MXPA06008343A - Method and apparatus for channel sensitive scheduling in a communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and apparatus for a channel sensitive scheduler for scheduling transmissions in a communication system. The scheduler is defined by a priority function of the channel condition as determined by amount of transmission power needed by a mobile station. In one embodiment the channel condition is determined based on the transmission pilot power of each mobile station and is used to calculate a priority value for each mobile station. The mobile stations are then scheduled to transmit based on the priority value.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SENSITIVE PROGRAMMING OF THE CHANNEL IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains generally to communications, and very specifically to a method and apparatus for sensitive programming of the transmission channel in a communication system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The communication systems, and wireless systems in particular, are designed with the objective of an efficient distribution of resources among a variety of users. The designers of wireless systems in particular aspire to provide sufficient resources to meet the communication needs of their subscribers while reducing costs. Several programming algorithms have been developed, each based on a predetermined system criterion. In a wireless communication system using a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or Broadband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) scheme, a programming method assigns to each of the subscriber units code channels to the subscribers. Designated time intervals on a multiplexed time basis. A central communication node, such as a Base Station (BS) or Node B, executes the only carrier frequency or channel code associated with the subscriber to enable exclusive communication with the subscriber. TDMA schemes can also be run on terrestrial network systems that use physical contact transmission switching or packet switching. A CDMA system may be designed to support one or more standards such as: (1) the "Mobile Station Compatibility Standard-TIA / EIA / IS-95-B Base Station for the Broadband Discrete Spectrum Cell System Mode Dual "here called the IS-95 standard; (2) the standard offered by a consortium named "3rd Generation Society Project" here called 3GPP; and incorporated in a series of documents that include Documents No. 3G TS 25.211, 3G TS 25.212, 3G TS 25.213, and 3G TS 25.214, 3G TS 25.302, here called the W-CDMA standard; (3) the standard offered by a consortium named "3rd Generation Society Project 2" here referred to as 3GPP2, and TR-45.5 here referred to as the cdma2000 standard, formerly called IS-2000 MC, or (4) some other standard Wireless A WCDMA system may be designed to support one or more of the same standards listed above for a CDMA system.

WCDMA is a limited interference system, which means that neighboring cells and other users limit the uplink and downlink capability of any single cell. To maximize capacity, interference should be minimized (energy from another signal). This includes minimizing the signal-to-interference (Eb / N0) requirements, minimizing the overload channel energy, and minimizing the energy of the control-only channel. In addition, the good performance of a phone includes long battery life. To achieve this goal, the phone must minimize its power during dedicated channel transmission and monitoring of overload channels. Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus for sensitive channel programming of transmissions in a communication system with application to multiple classes of users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The modalities described herein address the aforementioned needs by provisioning a means for sensitive programming of the data transmission channel in a wireless communication system. One embodiment provides a method of programming transmissions in a wireless communication system, comprising: receiving an indicator of the condition of the channel sent by a mobile station in a programmer, determining a priority value for the mobile station using a function: Priority (i) = Max_Potencia_Piloto-Potencia_Piloto (i), where Priority (i) is the priority value for the mobile user i-avo, Max_Potencia_Piloto is the maximum pilot power of the mobile station, and Power_Pilot (i) is the pilot power of the mobile station at the time of programming. Another embodiment provides for calculating priority values for a plurality of mobile stations as a function of the condition indicator of the channel; and selecting at least one of the plurality of mobile stations for a subsequent transmission based on the priority value. Additional modalities may be based on the pilot power of transmission of the mobile station and data transfer rate requested. The transmit power of the mobile station can be determined based on the power control commands in an additional mode.

Additional modes provide different functions to calculate the priority values. An additional embodiment provides a method of programming in a wireless communication system, comprising: receiving a condition indicator of the channel sent by a mobile station in a programmer, determining a priority value for the mobile user using a function: Priority (i) = a (i) * (Average_Potence_Pilot (i) / Power_Pilot (i)) where Priority (i) is a priority value for an i-th mobile user, Average_Potence_Pilot (i) is a pilot power of the mobile station averaged over a certain time period, Power_Pilot (i) is a pilot power of the station mobile at the time of programming, and (i) is a weighting factor. Additional modes provide that the weighting factor is based on the speed of the mobile station. Still another modality provides the calculation of the weighting factor according to the function: a (i) = (performance_sector / user_performance (i)? b, where 0 <b <l.

In another embodiment, a computer-readable medium that includes computer executable instructions for programming transmissions, comprises: processing channel condition indicators received from a plurality of mobile stations; calculating a priority value for each of a plurality of mobile stations; determining a transmission program for the plurality of mobile stations co or a function of the priority value. Another mode provides a function to calculate the priority value: Priority (i) = Max_Potencia_Piloto-Potencia_Piloto (i), Where Priority (i) is the priority value for the mobile station -va, Max_Potencia_Piloto is the maximum pilot power of the mobile station, and Potencia_Piloto (i) is the pilot power of the mobile user at the time of programming. Still another modality provides a computer program in which the calculation of a priority value uses the function: Priority (i) = a (i) * Average_Potence_Pilot (i) / Power_Pilot (i)) where Priority (i) is a priority value for a mobile station i-ava, Average_Power_Pilot (i) is the pilot power of the mobile station averaged over a certain time period, Power_Pilot (i) is the pilot power of the station mobile at the time of programming; and a (i) is the weighting factor. Another mode provides that the calculation of the weighting factor is performed according to a function: a (i) = (performance_sector / user_performance (i)? b, where 0 <b <l.

