Controlling the rate of data transfer over a wireless link
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorsAnit Lohtia, David W. Paranchych, Yuqiang Tang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wireless communications network includes a mobile station and wireless access equipment. In communications between the wireless access equipment and the mobile station (such as in the forward link), a data rate is specified. However, the effective data rate can be reduced (with respect to the specified data rate) if it is determined that the specified data rate is not needed. In one arrangement, the effective data rate is reduced by waiting to fill a physical layer packet before transmission.
Claims20
A method of wireless conununication, comprising:
- receiving an indication of a data rate for communicating data over a wireless link between a mobile station and wireless access equipment;
- determining whether the data rate specified by the indication is greater than a rate at which data to be communicated over the wireless link is received by one of the mobile station and wireless access equipment;
- reducing an effective data rate of communicating data over the wireless link in response to a determination that the data rate specified by the indication is greater than the rate at which data to be communicated over the wireless link is received;
- and
- varying a size of a physical layer packet for communicating data over the wireless link based on the data rate specified by the indication,
- wherein the physical layer packet is capable of carrying plural higher protocol layer packets, and
- wherein reducing the effective data rate comprises waiting to fill the physical layer packet with one or more additional higher level packets.
A method of wirelcss communication, comprising:
- receiving an indication of a data rate for communicating data over a wireless link between a mobile station and wireless access equipment;
- determining whether the data rate specified by the indication is greater than a rate at which data to be communicated over the wireless link is received by one of the mobile station and wireless access equipment;
- and
- reducing an effective data rate of communicating data over the wireless link in response to a determination that the data rate specifiedby the indication is greater than the rate at which data to be communicated over the wireless link is received,
- wherein determining whether the data rdte specified by the indication is greater than the rate a:
- which data to be communicated over the wireless link is received comprises detecting that an outbound physical layer packet is partially filled.
An article comprising at least one storage medium containing instructions that when executed cause a system to:
- provide a scheduling procedure for wireless communications between a mobile station and a wireless access equipment;
- receive a specified data rate for the wireless communications;
- provide an effective data rate that is different from the specified data rate in response to determining that the specified data rate is greater than a rate needed by one of the mobile station and the wireless access equipment;
- and
- vary the effective data rate by controlling a wait time to fill a physical layer packet to be communicated between the mobile station and the wireless access equipment.
A wireless network control apparatus, comprising:
- an interface to a wireless link for communicating wirelessly with a mobile station;
- and
- a controller adapted to:
- receive a specified data rate for communicating data with the mobile station,
- determine whether the specified data rate is greater than a rate at which data to be communicated wirelessly is needed by the wireless network control apparatus,
- provide an effective data rate in communicating the data with the mobile station, the effective data rate being different from the specified data rate, in response to determining that the specified data rate is greater than the rate at which data to be communicated wireiessly is needed by the wireless network control apparatus, and
- vary the effective data rate by controlling a wait time to fill a physical layer packet to be communicated between the wireless network control apparatus and the mobile station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.