Broadband wireless communication system

The invention is comprised of communication devices designed to provide an array of communication services from network systems to a residential or business consumer through broadband wireless communications. The invention provides a diverse mixture of communication services by utilizing a media access control (MAC) and asynchronous time division multiplexing technique. The invention uses a time slotted transmission scheme where data from communication services are multiplexed according to their delivery requirements which include bandwidth, delay and loss requirements. The invention primarily is comprised of a subscriber unit system and a base station system. The base station system is connected to network systems by a metropolitan fiber ring or terrestrial microwave system using SONET and/or ATM/optic protocols. A base station provides the communication service to the consumer by; 1) receiving a request for a communication service over a wireless transmission link; 2) in response to receiving the request, dynamically configuring a media access control layer in a wireless transmission link for the requested communication service; and 3) generating and transmitting an instruction to provide the requested communication service over the wireless transmission link using the dynamically configured media access control layer.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

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FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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MICROFICHE APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is related to the field of communication systems, and in particular, to a broadband wireless communication system.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the past, wireless communications solved problems of time and cost expense in providing telecommunication services to the end user. However, a wireless solution traditionally has been limited to specific service applications such as radio broadcast or wireless telephony. Both wired and wireless capacity would be allocated based on the traffic patterns. Spectral bearer channel allocations would be rearranged based on a demand pattern matched to traffic patterns. The numerous delivery requirements of different telecommunication services make providing a host of services over wireless communications a difficult task. Recently with the proliferation of the Internet, new types of communications have been added to the array of communication services offered to consumers. Relatively new Internet applications such as web browsing, chat rooms, and PUSH technology have joined e-mail and bulletin boards as conventional communication services.

With each new communication service, a new challenge arises due to a new set of delivery requirements that usually differ from delivery requirements of other communication services. The delivery requirements describe the characteristics which control how communication services are provided to the consumer. Certain services such as video and audio are time dependent, while e-mail and text are not. Telephone conversations and web browsing require delivery in real time, while video mail can be observed at a later point. Another delivery requirement is quality of service. Voice communications can have some errors or static and still be understood by the listener. On the other hand, downloading a computer program must be error free. Other delivery requirements include traffic pattern, bandwidth, priority, and grade of service. New communication services will bring about needs for new kinds of delivery requirements.

Providing a wired solution to every residence and business can be costly and time consuming. Also, current wired solutions may not have the speed and capacity to handle new communication services. For example, the emergence of the Internet and more specifically the World Wide Web has brought about the need for dedicated computer lines such as ISDN lines in order to bypass speed and capacity restrictions of telephone lines. Telephone lines could support new video cameras linked to people's Internet home pages, but the result would be too slow. Other wired solutions could use current cable wires in residential homes, but cable companies may be reluctant to enter new markets by offering a host of communication services for various business reasons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention solves the above problem by providing a host of communications services from network systems to a residential or business consumer through broadband wireless communications. Some examples of communication services that could be provided are telephony, multimedia, Internet applications, digital audio, and video entertainment. The invention supports the varying delivery requirements for multiple communication services. Some examples of the delivery requirements are time dependency, quality of service, real time dependency, and traffic pattern.

The invention primarily is comprised of a subscriber unit system and a base station system. The base station system is connected to network systems by a metropolitan fiber ring or terrestrial microwave system using SONET and/or ATM protocols. The base station is positioned close enough so that wireless communications are feasible with the subscriber unit system. The invention uses packet transmission network architecture to provide always-connected communication services, even for connectionless services. The invention provides the communication service to the consumer by: 1) receiving a request for a communication service into a base station system over a wireless transmission link, 2) in response to receiving the request, dynamically configuring a media access control layer in a wireless transmission link for the requested communication service, and 3) generating and transmitting an instruction to provide the requested communication service over the wireless transmission link using the dynamically configured media access control layer.

The invention advantageously provides a diverse mixture of communication services by utilizing a media access control (MAC) and asynchronous time division multiplexing technique. The invention uses a time slotted transmission scheme where data from communication services are multiplexed according to their delivery requirements which include bandwidth, delay, and loss requirements. In a typical MAC frame, time slots are allocated to communication services which have quality of service requirements, and then the remaining time slots are allocated to communication services without quality of service requirements. The MAC frame will also include a fixed length request slot for MAC, contention/resolution, and signaling/supervision information. The remainder of the MAC frame is the bearer capacity which includes constant bit rate, variable bit rate, and data slots. This bearer capacity will be shared by multiple users and multiple communication services.

Another advantage is the use of wireless communications for providing the diverse array of communications services. Wireless communications will allow new communication services to be provided to end user without the burdens of wiring the residence or business for the new services. Also, existing communication services will be freed from constraints of the existing wired solution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

System Configuration and Operation—FIGS. 1–2

FIG. 1discloses a broadband wireless access system comprised of a subscriber unit system100and a base station system120. The subscriber unit system100is comprised of a subscriber control system102, a communication interface system104, a MUX106, and a subscriber wireless transceiver108. The subscriber control system102is connected to the communication interface system104, the MUX106, and the subscriber wireless transceiver108. A communication device110and a communication device112are connected to the communication interface system104. The MUX106is connected to the communication interface system104and the subscriber wireless transceiver108.

The base station system120is comprised of a connection admission control system122(CAC), a base wireless transceiver124, a MUX126, and a network interface system128. The CAC122is connected with the base wireless transceiver124, the MUX110, and the network interface system128. The base wireless transceiver124is connected to the MUX126. The network interface system128is connected to the MUX126and network systems130. The subscriber wireless transceiver108communicates with the base wireless transceiver124through wireless communications.

The communication service could mean any service provided to a subscriber in which the subscriber unit system100exchanges information with another device or person. Some examples of communication services are voice communications, FAX communications, audio broadcasts, pay-per-view video broadcasts, web browsing, transferring data files, and e-mail. The communication devices110and112could be any device that transfers or receives information such as voice or data. Some examples of communications devices are telephones, cellular telephones, fax machines, answering machines, private branch exchange, computers, personal LANs, stereos, and televisions.

The communication interface system104could be any device that receives requests for communication service from the communication devices110and112, transmits requests for communication service to the MUX106, receives control information from the subscriber control system102, and exchanges communication services between the communication devices110and112and the MUX106. The communication interface system104could be a voice interface that acts as a POTS interface, supervises signals, channels voice lines, or resolves contention between voice lines. The communication interface system104could also be a data interface that manages data stream, performs asynchronous time division, or concentrates data lines.

The MUX106could be any conventional multiplexer that receives and transmits communication service requests from the communication interface system104to the subscriber wireless transceiver108, receives control information from the subscriber control system102, and exchanges communication services between the communication interface system104and the subscriber wireless transceiver108. The MUX106typically is an electronic device which passes a plurality of signals over one communications circuit.

The subscriber wireless transceiver108could be any conventional transceiver that receives and transmits communication service requests from the MUX106to the base wireless transceiver124, receives control information from the subscriber control system102, and exchanges communication services between the MUX106and the base wireless transceiver124. The term “wireless transceiver” could mean any device or plurality of devices that transmits and/or receives transmissions without the use of wires.

The subscriber control system102communicates with the connection admission control system122to coordinate the operation of the communication interface system104, the MUX106, and the subscriber wireless transceiver108. The subscriber control system102requests and receives instructions to manage the dynamically configured MAC layer. Those skilled in the art may appreciate that the subscriber control system102may be distributed within the communication interface system104, the MUX106, and the subscriber wireless transceiver108.

The base wireless transceiver124could be any conventional transceiver that receives and transmits communication service requests from the subscriber wireless transceiver108to the MUX126, receives control information from the CAC122, and exchanges communication services between the subscriber wireless transceiver108and the MUX126.

The MUX126could be any conventional multiplexer that receives and transmits communication service requests from the base wireless transceiver124to the network interface system128, receives control information from the CAC122, and exchanges communication services between the base wireless transceiver124and the network interface system128. The MUX126typically is an electronic device which passes a plurality of signals over one communications circuit.

