KR20060103521A - Hybrid tdm/ofdm/cdm reverse link transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication system includes a plurality of access terminals, and an access network. The access network schedules a transmission of data in a time interval from one of the access terminals. The access network selects a multiple access transmission mode from a plurality of multiple access transmission modes, and broadcasts the selected multiple access transmission mode to the access terminals. The selected mode may include a mode in which data is code-division-multiplexed during the time interval, and modes in which data is code-division-multiplexed during a first portion of the time interval, and data is either time-division-multiplexed or orthogonal- frequency-division-multiplexed during a second portion of the time interval.

Description

HYBRID TDM / OFDM / CDM REVERSE LINK TRANSMISSION}

Claims of Priority in 35 U.S.C. §120-

This application is a continuation of US Patent Application No. 10 / 313,553 entitled "Methods and Systems for Data Transmission in Communication Systems" filed December 6, 2002.

The present invention relates to data transmission in a wired or wireless communication system.

Wireless communication systems consist of network elements that communicate with mobile devices. The communication link from a network, such as a base station (BS), to a mobile device, such as a mobile station (MS), is referred to as a forward link (FL). The communication link from the mobile device to the network element is called reverse link (RL). In order to increase capacity and hence revenue, it is required to make full use of the resources for FL and RL for the carrier.

Communication systems have been deployed to allow the transmission of information signals from the originating station to physically distinct receiving stations. When transmitting an information signal from an originating station over a communication channel, the information signal is first converted into a form suitable for efficient transmission over the communication channel. The conversion or modulation of the information signal involves changing the parameters of the carrier in accordance with the information signal in such a way that the spectrum of the generated modulated carrier is confined within the communication channel bandwidth. At the receiving station, the outgoing information signal is reproduced from the modulated carrier received over the communication channel. In general, the reproduction is accomplished using an inverse transformation of the modulation process used at the originating station. There is also a need to add flexibility to the system to support multiple modulation techniques. There is a need for improving performance in communication systems.

Modulation also facilitates multiple-access, ie simultaneous transmission and / or reception of several signals over a common communication channel. Multiple-access communication systems often include a large number of remote subscriber units that require relatively short intervals of intermittent access rather than simultaneous access to a common communication channel. Several multiple-access techniques are known to those skilled in the art, which are time division multiple-access (TDMA) and frequency division multiple-access (FDMA). Another form of multi-access technology is a code division multiple-access (CDMA) spectrum spreading system, which employs a " TIA / EIA / IS-95 dual mode broadband spectrum spreading system, referred to herein as the IS-95 standard. Mobile station-base station compatible standard ". The use of CDMA techniques in a multi-access communication system is referred to in USP 4,901,307 and "System and Method for Generating Waveforms in a CDMA Cellular Telephone System" entitled "Spectrum Spread Multiple Access Communication System Using Satellite or Terrestrial Repeaters." US Pat. No. 5,103,459, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The multi-access communication system can be wireless or wired and can carry voice traffic and / or data traffic. One example of a communication system carrying both voice and data traffic is a system that defines the transmission of voice and data traffic over a communication channel in accordance with the IS-95 standard. A method for transmitting data in fixed size code channel frames is disclosed in detail in USP 5,504,773 entitled "Data Formatting Method and Apparatus for Transmission" and is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. According to the IS-95 standard, data traffic or voice traffic is divided into code channel frames that are 20 milliseconds with a data rate higher than 14.4 Kbps. Still other examples of communication systems carrying both voice and data traffic include a series of documents (W-CDMA standard) or "TR-" including document numbers 3G TS 25.211, 3G TS 25.212, 3G TS 25.213 and 3G TS 25.214. 45.5 Physical Layer Standard for cdma2000 Spread Spectrum Systems "(IS-2000 standard), including communications systems that conform to the" 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) ".

The term base station is the access network object with which the subscriber station communicates. With reference to the IS-856 standard, a base station is referred to as an access point. A cell is a base station or a geographic coverage area serviced by a base station, which depends on the context in which the term is used. A sector is part of a base station and serves a part of the geographic area serviced by the base station.

The term subscriber station is used herein to mean the object with which the access network communicates. With reference to the IS-856 standard, a base station is referred to as an access terminal. The subscriber station can be mobile or fixed. The subscriber station can be any data device that communicates over a wireless channel or a wired channel such as optical fiber or coaxial cables. The subscriber station can be any of a number of types of devices, including but not limited to PC card, compact flash, external or internal modem, or wireless or landline telephone. In the process of establishing an active traffic channel connection with a base station, the subscriber station is said to be in a connection establishment state. A subscriber station that has established an active traffic channel connection with a base station is called an active subscriber station and is said to be in a traffic state.

The term access network is a collection of at least one base station (BS) and one or more base station controllers. The access network carries information signals between multiple subscriber stations. The access network may be further connected to additional networks outside the access network, such as a common intranet or the Internet, and may carry information signals between each base station and the external networks.

In the multi-access wireless communication system described above, communication between users is performed through one or more base stations. The term user refers to both moving and non-moving objects. The first user of the first wireless subscriber station communicates with the second user of the second wireless subscriber station by transmitting an information signal on the RL to the base station. The base station receives the information signal and transmits the information signal to the second subscriber station via the FL. If the second subscriber station is not in the area served by the base station, the base station routes the data to another base station, and the second subscriber station is located in the service area of the base station. The second base station transmits the information signal to the second subscriber station via the FL. FL refers to transmissions from a base station to a wireless subscriber station, and RL refers to transmissions from a wireless subscriber station to a base station. Similarly, communication can be performed between the first user of the wireless subscriber station and the second user of the ground station. The base station receives data from the first user of the wireless subscriber station via the RL and routes the data to a second user of the ground station via the public switched telephone network (PSTN). For example, in many communication systems such as IS-95, W-CDMA, and IS-2000, FL and RL are assigned to separate frequencies.

The study of voice traffic services and data traffic services shows some important differences between the two types of services. One difference concerns the delay in the transmission of information content. Voice traffic services impose strict and fixed delay requirements. In general, the overall one-way delay of the predetermined amount of voice traffic information referred to as a voice frame may be less than 100 ms. In contrast, the overall one-way data traffic delay may be a variable parameter used to optimize the efficiency of the data traffic services provided by the communication system. For example, more efficient error correction coding techniques that require multi-user diversity, delays in data transmission to more favorable conditions, delays far greater than delays that may be tolerated by voice traffic services, and other Techniques can be used. An exemplary efficient coding scheme for data is disclosed in US patent application Ser. No. 08 / 743,688, filed "SOFT DECISION Output Decoder for Decoding Convolutional Encoded Codewords," filed Nov. 6, 1996. .

Another important difference between voice traffic services and data traffic services is that voice traffic services require a fixed and common Class of Service (GoS) for all users. In general, for digital communication systems providing voice traffic services, the requirement is fixed for all users and is interpreted as the value of the maximum allowable error rates of the same transmission rate and voice frames. In contrast, the GoS for data services can vary from user to user and can be a variable parameter that increases the overall efficiency of the data traffic service that provides the communication system upon optimization. The GoS of a data traffic service providing a communication system is generally defined as that the overall delay incurred in the transmission of a predetermined amount of data traffic information can include, for example, data packets. The term packet is a group of bits containing data (payload) and control elements arranged in a particular format. Control elements include preambles, quality metrics and others known to those skilled in the art. Quality metrics include, for example, periodic redundancy check (CRC), parity bits, and others known to those skilled in the art.

In addition, another important difference between voice traffic services and data traffic services is that voice traffic services require a reliable communication link. When a subscriber station communicating voice traffic with a first base station moves to the edge of a cell served by the first base station, the subscriber station enters an overlap area with another cell served by the second base station. The subscriber station in this area establishes voice traffic communication with the second base station while maintaining voice traffic communication with the first base station. During this simultaneous communication, the subscriber station receives a signal carrying the same information from both base stations. Similarly, both base stations receive signals carrying information from subscriber stations.

The concurrent communication is considered a soft handoff. If the subscriber station finally leaves the cell serviced by the first base station and stops voice traffic communication with the first base station, the subscriber station continues voice traffic communication with the second base station. Because soft handoff is a "stop after execution" mechanism, soft handoff minimizes the possibility of a call being interrupted. A method and system for providing communication with a subscriber station via one or more base stations during a soft handoff process is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,267,261 entitled " Soft Handoff by Mobile Station in a CDMA Cellular Telephone System " It is transferred to the assignee.

Softer handoff is a similar process in which communication occurs over at least two sectors of a multi-sector base station. The process of softer handoff is described in detail in pending US patent application 08 / 763,498 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Performing Handoff Between Sectors of a Common Base Station”, filed Dec. 11, 1996. Thus, both transmissions from two or more base stations occur to improve reliability by both soft handoff and softer handoff for voice services.

The additional reliability is not very important for data traffic communications because errorly received data packets can be retransmitted. Important parameters for data services are the transmission delay required to transmit the data packet and the average throughput rate of the data traffic communication system. Transmission delay does not have the same effect on data communication as in voice communication, but transmission delay is an important metric for measuring the quality of a data communication system. Average throughput rate is a measure of the efficiency of the data transmission capacity of a communication system. Due to the relaxed transmission delay requirements, the transmit power and resources used to support soft handoff over FL can be used for the transmission of additional data, thus increasing the average throughput rate by increasing efficiency.

In RL, the situation is different. Several base stations can receive signals transmitted by subscriber stations. Since retransmission of packets from a subscriber station requires additional power from a power limited source (battery), soft over RL by allocating resources to several base stations for receiving and processing data packets transmitted from the subscriber station. Supporting handoffs can be efficient. Such use of soft handoff is described in the article by Andrew J. Viterbi and Klein S. Gilhousen, "Soft Hand Increasing DMA Coverage and RL," October 12, 8, IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications. Off ". The term soft handoff refers to communication between a subscriber station and two or more sectors, where each sector belongs to a different cell. In the context of the IS-95 standard, RL communication is received by both sectors, and FL communication is executed simultaneously in the FLs of two or more sectors. In the context of the IS-856 standard, data transmission via FL is performed separately between one of two or more sectors and the access terminal. Soft handoff may also be used for this purpose. The term softer handoff refers to communication between a subscriber station and two or more sectors, where each sector belongs to the same cell. In the context of the IS-95 standard, RL communication is received by both sectors, and FL communication is executed simultaneously in one FL of two or more sectors. In the context of the IS-856 standard, data transmission via FL is transmitted separately between an access terminal and one of two or more sectors.

It is known that the quality and efficiency of data transmission in a wireless communication system is determined by the conditions of the communication channel between the source terminal and the receiving terminal. The condition is expressed as, for example, signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR), and several factors, for example, the path loss and the path loss variation of the subscriber station in the coverage area of the base station, from other subscriber stations. Interference, interference from the same and other cells, interference from other base stations and other factors known to those skilled in the art. To maintain a certain level of service when conditions of the communication channel change, TDMA and FDMA systems classify individual users into different frequencies and / or time slots and support frequency reuse to mitigate interference. Frequency reuse divides the available spectrum into sets of multiple frequencies. A given cell uses frequencies from only one set; Cells immediately adjacent to the cell cannot use frequencies from the same set. In a CDMA system, the same frequency is reused in all cells of the communication system, thus improving the overall efficiency. Interference is mitigated by other techniques, such as orthogonal coding, transmit power control, variable rate data, and other techniques known to those skilled in the art.

