Dynamic allocation of WiMAX ranging codes
View Patent ↗In an exemplary embodiment, a communication system is configured to engage in a plurality of ranging processes, and a pool of ranging codes is available to client devices for requesting the ranging processes. The pool is divided into groups of ranging codes, and each group includes ranging codes allocated for requesting a particular ranging process. The system comprises (a) a receiver that is configured to receive a plurality of requests from one or more client devices, wherein each request comprises a ranging code that is allocated for requesting a particular ranging process and (b) program code stored in data storage and executable by a processor to (i) use the ranging codes from the requests to determine a quantity of requests received, respectively, for each ranging process and (ii) based on the determined quantity of received requests for at least one ranging process, adjust the allocation of the ranging codes.
1. In a WiMAX communication system that is configured to engage in a plurality of ranging processes, wherein a pool of ranging codes is available to client devices for requesting the ranging processes, wherein the pool is divided into groups of ranging codes, wherein each group comprises ranging codes allocated for requesting a particular ranging process, a method for managing allocation of the ranging codes, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of requests for ranging processes, wherein each request comprises a ranging code that is allocated for a particular ranging process;
using the ranging codes from the received requests as a basis for determining a quantity of received requests, respectively, for each ranging process;
determining that requests for one ranging process have been received more frequently than requests for another ranging process; and
based, at least in part, on the determined quantity of received requests for at least one ranging process, adjusting the allocation of the ranging codes by re-allocating ranging codes from the group allocated for the less frequently requested ranging process to the group allocated for the more frequently requested ranging process.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the requests are received during a predetermined period of time, and wherein the quantity of received requests, for each ranging process, respectively, comprises the quantity of received requests during the predetermined period of time.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ranging processes comprise an initial ranging process.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ranging processes comprise a periodic ranging process.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ranging processes comprise a bandwidth request process.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ranging processes comprise a handoff ranging process.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pool of ranging codes initially comprises 256 ranging codes, and wherein each group initially comprises 64 ranging codes.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ranging processes comprise initial ranging, periodic ranging, bandwidth adjustment, and handoff ranging.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ranging codes comprise orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF) ranging codes.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, broadcasting a ranging code allocation message, wherein the ranging code allocation message indicates which ranging codes are assigned to each group of ranging codes.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the ranging code allocation message is a UL-MAP message or a DL-MAP message.
12. A WiMAX communication system that is configured to engage in a plurality of ranging processes, wherein a pool of ranging codes is available to client devices for requesting the ranging processes, wherein the pool is divided into groups of ranging codes, wherein each group comprises ranging codes allocated for requesting a particular ranging process, the system comprising:
a receiver that is configured to receive a plurality of requests from one or more client devices, wherein each request comprises a ranging code that is allocated for requesting a particular ranging process;
program code stored in data storage and executable by a processor to:
use the ranging codes from the requests as a basis to determine a quantity of requests received, respectively, for each ranging process;
determine that requests for one ranging process have been received more frequently than requests for another ranging process; and
based, at least in part, on the determined quantity of received requests for at least one ranging process, adjust the allocation of the ranging codes via a re-allocation of one or more ranging codes from the group allocated for the less frequently requested ranging process to the group allocated for the more frequently requested ranging process.
13. The WiMAX communication system of claim 12 , further comprising a transmitter configured to broadcast a ranging code allocation message, wherein the ranging code allocation message comprises one or more allocation codes, wherein each allocation code indicates a quantity of ranging codes allocated for requesting a particular ranging process.
14. The WiMAX communication system of claim 13 , wherein the transmitter is configured to broadcast the ranging code allocation message in a downlink sub-frame.
15. The WiMAX communication system of claim 13 , wherein the transmitter is configured to broadcast the ranging code allocation message in a DL-MAP message or UL-MAP message.