Patent ID: 6683866
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
A method of synchronizing and transporting data in a wireless communication system, wherein the wireless communication system includes a plurality of customer premise equipment (CPE) in communication with associated and corresponding base stations, and wherein the base stations maintain uplink and downlink sub-frame maps representative of bandwidth allocations in uplink and downlink communication links, and wherein the base stations each include an associated and corresponding media access control (MAC) having a plurality of MAC data messages, and wherein the MAC transports a MAC data message through a MAC data packet that is mapped to at least one TC/PHY packet in a layered data transport architecture, the method comprising the steps of:(a) obtaining a MAC data packet; (b) determining whether there are sufficient available bits in a first TC/PHY packet to map the MAC data packet obtained in step (a) into the first TC/PHY packet; (c) if sufficient bits are determined to be available in step (b), proceeding to step (d), else fragmenting the obtained MAC data packet and mapping a first fragment into the first TC/PHY packet, and then mapping remaining fragments into successive TC/PHY packets, and then returning to step (a); (d) mapping the obtained MAC data packet into the first TC/PHY packet; (e) determining whether there are remaining available bits in the first TC/PHY packet; (f) if sufficient bits are determined to be remaining in step (e), proceeding to step (g), else returning to step (a); (g) determining whether there is a change in modulation on the downlink; (h) if a change in modulation is determined in step (g), mapping a first MAC packet having a new modulation into a new TC/PHY packet following an MTG, else proceeding to step (i); (i) determining whether there is a change in CPE on the uplink; (j) if a change in modulation is determined in step (i), mapping a first MAC packet of a next CPE into a new TC/PHY packet following a CTG, else proceeding to step (k); (k) mapping a next MAC packet, if one exists, within the first TC/PHY packet; and (l) returning to step (b).