Method and apparatus for processing shared sub-packets in a communication system

A method for processing shared sub-packets at a first subscriber station, the method comprising:

• at the first subscriber station, demodulating a first control channel to determine whether a sub-packet of a traffic channel is to be shared by a plurality of subscriber stations;
• if the sub-packet of the traffic channel is to be shared, determining a number of subscriber stations sharing the sub-packet of the traffic channel and multiplexing of the traffic channel in accordance with said demodulated first control channel;
• demodulating a second control channel comprising (a) an identity of a subscriber station intended to share the sub-packets and (b) information enabling the subscriber station intended to share the sub-packets to demodulate the traffic channel;
• and
• if the subscriber station identity of the second control channel matches the identity of the first subscriber station, demodulating the traffic channel in accordance with said determined multiplexing and the enabling information.

A method for processing shared sub-packets in a communication system, the method comprising:

• generating a first control channel comprising(a) an indicator that a sub-packet of a traffic channel is to be shared by a plurality of subscriber stations and (b) parameters of the shared sub-packet of the traffic channel;
• generating at least one second control channel, each of said at least one second control channel comprising(a) an identity of at least one subscriber station intended to share the sub-packet and (b) information enabling the subscriber station to demodulate the traffic channel;
• transmitting the control channels;
• at a first subscriber station, demodulating the received first control channel;
• determining a number of subscriber stations sharing the sub-packet of the traffic channel and multiplexing of the traffic channel in accordance-with said demodulated first control channel;
• demodulating a second control channel comprising (a) an identity of a subscriber station and (b) information enabling the subscriber station intended to share the sub-packet to demodulate the traffic channel;
• and
• if the subscriber station identity of the second control channel matches an identity of the first subscriber station, demodulating the traffic channel in accordance with said determined multiplexing and the enabling information.

A method for processing shared sub-packets in a communication system, the method comprising:

• generating a first control channel comprising (a) an indicator that a sub-packet of a traffic channel is to be shared by a plurality of subscriber stations, the sub-packets comprising at least one slot, the slot comprising at least two sub-slots, and(b) parameters of the shared sub-packet of the traffic channel;
• and
• generating at least one second control channel, each of said at least one second control channel comprising (a) an identity of at least one subscriber station intended to share the sub-packet and (b) information enabling the subscriber station to demodulate the traffic channel;
• wherein the first control channel is configured to be received by a first subscriber station configured to demodulate the first control channel to determine whether a sub-packet of a traffic channel is to be shared by a plurality of subscriber stations and if the sub-packet of the traffic channel is to be shared, a number of subscriber stations sharing the sub-packet of the traffic channel is determined and the traffic channel multiplexed in accordance with said demodulated first control channel;
• and further wherein the second control channel, is configured to be received and demodulated and comprises (a) an identity of a subscriber station intended to share the sub-packets and (b) information enabling the subscriber station intended to share the sub-packets to demodulate the traffic channel;
• and
• if the subscriber station identity of the second control channel matches the identity of the first subscriber station, the traffic channel is configured to be received and demodulated in accordance with said determined multiplexing and the enabling information.

A communication device comprising:

• a base station configured to generate a first control channel and at least one second control channel, wherein the first control channel comprises:
• an indicator that a sub-packet of a traffic channel is to be shared by a plurality of subscriber stations, the sub-packets comprising at least one slot, the slot comprising a variable number of sub-slots including at least a first and second sub-slot, the first sub-slot comprising a first data transmission, the second sub-slot comprising a second data transmission different than the first data transmission, and
• parameters of the shared sub-packet of the traffic channel including a variable number of subscriber stations sharing the sub-packet of the traffic channel;
• and further wherein the at least one second control channel is generated only if the sub-packet is shared, the number of second control channels equal to the variable number of subscriber stations sharing the sub-packet of the traffic channel, wherein the at least one second control channel comprises:
• an identity of at least one subscriber station intended to share the sub-packet;
• and
• information enabling the subscriber station to demodulate the traffic channel.

A communication apparatus comprising:

• a first subscriber station configured to process shared sub-packets and demodulate a first control channel to determine whether a sub-packet of a traffic channel is to be shared by a plurality of subscriber stations;
• wherein if the sub-packet of the traffic channel is to be shared, the number of subscriber stations sharing the sub-packet of the traffic channel is determined and the traffic channel is multiplexed in accordance with said demodulated first control channel;
• further wherein the first subscriber station is configured to demodulate a second control channel comprising (a) an identity of a subscriber station intended to share the sub-packets and (b) information enabling the subscriber station intended to share the sub-packets to demodulate the traffic channel;
• and
• if the subscriber station identity of the second control channel matches the identity of the first subscriber station, the first subscriber station demodulates the traffic channel in accordance with said multiplexing and the enabling information.

An apparatus configured to process shared sub-packets, comprising:

• means for demodulating a first control channel to determine whether a sub-packet of a traffic channel is to be shared by a plurality of subscriber stations;
• means for determining a number of subscriber stations sharing the sub-packet of the traffic channel and multiplexing of the traffic channel in accordance with said demodulated first control channel if the sub-packet of the traffic channel is to be shared;
• means for demodulating a second control channel comprising (a) an identity of a subscriber station intended to share the sub-packets and (b) information enabling the subscriber station intended to share the sub-packets to demodulate the traffic channel;
• and
• means for demodulating the traffic channel in accordance with said determined multiplexing and the enabling information if the subscriber station identity of the second control channel matches the identity of a first subscriber station.

A computer readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by a computer processor and configured to perform a method comprising:

• demodulating a first control channel to determine whether a sub-packet of a traffic channel is to be shared by a plurality of subscriber stations;
• determining a number of subscriber stations sharing the sub-packet of the traffic channel and multiplexing of the traffic channel in accordance with said demodulated first control channel if the sub-packet of the traffic channel is to be shared;
• demodulating a second control channel comprising (a) an identity of a subscriber station intended to share the sub-packets and (b)information enabling the subscriber station intended to share the sub-packets to demodulate the traffic channel;
• and
• demodulating the traffic channel in accordance with said determined multiplexing and the enabling information if the subscriber station identity of the second control channel matches the identity of a first subscriber station.