Method and apparatus for carrier allocation and management in multi-carrier communication systems

• US 20070070908A1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rezaiifar, Ramin, Montojo, Juan, Ghosh, Donna, Attar, Rashid, Lott, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,955,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/236
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0005 Time-frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0046 Determination of how many bits are transmitted on different sub-channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/006 Quality of the received signal, e.g. BER, SNR, water filling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/34 TPC management, i.e. sharing limited amount of power among users or channels or data types, e.g. cell loading

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to carrier allocation and management in multi-carrier communication systems. In some embodiments, the number of carriers assigned to an access terminal on a forward link may be determined by an access network, and the number of carriers assigned to the access terminal on a reverse link may be based on a cooperative process between the access terminal and the access network. In other embodiments, the number of carriers assigned to the access terminal on the reverse link may also be determined by the access network, e.g., in relation to the scheduling information received from the access terminal.

Claims

1. A method for multi-carrier communications, comprising:

transmitting scheduling information to an access network; and

receiving an assignment message indicating a number of carriers assigned to an access terminal in relation to the scheduling information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling information includes at least one of a data requirement associated with the access terminal on a reverse link, a quality of service (QoS) requirement in connection with at least one flow associated with the access terminal on the reverse link, a transmit power available on the reverse link, a buffer status associated with the access terminal, an amount of forward-link-related overhead information to be transmitted on the reverse link, an amount of interference on the reverse link, a location of the access terminal, a sector loading on the reverse link, and a hardware constraint associated with the access terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling information includes a number of reverse link carriers requested by the access terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining a number of reverse link carriers required by the access terminal as a function of at least one carrier-determination parameter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the carrier-determination parameter includes at least one of a data requirement associated with the access terminal on a reverse link, a quality of service (QoS) requirement in connection with at least one flow associated with the access terminal on the reverse link, a transmit power available on the reverse link, an amount of forward-link-related overhead information to be transmitted on the reverse link, an amount of interference on the reverse link, a location of the access terminal, a sector loading on the reverse link, and a hardware constraint associated with the access terminal.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the scheduling information further includes a number of additional reverse link carriers required by the access terminal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of newly-assigned reverse link carriers allocated to the access terminal and a reference value associated with an initial transmit power on each newly-assigned reverse link carrier.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining the initial transmit power based on the reference value.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling information indicates a subset of previously-assigned reverse link carriers dropped by the access terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of forward link carriers assigned to the access terminal and a mapping of forward-link-related overhead channels to one or more remaining reverse link carriers associated with the access terminal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling information indicates a subset of previously-assigned reverse link carriers the access terminal intends to drop.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of forward link carriers and reverse link carriers assigned to the access terminal and a mapping of forward-link-related overhead channels to one or more remaining reverse link carriers associated with the access terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the forward-link-related overhead channels on each of the reverse link carriers assigned to the access terminal for a duration of time.

14. A method for multi-carrier communications, comprising:

determining a number of forward link carriers to be assigned to an access terminal as a function of at least one carrier-allocation parameter; and

sending an assignment message to the access terminal based on the determination.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one carrier-allocation parameter includes at least one of a data requirement associated with the access terminal on a forward link, a quality of service (QoS) requirement in connection with at least one flow associated with the access terminal on the forward link, an amount of reverse-link-related overhead information to be transmitted on the forward link, a location of the access terminal, an amount of interference on the forward link, a sector loading on the forward link, and a hardware constraint associated with an access network.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving scheduling information from the access terminal; and