Still another modality provides a network, comprising: receiving means for receiving indicators of the condition of the channel from a plurality of mobile users; means for determining a priority value for each mobile station; means for determining a transmission program for a plurality of mobile users, based on the priority value. An additional mode provides a network in which the calculation of the priority value is a function of: Priority (i) = Max_Potencia_Piloto-Potencia_Piloto (i), Where Priority (i) is the priority value for the mobile station i-ava, Max Pilot Power is the maximum pilot power of the mobile station, and Power_Pilot (i) is the pilot power of the mobile station at the time of the programming . An additional mode provides a network in which the calculation of the priority value is a function of: Priority (i) = a (i) * (Average_Potence_Pilot (i) / Potency_Pilot (i) Where Priority (i) is a priority value for a mobile station i-ava, Average_Power_Power (i) is the pilot power of the mobile station averaged over a certain time period, Power_Pilot (i) is the pilot power of the station mobile at the time of programming, and (i) is the weighting factor. Still another modality provides a network, in which the weighting factor is computed according to the function: a (i) = (performance_sector / user_performance (i)) Ab, where O = b = l.

An additional embodiment provides an apparatus in a wireless communication system, comprising: a processing element; and a memory storage element coupled to the processing element, the memory storage element adapted to store computer-readable instructions for executing: means for receiving an indicator of the condition of the channel from a plurality of mobile stations; means for computing a priority value for each mobile station based on the condition indicator of the channel; and means for programming the plurality of mobile stations based on the computed priority values.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The characteristics, objectives, and advantages of the present method and apparatus will be more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the figures in which similar reference characters are identified correspondingly throughout the text and in which: Figure 1 is a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a wireless communication system that supports a channel sensitive programming algorithm. Figure 3 illustrates the interaction of external and internal loop power control in a wireless communication system. Figure 4 illustrates the power control for a User Equipment (UE) during smooth transfer. Figure 5 illustrates the uplink programming. Figure 6 is a flowchart of a channel responsive programmer utilizing deep load according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is desired that a modern communication system supports a variety of applications. One of these communication systems is a code division multiple access (CDMA) system which complies with the "Mobile Station Compatibility Standard - TIA / EIA-95 Base Station for the Broadband Dispersed Broadband Spectrum Cell System." Dual Mode "and its progeny, hereinafter referred to as IS-95. The CDMA system allows voice and data communications between users over a terrestrial link. Another communication system is a broadband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system. The use of CDMA techniques in a multiple access communication system is described in EÜA Patent No. 4,901,307, entitled "DISPERSE SPECTRUM MULTI ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING SATELLITE OR TERRESTRIAL REPEATERERS", and US Patent No. 5,103,459, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING WAVE FORMS IN A CDMA CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEM", both assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated by reference. In a CDMA system or WCDMA system, communications between users are made through one or more base stations. In wireless communication systems, the forward link refers to the channel through which the signals travel from a base station to a subscriber station, and the reverse link refers to the channel through which the signals travel from a subscriber station. subscribed to a base station. By transmitting data in a reverse link to a base station, a first user in a subscriber station communicates with a second user in a second subscriber station. The base station receives the data from the first subscriber station and sends the data to a base station serving the second subscriber station. Depending on the location of the subscriber stations, both can be served by a single base station or multiple base stations. In any case, the base station serving the second subscriber station sends the data in the forward link. Instead of communicating with a second subscriber station, a subscriber station can also communicate with the terrestrial Internet through a connection with a serving base station. In wireless communications such as those that conform to IS-95, the forward link and reverse link signals are transmitted within disjoint frequency bands. WCDMA systems use slightly different terminology than CDMA systems. There are three very important subsystems in a WCDMA system. The User Equipment (UE) can be a mobile, a fixed station, a data terminal or another device. A UE includes a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) which contains user subscription information. The Access Network (AN) includes the radio equipment to access the network. This can be either the Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) or Global System for Mobile Communications / Enhanced Data for Radio Access Network (GSM / EDGE RAN) GSM Evolution (GSM / EDGE). The Core network (CN) includes the switching and sending capability to connect to either the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) for circuit switched calls or to a Packet Data Network (PDN) for packet switched calls . The Core Network also includes mobility and management of the subscriber's location and authentication services. Figure 1 serves as an example of a communications system 100 that supports a number of users and is capable of executing at least some aspects and modalities presented herein. Any of a variety of algorithms and methods can be used to program transmissions in system 100. System 100 provides communication for a number of cells 102A to 102G, each of which receives service by a corresponding base station 104A to 104G, respectively . In the exemplary embodiment, some of the base stations 104 have multiple receiving antennas and others have only one receiving antenna. Similarly, some of the base stations 104 have multi-transmit antennas, and others have single transmit antennas. There are no restrictions on combinations of transmit antennas and receiving antennas. Therefore, it is possible for a base station 104 to have multiple transmit antennas and a single receive antenna, or having multiple receive antennas and a single transmit antenna, or having both antennas, single or multiple transmit and receive . The terminals 106 in the coverage area can be fixed (ie, stationary) or mobile. As shown in Figure 1, several terminals 106 are dispersed throughout the system. Each terminal 106 communicates with at least one and possibly more base stations 104 in the downlink and uplink at any given time depending on, for example, whether the soft handoff is employed or whether the terminal is designed and operated to receive ( simultaneously or in sequence) multiple transmissions from multiple base stations. Soft transfer in CDMA communication systems is well known in the art and is described in detail in U.S. Patent No. 5,101,501, entitled "Method and system for providing a Soft Transfer in a CDMA Cell Phone System", which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The downlink refers to the transmission from the base station to the terminal, and the uplink refers to the transmission from the terminal to the base station. In the exemplary embodiment, some of the terminals 106 have multiple receiving antennas and others have only one receiving antenna. In figure 1, base station 10A transmits data to terminals 106A and 106J in the downlink, base station 104B transmits data to terminals 106B and 106J, base station 104C transmits data to terminal 106C, and so on. The growing demand for wireless data transmission and the expansion of services available through wireless communication technology have led to the development of specific data services. As the amount of data transmitted and the number of transmissions increases, the limited broadband available for radio transmissions becomes a critical resource. Additionally, interference becomes a major problem. Channel conditions can affect which transmissions can be sent efficiently. Therefore, there is a need for a channel sensitive means to schedule transmissions in a wireless communication system. In the exemplary embodiment, the system 100 illustrated in Figure 1 is consistent with a WCDMA-type system that has a high data transfer rate (HDR) service. A WCDMA system manages data transmission using the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer of the system architecture. The data transmission uses the selection of a Transport Format Combination (TFC). The TFC selection is executed by the MAC layer. For each radio frame, the Physical Layer requests data from the MAC layer. The MAC questions the Radio Link Control (RLC) to determine the amount of data available to be sent in order to determine how much data the MAC layer can deliver to the Physical Layer for transmission. The Transport Format Combination Indicator (TFCI) represents the TFC in use. As an example, consider a packet switched data call. The Physical Layer channel is configured to carry variable length frames up to a maximum data transfer rate. Based on the data available in the RLC logical channels, MAC selects a transport format combination that ultimately determines the data rate of the physical channel on a frame-by-frame basis. Data signaling is intermittent, very often there will be no Protocol Data Units (PDU) available to send on Radio Signal Bearers (SRB). Alternatively, there may be data available to be transported in multiple SRBs at the same time. In the latter case, the MAC uses logical channel priorities to determine which SRB will send the data. The packet switched data is intrinsically burst, so that the amount of data available to send may vary from frame to frame. When more data is available, MAC can choose a higher data transfer rate. When both, signaling and user data are available, MAC must choose between them to maximize the amount of data sent from the highest priority channel.

