Increasing capacity in wireless communication

• US 8,995,417 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jou, Yu-Chen, Black, Peter J., Attar, Rashid Ahmed A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Chirag
• Assistant Examiner(s): Esmaeilian, Majid
• Application Number:
  US12/424,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20090303976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,176 Days
• Field of Search: 370/342
• US Class Current: 370/342
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2201/709709 Methods of preventing interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0027 Scheduling of signalling, e.g. occurrence thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0029 Reduction of the amount of signalling, e.g. retention of useful signalling or differential signalling power control H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0045 Arrangements at the receiver end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1607 Details of the supervisory signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1854 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0092 Error control systems characterised by the topology of the transmission link
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/44 in connection with interruption of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/58 Format of the TPC bits

Abstract

Techniques to increase capacity in a wireless communications system. In an aspect, systematic non-transmission, or “blanking,” of minimal-rate frames transmitted in a communications system is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, eighth rate frames in a cdma2000 voice communications system are systematically substituted with null-rate frames carrying zero traffic bits. Provisions are nevertheless made for the transmission of certain designated as “critical” by, e.g., a vocoder. The receiver detects the presence of null rate or non-null rate transmissions and processes the received frames accordingly, including updating an outer loop power control only in response to non-null rate frames. Further techniques for changing the pilot transmission gating pattern to assist the receiver in detecting null rate frames are provided. In another aspect, early termination of a signal transmission over a wireless communications link is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a base station (BS) transmits power control groups (PCG'"'"'s) for a frame over a forward link (FL) to a mobile station (MS) until accurate reception of the frame is acknowledged by the MS over a reverse link (RL), possibly before all PCG'"'"'s of the frame are received over the FL. Possible ACK signaling methods are defined for channels associated with a cdma2000 wireless communications system. In another exemplary embodiment, techniques for reverse link early termination are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for communications using a gated pilot pattern, comprising:

receiving an RX frame formatted into a first plurality of sub-segments;

processing the RX frame as a null rate frame if a received pilot signal associated with the RX frame was transmitted according to a gated pilot pattern;

processing power control commands received in one or more of the first plurality of sub-segments associated with the RX frame that were designated for transmission according to the gated pilot pattern;

adjusting a transmission power of one or more sub-segments of a TX frame formatted into a second plurality of sub-segments subsequent to processing the received power control commands, the transmission power adjusted according to the processed power control commands, wherein if the TX frame is a null rate frame, adjusting the transmission power of the one or more sub-segments of the TX frame further comprises;

ignoring one or more of the processed power control commands according to a first predetermined sequence; and

selecting the one or more sub-segments of the TX frame to associate with the adjusted transmission power according to a second predetermined sequence; and

transmitting the second plurality of sub-segments associated with the TX frame according to the adjusted transmission power.

2. The method of claim 1, the RX frame received at a base station over a reverse link of a cdma2000 wireless communications system and the second plurality of sub-segments associated with the TX frame transmitted from the base station over a forward link of the cdma2000 wireless communications system.

3. The method of claim 1, the gated pilot pattern providing for transmission and no transmission during alternating groups of two or more consecutive sub-segments of the RX frame.

4. The method of claim 1, the gated pilot pattern providing for alternating between transmission and no transmission in every other sub-segment of the RX frame.

5. The method of claim 1, the RX frame received at a mobile station over a forward link of a cdma2000 wireless communications system and the second plurality of sub-segments associated with the TX frame transmitted from the mobile station over a reverse link of the cdma2000 wireless communications system.

6. A method for communications using a gated pilot pattern, comprising:

receiving an RX frame formatted into a first plurality of sub-segments;

receiving power control commands in every other one of the first plurality of sub-segment of the RX frame;

processing the received power control commands;

adjusting a transmission power of one or more sub-segments of a TX frame formatted into a second plurality of sub-segments subsequent to processing the received power control commands, the transmission power adjusted according to processed power control commands, wherein adjusting the transmission power of the one or more sub-segments of the TX frame further comprises, if the TX frame is a null rate frame;

ignoring every other one of the processed power control commands; and

adjusting the transmission power of every fourth sub-segment of the second plurality of sub-segments associated with the TX frame; and

transmitting the TX frame according to the adjusted transmission power, the transmitting comprising transmitting a pilot signal according to a gated pilot pattern if the TX frame is a null rate frame, the gated pilot pattern providing for transmission and no transmission during alternating groups of two or more consecutive sub-segments of the TX frame.

7. The method of claim 6, the RX frame received at a mobile station over a forward link of a cdma2000 wireless communications system and the TX frame transmitted from the mobile station over a reverse link of the cdma2000 wireless communications system.

8. The method of claim 6, the RX frame received at a base station over a reverse link of a cdma2000 wireless communications system and the TX frame transmitted from the base station over a forward link of the cdma2000 wireless communications system.

9. An apparatus for communications using a gated pilot pattern, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an RX frame formatted into a first plurality of sub-segments;

a processor configured to process the RX frame as a null rate frame if a received pilot signal associated with the RX frame was transmitted according to a gated pilot pattern, process power control commands received in one or more of the first plurality of sub-segments associated with the RX frame that were designated for transmission according to the gated pilot pattern, and adjust a transmission power of one or more sub-segments of a TX frame formatted into a second plurality of sub-segments according to the processed control commands subsequent to processing the received power control commands, wherein if the TX frame is a null rate frame, the processor is further configured to ignore one or more of the processed power control commands according to a first predetermined sequence and select the one or more sub-segments of the TX frame to associate with the adjusted transmission power according to a second predetermined sequence; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the second plurality of sub-segments associated with the TX frame according to the adjusted transmission power.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, the apparatus comprising a base station for a cdma2000 wireless communications system.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, the gated pilot pattern providing for transmission and no transmission during alternating groups of two or more consecutive sub-segments of the RX frame.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, the gated pilot pattern providing for alternating between transmission and no transmission in every other sub-segment of the RX frame.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, the apparatus comprising a mobile station for a cdma2000 wireless communications system.

