Methods and systems for transmission of multiple modulated signals over wireless networks
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes a combination of techniques that allow a plurality of CPEs to communicate their bandwidth request messages to respective base stations. One technique includes a “polling” method whereby a base station polls CPEs individually or in groups and allocates bandwidth specifically for the purpose of allowing the CPEs to respond with bandwidth requests. The polling of the CPEs by the base station may be in response to a CPE setting a “poll-me bit” or, alternatively, it may be periodic. Another technique comprises “piggybacking” bandwidth requests on bandwidth already allocated to a CPE. Currently active CPEs request bandwidth using unused portions of uplink bandwidth that is already allocated to the CPE. The CPE is responsible for distributing the allocated uplink bandwidth in a manner that accommodates the services provided by the CPE.
1. A wireless cellular mobile unit operable to share an uplink to a base station with other wireless cellular mobile units in a wireless communication system, the wireless cellular mobile unit comprising:
a transceiver operable to
transmit, within a MAC packet, a message which identifies an amount of data in one or more logical queues awaiting transmission to the base station,
receive a signal comprising an uplink allocation indication with current uplink (UL) bandwidth allocations for a plurality of wireless cellular mobile units, including the wireless cellular mobile unit, and
identify in the UL allocation indication an UL bandwidth grant allocated to the wireless cellular mobile unit for data transmission in a current frame; and
one or more processors having a Media Access Controller (MAC) operable to allocate the UL bandwidth grant among one or more UL connections that have data in the one or more logical queues awaiting UL transmission from the wireless cellular mobile unit to the base station, based on a quality of service parameter.
2. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the transceiver is further operable to transmit an explicit message to the base station indicating a requirement to be provided an allocation of UL bandwidth in which to transmit the message.
3. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the MAC is operable to allocate the UL bandwidth grant among the one or more UL connections also based on the amount of data awaiting UL transmission for the one or more UL connections.
4. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the message specifies a requested amount of UL bandwidth in bandwidth units.
5. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is operable to receive the UL bandwidth grant in the UL frame allocation indication, without receiving an acknowledgement of receipt by the base station of the message.
6. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is operable to transmit the message within UL bandwidth already allocated for UL traffic.
7. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is operable to transmit the message within the payload of a packet carrying UL traffic.
8. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is operable to transmit the message which identifies an amount of data in one or more logical queues awaiting transmission to the base station within UL bandwidth specifically allocated to the wireless cellular mobile unit for the message.
9. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is further operable to:
receive an indication of an opportunity to transmit the message; and
transmit the message using the opportunity.
10. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is operable to register the wireless cellular mobile unit with the base station, achieve uplink synchronization with the base station and establish communication between the wireless cellular mobile unit and the base station.
11. A wireless cellular mobile unit operable to share an uplink to a base station with other wireless cellular mobile units in a wireless communication system, the wireless cellular mobile unit comprising:
one or more processors having a Media Access Controller (MAC) operable
to provide a message indicating a requested amount of uplink (UL) bandwidth pertaining to one or more UL connections established at the wireless cellular mobile unit and
to allocate an UL bandwidth grant among one or more of the one or more UL connections that have data in one or more logical queues awaiting UL transmission from the wireless cellular mobile unit to the base station; and
a transceiver operable to
transmit to the base station a request for polling,
receive from the base station an opportunity having an amount of UL bandwidth for transmitting the message,
transmit the message within the amount of UL bandwidth,
receive the UL bandwidth grant in response to the message, and
receive an allocation indication control message from the base station, which identifies the UL grant.
12. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the request for polling is a poll-me message.
13. A wireless cellular mobile unit operable to share an uplink to a base station with other wireless cellular mobile units in a wireless communication system, the wireless cellular mobile unit comprising:
a transceiver operable to
transmit a message indicating a requested amount of uplink (UL) bandwidth pertaining to one or more UL connections established at the wireless cellular mobile unit, and
receive a control message and identify in the control message an uplink (UL) bandwidth grant allocated to the wireless cellular mobile unit for data transmission in a current frame; and
one or more processors having a Media Access Controller (MAC) operable to allocate the UL bandwidth grant among one or more logical queues, wherein a logical queue of the one or more logical queues accumulates data with similar quality of service associated with one or more UL connections, the data accumulated in the logical queue awaiting transmission from the wireless cellular mobile unit to the base station.
14. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the data accumulated in the one or more logical queues is scheduled for transmission based on a quality of service parameter.
15. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the UL bandwidth grant is distributed among at least two UL connections that have data pending in the logical queue using one of a fair-weighted queuing and a round-robin queuing technique.
16. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the message identifies an amount of data awaiting transmission from the wireless cellular mobile unit to the base station.
17. A wireless cellular mobile unit as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the transceiver is further operable to transmit an explicit message to the base station indicating a requirement to be provided an allocation of UL bandwidth in which to transmit the message.