Automatic reverse channel assignment in a two-way TDM communication system
View Patent ↗To minimize overhead in the allocation of channels, forward and reverse link time slots are automatically assigned in pairs. In particular, rather than requiring a separate process for allocating reverse link channels for the sending of acknowledgment messages in response to receipt of a forward link packet, a different scenario takes place. At the receiving end, such as for valid reception of data on a forward link channel at a central base station site, a reverse link time slot is automatically allocated in a time slot which depends upon the time slot allocation on the forward link. This assists with the rapid return of acknowledgment messages in a reverse link direction which is the predominant direction for such messages in a wireless system wherein most data traffic is Web page oriented.
1. A method for communication comprising:
receiving a forward link message on a forward link channel in an allocated first time interval including at least one time slot;
transmitting on a reverse link channel reverse link message in response to the forward link message in a second time interval including at least one time slot, wherein the second time interval on the reverse link is positioned a predetermined time period away from the first time interval allocated on the forward link channel, wherein the second time interval is positioned without receiving a specific time interval allocation message.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reverse link message is an acknowledgment message for the forward link message.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the reverse link message is a TCP/IP layer acknowledgment message for the forward link message.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the reverse link message is an HTTP layer embedded link request.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the forward link message is a network layer packet.
6. An apparatus comprising:
a receiving component configured to receive forward link message on a forward link channel in an allocated first time interval including at least one time slot;
a transmitting component configured to transmit on a reverse link channel a reverse link message in response to the forward link message in a second time interval including at least one time slot, wherein the second time interval on the reverse link is positioned a predetermined time period away from the first time interval allocated on the forward link channel, wherein the second time interval is positioned without receiving a specific time interval allocation message.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the reverse link message is an acknowledgment message for the forward link message.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the reverse link message is a TCP/IP layer acknowledgment message for the forward link message.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the reverse link message is an HTTP layer embedded link request.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the forward link message is a network layer packet.
11. A code division multiple access (CDMA) subscriber unit comprising:
circuitry configured to receive a first message in an allocated first time interval, wherein the first time interval includes at least one time slot; and
circuitry configured, in response to receipt of the first message, to transmit an acknowledgement in a second time interval of a reverse link, wherein the second time interval is a predetermined time period after the first time interval and a specific allocation of the second time interval is not received by the CDMA subscriber unit.
12. The CDMA subscriber unit of claim 11 , wherein the first message is received over a plurality of code channels.
13. The CDMA subscriber unit of claim 11 , wherein the acknowledgment is transmitted over a code channel.
14. The CD 1 VIA subscriber unit of claim 11 , wherein the acknowledgement is transmitted in response to an automatic repeat request mechanism.
15. The CD 1 VIA subscriber unit of claim 11 further comprising circuitry configured to transmit a code channel in addition to the acknowledgment, wherein the additional code channel includes power control information.
16. The CDMA subscriber unit of claim 15 , wherein the additional code channel includes signaling information.
17. The CDMA subscriber unit of claim 11 , wherein the first message includes packet data.