14. An apparatus for communications using a gated pilot pattern, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an RX frame formatted into a first plurality of sub-segments and power control commands in every other one of the first plurality of sub-segment of the RX frame;

a processor configured to process the power control commands received in every other one of the first plurality of sub-segments of the RX frame and adjust a transmission power of one or more sub-segments of a TX frame formatted into a second plurality of sub-segments according to the processed power control commands subsequent to processing the received power control commands, wherein if the TX frame is a null rate frame, the processor is further configured to adjust the transmission power of the one or more sub-segments of the TX frame by ignoring every other one of the processed power control commands and adjusting the transmission power of every fourth sub-segment of the second plurality of sub-segments associated with the TX frame; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the TX frame according to the adjusted transmission power and transmit a pilot signal according to a gated pilot pattern if the TX frame is a null rate frame, the gated pilot pattern providing for transmission and no transmission during alternating groups of two or more consecutive sub-segments of the TX frame.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, the apparatus comprising a mobile station for a cdma2000 wireless communications system.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, the apparatus comprising a base station for a cdma2000 wireless communications system.

17. An apparatus for controlling transmission power, comprising:

means for receiving an RX frame formatted into a first plurality of sub-segments;

means for processing the RX frame as a null rate frame if a received pilot signal associated with the RX frame was transmitted according to a gated pilot pattern;

means for processing power control commands received in one or more of the first plurality of sub-segments associated with the RX frame that were designated for transmission according to the gated pilot pattern;

means for adjusting a transmission power of one or more sub-segments of a TX frame formatted into a second plurality of sub-segments according to the processed power control commands subsequent to processing the received power control commands at the means for processing the received power control commands, wherein if the TX frame is a null rate frame, the means for adjusting the transmission power of the one or more sub-segments of the TX frame further comprises;

means for ignoring one or more of the processed power control commands according to a first predetermined sequence; and

means for selecting the one or more sub-segments of the TX frame to associate with the adjusted transmission power according to a second predetermined sequence; and

means for transmitting the second plurality of sub-segments associated with the TX frame according to the adjusted transmission power.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for causing a computer to control transmission power, the medium further storing instructions for causing a computer to:

receive an RX frame formatted into a first plurality of sub-segments;

process the RX frame as a null rate frame if a received pilot signal associated with the RX frame was transmitted according to a first gated pilot pattern;

process power control commands received in one or more of the first plurality of sub-segments associated with the RX frame that were designated for transmission according to the gated pilot pattern;

adjust a transmission power of one or more sub-segments of a TX frame formatted into a second plurality of sub-segments subsequent to processing the received power control commands, the transmission power adjusted according to the processed power control commands, wherein if the TX frame is a null rate frame, the instruction for causing the computer to adjust the transmission power of the one or more sub-segments of the TX frame further comprises instructions for causing the computer to;

ignore one or more of the processed power control commands according to a first predetermined sequence; and

select the one or more sub-segments of the TX frame to associate with the adjusted transmission power according to a second predetermined sequence; and

transmit the second plurality of sub-segments associated with the TX frame according to the adjusted transmission power.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for causing a computer to control transmission power, the medium further storing instructions for causing a computer to:

receive an RX frame formatted into a first plurality of sub-segments;

receive power control commands in every other one of the first plurality of sub-segment of the RX frame;

process the received power control commands;

adjust a transmission power of one or more sub-segments of a TX frame formatted into a second plurality of sub-segments subsequent to processing the received power control commands, the transmission power adjusted according to the processed power control commands, wherein if the TX frame is a null rate frame, the instruction for causing the computer to adjust the transmission power of the one or more sub-segments of the TX frame further comprises instructions for causing the computer to;

ignore every other one of the processed power control commands; and

adjust the transmission power of every fourth sub-segment of the second plurality of sub-segments associated with the TX frame; and

transmit the TX frame according to the adjusted transmission power, wherein if the TX frame is a null rate frame, the instruction for causing computer to transmit the TX frame further comprises instructions for causing the computer to transmit a pilot signal according to a gated pilot pattern that provides for transmission and no transmission during alternating groups of two or more consecutive sub-segments of the TX frame.

20. An apparatus for communications using a gated pilot pattern, comprising:

means for receiving an RX frame formatted into a first plurality of sub-segments;

means for receiving power control commands in every other one of the first plurality of sub-segment of the RX frame;

means for processing the received power control commands;

means for adjusting a transmission power of one or more sub-segments of a TX frame formatted into a second plurality of sub-segments according to the processed power control commands subsequent to processing the received power control commands at the means for processing the received power control commands, wherein if the TX frame is a null rate frame, the means for adjusting the transmission power of the one or more sub-segments of the TX frame further comprises;

means for ignoring every other one of the processed power control commands; and

means for adjusting the transmission power of every fourth sub-segment of the second plurality of sub-segments associated with the TX frame; and

means for transmitting the TX frame according to the adjusted transmission power, wherein the means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting a pilot signal according to a gated pilot pattern if the TX frame is a null rate frame, the gated pilot pattern providing for transmission and no transmission during alternating groups of two or more consecutive sub-segments of the TX frame.