Patent Application
20080019373
The above needs are at least partially met through provision of a system and method for scheduling data transmissions described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.
A system and method are provided whereby data transmissions are made without interfering with the transmission of control or other types of high priority information. In so doing, system efficiency is promoted, data and control information are not lost or erased, and system capacity and the battery life of mobile stations are conserved.
In many of these embodiments, high priority information (e.g., paging information) is transmitted in a first selected one of a plurality of time slots. At least one operating characteristic of the system (e.g., a paging system) is determined. In addition, it is determined whether the operating characteristic meets a predetermined criteria. When the operating characteristic of the system meets the predetermined criteria, a data transmission of a first user is scheduled in a second time slot such that the data transmission in this second time slot does not interfere with transmitting the high priority (e.g., paging) information in the first time slot.
A variety of different operating characteristics may be determined and used to determine whether to transmit the data in the second time slot. For example, the number of transmission retries for a particular message or user may be determined. In another example, a loading condition of the system may be determined. If a loading condition is determined, it may be additionally determined whether the loading condition exceeds a loading threshold.
When the predetermined criteria is met, the data transmission then is scheduled to be made in a time slot that does not interfere with the transmission of information in the high priority (e.g., paging) slot. In this regard, a time slot may be selected for the data transmission that is substantially immediately prior to the first selected one of the plurality of time slots. In another example, a time slot may be selected that has a different interlace than the first selected one of the plurality of time slots.
In addition to the second time slot, other time slots may be used to transmit information. For instance, a data transmission of a second user may be scheduled in a third time slot. In another example, when the operating characteristics of the paging system do not meet the predetermined criteria, the data transmission may be scheduled for a third time slot that is within a threshold number of the first time slot.
Additional techniques may also be used to improve efficiency and the flow of data within the system. For example, additional redundancy may be provided for data transmissions made by one or more users of the system. In addition, the use of multi-user packets may be prevented.
Thus, approaches are provided that allow data to be transmitted in a network without negatively impacting the transmission of high priority information and without loosing the data or the high priority information. The approaches provided herein are efficient to use, and do not negatively impact performance characteristics such as the system capacity or the battery life of mobile stations.
Referring now to
The mobile stations 102 and 103 may be any type of mobile communication device. In this regard, the mobile stations 102 and 103 may be cellular phones, pagers, personal digital assistants, or personal computers. Other examples of mobile stations are possible.
The network 104 may be any type of communication network or any combination of networks. For example, the network 104 may be a cellular network, a paging network, a packet data network (e.g., the Internet), a push-to-talk network, or any combination of these networks. Other examples of networks and combinations of networks are possible.
The RAN 106 contains functionality to allow the mobile stations 102 and 103 to communicate with the network 104 and with each other. In this regard, the RAN 106 may include base stations, servers, switches, or any other component or combination of components that implement this functionality.
The scheduler 108 performs the scheduling of transmissions 110 made to and from the mobile stations 102 and 103. For example, when paging information is transmitted in a first selected one of a plurality of time slots, the scheduler 108 may determine or obtain one or more operating characteristics of the system. The scheduler 108 then determines whether these operating characteristics meet some predetermined criteria. When the predetermined criteria is met, the data transmission 110 of a first user (at the mobile station 102) is scheduled in a second selected time slot such that the transmission of the data in the second time slot does not interfere with the transmission of the paging information in the first time slot.
A variety of different operating characteristics may be obtained when determining whether to make the transmission in the second time slot. For example, the number of transmission retries of the users (at the mobile stations 102 and 103) may be determined. In another example, loading conditions of the paging system may be obtained and/or determined. In this case, the scheduler 108 may additionally determine whether the loading conditions meet or exceed a loading threshold.
As mentioned, the scheduler 108 schedules the data transmission in a second time slot that does not interfere with the transmission of high priority information in the first time slot. In this regard, the scheduler 108 may select a time slot that is substantially immediately prior or substantially immediately subsequent to the first time slot. In other words, the scheduler 108 may select a time slot that has a different interlace than the first time slot.
A data transmission of a second user (at the mobile station 103) may be scheduled in a third time slot. In other examples, when the scheduler 108 determines that the operating characteristic of the system do not meet the predetermined criteria, it may schedule the data transmission in the third time slot. The third time slot may be selected using a number of criteria, for instance, it may be a slot within a threshold number of the first time slot.
In addition to scheduling data in particular time slots, the system may use additional techniques to improve efficiency and the flow of data. For example, the scheduler 108 may use additional redundancy for selected data transmissions and/or users. In addition, the scheduler 108 may prevent the use of multi-user packets by users thereby further improving efficiency.
Referring now to
The operating characteristics may be any type of characteristic or indicator that reflects system performance and/or the performance of mobile stations within the system. For example, the operating characteristics may include the loading conditions of the network. In another example, the operating characteristics may include the number of retries made by a user or a mobile station. Other examples of operating characteristics are possible.
At step 204, it is determined whether the operating characteristics match a predetermined criteria. The predetermined criteria may include any metric or metrics that relate to a maximum (or minimum) acceptable value of the operating characteristics. In one example, the criteria may relate to whether the operating characteristics exceed a threshold. For instance, when the operating characteristics are loading conditions of the network, the criteria may be a threshold value and the system may compare the operating characteristics to the threshold value to determine if the threshold is exceeded.
If the answer at step 204 is negative, at step 208 the scheduling of the data is not altered or adjusted and the transmission occurs within the system as previously conducted. If the answer at step 204 is affirmative, at step 206 the data transmission is scheduled for a time slot than is different than the high priority time slots such that the transmission of the data does not interfere with the transmission of information in the high priority slots. For example, the data transmission may be scheduled for a time slot that immediately precedes or is within a predetermined number of the high priority time slots. Further, the transmission may occur in a different interlace than the interlace of the high priority time slots. By scheduling the data in a time slot in these approaches, interference with the high priority information is avoided while at the same time allowing for the transmission of the data to a recipient.
Referring now to
During the course of operation, data 322 may be required to be transmitted between two points (e.g., between two mobile stations) within a network. Using the approaches described herein, a time slot (or time slots) may be selected to transmit the data 322 such that transmission of the data and any potential data retransmission does not interfere with the transmission of the high priority information in slot 310. For example, a scheduler may determine to transmit the information in a slot 308 such that any retransmission will be made in slot 312. Consequently, no interference will occur of the transmission of the data in the slot 308 or a potential retransmission in slot 312. Data would not be transmitted in the interlace (slots 306 and 310) since a potential retransmission would interfere with the high priority information being transmitted in slot 310.
Referring now to
In the frame 401, slot 410 is a second retransmission slot for the first user and the slot 412 is the second retransmission slot for the second user. The slot 410 is also the first slot of a Synchronous Control Channel Capsule Packet (SC). Slot 414 is the first slot of am Asynchronous Control Channel Capsule (AC). Slots 416, 420, 422 are slots for the transmission of Sub-Synchronous Control Channel Capsules (SSCs).
In the example of
Referring now to
The transmitter 504 transmits high priority information 508 in a first selected one 510 of a plurality of time slots 512. The receiver 506 receives information 514 indicative of an operating characteristic or characteristics of a system or network, for example, a paging system or network.
The controller 502 is adapted (e.g., programmed) to determine whether the operating characteristics received at the transmitter 504 meet a predetermined criteria. When the operating characteristic meets the predetermined criteria, the controller 502 reschedules the data transmission to be made in a second slot 516 such that the data transmission in this second slot 516 does not interfere with transmitting the high priority information in the slot 510. The high priority information may include a variety of different types and/or forms of information such as paging information or other types of control information.
The controller 502, when determining whether to reschedule the transmission of the data, may rely upon a number of different operating conditions. For example, the controller 502 may determine usage history of the user, or a radio frequency (RF) usage of the user under heavy loading conditions. Other factors may also be considered by the controller 502. As mentioned, once the operating conditions are determined, the controller 502 determines whether these operating conditions meet the predetermined criteria and if a match is determined, reschedules the data transmission accordingly.
Thus, approaches are provided that allow data to be transmitted in a network without negatively impacting the transmission of control information and without loosing the data or the control information. The approaches are efficient to use, and do not negatively impact system operating characteristics such as system capacity or mobile station parameters such as the battery life of the mobile station.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations may be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the scope of the invention.
