Methods and apparatus for using tones in a wireless communication system
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatus for allocating repeating time periods in a wireless, communication system. A timing reference, such as a beacon is identified. An overhead set of repeating time periods is identified, the overhead set of repeating time periods having an overhead signal periodicity related to the beacon. A data payload set of repeating time periods having a data payload periodicity related to the beacon time period is identified. The overhead set of repeating time periods is divided into a fixed bit-use subset of repeating time periods and a flexible bit use subset of repeating time periods.
1. A method comprising:
transmitting, via a first carrier, a plurality of overhead payloads including a first overhead payload and a second overhead payload,
wherein the first overhead payload comprises a first flexible bit portion and a first fixed bit portion, the first fixed bit portion comprising a first message corresponding to a first message type and a second message corresponding to a second message type,
wherein the second overhead payload comprises a second flexible bit portion and a second fixed bit portion, the second fixed bit portion comprising a third message corresponding to the first message type and a fourth message corresponding to a third message type, and
wherein the second message type is distinct from the third message type.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first message type specifies at least one of: a software version, a system time, an access priority, loading information, a carrier configuration, a sector configuration, or transmission power.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first flexible bit portion comprises a loading message associated with a second carrier.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first overhead payload is transmitted from a first base station sector, and wherein the first flexible bit portion comprises a loading message associated with a second base station sector.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, via the first carrier, a beacon time signal periodically according to a beacon time period.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising transmitting, via the first carrier, a plurality of data payloads distinct from the beacon time signal, wherein each data payload is transmitted during a corresponding data payload time period of a plurality of data payload time periods that have a common duration and wherein the transmission of the data payloads is interleaved with transmission of the beacon time signal.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of overhead payloads is transmitted during a corresponding overhead payload time period of a plurality of overhead payload time periods that have a common duration, the overhead payload time periods interleaved with the data payload time periods.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of overhead payloads further comprises a corresponding flexible bit portion, and a corresponding fixed bit portion, each corresponding fixed bit portion comprising:
a corresponding fixed bit message corresponding to the first message type; and
a corresponding second fixed bit message corresponding to a selected message type of a plurality of message types, wherein each of the plurality of message types has a corresponding transmission periodicity, and wherein selection of the message type is determined by the corresponding transmission periodicity.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first message is identical to the third message.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein bits in the first fixed bit portion and the second fixed bit portion have a predetermined use based on a position of the bits.
11. A transmission device comprising:
a memory including stored transmitter control information;
a communication module for using a block of tones to transmit information;
a determination module configured to:
generate a plurality of overhead payloads including a first overhead payload and a second overhead payload,
wherein the first overhead payload comprises a first flexible bit portion and a first fixed bit portion, the first fixed bit portion comprising a first message corresponding to a first message type and a second message corresponding to a second message type,
wherein the second overhead payload comprises a second flexible bit portion and a second fixed bit portion the second fixed bit portion comprising a third message corresponding to the first message type and a fourth message corresponding to a third message type, and
wherein the second message type is distinct from the third message type; and
a transmitter configured to transmit, via a first carrier, each of the plurality of overhead payloads.
12. The transmission device of claim 11 , wherein the first message type specifies at least one of: a software version, a system time, an access priority, loading information, a carrier configuration, a sector configuration, or transmission power.
13. The transmission device of claim 11 , wherein the first flexible bit portion comprises a loading message associated with a second carrier.
14. The transmission device of claim 11 , wherein the first overhead payload is transmitted from a first base station sector, and wherein the first flexible bit portion comprises a loading message associated with a second base station sector.
15. A communications device operable to use a block of tones to communicate information, the communications device comprising:
means for transmitting, via a first carrier, a plurality of overhead payloads including a first overhead payload and a second overhead a payload,
wherein the first overhead payload comprises a first flexible bit portion and a first fixed bit portion, the first fixed bit portion comprising a first message corresponding to a first message type and a second message corresponding to a second message type,
wherein the second overhead payload comprises a second flexible bit portion and a second fixed bit portion, the second fixed bit portion comprising a third message corresponding to the first message type and a fourth message corresponding to a third message type, and
wherein the second message type is distinct from the third message type.
16. The communications device of claim 15 , wherein the first message type specifies at least one of: a software version, a system time, an access priority, loading information, a carrier configuration, a sector configuration, or transmission power.
17. The communications device of claim 15 , wherein the first flexible bit portion comprises a loading message associated with a second carrier.
18. The communications device of claim 15 , wherein the first overhead payload is transmitted from a first base station sector, and wherein the first flexible bit portion comprises a loading message associated with a second base station sector.
19. A non-transitory computer-readable device storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
generate a plurality of overhead payloads including a first overhead payload and a second overhead payload,
wherein the first overhead payload comprises a first flexible bit portion and a first fixed bit portion, the first fixed bit portion comprising a first message corresponding to a first message type and a second message corresponding to a second message type,
wherein the second overhead payload comprises a second flexible bit portion and a second fixed bit portion, the second fixed bit portion comprising a third message corresponding to the first message type and a fourth message corresponding to a third message type,
wherein the second message type is distinct from the third message type.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 19 , wherein the first message type specifies at least one of a software version, a system time, an access priority, loading information, a carrier configuration, a sector configuration, or transmission power.
21. The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 19 , wherein the first overhead payload is transmitted via a first carrier, and wherein the first flexible bit portion comprises a loading message associated with a second carrier.
22. The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 19 , wherein the first overhead payload is transmitted from a first base station sector, and wherein the first flexible bit portion comprises a loading message associated with a second base station sector.
23. An apparatus operable in a wireless communication system to use a block of tones to communicate information, the apparatus comprising:
a memory including stored transmitter control information; and a processor configured to:
generate a plurality of overhead payloads including a first overhead payload and a second overhead payload,
wherein the first overhead payload comprises a first flexible bit portion and a first fixed bit portion, the first fixed bit portion comprising a first message corresponding to a first message type and a second message corresponding to a second message type,
wherein the second overhead payload comprises a second flexible bit portion and a second fixed bit portion, the second fixed bit portion comprising a third message corresponding to the first message type and a fourth message corresponding to a third message type, and
wherein the second message type is distinct from the third message type.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the first message type specifies at least one of: a software version, a system time, an access priority, loading information, a carrier configuration, a sector configuration, or transmission power.
25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the first overhead payload is transmitted via a first carrier, and wherein the first flexible bit portion comprises a loading message associated with a second carrier.
26. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the first overhead payload is transmitted from a first base station sector, and wherein the first flexible bit portion comprises a loading message associated with a second base station sector.