The network interface system128could be any device or plurality of devices that receives and transmits communication service requests from the MUX126to the CAC122and exchanges communication services between the MUX126and the network systems130. The network interface system128could perform POTS line concentration or manage ATD or packet data stream.

The network systems130could be any system or plurality of systems that bill, authorize, or exchange communication services with the network interface system128. Some examples of networks systems130are public internet servers, private corporate intranet servers, video programming systems, multimedia network servers, and POTS servers.

The connection admission control system122could be any computer processing platform that: 1) receives a request for a communication service over a wireless transmission link, 2) in response to receiving the request, dynamically configures a media access control layer in a wireless transmission link for the requested communication service, and 3) generates and transmits an instruction to provide the requested communication service over the wireless transmission link using the dynamically configured media access control layer.

FIG. 2depicts a media access control (MAC) frame format in a MAC layer for one embodiment of the invention. A MAC control frame format (MAC frame)200is comprised of a fixed allocation sub frame202and a dynamic allocation sub frame204. The fixed allocation sub frame202has requests slots206and constant bit rate slots208. The dynamic allocation sub frame204has variable bit rate slots210and data slots212. Each slot will contain packets of information. Each packet of information is in a certain position of the MAC frame200. A section of the MAC frame format comprises of a group of positions in the MAC frame200.

Reservation information214is placed in the request slots206. Reservation information214is control information for the communication service. Some examples of reservation information are user profile of authorized services, capacity parameters based on service priorities, service prioritization table, and system user ID correlation to service addresses (ex. IP address and phone numbers). In one embodiment of the invention, voice packets216are positioned in CBR slots208by circuit mode reservation. VBR packets218are placed in VBR slots210by using a statistical multiplexing algorithm where available capacity is allocated among demands based on usage parameters declared during call set-up. Data packets220are placed in the data slots212by using a first-come-first-serve queuing method. Those skilled in the art will understand the various queuing methods that could be used to reserve packets in the slots. Other examples of queuing methods are fair queuing, burst servicing policies, last come first serve logic, and time of expiry queuing.

Those skilled in the art can appreciate an error checking structure in order to prevent errors in error free communications such as file downloading and e-mail. The error checking structure can include sequence numbers or the equivalent to detect if a packet received has been corrupted in which case retransmission can be requested.

FIG. 3depicts a flow chart for providing communication service in the broadband wireless access system. The flow chart begins in step300. In step302, the communications interface system104receives a request from the communication device110for communication service with network element systems130. The communication interface system104transmits the request for communication service to the CAC122via the MUX106, the subscriber wireless transceiver108, the base wireless transceiver124, and the MUX126in step304. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the communication service request can originate from the network systems130and can be transmitted to the CAC122via the network interface system128and the MUX126. For example, the network systems130may have an incoming call for the communication device110.

In response to receiving the request, the CAC122identifies a section in the MAC layer of a wireless transmission for the requested communication service in step306. In step308, the CAC122then arbitrates access between the request and other requests for communication services within the section of the MAC layer identified in step306. In step310, the CAC122then identifies a position in the section of the MAC layer for the requested communication service based on the arbitration in step308. The CAC122dynamically configures the MAC layer for the requested communication service in steps306–310. Steps306–310may be based on the delivery requirements of the communication service. Some examples of the delivery requirements are time dependency, need for real time communication, quality of service, traffic pattern, bandwidth, priority, and grade of service.

The CAC122generates an instruction to provide the communication service using the position in the dynamically configured MAC layer. The CAC122then transmits the instruction for the MUX126and the MUX106to coordinate the provision of the communication service. In alternative embodiments, the CAC122may also transmit the instruction to the subscriber control system102, the interface system104, and/or the interface system128. The communication service is then provided between the network system130and the communication device110through the network interface system128, the MUX126, the base wireless transceiver124, the subscriber wireless transceiver108, the MUX106, and the communication interface system104. Once the communication service concludes, the session terminates connections and wireless capacity tears down in reverse order ending the session.

