Methods and apparatus related to controlling traffic in a wireless communications system using shared air link traffic resources

• US 8,520,692 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Li, Junyi, Laroia, Rajiv, Richardson, Thomas, Wu, Xinzhou
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsiung, Hai-Chang
• Application Number:
  US11/932,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20090109850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,127 Days
• Field of Search: 370/419
• US Class Current: 370/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/569 of the traffic information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access

Abstract

A peer to peer communications system implements scheduling of traffic intervals in a distributed manner utilizing connection priority and interference information. A peer to peer timing structure includes a user scheduling interval, with ordered transmission request and response intervals, and an associated traffic interval. The priority associated with a request of an early interval is higher than the priority of a request of a later interval. A first device, connected to a second device, makes a decision as to whether or not to yield the traffic interval as a function of estimated interference that it will impose on higher priority connection receivers if it transmits during the traffic interval. The second device makes a decision as to whether or not to transmit a positive transmission request response signal as a function of a generated received signal quality value, based on received requests for its own and for higher priority connections.

Claims

1. A method of operating a first device having a first connection with a second device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the method comprising:

monitoring, by the first device, a first transmission request response interval corresponding to a second connection between a third device and a fourth device, the first transmission request response interval being one of a plurality of transmission request response intervals in a first user scheduling interval corresponding to a first traffic interval, said transmission request response intervals being ordered according to transmission priority, transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said first user scheduling interval before transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities;

determining, by the first device, whether to transmit a transmission request during said first user scheduling interval based on whether a transmission request response for transmission of data was received during said monitoring from one or more communications between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to the second connection; and

if it is determined that a transmission request should not be transmitted based on the received transmission request response, refraining from using a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection and refraining from transmitting traffic during said first traffic interval,

wherein said transmission request interval is one of a plurality of transmission request intervals in the first user scheduling interval, said transmission request intervals being interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during the first user scheduling interval, and

wherein the transmission request intervals are ordered in the first user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within the first user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if it is determined that a transmission request should be transmitted based on the determination that no transmission request response was received, transmitting a transmission request during a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection during said first user scheduling interval.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection follows a first transmission request interval corresponding to connections having higher priority than said first connection and said first transmission request response interval.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

monitoring a second transmission request response interval the second transmission request response interval corresponding to said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection for responses to transmission requests transmitted during said transmission request interval.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining whether to transmit traffic data during said first traffic interval based on signals detected by said monitoring during said second transmission request interval.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining whether to transmit traffic data includes:

determining if a response to the transmitted transmission request was received; and

determining whether a response to a transmission request corresponding to a connection having a higher priority than said first connection was received during said second transmission request response interval.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

when it is determined that a response to a transmission request corresponding to a connection having a higher priority than said first connection was received,

generating an interference cost estimate, as a function of the response signal corresponding to the higher priority connection, received during the second transmission request response interval, said generated interference cost estimate estimating interference which will be caused if the first device transmits traffic data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein when it is determined that a response to the transmitted transmission request was received and the generated interference cost estimate is below a threshold, it is determined that traffic data is to be transmitted during said first traffic interval, the method further comprising:

transmitting traffic data to the second communication device during the first traffic interval when it is determined that traffic data is to be transmitted during said first traffic interval.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to transmit a transmission request includes:

if it is determined that the transmission request response corresponding to the second connection was received during said first transmission request response interval, i) generating an interference cost estimate as a function of the received response corresponding to said second connection, said interference cost estimate estimates interference which will be caused if the first device transmits traffic data; and

ii) deciding not to transmit the transmission request when said interference cost estimate exceeds a threshold.

10. A first device having a first connection with a second device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the first device comprising:

a first monitoring module for monitoring a first transmission request response interval corresponding to a second connection between a third device and a fourth device, the first transmission request response interval being one of a plurality of transmission request response intervals in a first user scheduling interval corresponding to a first traffic interval, said transmission request response intervals being ordered according to transmission priority, transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said first user scheduling interval before transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities;

a transmission request determination module for determining whether to transmit a transmission request during said first user scheduling interval based on whether a transmission request response for transmission of data was received during said monitoring from one or more communications between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to the second connection;

a transmission module for transmitting transmission requests; and

a control module for controlling said transmission module to transmit a transmission request using a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection when said determination module determines a transmission request is to be transmitted and for controlling the transmission module to refrain from transmitting using the transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection when it is determined that a transmission request should not be transmitted,

wherein said transmission request interval is one of a plurality of transmission request intervals in the first user scheduling interval, said transmission request intervals being interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during the first user scheduling interval, and

wherein the transmission request intervals are ordered in the first user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within the first user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.

11. The first device of claim 10, further comprising:

a transmission request generation module for generating a transmission request when it is determined that a transmission request should be transmitted based on the determination that no transmission request response was received; and

wherein said control module controls the transmission module to transmit the generated transmission request during a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection during said first user scheduling interval.