determining a number of reverse link carriers associated with the access terminal in relation to the scheduling information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the scheduling information includes at least one of a data requirement associated with the access terminal on a reverse link, a quality of service (QoS) requirement in connection with at least one flow associated with the access terminal on the reverse link, a transmit power available on the reverse link, a buffer status associated with the access terminal, an amount of forward-link-related overhead information to be transmitted on the reverse link, an amount of interference on the reverse link, a location of the access terminal, a sector loading on the reverse link, and a hardware constraint associated with the access terminal.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the scheduling information includes a number of reverse link carriers requested by the access terminal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the scheduling information further includes a number of additional reverse link carriers required by the access terminal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of newly-assigned reverse link carriers allocated to the access terminal and a reference value associated with an initial transmit power on each newly-assigned reverse link carrier.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the scheduling information indicates a subset of previously-assigned reverse link carriers dropped by the access terminal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of forward link carriers assigned to the access terminal and a mapping of forward-link-related overhead channels to one or more remaining reverse link carriers associated with the access terminal.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the scheduling information indicates a subset of previously-assigned reverse link carriers the access terminal intends to drop.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of forward link carriers and reverse link carriers assigned to the access terminal and a mapping of forward-link-related overhead channels to one or more remaining reverse link carriers associated with the access terminal.

25. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining if a new reverse link carrier is to be assigned to the access terminal, based in part on forward-link-related and reverse-link-related information obtained from the access terminal.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the forward-link-related and reverse-link-related information is obtained from a route update message transmitted by the access terminal.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the assignment message further includes a newly-assigned reverse link carrier and a previously-assigned reverse link carrier allocated to the access terminal, and a mapping of forward-link-related overhead channels to the newly-assigned reverse link carrier.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising decoding the forward-link-related overhead channels transmitted on the newly-assigned reverse link carrier.

29. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a plurality of access probes on a reverse link carrier from the access terminal.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising determining a number of reverse link carriers to be assigned to the access terminal, in response to the access probes.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of forward link carriers and reverse link carriers assigned to the access terminal.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the assignment message further includes a reference value associated with an initial transmit power on a newly-assigned reverse link carrier.

33. A method for multi-carrier communications, comprising:

receiving a plurality of access probes transmitted on a first reverse link carrier from an access terminal;

assigning a second reverse link carrier to the access terminal; and

sending to the access terminal a reference value associated with an initial transmit power on the second reverse link carrier.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising determining a number of forward link carriers to be assigned to the access terminal.

35. A method for multi-carrier communications, comprising:

transmitting a plurality of access probes on a first reverse link carrier to an access network; and

receiving a message from the access network, indicating a second reverse link carrier assigned to the access terminal and a reference value associated with an initial transmit power on the second reverse link carrier.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising determining the initial transmit power on the second reverse link carrier based on the reference value.

37. An apparatus adapted for multi-carrier communications, comprising:

means for transmitting scheduling information to an access network; and

means for receiving an assignment message indicating a number of carriers assigned to an access terminal in relation to the scheduling information.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the scheduling information includes at least one of a data requirement associated with the access terminal on a reverse link, a quality of service (QoS) requirement in connection with at least one flow associated with the access terminal on the reverse link, a transmit power available on the reverse link, a buffer status associated with the access terminal, an amount of forward-link-related overhead information to be transmitted on the reverse link, an amount of interference on the reverse link, a location of the access terminal, a sector loading on the reverse link, and a hardware constraint associated with the access terminal.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the scheduling information includes a number of reverse link carriers requested by the access terminal.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising means for determining a number of reverse link carriers required by the access terminal as a function of at least one carrier-determination parameter.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the carrier-determination parameter includes at least one of a data requirement associated with the access terminal on a reverse link, a quality of service (QoS) requirement in connection with at least one flow associated with the access terminal on the reverse link, a transmit power available on the reverse link, an amount of forward-link-related overhead information to be transmitted on the reverse link, an amount of interference on the reverse link, a location of the access terminal, a sector loading on the reverse link, and a hardware constraint associated with the access terminal.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the scheduling information further includes a number of additional reverse link carriers required by the access terminal.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of newly-assigned reverse link carriers allocated to the access terminal and a reference value associated with an initial transmit power on each newly-assigned reverse link carrier.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising means for determining the initial transmit power based on the reference value.

45. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the scheduling information indicates a subset of previously-assigned reverse link carriers dropped by the access terminal.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of forward link carriers assigned to the access terminal and a mapping of forward-link-related overhead channels to one or more remaining reverse link carriers associated with the access terminal.

47. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the scheduling information indicates a subset of previously-assigned reverse link carriers the access terminal intends to drop.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of forward link carriers and reverse link carriers assigned to the access terminal and a mapping of forward-link-related overhead channels to one or more remaining reverse link carriers associated with the access terminal.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising means for transmitting the forward-link-related overhead channels on each of the reverse link carriers assigned to the access terminal for a duration of time.

50. An apparatus adapted for multi-carrier communications, comprising:

means for determining a number of forward link carriers to be assigned to an access terminal as a function of at least one carrier-allocation parameter; and

means for sending an assignment message to the access terminal based on the determination.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the at least one carrier-allocation parameter includes at least one of a data requirement associated with the access terminal on a forward link, a quality of service (QoS) requirement in connection with at least one flow associated with the access terminal on the forward link, an amount of reverse-link-related overhead information to be transmitted on the forward link, a location of the access terminal, an amount of interference on the forward link, a sector loading on the forward link, and a hardware constraint associated with an access network.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising:

means for receiving scheduling information from the access terminal; and

means for determining a number of reverse link carriers associated with the access terminal in relation to the scheduling information.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the scheduling information includes at least one of a data requirement associated with the access terminal on a reverse link, a quality of service (QoS) requirement in connection with at least one flow associated with the access terminal on the reverse link, a transmit power available on the reverse link, a buffer status associated with the access terminal, an amount of forward-link-related overhead information to be transmitted on the reverse link, an amount of interference on the reverse link, a location of the access terminal, a sector loading on the reverse link, and a hardware constraint associated with the access terminal.

54. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the scheduling information includes a number of reverse link carriers requested by the access terminal.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the scheduling information further includes a number of additional reverse link carriers required by the access terminal.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of newly-assigned reverse link carriers allocated to the access terminal and a reference value associated with an initial transmit power on each newly-assigned reverse link carrier.

57. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the scheduling information indicates a subset of previously-assigned reverse link carriers dropped by the access terminal.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of forward link carriers assigned to the access terminal and a mapping of forward-link-related overhead channels to one or more remaining reverse link carriers associated with the access terminal.

59. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the scheduling information indicates a subset of previously-assigned reverse link carriers the access terminal intends to drop.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of forward link carriers and reverse link carriers assigned to the access terminal and a mapping of forward-link-related overhead channels to one or more remaining reverse link carriers associated with the access terminal.

61. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising means for determining if a new reverse link carrier is to be assigned to the access terminal, based in part on forward-link-related and reverse-link-related information obtained from the access terminal.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the assignment message further includes a newly-assigned reverse link carrier and a previously-assigned reverse link carrier allocated to the access terminal, and a mapping of forward-link-related overhead channels to the newly-assigned reverse link carrier.

63. The apparatus of claim 50, further means for comprising receiving a plurality of access probes on a reverse link carrier from the access terminal.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the assignment message further includes a number of forward link carriers and reverse link carriers assigned to the access terminal, in response to the access probes.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the assignment message further includes a reference value associated with an initial transmit power on a newly-assigned reverse link carrier.

66. An apparatus adapted for multi-carrier communications, comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of access probes transmitted on a first reverse link carrier from an access terminal;

means for assigning a second reverse link carrier to the access terminal; and

means for sending to the access terminal a reference value associated with an initial transmit power on the second reverse link carrier.

67. An apparatus adapted for multi-carrier communications, comprising:

means for transmitting a plurality of access probes on a first reverse link carrier to an access network; and

means for receiving a message from the access network, indicating a second reverse link carrier assigned to the access terminal and a reference value associated with an initial transmit power on the second reverse link carrier.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for determining the initial transmit power on the second reverse link carrier based on the reference value.