FIGS. 4–9disclose one embodiment of the invention, but the invention is not restricted to the configuration provided below. Those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous variations in broadband wireless system configuration and operation that are within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate how the principles illustrated in this example can be used in other examples of the invention. A particular reference number in one figure refers to the same element in all of the other figures.

FIG. 4depicts a subscriber unit system400. The subscriber unit system400is comprised of a voice communication interface (VCI)406, a MUX receive system412, a 64 QAM modem414, an RF receiver416, an antenna418, a data communication interface (DCI)426, a MUX transmit system440, a QPSK modem442, a RF transmitter444, and an antenna446. A telephone402and a telephone404are connected to the voice communication interface406. The VCI406is coupled to the MUX receive system412by a signal link408and a downstream voice link410. The MUX receive system412is connected to the 64 QAM modem414. The RF receiver416is connected to the 64 QAM modem414and the antenna418.

A computer420and a set top box424are connected to the DCI426. A television422is connected to the set top box424. The DCI426is connected to the MUX receive system by a downstream data link438. The DCI426is coupled to the MUX transmit system440by an upstream data link436and a MAC layer link434. The VCI406is connected to the MUX transmit system by an upstream voice link428, an upstream signal link430, and a MAC layer link432. The MUX transmit system is connected to the QPSK modem442. The RF transmitter444is connected to the QPSK modem442and the antenna446.

FIG. 5depicts a base station system500. The base station system500is comprised of an antenna502, an RF transmitter504, a 64 QAM modem506, a MUX transmit system508, a POTS line concentration system (POTS LCS)514, a connection admission control system (CAC)522, an antenna526, an RF receiver528, a 64 QAM modem530, a MUX receive system532, a data stream management system (DSM)544, a POTS server interface (POTS SI)524, and a data network element interface (DNE)546. The RF transmitter504is connected to the antenna502and the 64 QAM modem506. The 64 QAM modem506is connected to the MUX transmit system508. The MUX transmit system508is coupled to the POTS LCS514by an upstream voice link510and an upstream signal link512. The POTS SI524is connected to the POTS LCS514.

The connection admission control system522is connected to the POTS LCS514and the DSM544. The RF receiver528is connected to the antenna526and the 64 QAM modem530. The 64 QAM modem530is connected with the MUX receive system532. The MUX receive system532is connected with the POTS LCS514by a downstream voice link534and a downstream signal link536. The MUX receive system532is also connected to the DSM544by a downstream data link538and a MAC layer link540. The MUX transmit system508is connected with the DSM544by an upstream data link516and a MAC layer link518. The DNE546is connected to the DSM544.

The subscriber unit system400can be either fixed or portable which provides the user with greater freedom and flexibility to change locations within a coverage area. The base station systems500are placed strategically to direct radiant energy to cells within a coverage area. The base station systems500are designed to only use frequencies within its coverage area. This configuration allows the reuse of frequencies throughout the entire system. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the use of repeaters to fill holes where wireless communications do not exist and increase signal strength where wireless signals are weak. The use of repeaters will improve the coverage of wireless communications.

FIG. 6depicts a flow chart for a subscriber calling in the broadband wireless access system.FIG. 6begins at step600. In step602, the subscriber picks up the telephone402and the telephone402goes off hook. The VCI406sends an Initial Address Message (IAM) signal to the POTS LCS514through an upstream signaling connection. The upstream signaling connection is comprised of the upstream signal link430, the MUX transmit system440, the QPSK modem442, the RF transmitter444, the antenna446, a wireless signaling channel, the antenna526, the RF receiver528, the 64 QAM modem530, the MUX receive system532, and the downstream signal link536.

