Shared signaling channel

摘要

A shared signaling channel can be used in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) communication system to provide signaling, acknowledgement, and power control messages to access terminals within the system. The shared signaling channel can be assigned to a predetermined number of sub-carriers within any frame. The assignment of a predetermined number of sub-carriers to the shared signaling channel establishes a fixed bandwidth overhead for the channel. The actual sub-carriers assigned to the channel can be varied periodically, and can vary according to a predetermined frequency hopping schedule. The amount of signal power allocated to the signaling channel can vary on a per symbol basis depending on the power requirements of the communication link. The shared signaling channel can direct each message carried on the channel to one or more access terminals. Unicast messages allow the channel power to be controlled per the needs of individual communication links.

主权项

1. A method of generating signaling channel messages in a wireless communication system including a plurality of sub-carriers spanning at least a portion of an operating frequency band, the method comprising:
assigning resources in a predetermined bandwidth to a signaling channel; generating at least one message; encoding the at least one message to generate at least two message symbols comprising a first message symbol and a second message symbol; controlling a power density of the at least two message symbols; and modulating at least a portion of the resources assigned to the signaling channel, the modulating comprising modulating at least a first sub-carrier assigned to the signaling channel with the first message symbol, and modulating at least a second sub-carrier assigned to the signaling channel with the second message symbol.