# US 8,571,066 B2 · Methods and apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,571,066 B2 - Document ID: US8571066B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/051,209 - Filed: 2008-03-19 - Published: 2009-01-15 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-03-21 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: Binita Gupta; An Mei Chen; Devarshi Shah; Linbo Li; Raghuraman Krishnamoorthi; Ashok Mantravadi; Taoufik Tani - Inventors: Binita Gupta; An Mei Chen; Devarshi Shah; Linbo Li; Raghuraman Krishnamoorthi; Ashok Mantravadi; Taoufik Tani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8571066B2 ## CPC - H04W 76/11: Allocation or use of connection identifiers - H04W 48/12: using downlink control channel - H04W 72/02: Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal - H04W 76/15: Setup of multiple wireless link connections - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Methods and apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network. In an aspect, a method includes identifying a multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set, generating an overhead message that associates one or more RF carrier frequencies with the one or more content flows, and transmitting the overhead message over the multi-frequency network. An apparatus includes input logic configured to receive an overhead message that associates one or more content flows with one or more RF carrier frequencies, and processing logic configured to detect a channel switch event that identifies a selected content flow, determine a selected RF carrier frequency associated with the selected content flow based on the overhead message, and switch to the selected RF carrier frequency to receive the selected content flow. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the method comprising: identifying a multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels; generating at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively; and transmitting the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network, wherein the VM set comprises a unique combination of contents carried in a local operation infrastructure (LOI) and the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said generating comprises: generating a flow description message (FDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the FDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the VM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of local operations infrastructures (LOIs), respectively; and generating a unified flow description message (UFDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the UFDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the UM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said generating comprises: generating an RF description message (RDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the RDM associates one or more of the multiple RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of LOIs, respectively; and generating a unified RF description message (URDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the URDM associates the one or more RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting at least one of an FDM, UFDM, RDM, and URDM over at least one of a wide control channel and a local control channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying a multiplex set comprises: identifying a first multiplex set that comprises one or more wide area multiplexes, wherein the first multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set; and identifying a second multiplex set that comprises one or more wide area multiplexes, wherein the second multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one of an FDM, UFDM, RDM, and URDM comprises the at least one overhead message that is conveyed over the at least one of a wide control channel and a local control channel. ### Claim 7 An apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising: a multiplex set generator configured to identify at least one multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels; messaging logic configured to generate at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively; and output logic configured to transmit the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network, wherein the VM set comprises a unique combination of contents carried in a local operation infrastructure (LOI) and the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said messaging logic is configured to: generate a flow description message (FDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the FDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the VM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of local operations infrastructures (LOIs), respectively; and generate a unified flow description message (UFDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the UFDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the UM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said messaging logic is configured to: generate an RF description message (RDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the RDM associates one or more of the multiple RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of LOIs, respectively; and generate a unified RF description message (URDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the URDM associates the one or more RF channel with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said output logic is configured to transmit at least one of an FDM, UFDM, RDM, and URDM over at least one of a wide control channel and a local control channel. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising: means for identifying a multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels; means for generating at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively; and means for transmitting the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network, wherein the VM set comprises a unique combination of contents carried in a local operation infrastructure (LOI) and the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said means for generating comprises: means for generating a flow description message (FDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the FDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the VM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of local operations infrastructures (LOIs), respectively; and means for generating a unified flow description message (UFDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the UFDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the UM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said means for generating comprises: means for generating an RF description message (RDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the RDM associates one or more of the multiple RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of LOIs, respectively; and means for generating a unified RF description message (URDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the URDM associates the one or more RF channel with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting at least one of an FDM, UFDM, RDM, and URDM over at least one of a wide control channel and a local control channel. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising: a first set of codes for causing a computer to identify at least one multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels; a second set of codes for causing the computer to generate at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively; and a third set of codes for causing the computer to transmit the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network, wherein the VM set comprises a unique combination of contents carried in a local operation infrastructure (LOI) and the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said second set of codes is configured to cause the computer to: generate a flow description message (FDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the FDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the VM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of local operations infrastructures (LOIs), respectively; and generate a unified flow description message (UFDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the UFDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the UM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said second set of codes is configured to cause the computer to: generate an RF description message (RDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the RDM associates one or more of the multiple RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of LOIs, respectively; and generate a unified RF description message (URDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the URDM associates the one or more RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said third set of codes is configured to cause the computer to transmit at least one of an FDM, UFDM, RDM, and URDM over at least one of a wide control channel and a local control channel. ### Claim 19 At least one integrated circuit configured to provide RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the at least one integrated circuit comprising: a first module for identifying at least one multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels; a second module for generating at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively; and a third module for transmitting the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network, wherein the VM set comprises a unique combination of contents carried in a local operation infrastructure (LOI) and the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The at least one integrated circuit of claim 19, wherein said second module is configured to: generate a flow description message (FDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the FDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the VM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of local operations infrastructures (LOIs), respectively; and generate a unified flow description message (UFDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the UFDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the UM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The at least one integrated circuit of claim 19, wherein said second module is configured to: generate an RF description message (RDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the RDM associates one or more of the multiple RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of LOIs, respectively; and generate a unified RF description message (URDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the URDM associates the one or more RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The at least one integrated circuit of claim 19, wherein said third module is configured to transmit at least one of an FDM, UFDM, RDM, and URDM over at least one of a wide control channel and a local control channel. ### Claim 23 A method for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the method comprising: identifying a multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels; generating at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively; and transmitting the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network, wherein the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein said generating comprises: generating a flow description message (FDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the FDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the VM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of local operations infrastructures (LOIs), respectively; and generating a unified flow description message (UFDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the UFDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the UM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein said generating comprises: generating an RF description message (RDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the RDM associates one or more of the multiple RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of LOIs, respectively; and generating a unified RF description message (URDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the URDM associates the one or more RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein said identifying a multiplex set comprises: identifying a first multiplex set that comprises one or more wide area multiplexes, wherein the first multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set; and identifying a second multiplex set that comprises one or more wide area multiplexes, wherein the second multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting at least one of an FDM, UFDM, RDM, and URDM over at least one of a wide control channel and a local control channel. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one of an FDM, UFDM, RDM, and URDM comprises the at least one overhead message that is conveyed over the at least one of a wide control channel and a local control channel. ### Claim 29 An apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising: a multiplex set generator configured to identify at least one multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels; messaging logic configured to generate at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively; and output logic configured to transmit the at least one overhead message over the multifrequency network, wherein the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said messaging logic is configured to: generate a flow description message (FDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the FDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the VM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of local operations infrastructures (LOIs), respectively; and generate a unified flow description message (UFDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the UFDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the UM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said messaging logic is configured to: generate an RF description message (RDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the RDM associates one or more of the multiple RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of LOIs, respectively; and generate a unified RF description message (URDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the URDM associates the one or more RF channel with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said output logic is configured to transmit at least one of an FDM, UFDM, RDM, and URDM over at least one of a wide control channel and a local control channel. ### Claim 33 An apparatus for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising: means for identifying a multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels; means for generating at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively; and means for transmitting the at least one overhead message over the multi- frequency network, wherein the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said means for generating comprises: means for generating a flow description message (FDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the FDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the VM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of local operations infrastructures (LOIs), respectively; and means for generating a unified flow description message (UFDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the UFDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the UM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said means for generating comprises: means for generating an RF description message (RDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the RDM associates one or more of the multiple RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of LOIs, respectively; and means for generating a unified RF description message (URDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the URDM associates the one or more RF channel with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting at least one of an FDM, UFDM, RDM, and URDM over at least one of a wide control channel and a local control channel. ### Claim 37 A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the non-transitory machine readable medium comprising: a first set of codes for causing a computer to identify at least one multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels; a second set of codes for causing the computer to generate at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively; and a third set of codes for causing the computer to transmit the at least one overhead message over the multi-frequency network, wherein the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said second set of codes is configured to cause the computer to: generate a flow description message (FDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the FDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the VM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of local operations infrastructures (LOIs), respectively; and generate a unified flow description message (UFDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the UFDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the UM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said second set of codes is configured to cause the computer to: generate an RF description message (RDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the RDM associates one or more of the multiple RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of LOIs, respectively; and generate a unified RF description message (URDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the URDM associates the one or more RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said third set of codes is configured to cause the computer to transmit at least one of an FDM, UFDM, RDM, and URDM over at least one of a wide control channel and a local control channel. ### Claim 41 At least one integrated circuit configured to provide RF channel switching in a multi-frequency network, the at least one integrated circuit comprising: a first module for identifying at least one multiplex set that comprises one or more content flows, wherein the multiplex set is one of a vertical multiplex (VM) set and a unified multiplex (UM) set carried by multiple RF channels; a second module for generating at least one overhead message associated with the multiplex set that associates a location of each of the one or more content flows with respect to the multiple RF channels, respectively; and a third module for transmitting the at least one overhead message over the multifrequency network, wherein the UM set is formed by combining overlapping VM sets until overlapping is eliminated. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The at least one integrated circuit of claim 41, wherein said second module is configured to: generate a flow description message (FDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the FDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the VM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a first set of local operations infrastructures (LOIs), respectively; and generate a unified flow description message (UFDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the UFDM associates content flows belonging to content multiplexes in the UM set with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The at least one integrated circuit of claim 41, wherein said second module is configured to: generate an RF description message (RDM), if the multiplex set is the VM set, wherein the RDM associates one or more of the multiple RF channels with one or more identifiers associated with a first set of LOIs, respectively; and generate a unified RF description message (URDM), if the multiplex set is the UM set, wherein the URDM associates the one or more RF channels with one or more RF channel identifiers associated with a second set of LOIs, respectively. ### Claim 44 (depends on 41) The at least one integrated circuit of claim 41, wherein said third module is configured to transmit at least one of an FDM, UFDM, RDM, and URDM over at least one of a wide control channel and a local control channel.