Managing communication operations of wireless devices

• US 8,582,631 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2011
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semtech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Vos, Gustav Gerald, Bennett, Steven John, Wu, Huaming, Kavanaugh, Richard Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHAVAL V
• Application Number:
  US13/093,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20110261891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 375/224, 375/259, 375/231, 370/241, 455/67.11, 702/79
• US Class Current: 375/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4906 using binary codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0289 Congestion control load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00

Abstract

Management of communication operations of wireless devices is provided. A traffic-control parameter is generated, for example at a base station, indicative of desired aspects of communication operations of the wireless devices. The one or more traffic-control parameters may comprise a delay parameter, such as a maximum value for generating random backoff times, and/or a connection-time parameter, indicative of the maximum length of time a wireless device can hold a connection. A bit sequence indicative of the one or more traffic-control parameters is generated and communicated to the wireless devices. A wireless device determines the traffic-control parameter based on the communicated bit sequence and adapts its operation based thereon.

Claims

1. A method for managing communication operations of at least one wireless device in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

a. generating one or more traffic-control parameters indicative of one or more aspects of communication operations of the at least one wireless device;

b. generating a bit sequence indicative of one or more traffic-control parameters;

c. communicating the bit sequence to the at least one wireless device by transmitting different portions of the bit sequence in different broadcast messages belonging to a series of broadcast messages transmitted to the at least one wireless device;

d. determining, at the at least one wireless device, the one or more traffic-control parameters based on the communicated bit sequence; and

e. adapting, at the at least one wireless device, communication operations based on the one or more traffic-control parameters;

wherein communications of the at least one wireless device is delay-tolerant, and wherein adapting communication operations at the at least one wireless device comprises limiting communication resource usage by the at least one wireless device in order to facilitate access to said communication resource by at least one other wireless device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more traffic-control parameters include a delay parameter, and wherein said adapting communication operations based on the one or more traffic-control parameters comprises:

determining a delay time based on the delay parameter; and

waiting until the delay time elapses before initiating communication operations.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the delay time is determined to be between a minimum value and a maximum value.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the delay parameter comprises an indication of the maximum value of the delay time.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the delay parameter comprises an indication of the minimum value of the delay time.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the delay time is generated randomly.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the delay time is generated pseudo-randomly.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the delay parameter is encoded as a ratio of ones to zeros included in at least one or more portions of the bit sequence.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more traffic-control parameters include a connection-time parameter, and wherein said adapting communication operations based on the traffic-control parameter comprises:

determining a maximum connection time based on the connection-time parameter;

and limiting duration of communication operations to less than or equal to the maximum connection time.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the connection-time parameter is encoded as a ratio of ones to zeros included in at least one or more portions of the bit sequence.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more series of broadcast messages include one or more traffic control messages.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more series of broadcast messages include one or more system information messages.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said series of broadcast messages are broadcast sequentially.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the traffic-control parameters are encoded as one or more ratios of ones to zeros in one or more portions of the bit sequence.

33. The method according to claim 1, wherein said series of broadcast messages are broadcast messages used primarily for another purpose by the wireless communication system, and wherein the bit sequence is conveyed via unassigned bits of said series of broadcast messages.

34. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless device is an M2M device representing a strict subset of all wireless devices in the wireless communication system, and where wireless devices other than the at least one wireless device are not responsive to the bit sequence.

15. A system for managing communication operations of at least one wireless device in a wireless communication system, the system comprising:

a. a base station configured to generate one or more traffic-control parameters indicative of one or more aspects of communication operations of the at least one wireless device;

generate a bit sequence indicative of the one or more traffic-control parameters; and

transmit the bit sequence for receipt by the at least one wireless device by transmitting different portions of the bit sequence in different broadcast messages belonging to a series of broadcast messages transmitted to the at least one wireless device; and

b. at least one wireless device configured to receive the bit sequence;

determine the one or more traffic-control parameters based on the received bit sequence;

adapt communication operations based on the one or more traffic-control parameters, wherein communications of the at least one wireless device is delay-tolerant, and wherein adapting communication operations at the at least one wireless device comprises limiting communication resource usage by the at least one wireless device in order to facilitate access to said communication resource by at least one other wireless device.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the one or more traffic-control parameters include a delay parameter, and wherein adapting communication operations based on the one or more traffic-control parameters comprises:

determining a delay time based on the delay parameter; and

waiting until the delay time elapses before initiating communication operations.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the delay parameter is indicative of one or more of a maximum value of the delay time, a minimum value of the delay time, a randomly generated delay time, and a pseudo-randomly generated delay time.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the one or more traffic-control parameters include a connection-time parameter, and wherein said adapting communication operations based on the traffic-control parameter comprises:

determining a maximum connection time based on the connection-time parameter;

and limiting duration of communication operations to less than or equal to the maximum connection time.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein said one or more series of broadcast messages include one or more traffic control messages, one or more system information messages, or a combination thereof.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein one or more of said series of broadcast messages are broadcast sequentially.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein one or more of the traffic-control parameters are encoded as one or more ratios of ones to zeros included in at least one or more portions of the bit sequence.

