Method for routing via access terminals
First Claim
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1. In a wireless communication system including an access terminal and first and second base stations, a method for the access terminal comprising:
- providing the access terminal with an air interface protocol, the air interface protocol including a first mode supporting personal area network-based functions and a second mode supporting radio access network-based functions complimentary with an air interface protocol of the first and second base stations;
providing the access terminal with a capability to operate in an access mode wherein the access terminal is operable to receive a message transmitted by at least one of the base stations and in turn transmit a response message to the transmitting base station;
providing the access terminal with a capability to operate in a backhaul mode wherein the access terminal is operable to receive a message transmitted by the first base station and in turn retransmit the message to the second base station;
triggering the access terminal to switch between access mode and the backhaul mode upon receipt of a signaling message from one of the at least two base stations; and
providing the access terminal with a capability to determine allocation of air interface resources in either access mode or backhaul mode based on a combination of the signaling message and a resource constraint of the access terminal, wherein the resource constraint includes at least one of a pilot signal strength and a channel quality of service to one of the at least two base stations, and wherein determining the allocation of air interface resources includes estimating at least one air interface resource setting in either access mode or backhaul mode.
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Abstract
An access-terminal routing methodology is provided that may be used to enable a wireless, meshed backhaul between base stations using existing wireless-access resources (time, bandwidth, code-space, power), protocols, and base station infrastructure. Accordingly, the invention provides a means to extend the coverage of existing networks by adding standalone base stations without wired or specialized wireless backhaul.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a wireless communication system including an access terminal and first and second base stations, a method for the access terminal comprising:
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providing the access terminal with an air interface protocol, the air interface protocol including a first mode supporting personal area network-based functions and a second mode supporting radio access network-based functions complimentary with an air interface protocol of the first and second base stations; providing the access terminal with a capability to operate in an access mode wherein the access terminal is operable to receive a message transmitted by at least one of the base stations and in turn transmit a response message to the transmitting base station; providing the access terminal with a capability to operate in a backhaul mode wherein the access terminal is operable to receive a message transmitted by the first base station and in turn retransmit the message to the second base station; triggering the access terminal to switch between access mode and the backhaul mode upon receipt of a signaling message from one of the at least two base stations; and providing the access terminal with a capability to determine allocation of air interface resources in either access mode or backhaul mode based on a combination of the signaling message and a resource constraint of the access terminal, wherein the resource constraint includes at least one of a pilot signal strength and a channel quality of service to one of the at least two base stations, and wherein determining the allocation of air interface resources includes estimating at least one air interface resource setting in either access mode or backhaul mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system comprising an access terminal established to maintain a concurrent air interface with at least a first base station and a second base station, the access terminal further including:
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a capability to operate in an access mode wherein the access terminal is operable to receive a message transmitted by at least one of the first or second base stations and in turn transmit a response message to the transmitting base station; a capability to operate in a backhaul mode wherein the access terminal is operable to receive a message transmitted by the first base station and in turn retransmit the message to the second base station; triggering means for triggering the access terminal to switch between the access mode and the backhaul mode upon receipt of a signaling message from one of the first or second base stations; and a capability to determine allocation of air interface resources in either access mode or backhaul mode based on a combination of the signaling message and a resource constraint of the access terminal, wherein the resource constraint includes at least one of a pilot signal strength and a channel quality of service to one of the at least two base stations, and wherein the capability to determine allocation of air interface resources includes a capability to estimate an appropriate allocation of an air interface resource for either an access mode or backhaul mode transmission. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification