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

• US 9,603,129 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• 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): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMUEL, DEWANDA A
• Application Number:
  US14/170,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 370/412, 370/468, 370/337
• 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 method of operating a wireless communication system comprising:

enabling registration of a wireless subscriber unit with a base station in the wireless communication system;

enabling establishment of communication between the wireless subscriber unit and the base station;

the base station receiving an explicit message, from the wireless subscriber unit, informing the base station that the wireless subscriber unit has data awaiting transmission to the base station;

subsequent to receiving the explicit message, the base station transmitting to the wireless subscriber unit a transmission opportunity for the wireless subscriber unit to inform the base station of an indication of an amount of data awaiting transmission to the base station;

the base station receiving from the wireless subscriber unit, in the transmission opportunity, the indication of an amount of data awaiting transmission to the base station;

subsequent to reception of the indication of an amount of data awaiting transmission to the base station, the base station providing an uplink (UL) transmission grant to the wireless subscriber unit; and

enabling the wireless subscriber unit to allocate the UL transmission grant between one or more uplink connections between the wireless subscriber unit and the base station.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the wireless subscriber unit is further enabled to allocate the UL transmission grant between the one or more uplink connections between the wireless subscriber unit and the base station based on one or more transmission parameters of data awaiting transmission.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising enabling the wireless subscriber unit to maintain a logical data queue comprising an amount of data pending transmission from the wireless subscriber unit to the base station over the one or more uplink connections between the wireless subscriber unit and the base station with similar transmission parameters.

4. A method as in claim 2, wherein the data awaiting transmission comprises data of a specified priority.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the priority indicates a continuous grant service, a best effort service or variable bit rate service.

6. A method as in claim 2, wherein the transmission parameters include an amount of data pending transmission, a guaranteed rate and an average rate.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless subscriber unit is one of a mobile telephone, a personal communication device or a cordless telephone.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless subscriber unit is fixed, portable or mobile.

9. A method as in claim 1, further comprising enabling the wireless subscriber unit to maintain a logical data queue-comprising an amount of data pending transmission from the wireless subscriber unit over the one or more uplink connections between the wireless subscriber unit to the base station with different transmission parameters.

10. A wireless communication system comprising:

one or more wireless subscriber units, a wireless subscriber unit of the one or more wireless subscriber units maintaining one or more logical data queues with data pending transmission to the base station;

a base station communicating with the one or more wireless subscriber units, the base station comprising;

a transmitter for transmitting downlink (DL) traffic to the one or more wireless subscriber units; and

one or more processors configured to;

identify an explicit message received from the wireless subscriber unit, indicating that the wireless subscriber unit requires an uplink (UL) transmission opportunity;

subsequent to identifying the explicit message, provide the UL transmission opportunity for enabling the wireless subscriber unit to transmit an indication of an amount of UL data pertaining to a logical data queue of the one or more logical data queues maintained at the wireless subscriber unit;

receive from the wireless subscriber unit, in the UL transmission opportunity, the indication of an amount of UL data pertaining to a logical data queue of the one or more logical data queues maintained at the wireless subscriber unit; and

subsequent to receiving the indication of an amount of UL data pertaining to a logical data queue of the one or more logical data queues maintained at the wireless subscriber unit, allocate to the wireless subscriber unit a UL transmission grant based on the indication of an amount of UL data pertaining to a logical data queue of the one or more logical data queues maintained at the wireless subscriber unit and on an amount of UL transmission resource available,

wherein the wireless subscriber unit allocates the UL transmission grant between one or more uplink connections between the wireless subscriber unit and the base station provided at the wireless subscriber unit.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the UL transmission grant specifies a physical resource for UL transmission from the wireless subscriber unit to the base station.

12. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the base station further comprises a memory for storing a logical view of the one or more logical data queues, which is updated based on the indication of an amount of UL data pertaining to a logical data queue of the one or more logical data queues maintained at the wireless subscriber unit received from the one or more wireless subscriber units.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the UL transmission grant is ascertained using the logical view maintained at the base station.

14. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the one or more processors allocate the UL transmission grant to the wireless subscriber unit further based on one or more transmission resource allocation parameters.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the one or more transmission resource allocation parameters include a modulation scheme used for data transmission.

16. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the one or more transmission resource allocation parameters include a fairness criterion.

17. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the base station implicitly informs the wireless subscriber unit that the indication of an amount of UL data pertaining to a logical data queue of the one or more logical data queues maintained at the wireless subscriber unit has been processed by allocating to the wireless subscriber unit the UL transmission grant.

18. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the wireless subscriber unit is one of a mobile telephone, a personal communication device or a cordless telephone.

19. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the wireless subscriber unit is fixed, portable or mobile.