In step604, the POTS LCS514transmits the IAM signal to the POTS SI524. In response to receiving the IAM signal, the POTS SI524then responds with a dial tone to the POTS LCS514in step608. While the IAM signal is transmitted to the POTS SI524, the CAC522receives a request for the voice communication service from the POTS LCS514in step606. In step610, the CAC522then identifies positions in the dynamically configured MAC layer for an upstream voice communication and a downstream voice communication. In step612, the CAC522generates and transmits an instruction to the POTS LCS514to provide the requested voice communication based on the positions in the MAC layer. The POTS LCS514transmits the instruction to the MUX transmit system508and440and the MUX receive system412and532to coordinate the provision of the voice communication service in the dynamically configured MAC layer. Steps606and610are discussed in detail inFIGS. 8–9below.

In step614, a virtual connection path for the call is set up between the telephone402and the POTS SI524based on the positions in the MAC layer for upstream and downstream voice communications. The virtual connection path is comprised of a downstream virtual connection and an upstream virtual connection. The downstream virtual connection is established between the telephone402and the POTS SI524for transmission from the base station system500to the subscriber unit system400via the POTS LCS system514, the upstream voice link510, the MUX transmit system508, the 64 QAM modem506, the RF transmitter504, the antenna502, the antenna418, the RF Receiver416, the 64 QAM modem414, the MUX receive system412, the downstream voice link410, and the VCI406. The upstream virtual connection is established for transmission from the subscriber unit system400to the base station system500via the VCI406, the upstream voice link428, the MUX transmit system440, the QPSK modem442, the RF transmitter444, the antenna446, the antenna526, the RF receiver528, the 64 QAM modem530, the MUX receive system532, the downstream voice link534, and the POTS LCS514.

After the virtual path connection is set up and the POTS LCS514receives the dial tone from the POTS SI524, the dial tone is transmitted to the telephone402over the transmitting virtual connection in step616. The subscriber then dials a telephone number. The VCI406converts the phone number to digits and sends the digits through the upstream signaling connection to the POTS LCS514. The POTS LCS514then transmits the digits to the POTS SI524to complete the call. Once the call is completed to the dialed number, the call is transmitted and received628through the virtual connection path between the telephone402and the POTS SI524in step618. Once the call is terminated, the virtual path connection and wireless capacity tears down630in reverse order in step620.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the call inFIG. 6can be voice, facsimile, modem, or any other communication over telephone lines. Those skilled in the art will also understand that an incoming call from the POTS SI524to the telephone402would use the same virtual connection path as inFIG. 6. The initial signaling for the incoming call would go to the telephone402via the upstream signal link512, the MUX transmit system508, the 64 QAM modem506, the RF transmitter504, the antenna502, the antenna418, the RF receiver416, the 64 QAM414, the MUX receive system412, the signal link408, and the VCI406. Also, the request for the communication service for the incoming call would originate at the POTS SI524and be transmitted to the CAC522via the POTS LCS514. Those skilled in the art will understand that steps606,610, and612would be the same for the incoming call and step616would not be needed.

FIG. 7depicts a flow chart for a subscriber requesting an Internet session for world wide web browsing in the broadband wireless access system.FIG. 7begins at step700. The subscriber requests the Internet session over a computer420. In step702, the DCI426transmits a request for the Internet session to the DSM544via the MAC layer link434, the MUX transmit system440, the QPSK modem442, the RF transmitter444, the antenna446, the antenna526, the RF receiver528, the 64 QAM modem530, the MUX receive system532, and the MAC layer link540. The DSM544also transmits the request for the Internet session to the CAC522.

In step704, the DSM544transmits the request for the Internet session to the DNE546. In step708, the DNE546after receipt of the request performs authentication and authorization of the Internet session. For example, the DNE546will check if the subscriber has a valid Internet account for web browsing or e-mail. If no authorization or authentication, the session ends at step716. If the session is authorized and authenticated, the session continues to step714.

In step706, the CAC522receives a request for the Internet session from the DSM544. In step710, the CAC522then identifies a position in the dynamically configured MAC layer for the requested communication service. In step712, the CAC522generates and transmits an instruction to the DSM544to provide the request communication service based on the position in the MAC layer. The DSM544transmits the instruction to the MUX transmit system508and440and the MUX receive system412and532to coordinate the provision of the Internet session in the dynamically configured MAC layer. Steps706and710are discussed in detail inFIGS. 8–9below.

