Supplemental channel sharing algorithm
View Patent ↗Disclosed is a method for utilizing SCH resources more efficiently for supplemental channels (SCH) by minimizing gaps between data bursts due to overhead delays. Such gaps are minimized using a supplemental channel sharing algorithm to prospectively assign SCH resources supporting existing SCHs and to schedule future issuance of DNRs such that currently unavailable SCH resources may be prospectively assigned based on states of the SCH resources, wherein an existing SCH is a SCH over which a data burst is currently being transmitted.
1. A method of sharing supplemental channel resources in a system utilizing open assignment and open waiting states for responding to a resource request, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a data notify request indicating a request for supplemental channel resources; and
prospectively assigning currently unavailable supplemental channel resources to support a future supplemental channel for a user associated with the received data notify request if the data notify request was received during an open assignment state during which the currently unavailable supplemental channel resources are available for prospective assignment.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of:
determining whether other supplemental channel resources are available if the data notify request was not received during the open assignment state.
3. The method of claim 2 comprising the additional step of:
assigning the other supplemental channel resources to the user if the other supplemental channel resources are available.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of assigning the other supplemental channel resources comprises the step of:
scheduling a next data notify request to be issued for the user in a next preferred user assignment window associated with the other supplemental channel resources, the preferred user assignment window corresponding to a time period during which a current user may be scheduled to issue a data notify request.
5. The method of claim 2 comprising the additional step of:
determining whether the currently unavailable supplemental channel resources are in an open waiting state during which the currently unavailable supplemental channel resources are not available for prospective assignment.
6. The method of claim 5 comprising the additional step of:
scheduling a next data notify request for the user in a next waiting user assignment window associated with the currently unavailable supplemental channel resources if the currently unavailable supplemental channel resources are in the open waiting state, the waiting user assignment window corresponding to a time period during which a waiting user may be scheduled to issue a data notify request.
7. The method of claim 5 comprising the additional step of:
scheduling a next data notify request for the user to be issued if the currently unavailable supplemental channel resources are not in the open waiting state.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of prospectively assigning the currently unavailable supplemental channel resources comprises the step of:
determining whether the user is a current user of supplemental channel resources.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of prospectively assigning the currently unavailable supplemental channel resources comprises the additional steps of:
reducing a continuation count for the user if the user is a current user; and
scheduling when to issue a next data notify request for the user based on the continuation count.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of prospectively assigning the currently unavailable supplemental channel resources comprises the additional step of:
determining if a first data rate is different from a second data rate, the first data rate being associated with the currently unavailable supplemental channel resources, the second data rate being associated with the future supplemental channel.