Configurable downlink and uplink channels for improving transmission of data by switching duplex nominal frequency spacing according to conditions

• US 8,917,673 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kapoor, Samir, Li, Junyi, Laroia, Rajiv
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarwar, Babar
• Application Number:
  US11/487,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20080013480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,084 Days
• Field of Search: 4554321-453, 455/455, 455/509, 455/516, 455/522, 455/63, 455/67.3, 370/237, 370/322, 370/329, 370/348, 370294-295, 370/276, 370/277, 370/296, 370/478, 370/319, 370/321, 370/344, 370/347
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal

Abstract

Transmission techniques using configurable channels for the downlink and/or uplink are described. In one aspect, the downlink channel and/or uplink channel may be independently selected for a terminal. The terminal may establish a connection with a base station on default downlink and uplink channels. Another downlink channel and/or another uplink channel may be selected based on various factors such as channel quality, loading, and interference. The terminal would then switch to the new downlink and/or uplink channel for communication. In another aspect, the base stations broadcast sector information used by the terminals for communication and/or channel selection. The sector information may include various types of information such as the available downlink and uplink channels, the frequencies of the available channels, the loading on the available channels, and QoS information. The terminals may select a sector, a downlink channel, and/or an uplink channel based on the sector information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to establish a connection between a terminal and a current sector serving the terminal via a first frequency channel for a first link and a second frequency channel for a second link for utilizing frequency division duplexing, to select a third frequency channel from multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link based at least in part on frequency distances between the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link, wherein the first frequency channel and the third frequency channel are in the same frequency band, and to switch the connection between the terminal and the current sector to the third frequency channel for the first link while continuing to utilize frequency division duplexing and maintaining the connection between the terminal and the current sector via the second frequency channel for the second link, wherein the first, second, and third frequency channels are different from one another, and wherein the first and second frequency channels have a first frequency distance that is different than a second frequency distance between the second and third frequency channels; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first frequency distance is different than the second frequency distance by at least a spacing between adjacent frequency channels for the first link or the second link.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to select a fourth frequency channel from multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the second link based on frequency distances between the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the second link and to switch the connection between the terminal and the current sector to the fourth frequency channel for the second link, wherein the third and fourth frequency channels have a third frequency distance that is different than at least one of the first or second frequency distances, wherein the second frequency channel and the fourth frequency channel are in the same frequency band as the first frequency channel and the third frequency channel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second links are downlink and uplink, respectively, and wherein the first and second frequency channels are default frequency channels for the downlink and uplink, respectively.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link comprise a set of downlink frequency channels available for use in the current sector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second links are uplink and downlink, respectively, and wherein the first and second frequency channels are default frequency channels for the uplink and downlink, respectively.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link comprise a set of uplink frequency channels available for use in the current sector.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select the third frequency channel based on the third frequency channel having less loading than the first frequency channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select the third frequency channel based on the third frequency channel having less interference than the first frequency channel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select the third frequency channel based on the third frequency channel having better channel conditions than the first frequency channel.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to establish the connection between the terminal and a base station that serves the current sector and to receive one or more of sector information associated with the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector or the selection of the third frequency channel from the base station.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to establish the connection between the terminal and a base station that serves the current sector and to send one or more of sector information associated with the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector or the selection of the third frequency channel to the terminal.

13. A method comprising:

establishing a connection between a terminal and a current sector serving the terminal via a first frequency channel for a first link and a second frequency channel for a second link for utilizing frequency division duplexing;

selecting a third frequency channel from multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link based at least in part on frequency distances between the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link, wherein the first frequency channel and the third frequency channel are in the same frequency band; and

switching the connection between the terminal and the current sector to the third frequency channel for the first link while continuing to utilize frequency division duplexing and maintaining the connection between the terminal and the current sector via the second frequency channel for the second link, wherein the first, second, and third frequency channels are different from one another, and wherein the first and second frequency channels have a first frequency distance that is different than a second frequency distance between the second and third frequency channels.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein selecting the third frequency channel comprises:

determining loading on the third frequency channel from sector information associated with the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link; and

selecting the third frequency channel based further on the sector information indicating that the third frequency channel has less loading than the first frequency channel.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein selecting the third frequency channel comprises:

determining interference on the third frequency channel from sector information associated with the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link; and

selecting the third frequency channel based further on the sector information indicating that the third frequency channel has less interference than the first frequency channel.

16. An apparatus comprising:

means for establishing a connection between a terminal and a current sector serving the terminal via a first frequency channel for a first link and a second frequency channel for a second link for utilizing frequency division duplexing;

means for selecting a third frequency channel from multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link based at least in part on frequency distances between the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link, wherein the first frequency channel and the third frequency channel are in the same frequency band; and

means for switching the connection between the terminal and the current sector to the third frequency channel for the first link while continuing to utilize frequency division duplexing and maintaining the connection between the terminal and the current sector via the second frequency channel for the second link, wherein the first, second, and third frequency channels are different from one another, and wherein the first and second frequency channels have a first frequency distance that is different than a second frequency distance between the second and third frequency channels.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for selecting the third frequency channel comprises:

means for determining loading on the third frequency channel from sector information associated with the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link; and

means for selecting the third frequency channel based further on the sector information indicating that the third frequency channel has less loading than the first frequency channel.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for selecting the third frequency channel comprises:

means for determining interference on the third frequency channel from sector information associated with the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link; and

means for selecting the third frequency channel based further on the sector information indicating that the third frequency channel has less interference than the first frequency channel.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions stored thereon, comprising:

a first instruction set for establishing a connection between a terminal and a current sector serving the terminal via a first frequency channel for a first link and a second frequency channel for a second link for utilizing frequency division duplexing;

a second instruction set for selecting a third frequency channel from multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link based at least in part on frequency distances between the multiple frequency channels available in the current sector for the first link, wherein the first frequency channel and the third frequency channel are in the same frequency band; and

a third instruction set for switching the connection between the terminal and the current sector to the third frequency channel for the first link while continuing to utilize frequency division duplexing and maintaining the connection between the terminal and the current sector via the second frequency channel for the second link, wherein the first, second, and third frequency channels are different from one another, and wherein the first and second frequency channels have a first frequency distance that is different than a second frequency distance between the second and third frequency channels.

20. A terminal comprising:

at least one processor configured to receive sector information sent by a base station on a downlink channel, to ascertain an uplink channel based on the sector information, and to use the uplink channel for communication with the base station, wherein the sector information indicates multiple uplink channels and multiple downlink channels available for use with the base station that sent the sector information, wherein the multiple available uplink channels and the multiple available downlink channels are in the same frequency band, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to ascertain the uplink channel based on frequency distances between at least one of the multiple uplink channels or the multiple downlink channels available for use with the base station that sent the sector information; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

21. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is configured to ascertain center frequency of the uplink channel based on the frequency distances and to tune a transmitter to the center frequency of the uplink channel.

22. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the sector information indicates a specific uplink channel to use for communication, and wherein the ascertained uplink channel is the specific uplink channel indicated by the sector information.

23. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is configured to ascertain loading of each of multiple uplink channels based on the sector information and to select the uplink channel by considering the loading of each of the multiple uplink channels.

24. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is configured to select the uplink channel from among the multiple uplink channels.

25. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the sector information includes quality of service (QoS) information for multiple uplink channels available for use, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to select the uplink channel by considering the QoS information.

26. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send an access request on the uplink channel to the base station.

27. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is configured to establish a connection with the base station via the downlink channel and the uplink channel.

28. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is configured to ascertain at least one additional downlink channel from among the multiple downlink channels based on the frequency distances, and to acquire each of the at least one additional downlink channel.

29. The terminal of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is configured to select one downlink channel among the downlink channel used to receive the sector information and the at least one additional downlink channel, and to use the selected downlink channel for communication with the base station.

30. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the sector information indicates center frequency of each of the multiple downlink channels, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to tune a receiver to the center frequency of each downlink channel to determine channel conditions of the downlink channel.

31. A method comprising:

receiving sector information sent by a base station on a downlink channel, wherein the sector information indicates multiple uplink channels and multiple downlink channels available for use with the base station that sent the sector information, and wherein the multiple available uplink channels and the multiple available downlink channels are in the same frequency band;

ascertaining an uplink channel based on the sector information and frequency distances between at least one of the multiple uplink channels or the multiple downlink channels available for use with the base station that sent the sector information; and

using the uplink channel for communication with the base station.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

determining center frequency of the uplink channel based on the frequency distances; and

tuning a transmitter to the center frequency of the uplink channel.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

determining loading of each of multiple uplink channels based on the sector information; and

selecting the uplink channel by considering the loading of each of the multiple uplink channels.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

ascertaining at least one additional downlink channel from among the multiple downlink channels based on the frequency distances; and

acquiring each of the at least one additional downlink channel.

35. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving sector information sent by a base station on a downlink channel, wherein the sector information indicates multiple uplink channels and multiple downlink channels available for use with the base station that sent the sector information, and wherein the multiple available uplink channels and the multiple available downlink channels are in the same frequency band;

means for ascertaining an uplink channel based on the sector information and frequency distances between at least one of the multiple uplink channels or the multiple downlink channels available for use with the base station that sent the sector information; and

means for using the uplink channel for communication with the base station.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

means for determining center frequency of the uplink channel based on the frequency distances; and

means for tuning a transmitter to the center frequency of the uplink channel.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

means for determining loading of each of multiple uplink channels based on the sector information; and

means for selecting the uplink channel by considering the loading of each of the multiple uplink channels.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

means for ascertaining at least one additional downlink channel from among the multiple downlink channels based on the frequency distances; and

means for acquiring each of the at least one additional downlink channel.

39. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions stored thereon, comprising:

a first instruction set for receiving sector information sent by a base station on a downlink channel, wherein the sector information indicates multiple uplink channels and multiple downlink channels available for use with the base station that sent the sector information, and wherein the multiple available uplink channels and the multiple available downlink channels are in the same frequency band;

a second instruction set for ascertaining an uplink channel based on the sector information and frequency distances between at least one of the multiple uplink channels or the multiple downlink channels available for use with the base station that sent the sector information; and

a third instruction set for directing use of the uplink channel for communication with the base station.

40. A terminal comprising:

at least one processor configured to select a first frequency channel from among at least one frequency channel assigned to a sector for a first link, to select a second frequency channel from among multiple frequency channels assigned to the sector for a second link, and to establish a connection via the first frequency channel for the first link and the second frequency channel for the second link, wherein the multiple frequency channels assigned to the sector for the second link are in the same frequency band and comprise one frequency channel designated in the sector as a primary frequency channel for the second link and at least one frequency channel designated in the sector as an auxiliary frequency channel for the second link, wherein the first link and the second link comprise an uplink and a downlink, wherein the first frequency channel is different than the second frequency channel, and wherein the selection of the first frequency channel is independent of the selection of the second frequency channel; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

41. The terminal of claim 40, wherein the frequency band that includes the multiple frequency channels for the second link further includes the at least one frequency channel for the first link.

42. The terminal of claim 40, wherein the multiple frequency channels comprise the second frequency channel and a third frequency channel, and wherein a frequency distance between the first and second frequency channels and a frequency distance between the first and third frequency channels are different by at least a spacing between adjacent frequency channels for the second link.

43. The terminal of claim 40, wherein the at least one processor is configured to obtain measurements for the at least one frequency channel for the first link and to select the first frequency channel based on the measurements.

44. The terminal of claim 40, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive sector information from one of the at least one frequency channel for the first link and to select the first frequency channel based on the sector information.

45. The terminal of claim 40, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive sector information from one of the at least one frequency channel for the first link and to select the second frequency channel based on the sector information.

46. A method comprising:

selecting a first frequency channel from among at least one frequency channel assigned to a sector for a first link;

selecting a second frequency channel from among multiple frequency channels assigned to the sector for a second link, wherein the multiple frequency channels assigned to the sector for the second link are in the same frequency band and comprise one frequency channel designated in the sector as a primary frequency channel for the second link and at least one frequency channel designated in the sector as an auxiliary frequency channel for the second link, wherein the first link and the second link comprise an uplink and a downlink, wherein the first frequency channel is different than the second frequency channel, and wherein the selection of the first frequency channel is independent of the selection of the second frequency channel; and

establishing a connection via the first frequency channel for the first link and the second frequency channel for the second link.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the selecting the first frequency channel comprises

obtaining measurements for the at least one frequency channel for the first link, and

selecting the first frequency channel based on the measurements.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the selecting the second frequency channel comprises

receiving sector information from one of the at least one frequency channel for the first link, and

selecting the second frequency channel based on the sector information.

49. An apparatus comprising:

means for selecting a first frequency channel from among at least one frequency channel assigned to a sector for a first link;

means for selecting a second frequency channel from among multiple frequency channels assigned to the sector for a second link, wherein the multiple frequency channels assigned to the sector for the second link are in the same frequency band and comprise one frequency channel designated in the sector as a primary frequency channel for the second link and at least one frequency channel designated in the sector as an auxiliary frequency channel for the second link, wherein the first link and the second link comprise an uplink and a downlink, wherein the first frequency channel is different than the second frequency channel, and wherein the selection of the first frequency channel is independent of the selection of the second frequency channel; and

means for establishing a connection via the first frequency channel for the first link and the second frequency channel for the second link.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the means for selecting the first frequency channel comprises

means for obtaining measurements for the at least one frequency channel for the first link, and

means for selecting the first frequency channel based on the measurements.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the means for selecting the second frequency channel comprises

means for receiving sector information from one of the at least one frequency channel for the first link, and

means for selecting the second frequency channel based on the sector information.

52. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to determine loading on each of multiple uplink channels that are in the same frequency band and available for use with the apparatus, to send on a downlink channel sector information that indicates the multiple uplink channels available for use with the apparatus and information for the loading on the multiple uplink channels available for use with the apparatus, and to communicate with at least one terminal on an uplink channel selected from the multiple uplink channels available for use with the apparatus based on the loading on the multiple uplink channels and further based on frequency distances between the multiple uplink channels; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send center frequency of at least one of the multiple uplink channels.

54. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send quality of service (QoS) information for the multiple uplink channels.

55. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine loading on each of multiple downlink channels that are available for use with the apparatus and in the same frequency band as the multiple available uplink channels, and to send on the downlink channel information that indicates the multiple downlink channels available for use with the apparatus and information for the loading on the multiple downlink channels available for use with the apparatus.

56. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to send on the downlink channel information that indicates downlink channels available for use with the apparatus.

57. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send power backoffs for multiple downlink channels.

58. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send frequency distances between multiple downlink channels and the downlink channel.

59. A method comprising:

determining loading on each of multiple uplink channels available for use with a base station, wherein the multiple available uplink channels are in the same frequency band;

sending on a downlink channel sector information that indicates the multiple uplink channels available for use with the base station and information for the loading on the multiple uplink channels available for use with the base station; and

communicating with at least one terminal on an uplink channel selected from the multiple uplink channels available for use with the base station based on the loading on the multiple uplink channels and further based on frequency distances between the multiple uplink channels.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

sending center frequency of at least one of the multiple uplink channels and quality of service (QoS) information for the multiple uplink channels.

61. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

determining loading on each of multiple downlink channels that are available for use with the base station and in the same frequency band as the multiple available uplink channels; and

sending on the downlink channel information that indicates the multiple downlink channels available for use with the base station, information for the loading on the multiple downlink channels available for use with the base station, power backoffs for the multiple downlink channels available for use with the base station, and frequency distances between the multiple downlink channels available for use with the base station and the downlink channel.

62. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

sending on the downlink channel information that indicates downlink channels available for use with the base station.

63. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining loading on each of multiple uplink channels available for use with the apparatus, wherein the multiple available uplink channels are in the same frequency band;

means for sending on a downlink channel sector information that indicates the multiple uplink channels available for use with the apparatus and information for the loading on the multiple uplink channels available for use with the apparatus; and

means for communicating with at least one terminal on an uplink channel selected from the multiple uplink channels available for use with the apparatus based on the loading on the multiple uplink channels and further based on frequency distances between the multiple uplink channels.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, further comprising:

means for sending center frequency of at least one of the multiple uplink channels and quality of service (QoS) information for the multiple uplink channels.

65. The apparatus of claim 63, further comprising:

means for determining loading on each of multiple downlink channels that are available for use with the apparatus and in the same frequency band as the multiple available uplink channels; and

means for sending on the downlink channel information that indicates the multiple downlink channels available for use with the apparatus, information for the loading on the multiple downlink channels available for use with the apparatus, power backoffs for the multiple downlink channels available for use with the apparatus, and frequency distances between the multiple downlink channels available for use with the apparatus and the downlink channel.

66. The apparatus of claim 63, further comprising:

means for sending on the downlink channel information that indicates downlink channels available for use with the apparatus.

67. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions stored thereon, comprising:

a first instruction set for determining loading on each of multiple uplink channels available for use with a base station, wherein the multiple available uplink channels are in the same frequency band;

a second instruction set for sending on a downlink channel sector information that indicates the multiple uplink channels available for use with the base station and information for the loading on the multiple uplink channels available for use with the base station; and

a third instruction set for communicating with at least one terminal on an uplink channel selected from the multiple uplink channels available for use with the base station based on the loading on the multiple uplink channels and further based on frequency distances between the multiple uplink channels.

68. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions stored thereon, comprising:

a first instruction set for selecting a first frequency channel from among at least one frequency channel assigned to a sector for a first link;

a second instruction set for selecting a second frequency channel from among multiple frequency channels assigned to the sector for a second link, wherein the multiple frequency channels assigned to the sector for the second link are in the same frequency band and comprise one frequency channel designated in the sector as a primary frequency channel for the second link and at least one frequency channel designated in the sector as an auxiliary frequency channel for the second link, wherein the first link and the second link comprise an uplink and a downlink, wherein the first frequency channel is different than the second frequency channel, and wherein the selection of the first frequency channel is independent of the selection of the second frequency channel; and

a third instruction set for establishing a connection via the first frequency channel for the first link and the second frequency channel for the second link.