22. A base station configured for managing traffic control of at least one wireless device, the base station comprising:

a. a control module configured to generate one or more traffic-control parameters indicative of one or more aspects of communication operations of the at least one wireless device, the control module further configured to generate a bit sequence indicative of the one or more traffic-control parameters; and

b. a transceiver configured to transmit the bit sequence for receipt by the at least one wireless device by transmitting different portions of the bit sequence in different broadcast messages belonging to a series of broadcast messages transmitted to the at least one wireless device;

wherein communications of the at least one wireless device is delay-tolerant, and wherein adapting communication operations at the at least one wireless device comprises limiting communication resource usage by the at least one wireless device in order to facilitate access to said communication resource by at least one other wireless device.

23. The base station according to claim 22, wherein said one or more series of broadcast messages include one or more traffic control messages, one or more system information messages, or a combination thereof.

24. The base station according to claim 22, wherein one or more of said series of broadcast messages are broadcast sequentially.

25. The base station according to claim 22, wherein one or more of the traffic-control parameters are encoded as one or more ratios of ones to zeros included in at least one or more portions of the bit sequence.

26. A wireless device comprising:

a. a transceiver configured to receive a bit sequence indicative of one or more traffic-control parameters, wherein different portions of the received bit sequence are received in different broadcast messages belonging to a series of broadcast messages being received by the wireless device; and

b. a control module configured to determine the one or more traffic-control parameters based on the received bit sequence and adapt communication operations based on the determined traffic-control parameter;

wherein communications of the at least one wireless device is delay-tolerant, and wherein adapting communication operations at the at least one wireless device comprises limiting communication resource usage by the at least one wireless device in order to facilitate access to said communication resource by at least one other wireless device.

27. The wireless device according to claim 26, wherein the one or more traffic-control parameters include a delay parameter, and wherein adapting communication operations based on the one or more traffic-control parameters comprises:

determining a delay time based on the delay parameter; and

waiting until the delay time elapses before initiating communication operations.

28. The wireless device according to claim 27, wherein the delay parameter is indicative of one or more of:

a maximum value of the delay time, a minimum value of the delay time, a randomly generated delay time, and a pseudo-randomly generated delay time.

29. The wireless device according to claim 26, wherein the one or more traffic-control parameters include a connection-time parameter, and wherein adapting communication operations based on the traffic-control parameter comprises:

determining a maximum connection time based on the connection-time parameter;

and limiting duration of communication operations to less than or equal to the maximum connection time.

30. A computer program product comprising a memory having computer readable code embodied therein, for execution by a CPU, for performing a method for managing communication operations of at least one wireless device in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

a. generating one or more traffic-control parameters indicative of one or more aspects of communication operations of the at least one wireless device;

b. generating a bit sequence indicative of one or more traffic-control parameters;

c. communicating the bit sequence to the at least one wireless device by transmitting different portions of the bit sequence in different broadcast messages belonging to a series of broadcast messages transmitted to the at least one wireless device;

d. determining, at the at least one wireless device, the one or more traffic-control parameters based on the communicated bit sequence; and

e. adapting, at the at least one wireless device, communication operations based on the one or more traffic-control parameters;

wherein communications of the at least one wireless device is delay-tolerant, and wherein adapting communication operations at the at least one wireless device comprises limiting communication resource usage by the at least one wireless device in order to facilitate access to said communication resource by at least one other wireless device.

31. A computer program product comprising a memory having computer readable code embodied therein, for execution by a CPU, for performing a method for managing communication operations of at least one wireless device in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

a. generating one or more traffic-control parameters indicative of one or more aspects of communication operations of the at least one wireless device;

b. generating a bit sequence indicative of one or more traffic-control parameters;

c. communicating the bit sequence to the at least one wireless device by transmitting different portions of the bit sequence in different broadcast messages belonging to a series of broadcast messages transmitted to the at least one wireless device;

wherein communications of the at least one wireless device is delay-tolerant, and wherein adapting communication operations at the at least one wireless device comprises limiting communication resource usage by the at least one wireless device in order to facilitate access to said communication resource by at least one other wireless device.

32. A computer program product comprising a memory having computer readable code embodied therein, for execution by a CPU, for performing a method for managing communication operations of at least one wireless device in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

a. determining, at the at least one wireless device, one or more traffic-control parameters based on a communicated bit sequence wherein the communicated bit sequence is spread over two or more broadcast messages received by the at least one wireless device; and

b. adapting, at the at least one wireless device, communication operations based on the one or more traffic-control parameters;

wherein communications of the at least one wireless device is delay-tolerant, and wherein adapting communication operations at the at least one wireless device comprises limiting communication resource usage by the at least one wireless device in order to facilitate access to said communication resource by at least one other wireless device.