Variable bandwidth in a communication system

• US 9,185,565 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rinne, Mikko, Lappetelainen, Antti, Seppinen, Pauli, Ojala, Jussi, Parssinen, Aarno, Kaunisto, Risto
• Primary Examiner(s): BALAOING, ARIEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/245,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,594 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455447-449, 455/452.2, 455/454, 455/436, 370/322, 370/328, 370/334, 370/341
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/06 Hybrid resource partitioning, e.g. channel borrowing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/12 Fixed resource partitioning

Abstract

A method, device, and system that use narrowband channels to provide higher re-use without multiplying the operator spectrum requirement. If a communication system supports variable carrier bandwidth channels, the narrow channel capacity can be divided among adjacent cells to provide higher re-use.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

dividing radio frequencies of a wireless communication system into a wideband channel radio frequency and a plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies; and

communicating user data using a same modulation technique to an apparatus using both the wideband channel radio frequency and the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies in the wireless communication system;

wherein the wireless communication system is configured to select between use of the wideband channel radio frequency and use of at least one of the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies for communication of the user data, wherein the selection comprises a determination as to whether a wideband frequency or, alternatively, a narrowband frequency, is to be selected, with the determination being based on whether the apparatus is in a cell boundary region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a higher frequency re-use factor is applied to the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, in at least some cells of the communication system, both the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies and the wideband channel radio frequency are allocated so that the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies are used to extend cell range.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies are divided among adjacent communication cells in such a way that adjacent cells are using different narrowband channel radio frequencies.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies are located outside of a wideband channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method incorporates spreading for implementing spectrum sharing between adjacent cells.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of narrowband radio channel frequencies are located inside of a wideband channel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one communication cell includes a repeater configured to operate using both the wideband channel radio frequency and the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting communication scheduling information to the apparatus using one of the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies are assigned to different communication cells.

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

non-transitory memory storing computer program code;

wherein the memory storing the computer program code is configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least;

control a transceiver to modulate, using a same modulation technique, at least one wideband bandwidth carrier and at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier within the wireless communication system;

control the transceiver to receive system information from a base station, with the system information including information indicating whether the apparatus is in a cell boundary region; and

select between use of the wideband channel radio frequency and use of at least one of the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies for communication of the user data, wherein the selection comprises a determination as to whether a wideband frequency or, alternatively, a narrowband frequency, is to be selected, with the determination being based on the system information indicating whether the apparatus is in a cell boundary region.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier is outside of a full bandwidth channel and implements spreading.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising multiple antennas operatively connected to the transceiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication system is further configured to support the at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier for communication when the apparatus is in an idle mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to process the information using one of the at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the information comprises scheduling information and includes a terminal identity for a terminal that will use a channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is configured to use a wideband bandwidth carrier when the apparatus has good channel conditions, the apparatus is configured to use a first narrowband bandwidth carrier when the apparatus approaches a cell border, and the apparatus is configured to use a second narrowband bandwidth carrier when the apparatus crosses the cell border.

17. A method comprising:

transmitting or receiving user data, using a same modulation technique, wherein the transmitting or receiving is performed using a wideband channel radio frequency or at least one narrowband channel radio frequency;

receiving system information from a base station, with the system information being based at least in part on whether an apparatus is in a cell boundary region; and

wherein a selection is made between use of the wideband channel radio frequency and use of the at least one narrowband channel radio frequency for the transmitting or receiving, wherein the selection comprises a determination as to whether a wideband frequency or, alternatively, a narrowband frequency, is to be selected, with the determination being based on the system information indicating whether the apparatus is in a cell boundary region.

18. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

non-transitory memory storing a program of instructions;

wherein the memory storing the program of instructions is configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least;

divide radio frequencies of the wireless communication system into a wideband channel radio frequency and a plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies; and

control a radio communication device to communicate user data to the at least one mobile station, using a same modulation technique, using both the wideband channel radio frequency and the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies in the wireless communication system, wherein the wireless communication system is configured to select between using the wideband channel radio frequency and using at least one of the plurality of narrowband channel radio frequencies for communication of the user data, wherein the selection comprises a determination as to whether a wideband frequency or, alternatively, a narrowband frequency, is to be selected, with the determination being based on whether the apparatus is in a cell boundary region.

20. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

non-transitory memory storing a program of instructions;

wherein the memory storing the program of instructions is configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least;

control an apparatus to communicate user data using at least one wideband bandwidth carrier and at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier in a wireless communication system, wherein selecting between using at least one wideband bandwidth carrier and using at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier to communicate the user data comprises a determination as to whether a wideband frequency or, alternatively, a narrowband frequency, is to be selected, with the determination being based on whether the apparatus is in a cell boundary region.