Method and apparatus for scheduling forward link data transmissions in CDMA/HDR networks

1. A method of scheduling the transmission of data from an access point to a plurality of access terminals serviced by the access point using the corresponding forward communication links between the access point and the access terminals in a CDMA/HDR communications network, comprising:

the access point calculating a scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a plurality of operating parameters; and

the access point scheduling data for transmission to the access terminal having the largest scheduling parameter;

wherein the access point calculates the scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a frame utilization for the corresponding forward communication link and access terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frame utilization is calculated as a function of a size of a data payload available to send to the corresponding access terminal and a size of the physical layer packet for the corresponding access terminal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access point calculates the frame utilization U FRAMEi for the ith forward communication link and access terminal using the following expression:

U FRAMEi =DPA i /PS i ;

wherein

DPA i =the size of the data payload available to send to the ith access terminal; and

PS i =the physical layer packet size corresponding to a maximum data transmission rate for the ith access terminal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access point calculates the scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of the frame utilization, a maximum data transmission rate, and an average data transmission rate for the corresponding forward communication link and access terminal.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the frame utilization is calculated as a function of a size of a data payload available to send to the corresponding access terminal and a size of the physical layer packet for the corresponding access terminal.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the access point calculates the frame utilization U FRAMEi for the ith forward communication link and access terminal using the following expression:

U FRAMEi =DPA i /PS i ;

wherein

DPA i =the size of the data payload available to send to the ith access terminal; and

PS i =the physical layer packet size corresponding to a maximum data transmission rate for the ith access terminal.

7. A method of scheduling the transmission of data from an access point to a plurality of access terminals serviced by the access point using the corresponding forward communication links between the access point and the access terminals in a CDMA/HDR communications network comprising:

the access point calculating a scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a plurality of operating parameters; and

the access point scheduling data for transmission to the access terminal having the largest scheduling parameter;

wherein the access point calculates the scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of one or more weighting factors, a maximum data transmission rate, and an average data transmission rate for the corresponding forward communication link and access terminal.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the weighting factors are selected from the group consisting of:

a frame utilization for the corresponding forward communication link and access terminal; and

a priority of the data to be transmitted to the corresponding access terminal.

9. A method of scheduling the transmission of data from an access point to a plurality of access terminals serviced by the access point using the corresponding forward communication links between the access point and the access terminals in a CDMA/HDR communications network, comprising:

the access point calculating a scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a plurality of operating parameters; and

the access point scheduling data for transmission to the access terminal having the largest scheduling parameter;

wherein the access point calculates the scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a priority of the data to be sent to the corresponding access terminal.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access point calculates the scheduling parameter P i for an ith access terminal and forward communication link using the following expression:

P i =( R MAXi /R AVGi )* U FRAMEi ;

wherein

P i =the scheduling parameter for the ith forward communication link for the corresponding ith access terminal;

R MAXi =the maximum data transmission rate for the ith forward communication link for the corresponding ith access terminal;

R AVGi =the average data transmission rate for the ith forward communication link for the ith corresponding ith access terminal for a predetermined time period; and

U FRAMEi =the frame utilization for the ith forward communication link for the corresponding ith access terminal.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the access point calculates the frame utilization U FRAMEi for the ith forward communication link and access terminal using the following expression:

U FRAMEi =DPA i /PS i ;

wherein

DPA i =the size of the data payload available to send to the ith access terminal; and

PS i =the physical layer packet size corresponding to R MAXi .

12. A communications network, comprising:

a plurality of access terminals; and

an access point operably coupled to the access terminals by a plurality of corresponding forward communication links;

wherein the access point is adapted to calculate a scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a plurality of operating parameters; and

wherein the access point is adapted to schedule data for transmission to the access terminal having the largest scheduling parameter;

wherein the access point is adapted to calculate the scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a frame utilization for the corresponding forward communication link and access terminal.

13. The communications network of claim 12 , wherein the frame utilization is calculated as a function of a size of a data payload available to send to the corresponding access terminal and a size of the physical layer packet for the corresponding access terminal.

