Persistent resource allocation

• US 8,908,623 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cellular Transitions, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Inventors: Bourlas, Yair
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US13/460,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20120213179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/330, 370/338, 370/436, 370/468
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0004 applied to control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/001 applied to control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/003 Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0096 Indication of changes in allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0466 the resource being a scrambling code
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for communicating and utilizing persistent allocation of uplink resources are described herein. A base station can allocate persistent uplink resources to a client station, such that the resource allocation remains active for future uplink frames without the client station repeating a request for uplink resources or the base station expressly communicating the uplink resource allocation. A client station can request a persistent uplink resource allocation when wireless channel conditions are fairly consistent and not varying and the required uplink resources are predictably periodic and fixed in size. The base station can verify that the uplink resource request meets the criteria for persistent allocation and can allocate persistent uplink resources in a dedicated information element of an uplink resource map that is transmitted to the user. The resources allocated remain allocated to the client station in each frame satisfying a predetermined periodicity until deallocated.

Claims

1. A method for use by a base station of efficiently assigning resources, the method comprising:

sending, by the base station, one or more information elements specifying a first, second and third persistent allocations of the resources for a first, second and third client station respectively on which to operate, wherein the first, second and third persistent allocations of the resources occur in numerical order in a logical mapping of the resources; and

sending, by the base station, a subsequent information element including a mask commanding the second client station to cease operation on the second persistent allocation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising including within the subsequent information element an indication of a magnitude of a vacated allocation including at least the second persistent allocation.

3. A base station that efficiently assigns resources, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit one or more information elements specifying a first, second and third persistent allocations of the resources for a first, second and third client station respectively on which to operate, wherein the first, second and third persistent allocations of the resources occur in numerical order in a logical mapping of the resources; and

the transmitter being configured to transmit a subsequent information element including a mask to command the second client station to cease operation on the second persistent allocation.

4. The base station of claim 3, wherein the subsequent information element includes an indication of a magnitude of a vacated allocation including at least the second persistent allocation.

5. A non-transitory machine readable medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a digital processor cause a base station to perform a method of resource allocation, comprising:

sending, by the base station, one or more information elements specifying a first, second and third persistent allocations of resources for a first, second and third client station respectively on which to operate, wherein the first, second and third persistent allocations of the resources occur in numerical order in a logical mapping of the resources; and

sending, by the base station, a subsequent information element including a mask commanding the second client station to cease operation on the second persistent allocation.

6. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 5, wherein the subsequent information element includes an indication of a magnitude of a vacated allocation including at least the second persistent allocation.