Method and System for Allocating Media Access Control Layer Resources in a Wireless Communication Environment

• US 20150009886A1
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Zhang, Hang, Ma, Jianglei, Jia, Ming, Fong, Mo-Han, Zhu, Peiying, Tong, Wen
• Granted Patent: US 10,271,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2627 Modulators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/023 Multiplexing of multicarrier modulation signals multicarrier modulation H04L27/2601
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5069 for group communication, multicast communication or broadcast communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/004 in the uplink, i.e. towards network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for allocating shareable wireless transmission resources. A resource pool is established. The resource pool is divided into a plurality of physical layer allocation units usable for wirelessly transmitting control information and traffic data. The allocation units are assigned at the media access control layer for the wireless transmission of the control information and traffic data. The system and method of the present invention also allows mobile stations to be dynamically grouped into multicast groupings to reduce system overhead resource requirements.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A method for receiving control information within a multicast group, the method comprising:

at a mobile station;

communicating with a base station using an orthogonal frequency domain multiplexing (OFDM) or broadband OFDM based technology, wherein the mobile station is grouped within a first multicast group, wherein the first multicast group is defined by a multicast group ID, wherein the first multicast group is further defined by temporarily grouping mobile stations sharing a commonality, wherein the membership in the first multicast group is updated by unicast signaling; and

receiving at least a part of the control information from the base station via multicasting to the multicast group ID, wherein the control information comprises a bitmap for signalling to individual members of the first multicast group.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the common parameter is a layer 1 parameter.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the common parameter is a layer 2 parameter.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the multicast group ID is the common parameter.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the mobile station is grouped within a first multicast group semi-statically.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the positon of the mobile station in the bitmap is known by the mobile station from the update unicast signalling.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the mobile station is further grouped into one or more other multicast groups.

38. A mobile station configured to receive control information within a multicast group, the mobile station comprising:

communication circuitry, wherein the communication circuitry is configured to perform wireless communication; and

processing hardware coupled to the communication circuitry, wherein the processing hardware is configured to operate with the communication circuitry to;

communicate with a base station using an orthogonal frequency domain multiplexing (OFDM) or broadband OFDM based technology, wherein the mobile station is grouped within a first multicast group, wherein the first multicast group is defined by a multicast group ID, wherein the first multicast group is further defined by temporarily grouping mobile stations sharing a commonality, wherein the membership in the first multicast group is updated by unicast signaling; and

receive at least a part of the control information from the base station via multicasting to the multicast group ID, wherein the control information comprises a bitmap for signalling to individual members of the first multicast group.

39. The mobile station of claim 38, wherein the common parameter is a layer 1 parameter.

40. The mobile station of claim 38, wherein the common parameter is a layer 2 parameter.

41. The mobile station of claim 38, wherein the multicast group ID is the common parameter.

42. The mobile station of claim 38, wherein the mobile station is grouped within a first multicast group semi-statically.

43. The mobile station of claim 38, wherein the positon of the mobile station in the bitmap is known by the mobile station from the update unicast signalling.

44. The mobile station of claim 38, wherein the mobile station is further grouped into one or more other multicast groups.

45. A base station configured to receive control information within a multicast group, the base station comprising:

communication circuitry, wherein the communication circuitry is configured to perform wireless communication; and

processing hardware coupled to the communication circuitry, wherein the processing hardware is configured to operate with the communication circuitry to;

communicate with a mobile station using an orthogonal frequency domain multiplexing (OFDM) or broadband OFDM based technology, wherein the mobile station is grouped within a first multicast group, wherein the first multicast group is defined by a multicast group ID, wherein the first multicast group is further defined by temporarily grouping mobile stations sharing a commonality, wherein the membership in the first multicast group is updated by unicast signaling; and

transmit at least a part of the control information from the base station via multicasting to the multicast group ID, wherein the control information comprises a bitmap for signalling to individual members of the first multicast group.

46. The base station of claim 45, wherein the common parameter is a layer 1 parameter.

47. The base station of claim 45, wherein the common parameter is a layer 2 parameter.

48. The base station of claim 45, wherein the multicast group ID is the common parameter.

49. The base station of claim 45, wherein the mobile station is grouped within a first multicast group semi-statically.

50. The base station of claim 45, wherein the positon of the mobile station in the bitmap is indicated to the mobile station in the update unicast signalling.