14. The communications network of claim 12 , wherein the access point is adapted to calculate the frame utilization U FRAMEi for the ith forward communication link and access terminal using the following expression:

U FRAMEi =DPA i /PS i ;

wherein

DPA i =the size of the data payload available to send to the ith access terminal; and

PS i =the physical layer packet size corresponding to a maximum data transmission rate for the ith access terminal.

15. The communications network of claim 12 , wherein the access point is adapted to calculate the scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of the frame utilization, a maximum data transmission rate, and an average data transmission rate for the corresponding forward communication link and access terminal.

16. The communications network of claim 15 , wherein the frame utilization is calculated as a function of a size of a data payload available to send to the corresponding access terminal and a size of the physical layer packet for the corresponding access terminal.

17. The communications network of claim 15 , wherein the access point is adapted to calculate the frame utilization U FRAMEi for the ith forward communication link and access terminal using the following expression:

U FRAMEi =DPA i /PS i ;

wherein

DPA i =the size of the data payload available to send to the ith access terminal; and

PS i =the physical layer packet size corresponding to a maximum data transmission rate for the ith access terminal.

18. A communications network, comprising:

a plurality of access terminals; and

an access point operably coupled to the access terminals by a plurality of corresponding forward communication links;

wherein the access point is adapted to calculate a scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a plurality of operating parameters; and

wherein the access point is adapted to schedule data for transmission to the access terminal having the largest scheduling parameter;

wherein the access point is adapted to calculate the scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of one or more weighting factors, a maximum data transmission rate, and an average data transmission rate for the corresponding forward communication link and access terminal.

19. The communications network of claim 18 , wherein the weighting factors are selected from the group consisting of:

a frame utilization for the corresponding forward communication link and access terminal; and

a priority of the data to be transmitted to the corresponding access terminal.

20. A communications network, comprising:

a plurality of access terminals; and

an access point operably coupled to the access terminals by a plurality of corresponding forward communication links;

wherein the access point is adapted to calculate a scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a plurality of operating parameters; and

wherein the access point is adapted to schedule data for transmission to the access terminal having the largest scheduling parameter;

wherein the access point is adapted to calculate the scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a priority of the data to be sent to the corresponding access terminal.

21. The communications network of claim 12 , wherein the access point is adapted to calculate a scheduling parameter P i for an ith access terminal and forward communication link using the following expression:

P i =( R MAXi /R AVGi )* U FRAMEi ;

wherein

P i =the scheduling parameter for the ith forward communication link for the corresponding ith access terminal;

R MAXi =the maximum data transmission rate for the ith forward communication link for the corresponding ith access terminal;

R AVGi =the average data transmission rate for the ith forward communication link for the ith corresponding ith access terminal for a predetermined time period; and

U FRAMEi =the frame utilization for the ith forward communication link for the corresponding ith access terminal.

22. The communications network of claim 21 , wherein the access point is adapted to calculate the frame utilization U FRAMEi for the ith forward communication link and access terminal using the following expression:

U FRAMEi =DPA i /PS i ;

wherein

DPA i =the size of the data payload available to send to the ith access terminal; and

PS i =the physical layer packet size corresponding to R MAXi .

23. A computer program for scheduling the transmission of data from an access point to a plurality of access terminals serviced by the access point using the corresponding forward communication links between the access point and the access terminals in a CDMA/HDR communications network, comprising instructions for:

the access point calculating a scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a plurality of operating parameters; and

the access point scheduling data for transmission to the access terminal having the largest scheduling parameter;

wherein the access point calculates the scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a frame utilization for the corresponding forward communication link and access terminal.

24. The computer program of claim 23 , wherein the frame utilization is calculated as a function of a size of a data payload available to send to the corresponding access terminal and a size of the physical layer packet for the corresponding access terminal.

25. The computer program of claim 23 , wherein the access point calculates the frame utilization U FRAMEi for the ith forward communication link and access terminal using the following expression:

U FRAMEi =DPA i /PS i ;

wherein

DPA i =the size of the data payload available to send to the ith access terminal; and

PS i =the physical layer packet size corresponding to a maximum data transmission rate for the ith access terminal.

26. The computer program of claim 23 , wherein the access point calculates the scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of the frame utilization, a maximum data transmission rate, and an average data transmission rate for the corresponding forward communication link and access terminal.

27. The computer program of claim 26 , wherein the frame utilization is calculated as a function of a size of a data payload available to send to the corresponding access terminal and a size of the physical layer packet for the corresponding access terminal.

28. The computer program of claim 26 , wherein the access point calculates the frame utilization U FRAMEi for the ith forward communication link and access terminal using the following expression:

U FRAMEi =DPA i /PS i ;

wherein

DPA i =the size of the data payload available to send to the ith access terminal; and

PS i =the physical layer packet size corresponding to a maximum data transmission rate for the ith access terminal.

29. The computer program of claim 23 , wherein the access point calculates a scheduling parameter P i for an ith access terminal and forward communication link using the following expression:

P i =( R MAXi /R AVGi )* U FRAMEi ;

wherein

P i =the scheduling parameter for the ith forward communication link for the corresponding ith access terminal;

R MAXi =the maximum data transmission rate for the ith forward communication link for the corresponding ith access terminal;

R AVGi =the average data transmission rate for the ith forward communication link for the ith corresponding ith access terminal for a predetermined time period; and

U FRAMEi =the frame utilization for the ith forward communication link for the corresponding ith access terminal.

30. The computer program of claim 29 , wherein the access point calculates the frame utilization U FRAMEi for the ith forward communication link and access terminal using the following expression:

U FRAMEi =DPA i /PS i ;

wherein

DPA i =the size of the data payload available to send to the ith access terminal; and

PS i =the physical layer packet size corresponding to R MAXi .

31. A communications network, comprising:

a plurality of access terminals;

an access point operably coupled to the access terminals by a plurality of corresponding forward communication links;

means for calculating a scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a plurality of operating parameters;

means for scheduling data for transmission to the access terminal having the largest scheduling parameter; and

means for calculating the scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of a frame utilization for the corresponding forward communication link and access terminal.

32. The communications network of claim 31 , further comprising:

means for calculating the frame utilization as a function of a size of a data payload available to send to the corresponding access terminal and a size of the physical layer packet for the corresponding access terminal.

33. The communications network of claim 31 , further comprising:

means for calculating the frame utilization U FRAMEi for the ith forward communication link and access terminal using the following expression:

U FRAMEi =DPA i /PS i ;

wherein

DPA i =the size of the data payload available to send to the ith access terminal; and

PS i =the physical layer packet size corresponding to a maximum data transmission rate for the ith access terminal.

34. The communications network of claim 31 , further comprising:

means for calculating the scheduling parameter for each of the forward communication links and access terminals as a function of the frame utilization, a maximum data transmission rate, and an average data transmission rate for the corresponding forward communication link and access terminal.

35. The communications network of claim 34 , further comprising:

means for calculating the frame utilization as a function of a size of a data payload available to send to the corresponding access terminal and a size of the physical layer packet for the corresponding access terminal.

36. The communications network of claim 34 , further comprising:

means for calculating the frame utilization U FRAMEi for the ith forward communication link and access terminal using the following expression:

U FRAMEi =DPA i /PS i ;

wherein

DPA i =the size of the data payload available to send to the ith access terminal; and

PS i =the physical layer packet size corresponding to a maximum data transmission rate for the ith access terminal.

37. The communications network of claim 31 , further comprising: means for calculating the scheduling parameter P i for an ith access terminal and forward communication link using the following expression:

P i =( R MAXi /R AVGi )* U FRAMEi ;

wherein

P i =the scheduling parameter for the ith forward communication link for the corresponding ith access terminal;

R MAXi =the maximum data transmission rate for the ith forward communication link for the corresponding ith access terminal;

R AVGi =the average data transmission rate for the ith forward communication link for the ith corresponding ith access terminal for a predetermined time period; and

U FRAMEi =the frame utilization for the ith forward communication link for the corresponding ith access terminal.

38. The communications network of claim 37 , further comprising:

means for calculating the frame utilization U FRAMEi for the ith forward communication link and access terminal using the following expression:

U FRAMEi =DPA i /PS i ;

wherein

DPA i =the size of the data payload available to send to the ith access terminal; and

PS i =the physical layer packet size corresponding to R MAXi .