Patent ID: 8705458
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A module for use in a base station of a wireless communication system in which packets of data are at least transmitted at least on a downlink from the base station to a plurality of subscriber stations, the base station defining, connections with the subscriber stations, each connection having one of a plurality of service classes, each service class having an associated QoS, the module allocating system resources available within a predetermined unit of time to each connection and comprising: a first-stage scheduler responsive to the QoS requirements of the connections to determine connections that need to be scheduled within the predetermined unit of time to achieve their QoS; a second-stage scheduler arranged, once scheduling by the first-stage scheduler is complete, to determine any other connections which are able to be scheduled within the predetermined unit of time, using any resources still available after allocating resources to those connections that need to be scheduled, and to assign a priority order of such other connections based on requirements other than QoS to maximise spectral efficiency in the system; and a resource allocator for allocating resources to each connection at least on the downlink in accordance with the determinations made by the first-stage scheduler and second-stage scheduler.