Method and system for operating a radio network controller in a wireless communication system

#Wireless communication systems generally include a plurality of communication devices, such as mobile or portable transmitting subscriber units that are located in multiple sites. Each site may include a set of base stations and/or receivers for communicating information such as voice, data, control, and network management traffic between the communication devices and with other base stations and/or receivers. The wireless communication systems may include a machine-to-machine (M2M) communication system comprising M2M communications between the transmitting subscriber units. The M2M communications refer to wireless or wired communications between transmitting subscriber units. Such transmitting subscriber units are also known as M2M communication devices. The M2M communications may be transmitted over a narrowband channel or a broadband channel. A broadband channel is a channel that supports high bit-rate transmissions and a narrowband channel is a channel that supports low bit-rate transmissions. The public safety environment more commonly utilizes narrowband channels for communication as the narrowband channels are currently more cost effective.

#Narrowband channels can support sufficient throughput for M2M communications between small groups of M2M communication devices. However, narrowband channels cannot provide sufficient throughput for M2M communications between large groups of M2M communication devices distributed over a large metropolitan area as the narrowband channels can only support low bit-rate transmissions.

#Accordingly, there is a need to improve the capacity of a narrowband channel for providing sufficient throughput for M2M communications between large groups of M2M communication devices or to provide more efficient use of broadband channels.

#The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example radio network controller (RNC) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

#Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure.

#The method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

#A method and a system for operating a radio network controller (RNC) in a wireless communication system that comprises a plurality of transmitting subscriber units communicating with a plurality of receivers is provided herein. The RNC generates a group database comprising a plurality of transmitting groups. Each transmitting group includes one or more substantially simultaneously transmitting subscriber units. The plurality of receivers is able to receive transmissions from each transmitting subscriber unit within each transmitting group. A resultant Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio SINR) associated with the substantially simultaneous transmissions received from each transmitting subscriber unit within each transmitting group meets a pre-defined SINR threshold at at least one receiver. In response to a new transmitting subscriber unit requesting to be a member of a transmitting group, the RNC receives signal quality metrics (SQMs) associated with the new transmitting subscriber unit measured at the plurality of receivers. Further, the RNC steps through the plurality of transmitting groups in the group database. The RNC tests the received SQMs associated with the new transmitting subscriber unit with the resultant SINR associated with each transmitting group to determine if the new transmitting subscriber unit could be added to a transmitting group without reducing a resultant SINR associated with the transmitting group below the pre-defined SINR threshold. The RNC assigns the new transmitting subscriber unit to the transmitting group, on determining that the new transmitting subscriber unit could be added to the transmitting group without reducing the resultant SINR associated with the transmitting group below the pre-defined SINR threshold.