The foregoing ideas are used in the development of a data traffic communication system known as a high data rate (HDR) communication system. The communication system is disclosed in detail in pending application No. 08 / 963,386 entitled “Methods and Devices for High Speed Packet Data Transmission”, filed Nov. 3, 1997, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The HDR communication system is standardized to the TIA / EIA / IS-856 industry standard, referred to herein as the IS-856 standard.

The IS-856 standard defines a set of data rates in the range from 38.4 kbps to 2.4 Mbps through which an access point (AP) can transmit data to a subscriber station (access terminal (AT)). Since the access point is similar to a base station, the terms associated with cells and sectors are similar to those associated with voice systems. According to the IS-856 standard, data to be transmitted over an FL is divided into data packets, and each data packet is transmitted over one or more intervals (timeslots) where the FL is divided. In each time slot, data transmission occurs from one access point to another access point and one access terminal located within the coverage area of the access point at the maximum data rate that can be supported by the FL and the communication system. The access terminal is selected according to the FL conditions between the access point and the access terminal. FL conditions are determined by interference and path loss between the access point and the access terminal, all of which vary over time. Path loss and path loss changes are improved by scheduling transmissions of the access point at time intervals, where the FL conditions of the access terminal at a particular access point have a lower power or higher data rate than transmissions to the remaining access terminals. Satisfy the determined criteria allowing the transmissions to improve the spectral efficiency of the FL transmissions.

In contrast, according to the IS-856 standard, data transmissions over an RL originate from multiple access terminals located within the coverage area of the access point. In addition, since the antenna patterns of the access terminal are omni-directional, any access terminal within the coverage area of the access point can receive the data transmissions. Thus, RL transmissions may include several interference sources, data transmissions from access terminals (access terminals of the same cell) located within the coverage area of the access point, and access terminals (other cells located within the coverage area of other access points). Data transfers from the access terminals).

In conjunction with the development of wireless data services, it is important to develop a model of Internet services in which FL increases data throughput rate and allows the server to provide high rates of data in response to requests from the host. Server-host transmissions are similar to FL requiring high throughput rates, while host-server requests and / or data transmissions require low throughput rates. However, current developments represent improvements in RL data intensive applications such as file transfer protocol (FTP), video conferencing, gaming, constant bit rate services, and the like. The applications require high throughput rates over the RL and therefore require an improvement in the efficiency of the RL to achieve higher data rates. Thus, it is necessary to increase the data throughput rate through RL and to ideally provide forward and harmonized throughput rates of RLs. Increased data throughput rates through RL require methods and apparatus for power control and data rate determination.

The above and other features to be described below are particularly described in the appended claims, and their improvements will be apparent from the detailed description of embodiments of the invention described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a conceptual block diagram of a communication system capable of providing data transfer over RL or FL.

2 shows an FL waveform.

3 illustrates a method of communicating power control commands and packet grant commands over a reverse power control channel.

4A-4C show a structure for generating signals transmitted on an RL.

5A shows an RL waveform over one time slot in one embodiment where overhead channel bursts are sent at the end of each half slot.

FIG. 5B shows an RL waveform over one time slot in one embodiment where the reverse rate indicator (RRI) channel and reverse traffic channel covered by unique Walsh codes are simultaneously burned down.

5C shows an RL waveform over one time slot in one embodiment where overhead channels and reverse traffic channels are transmitted using time division multiplexing (TDM) techniques.

6 shows RL data transmission.

7 illustrates RL data retransmission.

8 shows a subscriber station.

9 shows a controller and an access channel.

10 illustrates a transmission in which mode settings may be changed in units of subframes.

11A and 11B show RL waveforms across subframes in transmission mode (“Mode 1”), which is a CDM within the entire time slot.

12A and 12B show RL waveforms over a subframe in hybrid transmission mode (“mode 2”) where CDM and TDM / OFDM modes are time division multiplexed within a time slot.

13A and 13B show an RL waveform over a subframe in a hybrid transmission mode (“mode 3”) where CDM and TDM / OFDM modes are time division multiplexed within a time slot at a ratio of 1: 3.

FIG. 14 illustrates a request packet format in one embodiment that allows scheduled resource allocation control for MAC flows within ATs.

15 shows the structure of a packet acknowledgment (PG) channel.

1 shows a conceptual diagram of a communication system. The communication system may be formed according to the IS-856 standard. The access point (AP) 100 transmits data to the access terminal (AT) 104 over the forward link (FL) 106 (1) and data from the AT 104 over the reverse link (RL) 108 (1). Receive Similarly, AP 102 transmits data to AT 104 via FL 106 (2) and receives data from AT 104 via RL 108 (2). Data transmission on the FL from one AP to one AT occurs at the maximum data rate and adjacent rate that can be supported by the FL and the communication system. Additional channels of the FL, eg, a control channel, can be sent from multiple APs to one AT. RL communication may occur from one AT to one or more APs. The AP 100 and the AP 102 are connected to the controller 110 via backhauls 112 (1) and 112 (2). A "backhaul" is a communication link between a controller and an AP. Although only two ATs and one AP are shown in FIG. 1, this is for illustrative purposes only and the communication system may include multiple ATs and APs.

After registration to allow the AT to access the access network, the AT 104 and one of the APs, eg, the AP 100, establish a communication link using a predetermined access procedure. In the connected state according to the predetermined access procedure, the AT 104 may receive data and control messages from the AP 100 and may send data and control messages to the AP 100. AT 104 continues to search for other APs that may be added to AT 104's active set. The active set includes a list of APs that can communicate with the AT 104. If the AP is found, the AT 104 calculates the quality metric of the FL of the AP, which may include signal-to-noise and interference ratio (SINR). SINR may be determined according to the pilot signal. AT 104 searches for other APs to determine the SINR of the AP. Similarly, AT 104 calculates a quality metric of FL for each AP in the active set of AT 104. If the FL quality metric from a particular AP is above or below a predetermined rise threshold for a predetermined period of time, the AT 104 reports the information to the AP 100. Subsequent messages from the AP 100 may direct the AT 104 to add or remove specific APs from the AT 104 active set.

The AT 104 may select the serving AP based on the set of parameters from the AT 104 active set. The AP in service is an AP in which a specific AT is selected for data communication or an AP communicating data to a specific AT. The set of parameters may include any one or more current and previous SINR measurements, bit error rate, packet error rate and any other known parameters. Thus, for example, the AP in service may be selected according to the maximum SINR measurement. AT 104 then broadcasts the data request message (DRC message) over the data request channel (DRC channel). The DRC message may include a requested data rate or optionally an indication of the quality of the FL, such as, for example, the measured SINR, bit error rate, packet error rate, and the like. AT 104 uses a code to instruct to broadcast a DRC message to a specific AP, which uniquely identifies the specific AP. In general, the code includes a Walsh code. DRC message symbols are exclusively ORed using a unique Walsh code. The XOR operation is referred to as Walsh covering the signal. Since each AP in the active set of the AT 104 is identified by a unique Walsh code, the selected AP performing the same XOR operation as performed by the AT 104 using the correct Walsh code may correctly display the DRC message. Can be decoded.

Data to be sent to the AT 104 arrives at the controller 110. Thereafter, the controller 110 can send data to all the APs in the active set of the AT 104 via the backhaul 112. Optionally, controller 110 may first determine which AP was selected by the AT 104 as the serving AP and transmit the data to the serving AP. Data is stored in a queue at the AP (s). The call message is sent to the AT 104 via separate control channels by one or more APs. AT 104 demodulates and decodes signals over one or more control channels to obtain call messages.

At each FL interval, the AP may schedule data transmission to any ATs that have received the call message. An exemplary method for scheduling transmissions is disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,229,795, entitled “System for Allocating Resources to a Communication System,” and is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The AP uses the rate control information received in the DRC message from each AT to efficiently transmit the FL data at the maximum possible rate. Since the rate of data can vary, the communication system operates in a variable rate mode. The AP determines the data rate at which data is sent to the AT 104 based on the most recent value of the DRC message received from the AT 104. The AP also uniquely identifies the transmission to AT 104 using a spreading code unique to the mobile station. The spreading code is a long pseudo noise (PN) code, for example a spreading code defined by the IS-856 standard.

AT 104, which is assigned a data packet, receives and decodes the data packet. Each data packet is associated with an identifier, eg, a sequence number, used by AT 104 to detect lost or duplicate transmissions. In that case, the AT 104 communicates the sequence numbers of the lost data packets via the RL. The controller 110 receiving a data message from the AT 104 via the AP in communication with the AT 104 informs the AP that data units have not been received by the AT 104. The AP schedules retransmission of the data packets.

If the communication link between AT 104 and AP 100 operating in variable rate mode drops below a predetermined reliability level, AT 104 may first support a data rate that another AP can receive in variable rate mode. Attempt to determine whether there is. If AT 104 identifies such an AP (eg, AP 102), repointing to AP 102 occurs on a different communication link. The term redirection is the selection of a sector that is a member of the AT's active list, which sector is different from the currently selected sector. Data transmissions continue from the AP 102 in a separate rate mode.

The aforementioned drop in the communication link can be due to, for example, the AT 104 moving from the coverage area of the AP 100 to the coverage area of the AP 102, shadowing, fading, and other known reasons. . Optionally, when a communication link is available between AT 104 and another AP (e.g., AP 102) that can achieve higher throughput than the currently used communication link, Redirection to the AP 102 occurs and data transmission continues from the AP 102 in variable rate mode. If the AT 104 fails to detect an AP that can operate in a variable rate mode and can support a receivable data rate, the AT 104 transitions to a fixed rate mode. In this mode, the AT transmits at one rate.

AT 104 evaluates the communication links with all candidate APs for both variable rate data mode and fixed rate data mode and selects the AP that yields the highest throughput rate.

The AT 104 will switch back from the fixed rate mode to the variable rate mode if the sector is no longer a member of the active set of the AT 104.

The methods for the conversion to and from the fixed rate data mode and the fixed rate data mode described above are referred to as "methods and apparatus for variable and fixed FL rate control in mobile wireless communication systems". Similar to that described in detail in US Application 6,205,129. Other fixed rate modes and methods in this regard for conversion to and from fixed modes can be considered, which is within the spirit of the present invention.

FL structure

2 illustrates the FL structure 200. The time intervals, chip lengths, and ranges of values described below are provided by way of example only, and other time intervals, chip lengths, and ranges of values may be used without departing from the basic principles of operating a communication system. The term "chip" is a unit of Walsh code spreading signal having two possible values.

FL 200 is defined with respect to frames. The frame includes 16 time slots 202, each time slot 202 being 2048 chip long, corresponding to a time slot interval of 1.66 ms and a frame interval of 26.66 ms. Each time slot 202 is divided into two half time slots 202a and 202b, and pilot bursts 204a and 204b are sent to each half time slot 202a and 202b. Each pilot burst 204a, 204b is 96 chips long and is located around the center point of the associated half time slots 202a, 202b. Pilot bursts 204a and 204b include a pilot channel signal covered by the Walsh cover and index zero. The forward medium access control channel (MAC) 206 has two bursts, which are sent immediately before and after the pilot burst 204 of each half time slot 202. The MAC consists of 64 code channels and is orthogonally covered with 64 arrays of Walsh codes. Each code channel is identified by a MAC index, which has a value between 1 and 64 to identify a unique 64 array covering Walsh code. Reverse Power Control Channel (RPC) is used to regulate the power of RL signals for each subscriber station. The RPC is assigned to one of the available MACs with a MAC index between 5 and 63. The FL traffic channel or control channel payload is sent to the remaining portions 208a of the first half time slot 202a and the remaining portions 208b of the second half time slot 202b. The traffic channel transmits user data, while the control channel transmits control messages and may also transmit user data. The control channel is transmitted in cycles defined as 256 slot periods at a data rate of 76.8 kbps or 38.4 kbps. The term user data is referred to as traffic and is different information from overhead data. The term overhead data is information that enables the operation of objects in a communication system, such as call maintenance signaling information, special information, reporting information, and the like.

