Dynamic bandwidth allocation to transmit a wireless protocol across a code division multiple access (CDMA) radio link

• US 6,081,536 A
• Filed: 12/17/1997
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tantivy Communications Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Amalfitano, Carlo, Gorsuch, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US08/992,760
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450, 455/452, 455/509, 455/500, 455/422, 455/447, 370/335, 370/342, 370/441, 370/209, 370/468, 370/433, 370/465, 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 13/16 Code allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 13/18 Allocation of orthogonal codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/165 Variable formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0428 Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1327 Release and resetting of connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13294 CDMA, code division multiplexing, i.e. combinations of H04Q2213/13291 and/or H04Q2213/13292 with space division
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1336 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0466 the resource being a scrambling code
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 : WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A technique for transmission of wireless signals across CDMA radio links. Bandwidth is allocated dynamically within a session to specific CDMA subscriber unit based upon data rate determinations. Specifically, a dynamic bandwidth allocation algorithm operates from limits calculated based upon available ports per subscriber, expected user bandwidth, and parallel user bandwidth versus throughput. Provisions for priority service, unbalanced forward and reverse spectrum utilization, voice prioritization, and band switching are also made.

Claims

1. A method for providing wireless communication of digital data signals, the digital data signals being communicated between a plurality of wireless subscriber units, and a base station, the digital signals being communicated using at least one radio frequency channel via digitally modulated Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signals, the digitally modulated CDMA signals also having a given nominal data rate, the method comprising the steps of:

a) making available a plurality of subchannels within each CDMA radio channel, wherein a data rate of each subchannel is much less than the nominal data rate of the digitally modulated CDMA radio signals;

b) establishing a network layer session between terminal equipment connected to the subscriber unit through the base station to other terminal equipment connected to the base station; and

c) during the network layer session, allocating available subchannels only on an as needed basis, with the number of subchannels allocated thereby changing during the duration of a given session and such that even when no digital signals are present during the session connection, subchannels are deallocated from the connection while maintaining the appearance of a continuous session connection at the network layer.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein a plurality of subchannels are made available on a single radio frequency carrier by assigning orthogonal codes for each subchannel.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein step b) additionally comprises:

i) upon establishing a network layer session, initially allocating a single subchannel; and

ii) as a session requires additional bandwidth to maintain transmission of the digital signals, allocating additional subchannels.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the digital signals include a digitized representation of a voice signal, additionally comprising the step of:

maintaining allocation of subchannels sufficient to service bandwidth requirements of the voice signal for the duration of the session connection.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein the digital signals include a digitized representation of a voice signal, additionally comprising the step of:

selecting a subchannel bandwidth to be sufficient to transmit the voice signal bandwidth continuously.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein step c) additionally comprises:

spoofing lower physical layers at the subscriber unit into behaving as if sufficient bandwidth is available to continuously transmit digital signals.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein subchannels are allocated on a priority class of service basis among a number of subscriber units.

8. A method as in claim 1 wherein the digital signals are of different nominal bandwidths.