein said erasure signature packet has a predetermined length selected based on available resources, wherein the sticky assignment is scheduled to continue until a de-assignment of the assigned resource is received; and

an antenna by which the one or more information bits are received.

47. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving a sticky assignment of multiple communication resources, the sticky assignment being scheduled to continue until a de-assignment of the multiple communication resource is received;

transmitting data on an assigned resource of the multiple communication resources in response to receiving the stick assignment; and

causing the assigned resource to be maintained during gaps in the data by continuously transmitting at least one erasure signature packet on the assigned resource whenever a data transmission is not being transmitted on the assigned resource during the sticky assignment, the at least one erasure signature packets filling the gaps;

the erasure signature packet(s) comprising a unique data pattern known to both the transmitter and receiver of the data as an indication that the multiple communication resource assignments should not be terminated.