US 8,942,566 B2 · Bandwidth allocator using a shared grant to schedule allocation grants and a method therefor

Abstract

A bandwidth allocator for communicating with communication terminals by transmitting and receiving data packets over a line having its communication bandwidth divided into periods of time of a predetermined length. The allocator includes a controller controlling allocation of the bandwidth by using allocation grants as the periods of time. The controller includes a scheduler scheduling the allocation grants so as to cause one allocation grant to partially overlap as a shared grant with another allocation grant adjacent to the one allocation grant. Thus, the bandwidth allocator can minimize allocation loss, otherwise caused by no allocation to an allocation grant, and improve the use efficiency of the bandwidth.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A bandwidth allocator for use in a telecommunications network transmitting data packets to and from a plurality of communication terminals over a communication line, wherein the communication line has a bandwidth divided into a plurality of periods of time of a predetermined length, said bandwidth allocator comprising:

a controller controlling allocation of the bandwidth by using allocation grants for the plurality of periods of time for transmitting data,
wherein said controller includes a scheduler scheduling the allocation grants so as to cause one of the allocation grants to partially overlap as a shared grant with another of the allocation grants which is adjacent to said one of the allocation grants.

A method of allocating a bandwidth in a bandwidth allocator for use in a telecommunications network transmitting data packets to and from a plurality of communication terminals over a communication line, wherein the communication line has a bandwidth divided into a plurality of periods of time of a predetermined length, said method comprising the steps of:

controlling allocation of the bandwidth by using allocation grants for the plurality of periods of time for transmitting data;
and
scheduling the allocation grants so as to cause one of the allocation grants to partially overlap as a shared grant with another of the allocation grants which is adjacent to the one allocation grant.

A communication terminal for use in a telecommunications network transmitting data packets over a communication line to and from a bandwidth allocator controlling bandwidth allocation of the communication line, wherein the communication line has a bandwidth divided into a plurality of periods of time of a predetermined length, said communication terminal comprising:

a communication controller receiving allocation grant information on an allocation grant, the allocation grant identifying any of the plurality of periods of time for transmitting data during which the bandwidth allocator allows said communication terminal to use the communication line;
and
an arranger to arrange the data packets,
wherein the allocation grant information includes shared-grant information on a shared grant that is a time period in which one of the allocation grants partially overlaps with another of the allocation grants which the bandwidth allocator allows to use the communication line;
and
wherein the arranger arranges data packets in a time period other than the shared grant in the allocation grant, and thereafter arranges data packets in a time period of the shared grant.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bandwidth allocator using a shared grant to schedule allocation grants and a method therefor

Life of this patent

Bandwidth allocator using a shared grant to schedule allocation grants and a method therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16