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

• US 9,648,600 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2015
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• 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): Zaidi, Iqbal
• Application Number:
  US14/738,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20150312898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 370328-339
• 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 cellular telephone operable to share an uplink (UL) to a base station with other cellular telephones in a wireless communication system, the cellular telephone comprising:

a transceiver operable to

transmit, within a MAC packet, a message which identifies an amount of data in one or more logical queues awaiting transmission to the base station, and

receive a signal comprising an UL allocation indication with current UL transmission resource allocations for a plurality of cellular telephones, including the cellular telephone; and

one or more processors having a Media Access Controller (MAC) operable to

identify in the UL allocation indication an UL transmission resource grant allocated to the cellular telephone for data transmission in a current frame, and

allocate the UL transmission resource grant among one or more UL connections between the cellular telephone and the base station that have data in the one or more logical queues awaiting UL transmission from the cellular telephone to the base station, based on a quality of service parameter.

2. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver is further operable to transmit an explicit message to the base station indicating a requirement to be provided an allocation of an UL transmission resource in which to transmit the message.

3. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the MAC is operable to allocate the UL transmission resource grant among the one or more UL connections between the cellular telephone and the base station also based on the amount of data awaiting UL transmission for the one or more UL connections between the cellular telephone and the base station.

4. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver is operable to receive the UL transmission resource grant in the UL allocation indication, without receiving an acknowledgement of receipt by the base station of the message.

5. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver is operable to transmit the message within an UL transmission resource already allocated for UL traffic.

6. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver is operable to transmit the message within the payload of a packet carrying UL traffic.

7. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver is operable to transmit the message which identifies an amount of data in one or more logical queues awaiting transmission to the base station within an UL transmission resource specifically allocated to the cellular telephone for the message.

8. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver is further operable to:

receive an indication of an opportunity to transmit the message; and

transmit the message using the opportunity.

9. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver is operable to register the cellular telephone with the base station, achieve uplink synchronization with the base station and establish communication between the cellular telephone and the base station.

10. A cellular telephone operable to share an uplink (UL) to a base station with other cellular telephones in a wireless communication system, the cellular telephone comprising:

one or more processors having a Media Access Controller (MAC) operable to provide a message indicating an amount of data in one or more logical queues awaiting transmission to the base station, pertaining to one or more UL connections between the cellular telephone and the base station established at the cellular telephone and to allocate an UL transmission resource grant among one or more of the one or more UL connections between the cellular telephone and the base station that have data in one or more logical queues awaiting UL transmission from the cellular telephone to the base station; and

a transceiver operable to transmit to the base station a request for polling, receive from the base station an allocation of an UL transmission resource for transmitting the message, transmit the message within the UL transmission resource, receive the UL transmission resource grant in response to the message, and receive an allocation indication control message from the base station, which identifies the UL grant.

11. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 10, wherein the request for polling is a poll-me message.

16. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 10, wherein the data accumulated in the one or more logical queues is scheduled for transmission based on a quality of service parameter.

12. A cellular telephone operable to share an uplink (UL) to a base station with other cellular telephones in a wireless communication system, the cellular telephone comprising:

a transceiver operable to

transmit a message indicating an amount of data in one or more logical queues awaiting transmission to the base station, pertaining to one or more UL connections between the cellular telephone and the base station established at the cellular telephone, and

receive a control message; and

one or more processors having a Media Access Controller (MAC) operable to

identify in the control message a UL transmission resource grant allocated to the cellular telephone for data transmission in a current frame, and

allocate the UL transmission resource grant among the one or more logical queues, wherein a logical queue of the one or more logical queues accumulates data with similar quality of service associated with one or more UL connections between the cellular telephone and the base station, the data accumulated in the logical queue awaiting transmission from the cellular telephone to the base station.

13. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 12, wherein the data accumulated in the one or more logical queues is scheduled for transmission based on a quality of service parameter.

14. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 13, wherein the UL transmission resource grant is distributed among at least two UL connections between the cellular telephone and the base station that have data pending in the logical queue using one of a fair-weighted queuing and a round-robin queuing technique.

15. A cellular telephone as claimed in claim 12, wherein the transceiver is further operable to transmit an explicit message to the base station indicating a requirement to be provided an allocation of an UL transmission resource in which to transmit the message.

17. A method of operating a cellular telephone that shares an uplink to a base station with other cellular telephones in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

transmitting, within a MAC packet, a message which identifies an amount of data in one or more logical queues awaiting transmission to the base station,

receiving a signal comprising an uplink allocation indication with current uplink (UL) transmission resource allocations for a plurality of cellular telephones, including the cellular telephone, and

identifying in the UL allocation indication an UL transmission resource grant allocated to the cellular telephone for data transmission in a current frame; and

allocating the UL transmission resource grant among one or more UL connections between the cellular telephone and the base station that have data in the one or more logical queues awaiting UL transmission from the cellular telephone to the base station, based on a quality of service parameter.

18. The method of claim 17, further transmitting an explicit message to the base station indicating a requirement to be provided an allocation of an UL transmission resource in which to transmit the message.