Method and system for adaptively obtaining bandwidth allocation requests
First Claim
1. A system for obtaining uplink bandwidth requests from a wireless subscriber station in a wireless communication network, the system comprising:
- a polling policy module configured to select a communication parameter and to establish a polling protocol between the wireless subscriber station and the system over the wireless communication network based on the communication parameter;
a polling module configured to directly poll the subscriber station from a base station in accordance with the polling protocol, to select a polling rate for the subscriber station based on the communication parameter and to poll the subscriber station at the selected polling rate for providing the subscriber station with bandwidth request opportunities;
a receiver for receiving bandwidth requests from subscriber stations;
a contention resolution module configured to provide a contention resolution mechanism for at least two subscriber stations which attempt to transmit a bandwidth request to the receiver of the base station within an uplink slot allocated to subscriber stations for bandwidth requests; and
a channel bandwidth allocation module configured to allocate, in response to a per connection bandwidth request received from the subscriber station received by the receiver, a granted amount of uplink bandwidth for distribution by the subscriber station to one or more connections from a plurality of connections.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels. Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for obtaining uplink bandwidth requests from a wireless subscriber station in a wireless communication network, the system comprising:
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a polling policy module configured to select a communication parameter and to establish a polling protocol between the wireless subscriber station and the system over the wireless communication network based on the communication parameter; a polling module configured to directly poll the subscriber station from a base station in accordance with the polling protocol, to select a polling rate for the subscriber station based on the communication parameter and to poll the subscriber station at the selected polling rate for providing the subscriber station with bandwidth request opportunities; a receiver for receiving bandwidth requests from subscriber stations; a contention resolution module configured to provide a contention resolution mechanism for at least two subscriber stations which attempt to transmit a bandwidth request to the receiver of the base station within an uplink slot allocated to subscriber stations for bandwidth requests; and a channel bandwidth allocation module configured to allocate, in response to a per connection bandwidth request received from the subscriber station received by the receiver, a granted amount of uplink bandwidth for distribution by the subscriber station to one or more connections from a plurality of connections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for obtaining user uplink bandwidth requests in a communication station providing varying uplink bandwidths to a subscriber station, the system comprising:
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a polling policy module configured to; obtain values of a first selected communication parameter which varies over time for a particular user, change a polling protocol for the user in response to a change in the value of the communication parameter, obtain a value of an additional communication parameter, and change the polling protocol for the user in response to changes in the additional communication parameter; a receiver for receiving communications from users, including poll me requests; a poll-me message processing module configured to identify a poll-me request in a packet received at a base station via the receiver, from a user that has a polling rate of zero and direct polling of that user in response to the poll-me request; a polling control module configured to cause a base station to poll the particular user in accordance with the changed polling protocol and in accordance with directions from the poll-me message processing module to poll a user; and a channel bandwidth allocation module configured to determine, in response to a bandwidth request received from the user, the amount of uplink bandwidth to be allocated to the user for distribution to a plurality of connections by the user.
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9. A method of operating a base station for obtaining bandwidth requests from subscriber stations sharing a communication link to the base station, the method comprising:
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classifying the subscriber stations based on a per customer premise equipment (CPE) communication parameter that varies over time; enabling subscriber stations to request bandwidth using one of a plurality of bandwidth request techniques based on the communication parameter ; and upon receipt of a bandwidth request, allocating bandwidth to the subscriber station for distribution to one or more of a plurality of connections by the subscriber station; wherein the plurality of bandwidth request techniques include a polling technique, wherein uplink bandwidth for bandwidth requests received at the base station is allocated periodically at a polling rate based on the communication parameter; a piggyback technique, wherein bandwidth requests received at the base station are conveyed within unused bandwidth allocated to traffic; a poll-me technique, wherein uplink bandwidth for bandwidth requests received at the base station is allocated in response to a poll-me message conveyed within the header of a data packet; and a contention based technique whereby uplink bandwidth is allocated for bandwidth requests to all subscriber stations that do not use the polling, piggyback and poll-me techniques. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification