OVERLAY OF BEARERS IN A RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20130010718A1
• Filed: 07/05/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TAIT International Limited (Tait Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tait Limited
• Inventors: Horn, Clive Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 9,504,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA

Abstract

A radio system having multiple bearers overlays a relatively narrowband bearer such as P25 on a relatively wideband bearer such as LTE, for transmission of both uplink and downlink signals. The wideband bearer uses a spectrum of subcarriers which form a set of radio frequency blocks. One or more blocks or other related parts of the spectrum may be allocated to the narrowband bearer. In some cases the narrowband bearer may push through the wideband allocation using a relatively high power to dominate signals transmitted by the wideband bearer. Voice calls such as emergency calls using the narrowband bearer may be prioritised.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting multiple radio bearer signals, including:

providing a set of radio frequency blocks;

allocating one or more frequency blocks for transmission of one or more signals using a first bearer;

allocating one or more frequency blocks for transmission of one or more signals using a second bearer; and

transmitting the signals using their allocated frequency blocks.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first bearer provides a relatively wideband service for which multiple frequency blocks are allocated, while the second bearer provides a relatively narrowband service for which a single frequency block is allocated.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the frequency blocks allocated to the first bearer are grouped together.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the frequency blocks allocated to the first bearer are separated by one or more blocks allocated to the second bearer.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the frequency blocks allocated to the second bearer are at one end of the set of blocks.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the signals include both uplink signals transmitted by user terminals and downlink signals transmitted by base stations.

7. A method according to claim 1 further including:

transmitting a plurality of relatively narrowband signals in a single frequency block allocated to the second bearer.

8. A method according to claim 1 further including:

ceasing transmission of signals in a frequency block allocated for use by the second bearer; and

allocating the block for transmission of signals by the first bearer.

9. A method according to claim 2 wherein voice calls are given priority using the narrowband bearer.

10. A method of providing radio services using multiple bearer signals, including:

providing a set of radio frequency blocks;

allocating the frequency blocks for services using a first bearer;

receiving a request for services using a second bearer; and

re-allocating one or more of the frequency blocks for services using the second bearer.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the request for services using the second bearer is a request for a voice call.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the request for services using the second bearer is an emergency call.

13. A controller for a multiple bearer radio system, having a processor and memory, the memory containing instructions which cause the controller to:

allocate one or more frequency blocks for transmission of one or more signals using a first bearer;

allocate one or more frequency blocks for transmission of one or more signals using a second bearer; and

transmit the signals using their allocated frequency blocks.

14. A controller for terminal unit for a radio system, having a processor and memory, the memory containing instructions which cause the controller to choose between a broadband bearer and a narrowband bearer which are available in the system for transmission and reception of signals.