A Transport Block is the basic unit of data exchanged between the MAC and the Physical Layer. A Transport Block is a set of zero or more transport blocks. For a given transport channel, the physical layer requests data from the MAC each Transmission Time Interval (TTI). The advantage of breaking a large block of data into a series of smaller blocks is that, each of the smaller blocks can have a separate Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC). An error may occur in one block, leaving other blocks unaffected. If there was only one CRC for a large block of data, a simple error could cause the entire block to be scrapped. A Transport format defines the size of the transport block and the number of blocks that the MAC can deliver to the physical layer during a TTI. The Transport Format Set defines all valid Transport Formats for each transport channel. For example, to support a 57.6 kbps switched circuit radio access bearer for the data stream, the transport block size is 576 bits, with up to four blocks that could be sent in a transport block, with a TTI of 9ms. The Transport formats are labeled from TPO to TF3 for the previous example. Multiple transport channels can be multiplexed into an Encoded Compound Transport Channel (CCTrCh). Each transport channel has a Transport Format Series defined for it. A Transport Format Combination (TFC) defines a combination of Transport Formats, one for each transport channel, which can be used simultaneously on all transport channels mapped to a CCTrCh. For example, the TFC for each typical voice configuration selects a block from each of the dedicated channels (DCH) to which the sub-flows of the circuit-switched radio access bearer (CS RAB) are mapped and a block of the DCH to which the four SRBs are mapped. As part of the CCTrCh configuration, the MAC is assigned a Transport Format Combination Series (TFCS). The TFCS lists all the TFCs allowed for that CCTrCh. At each radio frame boundary, MAC is responsible for selecting a TFC from the TFCS. MAC bases this selection on the buffer status of each logical channel, the relative priorities of each logical channel, and the quality of the service parameters for each logical channel. Depending on the nature of each logical channel, MAC can deal in a different way with data that might not be sent in a particular TTI boundary. For example, data that is not in real time, can be queued for future transmission, while data for the video stream can be discarded. The Transport Format Combination Indicator (TFCI) is the index in the TFCS for a particular TFC. The physical channel can be configured to transmit the TFCI in each radio frame, allowing the receiver to quickly determine the TFC that was used in each radio frame. Each minimum TTI, MAC performs selection of Transport Format Combination (TFC) to determine the number of bits to be transmitted from each transport channel. When transport blocks are delivered to the physical layer for transmission, MAC indicates which TFC was selected. MAC represents the TFC using a Transport Format Combination Indicator (TFCI), which is then transmitted in the dedicated physical control channel. An example of a communication system that supports data transmissions and that is adapted to program transmissions to multiple users is illustrated in Figure 2. Figure 2 illustrates the operation of the base stations 104 of Figure 1. Figure 2 is detailed below, in which specifically, a base station, or Node B, 220 and the base station controller 210 is interfaced with a packet network interface 206. The base station controller 210 includes a channel scheduler. 212 to execute a programming algorithm for transmissions in the system 200. The channel scheduler 212 determines the TTI during which the data is to be transmitted as described above. Additionally, channel scheduler 212 selects the particular data queue for transmission. The associated amount of data to be transmitted is then retrieved from a data queue 230 and provided to the channel element 226 for transmission to the remote station associated with the data queue 230. As discussed below, the scheduler 212 selects the queue to provide the data, which are transmitted in a following TTI. It can be seen that it is possible for the user to receive a packet correctly even if only a portion of the packet is transmitted. This occurs when the condition of the channel is better than anticipated by the user. In that case, the user can send an "ACK" signal to the base station indicating that the packet has already been received correctly and the remaining portions of the packet do not need to be transmitted. When this happens, the entire data packet is effectively transmitted to the user over a shorter service interval, thus increasing the effective data transfer rate at which the packet is transmitted. The base station then reassigns the time slots that were originally programmed to transmit the remaining portions of that packet to transmit another packet to either the same user or a different user. This process is generally referred to as an Automatic Repetition Request (ARQ). In a system that supports ARQ, a data packet is programmed for a predetermined number of transmissions, wherein each transmission may include different information. Multiple transmissions are interposed with other packets sequentially. When a receiver has received enough information to decode and process the packet, the receiver sends an indication to the transmitter that no more information is required for the current packet. The transmitter is then free to program the slots originally programmed for the current packet to another packet. In this way, the resources of the system are conserved and the transmission time to the receiver is reduced. A block diagram illustrating the basic subsystems of an exemplary variable rate communication communication system is shown in Fig. 2. The base station controller 210 is interfaced with the packet network interface 206, the Public Telephony Network Switched, PSTN, 208, and all base stations or Node B in the communication system (only one base station 220 is shown in Figure 2 for simplicity). The base station controller 210 coordinates the communication between the remote stations in the communication system and other users connected to the packet network interface 206 and PSTN 208. The PSTN 208 is interfaced with users through a telephone network standard (which is not shown in figure 2). The base station controller 210 may contain many selector elements 216, although only one is shown in figure 2 for simplicity. Each selector element 216 is assigned to control communication between one or more base stations or Node B 220 and a remote station (not shown). If the selector element 216 has not been assigned to a particular remote station, the call control processor 218 is informed about the need to locate the remote station. The call control processor 218 then directs the base station 220 to locate the remote station. The data source 202 contains a quantity of data, which is to be transmitted to a specific remote station. The data source 202 provides the data to the packet network interface 206. The packet network interface 206 receives the data and directs the data to the selector element 216. The selector element 216 then transmits the data to each base station 220 in communication with the target remote station. In exemplary mode, each base station 220 maintains a data queue 230, which stores the data to be transmitted to the remote station. The data is transmitted in data packets from the data queue 230 to the channel element 226. In the exemplary mode, in the forward link, a "data packet" refers to an amount of data which is a maximum of 1024 bits and a quantity of data to be transmitted to a destination remote station within a predetermined "time slot" (such as * 1,667 msec). For each data packet, the channel element 226 inserts the necessary control fields. In the exemplary embodiment, the channel element 226 executes a Cyclic Redundancy Check, CRC, the coding of the data packet and the control fields and inserts a series of code queue bits. The data packets, control fields, CRC parity bits, and code queue bits comprise a formatted packet. In exemplary mode, the channel element 226 then encodes the formatted packet and interleaves (or reorders) the symbols within the encoded packet. In the exemplary mode, the interleaved packet is covered with a Walsh code, and is spread with the PNI and PNQ short codes. These PNI and PNQ codes are well known in CDMA wireless systems. The scattered data is provided to the RF 228 unit which modulates in quadrature, filters, and amplifies the signal. The forward link signal is transmitted over the air via an antenna to the forward link and to the mobile station or UE. At the remote station, the forward link signal is received by an antenna and addressed to a receiver. The receiver filters, amplifies, demodulates in quadrature, and quantifies the signal. The digitized signal is provided to a demodulator (DEMOD) where it is spread with the PNI and PNQ short codes and discovered with the Walsh cover. The demodulated data is provided to a decoder which executes the inverse of the signal processing functions executed in the base station 220, specifically the deinterleaving, decoding, and CRC check functions. The decoded data is provided to a data warehouse. The hardware, as noted above, supports variable rate data transfer transmissions, message sending, voice, video, and other communications over the forward link. The data transfer rate transmitted from the data queue 230 varies to allow changes in the signal strength and the noise environment in the remote station, or UE. The UE sends information related to the reception of the data, including ACK / NACK messages to the node B. Additionally, the information about the transmission power is also transmitted. Accordingly, the circuitry at the remote station measures the strength of the signal and calculates the noise environment at the remote station to determine the rate information for future transmission. The signal transmitted by each UE travels through a reverse link channel and is received at the base station 220 through a receiving antenna coupled to the RF unit 228. In the exemplary embodiment, the pilot power and rate information of data transfer is demodulated in the channel element 226 and is provided to a channel programmer 212 located in the controller of the base station 210 or to a channel programmer 232 located in the base station 220. In a first exemplary embodiment, the channel rammer 232 is located in the base station 220. In an alternative mode, the channel rammer 212 is located in the controller of the base station 210, and is connected to the selector elements 216 within the controller of the base station 210. In the first exemplary embodiment mentioned, the channel rammer 232 receives information from the data queue 230 indicating the amount of data that will remain in the queue for each remote station, also called "queue size". The channel rammer 232 then executes ramming based on the condition of the channel for each UE receiving service from the base station 220. If the queue size is used for a ramming algorithm used in the alternative mode, the channel scheduler 212 may receive queue size information from the selector element 216. During the transmission of a packet to one or more users, the users transmit an "ACK" signal after each time slot containing a portion of the transmitted packet. The ACK signal transmitted by each user travels through a reverse link channel and is received at the base station 220 through a receiving antenna coupled to the RF unit 228. In the exemplary embodiment, the ACK information is demodulated in the element. of channel 226 and ided to a channel rammer 212 located in the controller of the base station 210 or to a channel rammer 232 located in the base station 220. In a first exemplary mode, the channel 232 rammer is located in the base station 220. In an alternative embodiment, the channel rammer 212 is located in the controller of the base station 210, and is connected to all the selector elements 216 within the controller of the base station 210. The embodiments of the present invention are applicable to other hardware architectures, which can support variable rate transfer transmissions. The present invention can be rapidly extended to cover the variable rate transmissions in the reverse link. For example, the base station 220 measures the strength of the signal received from the remote stations and calculates the noise environment and power requirements to determine a reception data transfer rate from the remote station. The base station 220 then transmits to each associated remote station the transfer rate at which the data must be transmitted on the reverse link from the remote station. The base station 220 may then ram transmissions on the reverse link based on the different data transfer rates in the reverse link in a manner similar to that described in the present invention for the forward link. Also, a base station 220 of the modality discussed above transmits to a selected remote station, or selected remote stations, of the remote stations for the exclusion of the remaining remote stations associated with the base station or Node B 220 using a Multiple Access scheme by CDMA Code Division, or a WCDMA scheme. At any particular time, the base station 220 transmits to the selected remote station or selected remote stations, of the remote station using a code, which is assigned, to the receiving base station (s) or Node B 220. However, this scheme can also be applied to other systems that employ different methods of Time Division Multiple Access, TDMA, to ide data to the selected base station (s) 220, for the exclusion of the other base stations 220, to distribute resources of transmission in an optimal way. The rammer of channel 212 rams the transfer of variable transfer rates in the forward link. The rammer of channel 212 receives the queue size, which is indicative of the amount of data to be transmitted to a remote station, and messages from remote stations. Channel programmer 212 preferably schedules data transmissions to achieve the goal of the maximum data throughput system while minimizing interference. As shown in Figure 1, the remote stations are scattered throughout the communication system and can be in communication with zero or a base station or Node B in the forward link. In exemplary mode, the programmer of channel 212 coordinates the data transmissions in the forward link over the entire communication system. A programming method and apparatus for high-speed data transmission are described in detail in U.S. Patent Application No. 08 / 798,951, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Uplink Transfer Rate Programming," filed on February 11. of 1997, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereby expressly incorporated by reference. According to one embodiment, the channel programmer 212 is executed in a computer system, which includes a processor, Random Access Memory, RAM, and a program memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processor (which it is not shown). The processor, RAM and program memory can be dedicated to the functions of the channel programmer 212. In other embodiments, the processor, RAM and the program memory can be part of a shared computing resource to execute additional functions in the controller of the program. the base station 210. In the exemplary embodiment, a generalized programmer is applied to the system 200 which is illustrated in figure 2 and which is detailed below. Those modules within BSC 210 and BS 220 used to execute a channel sensitive programming function for programming data transmissions are discussed below. Due to the growing demand for wireless data applications, the demand for efficient wireless data communication systems has increased significantly. The IS-95 standard is capable of transmitting traffic data and voice data over forward and reverse links. According to the IS-95 standard, the traffic data or voice data are divided into code channel frames that are 20 thousandths of a second wide with data transfer rates as high as 14.4 Kbps. In an IS-system 95, each subscriber station is assigned at least one of a limited number of orthogonal forward link channels. While communication between a base station and a subscriber station is in progress, the forward link channel remains assigned to the subscriber station. When the data services are provided in an IS-95 system, a forward link channel remains assigned to a subscriber station even during the times when there is no forward link data to be transmitted to the subscriber station. An important difference between voice services and data services is the fact that the former typically imposes fixed and rigorous delay requirements. Typically, the delay of a global path of word frames is specified to be less than 100 milliseconds. In contrast, data delay can be converted into a variable parameter used to optimize the efficiency of the data communication system. Yet another important difference between voice services and data services is that the former typically requires a reliable communication link which, in the exemplary CDMA or WCDMA communication system, is provided by a smooth transfer. Soft transfer results in redundant transmissions from two or more base stations to improve reliability. However, this additional reliability is not required for data transmission because the data packets received in error can be retransmitted. For data services, the power Transmission used to support smooth transfer can be used more efficiently to transmit additional data. The transmission delay required to transfer a data packet and the average throughput transfer rate are two attributes used to define the quality and effectiveness of a data communication system. The transmission delay usually does not have the same impact on data communication as it does for voice communication, but it is an important metric to measure the quality of the data communication system. The average performance transfer rate is a measure of the efficiency of the data transmission capacity of the communication system. The rate of transfer of performance is also affected by the amount of power required for transmission. There is a need for a sensitive channel method to schedule transmissions based on power requirements. The power requirements in a wireless communication system, as discussed below. WCDMA is a limited interference system, which means that neighboring cells and other users limit the uplink and downlink capabilities of any single cell. To maximize the capacity, another signal strength must be minimized, which causes interference. This includes minimizing the signal-to-interference (Eb / No) requirements, minimizing the overload channel power, and minimizing the control channel power only. The good performance of the mobile phone includes long life battery. To achieve this, the mobile phone must minimize its power during transmission of the dedicated channel, monitoring overload channels, and transmitting using the minimum power setting for transmission. A robust CDMA or WCDMA system requires good power control. The power control reduces the transmit power of the mobile or UE and the network. Because the CDMA and WCDMA systems are of limited interference, reducing the power of all users increases the capacity of the system. Inefficiencies in power control reduce the capacity of the overall system. The most basic problem in power control is the proximity-distance problem. Nearby transmitters are heard more easily than remote transmitters. Power control causes these transmitters to transmit at that level of power that their received signal is the same or almost the same as a transmitter located far away. Efficient power control requires quick feedback to minimize the loss of system capacity. The rapid power control is known as the internal loop power control and runs at 1500 Hz. Therefore, the transmitter gets commands 1500 times per second from the receiver to increase or decrease the power. For voice calls the good quality of service is almost 1% block error transfer rate (BLER). To maintain a 1% BLER, a certain signal-to-interference (SIR) may be required. If the user is in a bad fading environment, such as rapid movement in a crowded environment, then the user needs a higher SIR objective than a user in a better fading environment, such as slow movement in a free environment of overcrowding. Because both users require a 1% BLER, the control power must find the correct SIR target. The process of finding the correct SIR objective is called external loop power control. Differences in SIR targets cause differences in reception power. A closed-loop process controls the transmission power in both the downlink and the uplink. Closed loop power control is a three-step process. A transmission is made, a measurement is taken at the receiver, and power is supplied to the transmitter indicating whether the power should be increased or reduced. The closed loop process can eventually correct the transmit power of the mobile or UE without taking into account the initial transmission level. A significant gain can be achieved if the initial transmission level of the UE is close to the appropriate energy. The selection of a metric is affected by the required speed of the closed loop process. The block error transfer rate (BLER) is a good metricHowever, measuring BLER can be a time-consuming process. If a faster response is needed, Eb / No, it may be a better choice. For a quick response for power control commands, multiple commands are sent each radio frame. Figure 3 shows the interaction of external loop and internal loop control mechanisms. A SIR target algorithm based on BLER can be adjusted slowly. Because the BLER is based on cyclic redundancy checks (CRC), and Adaptive Multiple Rate Rate (AMR) voice, the CRCs are received in a 20ms transmission time interval (TTI), as fast as the External loop power control can be adjusted is 50 times per second. The internal loop energy control uses the SIR calculation. The SIR calculation is usually made for each slot (15 times per lOms radio frame), because the pilot power of the dedicated physical control channel is present at each impact. The SIR objective is given to the internal loop. If the SIR calculation is larger than the SIR target, the internal loop indicates a decrease in transmitter power. If the SIR target is smaller than the SIR target, the internal loop signals an increase in transmitter power. This happens quickly, approximately 1500 times per second to quickly compensate for the rapid change in fading conditions.p.

The internal loop and the external loop interact. The internal loop uses a SIR lens that changes slowly. The external loop delivers the SIR target to the internal loop. See figure 3 for a description of this interaction. The UE executes its own downlink closed loop power control algorithm. The UE can measure the BLER over a number of frames and increase and decrease the target S1R. Based on the SIR objective and the SIR calculation, the UE directs the universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) to increase or decrease the transmission power of the dedicated channel of the UE. The power adjustment range for a Node B is typically around 20db. The power control of the internal loop or downlink runs at 1500 or 500 Hz. The power control command is communicated to the UE and sent quickly to respond to the changing conditions of the channel. When there are multiple Nodes B, the UE sends a simple up or down command to the multiple Node B. A weaker link can be said to decrease the power, which will reduce the overall interference of the system. If a stronger Node B signal is distorted, the UE signals a power increase command. Once the activation command is received, all Node Bs increase their downlink power.

The uplink power control varies from the downlink power control described above. UEs can be located anywhere within the cell. A UE can be thousands of meters away from the cell, while another UE can be only a few hundred meters away. Therefore, users experience varying amounts of route loss due to their variable cell distance and their variable multiple path environments. The route loss can exceed 80 db, for example. Each UE must control its power carefully to ensure that the transmission arrives in the cell at an appropriate level, including initial transmissions, to minimize interference to other users. For initial power scenarios, the UE uses an open loop calculation. For the open loop calculation, the UE receives signalized parameters and takes measurements of the channel. During the closed-loop power control operation, the UE is provided with feedback that minimizes its interference. A UE involved in a smooth transfer can receive contradictory power control commands from different Nodes B. The UE resolves the conflict by applying a simple rule: if some Node B commands the UE to reduce the power, the UE will reduce the power . This is called the "OR of reductions." In the case of a multiple cell transfer (same Node B), the UE should receive identical commands from the two cells. Knowing this, the UE "softly combines" the bits before making a decision regarding the value of the bit. Here, there is no OR of the reductions because if the signal comes from two cells but from the same Node B, the signal probably experiences the same general fading environment. The UE can tell if the two radio links are from the same Node B based on the TPC index, as discussed above. Figure 4 illustrates a soft transfer UE. An UE 404 is in soft handoff with Node Bl 406 and Node B2 402. System 400 includes both Node B and UE. During the transfer, there may be up to six series of TPC indices, one index of each Node B. If the TPC index is the same, this means that those cells correspond to the same Node B. If the Nodes B are different, then the TPC indexes They will be different. The UE will turn off if any of the Nodes B transmits a turn off command. The modalities described herein can be applied to a variety of programming algorithms and prioritizations, and are not limited to those described herein. For clarity, several algorithms of programming will be analyzed to provide examples of a generalized programmer and several executions. The embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and apparatus for programming transmissions based on the sensitive programming of the channel. The sensitive programming of the channel depends on some improvements to the uplink portion of the WCDMA system. Uplink transmissions can be programmed through Node B and physical frames can be retransmitted and combined smoothly. The TTI can be 2ms, which is used for UEs that are not in smooth transfer. For UE in soft transfer, a TTI of lOms can be used. However, the network decides which UE is assigned lOms and which UE is assigned 2ms. The short TTI enables sensitive programming of the channel. Sensitive programming of the channel can significantly increase the uplink performance and reduce the delay. Any practical programming algorithm must provide at least some impartiality, in order to ensure that every UE in the system receives at least some performance. UEs are programmed when their transmit power is low compared to the average transmitted power, thus minimizing interference to the system, delay, and maximizing performance.

Figure 5 shows a UE in the uplink that is in soft transfer with Node Bl and Node B2. A simple Node B is the serving node. Only the Node B that gives service schedules the uplink traffic. In the example shown in Figure 5, Node Bl is the node that serves and schedules uplink traffic. All Soft Transfer Nodes B decode the physical layer frames and recognize the successful decoding of a physical layer frame. Any necessary retransmission is synchronous and follows the first transmission in a predetermined time interval. The smooth combination of retransmissions is done in Node B. The radio network controller (RNC) has knowledge of the node that provides service for each UE. The goal of sensitive channel programming is to reduce interference to other cells and make better use of the available uplink resources, resulting in higher performance and lower delay. The UEs are programmed when the condition of the channel is good. When the condition of the channel is good, the transmitted pilot power is low and the interference to other cells is lower for the same amount of data transmitted. Only the first sub-package is scheduled. Any necessary retransmissions are transmitted at a predetermined time shortly after the initial transmission and are not programmed independently. This is due to the nature of the hybrid ARQ method, which sets the time for any retransmission. The hybrid ARQ method is used because it is link efficient. The initial transmissions are not intended to achieve the target frame or block error transfer rate. Rather, the frame or block error transfer rate is intended to be reached after any necessary retransmissions have occurred. The retransmissions in synchronous hybrid ARQ operation are defined in advance. For example, the maximum number of retransmissions allowed can be three. The retransmissions are programmed at specific times in the transmission queue and those times are defined when the system is configured for operation. Therefore, the first retransmission can be programmed according to the channel conditions and the programming of the first retransmission automatically programs the remaining retransmission examples. The operating point of the system does not change with the sensitive programming of the channel. A frame error transfer rate or block error transfer rate of 1% to 5% remains in effect. To achieve that quality of service level, a user may need to transmit more power in poor channel conditions, or on the contrary, may be able to achieve that quality of service with a lower transmission power level. Although the objective of channel sensitive programming is to program users with the lowest transmit power levels first, the power level is related to the user's requested data transfer rate. A higher data transfer rate generally requires more transmission power. For example, a user who finds good channel conditions and a user in bad channel conditions may have identical transmission power level requests. The user with the best channel conditions would use a higher data transfer rate for transmission, while the user in bad channel conditions would use a lower data transfer rate. For improved performance, the user with the highest data transfer rate would then be programmed ahead of the user with the lowest data transfer rate. However, if both users require the same data transfer rate, then the user with the best channel conditions would use less transmission power and would be programmed ahead of the user in bad conditions of the channel who requires more transmission power to reach the same rate of data transfer. Figure 6 is a flow chart explaining the method of the invention. The 600 method, starts with the start block, 602, with transmissions to program. The scheduler is located in Node B and maintains a list of all UEs that are softly transferred with Node B. The scheduler assigns transmission resources only to the UE for which Node B has the best downlink conditions. The programming is started when the Node B updates the queue information for each UE that it programs, step 604 in FIG. 6. The queue consists of the data that the UEs are requesting to transmit for all the UEs programmed by the Node B. The programmer calculates the maximum TFC allowed in the TFCS for each UE to be programmed in step 606. The calculation of the maximum TFC consists of the process described above and simplifies the calculation of the maximum data transfer rate. In step 608 the programmer updates the available resources. This involves the allowable increase over thermal current for the wireless system and the preselected system operating point. For example, 4dB may be the allowable growth over thermal current for the system. The increase over thermal current is based on the energy received from each UE and includes a calculation of the interference seen by each UE. Also included is the contribution of autonomous transmissions and transmissions from non-programmed UEs that are in soft transfer at the time of calculation. After completing the updated calculation, the programmer in step 610 updates the statistics on the average pilot transmission power of each UE in the scheduling list. In step 612, the scheduler updates the information in the pilot transmission power of the UE, when feedback is available. Once the update is complete, the programmer creates a priority list based on calculations of the programming algorithm in step 614. The programming algorithm has two main characteristics: the prioritization of UE requests and deep load for capacity utilization maximum. EU requests are prioritized according to the results of the calculation of the priority function. Each UE has a priority account associated with it. Initially the priority of a UE is set to zero. When a new UE enters the system to which Node B is servicing or its buffer becomes non-empty after being inactive due to lack of data, its priority is set to Min { PRIORITY, V i so that UEi has cell j as the primary cell} At the time of programming, the programmer, located in Node B, is aware of the pilot power level of all users who program. The programmer creates a priority list by ordering the priority values, calculated according to the following two alternative algorithms. Calculate Maximum Threshold according to: Priority (i) = Power_Pilot_Max-Power_Pilot (i) Where Priority (i) is the priority value for the i-th user, Power_Pilot_Max is the maximum pilot power of the UE, and Power_Pilot (i) is the user's pilot power at the time of programming. Calculate the Average Threshold according to: Priority (i) = a (i) * (Average_Power_Pilot (i) / Power_Pilot (i)) Where Priority (i) is the priority value for the i-th user, Average_Potence_Pilot (i) is the pilot power of the user averaged over a certain period of time, Power_Pilot (i) is the user's pilot power at the time of programming, and it is the weighting factor. The a (i) is chosen to reflect the user's speed. Another alternative selection for a (i) is to allow a (i) to reflect the user's performance, so that the user receives some capacity and is not ignored in the programming. Another modality is that a (i) reflects the user's performance, so that the user is not private. For example: a (i) = (performance_sector / user_performance (i)? B, where O = b = l; a (i) takes a larger value for low speed users: most of the gain of the sensitive programming of the channel is seen with low speed users because the channel can be tracked and the channel conditions do not change quickly, allowing the programmer to take advantage of the channel.Low speed users are prioritized over high speed users in order to use better the channel conditions, increase the performance, and decrease the delay.Once the priority list has been created in step 614, the programmer executes deep load speculation in step 616. "Deep Load" is a technique for The maximum capacity of a channel At this point the programmer has created the priority list and the transmission order for the UEs is known The programmer knows the amount of available resources, which is typically in the ma of growth amount over thermal current. The programmer takes the first UE in the priority list and notes the requested data transfer rate. The programmer assumes that the UE will take the maximum available data transfer rate and then calculates the resulting growth over thermal current for the data transfer rate requested. If the amount of data to be transmitted does not require all the available capacity, the programmer then examines the next UE and determines if the remaining capacity can accommodate the second UE. This process continues as long as there are UE to be programmed and remaining capacity. If a UE can not be fully adjusted in the remaining available capacity, then the data transfer rate granted to that UE is decreased until the capacity is filled. Therefore, the last programmed mobile can be assigned a lower data transfer rate than requested. Once the programmer has completed the programming in step 616, the data is transmitted in step 618. The transmission occurs in the order determined by the programmer in Node B. A variety of possible implementations of channel sensitive programming are possible. . One mode provides that the user transmission power is estimated in the programmer using the power control commands sent in the downlink. As emphasized in Figure 5, it is assumed that the programming cell is the service cell. This assumption may be affected due to power control command errors and the fact that a soft transfer user obeys power control commands from a Node B that does not service. To combat this situation, the occasional synchronization of the real transmission power and the calculated transmission power is necessary. This can be done by sending 4 bits containing the transmit power information sent every 20ms. Additionally, soft transfer users may need to send a feedback message to the serving cell which sent the power control command in order to avoid the deviation of the transmission power calculation that occurs when the command is applied. cell power that does not service. The UEs can maintain a record of the average transmission power used and can be configured periodically by the Node B serving to send an indicator informing the programmer if the current transmission power is above or below the average transmission power . This creates a low overhead, because only 1 bit may be necessary. This method can be used in conjunction with the calculation of transmission power based on the power control commands. Any discrepancy between the relative position of the calculated transmission power to the threshold and the reported position of the UE can be used to signal the problem and resort to the re-synchronization of the actual transmission power and the calculated transmission power. Therefore, a novel and improved method and apparatus for programming transmissions in a communications system has been described. Those skilled in the art will understand that the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips to which reference can be made throughout the above description are conveniently represented through voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves. , fields or particular magnetic fields or optical particles, or any combination thereof. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the various illustrative logic blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithmic steps described in connection with the disclosed embodiments may be executed as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. The various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have generally been described in terms of their functionality. Whether the functionality is executed as hardware or software depends on the particular application and design restrictions imposed on the overall system. Those skilled in the art recognize the ability to exchange hardware and software under these circumstances, and how to best execute the functionality described for each particular application. As examples, the various illustrative logic blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithmic steps described in connection with the described embodiments can be performed or executed with a digital signal processor (DSP), a specific application integrated circuit (ASIC), a set programmable field gate (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or logic transistor, discrete hardware components such as, for example registers and FIFO, a processor that executes a series of wired microprogramming instructions, any programmable software module conventional and a processor, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. The processor may conveniently be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, programmable logic device, logic element array, or state machine. The software module could reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary processor is conveniently coupled to the storage means either to read information from, and write information in the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium can be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a telephone or other user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium can reside in a telephone or other user terminal. The processor can be run as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, or as two microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, etc. The preferred embodiments of the present invention have therefore been shown and described.

It would be apparent to the person skilled in the art, however, that numerous modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited except in accordance with the following claims.

Claims (16)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following is claimed as a priority: CLAIMS

1. - A method of programming transmissions in a wireless communication system, comprising: receiving a channel condition indicator sent by a mobile station in a programmer, determining a priority value for the mobile station using a function: Priority (i) = Power_Pilot_Max-Power_Pilot (i), where Priority (i) is the priority value for the mobile user i-avo, Power_Pilot_Max is the maximum pilot power of the mobile station, and Power_Pilot (i) is the pilot power of the station mobile at the time of programming.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: calculating priority values for a plurality of mobile stations as a function of the channel condition indicator; and selecting at least one of a plurality of mobile stations for a subsequent transmission based on the priority value.

3. - The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: the indicator of the condition of the channel is based on the pilot power of transmission of the mobile station and the data transfer rate requested.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: the indicator of the channel condition is based on the transmission power of the mobile station as determined by the power control commands.

5. - A programming method in a wireless communication system, comprising: receiving an indicator of the channel condition sent by a mobile station in a programmer, determining a priority value for the mobile user using a function: Priority (i ) = a (i) * (Average_Pilot_Power (i) / Power_Pilot (i)) where Priority (i) is a priority value for a mobile user i-th, Average_Potence_Pilot (i) is a pilot power of the mobile station averaged over a certain period of time, Power_Pilot (i) is a pilot power of the mobile station at the time of programming, since (i) it is a weighting factor.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that: the weighting factor is based on the speed of the mobile user.

7. - The method according to claim 4, characterized in that: the weighting factor is calculated according to a function: a (i) = (yield_sector / performance_user (i)) b, where O = b = l.

8. - A computer-readable medium that includes computer executable instructions for programming transmissions, comprising: processing channel condition indicators received from a plurality of mobile stations; calculating a priority value for each of a plurality of mobile stations; determining a transmission program for the plurality of mobile stations as a function of the priority value.

9. The program according to claim 7, characterized in that the calculation of a priority value uses the function: Priority (i) = Power_Pilot_Max-Power_Pilot (i), where Priority (i) is the priority value for the i-ava mobile station, Power_Pilot_Max is the maximum pilot power of the mobile station, and Power_Pilot (i) is the pilot power of the mobile user at the time of programming.

10. The program according to claim 7, characterized in that the calculation of a priority value uses the function: Priority (i) = a (i) * (Avg_Potence_Pilot (i) / Potot_Pilot (i)) where Priority ( i) is a priority value for a mobile station i-ava, Average_Power_Power (i) is the pilot power of the mobile station averaged over a certain time period, Power_Pilot (i) is the pilot power of the mobile station at the time of the programming, already (i) is the weighting factor.

11. The program according to claim 9, characterized in that the weighting factor is calculated according to a function: a (i) = sector_performance / user_performance (i)) Ab, where '0 <; b < l.

12. In a wireless communication system, a network, comprising: receiving means for receiving indicators of the channel condition from a plurality of mobile users; means for determining a priority value for each mobile station; means for determining a transmission program for a plurality of mobile users, based on the priority value.

13. The network according to claim 12, characterized in that the priority value is a function of: Priority (i) = Power_Pilot_Max-Power_Pilot (i), where Priority (i) is the priority value for the mobile station i-ava, Power_Pilot_Max is the maximum pilot power of the mobile station, and Power_Pilot (i) is the pilot power of the mobile station at the time of programming.

14. - The network according to claim 12, characterized in that the priority value is a function of: Priority (i) = a (i) * (Average__Pilot_Power (i) / Power_Pilot (i)) where Priority (i) is a priority value for a mobile station i-ava, Average_Potence_Pilot (i) is the pilot power of the mobile station averaged over a certain period of time, Power_Pilot (i) is the pilot power of the mobile station at the time of programming , already (i) is the weighting factor.

15. The network according to claim 14, characterized in that the weighting factor is a function of: a (i) = (yield_sector / user_performance (i)) b, where O = b = l.

16. An apparatus in a wireless communication system, comprising: a processing element; and a memory storage element coupled to the processing element, the memory storage element adapted to store computer-readable instructions for executing: means for receiving a channel condition indicator from a plurality of mobile stations; means for computing a priority value for each base station based on the condition indicator of the channel; means for programming the plurality of mobile stations based on the computed priority values.