GB2369009A - Wireless data terminal with radio channel monitoring - Google Patents
Wireless data terminal with radio channel monitoring Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2369009A GB2369009A GB0027690A GB0027690A GB2369009A GB 2369009 A GB2369009 A GB 2369009A GB 0027690 A GB0027690 A GB 0027690A GB 0027690 A GB0027690 A GB 0027690A GB 2369009 A GB2369009 A GB 2369009A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- base station
- network
- battery
- user equipment
- available
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 10
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 22
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000013500 data storage Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000010295 mobile communication Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 108091006146 Channels Proteins 0.000 description 26
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000872 buffer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004364 calculation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007717 exclusion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002123 temporal effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W72/00—Local resource management
- H04W72/50—Allocation or scheduling criteria for wireless resources
- H04W72/54—Allocation or scheduling criteria for wireless resources based on quality criteria
- H04W72/542—Allocation or scheduling criteria for wireless resources based on quality criteria using measured or perceived quality
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W8/00—Network data management
- H04W8/18—Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
- H04W8/183—Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Quality & Reliability (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
Abstract
User equipment for use in a mobile communication network has a data store 20 and a processor 2 for writing data received from a base station in the network to the store. The user equipment comprises means for monitoring the condition of radio channels between it and the base station and reporting to the base station. A call is only allowed if the quality meets a predefined criterion. The channel having the highest quality may also be reported to the base station.
Description
RADIO TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, USER EQUIPMENT AND METHOD OF OPERATION This invention relates to a radio telecommunications network, to user equipment for the network and to a method and program for operating the equipment and the network.
The invention will be explained against the applicants'realisation that even in second generation networks all known planned services are near real time.
Against this background there is provided a radio telecommunications network, including user equipment having a processor arranged to monitor the condition of communication channels between the equipment and a base station, the network being arranged to set up calls between the base station and the user equipment only when the condition of a channel exceeds a criterion. A preferred embodiment includes a data store and means for configuring the equipment to receive files automatically and store them in the data store, or to retrieve files from the data store and transmit them, without activating any sounder or vibrator for alerting the user. A very significant advantage of such an arrangement is that files for which immediate delivery is not important, can be sent at times when activity on the network is low, e. g. at night.
The condition is preferably a measure of the signal to interference ratio, or the rate of change of channel estimation in the user equipment.
The user equipment preferably includes : a data store; a processor arranged to write to the store, data received from a base station in the network; to monitor the available capacity of the data store; and to communicate available capacity data to a base station.
In order that the user is not disturbed, e. g. when asleep, the processor is preferably arranged for configuring the equipment to receive files automatically and store
them in the data store, or to retrieve files from the data store and transmit them, without activating any sounder or vibrator for alerting the user.
The user equipment may be operable by battery and preferably includes a battery monitor for monitoring the available remaining capacity of the battery and for communicating battery capacity data to the base station.
Means is preferably included for estimating which one of a plurality of available physical channels would best conserve battery charge, and for signalling the identity of that channel to the base station during call set up.
Preferably means is included for estimating whether the state of charge of the battery and/or the available data storage capacity is/are sufficient to allow reception or transmission of each file, with or without a predetermined reserve, and for denying reception or transmission if the state of charge or the available data storage is insufficient.
The invention extends to a method of operating a radio telecommunications network, including monitoring the condition of communication channels between the equipment and a base station, and setting up calls between the base station and the user equipment only when the condition of a channel exceeds a criterion.
The invention also extends to a computer program for carrying out all the steps of a method.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of user equipment for use in a network embodying the invention; and
Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a method of operation of a network embodying the invention.
Referring to the drawing, a processor 2 sends user data and signalling information for transmission by a transmitter 4 on both user channels and common
channels. The transmitter 4 sends modulated radio frequency signals to a power amplifier 6 and via a duplexer 8 to an antenna 10. Common channel and user channel radio signals received by the antenna 10 are sent via the duplexer to a receiver 12, where data signals are recovered and sent to the processor 2.
Data can be input to the processor via a keypad 14, e. g. for initiating a call.
Information can be displayed by the processor on a display screen 16, e. g. that the unit is in communication with a network, remaining battery capacity, a directory number input from the keypad etc.
The user equipment is provided with a writable data store 20 e. g. in the form of a flash memory. A program store 22 contains an interface to enable the processor to read and write the data store 20 and to monitor its spare capacity.
Conventionally, when an attempt is made over a common channel to set up a call, signals are sent from the processor to audio circuits 18 which drive transducer 24 to generate an audible tone. In the present user equipment, to effect wireless offline transfer (WOLFT) special signalling on the common channel can set up a call without activating the transducer 24 although visible (silent) signals may be displayed on the screen 16. The call set up information can specify that data (a file e. g. e-mail) to be sent in a user channel on the downlink is to be stored in the data store 20. The set up information may specify the file size. Software stored in the program store 22 is arranged to determine whether or not the available capacity of the data store is sufficient to contain the file and to refuse or discontinue the call if it is not. In an alternative, during call set up, available capacity of the data store 20 is transmitted on the uplink and a decision as to whether or not to send the file being made in the network e. g. in the radio resource control (RRC) layer. In general, there is sufficient spare capacity on the common channels to accommodate the extra signalling.
The user equipment is powered by a battery 26. Before transmitting a long file to the user equipment, it is relevant to know whether the battery has sufficient life available
to enable the full file to be received. To this end a voltage sensor 28 communicates with the processor 2. From the battery voltage, the processor 22 performs a calculation based on an estimate of the power usage during transfer of the file, and on the size of the file and data transfer rate, to determine whether there is sufficient battery life available to receive the full file. In an alternative, it is determined whether there would be a predetermined minimum life left after receiving the file. If either condition is not fulfilled, the call is refused or terminated. In an alternative, data indicating the battery voltage or battery life is transmitted on the common channel during call set up and the decision is made by the network in the RRC layer.
If more than one user data channel is available, the processor is arranged to assess use of that which would make least d rain on the battery, e-g. by requiring least power and/or giving greatest data transfer rate, and to select that channel.
The software stored in the program store 22 is responsive to user input from the keypad 14 to disable the transducer, audio circuits 18, or bar set up of calls requiring operation of the transducer 24, leaving the user equipment responsive to common channel signalling to set up a call in which the transducer is not sounded and in which a data file, e. g. e-mail, can be silently downloaded to the data store 20.
The network may be set to provide file transfer service, e. g. e-mail to be delivered by 8: 00 the next day at times which are convenient to it e. g.: a) The network load is very low. b) Assuming sufficient temporal variation in the traffic load across the airinterface, there will be times (e. g. at night) when there is spare air-interface capacity (spare time-slots for 2G TDMA systems and spare power for 3G CDMA systems). This spare capacity could be particularly efficiently used by WOLFT on the OL c) The radio channel propagation characteristics are extremely favourable.
An example of when this could occur are when the mobile is very close to the base
station or when the mobile is no longer moving at high speed. With statistics regarding the users habit the network or wireless equipment may even be able to predict when the radio conditions may be most favourable for UL or DL WOLFT. d) The mobile has the capacity to receive/transmit the complete message.
An example of exclusion would be when the mobile has insufficient battery or storage capabilities to enable the UL or DL WOLFT to be completed. e) The user equipment user places the equipment into a"WOLFT enabled mode". This could occur when the mobile user wishes to go to sleep and places the mobile into a"Stand by do not disturb Sleep mode". f) To prevent overload of the storage buffers of the network.
