Multiplexing scheme for unicast and broadcast/multicast traffic
View Patent ↗A method is provided for efficiently multiplexing interlaced broadcast traffic over a wireless network. The multiplexing scheme organizes unused slots in at least some base stations so that unicast traffic employing hybrid ARQ may be delivered therein.
1. A method for coordinating transmissions within a first and second cell using an n-slot interlacing structure, the method comprising:
transforming a first block of broadcast information into first and second subpackets;
transmitting the first subpacket within the first and second cells during a first time slot;
transmitting the second subpacket within the second cell during a second time slot while bypassing transmission of the second subpacket within the first cell during the second time slot, and wherein a first data rate used to transmit the first block of broadcast information in the first cell is larger than a second data rate used to transmit the first block of broadcast information in the second cell;
transforming a second block of the broadcast information into third and fourth subpackets;
transmitting the third subpacket within the first and second cells during an n+1 time slot; and
transmitting the fourth subpacket within the second cell during an n+2 time slot and bypassing transmission of the fourth subpacket within the first cell during the n+2 time slot.
2. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting unicast information within the first cell during the second time slot; and
retransmitting the unicast information within the first cell during the n+2 time slot.
3. A method, as set forth in claim 2 , wherein retransmitting the unicast information within the first cell during the n+2 time slot occurs in response to receiving a negative acknowledgement signal in response to transmitting unicast information within the first cell during the second time slot.
4. A method, as set forth in claim 2 , further comprising terminating retransmission of the unicast information with the first cell during the n+2 time slot in response to receiving an acknowledgement signal in response to transmitting unicast information within the first cell during the second time slot.
5. A method for receiving broadcast transmissions from a first and second cell using an n-slot interlacing structure, the method comprising:
receiving a first subpacket from the first and second cells during a first time slot;
receiving a second subpacket from the second cell during a second time slot, wherein transmission of the second subpacket within the first cell during the second time slot has been bypassed, and wherein a first data rate used to transmit the first block of broadcast information in the first cell is larger than a second data rate used to transmit the first block of broadcast information in the second cell;
combining the first subpackets received from the first and second cells;
receiving a third subpacket from the first and second cells during an n+1 time slot;
receiving a fourth subpacket from the second cell during an n+2 time slot, wherein transmission of the fourth subpacket within the first cell during the n+2 time slot has been bypassed;
combining the third subpackets received from the first and second cells;
receiving a first subpacket of unicast information from the first cell during the second time slot; and
receiving a retransmission of the first subpacket of unicast information from the first cell during the n+2 time slot.
6. A method for coordinating transmissions within a first and second cell using an n-slot interlacing structure comprising a plurality of n-slot interlaces, the method comprising:
forming a plurality of first and second subpackets from a plurality of blocks of broadcast information;
periodically transmitting one of the first subpackets within the first and second cells during a first common time slot in each n-slot interlace;
periodically transmitting one of the second subpackets within the second cell during a second common time slot in each n-slot interlace while bypassing transmission of said one of the first subpackets within the first cell during the second common time slot, and wherein a first data rate used by the first cell is larger than a second data rate used by the second cell;
transmitting unicast information in at least a portion of the slots in each n-slot structure that are free from transmissions of the first and second subpackets.
7. A method, as set forth in claim 6 , wherein transmitting unicast information in at least a portion of the slots in each n-slot interlace that are free from transmissions of the first and second subpackets further comprises:
forming a plurality of subpackets from the unicast information; and
transmitting the unicast subpackets within the first cell during the second common time slot in each n-slot interlacing structure.
8. A method, as set forth in claim 7 , wherein transmitting the unicast subpackets within the first cell during the second common time slot in each n-slot interlace is terminated in response to receiving an acknowledgement signal.
9. A method for coordinating transmissions within a first, a second, and a third cell using a 4-slot interlacing structure, the method comprising:
transforming a first block of broadcast information into a first subpacket, a second subpacket, and a third subpacket;
transmitting the first subpacket within the first, second, and third cells during a first time slot;
transmitting the second subpacket within the second and third cells during a second time slot while bypassing transmission of the second subpacket within the first cell during the second time slot, wherein a first data rate used to transmit the first block of broadcast information in the first cell is larger than a second data rate used to transmit the first block of broadcast information in the second cell;
transmitting the third subpacket within the third cell during a third time slot while bypassing transmission of the third subpacket within the first and second cells during the third time slot, wherein the first and second data rates used to transmit the first block of broadcast information in the first and second cells are larger than a third data rate used to transmit the first block of broadcast information in the third cell;
transforming a second block of the broadcast information into fourth, fifth, and sixth subpackets;
transmitting the fourth subpacket within the first, second, and third cells during an n+1 time slot;
transmitting the fifth subpacket within the second and third cells during an n+2 time slot while bypassing transmission of the fifth subpacket within the first cell during the n+2 time slot; and
transmitting the sixth of subpacket within the third cell during an n+3 time slot while bypassing transmission of the sixth subpacket within the first and second cells during the n+3 time slot.
10. A method, as set forth in claim 9 , further comprising:
transmitting unicast information within the first cell during the second time slot;
retransmitting the unicast information within the first cell during the n+2 time slot.
11. A method, as set forth in claim 9 , further comprising:
transmitting unicast information within the first and second cells during the third time slot;
retransmitting the unicast information within the first and second cells during the n+3 time slot.