12. The first device of claim 11, wherein said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection follows a first transmission request interval corresponding to connections having higher priority than said first connection and said first transmission request response interval.

13. The first device of claim 10, wherein said determination module includes:

an interference cost estimation module for estimating an interference cost estimate as a function of the received response corresponding to said second connection, said interference cost estimate estimating interference which will be caused if the first device transmits traffic data.

14. The first device of claim 12, further comprising:

a second monitoring module for monitoring a second transmission request response interval the second transmission request response interval corresponding to said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection for responses to transmission requests transmitted during said transmission request interval.

15. The first device of claim 14, further comprising:

a threshold comparison module for comparing a generated interference cost estimate to a threshold used to determine if traffic data is to be transmitted.

16. A first device having a first connection with a second device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the first device comprising:

first monitoring means for monitoring a first transmission request response interval corresponding to a second connection between a third device and a fourth device, the first transmission request response interval being one of a plurality of transmission request response intervals in a first user scheduling interval corresponding to a first traffic interval, said transmission request response intervals being ordered according to transmission priority, transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said first user scheduling interval before transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities;

transmission request determination means for determining whether to transmit a transmission request during said first user scheduling interval based on whether a transmission request response for transmission of data was received during said monitoring from one or more communications between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to the second connection;

transmission means for transmitting transmission requests; and

control means for controlling said transmission means to transmit a transmission request using a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection when said determination means determines a transmission request is to be transmitted and for controlling the transmission means to refrain from transmitting using the transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection when it is determined that a transmission request should not be transmitted,

wherein said transmission request interval is one of a plurality of transmission request intervals in the first user scheduling interval, said transmission request intervals being interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during the first user scheduling interval, and

wherein the transmission request intervals are ordered in the first user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within the first user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.

17. The first device of claim 16, further comprising:

transmission request generation means for generating a transmission request when it is determined that a transmission request should be transmitted based on the determination that no transmission request response was received; and

wherein said control means controls the transmission means to transmit the generated transmission request during a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection during said first user scheduling interval.

18. The first device of claim 17, wherein said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection follows a first transmission request interval corresponding to connections having higher priority than said first connection and said first transmission request response interval.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a first device, said first device having a first connection with a second device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, said instructions configured to:

monitor a first transmission request response interval corresponding to a second connection between a third device and a fourth device, the first transmission request response interval being one of a plurality of transmission request response intervals in a first user scheduling interval corresponding to a first traffic interval, said transmission request response intervals being ordered according to transmission priority, transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said first user scheduling interval before transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities;

determine whether to transmit a transmission request during said first user scheduling interval based on whether a transmission request response for transmission of data was received during said monitoring from one or more communications between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to the second connection; and

if it is determined that a transmission request should not be transmitted based on the received transmission request response, refrain from using a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection and refrain from transmitting traffic during said first traffic interval,

wherein said transmission request interval is one of a plurality of transmission request intervals in the first user scheduling interval, said transmission request intervals being interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during the first user scheduling interval, and

wherein the transmission request intervals are ordered in the first user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within the first user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein said instructions further comprise:

if it is determined that a transmission request should be transmitted based on the determination that no transmission request response was received, transmit a transmission request during a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection during said first user scheduling interval.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection follows a first transmission request interval corresponding to connections having higher priority than said first connection and said first transmission request response interval.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to control a first device, said first device having a first connection with a second device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, said processor further configured to;

monitor a first transmission request response interval corresponding to a second connection between a third device and a fourth device, the first transmission request response interval being one of a plurality of transmission request response intervals in a first user scheduling interval corresponding to a first traffic interval, said transmission request response intervals being ordered according to transmission priority, transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said first user scheduling interval before transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities;

determine whether to transmit a transmission request during said first user scheduling interval based on whether a transmission request response for transmission of data was received during said monitoring from one or more communications between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to the second connection; and

if it is determined that a transmission request should not be transmitted based on the received transmission request response, refrain from using a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection and refrain from transmitting traffic during said first traffic interval,

wherein said transmission request interval is one of a plurality of transmission request intervals in the first user scheduling interval, said transmission request intervals being interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during the first user scheduling interval, and

wherein the transmission request intervals are ordered in the first user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within the first user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said processor is further configured to:

if it is determined that a transmission request should be transmitted based on the determination that no transmission request response was received, transmit a transmission request during a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection during said first user scheduling interval.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection follows a first transmission request interval corresponding to connections having higher priority than said first connection and said first transmission request response interval.

