Variable rate broadcast with soft handoff
Abstract
The materializations described here are related to providing variable speed broadcast services with smooth transfer in wireless communications. In a materialization, a plurality of the access points (eg, several cells served in a broadcast area) can transmit a broadcast content according to a set of speeds. The set of speeds may include a plurality of different data rates each associated with a transmission format, configured to allow broadcast packets transmitted by the access points to be incrementally combined (eg, on a per-slot basis in the subscriber AT). The data rates and corresponding transmission formats in the set of speeds can be selected in relation to the bearable data rates of the cells in the diffusion area, as well as the requirements to support smooth transfer in these cells.

Term
No projected expiry on record.
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23 claims: 10 independent, 13 dependent
- 1Un aparato adaptado para las comunicaciones inalámbricas, que comprende un procesador configurado para:seleccionar un conjunto de velocidades, incluyendo una pluralidad de velocidades de datos distintas cada una asociada a un formato de transmisión;e instruir una pluralidad de puntos de acceso para transmitir un contenido de difusión de acuerdo con el conjunto de velocidades, el conjunto de velocidades configurado para permitir que los paquetes de difusión transmitidos por los puntos de acceso sean combinados incrementalmente.
- 2El aparato de la reivindicación 1, donde el procesador se configura además para seleccionar el conjunto de velocidades en relación a las velocidades de datos soportables de las células serviciadas por los puntos de acceso y los requerimientos para soportar la transferencia suave en las células.
- 3El aparato de la reivindicación 1, donde el procesador se configura además para seleccionar el conjunto de velocidades basado en parte en un tamaño del contenido de difusión.
- 4El aparato de la reivindicación 1, donde los paquetes de difusión cada uno son transmitidos en al menos una ranura de transmisión y se combinan incrementalmente sobre una base por-ranura.
- 5El aparato de la reivindicación 1, donde el contenido de difusión se transmite en uno de los formatos de acceso múltiple por división de código (CDMA) y multiplexado por división de frecuencia ortogonal (OFDM).
- 6Un aparato adaptado para las comunicaciones inalámbricas, que comprende:una unidad seleccionadora de un conjunto de velocidades configurada para seleccionar un conjunto de velocidades, incluyendo una pluralidad de velocidades de datos distintas cada una asociada a un formato de transmisión;y una unidad de instrucción configurada para instruir a una pluralidad de puntos de acceso para transmitir un contenido de difusión de acuerdo con el conjunto de velocidades, el conjunto de velocidades configurado para permitir que los paquetes de difusión sean transmitidos por los puntos de acceso que se combinarán incrementalmente.
- 7Un aparato de la reivindicación 6, que comprende además una unidad de procesamiento en comunicación con la unidad seleccionadora de un conjunto de velocidades y la unidad de instrucción.
- 8Un aparato adaptado para las comunicaciones inalámbricas, que comprende un procesador configurado para:asignar al primer punto de acceso n ranuras para transmitir un contenido de difusión y (m-n) ranuras para las transmisiones unidifusión (m n);asignar al segundo punto de acceso m ranuras para transmitir el contenido de difusión;y asignar al tercer punto de acceso m ranuras para transmitir el contenido de difusión.
- 9El aparato de la reivindicación 8, donde el primer punto de acceso, el segundo punto de acceso, y el tercer punto de acceso se configuran para serviciar una primera célula, una segunda célula vecina a la primera célula, y una tercera célula vecina a la segunda célula, respectivamente, y donde la primera célula es capaz de soportar una velocidad de datos R, y la tercera célula es capaz de soportar una velocidad de datos (n/m) R.
- 10Un aparato adaptado para las comunicaciones inalámbricas, que comprende un procesador configurado para:asignar a cada célula una velocidad nominal en relación a cada célula que está en transferencia suave con al menos una célula vecina;identificar una velocidad nominal mínima asignada a cada célula y al menos a una célula vecina;y asignar a cada célula una velocidad de datos de difusión igual a la velocidad nominal mínima identificada.