In order to support RL transmission, an additional packet acknowledgment (PG) channel is required in the FL. The modulation of the RPC channel described above is changed from two phase shift keying (BPSK) to quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) to support PG channel commands.

Power control commands are modulated via the in-phase branch of the RPC channel assigned to the AT. The power control command information is binary, the value of the first power control bit ("up") instructs the AT to increase the transmit power and the value of the second power control bit ("down") indicates the AT Command to reduce. As described in FIG. 3, the "up" command is indicated by +1, and the "down" command is denoted by -1. However, other values can be used.

The PG channel is communicated via the orthogonal branch of the RPC channel assigned to the AT. The information transmitted through the PG channel is three sets. As described in FIG. 3, the first value is represented by +1, the second value is represented by 0, and the third value is represented by −1. The information has the following meanings in both AP and AT: +1 means that permission to send a new packet has been granted; 0 means that permission to send a new packet is not granted; -1 means that the permission to send (retransmit) the previous packet has been granted.

The aforementioned signaling, where the transmission of information value 0 does not require any signal energy, allows the energy to be assigned to the PG channel only when the AP sends an indication to send a packet. Since only one or a few ATs are granted permission to transmit on the RL within a time interval, the PG channel requires very little power to provide RL information transmission. Therefore, the influence on the RPC power allocation method is minimized. The RPC power allocation method is disclosed in US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 669,950, filed on September 25, 2000, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Allocating Power to Base Station Channels," and is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The AT is also required to make three sets of decisions on the orthogonal stream when predicting a response after a data transmission request or when the data transmission is undecided. However, it will be appreciated that the selection of a set of three values is a design choice and that other than what is described may be used instead.

The AT receives and demodulates the RPC / PG channel from all APs in the AT's active set. Thus, the AT receives PG channel information transmitted over the orthogonal branch of the RPC / PG channel for all APs in the AT's active set. The AT filters the energy of the received PG channel information over one update interval to compare the filtered energy with a set of thresholds. By appropriate selection of the thresholds, the AT is not granted permission for transmission, and decodes the energy of zero assigned to zero on the PG channel with high likelihood.

The information transmitted on the PG channel is further used as means for automatic retransmission request (ARQ). As discussed below, RL transmission from an AT may be received at several APs. Therefore, the information transmitted in response to the RL transmission on the PG channel is interpreted differently from the information transmitted by the AP in service or not in service.

The serving AP generates and transmits an authorization to send a new packet in response to a request for the AT to send a new packet if a previous packet from the AT is received correctly. Thus, the information is provided as an ACK on the PG channel. The serving AP generates and transmits an authorization to retransmit the previous packet in response to a request for the AT to send a new packet if the previous packet is incorrectly received from the AT.

When the AP which does not serve correctly receives the previous packet from the AT, it generates and transmits a value indicating permission of the transmission. Thus, the information is provided as ACK on the PG channel. When the AP which does not serve correctly receives a previous packet from the AT, it generates and transmits a value indicating permission of retransmission. Thus, the information is provided as a NACK over the PG channel. Therefore, no individual ACK / NACK channel is needed.

The AT may receive contradictory information over the PG channel, either because any AP has failed to correctly receive the AT's transmission, or because the information has been erased or incorrectly received over the PG channel, or for other known reasons. to be. Because the degree of perspective at which the AP receives the AT's transmission from the access network is not critical, it sends a new packet on the next transmit acknowledgment when the AT receives information from any APs over the PG channel, which is interpreted as an ACK. The AT in service may send a grant and previous packet for retransmission.

It is recognized that the technique is suitable for different FL structures. Thus, for example, the aforementioned FL channels may be transmitted simultaneously rather than sequentially. In addition, any FL that enables communication of information provided in a PG channel, such as for example separate PG and ACK / NAK code channels, may be used instead.

RL

As mentioned above, the quality and efficiency of the data transmission is determined by the conditions of the channel between the source terminal and the receiving terminal. Channel conditions are determined by interference and path loss, which change over time. Therefore, RL performance can be improved by methods for mitigating interference. With RL, all ATs in an access network can transmit simultaneously on the same frequency (one frequency reuse set), or multiple ATs in an access network can transmit simultaneously on the same frequency (multiple frequency reuse sets). An RL as disclosed herein may perform any frequency reuse. Therefore, the RL transmission of any ATs is susceptible to several interfering sources. Most important interference sources are as follows: transmission of code division multiplexed overhead channels by different ATs from both the same cell and other cells; Transmission of user data by ATs in the same cell; And transmission of user data by ATs from other cells.

A study of RL performance in code division multiple access (CDMA) communication systems shows that eliminating the same cell interference can achieve significant improvements in the quality and efficiency of data transmission. Co-cell interference in a communication system according to the IS-856 standard can be mitigated by limiting the number of ATs that can transmit simultaneously on the RL.

Since there are two modes of operation, one that limits the number of ATs that transmit simultaneously and one that allows simultaneous transmission of all ATs, the access network must indicate to the ATs which mode will be used. The indication is communicated to the ATs, for example at periodic intervals, every part of the FL channel, every control channel cycle. Optionally, the indication is communicated to the AT upon change by a broadcast message on the FL channel, such as for example a reverse power control channel.

When operating in restricted mode, the aforementioned packet grant FL channel is used to grant or deny transmission of ATs that require permission to transmit.

Co-cell interference can be mitigated by scheduling that allows ATs requiring time division multiplexing and transmission of traffic channels and overhead channels of the RL to transmit within an RL time interval, eg, a frame or time slot. Scheduling may take into account part of the access network, eg, multi-sector cells and may be performed by the AP controller. The scheduling method only mitigates the same cell interference. Thus, optionally, scheduling may take into account full network access and may be performed, for example, by controller 110.

It will be appreciated that the number of ATs allowed to transmit within the time interval affects the interference of the RL and thus the signal quality (QoS) of the RL. Therefore, the number of ATs allowed to be transmitted is a design criterion. Thus, the number may be adjusted by a scheduling method according to change conditions and / or requirements in QoS.

Further improvements can be achieved by mitigating other cell interference. Other cell interference during user data transmissions is mitigated by opportunity transmission, control of the maximum transmit power and user data rate for each AT in a multi-sector cell. "Opportunistic transmission" (and multi-user diversity) means scheduling transmission of an AT within a time interval (s) in which the determined opportunity threshold is exceeded. If the metric determined according to the instantaneous quality metric of the RL channel in the time interval, the average quality metric of the RL channel, and the ability to enable distinction between users (the impairment function described below) can set the opportunity threshold. If exceeded, the time interval is considered appropriate. The method allows the AT to transmit user data at the lowest transmit power and / or terminate the transmission of the packet using a shorter time interval. Termination of packet transmission at low transmit power and / or short time intervals reduces interference from ATs transmitting in sectors of a multi-sector cell, thus reducing overall other cell interference from ATs in adjacent cells. Optionally, as the average channel condition improves, the terminal uses the power available to transmit at the higher data rate, and therefore the same interference as the AT using the same power available to transmit at the lower data rate in other cells. Occurs.

In addition to mitigating interference over RL channels, path loss and path loss changes can be used by multi-user diversity to increase throughput. "Multi-user diversity" causes diversity of channel conditions between ATs. Diversity in channel conditions between user terminals allows scheduling the transmissions of the ATs at time intervals while the channel conditions of the ATs meet a determined criterion that permits transmissions having lower power or higher data rate. Allows, and therefore, improves the spectral efficiency of RL transmissions. The criterion includes the quality metric of the RL channel of superior access channels with respect to the average quality metric of the RL channel of the AT.

The design of the scheduler is used to control the QoS of the AT. Thus, for example, by biasing the scheduler towards a subset of ATs, the subset may be provided with transmission priority, but the opportunity reported by the terminals is reported by terminals not belonging to the subset. May be less. It will be appreciated that similar effects can be achieved by using the emergency function discussed below. The term subset is a set in which the members of the set include at least one member, not all members of another set.

Although using the opportunity transmission method, transmitted packets can be received and / or discarded in error at the AP. The term erasure means failing to determine the content of a message for which reliability is required. The error reception results from the AT's inability to accurately predict the quality metric of the AT's RL channel due to other cell interference effects. The impact of different cell interference is difficult to determine to the extent because the transmissions of ATs from sectors belonging to different multi-sector cells are not synchronized, short and uncorrelated.

In order to improve incorrect channel estimation and provide an average of interference, an automatic retransmission request (ARQ) method is used. ARQ methods detect lost packet (s) or error received packet (s) at the physical or link layer and request retransmission of the packets from the transmitting terminal. Layering is a method for organizing communication protocols within decoupled processing objects, ie data units encapsulated between layers. Protocol layers are implemented at both ATs and APs. In accordance with the Open System Interconnect (OSI) model, protocol layer L1 provides for the transmission and reception of radio signals between the base station and the mobile station, layer L2 provides accurate transmission and reception of signaling messages, and layer L3 is used for communication systems. Provides control messages for Layer L3 organizes and terminates signaling of messages according to the meaning and timing of the communication protocol between ATs and APs.

In the IS-856 communication system, the air interface signaling layer L1 is referred to as a physical layer, L2 is referred to as a link access control (LAC) layer or a medium access control (MAC) layer, and L3 is referred to as a signaling layer. The signaling layer is additional layers according to the OSI model numbered L4-L7 and is referred to as transport, session, presentation and application layers. Physical layer ARQ is disclosed in US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 549,017, filed Apr. 14, 2000, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Fast Retransmission of Signals in Communication Systems." One example of a link layer ARQ method is known as negative response (NAK) based ARQ protocols. RLP is a class of error control protocols known as negative response (NAK) based ARQ protocols. The RLP is disclosed in TIA / EIA / IS-707-A.8 entitled "Data Service Selections for Spectrum Spreading Systems: Radio Link Protocol Form 2", referred to below as RLP2. Transmissions of the original and retransmitted packets can be opportunistic.

Reverse link channels

4A-4C show a structure for generating transmissions on RL. As shown in Figures 4A-4B, the RL is a pilot channel (PC: 410), data request channel (DRC: 406), response channel (ACK: 408), packet request channel (PR: 412), RL traffic channel ( 404), a reverse rate indication channel (PRI) 402.

As described below, the exemplary RL waveform and the accompanying texts generated by the channel structure shown in FIGS. 4A-4C are defined in relation to frames, with one frame comprising 16 time slots. to be. Therefore, for educational purposes, time slots are used as a measure of time intervals. However, it will be appreciated that the concept of time intervals may be extended to any other unit, i.e., multiple time slots, frames, and so forth.

Pilot channel

Pilot channel portion 410 is used for coherent demodulation and estimation of RL channel quality. Pilot channel portion 410 includes symbols that are not modulated with binary value '0'. Unmodulated symbols are provided to block 410 (1) to map binary value symbols of '0' to symbols with a value of +1 and to map binary value symbols of '1' to symbols with a value of -1. The mapped symbols are covered with the Walsh code generated by block 410 (2) at block 410 (4).

Data request channel

The data request channel 406 is used by the AT to indicate the service sector and the requested data rate selected over the forward traffic channel to the access network. The requested forward traffic channel data rate includes a 4 bit DRC value. DRC values are provided to block 406 (2) to encode a 4-bit DRC value to yield bi-orthogonal codewords. The DRC codeword is provided at block 406 (4) to repeat each codeword twice. The repeated codeword is provided to block 406 (6) to map binary value symbols of '0' to symbols with a value of +1 and binary value symbols of '1' to symbols having a value of -1. The mapped symbols are provided to block 406 (8) and cover each symbol with the Walsh code w _i ⁸ generated at block 406 (10) according to the DRC cover identified by index i. As a result, each Walsh chip is provided to block 406 (12), and the Walsh chips are covered by the Walsh code w ₈ ¹⁶ generated at block 406 (14).

Reverse Rate Display Channel

RRI channel portion 402 provides an indication in the form of an RL packet. The packet type indication may soft-combine the soft decisions from the currently received packet with the soft decisions from the previously received packet (s). As mentioned above, the soft-combination uses soft decision values obtained from previously received packets. The AP determines the bit values (hard decision) of the packet by comparing the energies (soft decision values) at the bit positions of the decoded packet with a threshold. If the energy corresponding to one bit is greater than the threshold, the bit is assigned a first value, for example '1', otherwise it is assigned a second value, for example '0'. The AP checks whether the packet is correctly decoded by performing a CRC check or using any equivalent or appropriate method. If the test fails, the packet is considered discarded. However, the AP stores the soft decision value (if the number of retransmission attempts for the packet is less than the maximum allowed attempts) and compares the soft decision values of the already received packets with the threshold if the AP requests the soft decision values of the next packet. Can be combined before.

Combination methods are known and therefore need not be described here. One suitable method is disclosed in detail in the United States, in particular US 6,101,168, entitled "Time Efficient Retransmission Method and Apparatus Using Symbol Accumulation," and is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

However, to meaningfully soft-combine packets, the AT must be aware that the packets contain information that can be combined. The PRI value includes 3 bits, for example. The most significant bit (MSB) of the PRI indicates whether the packet is original transmission or retransmission. The remaining two bits represent one of four packet classes as determined by the code rate of the packet, the number of bits containing the packet, and the number of retransmission attempts. To enable soft-combination, the code rate of the packet, the number of bits containing the packet, remains the same as in transmission and retransmission attempts.

The PRI value is provided to block 402 (2) to quadrature encode three bits to provide one codeword. An example of orthogonal encoding is shown in Table 1.

Table 1

The value of the RRI bits Codeword 000 00000000 001 11111111 010 01010101 011 10101010 100 00110011 101 11001100 110 01100110 111 10011001

The codeword is provided to block 402 (4) so that each codeword is repeated. The repeated codeword is provided to block 402 (6) to map binary value symbols of '0' to symbols with a value of +1 and binary value symbols of '1' to symbols having a value of -1. The mapped symbols are further provided at block 402 (8) to cover each symbol with the Walsh code generated at block 402 (10), and the generated chips are provided for further processing.

To support four or more packet classes, the RRI value includes four bits, for example. The most significant bit (MSB) of the RRI indicates whether the packet is original transmission or retransmission. The remaining three bits represent one of the packet classes. In other words, the number of bits containing the packet is the same as in the transmission and retransmission attempts.

The RRI value is provided to block 402 (2) to encode four bits into a single 15-bit codeword. One example of a single encoding is described in Table 2.

Table 2

Data rate (kbps) RRI symbol RRI codeword 76.8 (new) 0000 000000000000000 153.6 (new) 0001 101010101010101 230.4 (new) 0010 011001100110011 307.2 (new) 0011 110011001100110 460.8 (new) 0100 000111100001111 614.4 (new) 0101 101101001011010 921.6 (new) 0110 011110000111100 1,228.8 (new) 0111 110100101101001 76.8 (Foundation) 1000 000000011111111 153.6 (Re) 1001 101010110101010 230.4 (Foundation) 1010 011001111001100 307.2 (Re) 1011 110011010011001 460.8 (Foundation) 1100 000111111110000 614.4 (re) 1101 101101010100101 921.6 (Foundation) 1110 011110011000011 1,228.8 1111 110100110010110

Optionally, RRI symbols can be used to indicate a range of rates. For example, when the RRI symbols include four bits, each of the eight combinations (eg, 0000, 0001, 0010, 0011, 0100, 0101, 0110, 0111) indicate a pair of data rates. . In other words, the most significant bit (MSB) of the RRI indicates that the packet is transmitted orthogonally.

Once the RRI symbols are decoded, the decoder performs a data rate determination that cannot be determined according to the two hypotheses, one hypothesis according to the first data rate of the pair of data rates determined according to the RRI symbols, and the second hypothesis is the RRI. According to the second data rate of the data rate pair determined according to the symbols. Similarly, eight combinations (eg, 0000, 0001, 0010, 0011, 0100, 0101, 0110, 0111) represent a pair of data rates of a retransmitted packet.

Optionally two parallel encoders can be used, wherein the first decoder decodes the data according to the first data rate and the second decoder decodes the data according to the second data rate.

The concept of indirect data rate indication can be extended to any number of data rates to be represented by bit combinations, with only one limitation limiting the ability to decode the number of data rates before the next data to be decoded is received. It is. Thus, if the decoder can decode all data rates, the RRI symbol may contain one bit indicating whether the packet is a new transmission or retransmission.

Additional codeword processing proceeds as described above.

Packet ready channel

Each AT wishing to transmit user data indicates to the serving sector of the user terminal that the user data is available for transmission in future time slots and / or that future time slot transmissions are opportunistic. The time slot is considered opportunistic if the instantaneous quality metric of the RL channel time slot exceeds the average quality metric of the RL channel changed by the opportunity level determined by additional factors determined by the design of the communication system.

The quality metric of the RL is determined, for example, according to the reverse pilot channel according to equation (1):

Tx_Pilot (n) is the energy of the pilot signal during the nth time slot, and Filt_Tx_Pilot (n) is the energy of the pilot signal filtered in the last k slots. The filter time constant represented in the slots is determined to give an appropriate average of the RL channel.

Thus, equation (1) represents how optimal or worst case the instantaneous RL is with respect to the average RL. The AT performs calculation of Tx_Pilot (n) and Filt_Tx_Pilot (n) measurements and quality metrics according to equation (1) every time slot. The calculated quality metric is used to estimate quality metrics for the determined number of time slots in the future. The number of determined time slots is two. The method for quality estimation is disclosed in detail in US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 974,933 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Scheduling Control of Transmissions in a Communication System” filed October 10, 2001, the assignee of the present invention. Is pumped to.

The method of estimating the RL quality metric described above is provided merely as an example. Accordingly, the SINR disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,426,971, entitled “Methods and Methods for Accurately Estimating Signal-to-Interference and Noise Ratio to Improve Communication System Performance,” filed September 13, 1999. A method using a predictor can be used.

Factors that determine the opportunity level are, for example, the maximum receivable transmission delay t (delay from packet arrival to packet transmission at AT), the number I of packets in the queue at AT (transmission queue length) and average throughput over RL Contains the rate th. The aforementioned factors define the "urgent" function I (t, l, th). The emergency function I (t, l, th) is determined according to the required effect on the input parameters. For example, immediately after arrival of the first packet for transmission to the AT's queue, the emergency function has a low value, but this value increases if the number of packets in the AT's queue exceeds a threshold. The emergency function reaches its maximum when the maximum receivable transmission delay is reached. The queue length parameter and the transmission throughput parameter similarly affect the emergency function.

The use of the aforementioned three parameters as inputs of the emergency function is provided for illustration only; Any number or different parameters may be used in consideration of the design of the communication system. In addition, the emergency function can be different for different users, thus providing user distinction. In addition, other functions than the emergency function may be used to distinguish between users. Thus, for example, each user may be assigned a characteristic according to the user's QoS. The property itself may be provided instead of an emergency function. Optionally, the property can be used to modify the input parameters of the emergency function.

The emergency function i (t, l, th) can be used to modify the quality metric according to equation (2):

The relation between the values calculated from equation (2) and the threshold value T _J can be used to define the opportunity levels. The appropriate set of opportunity levels is provided as an example in Table 3. It will be appreciated that different numbers and different definitions of opportunity levels may be used instead.

Table 3

Opportunity level Justice 0 No data to send One Data available for transfer 2 Data available for transmission, channel condition "GOOD" or urgent to transmit "HIGH" 3 The channel condition is “VERY GOOD” or urgent because it transmits the data “VERY HIGH” available for transmission.

The appropriate opportunity level is transmitted after being encoded on the PR channel. The PR channel is transmitted if the opportunity level is different from the level indicated by 0, that is, "no data to transmit" is indicated. The four opportunity levels described above can be represented as two information bits. The PR channel should be received at the AP with high reliability because it may schedule access levels that do not require user data transmission due to any error during PR channel reception or report low opportunity levels. Optionally, the error may fail to schedule an AT reporting a high chance level. Therefore, two information bits must be delivered with sufficient reliability.

 As mentioned above, the opportunity transmission time slot is included because both the AP and the AT recognize a future predetermined number of time slots for which the opportunity level is estimated. Since the timing of the APs and ATs is synchronized, the AP can determine which time slot is the opportunity transmission time slot at which the transmitting terminal reports the opportunity level. However, it will be appreciated that the opportunity transmission time slots are variable and other devices that are explicitly communicated to the AP may be used.

The value of the PR channel 412 according to the concepts described above is represented by a value of 2 bits. The PR value is provided to block 412 (2) to encode two bits to provide a codeword. The codeword is provided to block 412 (4) to repeat each codeword. The repeated codeword is provided to block 412 (6), which maps binary value symbols of '0' to symbols with a value of +1 and maps binary value symbols of '1' to symbols with a value of -1. . The mapped symbols are provided at block 412 (8), covering each symbol with the Walsh code generated by block 412 (10).

ACK channel

The ACK channel portion 408 is used by the AT to inform the access network whether a packet sent on the forward traffic channel was successfully received. The AT sends ACK channel bits in response to all forward traffic channels associated with the detected preamble sent to the AT. The ACK channel bit may be set to '0' (ACK) if the forward traffic channel packet is successfully received, otherwise the ACK channel bit may be set to '1' (NAK). Forward traffic channel packets are considered to be successfully received when the CRC checks. The ACK channel bits are repeated at block 408 (2) and provided to block 408 (4). Block 408 (4) maps binary value symbols of '0' to symbols having a value of +1 and maps binary value symbols of '1' to symbols having a value of -1. The mapped symbols are provided at block 408 (6), covering each symbol with the Walsh code generated at block 408 (8).

If the AT is in soft handoff, the packet can only be decoded by a sector that is not in service.

Traffic channel

Consistent with the RL requirements described above, traffic channel 404 transmits packets at data rates in the range of 153.6 kbps to 2.4 Mbps. The packets are encoded at coding rates determined in accordance with the data rate at block 404 (2). Block 404 (2) includes a turbo encoder having coding rates 1/3 or 1/5. The sequence of binary symbols at the output of block 404 (2) is interleaved by block 404 (4). Block 404 (4) may include a bit-inverting channel interleaver. Depending on the bit rate and encoder code rate, the interleaved sequence of code symbols is repeated dozens of times at block 404 (6) to provide a fixed modulation symbol rate, which is provided to block 404 (8). Block 404 (8) maps binary value symbols of '0' to symbols having a value of +1 and binary value symbols of '1' to symbols having a value of -1. The mapped symbols are provided at block 404 (10) to cover each symbol with the Walsh code generated by block 404 (12).

Reverse link structure

4C further describes the structure of the RL channel. Traffic channel portion 404 and RRI channel portion 402 are time division multiplexed at block 414 and provided to gain adjustment block 416 (1). After gain adjustment, the time division multiplexed signal is provided to a modulator 418.

Pilot channel portion 410, data request channel (DRC) portion 406, response channel (ACK) portion 408, packet request channel (PR) portion 412 are individual gain adjustment blocks 416 (2) -416. Provided in (5). After gain adjustment, separate channels are provided to modulator 418.

The modulator 418 combines the input channel signals to combine the combined channel signals into an appropriate modulation method, e.g., two phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), quadrature full width modulation (QAM), eight phase. Modulate according to shift keying (8-PSK), and other modulation methods known to those skilled in the art. Appropriate modulation methods may vary depending on the rate of data to be transmitted, channel conditions, and / or other communication system design parameters. The combination of input channel signals may change accordingly. For example, if the selected modulation method is QPSK, the input channel signals are combined into in-phase and quadrature signals, and the signals will be orthogonal spread. The selection of the channel signals is combined into in-phase and quadrature signals according to the design parameters of the communication system, for example, separating the channels allows the data load between the in-phase and quadrature signals to be balanced.

The modulated signal is filtered at block 420, upconverted to carrier frequency at block 422, and provided for transmission.

Reverse link waveform

The RL 500 is generated by the channel structure described in Figures 4A-4C, and the resulting text is described in Figure 5A. RL 500 is defined with respect to frames. One frame is a structure including 16 time slots 502, each time slot 502 is 2048 chips long, coinciding with a time slot interval of 1.66 ms, and thus a frame interval of 26.66 ms. . Each time slot 502 is divided into two half time slots 502a and 502b with overhead channel bursts 504a and 504b transmitted within each half timeslot 502a and 502b. Divided. Each of the overhead channel buses 504a and 504b is 256 chips long and is transmitted at the end of the associated half time slots 502a and 502b. Overhead channel bursts 504a and 504b include code division multiplexed channels. The channels include a pilot channel signal covered by a first Walsh code, a DRC covered by a second Walsh code, an ACK channel covered by a third Walsh code, and a PR channel covered by a fourth Walsh code. .

The RL traffic channel payload and reverse rate indication (RRI) channel has remaining portions 508a of the first half time slot 502a and remaining portions 508b of the second half time slot 502b. Is sent). The division of the time slot 502 between the overhead channel bursts 504a and 504b and the RL traffic channel payload and the RRI channels 508a and 508b may result in temperature rise, data during the overhead channel bursts 504a and 504b. Throughput, link bundles, and other appropriate criteria.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the time division multiplexed RRI channel and traffic channel payload are transmitted at the same power level. The power distribution between the RRI channel and the traffic channel is controlled by the number of chips allocated to the RRI panel. The number of chips is assigned to the RRI channel as a function of the transmit data rate, described below.

Other combination methods of the RL channels and the resulting RL waveforms will be appreciated as possible in accordance with the design criteria of the communication system. Thus, as mentioned above, one distinguishes one of the overhead channels, ie the RRI channel, which should be decoded with high reliability from the remaining overhead channels. Thus, the remaining overhead channels do not provide interference to the RRI channel.

In order to further improve the reliability of the RRI channel decoding, the number of chips allocated to the RRI channel is kept constant. This in turn requires different power to be transmitted to the RRI channel portion of the traffic / RRI channel time slots 508a and 508b at different power levels than the traffic channel portion. This consideration can be demonstrated by the improved decoding performance generated from the decoder using the recognition that the number of RRI channel portions is fixed and the knowledge of the power over which the RRI channel is transmitted.

The RRI channel and traffic channel are transmitted simultaneously and are distinguished by different codes and covered by different Walsh codes, for example as shown in FIG. 5B. Thus, each half time slot 502 includes an overhead channel portion 504 and an RRI and traffic channel portion 508. Overhead channel portion 504 includes DRC 510, ACK 512, PC 514, and PR 516. Overhead channels are distinguished by different codes, for example covered by different Walsh codes. RRI 518 is covered by a Walsh code that is different from traffic channel payload 520. The power allocated between individual RRI channels and traffic channels is determined by the data rate transmitted.

Overhead channels and traffic channels are transmitted using the time division mode described in FIG. 5C. Thus, each half time slot 502 includes an overhead channel portion 504 and a traffic channel portion 508. Overhead channel portion 504 includes DRC 510, ACK 512, PC 514, PR 516, and RRI 518. Overhead channels are distinguished by different codes, for example covered by different Walsh codes. The advantages of the RL waveform described above are simple.

It is appreciated that the technique described above can be applied to different waveforms. Thus, for example, the waveform need not include pilot signal bursts, and the pilot signal can be transmitted on a separate channel, which can be continuous or burst.

Reverse link data transmission

As discussed, RL transmissions originate from at least one AT within one interval. For educational purposes, RL data transmission as described below uses the same interval as one time slot. The RL transmission is scheduled by an object of the access network in response to the AT's request to convey user data. The AT is scheduled according to the quality metric of the AT's channel, the average RL quality metric of the AT, and the impedance function within the interval over the RL.

An example of RL data transmission is shown and will be described with respect to FIG. 6. 6 illustrates RL data transmission negotiation for one AT for the purpose of understanding. The concept can be extended to multiple ATs. Also, only the AP in service is shown. From the foregoing description, it is understood how ACK and NACK transmissions from non-serviced terminals affect RL data transmission.

Since the access procedure, the sector in service selection, and other call setup procedures are based on similar functions of the communication system according to the IS-856 standard as described above, they are not repeated. The AT (not shown) contains the received data to be transmitted, estimates the RL quality metric and emergency function of the AT, and generates an opportunity level OL 1. The AT further generates the packet data type and estimates the data rate. As discussed, the packet data type specifies whether the packet is an original packet or a retransmitted packet. As will be described in detail below, the rate determination method determines the maximum supportable rate according to the maximum transmit power of the AT, the transmit power allocated to the pilot channel, and the amount of data to be transmitted. The AT communicates the packet data type and the requested data rate via the RRI channel, and the opportunity level via the PR channel of the RL in slot n.

The serving AP (not shown) of the access network receives the RL and decodes the information contained in slot n. The serving AP provides the opportunity level, packet data type, and requested data rate for all access channels requesting permission to send data to the scheduler (not shown). The scheduler schedules packets for transmissions in accordance with scheduling rules. As discussed, scheduling rules attempt to minimize mutual RL interference between ATs and achieve fairness of required QoS or data distribution. The rules are as follows:

i. Priority for transmission is provided to the AT reporting the highest opportunity level;

ii. In case several ATs transmit the same opportunity level, priority is given to an AT having a lower transmission throughput rate;

iii. If several ATs satisfy the above rules (i) and (ii), the ATs are randomly selected; And

iv. Priority for transmission is provided to one of the ATs having data available for transmission, even if the reported opportunity level is low to minimize RL usage.

After performing the scheduling decision, the serving AP sends a scheduling decision for each AT requesting permission to transmit on the PG channel.

The AT receives the PG channel, decodes the scheduling decision to SD 0 and stops transmitting the packet. Since the AT contains the data to be transmitted, the AT again evaluates the RL quality metric and the emergency function of the AT and generates an opportunity level OL 2 at that time. The AT also generates the packet data type, estimates the data rate, provides the requested data rate over the packet data type and the RRI channel and provides the opportunity level over the PR channel of the RL in slot n + 1.

The serving AP receives the RL and decodes the information contained in slot n + 1. The serving AP then provides the opportunity level, packet data type, and requested data rate of all ATs requesting permission to send data to the scheduler. After performing the scheduling decision, the serving AP sends a scheduling decision for each AT requesting permission to transmit on the PG channel. As shown in FIG. 7, the serving AP sends a scheduling decision SD + 1 granting permission to send a new packet of the AT.

The AT receives the PG channel and decodes the scheduling decision SD + 1. The AT evaluates the AT's link quality metric and emergency function. As shown in Figure 3, an AT with an opportunity level determined equal to zero, i.e., there is no data for transmission, does not transmit a PR channel in time slot n + 2. Similarly, an AT determined that opportunity level equals 0 for slot n + 3 transmits user data in payload portions of the RL traffic channel within opportunity time slot n + 3.

In time slot n + 4, the AT has data to be sent. The AT evaluates the RL quality metric and the emergency function of the AT to generate an emergency level (OL 2). The AT generates an EH packet data type to evaluate the data rate, provides the packet data type on the RRI channel and the requested data rate, and provides an opportunity level on the PR channel of the RL in slot n + 4.

The serving AP receives the RL and decodes the information contained in slot n + 4. The serving AP provides the opportunity level, packet data type, and requested data rate of all ATs requesting permission to send data to the scheduler. After performing the scheduling decision, the serving AP sends a scheduling decision for each of the ATs requesting permission to transmit on the PG channel. As shown in Fig. 7, the payload transmission on RL in slot n + 3 is correctly decoded in the access network. Thus, the serving AP sends a scheduling decision SD + 1 granting permission to send a new packet of the AT.

The serving AP receives and decodes the RL from the transmitting AT, so that the serving AP scheduler makes scheduling decisions only on the information provided by the serving AP. Other APs in the access network also receive and decode the RL from the transmitting AT and provide information on whether the payload has been successfully decoded at the serving AP. Thus, if any APs in the access network have successfully decoded the payload, the serving AP indicates the ACK on the PG channel, thus preventing unnecessary retransmissions. All APs receiving the payload information transmit payload information to the centralized object to perform soft decision decoding. The central decoder notifies the serving AP whether the payload decoding was successful.

The AT receives the PG channel and decodes the scheduling decision SD + 1. The AT evaluates the RL quality metric and emergency function of the AT. As shown in Figure 6, an AT with an opportunity level determined equal to zero, i.e., there is no data for transmission, does not transmit a PR channel in time slot n + 5. Similarly, an AT with an opportunity level determined equal to 0 for slot n + 6 sends user data to the payload portions of the RL traffic channel in opportunity time slot n + 6.

The case of an access network that fails to correctly decode the payload sent on the RL in time slot n + 3 is shown in FIG. 7. To request retransmission for the payload sent on the RL in slot n + 3, the serving AP communicates over the PG channel scheduling decision SD-1 granting permission to retransmit the previous packet of the AT.

The AT receives the PG channel and decodes the scheduling decision SD-1. The AT evaluates the AT's link quality metric and emergency function. As shown in FIG. 7, an AT with an opportunity level determined equal to zero, that is, no data for transmission does not transmit a PR channel in time slot n + 5. Similarly, an AT with an opportunity level determined equal to 0 for slot n + 6 sends user data in the payload portions of the RL traffic channel within opportunity time slot n + 6.

In time slot n + 7, the AT has data to be sent. The AT evaluates the RL quality metric and the emergency function of the AT to generate an emergency level (OL 1). The AT also generates a packet data type to evaluate the data rate, provides the packet data type and the requested data rate on the RRI channel, and provides an opportunity level on the PR channel of the RL in slot n + 7.

The serving AP receives the RL and decodes the information contained in slot n + 6. The serving AP provides the opportunity level, packet data type, and requested data rate of all ATs requesting permission to send data to the scheduler. After performing the scheduling decision, the serving AP sends a scheduling decision for each of the ATs requesting permission to transmit on the PG channel. As shown in FIG. 7, payload retransmission via RL in slot n + 6 is correctly decoded in the access network. Thus, in response to the opportunity level of the access channel sent in time slot n + 7, the serving AP sends a scheduling decision SD + 1 granting permission to send a new packet of the AT.

It will be appreciated that the serving AP may schedule the AT according to the request for the latest received transmission.

It will be appreciated that a packet access network may not be able to receive a packet in several retransmission attempts. To prevent excessive retransmission attempts, the communication system may abort the retransmission attempts after determining the number of retransmission attempts (duration interval). Lost packets are handled by different methods, for example by radio link protocol (RLP).

Reverse Link Power Control

As discussed, only one AT in one sector is transmitting data traffic over the RL. Since all terminals are transmitting on the same frequency in a CDMA communication system, each transmitting AT acts as an interference source for ATs in adjacent sectors. To minimize interference through the RL and maximize capacity, the transmit power of the pilot channel for each AT is controlled by two power control loops. The transmit power of the remaining overhead channels is determined as part of the transmit power of the pilot channel. The transmit power of the traffic channel is determined as the traffic-to-pilot power ratio for a given data rate corrected by the rise in temperature difference between overhead and traffic transmission intervals. The rise in temperature is the difference between the receiver noise floor and the total received power as measured by the AT.

Pilot channel power control

Pilot channel power control loops are similar to loops in a CDMA system disclosed in detail in US Pat. No. 5,056,109 entitled " Methods and Apparatus for Controlling Transmit Power in a CDMA Cellular Mobile Phone System, " It is incorporated by reference in the specification. Other power control methods are contemplated and are within the spirit of the present invention.

The first power control loop (outer loop) adjusts the set point so that the desired level of performance, eg, DRC channel cancellation rate, is maintained. The set point is updated every two frames after select diversity in the APs, i.e., the set point is increased if the measured DRC erasure rate exceeds the threshold at all APs in the AT's active set, If the measured DRC erasure rate is below the threshold at any AP, it is reduced.

The second power control loop (inner loop) adjusts the transmit power of the AT so that the RL weave metric is maintained at the set point. The quality metric includes energy-to-signal to noise and interference ratio (Ecp / Nt) per chip and is measured at the AP receiving the RL. Thus, the set point is measured at Ecp / Nt. The AP compares the measured Ecp / Nt with the power control set point. If the measured Ecp / Nt is greater than the set point, the AP sends a power control message to the AT to reduce the AT's transmit power. Optionally, if the measured Ecp / Nt is less than the set point, the AP sends a power control message to the AT to increase the transmit power of the AT. The power control message is implemented with one power control bit. The first value (" up ") for the power control bit instructs the AT to increase the transmit power of the AT, and the lower value (" down ") instructs the AT to decrease the transmit power of the AT.

Power control bits for all ATs communicating with each AP are transmitted via the RPC of the FL.

Remaining Overhead Channel Power Control

If the transmit power of the pilot channel for one time slot is determined by the operation of the power control loops, then the transmit power of each remaining overhead channel is the ratio of the transmit power of the particular overhead channel to the transmit power of the pilot channel. Is determined. The ratios for each overhead channel are determined by simulations, experimental experiences, field trials, and other engineering methods.

Traffic channel power control

The requested transmit power of the traffic channel is determined by the transmit power of the pilot channel. The requested traffic channel power is calculated using the following formula:

P _t = P _pilot G (r) A (3)

P _t is the transmit power of the traffic channel;

P _pilot is the transmit power of the pilot channel;

G (r) is the traffic-to-pilot transmission power ratio for a given data rate r; And

A is the rise in temperature difference (ROT) between overhead and traffic transmission intervals.

The ROT _{overhead in the overhead} transmission interval and ROT _traffic in the traffic transmission interval required for the calculation of A at the AP are the United States entitled "Methods and Devices for RL Loading Estimation". Patent 6,192,249, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Once the noise in the overhead and traffic transmission intervals is measured, A is calculated using the following formula.

A = ROT _traffic -ROT _overhead (4)

The calculated A is sent to the AT. A is transmitted on the RA channel. The value of A is adjusted according to the RL packet error rate (PER) determined according to the ACK / NAK received from the AP via the PG channel by the AT, so that the determined PER is maintained at the maximum number of allowed transmissions of a given packet. The RL packet error rate is determined according to the ACK / NCK of the RL packets. The value of A is increased by the first determined amount if the ACK is received in N retransmission attempts of up to M retransmission attempts. Similarly, the value of A is reduced by a second determined amount if the ACK is not received within N retransmission attempts of up to M retransmission attempts.

Optionally, A indicates an estimate of the ROT difference provided by equation (3) at the subscriber station. The initial value of A is determined according to simulations, experimental experiences, field trials and other appropriate engineering methods. The value of A is adjusted according to the RL packet error rate (PER) so that the determined PER is maintained at the maximum allowed number of transmissions of a given packet. The RL packet error rate is determined according to the ACK / NCK of the RL packets as described above. The value of A is increased by the first determined amount if the ACK is received in N retransmission attempts of up to M retransmission attempts. Similarly, the value of A is reduced by a second determined amount if the ACK is not received within N retransmission attempts of up to M retransmission attempts.

From equation (3), the traffic channel transmit power is a function of the data rate r. Also, the AT is limited to the maximum transmit power amount P _max . Therefore, the AT first determines how much power is available from P _max and the determined P _pilot . The AT then determines the amount of data to be transmitted and selects the data rate r in accordance with the available power and amount of data. The AT then evaluates equation (3) to determine whether the effect of the estimated noise difference A does not exceed the available power. If the available power is exceeded, the AT reduces the data rate r and repeats the process.

The AP may control the maximum data rate that the AT can transmit by providing an AT having the maximum allowed value G (r) · A over the RA channel. The AT then determines the maximum transmit power of the RL traffic channel, the transmit power of the RL pilot channel and calculates the maximum data rate that can be transmitted using equation (3).

RRI Channel Power Control

As described above, the transmit power of overhead channels is determined by the ratio of the transmit power of a particular overhead channel to the transmit power of the pilot channel.

To eliminate the need to transmit the RRI portion of the traffic / RRI channel time slot at different power levels, the traffic / RRI channel time slot portion is transmitted at the same power. In order to achieve accurate power distribution for the RRI channel, different numbers of chips are assigned to the RRI channel as a function of the transmitted data rate.

In order to correctly decode the determined number of chips including the Walsh covered codeword, the required power can be determined. Optionally, if the power for the traffic / payload required for transmission is known, and the RRI portion of the traffic / RRI channel time slot is transmitted at the same power, the number of chips suitable for reliable RRI channel decoding can be determined. Thus, once the data rate and thus the transmit power of the traffic / RRI channel time slots are determined, the number of chips assigned to the RRI channel is determined. The AT generates RRI channel bits, encodes the bits to obtain symbols, and fills the symbols with the number of chips allocated to the RRI channel. If the number of chips assigned to the RRI channel is greater than the number of symbols, the symbols are repeated until all chips assigned to the RRI channel are filled.

Optionally, the RRI channel is time division multiplexed into the traffic channel payload, and the RRI portion of the traffic / RRI channel time slot includes a fixed number of chips. In addition, the power level of the RRI channel is not determined according to the transmit power of the pilot channel, but is assigned a fixed value according to the required QoS, and is communicated to each AT by the AP. The fixed value for the quality metric required for RRI channel reception depends on simulations, experimental experiences, field trials and other engineering methods.

AT 800 is described in FIG. 8. The FL signals are received by the antenna 802 and routed to the front end 804 including the receiver. The receiver filters, amplifies, demodulates, and digitizes the signal provided by antenna 802. The digitized signal is provided to a demodulator (DEMOD) 806 to provide demodulated data to the decoder 808. The decoder 808 performs inverse transformation of the signal processing function performed at the AT to provide the decoded user data to the data sink 910. The decoder also communicates with the controller 812 to provide overhead data to the controller 802. The controller 812 communicates with other blocks, including the AT 800, to appropriately control the operation of the ATs 800, eg, power control, data encoding. Controller 812 may include, for example, a storage medium including a processor and a set of instructions coupled to and executable on the processor.

User data to be sent to the AT is provided by the data source 814 by transmission to the encoder 816 of the controller 812. The encoder 816 is further provided with overhead data by the controller 812. The encoder 816 encodes the data and provides the encoded data to a modulator (MOD) 818. Data processing at encoder 816 and modulator 818 is performed in accordance with RL generation as described in the text and figures described above. The processed data is then provided to a transmitter in the front end 810. The transmitter filters and amplifies the RL signal, and then wirelessly transmits the RL signal through the RL by the antenna 802. AT 800 includes a mode selection / detection unit for determining a transmission mode.

Controller 900 and AT 902 are shown in FIG. 9. User data generated by the data source 904 is provided to the controller 900 via an interface unit, for example, a packet network interface, a PSTN (not shown). As discussed, the controller 900 contacts a number of ATs to form an access network. (Only one AT 902 is shown in FIG. 9 for simplicity.) User data is provided to multiple selection elements (only one selection element 902 is shown in FIG. 9 for simplicity. ). One selection element is assigned to control one or more base stations in control of the user data exchange and call control processor 910 between the data source 904 and the data sink 906. Call control processor 910 may include, for example, a storage medium that includes a processor and a set of instructions executable on the processor. As shown in FIG. 9, the selection element 902 provides user data to the data queue 914 and includes user data to be sent to ATs (not shown) serviced by the AT 902. Under the control of the scheduler 916, user data is provided to the channel element 912 by the data queue 914. The channel element 912 processes the user data in accordance with the IS-856 standard to provide the processed data to the transmitter 918. Data is transmitted over the FL by antenna 922.

RL signals from ATs (not shown) are received at antenna 924 and provided to receiver 920. Receiver 920 filters, amplifies, demodulates, and digitizes the signal to provide a digitized signal to channel element 912. Channel element 912 performs inverse transformation of the signal processing function performed at the AP to provide decoded data to selection element 908. The selection element 908 routes the user data to the data sink 906 and the overhead data to the call control processor 910.

In some embodiments, higher throughput may be achieved by implementing an appropriate configuration in which the access network selects and assigns transmission modes for ATs in a sector on a subframe basis in RL transmissions. In one embodiment, the mode assignment by the access network includes optional hybrid time slots, that is, some modes assigned by the scheduler include hybrid CDM / TDM / OFDM transmission modes, and OFDM is used for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. Refer.

In one embodiment of a communication system, such as shown in Figures 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B below, the RL scheduler in the access network is configured from three transmission modes referred to as mode 1, mode 2, mode 3. Assign the selected transmission mode. In mode 1, data is code division multiplexed during the entire slot, ie mode 1 is 100% CDM mode. Mode 1 is the default mode, while mode 2 and mode 3 are optional hybrid modes. Since only TDM data is delay tolerant, hybrid slots will only be used for delay tolerant traffic. In general, hybrid slots are rarely used in applications such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP), gaming, and video telephones. Hybrid slots can be used in many applications such as FTP (file transfer protocol) upload and email-like traffic. Regardless of the transmission mode selected, all ATs simultaneously transmit overhead channels over which overhead data is transmitted using code division multiplexing.

In mode 2, data transmission is time division multiplexed within each time slot between the first half slot and the second half slot. In the first half slot of mode 2, data is code division multiplexed, and in the second half slot, data is time division multiplexed or orthogonal frequency division multiplexed. Mode 2 is thus 50% CDM and 50% TDM / OFDM in one slot. In mode 3, data is time division multiplexed in each time slot between the first portion of the slot and the second portion of the slot. The first part is a quarter (25%) time slot and the second part is a 3/4 (75%) time slot. In the first portion (1/4 or 25%) of the slot in mode 3, the data is code division multiplexed, and in the second portion (3/4 or 75%) of the slot in mode 3, the data is time division multiplexed or orthogonal Frequency division multiplexing. The above-described modes are described below, and it should be understood that in other embodiments the hybrid mode may be characterized as being time division multiplexed at rates other than 50% / 50% or 25% / 75%.

Regardless of the transmission mode selected, overhead data is transmitted using code division multiplexing. Regardless of the transmission mode selected, the same amount of overhead data is transmitted at the same power during a given time slot. Thus, in higher modes (e.g., Mode 2 at 50% CDMA or Mode 3 at 25% CDMA), the gains of the overhead channels are such that the same amount of (overhead) data is transmitted for shorter CDMA time intervals. Is increased. In one embodiment of the communication system, each of the ATs is configured to compensate for energy lost during transmission of overhead data over the overhead channel (s) by increasing the gain of one or more overhead channels.

In one embodiment of the communication system, ATs in soft or softer handoff may use higher modes. The loss of capacity due to higher other cell interference is in turn caused by ATs of higher transmit power levels during handoff, depending on the mode type and frequency of use. At least one interlace in the RL always operates in mode 1. The RL generally has three interlaces, ie consecutive four-slot intervals in which one repeats all 12-slots always operating in mode one. The RL interlace offset i for the terminal is specified as follows:

i = (T-frame offset) / 4mod3, (5)

T denotes the CDMA system time in units of time slots, where 0 ≦ i ≦ 2. Using hybrid slots, the RAB (Reverse Active Bit) is set for load control based on the even half (CDM) of mode 1 slots and mode 2 slots. For mode 3 slots, load control is performed by admission control, i.e., controlling access of new communication requests to the network.

In one embodiment of the communication system, the access channel is transmitted only during mode 1 slots and a two slot preamble is provided. Up to 64 slots of the CDM channel payload may be provided. Access probe start is performed in any subframe. For access probe transmissions, ATs use the mode 1 interlace and the CDM portions of mode 2 and mode 3. This results in longer delays for access procedures. The delay is determined by the frame offset. In the best case scenario, the access delay is equal to the CDM (only for mode 1). In the worst case scenario, the access delay can be quite long depending on the access payload size and data rate used.

10 illustrates an example of mode settings in an embodiment of a communication system in which a transmission mode is changed on a subframe basis. As described above, mode selection and allocation occurs on a subframe basis. In other words, the transmission mode once allocated can be changed at the end of one subframe or four time slots, but the modes need not be changed at the end of each subframe. An allocation once performed may be applied to several subframes. Allocations can be updated very often as desired in the access network. For example, the mode assignment may be updated for each control channel cycle via a synchronous control channel message.

Mode selection is based on request channels. The RL scheduler in the AN determines the mode and hence QoS requirements to be used for a given subframe according to the applications of the data streams. The mode selection is also determined by the total number of users in the sector, and the larger the number of users, the greater the bandwidth required for overhead channel transmissions. In one embodiment of the communication system, the RL scheduler assigns the same mode to all ATs in the sector. In order to minimize intra-cell interference, transmission in TDM / OFDM of hybrid slots is approved for ATs having the following characteristics: high PA headroom, active set size, active cell size, and for example about FL SINR value above the threshold of 5 dB. RL MAC parameters do not change during CDM transmissions, while TDM transmissions (during hybrid slots) ignore all RL MAC parameters.

11A and 11B show the RL waveform in subframe for Mode 1, 100% CDM mode. In this mode, all ATs transmit not only user data channels but also all overhead channels simultaneously (ie by code division multiplexing). Each AT is distinguished from other ATs using a long code mask, and each channel for each AT is distinguished from other channels using a different Walsh code. A sub-packet or subframe such as that shown in Figures 11A and 11B consists of four time slots with 2048 chips each. 11A shows a mode 1 CDM subframe for a user in which none of the higher modes (modes 2 or 3) including TDM subframes are scheduled. 11B shows a Mode 1 CDM subframe for a user in which higher modes (ie hybrid modes 2 or 3) are scheduled. As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the PR (Packet Ready) channel is selectively transmitted during CDM subframes only if higher (hybrid) modes are scheduled in TDM subframes. The overhead channels of the mode 1 CDM subframe shown in FIG. 11A do not include a PR channel that is not transmitted during mode 1 CDM subframes when higher modes are not scheduled. The overhead channels of the mode 1 CDM subframe shown in FIG. 11B include a PR channel that is selectively transmitted when higher modes are scheduled. In FIG. 11A, the ACK channel is shown in dashed lines, indicating that transmission of the ACK channel is optional in the illustrated mode 1 CDM subframe.

12A, 12B, 12C show the RL waveform in the subframe for mode 2, that is, 50% CDM and 50% TDM / OFDM. As shown in Figure 12A, in mode 2 the low rate channels (including CDM data and overhead channels) and the high rate channels (TDM / OFDM data) are at different time intervals, i.e., time division. Multiplexed and transmitted. The TDM / OFDM portion of the time slot as well as the CDM portion of the time slot each include 1024 chips. 12B and 12C detail TDM packets (50% of each packet is a CDM time interval and 50% of each packet is a TDM / OFDM time interval). 12B shows a TDM packet for an active TDM user, and FIG. 12C shows a TDM packet following an idle TDM user. As shown in Figures 12B and 12C, the PR channel is selectively transmitted during the CDM portion of the time slots. A TDM packet for an active user such as shown in FIG. 12B shows that user data is transmitted during a TDM / OFDM interval in a time slot, while a TDM packet for an idle user such as shown in FIG. 12C does not contain any user data. It is shown that it is not transmitted during the TDM / OFDM interval in the time slot. The CDM data channel, PRI channel and PR channel modes are shown by the dashed boxes in FIGS. 12B and 12C and are optional transmissions in mode 2. FIG.

During the overhead intervals of mode 2, all users transmit overhead channels using code division multiplexing. Overhead channels are transmitted on 1024 chips / slot, with each channel covered by a different code. All delay sensitive packets are sent during the overhead interval, and traffic allowing the delay is sent during the TDM / OFDM portion. During traffic intervals (ie, TDM / OFDM portions of a time slot), each sector schedules transmission by a single user.

In terminals using only CDM time slots, all channels are gated off during even half slots (starting at 0) when operating in mode 2. A modified packet structure is provided to ensure coding gain with a reduced packet size. In terminals using CDM time slots, a two slot RRI is provided for overhead channels in the CDM time slot for CDM data transmission. DRC Channel The gain and length (measured in number of time slots) of the DSC channel are adjusted to minimize the performance impact during mode 2 slots. In addition, the RRI channel power is increased in the traffic channels in the CDM slot to compensate for shorter RRI. The payload is reduced or traffic vs. pilot is increased with sector loading. Payload reduction or traffic to pilot increase is indicated by FRAB (filtered reverse active bit).

For mode 1 to mode 2 CDM traffic, the RRI channel power is increased with traffic to pilot when FRAB (filtered reverse active bit) is low. RRI channel power is reduced with traffic to pilot when FRAB is high. The reason for this is that the RRI vs. pilot gain is higher when the FRAB is low. Similar principles apply in the case of mode 2 versus mode 3 and mode 1 versus mode 3. For legacy mode operation (only for mode 1), the loss may be limited by limiting the number of mode 2 and mode 3 slots.

Examples of TDM packet parameters for mode 2 are provided in Table 4. As shown in Table 4, RL data rates range from 76.8 kbps to 1843.2 kbps. The payload has a size ranging from 512 bits to 12288 bits. Modulation types used include QPSK, 8-PSK and 16-QAM. The number of RRI chips per slot decreases as a function of traffic channel gain.

Table 4

Data rate (kbps) Data (dB) RRI slot Data bits Modulation mode 76.8 14.5 384 512 QPSK 153.6 16.6 192 1024 QPSK 230.4 18.4 128 1536 QPSK 307.2 19.3 96 2048 QPSK 460.8 21.0 64 3072 QPSK 614.4 22.5 48 4096 QPSK 921.6 25.8 32 6144 8-PSK 1228.8 27.6 16 8192 8-PSK 1843.2 32.0 16 12288 16-QAM

In terminals using TDM transmissions (which only occur in hybrid slots for mode 2), the traffic channels have the same data channel structure as used during CDM slots. The data channel and the auxiliary pilot channel can optionally be code division multiplexed to provide greater flexibility in allocating power. The advantage compared to time division multiplexed data and RRI channels is that such an implementation is easier. The disadvantage is the higher peak to average power ratio (PAR). Terminals transmit user data in a manner to achieve the maximum achievable data rate over the traffic channel. The maximum achievable rate may be indicated by the AN via a scheduling grant message when providing a mechanism for soft power control.

13A-13B show RL waveforms in subframe for mode 3, which is 25% CDM and 75% TDM / OFDM. FIG. 13A shows a TDM packet for an active TDM user, while FIG. 13B shows a TDM packet for an idle TDM user. As shown in Figures 13A and 13B, in Mode 3 no CDM data is transmitted during the CDM portion of the slot (25%), only overhead channels (PR, ACK, DSC, DRC and pilot channels) are transmitted. . In other words, for ATs using only CDM slots, no data transmission occurs. This is because only 25% of the slots are allocated to the CDM interval, so not enough energy is available in mode 3 for the transmission of CDM data during the CDM interval. Therefore, mode 3 should only be used when there is no need to transmit CDM data.

RRI channels selectively transmitted during the CDM interval of mode 2 are not transmitted in the CDM interval of mode 3. In mode 3, the optional transmissions during the CDM interval are the transmissions of the PR channel and the ACK channel. The gain and length of the overhead channels in mode 3 can be adjusted to minimize the performance impact compared to the slots in mode 2. Energy loss in the overhead channels can be compensated for by increasing the overhead channel gain. For terminals using TDM / OFDM transmissions, the traffic channels are the same as the mode 2 traffic channels, but the mode 3 traffic channels can support higher data rates compared to mode 2 (50% of mode 2 and (75% of slots are allocated for traffic data). The biggest advantage of mode 3 transmission is that it can support higher peak data rates, i.e. 3.1Mbps.

One example of TDM packet parameters for mode 3 is provided in Table 5. As shown in Table 5, the RL data rate ranges from 76.8 kbps to 3072.0 kbps, indicating a significant increase in peak data rate. Payload size ranges from 512 to 20480 bits. Modulation types used include QPSK, 8-PSK and 16-QAM. The number of RRI chips per slot decreases as a function of traffic channel as in mode 2.

Table 5

Data rate (kbps) Data gain (dB) RRI Chips / Slots Data bits Modulation mode 76.8 384 512 QPSK 153.6 192 1024 QPSK 230.4 128 1536 QPSK 307.2 96 2048 QPSK 460.8 64 3072 QPSK 614.4 48 4096 QPSK 921.6 32 6144 QPSK 1228.8 16 8192 8-PSK 1843.2 16 12288 16-QAM 2457.6 16 16384 16-QAM 3072.0 16 20480 16-QAM

In the above embodiments of a communication system in which optional hybrid slots are provided, the AN is configured to receive a request from all ATs in the sector to transmit data in the time slot. Upon receiving a request message from each AT, the AN assigns a transmission mode for transmitting data in units of subframes to each AT in the sector. As mentioned above, the mode selection may be based on the sector, ie the same mode may be assigned to all ATs in the sector. The assigned mode or mode pattern is known a priori to all ATs in the sector. The AN (or RL scheduler within the AN) schedules the transmission, i.e., determines which AT is allocated to transmit data during the requested time slot. The AN not only indicates the transmission mode assigned to each AT, but also sends an acknowledgment message specifying the AT to which the grant for transmission is granted.

In embodiments of a communication system in which hybrid slots are selectively scheduled, the power of RL overhead channels and RL traffic channels is controlled along with mode 1 slots. For mode 2 and mode 3 slots, the power for overhead channels and traffic channels is controlled separately. The overhead control channel is controlled using an inner loop and an outer loop as described above and is based on a fixed gain between the pilot and overhead channels. The inner loop is the OR of downacross cells. For the outer loop, the setpoint is based on the target DRC erase rate in the BTS (cell) with the optimal RL CDM-traffic PER (packet error rate) when available. If the DRC erase rate is less than about 25% and the CDM-data packet is successfully decoded, the PC (power control) setpoint is reduced. If the DRC erase rate exceeds about 25% or the packet (CDM-data) is not successfully decoded, the PC setpoint is increased. Of course, a percentage rate range of 25% is provided by way of example, and it should be understood that other percentage rate values may be used for the DRC erase rate. The DRC erase rate may be updated frame by frame. Terminals using the CDM transmission mode can switch between mode 1, mode 2 and mode 3 slots. Appropriate adjustments to traffic versus pilot can be made to maintain the same PC set point between changes.

In one embodiment, the allocation of resources to MAC flows at each AT in the sector is controlled from the AN in addition to mode assignment and user scheduling. The resource allocation for the flow may include, for example, values of traffic to pilot, traffic to pilot maximum, and traffic to pilot fixed values for the flow at the AT, wherein the traffic to pilot (traffic to pilot power ratio) Is the ratio between the transmit power of the traffic channel and the transmit power of the pilot channel with respect to the AT. The scheduled resource allocation control is part of IS-856-A and provides ease of design for QoS purposes as well as fast and efficient use of resources. In particular, by providing AT traffic to pilot allocation control from the AN, the scheduled resource allocation control allows for quick allocation or reallocation of all sector resources to each active flow.

In this embodiment, the request message from the AT includes an allocation request to allocate resources to the MAC flow in the AT, in addition to the request to transmit data within a certain time slot. Each allocation request packet contains information about each RL MAC flow at the AT.

14 illustrates a request packet format in one embodiment providing scheduled resource allocation control for MAC flows in an AT. The first byte of the request packet includes a request message header. The first four bits of the request message header provide information about the maximum supportable traffic versus pilot, ie header room. The next four bits of the request message header provide the number N of MAC flows in the current request packet. Subsequent to the request for each MAC flow (MAC flow 1, MAC flow 2, ...), each MAC flow request occupies two bytes, and the first four bits specify the MAC flow ID for the MAC flow request. The next four bits provide the queue length, the next four bits provide the threshold queue length, and the last four bits provide the threshold deadline.

The AT transmits a request packet when traffic channel data is transmitted and when the following conditions are met:

1) the minimum number of bits N _min is transmitted after the last request packet, or

2) if a predetermined time interval T _max has elapsed since the last request packet was sent, i.e. a predetermined time interval is provided without sending any request packet.

Condition 1) ensures that request packets are not sent too often, ie enough data is provided after the last request. Condition 2) ensures that too few request packets are sent, ie at least one request packet is sent every T _max . The AT piggybacks request packets to the traffic channel data. The request can be power-boost for quick transmission.

In one embodiment, N _min in condition 1) is given by:

N _min = (1ReqRatio-1) * RequestPktSize, (6)

The ReqRatio indicates the ratio of required request bits to traffic bits, and RequesPktSize varies with the number of flows in the request. ReqRatio is chosen so that the overhead induced by the request message is not too large, i.e., ensuring that the bulk transmitted contains traffic bits rather than request bits.

In addition to sending a request packet containing a resource allocation request, the request mechanism from the AT includes the transmission of the RL channel quality information from the AT to the AN. The AT generates RL channel quality information by determining opportunity levels as described above. As described in detail in paragraphs 96-99 above, the opportunity levels are determined between the energy of the pilot signal filtered for the previous k slots and the instantaneous energy of the pilot signal (ie, the energy of the pilot signal during the nth time slot). Is determined by requiring the ratio of to exceed the threshold.

In one embodiment, opportunity levels are defined as listed in Table 3 above, with thresholds as follows:

For opportunity level 0 (“no data”), Tx_Pilot (n) exceeds about Filt_Tx_Pilot (n) by about 3 dB;

For opportunity level 1 (“data available”), Tx_Pilot (n) is within about 3 dB of Filt_Tx_Pilot (n);

For opportunity level 2 ("data available, channel condition 'excellent'"), Tx_Pilot (n) exceeds about Filt_Tx_Pilot (n) by about 3 dB.

For opportunity level 3 ("data available, channel condition 'very good'"), Tx_Pilot (n) exceeds about Filt_Tx_Pilot (n) by about 6 dB.

It is to be understood that the threshold values provided above (3 dB and 6 dB) are exemplary values provided for illustrative purposes and that other embodiments of the communication system described above may have different threshold levels. The number of opportunity levels that is three in the above example may also be different in other embodiments of the communication system described herein.

In one embodiment where hybrid modes are provided, RL channel quality information may be transmitted on an R-CQICH (reverse channel quality indicator channel). In this embodiment, RL channel quality information is sent from the AT to the AN only when hybrid slots are scheduled by the AN. Opportunity levels are sent on the R-CQICH channel using QPSK modulation.

The acknowledgment mechanism from the AN is in response to receiving the MAC flow request message and opportunity levels (only when hybrid modes are scheduled) sent via the R-CQICH, 1) assigning a transmission mode (as described above); 2) generate and transmit a resource allocation approval message in response to receiving the request packet; 3) generating and transmitting an individual user grant for the TDM / OFDM portion of the hybrid slots (for TDM traffic).

When scheduling a resource allocation grant message for CDM traffic, the grant message is sent from the serving sector to the ATs over the FL traffic channel. The timing and content of the acknowledgment message is determined by the AN scheduler. The grant message includes "approvals" for one or more ATs, and the grant to an individual AT includes resource allocation for one or more MAC flows within the AT. Resource allocation for a flow includes traffic to pilot, traffic to pilot maximum, and traffic to pilot fixed values for the flow. The traffic to pilot fixed value is then used to fix the traffic to pilot assignment until approval. The acknowledgment message contains new state variables and parameter values for the particular flows. Upon receiving the acknowledgment message, the AT overwrites the RL MAC state variables and parameters with individual received values for each appropriate flow. The acknowledgment message may be sent via a multi-user packet or control channel. When inserted into a multi-user packet, the spare MAC_ID is used to refer to the payload associated with the grant message in the MAC header of the multi-user packet.

User grants of the TDM / OFDM portions of hybrid slots generated in response to receipt of opportunity levels are sent on the FL PGCH (packet grant channel). Repeated over two slots to improve PGCH reliability for TDM traffic. 15 shows the structure of a PGCH showing coding, modulation, and spreading for the PGCH. The error detection encoder 702 may be a CRC encoder. Convolutional encoder 704 has a limit length K of nine. In the embodiment described above, a convolutional code rate of 1/4 is used. In block 706 all four symbols outside of the convolutional encoder 704 are punctured. Symbols outside the puncturing operation are block interleaved by the block interleaver 708. A total of 128 symbols outside the block interleaver 708 are modulated using the QPSK modulator 710, split into I and Q streams, and spread by the W ₇ ⁸ code. A total of 512 chips outside the spreading operation are mapped to 512 MAC chips in the slot. In an alternative approach, the PGCH is communicated over an orthogonal branch of the RPC channel using on / off keying indicated in three modes as described above with respect to FIG.

Although flowcharts are shown in sequential order for understanding, it is recognized that certain steps may be performed concurrently with the actual implementation.

 Those skilled in the art will appreciate that information and signals may be represented using any of a number of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, instructions, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the description may include voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic fields, or electromagnetic particles, By optical systems or optical particles, or any combination thereof.

Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination thereof. To clearly illustrate the interchangeability of the hardware and software, various elements, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above with regard to their functionality. Whether the functionality is implemented in hardware or software is determined by the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention.

The various logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be general purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable rate arrays (FPGAs), or It may be executed or performed using other programmable logic devices, discrete rate or transistor logic, discrete hardware elements, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions disclosed herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, eg, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other configuration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be immediately implemented in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination thereof. Software modules are known to those skilled in the art in the form of RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM or any other storage medium. Exemplary storage media are connected to a processor capable of reading information from and recording information from the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside within an ASIC. The ASIC can reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user device.

The foregoing description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments but is to be accorded the widest scope indicated in the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Portions of the patent document disclosure include subject matter that may affect copyright protection. The copyright holder has no significance for their facsimile copying because the patent document or patent disclosure is viewed as a patent file or record of the Office, but all copyrights are retained except in this case.

For your convenience, a list of abbreviations is provided in alphabetical order as follows:

AP access point

ACK acknowledgment

ARQ Auto Resend Request

Integrated Circuits for ASIC Applications

BPSK Binary Phase Shift Keying

CDMA code division multiple access

CRC Cyclic Repetition Check

DRC Channel Data Request Message

DRC Data Request Channel

DSP digital signal processor

EcpINt Per Chip Energy to Noise and Interference Consensus Ratio

FDMA frequency division multiple access

FPGA Field Programmable Gate Array

FRAB Filtered Reverse Active Bits

FTP file transfer protocol

GOS Class of Service

HDR high data rate

LAC Link Access Control Media Access Control Channel

MAC media access control channel

MOD modulator

MSB most significant bit

NACK non-service access point

OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing

OL opportunity level

OSI open system interconnect

PC pilot channel

PER packet error rate

PGCH Packet Acknowledgment Channel

PN pseudo noise

PR packet preparation

PSTN public switched telephone network

QoS Quality of Service

QPSK Quaternary Phase Shift Keying

RA reverse activation

RLP radio link protocol

ROT heat rise

RPC Reverse Power Control Channel

RRI reverse rate indication

SD Scheduling Decision

SINR signal-to-noise and interference ratio

TDMA time division multiple access

3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project

Claims (1)

A processor; And And a mode selection unit connected to the processor and used to select one multiple access transmission mode from multiple multiple access transmission modes.

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