System and method for priority wireless access

• US 9,014,696 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nextel Communications Inc (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Nextel Communications Inc (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Gerami, Shervin, Tumelty, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US11/337,672
• Time in Patent Office: 3,374 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/3.01, 455/403, 455/422.1, 4554321-4353, 455/512, 455/513, 455/452.1, 455/450, 370/444, 370/338, 370/465, 340/7.42
• US Class Current: 455/435.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0875 with assigned priorities based access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

Systems and methods for priority wireless communications are provided. When a priority mobile station is registered with a wireless communication network, one or more base stations can establish a priority control channel for serving the priority mobile station. The priority control channel can be an uplink control channel for sending call setup requests, such as traffic channel allocations. The priority control channel can also be a downlink control channel for sending information to priority mobile stations.

Claims

1. A method for providing priority access to a wireless communication network, the method comprising the acts of:

broadcasting, by the base station, a primary and secondary control channel; and

determining that a priority mobile station is registered in the wireless communication network;

wherein when it is determined that the priority mobile station is registered in the wireless communication network the method further comprises

establishing a priority control channel that is separate and distinct from the primary and secondary control channels; and

broadcasting an identification of the priority control channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority control channel includes an uplink channel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the uplink channel is a traffic channel allocation request channel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the priority control channel further includes a downlink control channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority control channel is established by a base station located in proximity to a location of where the priority mobile station registers.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein the identification of the priority control channel is broadcast over the primary control channel.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

determining that no priority mobile stations are registered in the wireless communication network; and

ceasing broadcast of the identification of the priority control channel.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of:

determining that a primary control channel is congested, wherein the priority control channel is established only when it is determined that the primary control channel is congested and the priority mobile station is registered in the wireless communication network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein wireless communication network operates according to a Code Division Multiple Access air-interface protocol, and the identification of the priority control channel is an identification of a spreading code.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the priority control channel is an identification of a frequency.

11. A method for wireless communications, the method comprising the acts of:

monitoring, by a priority mobile station, a first control channel;

determining that the first control channel indicates availability of a priority control channel;

monitoring the priority control channel, wherein the priority control channel includes an uplink access control channel and a downlink control channel; and

transmitting a call request over a priority control channel when the first control channel indicates availability of the priority control channel,

wherein the priority control channel is separate and distinct from the first control channel.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the act of determining comprises the act of:

identifying an identifier associated with the priority mobile station and an identifier of the priority control channel in a message broadcast in the first control channel.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the call request is transmitted according to a slotted ALOHA transmission scheme.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the call request is a dispatch call request.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the call request is a interconnect call request.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the call request is a packet data communication request.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the act of:

registering, by the mobile station, with a wireless communication network, wherein the registration includes an identification that the mobile station is a priority mobile station.

18. A method for providing priority access to a wireless communication network, the method comprising the acts of:

broadcasting information over a primary and secondary downlink control channel;

receiving call requests over a primary uplink control channel associated with the primary downlink control channel;

receiving call requests over a secondary uplink control channel associated with the secondary downlink control channel; and

receiving call requests over an uplink priority control channel,

wherein the uplink priority control channel is a separate and distinct control channel from the primary and secondary uplink control channels.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the act of:

broadcasting information over a downlink priority control channel associated with the uplink priority control channel;

broadcasting an identification of the uplink priority control channel.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the information broadcast over the primary downlink control channel includes an identification of the uplink priority control channel.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein a mobile station monitors the primary, secondary and priority downlink control channels.