In step714, an Internet session is then established after the DNE546performs the authorization and the DSM544receives the instruction to setup an Internet session. The subscriber then exchanges Internet data with the DNE546. Internet data is sent from the computer420to the DNE546through the DCI426, the upstream data link436, the MUX transmit system440, the QPSK modem442, the RF transmitter444, the antenna446, the antenna526, the RF receiver528, the 64 QAM modem530, the MUX receive system532, the downstream data link538, and the DSM544. Internet data is sent from the DNE546to the computer420through the DSM544, the upstream data link516, the MUX transmit system508, the 64 QAM modem506, the RF transmitter504, the antenna502, the antenna418, the RF receiver416, the 64 QAM modem414, the MUX receive system412, the downstream data link438, and the DCI426. Once the subscriber terminates the Internet session, the wireless capacity tears down in reverse order in step716.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the Internet session could include e-mail, world wide web browsing, PUSH technology, and chat rooms. Those skilled in the art will understand that the same steps inFIG. 7could apply to other communication devices such as televisions, set top boxes, and stereos. Some examples of communication services provided to other communication devices are audio broadcast, file transfers, data transfers, network games, desktop multimedia communications, video broadcasting, and video conferencing. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the instruction to provide the communication service that require only one way communication such as a video broadcast will only be sent to elements providing the communication service.

FIG. 8depicts a flow chart for the generation or modification of allocation rules and control families in the CAC522. The allocation rules are rules that allocate the capacity for packets within the MAC layer in a wireless link. In this embodiment of the invention, the allocation rules are fuzzy rules in a fuzzy logic system. Another embodiment of the invention uses neural networks to perform the same function as the allocation rules. The control families are groups of communication services that have similar delivery requirements. The control families are determined based on analysis and traffic patterns of actual current traffic and historical traffic in the broadband wireless access system. The steps inFIG. 8can be executed continuously during the operation of the broadband wireless access system to monitor traffic and improve allocation rules and families.

FIG. 8begins at step800. In step802, the CAC522receives actual traffic activity of the broadband wireless access system. In step804, the CAC522measures the actual traffic activity by wireless sector and by type of communication service. In step804, the CAC522modifies and/or generates allocation rules for determination of appropriate allocation of capacity in the MAC layer based on control objectives. These control objectives are (1) to maintain all traffic flowing during peak load of traffic, (2) to continually exchange high priority traffic between the communication device and the network system, (3) to reduce capacity for low priority traffic during congestion periods, and (4) to use a plausibility check to verify actual traffic usage of capacity in the MAC layer in the wireless transmission link with historical trends of traffic usage of capacity. In this fuzzy logic embodiment, the allocation rules will be used for rule inference.

In step808, the CAC522modifies and/or generates control families for requested communication services. The control families are based on the delivery requirements of the communication service. Some examples of the delivery requirements are time dependency, need for real time communication, quality of service, traffic pattern, bandwidth, priority, and grade of service. The control families will be used during the fuzzification step when a communication service is requested. The control families will then be used by the rule inference step to determine the appropriate configuration of the MAC layer. Steps802–808are repeated to improve allocation rules and control families.

FIG. 9depicts a flow chart for configuring the MAC layer in an example of the broadband wireless access system.FIG. 9begins in step900. The CAC522receives the request for the communication service in step902. In step904, the CAC522identifies the appropriate control family for the requested communication service based on the delivery requirements of the communication service. In this embodiment, step902is the fuzzification step in fuzzy logic. In step906, the CAC522then identifies the section in the MAC layer of a wireless transmission for the selected control family based on the allocation rules fromFIG. 8. In step908, the CAC522arbitrates access within the section of the MAC layer between the requested communication service and other communication services based on the allocation rules. Steps906and908are the rule inference steps in fuzzy logic. The control families and sections in the MAC layer are some of the fuzzy values, and the allocation rules are the fuzzy rules. In step910, the CAC522then identifies the position in the MAC layer based on the arbitration in step908. Step910is the defuzzification process in fuzzy logic.