Demand assignment system and method for mobile users in a community of interest

A method of assigning time slots to mobile users in a wireless communication System supporting wireless communication applications where both end users of a communication link are mobile, comprising the steps of:

• (1) receiving time slot reservation requests from the mobile users during a first frame, each of said time slot reservation requests comprising information identifying a source end user and a destination end user;
• (2) generating during said first frame a voice traffic matrix and a data traffic matrix by using said time slot reservation requests, said voice traffic matrix comprising source end user information and destination end user information for all active voice calls, and said data traffic matrix comprising source end user and destination end user information for all pending data packets;
• (3) generating, during said first frame, time slot assignment information based on said voice traffic matrix and said data traffic matrix,
• wherein step (3) comprises the step of employing a predetermined scheduling algorithm to generate said time slot assignment information, said predetermined scheduling algorithm supporting fixed length frames, integrated voice and data service, guaranteed voice service, buffering of data packets by the mobile users, and a moveable boundary approach wherein L.sub.c time slots in each frame are reserved for voice service, L.sub.p time slots in each frame are reserved for data service, and any of said L.sub.c time slots not used for voice service may be used for data service;
• and
• (4) transmitting, during said first frame, said time slot assignment information to the mobile users;
• wherein the mobile users transmit and receive voice packets and data packets during time slots of a second frame as specified by said time slot assignment information.

A wireless communication system, comprising:

• a radio exchange node, REN;
• a plurality of RF-distribution points, RDPs, each including antenna equipment to receive time slot reservation requests from mobile users, and to forward said time slot reservation requests to said REN;
• said REN comprising:
• a switch;
• a scheduling unit to receive said time slot reservation requests from said RDPs during a first frame, to generate during said first frame a voice traffic matrix and a data traffic matrix by using said time slot reservation requests and a fixed frame, moveable boundary approach wherein L.sub.c time slots in each frame are reserved for voice service, L.sub.p time slots in each frame are reserved for data service, and any of said L.sub.c time slots not used for voice service may be used for data service, and said voice traffic matrix comprising source and destination end user information for all active voice calls, and said data traffic matrix comprising source and destination end user information for all pending data packets, and to generate during said first frame time slot assignment information based on said voice traffic matrix and said data traffic matrix;
• and
• a control unit to transmit, during said first frame, said time slot assignment information to said mobile users via said RDPs, and to control said switch such that connectivity is provided between said mobile users during a second frame in accordance with said time slot assignment information.

A system of assigning time slots to mobile users in a wireless communication system supporting wireless communication applications where both end users of a communication link are mobile, comprising:

• receiving means for receiving time slot reservation requests from the mobile users during a first frame, each of said time slot reservation requests comprising information identifying a source end user and a destination end user;
• matrix generating means for generating during said first frame a voice traffic matrix and a data traffic matrix by using said time slot reservation requests, said voice traffic matrix comprising source end user information and destination end user information for all active voice calls, and said data traffic matrix comprising source end user and destination end user information for all pending data packets;
• wherein said matrix generating means comprises,
• means for identifying which of said time slot reservation requests, if any, represent new voice call requests, and
• new call accepting means for determining whether to accept said identified new voice call requests, said identified new voice call requests which are accepted representing a subset of said active voice calls, and said identified new voice call requests which are not accepted representing blocked voice calls;
• time slot assignment information generating means for generating, during said first frame, time slot assignment information based on said voice traffic matrix and said data traffic matrix;
• and
• transmitting means for transmitting, during said first frame, said time slot assignment information to the mobile users;
• wherein the mobile users transmit and receive voice packets and data packets during time slots of a second frame as specified by said time slot assignment information.

A system of assigning time slots to mobile users in a wireless communication system supporting wireless communication applications where both end users of a communication link are mobile, comprising:

• receiving means for receiving time slot reservation requests from the mobile users during a first frame, each of staid time slot reservation requests comprising information identifying a source end user and a destination end user;
• matrix generating means for generating during said first frame a voice traffic matrix and a data traffic matrix by using said time slot reservation requests, said voice traffic matrix comprising source end user information and destination end user information for all active voice calls, and said data traffic matrix comprising source end user and destination end user information for all pending data packets;
• time slot assignment information generating means for generating, during said first frame, time slot assignment information based on said voice traffic matrix and said dam traffic matrix,
• wherein said time slot assignment information generating means comprises,
• means for employing a predetermined scheduling algorithm to generate said time slot assignment information, said predetermined scheduling algorithm supporting fixed length frames, integrated voice and data service, guaranteed voice service, buffering of data packets by the mobile users, and a moveable boundary approach wherein L.sub.c time slots in each frame are reserved for voice service, L.sub.p time slots in each frame are reserved for data service, and any of said L.sub.c time slots not used for voice service may be used for data service;
• and transmitting means for transmitting, during said first frame, said time slot assignment information to the mobile users:
• wherein the mobile users transmit and receive voice packets and data packets during time slots of a second frame as specified by said time slot assignment information.