Methods and systems for transmission of multiple modulated signals over wireless networks

• US 9,402,250 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2015
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Inventors: Stanwood, Kenneth L., Mollenauer, James F., Klein, Israel Jay, Gilbert, Sheldon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Marcus R
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMUEL, DEWANDA A
• Application Number:
  US14/738,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20150282161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 370/412, 370/322, 370/468
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5607 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0064 Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0092 Indication of how the channel is divided
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 : Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

A method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes a combination of techniques that allow a plurality of CPEs to communicate their bandwidth request messages to respective base stations. One technique includes a “polling” method whereby a base station polls CPEs individually or in groups and allocates bandwidth specifically for the purpose of allowing the CPEs to respond with bandwidth requests. The polling of the CPEs by the base station may be in response to a CPE setting a “poll-me bit” or, alternatively, it may be periodic. Another technique comprises “piggybacking” bandwidth requests on bandwidth already allocated to a CPE. Currently active CPEs request bandwidth using unused portions of uplink bandwidth that is already allocated to the CPE. The CPE is responsible for distributing the allocated uplink bandwidth in a manner that accommodates the services provided by the CPE.

Claims

1. A wireless cellular mobile unit operable to communicate with a base station in a broadband wireless communication system, the wireless cellular mobile unit comprising:

a transceiver operable to

register the wireless cellular mobile unit with the base station, achieve uplink synchronization with the base station, and establish communication between the wireless cellular mobile unit and the base station,

transmit an explicit message to the base station to inform the base station that the wireless cellular mobile unit has data awaiting transmission to the base station in one or more of a plurality of logical data queues,

receive from the base station a transmission opportunity for the wireless cellular mobile unit to inform the base station of an indication of an amount of data awaiting transmission to the base station in the plurality of logical data queues,

subsequent to reception of the transmission opportunity, transmit to the base station the indication of an amount of data awaiting transmission to the base station in the plurality of logical data queues, and

subsequent to transmitting the indication of an amount of data awaiting transmission to the base station in the plurality of logical data queues, receive an uplink (UL) transmission grant for the wireless cellular mobile unit; and

a processor having a Media Access Controller (MAC) operable to

maintain the plurality of logical data queues, including queueing data pertaining to one or more UL connections with similar quality of service (QoS) into a logical data queue of the plurality of logical data queues, and

allocate the UL transmission grant to at least one of the one or more UL connections based on QoS priority.

2. A wireless cellular mobile unit as in claim 1, wherein the MAC is further operable to maintain the plurality of logical queues such that on condition that more than one UL connection has data awaiting transmission to the base station upon receipt of the UL transmission grant, the wireless cellular mobile unit allocates all or part of the UL transmission grant to one or more UL connections based on priorities of the more than one UL connections.

3. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indication of an amount of data awaiting transmission to the base station in the plurality of logical data queues pertains to an UL connection.

4. A wireless cellular mobile unit operable to communicate with a base station in a broadband wireless communication system, the wireless cellular mobile unit comprising:

a transceiver operable to

register the wireless cellular mobile unit with the base station, achieve uplink synchronization with the base station, and establish communication between the wireless cellular mobile unit and the base station,

transmit an explicit message to the base station indicating a requirement to be provided an uplink (UL) transmission opportunity,

receive the UL transmission opportunity,

transmit, in the received UL transmission opportunity, an indication of an amount of data pending UL transmission in one or more logical data queues, and

subsequent to transmitting the indication of an amount of data pending UL transmission in one or more logical data queues, receive from the base station an UL transmission grant for the wireless cellular mobile unit; and

a processor having a Media Access Controller (MAC) operable to

determine the indication of an amount of data pending UL transmission in one or more logical data queues, and

allocate the UL transmission grant to one or more UL connections of a plurality of UL connections at the wireless cellular mobile unit having data pending in the one or more logical data queues, wherein the MAC allocates the UL transmission grant to the one or more UL connections of the plurality of UL connections based on QoS priority of the one or more UL connections of the plurality of UL connections.

5. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transceiver is operable to transmit the indication of an amount of data pending UL transmission in one or more logical data queues within an UL transmission opportunity already allocated to the wireless cellular mobile unit for UL traffic.

6. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transceiver is operable to transmit the indication of an amount of data pending UL transmission in one or more logical data queues in an unused UL transmission opportunity allocated to the wireless cellular mobile unit.