Protocol for allocating upstream slots over a link in a point-to-multipoint communication system

摘要

A system for controlling a contention state for a communication link between a base station controller and customer premises equipment in point-to-multipoint communication. The contention state is controlled using a state machine, which includes a grant pending absent state in which a unicast request slot is maintained open for use by the customer premises equipment. During the grant pending absent state, the customer premises equipment sends no upstream data to the base station controller but can use the unicast request slot to request a data slot for sending upstream data to the base station controller. In the grant pending state, the customer premises equipment preferably uses piggybacking to request grant of a next data slot while sending upstream data to the base station controller.

主权项

1. A method of operating a wireless communication system having multiple cells within the wireless communication system, each of the multiple cells comprising a base station controller (BSC) unit, the BSC unit operable to communicate with a customer premises equipment (CPE) unit, the method comprising;
providing a timeout for use by the CPE unit; enabling the BSC unit to provide an upstream data transmission grant to the CPE unit; enabling the CPE unit to transmit pending data to the BSC unit within a transmission resource specified by the upstream data transmission grant; if additional pending data is available for transmission from the CPE unit to the BSC unit within the transmission resource:
enabling transmission of a first type request message from the CPE unit to the BSC unit within the transmission resource, the first type request message indicative of a requirement for the transmission of the additional pending data, andenabling transmission of the additional pending data from the CPE unit to the BSC unit in a subsequent transmission resource specified by a subsequent upstream data transmission grant; and if no additional pending data is available for transmission to the BSC unit within the transmission resource and on condition that new data becomes available for transmission prior to expiry of the timeout, enabling transmission of a second type request message from the CPE unit to the BSC unit without contention, the second type request message indicative of a requirement for transmission of the new data, and if no additional pending data is available for transmission and no new data becomes available for transmission prior to expiry of the timeout, enabling the CPE unit to operate in an idle state.