Data routing for OFDM transmission based on observed node capacities

• US 9,654,323 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2016
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Agee, Brian G., Bromberg, Matthew C.
• Primary Examiner(s): ODOM, CURTIS B
• Application Number:
  US15/369,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20170085407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 162 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0417 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0443 utilizing "waterfilling" technique
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0456 Selection of precoding matrices or codebooks, e.g. using matrices antenna weighting
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0465 taking power constraints at power amplifier or emission constraints, e.g. constant modulus, into account
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/26 Systems using multi-frequency codes H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2602 Signal structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2605 Symbol extensions, e.g. Zero Tail, Unique Word [UW]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2607 Cyclic extensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2627 Modulators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2646 using feedback from receiver for adjusting OFDM transmission parameters, e.g. transmission timing or guard interval length
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/005 of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• 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 40/04 based on wireless node resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/241 : taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR, Eb/lo
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/265 : taking into account the quality of service QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/42 : in systems with time, space, frequency or polarisation diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 : Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• 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 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 : using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for causing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission of various portions of data via various nodes. For example, a first portion of the data may be transmitted, via a first node and using OFDM, to at least a second node. Based on one or more observed capacities associated with one or more nodes (such as the first node and/or another node), it may be determined that a second portion of the data is to be routed via a different node (such as a third node) for transmission. The second portion of the data may be transmitted, via the third node and using OFDM, to at least the second node.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission of a first portion of data, via at least one antenna of a first node, to at least a second node;

determining, based at least in part on one or more observed capacities associated with one or both of the first node and a third node, to route a second portion of the data via the third node for transmission; and

causing OFDM transmission of the second portion of the data, via at least one antenna of the third node, to at least the second node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining, based at least in part on a difference between an observed capacity associated with the first node and an observed capacity associated with the third node, to route the second portion of the data via the third node for transmission.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing OFDM transmission of the first portion of the data comprises causing OFDM transmission of the first portion of the data using one or more transmit powers that are based at least in part on a target capacity objective, wherein the target capacity objective is based at least in part on one or more transmissions received via the first node.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating at least one control parameter to the first node and the third node, wherein the causing OFDM transmission of the first portion of the data comprises causing OFDM transmission of the first portion of the data in accordance with the at least one control parameter, and the causing OFDM transmission of the second portion of the data comprises causing OFDM transmission of the second portion of the data in accordance with the at least one control parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node comprises a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)-capable node that comprises a plurality of antennas.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the third node comprises a MIMO-capable node that comprises a plurality of antennas.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the causing the OFDM transmission of the first portion of the data comprises causing the OFDM transmission of the first portion of the data via a first plurality of frequency channels that are determined based at least in part on an observed capacity associated with the first node; and

the causing the OFDM transmission of the second portion of the data comprises causing the OFDM transmission of the second portion of the data via a second plurality of frequency channels that are determined based at least in part on an observed capacity associated with the second node.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is performed responsive to a change in an observed capacity associated with the first node.

9. A system comprising:

a controller; and

a plurality of nodes comprising;

a first node comprising;

at least one antenna; and

circuitry configured to cause orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission of a first portion of data, via the at least one antenna of the first node, to at least a second node; and

a third node comprising;

at least one antenna; and

circuitry configured to cause OFDM transmission of a second portion of the data, via the at least one antenna of the third node, to at least the second node,

wherein the controller is configured to cause, based at least in part on one or more observed capacities associated with one or more of the plurality of nodes, the first portion of the data to be routed for transmission via the first node and to cause the second portion of the data to be routed for transmission via the third node.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to select the first node and the third node based at least in part on the one or more observed capacities.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the circuitry of the first node is configured to cause the OFDM transmission of the first portion of the data using one or more transmit powers that are based at least in part on a target capacity objective, wherein the target capacity objective is based at least in part on one or more transmissions that the first node is configured to receive.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the controller is further configured to indicate at least one control parameter to the first node and the third node;

the circuitry of the first node is configured to cause the OFDM transmission of the first portion of the data in accordance with the at least one control parameter; and

the circuitry of the second node is configured to cause the OFDM transmission of the second portion of the data in accordance with the at least one control parameter.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the first node comprises a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)-capable node that comprises a plurality of antennas.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the third node comprises a MIMO-capable node that comprises a plurality of antennas.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the circuitry of the first node is configured to cause the OFDM transmission of the first portion of the data via a first plurality of frequency channels that are determined based at least in part on an observed capacity associated with the first node; and

the circuitry of the third node is configured to cause the OFDM transmission of the second portion of the data via a second plurality of frequency channels that are determined based at least in part on an observed capacity associated with the third node.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to cause the second portion of the data to be routed for transmission via the third node responsive to a change in an observed capacity associated with the first node.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the circuitry of the first node and the circuitry of the third node each comprises a processor.

18. A method comprising:

causing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission of a first portion of data, via at least one antenna of a first node, to at least a second node;

selecting, based at least in part on one or more observed capacities associated with one or more of a plurality of nodes, a third node of the plurality of nodes, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises the first node and the third node;

routing a second portion of the data via the third node for transmission to a second node; and

causing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission of the second portion of the data, via at least one antenna of the third node, to at least the second node.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

causing, based at least in part on an observed capacity associated with the first node, a first link between the first node and the second node to be dropped; and

causing a second link between the third node and the second node to be added, wherein the causing the OFDM transmission of the second portion of the data comprises causing the OFDM transmission via the second link.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the first node and the third node comprises a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)-capable node that comprises a plurality of antennas.