25. A method of operating a second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the method comprising:

monitoring, by the second device, during a user scheduling interval for transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device;

storing, using a memory of the second device, transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring; and

if a transmission request from the first device is detected by said monitoring, determining, by the second device, whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to the one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device,

wherein transmission requests are transmitted during transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals,

wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval, and

wherein said transmission request intervals are ordered in said user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein determining whether to transmit a transmission request response includes comparing the generated received signal quality value to a threshold.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

in response to determining to transmit a transmission request response, transmitting a transmission request response in a transmission request response interval corresponding to the transmission request interval in which the transmission request corresponding to the first connection was received; and

receiving user data transmitted by the first device in a traffic interval.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

in response to determining not to transmit a transmission request response, refraining from transmitting a transmission request response in a transmission request response interval corresponding to the transmission request interval in which the transmission request corresponding to the first connection was received.

29. A second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the second device comprising:

a monitoring module for monitoring to detect during a user scheduling interval transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device;

memory storing transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring;

a transmission request response determination module for determining whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to the one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device in response to a transmission request from the first device detected by said monitoring module; and

memory storing timing structure information, said timing structure information identifying a set of ordered transmission request intervals corresponding to different priority levels, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities,

wherein transmission requests are transmitted during the transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals, and

wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval.

30. The second device of claim 29, wherein said determination module includes a threshold comparison module for comparing the generated received signal quality value to a threshold.

31. The second device of claim 29, further comprising:

a transmission request response generation module; and

a transmission module transmitting a transmission request response in a transmission request response interval corresponding to a transmission request interval in which a transmission request corresponding to the first connection was received;

a wireless receiver module for receiving user data signals transmitted by the first device during a traffic interval; and

a user data decoder module for decoding the user data signals received by said wireless receiver module.

32. The second device of claim 29, further comprising:

a control module for controlling said transmission module to refrain from transmitting a transmission request response in a transmission request response interval corresponding to the transmission request interval in which the transmission request corresponding to the first connection was received when said determination module determines that a transmission request response should not be transmitted in response to a detected transmission request corresponding to the first connection.

33. A second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the second device comprising:

monitoring means for monitoring to detect during a user scheduling interval transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device;

memory storage means for storing transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring;

transmission request response determination means for determining whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to the one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device in response to a transmission request from the first device detected by said monitoring means; and

memory storage means for storing timing structure information, said timing structure information identifying a set of ordered transmission request intervals corresponding to different priority levels, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities,

wherein transmission requests are transmitted during the transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals, and

wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval.

34. The second device of claim 33,

wherein said monitoring means includes transmission request interval monitoring means for monitoring transmission request intervals including a transmission request interval during which a transmission request from the first device may be transmitted and any preceding transmission request intervals in said user scheduling interval.

35. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a second device, said second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, said instructions configured to:

monitor during a user scheduling interval for transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device;

store transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring; and

if a transmission request from the first device is detected by said monitoring, determine whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to the one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device,

wherein transmission requests are transmitted during transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals,

wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval, and

wherein said transmission request intervals are ordered in said user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35,

wherein said monitoring includes monitoring transmission request intervals including a transmission request interval during which a transmission request from the first device may be transmitted and any preceding transmission request intervals in said user scheduling interval.

37. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to control a second device, said second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second device being peer to peer communications devices, said processor further configured to;

monitor during a user scheduling interval for transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device;

store transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring; and

if a transmission request from the first device is detected by said monitoring, determine whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to the one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device,

wherein transmission requests are transmitted during transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals,

wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval, and

wherein said transmission request intervals are ordered in said user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.

38. The apparatus of claim 37,

wherein said monitoring includes monitoring transmission request intervals including a transmission request interval during which a transmission request from the first device may be transmitted and any preceding transmission request intervals in said user scheduling interval.

39. A method of operating a second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the method comprising:

monitoring, by the second device, during a user scheduling interval for transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device;

storing, using a memory of the second device, signal information corresponding to transmission requests corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring; and

if a transmission request from the first device is detected by said monitoring, determining, by the second device, whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored signal information,

wherein transmission requests are transmitted during transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals,

wherein said monitoring includes monitoring transmission request intervals including a transmission request interval during which a transmission request from the first device may be transmitted and any preceding transmission request intervals in said user scheduling interval,

wherein said transmission request intervals are ordered in said user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities, and

wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval.

40. A second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the second device comprising:

a monitoring module for monitoring to detect during a user scheduling interval transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device;

memory storing signal information corresponding to transmission requests corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring; and

a transmission request response determination module for determining whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored signal information in response to a transmission request from the first device detected by said monitoring module,

wherein transmission requests are transmitted during transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals,

wherein said monitoring module includes a transmission request interval monitoring submodule for monitoring transmission request intervals including a transmission request interval during which a transmission request from the first device may be transmitted and any preceding transmission request intervals in said user scheduling interval,

wherein the second device further comprises memory storing timing structure information, said timing structure information identifying a set of ordered transmission request intervals corresponding to different priority levels, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities, and

wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval.