This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of a Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 2, 2007 and assigned Serial No. 2007-11094, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for a communication system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for generating subchannels in a communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, next-generation communication systems are being developed to provide Mobile Stations (MSs) with services capable of high-speed and high-capacity data transmission/reception. Typical examples of the next-generation communication systems include an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 communication system, a Mobile Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Mobile WiMAX) communication system and an IEEE 802.20 communication system, i.e., Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) communication system. Among others, the Mobile WiMAX communication system is a communication system that uses the IEEE 802.16 standard similar to the IEEE 802.16 communication system. The Mobile WiMAX communication system, the IEEE 802.16 communication system and the IEEE 802.20 communication system are communication systems using any one of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme. For convenience, it will be assumed herein that the Mobile WiMAX communication system, the IEEE 802.16 communication system, and the IEEE 802.20 communication system use the OFDMA scheme and the communication system using the OFDMA scheme will be referred to as an ‘OFDMA communication system’.
With reference to
Referring to
In the IEEE 802.16 communication system, subchannels are classified into band-Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) subchannels and diversity subchannels according to their subchannel generation scheme. A description will now be given of the band-AMC subchannels and the diversity subchannels.
The full frequency band used in the IEEE 802.16 communication system is divided into multiple subbands, i.e., multiple bands. At least one subcarrier in each of the multiple bands is generated as one band-AMC subchannel. The subcarriers included in the band-AMC subchannel are subcarriers physically neighboring each other. To generate the band-AMC subchannel in this way, a BS should receive Channel Quality Information (CQI) feedback for each of the multiple bands from each of MSs located in its coverage. The BS generates band-AMC subchannels belonging to the band over which it can provide the optimal channel state to each of the MSs, taking into account the CQI feedback received from each of the MSs. In this case, the band-AMC subchannels in each band may have similar channel states to each other, since they are composed of subcarriers physically neighboring each other. Therefore, the MS can maximize its transmission capacity as it can use an AMC scheme suitable for each band-AMC subchannel.
The diversity subchannel is generated in such a manner that at least one subcarrier among all subcarriers used in the IEEE 802.16 communication system is distributed over the full frequency band used in the IEEE 802.16 communication system. That is, the diversity subchannel is a subchannel generated to ensure the capability of acquiring frequency diversity gain. Generally, wireless channels undergo various changes in a time domain and a frequency domain. When the channel states change variously in this way, it is impossible for the BS to adaptively transmit signals according to the channel state of a particular MS. That is, even though a BS normally transmits signals to an MS, the MS may sometimes receive the signals in a good channel state and sometimes in a poor channel state according to the time where the BS transmitted the signals. When the channel states change variously with the passage of time in this way, it is generally preferable for the MS to acquire diversity gain, so the BS determines a subchannel to be allocated to the MS, as a diversity subchannel.
To generate the band-AMC subchannels and the diversity subchannels, the IEEE 802.16 communication system uses a multi-zone structure within a frame. A description of the multi-zone structure will now be given below. The term ‘multi-zone structure’ as used herein refers to a structure in which a band-AMC subchannel zone and a diversity subchannel zone are separated in the time domain according to a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) scheme. Band-AMC subchannels are generated in the band-AMC subchannel zone, and diversity subchannels are generated in the diversity subchannel zone. However, in the case where a length of the frame used in the IEEE 802.16 communication system is relatively short, if the system generates band-AMC subchannels and diversity subchannels using the multi-zone structure, it is not possible to generate the band-AMC subchannels and the diversity subchannels with desired ratios.
Furthermore, the IEEE 802.20 communication system does not support a separate zone structure for generating the band-AMC subchannels and the diversity subchannels. Rather, the IEEE 802.20 communication system supports a structure in which either of only the band-AMC subchannels or only the diversity subchannels is generated in the same frame. Therefore, in the IEEE 802.20 communication system, it is impossible for the BS to generate the band-AMC subchannels and the diversity subchannels in the same frame.
As described above, neither the IEEE 802.16 communication system nor the IEEE 802.20 communication system can simultaneously generate the band-AMC subchannels and the diversity subchannels in the same zone.
An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for generating subchannels in a communication system.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for generating band-AMC subchannels and diversity subchannels in the same zone in a communication system.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for generating a subchannel in a communication system is provided. The apparatus includes a Base Station (BS) for grouping J slots included in a subchannel generation zone into I groups, for selecting, from the J slots, M band-Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) slots with which a band-AMC subchannel is to be generated, for selecting J-M slots as diversity slots with which a diversity subchannel is to be generated, for generating the band-AMC subchannel using the M slots and for generating the diversity subchannel using the J-M slots.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for generating a subchannel in a communication system is provided. The method includes grouping J slots included in a subchannel generation zone into I groups, selecting, from the J slots, M band-Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) slots with which a band-AMC subchannel is to be generated, selecting J-M slots as diversity slots with which a diversity subchannel is to be generated, generating the band-AMC subchannel using the M slots and generating the diversity subchannel using the J-M slots.
Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features and structures.
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for generating subchannels in a communication system. Further, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for generating subchannels in a communication system using an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme (hereinafter referred to as an ‘OFDMA communication system’) such as an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 communication system, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Mobile WiMAX) communication system and an IEEE 802.20 communication system, i.e., Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) communication system. In addition, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for generating band-Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) subchannels and diversity subchannels in the same zone in an OFDMA communication system.
Although a subchannel generation method proposed by the present invention is not separately illustrated, it will be assumed that the subchannel generation method is performed by a subchannel generation apparatus, for example, a Base Station (BS), of the OFDMA communication system. Furthermore, while the description of an exemplary subchannel generation apparatus and method will be made herein with reference to the OFDMA communication system, this is merely for convenience and it is to be understood that the exemplary subchannel generation apparatus and method proposed by the present invention can be applied not only to the OFDMA communication system but also to other communication systems.
In an exemplary embodiment as described in
Further, in the OFDMA communication system, one tile indicates a 2-dimensional zone occupied by 3 subcarriers for a 3-OFDM symbol interval, or a 2-dimensional zone occupied by 4 subcarriers for a 3-OFDM symbol interval. Herein, the tile, or 2-dimensional zone, occupied by 3 subcarriers for a 3-OFDM symbol interval will be referred to as a ‘first-type tile’, and the tile, or 2-dimensional zone, occupied by 4 subcarriers for a 3-OFDM symbol interval will be referred to as a ‘second-type tile’. While the first-type tile includes 8 data tones and one pilot tone, the second-type tile includes 8 data tones and 4 pilot tones.
Referring to
In step 213, the BS selects M slots with which it will generate a band-AMC subchannel in the subchannel generation zone. For convenience, the slot with which the BS will generate a band-AMC subchannel will be referred to herein as a ‘band-AMC slot’. The number M of band-AMC slots is subject to change according to the system condition of the OFDMA communication system. However, when more than 2 slots are selected as the band-AMC slots (M>2), the more than 2 band-AMC slots should be set such that they should not be physically consecutive, taking into account frequency diversity gain of a diversity subchannel. That is, when selecting more than 2 band-AMC slots in the subchannel generation zone, the BS selects physically inconsecutive band-AMC slots. For the M band-AMC slots, it does not matter to which of the 4 groups they belong. In step 215, the BS performs slot index re-indexing on the remaining slots, i.e., Nslot[0]+Nslot[1]+Nslot[2]+Nslot[3]−M slots, determined by excepting the M band-AMC slots from the subchannel generation zone. That is, since indexes of the slots included in the subchannel generation zone were 0, J−1, the BS again generates the slot indexes 0, . . . , J−1−M for the Nslot[0]+Nslot[1]+Nslot[2]+Nslot[3]−M slots. In step 217, the BS selects Ndiversity[i] (where i=0, 1, 2, 3) slots from each of the 4 groups to generate a diversity subchannel. A value of Ndiversity[i] can be either equal or different. For convenience, the slot with which the BS will generate a diversity subchannel will be referred to herein as a ‘diversity slot’. The operation of selecting Ndiversity[i] slots from each of the 4 groups for the diversity subchannel generation is performed according to a predetermined permutation sequence permi1[m] and a detailed description thereof will be given below with reference to
In step 219, the BS orders the Slot[k] (where k=0, . . . , Ndiversity[0]+Ndiversity[1]+Ndiversity[2]+Ndiversity[3]−1) slots selected from each of the 4 groups to generate a diversity subchannel, cyclically selects the ordered slots in units of 4 slots to generate a diversity subchannel. The reason why the BS cyclically selects the slots in units of 4 slots is because one diversity subchannel includes 4 tiles. The operation of cyclically selecting the ordered slots in units of 4 slots will be described in detail below with reference to
Next, with reference to
Before a description of
Referring to
N
1
[i]=N
slot
[i]−N
band-AMC
[i] (1)
In Equation (1), Nband-AMC[i] (where i=0, 1, 2, 3) denotes the number of band-AMC slots included in an ith group. In step 313, the BS sets values of a parameter M1 and a parameter N[i] (where i=0, 1, 2, 3). The parameter M1 is herein set to the maximum value of N[i] (M1=MAX(N1[i])), and the parameter N[i] is set to N1[i] (N[i]=N1[i] (where i=0, 1, 2, 3)). In step 315, the BS sets values of a parameter m and a parameter k. The parameters m and k each are each set to 0 (m=0, k=0). In step 317, the BS sets a value of a parameter i. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the parameter i is set to 0 (i=0). In step 319, the BS determines whether a value of the parameter N[i] exceeds 0 (N[i]>0). If it is determined that the value of the parameter N[i] does not exceed 0, the BS proceeds to step 323. However, if it is determined in step 319 that the value of the parameter N[i] exceeds 0, the BS proceeds to step 321 where it selects a kth diversity slot slot[k] as defined in Equation (2), subtracts 1 from the value of N[i] (N[i]=N[i]−1) and adds 1 to a value of k (k=k+1).
In Equation (2), N1[v] denotes the number of slots obtained by excepting the band-AMC slots from the slots included in a vth group (where v=0, . . . , i−1), and permi1[m] denotes a permutation sequence of an ith group. Herein, permi1[m] is a sequence indicating an mth numeral in a series of randomly arranged numerals of 1 through N1[i].
In step 323, the BS increases a value of i by 1 (i=i+1). In step 325, the BS determines whether a value of the parameter i is less than 4 (i<4). If it is determined that the value of the parameter i is less than 4, the BS returns to step 319. However, if it is determined in step 325 that the value of the parameter i is not less than 4, the BS proceeds to step 327 where it determines whether a value of the parameter m is less than M1−1 (m<M1−1). If it is determined that the value of the parameter m is not less than M1−1, the BS proceeds to step 329 where it increases a value of the parameter m by 1 (m=m+1) and then returns to step 317. However, if it is determined in step 327 that the value of the parameter m is less than M1−1, the BS ends selection of the diversity slot.
Next, with reference to
Before a description of
Referring to
{0,1,2,3},{4,5,6,0},{1,2,3,4},{5,6,0,1},{2,3,4,5},{6,0,1,2},{3,4,5,6} (3)
Since the number Ndiversity[0]+Ndiversity[1]+Ndiversity[2]+Ndiversity[3] of slots selected to generate a diversity subchannel as described above is 7 (Ndiversity[0]+Ndiversity[1]+Ndiversity[2]+Ndiversity[3]=7), the number of generatable diversity subchannels is also 7. Therefore, as shown in Equation (3), the slot indexes each are selected a total of 4 times. After cyclically selecting the slots selected to generate a diversity subchannel in units of 4 slots in this way, the BS selects one tile from each of the 4 cyclically selected slots according to a permutation sequence permj2[n]. For example, permj2[n] is a permutation sequence used for randomly selecting a length-4 sequence of 0, 1, 2, 3.
Next, with reference to
Referring to
In
As is apparent from the foregoing description, exemplary embodiments of the present invention can generate the band-AMC subchannels and the diversity subchannels in the same zone in an OFDMA communication system.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a exemplary embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2007-11094 | Feb 2007 | KR | national |