Referring to Figure 2, the network sends a request to transmit a non delay sensitive file of size X (e. g. for delivery before 8.00 am the next day). The request is received by the user equipment in block 30. The user equipment is asked to notify the network when one or more of the following conditions are met: 1) the user equipment has not notified the radio network of a location (e. g. cell) update for a predetermined time which may be specified in the request; 2) the radio link quality between the user equipment and the BTS is very good (e. g. the user equipment is very close to the BTS and the traffic load is low ; and 3) and the storage capacity of the user equipment is greater than X.
In order to monitor the channel conditions the processor 2 is arranged to test the candidate channels available to the base station. Transmissions of a known specific data sequence by the base station allow the processor to estimate the channel response, and a measure of the signal to interference ratio. Call set up may be allowed, for example, only if the signal to interference ratio exceeds a predetermined level which may be set by the network.
Call set up may be allowed, for example, only if the bit error rate exceeds a predetermined level which may be set by the network. Alternatively or additionally, call set up may be allowed only if the estimate of the channel response is changing at less than a predetermined rate which, again, may be set by the network. The channel response would change rapidly if the user equipment were travelling quickly.
Conversely, the channel response would change slowly if the user equipment were stationary and there were no moving objects contributing to multipath propagation.
Claims (14)
1. A radio telecommunications network, including user equipment having a processor arranged to monitor the condition of communication channels between the equipment and a base station, the network being arranged to set up calls between the base station and the user equipment only when the condition of a channel exceeds a criterion.
2. A network as claimed in claim 1, wherein the condition is a measure of the signal to interference ratio, or the rate of change of channel estimation in the user equipment.
3. A network as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the user equipment includes : a data store; a processor arranged to write to the store, data received from a base station in the network; to monitor the available capacity of the data store; and to communicate available capacity data to a base station.
4. A network as claimed in claim 3, wherein the processor is arranged for configuring the equipment to receive files automatically and store them in the data store, or to retrieve files from the data store and transmit them, without activating any sounder or vibrator for alerting the user.
5. A network as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user equipment is operable by battery and includes a battery monitor for monitoring the available remaining capacity of the battery and for communicating battery capacity data to the base station.
6. A network as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for estimating which one of a plurality of available physical channels would best conserve battery charge, and for signalling the identity of that channel to the base station during call set up.
7. A network as claimed in claim 4 or 5, further including means for estimating whether the state of charge of the battery and/or the available data storage capacity is/are sufficient to allow reception or transmission of each file, with or without a predetermined reserve, and for denying reception or transmission if the state of charge or the available data storage is insufficient.
8. A method of operating a radio telecommunications network, including monitoring the condition of communication channels between the equipment and a base station, and setting up calls between the base station and the user equipment only when the condition of a channel exceeds a criterion.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the condition is a measure of the signal to interference ratio, or the rate of change of channel estimation in the user equipment.
10. A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the user equipment includes : a data store; a processor arranged to write to the store, data received from a base station in the network; to monitor the available capacity of the data store; and to communicate available capacity data to a base station.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10, including configuring the equipment to receive files automatically and store them in the data store, or to retrieve files from the data store and transmit them, without activating any sounder or vibrator for alerting the user.
12. A method as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the user equipment is operable by battery, the method including monitoring the available remaining capacity of the battery and communicating battery capacity data to the base station.
13. A computer program for carrying out all the steps of a method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 12.
13. A method as claimed in any of claims 8 to 12, including means for estimating which one of a plurality of available physical channels would best conserve battery charge, and for signalling the identity of that channel to the base station during call set up.
14. A method as claimed in claim 11 or 12, further including estimating whether the state of charge of the battery and/or the available data storage capacity is/are sufficient to allow reception or transmission of each file, with or without a predetermined reserve, and denying reception or transmission if the state of charge or the available data storage is insufficient.
15. A computer program for carrying out all the steps of a method as claimed in any of claims 8 to
14.
Amended claims have been filed as follows
Claims
1. A radio telecommunications network, including user equipment having a processor arranged to monitor the condition of communication channels between the equipment and a base station, the network being arranged to set up calls between the base station and the user equipment only when the rate of change of channel estimates in the user equipment is less than a predetermined rate.
2. A network as claimed in claim I wherein the user equipment includes : a data store ; a processor arranged to write to the store, data received from a base station in the network ; to monitor the available capacity of the data store ; and to communicate available capacity data to a base station.
3. A network as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processor is arranged for configuring the equipment to receive files automatically and store them in the data store, or to retrieve files from the data store and transmit them. without activating any sounder or vibrator for alerting the user.
4. A network as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user equipment is operable by battery and includes a battery monitor for monitoring the available remaining capacity of the battery and for communicating battery capacity data to the base station.
5. A network as claimed in any preceding claim. including means for estimating which one of a plurality of available physical channels would best conserve battery charge and for signalling the identity of that channel to the base station during call set up.
6. A network as claimed in claim 3 or 4, further including means for estimating whether the state of charge of the battery and/or the available data storage capacity is/are sufficient to allow reception or transmission of each file. with or without a predetermined reserve, and for denying reception or transmission if the state of charge or the available data storage is insufficient.
7. A method of operating a radio telecommunications network, including monitoring the condition of communication channels between the equipment and a base station, and setting up calls between the base station and the user equipment only when the rate of change of channel estimates in the user equipment is less than a predetermined rate.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the user equipment includes: a data store; a processor arranged to write to the store, data received from a base station in the network; to monitor the available capacity of the data store ; and to communicate available capacity data to a base station.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8, including configuring the equipment to receive files automatically and store them in the data store, or to retrieve files from the data store and transmit them, without activating any sounder or vibrator for alerting the user.
10. A method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the user equipment is operable by battery, the method including monitoring the available remaining capacity of the battery and communicating battery capacity data to the base station.
11. A method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, including means for estimating which one of a plurality of available physical channels would best conserve battery charge, and for signalling the identity of that channel to the base station during call set up.
12. A method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, further including estimating whether the state of charge of the battery and/or the available data storage capacity is/are sufficient to allow reception or transmission of each file. with or without a predetermined reserve. and denying reception or transmission if the state of charge or the available data storage is insufficient.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0027690A GB2369009B (en) | 2000-11-13 | 2000-11-13 | Radio telecommunications network user equipment and method of operation |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0027690A GB2369009B (en) | 2000-11-13 | 2000-11-13 | Radio telecommunications network user equipment and method of operation |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0027690D0 GB0027690D0 (en) | 2000-12-27 |
| GB2369009A true GB2369009A (en) | 2002-05-15 |
| GB2369009B GB2369009B (en) | 2002-10-09 |
Family
ID=9903081
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0027690A Expired - Fee Related GB2369009B (en) | 2000-11-13 | 2000-11-13 | Radio telecommunications network user equipment and method of operation |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2369009B (en) |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5826198A (en) * | 1992-01-13 | 1998-10-20 | Microcom Systems, Inc. | Transmission of data over a radio frequency channel |
| GB2337423A (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 1999-11-17 | Nec Corp | Portable radio information terminal and data transmitting/receiving system |
| GB2348339A (en) * | 1999-02-01 | 2000-09-27 | Nec Corp | A mobile station comprising a control section for switching to a calling mode when reception from a satellite is below a threshold. |
-
2000
- 2000-11-13 GB GB0027690A patent/GB2369009B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5826198A (en) * | 1992-01-13 | 1998-10-20 | Microcom Systems, Inc. | Transmission of data over a radio frequency channel |
| GB2337423A (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 1999-11-17 | Nec Corp | Portable radio information terminal and data transmitting/receiving system |
| GB2348339A (en) * | 1999-02-01 | 2000-09-27 | Nec Corp | A mobile station comprising a control section for switching to a calling mode when reception from a satellite is below a threshold. |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| JP020151142 * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2369009B (en) | 2002-10-09 |
| GB0027690D0 (en) | 2000-12-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20081113 |