- 11El aparato adaptado para las comunicaciones inalámbricas, que comprende un procesador configurado para:recibir los paquetes de difusión transmitidos de una pluralidad de puntos de acceso;y combinar los paquetes de difusión recibidos incrementalmente.
- 12El aparato de la reivindicación 11, donde cada uno de los paquetes de difusión se transmiten en al menos una ranura de transmisión y se combinan incrementalmente sobre una base por-ranura.
- 13Un aparato adaptado para las comunicaciones inalámbricas, que comprende:una unidad receptora configurada para recibir los paquetes de datos transmitidos desde una pluralidad de puntos de acceso;una unidad identificadora configurada para identificar los paquetes de difusión en los paquetes de datos recibidos;y una unidad combinadora incrementalmente configurada para combinar los paquetes de difusión incrementalmente.
- 14Un aparato de la reivindicación 13, donde cada uno de los paquetes de difusión se transmiten en al menos una ranura de transmisión y se combinan incrementalmente sobre una base por-ranura.
- 15Un aparato de la reivindicación 13, que además comprende una unidad de procesamiento en comunicación con la unidad receptora, la unidad ¡dentificadora, y la unidad combinadora incrementalmente.
- 16Un método para comunicaciones inalámbricas, que comprende:seleccionar un conjunto de velocidades, incluyendo una pluralidad de velocidades de datos distintas cada una asociadas a un formato de transmisión;e instruir una pluralidad de puntos de acceso para transmitir un contenido de difusión de acuerdo con el conjunto de velocidades, el conjunto de velocidades configurado para permitir que los paquetes de difusión transmitidos por los puntos de acceso se combinen incrementalmente.
- 17El método de la reivindicación 16, que además comprende seleccionar el conjunto de velocidades en relación a las velocidades de datos soportables de las células serviciadas por los puntos de acceso y los requerimientos para soportar transferencia suave en las células.
- 18El método de la reivindicación 16, que además comprende seleccionar el conjunto de velocidades basado en parte en un tamaño del contenido de difusión.
- 19Un método para comunicaciones inalámbricas, que comprende:asignar a un primer punto de acceso n ranuras para transmitir un contenido de difusión y (m-n) ranuras para las transmisiones unidifusión (m n);asignar a un segundo punto de acceso m ranuras para transmitir el contenido de difusión;y asignar a un tercer punto de acceso m ranuras para transmitir el contenido de difusión.
- 20El método de la reivindicación 19, donde el primer punto de acceso, el segundo punto de acceso, y el tercer punto de acceso se configuran para serviciar a una primera célula, una segunda célula vecina a la primera célula, y una tercera célula vecina a la segunda célula, respectivamente, y donde la primera célula es capaz de soportar una velocidad de datos R, y la tercera célula es capaz de soportar una velocidad de datos (n/m) R.
- 21Un método para comunicaciones inalámbricas, que comprende:recibir paquetes de difusión de una pluralidad de puntos de acceso;y combinar los paquetes de difusión recibidos incrementalmente.
- 22El método de la reivindicación 21, donde cada uno de los paquetes de difusión se transmite en al menos una ranura de transmisión, el método que además comprende combinar incrementalmente los paquetes de difusión sobre una base por-ranura.
- 23Un método para comunicaciones inalámbricas, que comprende:asignar a cada célula una velocidad nominal en relación a cada célula que está en transferencia suave con al menos una célula vecina;identificar una velocidad nominal mínima asignada a cada célula y al menos a una célula vecina;y asignar a cada célula una velocidad de datos de difusión igual a la velocidad nominal mínima identificada.
Independent claims23
58 paragraphs in 3 sections, as filed
[0001] This patent application claims priority from Provisional Application Number 60/589,819, Agent Reference No, 040744P1, entitled "VARIABLE SPEED DIFFUSION WITH SOFT TRANSFER," filed July 20, 2004, assigned to the assignee thereof and expressly incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
Field
[0002] This disclosure generally relates to wireless communications. More specifically, the embodiments disclosed herein relate to providing variable rate broadcast with soft handoff in wireless communications.
Background
[0003] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communications (such as voice and data) to multiple users. Such systems may be based on code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), or other multiple access techniques. A wireless communication system can be designed to implement one or more standards, such as IS-95, cdma2000, IS-856, W-CDMA, TD-SCDMA, and other standards.
[0004] Broadcast and multicast services have been proposed to efficiently transmit large amounts of data from a single point of source to a group of users in wireless communication systems. Content suitable for such point-to-multipoint services includes news, stock quotes, sporting events, movies, audio and video clips, and other multimedia data. As the demand for multimedia data transmission grows, there is a challenge to increase spectral efficiency and maximize data rates of broadcast/multicast services.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a communication system;
[0006] Figures 2A-2D illustrate an embodiment of implementing variable rate broadcast with soft handoff in a broadcast area of a communication system;
[0007] Figure 3 illustrates a timeline embodiment of the broadcast transmissions in the embodiment of Figure 2.D;
[0008] Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart of a process, which can be used in an embodiment to implement variable rate diffusion with soft handoff;
[0009] Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart of a process, which can be used in an embodiment to implement variable rate diffusion with soft handoff;
[0010] Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of a process, which can be used in an embodiment to implement variable rate diffusion with soft handoff;
[0011] Figure 7 illustrates a flowchart of a process, which can be used in an embodiment to implement variable rate diffusion with soft handoff;
[0012] Figure 8 shows a block diagram of an apparatus, in which some disclosed embodiments can be implemented; and
[0013] Figure 9 shows a block diagram of an apparatus, in which some disclosed embodiments can be implemented.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for providing soft handoff variable rate broadcast services in communication systems.
[0015] A unicast communication described herein can generally refer to any one-to-one transmission of voice and/or data from a single source to a single receiver. In a wireless, (eg, cellular) communication system, unicast communication may involve transmission from one or more transmitters (eg, an access network) to a single receiver (eg, an access terminal). A broadcast/multicast communication (or service) described here can generally refer to any point-to-multipoint transmission of data from a single source to a group of users in a broadcast area, which may include one or more sectors (or cells). ).
[0016] For a given broadcast service, an access network may receive a stream of information from a content server and transmit the information on a designated channel to a group of users in a broadcast area. The content of a broadcast communication (called “broadcast content” here) may be encapsulated in data packets (called “broadcast packets” here), as specified by appropriate protocols (such as Internet Protocol (IP)) . Broadcast content may include (but is not limited to) text, audio, images, video, data files, software updates, and other information.
[0017] A broadcast/multicast service may have controlled access, eg, only users who subscribe to the service receive the desired broadcast content on their access terminals. Non-subscribed users do not have any access to the broadcast/multicast service. Such controlled access can be achieved by encrypting the transmission/broadcast content in a way that allows only subscribers to decrypt the received broadcast content, for example.
[0018] An access network controller (ANC) may refer to the portion of a communication system configured to interface with a core network (eg, a packet data network) and to route data packets between the access terminals (ATs) and the network core, perform various radio access and link maintenance functions (such as soft handover), control radio transmitters and receivers, and so on. An ANC may include and/or implement the functions of a Base Station Controller (BSCA), such as that found in a 2nd or 3rd generation wireless network. An ANC and one or more access points (APs) may constitute part of an access network (AN). An AP described here may also be referred to as a Base Station Transceiver System (BTS), an Access Network Transceiver (ANT), a Modem Pool Transceiver (MPT), or a Node B. (eg, in a W-CDMA type system), etc. A cell can refer to a coverage area maintained by an AP. A cell may further include one or more sectors. A broadcast area may include one or more cells.
[0019] An AT described here can refer to various types of devices, including (but not limited to) a cordless phone, portable phone, laptop computer, personal computer (PC) wireless communication card, personal digital assistant (PDA), an external or internal modem, etc. An AT can be any data device that communicates over a wireless channel or over a wired channel (eg, over coaxial or fiber optic cables). An AT may have various names, such as access unit, subscriber unit, mobile station, mobile device, mobile unit, mobile phone, mobile, remote station, remote terminal, remote unit, user device, user equipment, portable device , etc. Different ATs can be incorporated into a system. ATs can be mobile or stationary, and can be dispersed through a communication system. An AT can communicate with one or more APs on a forward link and/or a reverse link at any given time. The forward link (or the downlink) refers to the transmission from an AP to an AT. The reverse link (or uplink) refers to the transmission from the AT to the AP.
[0020] In a wireless communication system implementing a broadcast/multicast service, soft handoff can be used to increase the speed of the broadcast transmission. In soft handoff, identical transmissions from one or more APs can be received and combined at the AT, thereby allowing the AT to support a higher data rate. Since a broadcast content is intended to be received by multiple users dispersed in a broadcast area, the broadcast transmissions are typically identical across the various cells in the broadcast area. In some systems, broadcast transmissions may be in CDMA format, and each subscribing AT may combine soft transmissions from APs serving various cells, eg, using a rake receiver and/or an equalized receiver. In other systems, broadcast transmissions may be in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) format, and each subscribing AT may combine soft transmissions from APs serving various cells, e.g., using a demodulation scheme. based on a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT).
[0021] In practice, however, cells in a broadcast area may have various supportable data rates. Consider, for example, a broadcast area that includes a dense urban network with a core of capacity-limited cells that are typically small in size, surrounded by a suburban network with larger coverage-limited cells. Since the supportable data rate typically varies with the ratio of the total received power (i.e., of all cells involved in soft handoff) to the total interference power, the maximum supportable broadcast rate for a small urban cell it may be higher than for a large suburban cell. To implement soft handover in such a system, however, broadcast transmissions may have to be carried out at the lowest supportable rate between the various cells in the broadcast area, thereby unduly limiting the spectral efficiency of the system.
[0022] Therefore there is a need to improve the spectral efficiency and maximize the broadcast transmission rate of broadcast/multicast services.
[0023] To improve overall spectral efficiency, it would be desirable to operate broadcast transmissions at a variable rate relative to cell coverages. To maximize broadcast transmission speed, it would be desirable to operate broadcast transmissions in soft handoff. The embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for providing broadcast/multicast services at a variable rate while preserving soft handoff, thereby increasing overall spectral efficiency and maximizing broadcast transmission rate.
[0024] In one embodiment, a plurality of APs (eg, serving several cells in a broadcast area) may transmit broadcast content according to a set of rates. The rate set may include a plurality of distinct data rates each associated with a transmission format (eg, specifying the number of transmission slots to transmit a data packet), configured to allow broadcast packets transmitted by the APs are incrementally combined (eg, on a per-slot basis in an AT subscriber). As an example, consider a set of speeds including three data rates: Ri = R (eg, 1843.2kbps), R<sub>2</sub> = R/2 (eg, 921.6kbps), and R<sub>3</sub> = R/3 (eg, 614.4kbps), eg, were mapped to a 1-slot, 2-slot, and 3-slot transmission format, respectively. The first slots of the broadcast transmissions at all three speeds are identical and can be soft-combined. The second slots of the broadcast transmissions at speeds R2 and R3 are identical and can also be soft-merged. Thus, to implement variable rate diffusion, the rate set may thus be configured to allow for incremental combining, as described above. The rate set can also be configured to support soft handover in the broadcast area, as further described below.
[0025] Various aspects, characteristics, and embodiments are described in further details below.
[0026] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a communication system 100, in which the various disclosed embodiments can be implemented. By way of example, system 100 may include a plurality of APs 110, such as APs 110a-110c, each serving a cell (not shown explicitly in Figure 1). Various ATs 120, including ATs 120a-120d, are dispersed in various cells throughout the system. Each AT 120 may communicate with one or more APs 110, eg, depending on whether the AT is active and whether it is in soft handoff.
[0027] In system 100, an ANC 130 may be in communication with and serve to provide coordination and control for APs 110. For example, ANC 130 may be configured to control routing of voice/mail packets. data to the ATs 120 via the corresponding APs 110. The ANC 130 may also be in communication with a data network, eg, via a packet data serving node (PDSN) (not shown explicitly in Figure 1). . In some embodiments, system 100 may be configured to support one or more wireless communication standards, eg, IS-95, cdma2000, IS-856, W-CDMA, TD-SCDMA, other wireless communication standards, or a combination. thereof.
[0028] System 100 may also be configured to implement a broadcast/multicast service, eg, in a broadcast area 140. For example, ANC 130 may route broadcast content (eg, received from a broadcast network). data which may also include a content server) to APs 110, which may in turn transmit the broadcast content to ATs 120 in the broadcast area 140.
[0029] In one embodiment, the broadcast/multicast service may be performed at a variable rate with soft handover. For example, the ANC 130 may select a rate set including a plurality of distinct data rates each associated with a transmission format, configured to allow broadcast transmissions to be incrementally combined (eg as described above). The rate set may be selected in terms of the supportable data rates of cells served by APs 110 in broadcast area 140, as well as the requirements to support soft handoff in such cells, as further described below. The speed set can also be selected based in part on the size of the broadcast content to be transmitted. The AN 130 can then instruct the APs 110 to transmit the broadcast content according to the selected rate set. ATs 120 in broadcast area 140 may incrementally combine (eg, on a per-slot basis) broadcast packets received from various APs 110. For example, AT 120b may incrementally combine broadcast packets from APs 110a, 110b, eg, received via forward links 150, 152, respectively. The AT 120c may incrementally combine the broadcast packets from APs 110b, 110c, eg, received via the forward links 154,156, respectively.
[0030] As described above, to implement variable rate broadcast with soft handoff, the broadcast data rate and the corresponding transmission format for a given cell need to be configured to support soft handoff for cells as well. as for neighboring cells that respond on the cell for soft transfer, as the following examples illustrate. For illustration and clarity, soft handoff coverage for a given cell (eg, one or more cells in the neighborhood supporting the soft handoff cell) is extended to adjacent cells in the examples below. Such are not to be construed as limiting. The underlying principles and procedures thus described can be applied to other situations where soft handoff coverage extends beyond adjacent cells.
[0031] Figures 2A-2D illustrate an embodiment of a broadcast area 200 in a communication system, including a plurality of cells. For illustration and clarity, the cells in these figures are shown to be uniform in shape and size. This should not be construed as a limitation. In other embodiments, the cells may have varying sizes and shapes (and may be omnidirectional or sectorized). Also for clarity and simplicity, the served APs and the scattered ATs in such cells are not shown explicitly in these figures.
[0032] Consider the A 210 cells illustrated in Figure 2A. Cell A 210 may for example be part of a dense urban network, capable of supporting a higher data rate. Assume that cell A 210 is capable of supporting a data rate R, corresponding to a transmission format of n slots (n is an integer, eg, n=1). To support soft handoff on Cell A 210, neighboring cells (such as those illustrated with similar patterns) also need to be able to support the 1-slot transmission format.
[0033] Figure 2B illustrates a group of B-cells 220. Assume that each B-cell 220 is also capable of supporting the data rate R, hence the 1-slot transmission format. To support soft handoff in each B cell 220, neighboring cells (such as those illustrated with similar patterns) also need to be able to support the 1-slot transmission format.
[0034] Figure 2C illustrates a group of C 230 cells, which can for example be part of a large suburban network. Assume that each C cell 230 can support a data rate (n/m) R (n and m are integers, eg, n=1, m=3), corresponding to a 3-slot transmission format. In order to support soft handover in each C 230 cell, neighboring cells (such as those illustrated with similar patterns) also need to be able to support the 3-slot transmission format.
[0035] To satisfy the requirements to support soft handover in all cells (eg, A cell 210, B cells 220, and C cells 230), as described above, each B cell 220 needs to be able to support the broadcast format 1-slot as well as 3-slot transmission format, to assist cell A 210 and cell C 230 in soft handoff. Because the data rates are such that the first slots of the broadcast transmissions in both the 1-slot and 3-slot transmission formats are identical, each B-cell 220 may be assigned the 3-slot transmission format, depending on the data rates. indications of Figure 2D (where B 220 cells are illustrated with patterns similar to those used for C 230 cells). In this way, the first slots of the broadcast transmissions in cell A 210 are identical and can be soft-merged. Because the B-cells 220 are capable of supporting the 1-slot transmission format, the ATs in the B-cells can successfully decrypt the broadcast packets after the first slot; the remaining two slots of broadcast transmissions may serve to support soft handoff in C cells 230, as further illustrated in Figure 3 below.
[0036] Figure 3 illustrates a realization of broadcast transmission timelines in the embodiment of Figure 2D described above. The legend 310 serves to denote the pair of indices used to label each transmission slot. As illustrated in Figure 3, for A cells, transmission slots beyond the first slot can be used for unicast transmissions. Because B-cells can support the 1-slot transmission format, the ATs in B-cells can successfully decrypt broadcast packets after the first slot (as in A-cell); the remaining two slots serve to support incremental combining (eg, on a per-slot basis) in C cells.
[0037] As illustrated in Figure 2D and Figure 3, B cells can act as "buffer" cells to effectively isolate two coverage areas (eg, the A cell(s) and C) cells supporting different data rates, while preserving soft transfer. As illustrated above, such buffer cells may be able to support the data rate of some neighboring cells (having a higher supportable data rate) but assigned the same transmission format as that for other neighboring cells (having a higher supportable data rate). lowest supportable data rate), thereby allowing neighboring cells to receive broadcast transmissions at various data rates while preserving soft handover (eg, taking into account combining incrementally as described above). Such a variable rate approach increases overall spectral efficiency by minimizing the fraction of slots allocated to broadcast transmissions, while maximizing the broadcast data rate while preserving soft handover. As shown in Figure 3, without such an approach, broadcast transmissions to A-cells would have to be in the 3-slot transmission format and consequently, transmission slots allocated for unicast transmissions would have to be used for unicast transmissions as well. broadcast transmissions, thereby limiting the total spectral efficiency.
[0038] Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart of a process 400, which can be used in an embodiment to implement variable rate diffusion with soft handoff. Step 410 assigns a nominal rate to each cell relative to the cell that is in soft handoff with one or more neighboring cells (eg, in a given soft handoff coverage). The nominal rate can for example take into account the soft handoff support that neighboring cells would provide. In some embodiments, the nominal data rates assigned to various cells in a broadcast area can be configured to allow incremental merging, as described above. Step 420 identifies a minimum (or lowest) nominal rate assigned to each cell and neighboring cells with which it is in soft handoff (eg, the same neighboring cells considered in step 410). Step 430 assigns each cell a broadcast data rate equal to the minimum nominal rate so identified.
[0039] Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart of a process 500, which can be used in an embodiment to implement variable rate diffusion with soft handoff. Step 510 selects a set of rates, including a plurality of different data rates each associated with a transmission format. Step 520 instructs a plurality of APs to transmit a broadcast content in accordance with the rate set, the rate set configured to allow the broadcast packets transmitted by the APs to be incrementally combined (eg, on a per-percent basis). -at slot). In some embodiments, the data rates and corresponding transmission formats in the rate set may be selected and assigned to the APs in terms of the supportable data rates of the cells served by the APs, as well as restrictions imposed by the APs. neighboring cells to support soft blotting, as described above. The speed set can also be selected based in part on the size of the broadcast content to be transmitted.
[0040] Figure 6 depicts a flowchart of a process 600, which can be used in an embodiment to implement variable rate diffusion with soft handoff. Step 610 allocates to the first AP n slots for transmitting a broadcast content and slots (mn) for unicast transmissions (m and n are integers and m > n). Step 620 allocates a second AP m slots to transmit the broadcast content. Step 630 assigns a third AP m slots to transmit the broadcast content. In one embodiment, the first AP may serve a first cell capable of supporting data rate R. The second AP may serve a second cell adjacent to the first cell, which is also capable of supporting data rate R. The third AP may serve a third cell adjacent to the second cell, which is capable of supporting a data rate (n/m) R, as described above.
[0041] Figure 7 represents a flowchart of a process 700, which can be used in an embodiment to implement variable rate diffusion with soft handoff. Step 710 sets a slot index i to be zero. Step 720 selects a transmit slot and increments the slot index by 1 (i = i + 1). Step 730 determines if i £ m, where m is the number of transmission slots allocated for broadcast transmissions. If the result of step 730 is "YES", step 740 proceeds and identifies broadcast packets received from a plurality of APs in slot i. Step 750 then soft-combines the received broadcast packets in slotj. (Note that, for broadcast transmissions in CDMA format, received signals may first undergo unbundling, before being soft-blended. For broadcast transmissions in OFDM format, the received signals may be directly soft-combined) process 700 subsequently returns to step 720 and subsequently proceeds with the next transmission slot. If the result of step 730 is "NO", process 700 may for example proceed with processing unicast transmissions, as demonstrated in step 760.
[0042] Figure 8 shows a block diagram of an apparatus 800, which can be used to implement some disclosed embodiments (as described above). By way of example, apparatus 800 may include a rate set selector unit (or module) 810 configured to select a rate set, including a plurality of different data rates each associated with a format of the transmission, and a instruction unit 820 configured to instruct a plurality of APs to transmit the broadcast content in accordance with the set of rates. The rate set can be configured to allow the transmission of broadcast packets by the APs to be incrementally combined (as described above).
[0043] In some embodiments, speed set selector unit 810 may for example be configured to perform process 400 illustrated in Figure 4. Instruction unit 820 may for example be configured to perform process 600 illustrated in figure 6.
[0044] In the apparatus 800, the gear set selector unit 810 and the instruction unit 820 may be coupled to a communication bus 830. A processing unit 840 and a memory unit 850 may also be coupled to the communication bus. communication 830. The processing unit 840 can be configured to control and/or coordinate the operations of various units. The memory unit 850 can incorporate instructions to be executed by the processor 840.
[0045] In some embodiments, apparatus 800 may be implemented in an ANC (eg, ANC 130 illustrated in Figure 1), a central controller for the network, or other means of network infrastructure.
[0046] Figure 9 shows a block diagram of an apparatus 900, which can be used to implement some of the disclosed embodiments (as described above). By way of example, apparatus 900 may include a receiver unit (or module) 910 configured to receive transmitted data packets from a plurality of APs, an identifier unit 920 configured to identify broadcast packets in received data packets , and an incremental combiner unit 930 configured to combine the identified broadcast packets incrementally (eg, on a per-slot basis). In some embodiments, the receiving unit 910, the identifier unit 920, and the incremental combiner unit 930 can, for example, be configured to carry out our process 700 illustrated in Figure 7.
[0047] In the apparatus 900, the receiving unit 910, the identifier unit 920, and the incremental combiner unit 930 can be coupled to a communication bus 940. A processing unit 950 and a memory unit 960 can also be coupled to communication bus 940. Processing unit 950 can be configured to control and/or coordinate the operations of multiple units. The memory unit 960 can incorporate instructions to be executed by the processing unit 950.
[0048] In some embodiments, apparatus 900 may be implemented in an AT, or other means of receiving data.
[0049] The embodiments disclosed here (as described above) provide some embodiments of variable rate broadcast services with soft handover. There are other embodiments and implementations.
[0050] The various units/modules in Figures 8-9 and other embodiments may perhaps be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of these. In a hardware implementation, multiple units can be implemented within one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), ), processors, microprocessors, controllers, microcontrollers, programmable logic devices (PLDs), other electronic units, or any combination thereof. In a software implementation, various units can be implemented with modules (eg, procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described here. Software codes can be stored in a memory unit and executed by a processor (or processing unit). The memory unit may be implemented within the processor or external to the processor, in which case it may be communicatively coupled to the processor via various means known in the art.
[0051] Various of the disclosed embodiments can be implemented in a controller, AT, and other means to provide broadcast/multicast services. The embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable to a data processing system, a wireless communication system, a one-way broadcast system, and any other system that desires efficient transmission of information.
[0052] Those skilled in the art would understand that information and signals can be represented using any of a variety of various technologies and techniques. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that can be referred to through the above description can be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, fields or optical particles, or any combination of these.
[0053] Skilled artisans would further appreciate that the various illustrative algorithm blocks, modules, circuits, and logic steps described with respect to the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware, software, or electronic combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented in either hardware or software depends on the particular application and design constraints imposed on the total system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in ways that vary for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be construed as a cause for departure from the scope of the present invention.
[0054] The various illustrative blocks, modules, and logic circuits described with respect to the embodiments disclosed herein, may be implemented or realized with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit ( ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination of these designed to perform the functions described here. 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 can 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 base, or any other such configuration.
[0055] The steps of a method or algorithm described with respect to the embodiments disclosed herein may be incorporated directly into hardware, a software module executed by a processor, or a combination of the two. A software module can reside in random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, removable disk , CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read the information, and write the information, to the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in an AT. Alternatively, the processor and storage medium may reside as discrete components in the AT.
[0056] The above 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 readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments, without departing from the gist or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be recognized in its broadest scope, consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
Contents3
21 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3 Sheet 4 Sheet 5 Sheet 6 Sheet 7 Sheet 8 Sheet 9 Sheet 10 Sheet 11 Sheet 12 Sheet 13 Sheet 14 Sheet 15 Sheet 16 Sheet 17 Sheet 18 Sheet 19 Sheet 20 Sheet 21
49 members in 22 offices
Priority claims2
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58981904 | United States of America | P | |
| 18223205 | United States of America | A |
Members49
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2005269784A1 | Australia | A1 | |
| CA2574125A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| US2006030330A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| WO2006014610A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| TW200629939A | Taiwan Province of China | A | |
| KR20070034118A | Republic of Korea | A | |
| ECSP077266AThis record | Ecuador | A | |
| MX2007000808A | Mexico | A | |
| NO20070591L | Norway | L | |
| EP1782655A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| IL180743D0 | Israel | D0 | |
| CN101015227A | China | A | |
| JP2008507906A | Japan | A | |
| PL383592A1 | Poland | A1 | |
| BRPI0513529A | Brazil | A | |
| EP1782655B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| KR20080072939A | Republic of Korea | A | |
| AT403362T | Austria | T | |
| ATE403362T1 | Austria | T1 | |
| RU2007106054A | Russian Federation | A | |
| EP1968341A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| DE602005008616D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| ZA200700577B | South Africa | B | |
| KR100871300B1 | Republic of Korea | B1 | |
| KR100871301B1 | Republic of Korea | B1 | |
| ES2309786T3 | Spain | T3 | |
| PL1782655T3 | Poland | T3 | |
| CA2574125C | Canada | C | |
| UA86826C2 | Ukraine | C2 | |
| RU2380858C2 | Russian Federation | C2 | |
| CN101790132A | China | A | |
| JP4559479B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| RU2009122364A | Russian Federation | A | |
| EP2268068A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| EP1968341B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| AT504172T | Austria | T | |
| ATE504172T1 | Austria | T1 | |
| DE602005027269D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| ES2360261T3 | Spain | T3 | |
| MY144408A | Malaysia | A | |
| CN101790132B | China | B | |
| US8111663B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| CN101015227B | China | B | |
| EP2268068B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| US2012149379A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| TWI383696B | Taiwan Province of China | B | |
| RU2483489C2 | Russian Federation | C2 | |
| US8638758B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| BRPI0513529B1 | Brazil | B1 |
Numbers
- Application
- 7266
Titles2
- English
- VARIABLE SPEED DIFFUSION WITH SOFT TRANSFER
- Spanish
- DIFUSIÓN DE VELOCIDAD VARIABLE CON TRANSFERENCIA SUAVE
Classification
- CPC, 5
- H04W36/18
- H04W72/30
- H04W36/0007
- H04W4/06
- H04W36/026
- IPC, 2
- H04W4 06
- H04W36 18