Wi-lan Inc.

Cisco Technology, Inc.

Ensemble Communications, Inc.

Amir Serok

Kenneth L Stanwood

Yair Bourlas

Brian Spinar

Ofer Zimmerman

A method and apparatus for allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system is disclosed. One embodiment uses a self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol. The self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol utilizes a combination of incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests. CPEs primarily transmit incremental bandwidth requests to their associated base stations, followed by periodic transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests. The use of periodic aggregate bandwidth requests (that express the current state of their respective connection queues) allows the bandwidth allocation method and apparatus to be 'self-correcting'. Another embodiment utilizes an abridged bandwidth request/grant protocol to allocate bandwidth. The abridged bandwidth request/grant protocol system utilizes padding packets to request a reduction in bandwidth allocation to a CPE. A base station modem alerts a base station CPU when the BS modem receives a padding packet from a CPE. After alerting the BS CPU the method can reduce the associated CPE's bandwidth allocation.

Method and apparatus for bandwidth request/grant protocols in a wireless communication system

A self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol in a broadband wireless communication system. The protocol uses a combination of incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests. Stations primarily transmit incremental bandwidth requests to their associated base stations, followed by periodic transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests. Risks are reduced that a base station erroneously issues duplicate bandwidth allocations to the same station for the same connection. Race conditions that may have occurred using only aggregate bandwidth requests are eliminated. Use of periodic aggregate bandwidth requests that express the current state of respective connection queues provides a 'self-correcting' property.

Method and apparatus for a self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol in a wireless communication system

A method and apparatus for a self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol in a broadband wireless communication system is disclosed. The self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol utilizes a combination of incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests. In accordance with the present inventive protocol, CPEs primarily transmit incremental bandwidth requests to their associated base stations, followed by periodic transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests. The use of incremental bandwidth requests reduces risks that a base station erroneously issues duplicate bandwidth allocations to the same CPE for the same connection. Race conditions that may have occurred using only aggregate bandwidth requests are eliminated by requiring the CPEs to request bandwidth in an incremental manner. However, use of periodic aggregate bandwidth requests (that express the current state of their respective connection queues) allows the present bandwidth allocation method and apparatus to be 'self-correcting.' The present method is self-correcting because errors that may have been introduced due to lost incremental bandwidth requests are corrected by the base stations when the aggregate bandwidth requests are received and processed. Upon receipt of the aggregate bandwidth requests, the base stations reset their records to correctly reflect the current bandwidth requirements of their associated CPEs. Periodic use of aggregate bandwidth requests provides a self-correcting bandwidth allocation protocol yet without the bandwidth overhead (e.g., bandwidth required to transmit acknowledgements) typically associated with the prior art protocols (such as the guaranteed delivery protocols).

A method and apparatus for a self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol in a broadband wireless communication system is disclosed. The self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol utilizes a combination of incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests. In accordance with the present inventive protocol, CPEs primarily transmit incremental bandwidth requests to their associated base stations, followed by periodic transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests. The use of incremental bandwidth requests reduces risks that a base station erroneously issues duplicate bandwidth allocations to the same CPE for the same connection. Race conditions that may have occurred using only aggregate bandwidth requests are eliminated by requiring the CPEs to request bandwidth in an incremental manner. However, use of periodic aggregate bandwidth requests (that express the current state of their respective connection queues) allows the present bandwidth allocation method and apparatus to be &ldquo;self-correcting&rdquo;. The present method is self-correcting because errors that may have been introduced due to lost incremental bandwidth requests are corrected by the base stations when the aggregate bandwidth requests are received and processed. Upon receipt of the aggregate bandwidth requests, the base stations reset their records to correctly reflect the current bandwidth requirements of their associated CPEs. Periodic use of aggregate bandwidth requests provides a self-correcting bandwidth allocation protocol yet without the bandwidth overhead (e.g., bandwidth required to transmit acknowledgements) typically associated with the prior art protocols (such as the guaranteed delivery protocols).

Growing community of inventors

Tel Aviv, Israel

Amir Serok