VARIABLE BANDWIDTH IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20090093257A1
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Rinne, Mikko, Kaunisto, Risto, Lappetelainen, Antti, Parssinen, Aarno, Ojala, Jussi, Seppinen, Pauli
• Granted Patent: US 9,185,565 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/452.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/06 Hybrid resource partitioning, e.g. channel borrowing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/12 Fixed resource partitioning

Abstract

A method, device, and system that use narrowband channels to provide higher re-use without multiplying the operator spectrum requirement. If a communication system supports variable carrier bandwidth channels, the narrow channel capacity can be divided among adjacent cells to provide higher re-use.

Claims

1. A method for decreasing required radio spectrum in a communication system using variable bandwidth, the method comprising:

dividing radio frequencies of the communication system into a wideband channel radio frequency and a plurality of narrowband channel frequencies; and

communicating user data to a receiving apparatus using both the wideband channel radio frequency and the plurality of narrowband channel frequencies in a wireless communication environment,

wherein the wireless communication environment is configured to support the plurality of narrowband channel frequencies for communicating user data when the receiving apparatus involved in the communication is in cell boundary regions, and wherein the wireless communication environment is configured to support the at least one wideband channel frequency when the receiving apparatus involved in communicating user data is not located in a cell boundary region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a higher frequency re-use factor is applied to the plurality of narrowband channel frequencies.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, at least in some cells of the communication system, both the plurality of narrowband channel frequencies and the wideband channel frequency are allocated so that the plurality of narrowband channel frequencies are used to extend cell range.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of narrowband channel frequencies are divided among adjacent communication cells in such a way that adjacent cells are using different narrowband channel frequencies.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of narrowband channel frequencies are located outside of the wideband channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method incorporates spreading for implementing spectrum sharing between adjacent cells.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of narrowband channel frequencies are located inside of the wideband channel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one communication cell includes a repeater configured to operate using both the wideband channel frequency and the plurality of narrowband channel frequencies.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting communication scheduling information to the receiving apparatus using one of the plurality of narrowband channel frequencies.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the communication scheduling information includes a terminal identity for a terminal that will use a particular channel.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein use of the wideband channel frequency is coordinated.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of narrowband channel frequencies are assigned to different communication cells.

13. An apparatus operable in a wireless communication environment, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate with at least one base station in the wireless communication environment; and

a processor operatively connected to the transceiver, the processor configured to provide commands to modulate at least one wideband bandwidth carrier and at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier,

wherein the wireless communication environment is configured to support the at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier for communication when the apparatus is in cell boundary regions, and wherein the wireless communication environment is configured to support the at least one wideband bandwidth carrier when the apparatus is not located in a cell boundary region.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier is inside a full bandwidth channel.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier is outside of a full bandwidth channel.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier outside of the full bandwidth channel implements spreading.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising multiple antennas operatively connected to the transceiver.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication environment is further configure to support the at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier for communication when the apparatus is in an idle mode.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to process scheduling information using one of the at least one narrowband bandwidth carrier.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the scheduling information includes a terminal identity for a terminal that will use a channel.