Method and system for multi-carrier packet communication with reduced overhead

摘要

A method and system for minimizing the control overhead in a multi-carrier wireless communication network that utilizes a time-frequency resource is disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more zones in the time-frequency resource are designated for particular applications, such as a zone dedicated for voice-over-IP (VoIP) applications. By grouping applications of a similar type together within a zone, a reduction in the number of bits necessary for mapping a packet stream to a portion of the time-frequency resource can be achieved. In some embodiments, modular coding schemes associated with the packet streams may be selected that further reduce the amount of necessary control information. In some embodiments, packets may be classified for transmission in accordance with application type, QoS parameters, and other properties. In some embodiments, improved control messages may be constructed to facilitate the control process and minimize associated overhead.

主权项

1. A method for a base station in a multi-cell wireless packet system using a frame structure, each frame comprising a plurality of time slots, each time slot comprising a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, the method comprising:
designating a first zone of time-frequency resource in a cell for transmission of packets associated with a voice application, the first zone selected to be different from a second zone of time-frequency resource designated in a neighboring cell for transmission of packets associated with the voice application; allocating N basic time-frequency resource units in the first zone for transmission of a packet associated with the voice application to a mobile device, wherein a basic time-frequency resource unit contains a number of subcarriers in a number of OFDM symbols and N is an integer number; and transmitting a signal carrying the packet to a mobile device over the N basic time-frequency units in the first zone.